Oh my woolly head

This week has been a sleepy head one for me - but I think it had a lot to do with the grey (and sometimes red) sky overhead so I am hoping all this wind will blow some blue sky our way. But luckily now it's half term and what grand timing - I hope I can clear my woolly head a bit. It's the first time I am really benefiting from my 'term time only' job and I have to say I am very happy about it tonight. Sitting here with no train breakfast sandwiches to make, no bottles to prepare, no 'just in case' bags to pack. Ohm. Last week, I mentioned my little hat projects - three hats to knit for winter - for my friend Sarah, her daughter and myself. Sarah really wants matching cream cable hats with furry Pom Poms but my first choice of yarn (the Rico soft merino aran) I feared the colour really wasn't what she had invisaged and I realised from my swatch that I think Aran wasn't heavy enough for what she wanted either. No good. I was hoping to get some Wendy mode chunky but did you know it's been discontinued! Such a shame as it was a lovely merino-acrylic blend and there doesn't really seem to be anything else like it. I had a little scout around and even online and eventually settled on Hayfield bonus chunky - (extra value!) It is completely acrylic but it actually feels really nice. I usually avoid it as the crunch puts my teeth on edge - but here - no crunch, just quite soft and spongy and snug really.







So with wool (not wool) found, the next challenge was working out the pattern. Sarah had sent me a picture she wanted replicated so that was nice and easy to copy, but trying to work out how many stitches I needed for a hat, and to incorporate the pattern, was tricky - and will wait and see if I got it right. I did knit a cable hat before and it was too small, so I think I am carrying this trauma with me through this project. Baggy hats are not so good either though... I made a little swatch (pictured above unravelling due to manhandling by small child) which was super helpful - although I wasn't sure how much to stretch it before measuring it - hmm - so got a lot of different measurements from it. I worked out every combination of cable twists I could think of while still staying true to Sarah's vision, and came up with an array of different numbers. Anyway, without boring you too much I have settled on 80 stitches on 5.5mm needles (it was 76 stitches, but then I realised I'd made a horrible miscalculation - after 26 rows of k1p1 rib I decided to just increase 4 across the row and hope for the best!)



Despite all the hiccups though, now that I'm on (a) course, I am really really enjoying knitting for a bit and admit I'm finding it quite addictive. I've been so pre-occupied with crochet that I forgot that knitting is really my home sweet home. So stay tuned for this rollercoaster hat knitting ride - I'll be sure to update you!

woven wonder

During my big tidy up, I found a few little things that sparked joy that I put up on our wall and they are starting to look really nice. In our sitting room corner my crochet wall hanging hangs alone still, but I was not feeling very inspired to do any crochet and I decided this was the time to have a go at some weaving! I have seen so many of these amazing hangings, and love them so much but it felt like a bit of a leap to have a go myself.

When I was little I used to make little cardboard looms to make little weavings – so decided to go down this tried and tested route again! I found a really nice stiff piece of cardboard and cut out a rectangle. Then I added some notches to each end. My box very handily had a dot design on it so I didn’t have to do any measuring but usually you would need to put mark along the edge so that your top notches and bottom notches match up.



Then I wrapped my wool around into the notches to give me all of my warp threads. Lovely!



Next I started my weaving. My first plan was to keep it simple and do coloured stripes, but after doing a few rows of plain weaving I decided that I really wanted to try some of the techniques I have seen on the amazing weavings I have seen, making patterns with colours, and some textured parts. I really like the tassels! I found a wonderful online resource called the weaving loom which I recommend if you are a beginner like me - it has lots of interesting things to learn there. I had a little play around and settled into a bit of colour work. I think next time I will try some loops though.



It was quite hard to take some work in progress pictures because it looked very messy until then end when I sewed in my ends. But then it looked really really great!



I really enjoyed this little project, something new for me.

Crocheting Beads

I found a nice little project this week - crocheting beads (not to be confused with bead crocheting which is something completely different - but something I might have to give a go...)

