FO Friday 15.02.19

Hey guess what? I got a whole nother adult hat out of my Caron Cupcake. Here they are together.

What a cute pair.

I have to say I don’t much enjoy sewing pompoms on. How do you stop them flopping all over the place? I tried sewing it as tight as I possibly could and it was still a bit woobly so I took it off.

My first Caron Cupcake experience was not at all what I expected. I will have to write a post about it, but not right now; I need a serious tidy up of my box room so I can make enough space for my very own bow!! I’ve been doing archery for almost a year now and I’m suuuuuuper excited to finally get my own equipment. So I’d better go and get on with it.

Has anyone else got FOs to share? Any fun plans for this weekend? Let me know in the comments!

Hannah

xXx

FO Friday 08.02.19

I was under the impression that a Caron Cupcake was exactly enough yarn to make one hat, hence the single pompom on top.

But I’ve finished my hat and there’s still this much yarn left.

So I guess I was wrong.

I think my idea for the cupcakes is better. One pompom = one hat with no leftovers. It’s just logical, and neat, and satisfies the completer-finisher in me.

Anyway, rant over. Here is my hat!

You may notice that it’s missing a certain embellishment. This is because I’m quite tempted to keep it, and I feel like I look silly enough in hats without adding a furry ball on top.

Luckily there’s enough yarn leftover to make another one so I shall add the pompom to that hat instead.

I’m not sure how big it will be. I don’t think it’ll make another adult sized hat, but also it will probably be too big for my friend’s baby. I’ll just have to make it and see what I end up with!

Probably not this weekend though; my parents are visiting tomorrow so I’ll be busy keeping them entertained. I’m going to take them to archery! Mum has wanted to try it even longer than me so I hope she will love it as much as I do.

And that’s all I’ve managed to finish this week. How’s about everyone else? Got some fun plans this weekend? Let me know in the comments!

Hannah

xXx

WIP Wednesday 06.02.19

Current WIP count: 4

It will come as no surprise to anyone that my itchy fingers got the better of me this weekend and I started another 2 projects.

The first is a hat, using a Caron cupcake that my brother bought me. I actually started this project once before, pulling from the centre of the cake as you do, but it came out like this.

When I finally noticed that I was making an accidental boob hat, I stopped and frogged it. This weekend was the first chance I got to start again, this time from the outside of the cake.

It’s turning out much better!

The other new start should make it into the history books to be remembered for all time, because I’m knitting my first ever gauge swatch!

I bought some beautiful WYS yarn last year specifically to make a jumper for myself. It’s my first knitted item of adult clothing EVER, and the yarn is just too pretty and silky soft to mess it up, so I’m determined to do everything by the book. I am aware that I could still make a right pig’s ear of it, but at least it won’t be for lack of preparation!

There has been some progress on the dragon so he now has ears, tail, and a tummy patch.

And I’ve realised why Roses for Grandma isn’t really going anywhere. The border is not an easily memorise-able pattern so it needs constant concentration and stitch counting, which really doesn’t work when I have Angel on in the background. So now I know this, I can schedule in some quiet time and give it the attention it deserves.

So it’s been a busy crafting week, and I’m enjoying having such varied projects to work on. There’s no chance of boredom setting in any time soon.

What’s everyone else crafting at this week? Any handy tips for my first knitted jumper? Let me know in the comments!

Hannah
xXx

FO Friday 01.02.19

White rabbits!

I have two totally different finishes to show for myself this week.

After a solid weekend of crochet and Buffy/Angel, I finished the Kalinda shawl with only a slight adjustment to the pattern.

It’s such a simple pattern that I didn’t want to add any faff with the border. I planned to end with another row of dc, but halfway down the first side I realised that the yarn was running out rather quickly and I would never win this game of yarn chicken. So I frogged back and went for a row of sc with 3 chains at the point to make it a bit pointier. I think it looks pretty good!

It is suuuuuper tempting to hold on to this beauty, but I already have more than enough scarves and shawls so now I have to decide who to give it to.

Stats
Yarn: Cotton Kings Twirl
Colourway: Brazilian Opal
Hook: 3.5mm
Pattern: Kalinda shawl by Crochetory

My second finish is the Caron Cake project bag I started a couple of weeks ago.

I’m still not a huge fan of the colours so not tempted to keep this one. Would anyone be interested in a giveaway for it?

It was pretty simple to make so I might do another one for myself in prettier colours.

Stats
Yarn: Caron Cake x2
Colourway: Strawberry trifle
Hook: 5.5mm
Pattern: One skein wonder carry-all

And that’s what I did this week. Anyone else got some FOs? Interested in winning the bag? Let me know in the comments!

