Socks and Blocks

This week I have mostly been knitting my socks.  As I said last week, I wanted to knit another pair of socks in the same style as the ones I've just finished, but with a few tweaks to the stitch count further up the foot.  I decided to cast on straight away with another yarn from stash.  Once again it is my very favourite Regia yarn, which is comfortable, hard wearing and machine washable.  It also comes in lots of different colourways.  This one is rather bright!

This colourway is discontinued, which is why I got it cheaply.  The range of sock yarn it came from is Flusi Das Socken Monster.  Isn't that a fabulous name?  I also used this self-striping yarn as not only was it from stash, but it is one of the last of my collection of self-striping yarns.  These striping yarns are fantastic at bringing interest to plain stocking stitch socks, but they do tend to hide stitch patterns.  I have one more set of striping yarn and then I will only have sock yarn that is variegated or has very long colour changes.  Once I get this basic sock sorted, I want to start adding stitch patterns to make the knit more interesting again, and I'd rather used up the striping yarn on these plain socks first.

As you can see from the above photo, I am continuing with the spiral toe, as it really is the most straight forward method of starting the sock.

I've actually got quite a long way through the foot.  I went out to meet some old friends on Monday afternoon and I just knit round and round in circles for 4 hours.  It's amazing what you can achieve when you aren't really looking!

In addition to going round and round on my socks, I've been going round and round in blocks - of crochet.  I've been working on a gift, which I wasn't really going to talk about but I just wanted to tell my fellow crafters of a way of doing a fairly solid crocheted block, which looks neater than the way I've been doing it for the last few years.  Here is the block that is done the way I have always done them (but usually in a granny square style which has gaps in the construction).

Then I found this pattern.  This pattern has the round beginning and ending at a corner (where the holes in the material are).  It's much neater, in my opinion.

This is the last I will probably show you of these little squares until they are assembled, but I wanted to share the method for anyone else who wanted to do a more solid crocheted square.

To see other people's work in progress, click on the button.

Making Up A Monster

I'm currently in the throes of making a monster.  I am inventing it myself, for one of my nephews for Christmas.  Recently I have enjoyed crocheting animals with Stacey Trock's patterns, and knitting monsters with Rebecca Danger.  I decided to blend what I've learnt from both pattern designers and from my own pattern writing and try something new for me, designing a crochet monster.  Here is how far I've got:

I'm using Cascade 220 Superwash, which I've become very fond of.  It has a lovely handle and creates nice crisp stitches.  Though the yarn is worsted weight, I'm using a 4mm hook to create a dense fabric.  It's a lovely texture, with all those tight, crisp stitches, created by crocheting into the back of the stitch.

The feet and hands of the monster are in the same colour.

I'm also adding a face in the same contrast colour, using intarsia.

The face bit is all squished up due to the strands of yarn running across the back.  These will be cut and knotted together when the face is complete.

I crocheted the arms and legs first before joining the legs together and starting the body.  I then joined the arms and started decreasing, to create raglan style shaping.

I've had a few challenges while working on this monster, but I'm really enjoying it too.  I've been writing up the pattern as I go, so hopefully I will be able to duplicate it once it's finished.  I'm still not sure how it's going to look when it's done, especially the face, but I have a few days left to decide before it has to be wrapped up!

For other works in progress, click on the button.

Little Grey Mitts

One of the selfish projects that I told you about on Wednesday, was finished in two days.  I was inspired earlier this week by the sudden drop in temperature.  My hands really suffer from the cold, sometimes when the rest of me feels quite warm.  I think it's a side effect of some of the drugs I take, because my feet suffer too, to a lesser extent.  As my hands were really painful with cold, I wanted a quick fix to sort things out.

I looked around and saw the left over yarn from a cowl I made for my friend (which once again I haven't blogged about, I really must catch you up!).  The yarn I used was Araucania Aysen.  It's a merino/alpaca/silk mix and it is aran weight.  It is gloriously soft and incredibly warm.  The left overs seemed perfect for some mitts.

I grabbed a 4.5mm crochet hook and got going.  I made these.

They are so lovely and warm that I can't believe I didn't do this before!  I also can't believe how quickly they worked up, but they are just a flat piece sewed up the side with a gap left for the thumb.

If anyone is interested in how I did it, here it goes:

I used around 50g of this aran weight yarn which equates to approximately 90yds/97m, and a 4.5mm hook.  I've used the abbreviation DC to indicate a US double crochet.  In UK terminology this equates to a treble stitch.

