Another year older

It was my birthday on Saturday and DH ensured that I was spoilt. It was a 'significant' birthday and we'd always planned to go abroad for it but due to a number of reasons including the fact that it was Easter Weekend we decided to stay at home. My main present was an upgrade to my sewing machine:

I've already been playing and LOVE it. In addition I've got a second hand Embroidery machine which I've no idea how to use but am looking forward to learning.

We went to York for the weekend and visited the 'Quilt Art' exhibition at the The Quilt Museum which I loved. The weather was like high summer so sun glasses were worn. We later went out for a meal with friends to my favourite vegetarian restaurant which was great fun.

I was also spoilt by my Secret Santa: :


Birthday gifts including

This thoughtful package included a little package that Oscar was extremely interested in and he was very helpful in removing the tissue paper.


Oscar enjoying handmade dog biscuits

I hope he'll still accept the supermarket dog biscuits that he normally gets as his bedtime treat or am I going to have to start baking dog biscuits myself?

Let it fly.....

Following on from my last post I can finally reveal some more of the things that I made as Christmas presents:


Grumpy Fish Travel Organiser for my MIL

Pattern: Travel Organizer Tutorial by Thimble

With pockets for a passport, tickets, boarding pass and two zipped pockets for coins I thought that these would make useful gifts to be used for years to come.


Grumpy Fish Travel Organiser close up showing the zips

To date this is the most complicated sewing pattern I've tackled. I did it whilst having a crafty day with a couple of friends and without their help it wouldn't have been a success. The zips proved to be a bit complicated but I got there in the end.


Grumpy Fish Travel Organiser closed

I'm not happy with the elastic closure as I didn't measure it accurately & it's wonky but after nearly 7 hours of work I didn't have the heart to unpick it and reposition the elastic.

Then one for my Step Mum:


Flower Travel organiser

I was delighted when I found this solid cobalt blue cotton in Dunelm as it's just right with the other two fabrics.


Blue flower Travel organiser

and straight elastic!


Flower Travel organiser

and finally one for my Dad:


Travel Organiser

Dad loves oranges so I had to search for the right fabrics.


~Travel Organiser

I couldn't buy orange zips locally but found them here. However the smallest zips they sell are 7" so I made his organiser slightly bigger than the others but I now know that I could have cut them down once sewn into the fabric.

and a shot of the cover with the elastic tucked inside but it's straight I promise:


~Travel Organiser

I added medium weight iron-on interfacing to the two largest pieces of fabric to make them stiffer. DH thinks that the closure needs re-thinking as he's not impressed by the elastic but I'm happy with them.

I've also made another one but it won't be going to it's new home for a while so for now stays hidden. There is also another Christmas present to share but that deserves a post of it's own....

a real treat.....

I often wear socks that I've made myself and have made a few pairs for other people but have never had the chance to wear any made for me by someone else.

Until now that is:


Machine knitted Coral Snake socks

However there is something even more special about these socks. They were made in two & a half hours using a hand cranked sock machine!

I had in my stash 4 balls of a very soft yarn that is now discontinued so rather hard to find. It went in an aeroplane to America and in return I received Curlicue, Salem, Knitters Summer 2008 and the added bonus of course of these beautiful socks.


check out that short row heel!


For those interested in the construction the short rows on the heels and toes are done on the machine and the only part done by hand is the kitchener on the toes.

These machines were invented in the mid 1800's & then experienced a resurgence in popularity during the First World War. Popularised by the Red Cross they were used to provide troops with warm well fitting socks in an attempt to prevent the then killer 'Trench Foot'.

I wonder how long would it take me to use up my stash with one of these machines?

btw: If any of you have any Wendy Velvet Touch Chunky unloved in your stash and you'd like to give it a good home pm me via Ravelry and I'll put you in touch with a very willing recipient

Mini Knits

My sock mojo had escaped me this month so I've busied myself with lots of little projects but before I reveal them I need to share some other small things that I've made & forgot to blog about:


Round Dishcloth

Pattern: Round Dishcloth
Yarn: Peaches & Creme Ombres Lilac Ombre
Needles: 4.5mm
Dates: 6th - 18th of October 2008 but it wasn't grafted until after Christmas.
I really enjoyed this very quick pattern. I had lots of things OTN at the time so the dates are a bit misleading.


Round Dishcloth

Next time I'll use a provisional cast on so that the grafting is easier & invisible.