Hannah

xXx

WIP Wednesday 09.01.19

Current WIP count: 2

Now that’s a manageable WIP list! I’ve started a bag to use up some Caron Cakes that have been lying in my stash for ages.

It’s not my favourite colourway (strawberry trifle) so I’ll probably give it away when I’m done. I really just wanted to try the folding method in the pattern.

Once this is done I’m going to focus on Roses for Grandma. It’s definitely time for some serious progress on it.

What’s everyone else working on this week? Let me know in the comments!

Hannah

xXx

There’s no such thing as too much yarn

Did I mention it was my birthday a couple of weeks ago? Honestly, April has whizzed past so quickly it feels like it was only yesterday.

Another present I got from my parents was a big box of yarn!

30 skeins to be exact; one for every year. There’s all sorts in there so I thought I’d have a proper look and share what I got.

There are some classics like a Caron Cake (have these shrunk??) Sugar n Cream, and some Women’s Institute in various colours.

Some gorgeously squishy stuff

Fun colourways

And my absolute favourite, the unicorn pack

It’s sparkly! I’m already digging around Ravelry trying to find the perfect project for it. Sparkly unicorn jumper anyone?

I really, definitely, absolutely must sort out my yarn stash now. Throwing it in all higgledy piggledy is just not working when I have so much. So that’ll be my exciting weekend!

Any suggestions for a pattern to use my unicorn yarn pack on? Let me know in the comments!

Hannah

xXx

FO Friday 27.10.17

If you’re reading this then I’m in Budapest!

Hopefully. If my scheduling actually works this time…

So I managed to finish both blankies in time for posting! They should be merrily on their way now.

This one here is for the eldest twin

And this is for the younger.

I really hope they like them. My friend is very good at sharing photos of the girls so hopefully I’ll get to see my lovies with their lovely owners.

What do you think? Which is your favourite? Let me know in the comments!

Hannah

xXx

WIP Wednesday 25.10.17

Current WIP count: 5

You know I said I was following a pattern for these blankies? I lied.

The bunny head is pretty much as per, but that’s it. The Red Heart pattern has the bunny at the corner of a square blanket and I realised I prefer them with the character in the middle. But instead of faffing about looking for a different pattern I decided to make it up as I went.

Of course making the blanket triangle-shaped was a conscious decision, thoroughly planned out. Nothing to do with me not realising that 18 doesn’t divide easily into 4. Nothing at all.

I could have frogged back and removed a row of decrease on the head so it could be square, but you know I’m in a rush (2 days til they need posting!) and I think being triangular makes them more unique. That’s what I keep telling myself, anyway.

Right now I don’t have an updated photo of the bunny blankie (I’ll see if I can add one in later), but it’s about the same length as this one.

Honestly, I’m not sure what animal this is supposed to be. I just went with a round head and some teddy bear type ears. It’s cute; that’ll do me.

All the fiddly amigurumi bits are finished now and granny stitch goes super quickly, so I’m sure I can get these finished on time. Well, as long as I don’t keep having issues with my Caron Cakes.

So far I’ve had one bit where the yarn had frayed and was barely holding on by one strand, one bit where the colour runs were ridiculously short (and the lighter coloured bits were much thinner than the rest), and one big chunk of this colour:

Is it grey? Is it brown? I can’t decide. But it is definitely nasty and I had to cut it out. That’s three lots of grafting together I had to do in just half of one cake. It might be time for a strongly worded letter to Caron.

Keep your fingers crossed that I can finish them both in time! What’s everyone else working on? Having any yarny problems like me? Let me know in the comments!

Hannah

xXx

WIP Wednesday 18.10.17

Current WIP count: 5

I’d got it right down to three. Three! But then I realised I wouldn’t be able to make it to the naming day of my friend’s twin girls, so I just had to make something to send to them in my stead.

Which leads to me making my very first foray into lovies. I really like these cute little blankies so I’m not sure why I’ve never made one before, but better late than never.

I’m following this Red Heart pattern, and using up the last bit of two Caron Cakes I had left after making my puff stitch scarf and star blanket; Funfetti and Mixed Berry.

Yes, they’re different colours, and the heads will be different animals as well. I know from experience (I have a brother and a sister) what battles can ensue when siblings have two of the same item.

I also remember how cross I used to get when my Aunty bought me and my sister exactly the same presents year in year out, when we’re as different as it’s possible to be while still being related. I will not be that Aunty.