• Ch31, turn DC into 4th loop back and DC into each chain until the end of the row. Ch3 turn. 
• DC into 2nd DC, from the previous row, back. DC into each following DC for the rest of the row. 
• Repeat last instruction until 18 rows are created and then cut the yarn leaving approximately 12" before pulling it through the last live stitch on the hook. 
• Match together the top and bottom edges of the rectangle (the top being the edge just worked on and the bottom being the beginning chain row). Using a tapestry needle threaded onto the long piece of yarn, whip stitch over edge to edge for 12 DCs, ensuring both the starting stitch and the finishing ones are secure by sewing over them several times. 
• Run the yarn down a further 8 stitches, by whip stitching over only one of the edges, and then secure the next stitch with the matching one on the opposite edge, by looping over both stitches several times before using whip stitch over both edges to the end of the row. At the end of the row secure the stitch by duplicating it several times.
• Run the yarn through the fabric of the mitts in two directions to ensure it is anchored before trimming. Sew in the starting tail of yarn in the same way.

And there we have it.  A a pair of warm and soft crocheted mitts to stop my hands freezing while I type.  To be honest, I've put the instructions here so that I can do it again if I need to, without having to work it out again before I start!

 

I'm sharing this with FO Friday, which you can check out by clicking a button.

Complete Cow

No, someone hasn't been unpleasant to me, I literally have a cow that is complete.  Do you remember I told you about FreshStitches Crochet-a-long (or as I refer to it in my head cow-a-long)?  Well I've finished - and done a photoshoot that doesn't involve plonking it on a chair!

So may I introduce you to my new favourite toy - the cow!  I suppose I should name my cow, the pattern is called Jackie, but I feel that my cow has a different personality to Jackie, she is more of an Ermintrude type of cow, even if she isn't pink!  For those of the incorrect age and nationality to understand my reference, here is a little video of a children's classic from the seventies - The Magic Roundabout.

As with my Teal Bird, I made Ermintrude with Hayfield Bonus Chunky.  It is a great (read cheap) yarn for toys as it is 100% acrylic and therefore washable. I LOVE using chunky yarn for amigurumi as it gives you a lovely sized toy.  This pattern is around the same sort of pattern size as the teddy bear, designed by Stacey Trock from my Craftsy course, which was crocheted in Cascade 220 Superwash, which is worsted weight.  I took a photo to compare sizes.

As you can see, it makes quite a difference to the overall size.  This pattern had lots of fun details on it, I particularly love the face.

The spots are made by crocheting two shapes and then sewing them together before sewing them to the cow.

In the photo above, you can also see the tail, which is a lovely little detail.  As with all my toys, I sewed my label onto Ermintrude's bum!

I love this toy and it is sitting quietly by the fireplace, waiting for a visit from a child, to be played with.  This is one toy I am not giving away (for a change).  Ermintrude is a decent size to be ornamental, until a child wants to pick her up.

My other half agrees, that this a cow with attitude, that can stay and keep us company.  I'm so glad I took part in this cow-a-long and I know it won't be long before I'm crocheting another of Stacey's patterns, as I pre-bought the Choose Your Own Dragon Adventure that is due for release this week!  This is another pattern that will work brilliantly with chunky yarn - I had better get choosing my colours!

To see other finished projects, click on a button.

Crocheting Continues

I have had so much fun doing my Craftsy course with Stacey Trock.  She is a lovely teacher and I've learnt loads.  I have now finished the second project in the series, which is a bear.  Isn't he grand?

My only problem with the project, was running out of the main colour and having to use the paler brown to make the ears.  I don't think it looks too weird though.

I was unsure about the positioning of the eyes, but they have grown on me.  I think it gives him a quizzical expression.

What do you think?  I think he would have looked better with the safety eyes I used for my Teal Bird, but this bear is destined to be loved by a baby, so his eyes have to be woolly.  I think his huggability levels are high though.  I mean look at how squishy he is!

He's got a great booty!  I think no one could resist such a bear.  What do you think?

I am probably going to take a little break from this course, as my OH is desperate for me to try out my Big Book of Knitted Monsters.  I think he wants his very own Computer Monster to blame for the state of his cable box!

I think I might let him chose the first project from the book, to see if my theory is right, as it really seems to have captured his imagination in a way most of my projects don't.  I can't resist his interest!

Before I list the buttons to link to other people's projects can I take a moment to post a little advert on my brother's behalf.  He is going to be running the Jane Tomlinson Half Marathon in Leeds on 13th May to raise money for Bliss.  Bliss is a UK charity that is working to provide the best possible care and support for all premature and sick babies and their families.  If you would like to show your support for this long run my brother is doing, and this very worthwhile charity, please click here to donate money on his JustGiving page.

How could anyone resist that face??  Thank you for listening.

Now back to to our normal programme!  To look at other finished projects, click a button!