I really love the trend for painted wooden beaded necklaces - they are so bright and cheery, and just so cool! I found the idea for crocheting beads from a baby teething toy, which is probably not really so cool, but I really wanted to have a go at it.



I bought a few wooden beads in different sizes, but the ones which worked best for me were the big 25mm ones.

Here is how I crocheted my beads:

I used:

4 x 25mm wooden beads

a 3mm crochet hook

DK yarns in off white, bright orange, mustard and turquoise


My abbreviations:

SC = single crochet (in American terminology. This is a double crochet in UK terminology)

2SC = working 2 single crochet stitches into the same space

SC2TOG = single crochet decrease - single crocheting the next two stitches together.

(you might need to experiment to get the right tension - I found some of my DK yarn was slightly thinner and this made quite a big difference so if your yarn is thin you might need a slightly bigger hook)



Row 0:  6 single crochets into a magic ring.
Row 1 - 2sc into every previous row sc. (12sts)
Row 2 - working into the previous row, **1 sc into the next space, 2sc into the following space**
repeat ** to ** to end of row (18sts)

Work 5 rows straight.
If you want to make a half and half coloured bead, change colour after the third row. I have found a neat way of changing colour is to do the final yarn over and pull through of the last single crochet stitch with the new colour, rather than changing colour in a new stitch (hope that makes sense) 

Row 8 -  **sc2tog, sc1 into the next space** .Repeat ** to ** to the end of the row (12 stitches)
Row 9, sc2tog the entire way around the row (6 stitches).
Finish by breaking your thread and threading through the final row to draw it in and neaten it up.

and ta-dah!

I really enjoyed this project also because it was so quick. My necklace just took me an evening. And it's just to bright and lovely. One of my winter wardrobe staples are black thermal vest style tops, and this little accessory is just the ticket to brighten that up a bit on a gloomy day.
I would love to see if you have a go.

Mauzumi Blue

Recently it was friend Beth's birthday and as her birthday falls often in my summer holiday, she is accustomed to receiving handmade gifts!

And this year I gave her this amigurumi mouse! Mauzumi blue i call him, but i am not sure what she will call him. a nice friendly face for a birthday though.

hooray!!

Tomorrow I have to go back to work after this long holiday so it is a bit of a glum time. But i suppose it wouldn't be a holiday if it was never ending. It has been such a treat to have such a break! And so much achieved too. I give this holiday a ten.

Yours,
Emilia. x

Mouse stop

My friend debbie (quite) recently crocheted this amazing doorstop. A mouse! I love it so much. 

All of our doors need doorstops, and i really love mice so i thought this would be a good addition to our home too. 

And i wasn't wrong - a lovely face he has: 

Here is my version. he looks quite different from debbie's (even though i copied her blue ear design) and from the one in the pattern. I like all the varieties.

He looks so lovely next to our door, but unfortunately he is not heavy enough to hold it:

Debbie used a kilo of rice in hers. mine just has 500g of pearl barley which i fear is not enough.

You can make a mouse using the pattern - it's a free one from Lion Brand and you can click here for that.

And this was a good project for me as i fear i have knitters block! More on this serious condition in my next installment.

That's all for now from me and mouse,
Dora x

Collared

Last week on Sunday it was my friend Hayley's birthday.

As she had given me such an amazing christmas gift - the book of vintage knits i took my supersoft angora cardigan from - i decided to surprise her with a little knit taken from its pages.

I spotted the pattern for this little collar - a lovely addition to any outfit!

I used some rowan belle organic - wool and cotton blend - perfect for this little project. If you like this one, you should also take a peek at Debbie's crocheted collars - lovely ones.

I hope you had a lovely birthday Hayley,

yours ,
Emilia. xx

now i would like one of these

Hat

Hello and here i am. nothing from me since january - but i have been busy, not just lazy. all will be revealed!

For now though, here is just a little peek of a small project.

It has been soooo cold recently that i was really spurred on to make myself a new hat. My old bobble hat was looking a little sorry for itself so I used some of the leftover mohair from my blanket (bit of a forehead itch, but it is worth it for the warmth!) and set about creating a warming headpiece.