I’ve only done a couple of rounds of the Funfetti one so there’s not much point showing that, but this is where I’m up to with the Mixed Berry one.

I may have nicked some Funfetti orange for the inside of the second ear…

As the naming day is Friday next, everything else is on hold so I can get these finished and posted out in time. I’ve got a few free evenings this week so I should manage it.

In other news, I just signed up for #stitchingsanta2017 and I’m super excited! A secret santa just for crafty people, it can only be amazing 😀 Click on the link to have a looksee and join in if you fancy it.

Got any lovie tips for me? Thinking of joining #stitchingsanta2017? Let me know in the comments!

Hannah

xXx

WIP Wednesday 23.08.17

Current WIP count: 7

I made it into single figures! WOO HOOOO! But I’m still gonna keep knocking them off until I get to a proper, sensible number. Maybe 3 or 4.

The star blanket has been plodding on for far too long, and I’ve decided I’m going to finish it this week.

This is somewhat helped by the decision not to use a whole second Caron Cake on it. Firstly because it’s already big enough for a baby/toddler blanket, and secondly because the rounds are now so long that the colour sections can’t make a complete stripe all the way around.

So I’m very nearly finished!

It’s mind-numbingly easy now (having half done the stupid thing twice already) so to keep my brain in good working order I’m also piecing together this little celtic knot coaster.

Although it feels more like breaking my brain at the moment, trying to get every over and under in the right order is much more difficult than I remember.

That’s all for this week as I focus on the star blanket. What’s everyone else working on? What’s your ideal number of WIPs? Let me know in the comments!

Hannah

xXx

FO Friday 28.07.17

Here is my finished puff scarf, which I have wanted to show off since I finished it last Saturday morning! 

I’m really pleased with the colours now. So glad I had that other Caron Cake to play with.

Aside from that, I have no crochet FOs to show you. I’ve been working on the bigger items so it’ll take a wee while to finish them off. BUT I have been beavering away with my paper stash and have quite a few finished cards to show off:

I learned this new technique and am doing it do death 😉

This idea came from Isn’t She Crafty, although I had to alter it a bit as I didn’t have any ribbon that went with the scraps.

Despite buying the least useful set of letters ever, I managed to make a few wooden scrabble tile cards.

‘Ren’, ‘Non’, and ‘Pare’ are some gender-neutral terms for children to call their parents, if you’re wondering.

There’s also this card I made during my woodstamp printing workshop

I was really surprised at how well the yellow shows up on the card. I was expecting it sort of fade into the background, so I could stamp a different colour slightly off-centre and it would look like a shadow or reflection. In the end I liked it this way so much I just left it as it is!

So that was my rather productive week.

As I’m away next week helping out with a summer camp for girls, there won’t be any WIP Wednesday or FO Friday post. Or much crochet being done at all, really. So I probably won’t be liking or commenting until a week on Sunday at the earliest, but I will do my best to catch up when I can, and hopefully my scheduled posts will actually publish in the meantime!

How’s everyone’s Friday going? Got any FOs to show off? Let me know in the comments!

Hannah

xXx

WIP Wednesday 26.07.17

Current WIP count: 10

I’m weak! With only 3 things crossed off my WIP list, I started another one.

But really, how could I resist this gorgeous tabby cat yarn from Mothy and the Squid?

Especially after I managed to turn it into a rather presentable cake.

To understand how proud I am of this little ball, here’s the last skein I tried to turn into a cake.

It took me 10 days to sort the mess I made.

So this beautiful yarn was sitting on the table, staring at me, when I came across the Lost In Time shawl pattern. It was an intsant yes! This is what I have so far and already I love it:

As for my other WIPs, I’ve done more rounds on the star blanket, and now I’m trying to decide whether I really want to use a whole second Caron Cake on it. I’m beginning to think not. Maybe I could use the rest to make various matching accessories. We’ll see.

Still behaving.

Side note: working on a sock yarn and an aran yarn project at the same time is a strange experience. It always feels like I’m either working with cobwebs or nautical rope.

There’s been a little progress on the doily; somewhat stalled because I’m really not sure about the colours I’ve chosen. I’m waiting for the requester to get back to me and let me know if it’s okay.

I also tried attaching two wheels to the camper van, but they’re wonky. I have yet to face removing them and trying again.

Curse these wheels.

The two kindle cosies are on the blocking mats and I’ll sew them up once they’re dry.

So we’re still in double figures for my WIP list, but I have to admit I’m not sorry at all!

What are you working on this week? Started any irresistible WIPs? Let me know in the comments!

Hannah

xXx