Crafting Balance - 3KCBWDAY7

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Are you a knitter or a crocheter, or are you a bit of both? If you are monogamous in your yarn-based crafting, is it because you do not enjoy the other craft or have you simply never given yourself the push to learn it? Is it because the items that you best enjoy crafting are more suited to the needles or the hook? Do you plan on ever trying to take up and fully learn the other craft? If you are equally comfortable knitting as you are crocheting, how do you balance both crafts? Do you always have projects of each on the go, or do you go through periods of favouring one over the other? How did you come to learn and love your craft(s)?

You would never know it from my blog or my Ravelry Projects Page, but I actually learnt how to crochet before I learnt to knit.  I taught myself from a book, The Encyclopedia of Crochet Techniques. I really enjoyed learning to crochet and loved the sturdy 3D forms I could make and the lacy blankets that I was having fun with.

Early Crochet

1. Acorn Project Bag, 2. Beaded Necklace, 3. Crochet French Knitter Caddy, 4. Baby Blanket

Then as I was looking at the more advanced crochet patterns I found myself wanting to create smooth fabric.  I liked the idea of learning to knit so I could create smooth fabrics and then apply lacy crochet to embellish them.  I tried to find a book to teach me to knit and found I got the basics but when I tried to understand knitting patterns I struggled.  So I took a class to learn how to knit and was taught how to read patterns.  And I'm afraid that was it, I was addicted to the needle as opposed to the hook.  I left the hook stranded as I explored my passion.

Early Knitting

1. Kid Classic Bolero Jacket, 2. Baby Hat, 3. Hat, 4. Kidsilk Haze Scarf

It is only recently, nearly 4 years later, that I find myself wanting to crochet more.  I think Marie at Underground Crafter was the instigator, when she sent me the Tunisian Crochet Hook and instructions how to use it.  That made me start looking at how interesting crochet could be, and it didn't all have to be bags and toys.

Also looking at modern crochet magazines has inspired me to start improving my skills, in particular patterns such as; Infinity Wrap, Rosemary Sweater, Rapunzel and Boteh Scarf.

There have recently been members of my knitting group who have brought crochet projects that have really interested me.  I want to move past the small scale projects and start moving up.  I really want to increase my crochet skills so that I can chose the best craft for each design idea I have.

It will be quite a long road to learning how to crochet as well as I can, but I spent 4 years getting to the stage I am with knitting, so why not spend the same amount of effort of learning to crochet too?

Photography Challenge Day! - KCBWDAY2

Today is the Photography Challenge Day.  Here is my entry.

Big Teal Bird Needs More Food to Get Bigger, but finds The Bird Feeder Not Quite Big Enough

This is the bird I crocheted from Stacey Trock's Woodland Animals Amigurumi Class, that I first talked about here.

I love my huge Teal Bird, I kind of wish he was staying in my house, rather than travelling down to Dorset for my niece's birthday next month.  Ah well, I can enjoy him until then, especially as I've already ordered the yarn for a teddy bear from the same class.  I have become a toy junkie!

Trying New Stuff

I made a decision last week to not kill myself to finish the cot quilt before visiting the new baby.  I knew the journey to Dorset would be long and painful and starting the journey tired and in pain would not have been very sensible.  Once that decision was made I had a panic as I wanted to take something handmade to the new baby.  I did an emergency Skinny Kitty.

I used Sirdar Snuggly DK and used less than half a skein.  I did a really small and sweet face using 4 ply sock yarn.  It was well received and all the other children in the room, plus the new baby's mum, wanted one too!  I enjoyed making this little kitty so much I decided that it was time to get back to toy making.  I bought The Big Book of Knitted Monsters by Rebecca Danger.

Then, as I was ordering one book, I decided to add another one to the package.  I bought Textured Stitches by Connie Chang Chinchio.

Both books are great and I'll talk about them soon.  While I was waiting for my books, I decided to take advantage of a special deal to purchase a course from Craftsy.  If you haven't heard of Craftsy, it's an interesting new site that sells online crafting courses and you can sell patterns of all craft types.  I've loaded my patterns onto the site, including my free sewing patterns.  The site isn't perfect yet, but the concept is very exciting, and they are working on improving things all the time.

The course I signed up for was Amigurumi Woodland Animals and the course is taught by Stacey Trock of Fresh Stitches. I've been an avid reader of Stacey's blog for a while now and I love her cute amigurumi creations.  I particularly like that her designs are a decent size for squishing.  I loved the 4 patterns that you get free with the course and decided it was time to dip my toe in the Craftsy classes water.

I have to say this new way of teaching is great.  I've only just started working my way through the class and all I have to show for it are two wings for the Blue Bird pattern.

It is recommended that worsted weight yarn is used but I wanted the bird to be bigger than 6" tall, so I've decided to use some bulky acrylic yarn from my stash.  This is no longer a blue bird but a Teal Bird.  I haven't crocheted in some time and I learnt originally from a book rather than a person, so this was another reason I bought the course.  I've already learnt some new tips on counting rounds and stitches which was really useful.  You can start and stop the video classes and add notes to find relevant bits again easily.  There is also a space to ask questions and other students, as well as Stacey, can join in the conversations.  All in all, it seems a really great course and the way it is set up is fantastic.  It is pretty much the only way I can get to craft classes now, so I can see myself signing up for more of these in the future.