I based the pattern on one i found in my vintage knitting book - so it is sort of a beret. but not quite. but i like it because it's like a nice fuzzy bowl.
Here i am - warm head.

It is a nice feeling to put some of my wool stash to good use. i used the last of this one on the bobble!

Lovely!

It seems today is a little more mild - perhaps it will be spring soon?

Yours insulated head,
Emilia. xxx

Richard's christmas slippers

Now I am just going to bed because i have to get up early for work. it's going to be a shocker.

i just thought i would cheer myself up though by sharing Richard's christmas slippers and remembering those festive times, not so long ago (this time last week was boxing day!)

Just before christmas i was suffering with a terrible cold, and on my sick bed while Rich was at work i decided to make him a small gift...

 Here is Rich after christmas wearing the slippers with his new batman socks

I used Nanny Parker's trusty handwritten pattern (nanny Parker was my Great Nanny) and managed to knit a whole pair before lunch.

The pattern calls for a pom pom on the toe, but i thought this was pushing my luck with Rich. I am pleased that he likes them though - good for the house

Cosy foot!

He has this picture on Facebook and the best comment likened them to giant baby booties. i like that comparison.

I hope you have a good day if you are going back to work tomorrow. it won't be so bad - lunchtime before we know it.

Yours better get sleeping,

Emilia. xx

Christmouse presents

hello and hello.

i hope it has been a happy christmas for you reading this. i have been so busy with christmas shopping and eating and also have had 2 colds, but also many festivities and joyful times. And now much to catch up on before the year is up!

Some things i have been doing have been secrets because they were gifts. I try to keep christmas crafting to a minimum as it can be quite stressful, but i decided to make some small gifts for some of my friends. i decided a nice treat would be to knit the little mouse, marisol.

the pattern was a free download from ravelry - but there is also an updated version of the pattern, or even a kit for your own marisol  from the yarnigans shop (lovely)

i like the name marisol for a mouse.

I was quite ambitious and wanted to make loads and loads of mice, and knitted a few heads

but in the end i only managed to finish a couple in time for christmas.
here are  the marisol mice i made.

Also i was very pleased because my sister knitted two little mice for me! Rich says they look like they have moustaches.

sweet ones i think!

I will be back soon as I have not forgotten my list.... 3 days left!

Yours festively,
Emilia. xxxx

Handy Mittens

Now the weather has turned to ice - but luckily for the last couple of weeks i have been working on these delights from my knitting book of olden days.

These are men's mittens - for a man who must use his fingers (so it says). But i used smaller needles and they have come out quite a good fit. Possibly a little bit long though.. but not to worry.

here you can see the fronts and backs! 

And i used some wool from my stash - some lovely vintage colinette (my mum gave me from a long long time ago!) and so it means these are lovely in blended inky colours. I am very pleased.

Yours warm of hand,
Emilia. x

Lovely Gloves

In the summer I went to stay with my nanny and granddad in yorkshire. It was so lovely to spend time with them. I have a lot on common with my nanny as she also loves to make things. 

As a present, she said i could take some of her old knitting needles (i love the old coloured and plastic ones the best!) and also this book, Knitting for all (illustrated!)

 it's a little bit grubby on the cover - but it think it's in good condition for 66 years old

Inside is such a delight - so many vintage gems and so many great pictures  - the captions are amazing!

My first project from the book is a pair of gloves. I liked this pattern a lot because they were knitted on just two needles, and had a lovely pattern on them. I've never knitted gloves before so a good one to try.

I also chose these because they are made in a 4ply and I really love Rowan pure wool 4ply at the moment. I used it for my christmas moss detail jumper and also my raspberry cardigan and also the socks i made for mum. This time i used the same blue as the jumper again as it's such a lovely vintage shade.

And the result is most pleasant i would say. I have decided to put these ones for sale in my new shop (a new project for me!) but definitely want a pair of these for myself now so has gone on my list of projects. I am still working on my little shortie for myself at the moment. I have noticed that the season now is changing a little so i think the knitting pace will be picking up momentum very soon.

