New year , new skills

I plan to learn 3 new skills in 2013, first up is crochet , it's been on my list before but I've a feeling this is the year!
2nd is to learn new knitting skills, there is always something new to learn in knitting but I reckon I might try some colour work and text in 2013. I reckon text on my knitting projects might be kinda awesome!
3rd up is to do some yoga and mediation, I've realised I'm mega unfit and need to try some kind of exercise:)
I've other things in the pipeline this year I bought a fab new photo journal which I plan to fill with pics and memories from the upcoming year.



Here are some pics sent from my friends who got toasty hot water bottles from me at Christmas.
They have all found happy homes:)



Jill's


Bethan's



And mine!







Happy new year.

Christmas knits

I've started my Christmas knitting, I know, I know it is mega early but I need to have my pressies ready for the end of November. Our family are having an early mini Christmas and I can't be empty handed.
This is my 3rd project,I've made my brothers gift a fab cowl in a denim grey. The pattern is from the lovely blog knit and bake, see below.




and my sisters gift,




now on to friends!




Wish me luck!

Jewellery wall hanging

I have ALOT of jewellery, an embarrassing number of necklaces and bracelets! The problem with having that much jewellery is you never wear it all as you can't remember what you have, oops.

I decided the best way to deal with this issue was to make my own jewellery wall hanging. This way I can see what I have and what best matches my outfits. Win.
So with a little bit of wood from B&Q some PVA glue and some fabric I made this.

It's super easy to make and you can fit lots on there! You don't even have to cover it with fabric, I just like patterns and I have alot of fabric hiding in draws.

New Ipod cosy

When I received knitting needles as a gift for Christmas 5 yrs ago the first item I made was a plain knit ipod cosy for my ipod. It travels in my bag nearly every day so it is a little worse for wear to say the least! As I have a day off today I decided to make myself a new cover.
I made this pattern up but it is dead easy, just measure how many stitches wide you need it to be,mine was 16 stitches. I knitted a rib pattern for a few inches for the front flap and then changed to garter stitch for the rest, changing colour every 4 lines. knit to desired length and stitch up the sides. I'm going to add a button to the front flap to finish it off,easy peasy.
 I love my new stripey cosy, lets  hope it lasts for the next 5 yrs.

I love Autumn

September is my favourite month, I love bright crisp mornings, wearing lots of wool, picking berries, making preserves and knitting with a hot cuppa tea.
I've started my preserve making with one of my favs, mango chutney with lots of nigella seeds thrown in.

The postie has just been,my wool has arrived to finish my jumper, hello autumn!

I love it so much I'm making another one!

I looked through my wool stash and found lots of spare autumnal colours so I decided to make another one. I love how it's looking so far. I have run out of the brown so need to get more, project on a standstill till then.

It's made with a lovely alpaca wool blend in golden mustard and a silk blend copper brown.
I can't wait till autumn arrives so I can wear it:)

Summer Jumper project Cap Sleeve Lattice Top

 I was looking for a quick Summer project to make with wool from my existing stash. I stumbled upon this pattern on the beautiful Purlbee blog. They have fab patterns and this one jumped out at me straight away. The original pattern is made in a beautifully subtle grey and cream, I love these colours but my stash is full of colour!
 The main body is Sidar Balmoral wool , alpaca, silk DK blend, the top lattice is an amazing electric blue poshy wool I bought about a year ago. It is called scrumptious 4ply sport superwash silk superwash merino. Its looking good so far, the lace is fine to do as long as you don't make a mistake, it's stressy picking up lace stitches on circulars!

My First yarn bomb y'all

I got an amazing knitting machine in a charity shop back in January which ended up in my craft room/spare room for a few months. I rediscovered it in May and though it would be perfect for yarn bombing. You can make stuff super quickly with it, so it is perfect for big pieces. However in saying that I started off small and made this cuff.
 I popped it in my bag ready for the right moment to wrap it round a tree!
I was in Bath city one Sunday sitting in Queens park eating a yummy burger for lunch when I spotted the perfect tree for my first yarn bomb. No one seemed to notice much, I got one or two looks but I was too busy trying to sew it together to care.
Over a month later it is still there, I reckon I'll add to it next time I'm in town.

Cardie finished

 I finished this cardie way back in Feb but I haven't been on my blog in a while, so here you go the finished item. I'm super pleased with it, and phew it fits!
I bought really lovely buttons in a shop in Bath, they are Japanese,bright green on wood.
pics taken in Mels Ironworks Somerset,England.

Cardie progress

I took a break from the cardie for a few months as I was making Christmas pressies.

January 1st and I decided to tackle the dreaded Icord edging. I had been worried about it as the instructions seemed complex. After reading it for the 20th time I opened up YouTube and found a video tutorial. Perfect Icord done.




Next up was buttonholes on Icord, again YouTube to the rescue. I love the Icord it leaves a lovely professional edge.








Next step pockets. Then I'm done.