I'm enjoying the crocheting for a change.  All my knitting seems to be either garter stitch or stocking stitch, in the round, and it is making my left index finger hurt.  I'm mixing things up by crocheting and casting on another project that involves purling.  I've treated myself to casting on my Manos Del Uruguay Merino Silk Blend DK and doing a really simple single rib scarf to keep my index finger moving more.

I decided to try a new cast on for this and did some research on how to get a nice ribbed cast on.  I discovered the Tubular Cast On.  Woolly Wormhead has a great tutorial on how to do it.  I love how it looks.

It's such a nice flexible edge and it will stop the cast on edge flaring out the way my last single rib scarf did.

See how much better it looks, doing it the new way.  I find single rib very very soothing, especially when it is knit in gorgeous yarn.  This Silk Blend yarn is delicious and I know I'm going to enjoy doing this scarf.  There is no deadline, it is decadent and self indulgent knitting, at it's best.  Nothing is better while I am recovering from my trip to Dorset.  I don't know, two days days away and I'm a wreck!  Single rib is all I can cope with at the moment.  Hopefully I'll get my mojo back soon and I'll be able to get back to finishing off some of my long standing projects, until then I'm enjoying playing with toys and scarves!

And The Crafting is Back!

I have actually taken some photos today.  It helped that the sun was shining.  At the moment the temperatures are 10°C higher than the average for the time of year.  That's quite a significant amount.  All of my partner's colleagues are thanking him for bringing back the sunshine from Cyprus.  Thinking about it, the same thing happened when we went to Turkey last year.  Maybe he should have a whip round at work to send us away more often, so we can bring the sunshine back with us more often!


Anyway, back to the crafting.  As this is a Wednesday, I've got to share my WIPs.  I shall start with the crocheting I did on the plane journeys.  It wasn't very much.

Yup, that's it for two flights of four and a half hours each.  My only excuse is that I ended up reading a lot.  Oh and I was suffering from a nasty cold on the way back.  (If you know anyone who was on the flight from Paphos to East Midlands Airport on Saturday 24th September, tell them I'm sorry for the germs).   The pattern is a simple ripple, and is on Ravelry here.  I've never rippled before so I am enjoying it.  It will make great knit club project, or when we have company round.  I like to have projects like this on the go, as you know, so I'm sure it will get finished eventually.  It is being knit in Noro Kureyon Sock, and I am enjoying the colours as they emerge.  


I am currently storing my crochet in this little beauty.

It was waiting for me when I got home.  Take a look at the lining.

Sorry the photo isn't better, it's hard to get the zipper open enough to show it properly.  This box pouch is really well put together.  I'd been meaning to make one for ages, as it is a perfect style of project back.  But I didn't need to make it, because it was a prize from the lovely Jocelyn of Handmade By Knotty Gal.  It was surprise what I was going to win as there were around 5 different prizes and to enter we had to say which one we liked the best.  I gave a couple of options and I'm so pleased this is the one I got.  It is lovely fabric and really well made.  It's also not fabric I would buy myself, which means this is is a real treat.  I don't really buy pink, but I do secretly quite enjoy it in small vibrant doses!  So thanks Knotty Gal, I love my prize!


Anyway, back to my crafting.  I have made decent progress on the Austin Hoodie.  I am nearly up to the woven bands.

I do love the false seam, they look so smart.  I haven't really touched this since I got back off holiday though, because I have been obsessed with this:

It doesn't look much does it?  Well I believe it is going to be gorgeous.  It is my second version of my shawl design.  I finished the first version before I went on holiday and I've finally got a couple of photos of it, but I won't share those now.  I will share on Friday!  I am knitting this version in Rowan Fine Lace, which is their new lace weight yarn.  It is 70% Suri Alpaca and 30% Merino.  It is a beautifully soft and warm yarn.  There is also a very slight halo.  I think this shawl will be light and warm and versatile.  I can't see myself parting with it.  Hopefully as I finish this version, I will be able to finalise the pattern I've written sufficiently to get it test knitted.  Fingers crossed it will be done in a few weeks.  I am really proud of this pattern and I can't wait to show you the finished version.


I am also making progress on the Mitred Crosses Blanket for Japan.  I have finished knitting all the blocks and I have joined the top row together, using the three needle bind off method suggested by the pattern.  I haven't taken a photo of this, but maybe next week if I get any more put together, I will remember to get the camera out for an update.


So there we are, an update on most of my WIPs.  To see other projects in progress, click on the button below.