Yours cable hands,

Emilia. xxxxx

Sailor Socks

I really enjoyed the knitting of socks for mum as I found them much more fun than socks I had knitted in the past (my minimal sock knitting past) I think because the lace design was a lovely one and also because I really enjoy it when I am surprised by a pattern - sometimes the engineering (not sure if it's the right word) of the thing is really clever and it's not until i've finish that i realise how it all comes together (possibly a symptom of my weak shape visualisation ability) 

And so I decided to have a go at another pair as a small project to end my holiday and to use up a bit of some wool from my stash. 

And now they are finished!

It's nice to be doing some smaller projects at the moment as there is not much room left in my drawer for cardigans and jumpers! These are a good distraction for a bit.

Yours land ahoy,

Sock. xx

Birthday makes and birthday bakes

This weekend was full of birthday fun and I did lots of making and baking for the special occasions. This is a very nice thing about being on holiday - plenty of time for making and baking.

a nice feature of the socks is that they stand up alone.

Here are the socks I knitted for my mum. I used some rowan pure wool 4 ply in 'antique' and this pattern from the guardian. They were a real delight to knit, although perhaps could have been a little longer at the ankle. It's not often I knit socks though and these were definitely the best pair yet. I would like some for myself before the summer is out.

award winning!

On sunday we went for a garden party in honour of Mum's birthday and also because it had been mine and my sister's birthdays in July too. Mum's garden won first place in the Burgess Hill in Bloom competition (garden design category) so it was a treat to sit there in the sun. I am so pleased for Mum that she won and proud of her too. Gardens take a lot of work i think.

Mum had asked me to make a cake for the occasion as there were lots of people there and it is nice to help. I decided a good summer treat would be the apple and raspberry cake i made a few weeks ago.

two cakes are better than one (on the left is apple and raspberry cake and on the right Beth's birthday sponge)

Here is it on the left. And here on the right you can also see a birthday cake for my friend Beth. On saturday night we had a good old knees up for that event, and this sponge had come out really very nicely indeed. The recipe for this one is:

8oz butter/margerine, 8oz caster sugar, 9oz self raising flour, 3 eggs, 2 tablespoons of very hot water (added only once the other things are mixed together well). 

It makes a very lovely light sponge.

Also for Beth's birthday I knitted a red tea cosy just like ours. I have been really impressed with this little make as really does keep the pot hot. I even used the pattern I had written there so was pleased to have written it down to know what I did. I did make a couple of modifications though like having fewer stitches and making the ruffle in garter stitch. Beth likes tea and has a nice teapot so I thought this would be a good gift.

It's nice to be able to make nice things for presents. I am pleased with this time well spent.

And now it's time for a holiday!! 

Yours birthdaily,

Emilia. xxxx

Sewing the mouse (scruffy little mouse)

For a long time I have had this little mouse hanging around:

What a sweet picture he made. But tonight i thought it would be a nice thing to sew the mouse!

He went together in no time! What a sweet one.

He is a scruffy little thing. Not at all as neat as the model mouse in the photograph but I think i like him more this way.

Yours,

Mrs Mouse.  xxx

Be Square

I am devoting lots of attention to making our new flat into a warm and inviting abode and the next thing on my list after 1. tea cosy was 2. a set of coasters and table mats (because we have a table for eating - quite grown up)

My first idea was to knit some using one of the lovely stitches in my reader's digest book, but realised that this was making quite a lot of work for myself. Instead i decided to use a few icecream colours i had in my leftover wools and made some granny squares, inspired by some lovely coasters my friend Debbie gave me a couple of christmas ago.

I have run out of wool now, but have 4 table mats and 4 coasters. This should be enough as so far we have only had two of us for dinner. Guests soon i hope.

it is nice to be making useful things for the house and not just clothes. I have also had a go at some flatpack furniture. i am pleased to be expanding my making skills!

yours at home,
Granny