Christmas Lace Dishcloth

Pattern: Christmas Lace Dishcloth
Yarn: Double Top cotton from Texere Yarns
Needles: 3.75mm
Dates: October 18th - December 28th 2008. Again this is a quick knit but it was abandoned for ages due to everything that was going on in my life and the fact that I had loads of WIP's.


Christmas Lace Dishcloth

Now onto January. My good friend CL in Canada had a beautiful baby boy on January 19th so obviously I had to make him a few things. She doesn't read my blog very often and is VERY busy at the moment so I think I'm safe to post them here.

Blue Garter Stripe Baby socks

Pattern: Garter Stripe Baby socks
Yarn: Regia Uni colour 1255
Needles: 2mm
Dates: January 7th - 16th 2009

Blue Garter Stripe Baby socks

I really didn't enjoy the YO short rowed heel so did my own toe as I couldn't face the YO's again. These socks aren't as stretchy as I'd like but they're very cute. The intended feet are smaller than these socks so they will fit but I don't know how long for.

Then I made him a hat however DD & I had had a huge row the evening I started these and I was feeling very stressed. This meant that I used the wrong sized needle as I got confused with the US sizing and chose the size intended for a preemie size with Baby Cashmerino.

Very small Cabled Baby Hat

Pattern: Cabled Baby Hat
Yarn: Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran in navy
Needles: 3.75mm
Dates: January 16th 2009

It's absolutely tiny and is modelled on a grapefruit in these photos. I can't give it to the local preemie until as although the yarn is machine washable it wouldn't stand up to the temperatures that the hospital would subject it to.

So does anybody know of a tiny preemie little boy that could do with a hat? If so please either leave a comment and a way of me getting in touch with you or alternatively pm me via Ravelry.

So then I made another one for CL's baby who was a healthy 8lb 10oz at birth:

Cabled Baby Hat

Pattern: Cabled Baby Hat
Yarn: Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran in navy
Needles: 5mm
Dates: January 19th - 23rd 2009

This shot shows the patterning better:

Cabled Baby Hat

and a comparison shot of the two sizes:


Cabled Baby Hats

Then yet another small knit. I was racing out of the door to go to the knitting club that I run & needed something small, portable & uncomplicated:


Baby Socks in Regia Mini Ringel

Pattern: Baby Socks
Yarn: Regia Mini Ringel in Rio
Needles: 2.5mm
Dates: 17th - 20th January 2009

The yarn was given to me by Littleberry in a swap last year.

Baby Socks

I absolutely adore these socks but unfortunately don't have anyone to give them too at the moment but I'm sure that will change soon.

Baby Socks

DH likened having small amounts of a new sock yarn to pick 'n' mix cheeses whereby you can sample just a little bit before committing yourself to buying a bigger amount. Well it's worked on me I enjoyed knitting with the colour combination and will treat myself to this colourway one day.

Then I made another pair for CL's baby in Canada:


Baby socks

Pattern: Baby socks
Yarn: Regia Design Line Kaffe Fassett Landscape Storm
Needles: 2.5mm
Dates: 20th - 29th January 2009

Baby socks

This yarn was another 'pick 'n' mix' from Littleberry and pooled a bit but I think it just adds to their charm:


Baby socks

Then another hat:


Orange Ribbed Baby Hat

Pattern: 'Little Boy Blue' Baby Hat
Yarn: Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran
Needles: 4.5mm
Dates: 30th - 31st January 2009 although in reality it was one day but I finished it after midnight.


Orange Ribbed Baby Hat

So two hats in Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran and two pairs of blue baby socks will be on their way to Canada on Monday......

ETA: the Rio baby socks have reached their new home with Baby Addy in Canada but I think she needs a bit of time to grow in them them :)

Handspun Scarf

Handspun Scarf

Pattern: Yarn Harlot's Handspun Scarf
Yarn: 386 yards (3.9 skeins) of Noro Cash Iroha
Needles: 5mm
Time Taken: October 2007 - April 27th 2008 with a few big gaps in between knitting.


Handspun Scarf

This scarf had been intended as a Christmas present for my Dad & was nearly finished in time. However he then went abroad just before Christmas for a few months so it sat in a corner unfinished. He's now back in the country & loves his scarf.


Handspun Scarf

The yarn was ideal for this pattern as it's single ply really suited the stitch pattern & was so soft after washing.