In Limbo

It's safe to say I'm currently in Limbo.  Knitting has come to a halt mid pattern, that's never a good thing with me.   I can safely say this year is a testing one so far, with what looks like more to come. We're not even halfway through and I can't wait for it to be over.  Yup that's how it is!

It looks like we'll be moving to our forever home in four months time, if everything goes to plan.  That in it's self is going to be a challenge, thankfully it's only about 20km from where we are now. 

But I have to say starting again from scratch making a house a home, getting it exactly as you want it it going to take time and patience....... I can see some major debates about taste in decor, as we are exact opposites...... one likes black & silver whilst the other is bright and colourfull.

Anyway I had a quick look over the crafty pages and love this, hopefully I can do it in the new place to brighten up a room.

You could also spray the twig for an added clarity.  Goodness can we please have summer now!

More Charity Knits

Phew! I seem to be falling behind in my postings, well more like keep forgetting or get distracted.

Anyway I used up all my Aran yarn scraps by making some charity knits. A couple of pet blankets and a bundle of hats.

 I really liked the Antler hat pattern, even reversed the pattern midway through on the blue one for a different look.

This is just a sample.  It cleared all the odd balls though. Just in time for the new additions of yarn to my stash.  so much for trying not to buy more yarn!

Biker Birthday Card

I swear everybodys birthday is trying to sneak past me... you know, there I am out shopping, seeing Mothers day stuff all over and so I get stuff to be prepared for it, despite not knowing exactly when it is.  Only when I get home and look at the calendar.........Duh...... Bro's birthday next week........ Darn it!

Ummmm what or how do you put together a "Man" card? Well even when I buy one it's not what I want ..... I mean really, when have you seen a card really suited to a guy who's into bikes, boats, or always up  to his elbows in engine parts?  Maybe I'm just blind, but it's been decades since I've seen one even half suitable.

Since his life is revolved around his bike I thought I may as well try a card like that.  I found some images online to use, although I don't know what he'll think of my choice.  But had I been allowed to go for my bike license, I would have one something like it.

Rough guide to clog/croc sock liners

I promised this many moons ago, a basic how to, so to speak. Basically if you can knit socks you can make liners for your clogs/crocs.  What you are doing is making something similar to a trainer sock.

I used 50g dk. 3.5mm & 4mm DPNs.

First measure around the opening of the shoe, this will tell you roughly how many sts to cast on. Remember you will be stretching the rib, so you have to take that into account.

Using 3.5mm Cast on X (68 in my case). Rib for desired length. (This is the fold over part).

Divide for Heel

Put half sts on needle one (34), divide remaining between needles 2 & 3 (17). Change to 4mm needles, work 8 rows stocking stitch, on needles 2 & 3. With right side facing continue as follows;

Slip 1, K half the heel sts, slip 1, psso, K1 turn

Slip 1, P 3 sts, P 2 tog, P1 turn

Knit rows; Knit to 1^st before the gap (where you turned) Slip 1, K1, psso, K1 turn

Purl rows; Purl to 1^st before the gap, Slip 1, P 1 psso, P1 turn.

Repeat last 2 rows until no sts left to turn. (18)

Pick up sts along the gusset turn, purl to end, pick up sts along other side gusset turn.(5sts both sides in my case)

On a normal sock you would now work needle 1 ~ we are NOT going to do that. But we will take a stitch from it on each row.

Working on needles 2 & 3.

Place marker. K2, K2 tog through back of loop, K to last 4 sts, K2 tog K2. Place marker. K1 from needle 1 turn.

Purl to end, P1 from needle 1.

Continue until you have decreased down by the amount of sts you picked up from the gusset. ( I now have 52sts on 2 & 3). now we work Needle 1. I Knit across it decreasing 6 sts evenly so I had 46 sts in all. If you knit socks you will know roughly how many you should have at this stage. I think I should have left this at 50sts.

Continue in stocking stitch until about 2 inches short of desired length.

Put ½ sts on Needle 1, this is the sole. Find the center stitch from the heel and use this as you guide. Divide the remainder between needles 2 & 3.

Decrease toe as you would normally. In my case it was as follows

Needle 1 ~ K1, K2tog Through back of loop, knit to last 3 sts, K2tog, K1

Needle 2 ~ K1, K2tog Through back of loop, knit to end

Needle 3 ~ K to last 3 sts, K2 tog K1

Next row and every alternate row K.

Repeat until you have about 18 sts left. Graft together. I'm lazy so I just knit the corresponding sts for both needles at the same time and cast off.

I put the clog heel strap over the arch and used 2 strands of yarn to tie the sock in place.

The odds n ends

Well it's been a wee while, I don't know where the time has gone.  But I'm glad that January is over.  It's known to me as the too many bills month as everything seems to be due then.

I was trying to  think what I had been doing with myself other than running around like a headless chicken for a couple of weeks, trying to get everything sorted for forms that landed on the doormat on the 2nd Jan.  Being a Scot I was still enjoying the remnants of Hogmanay/New Year celebrations.

 

So what was knitted?  Well I've been using up the scraps. Starting with  this layette from Lion Brand with matching bonnet.  This is the second time that I've knitted this up.  This time it was a surprise for someone who's daughter had a baby.   It's such an easy quick knit.

Then I thought I'd try my hand at gloves. I've never ever made any before. Now that I've actually made a few I'm wondering what was so intimidating about them.  But then again I never had a set of DPNs (double pointed needles).

I took the pattern from Berroco here but found that I had to alter it a little to fit, which is surprising as I always thought I had big hands....... obviously they are not as man sized as I once thought......yippee!

I've made quite a few pairs, although the 1st couple were a bit, um, messy around the fingers. with the increasing, but I sorted that later so that it was neat.

My mother, bless her, gave me some knitting stuff for Xmas including wool.  She gave me some fancy pompom netted yarn which left me scratching my head as how the heck to knit it.  All I can say is thank goodness for the internet and You Tube.

The next step was to figure out how many stitches to knit with, I ended up using 6 after a little trial and error.  I was thinking a sort of skinny style scarf.

Well at least now I understand how my cousin was knitting with spoons whilst on holiday!  ;)

This is the end result. I think I'll get similar yarn in red or purple, as I'm not a fan of navy at all.

Cast on 6sts and knit up as stated on the band, I sewed the yarn when I had to join and tied a knot in the end when I finished.

Now that I've used it once I'll have no bother in using it again.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Have a safe and fun filled festive season.

Cards

Just a few Christmas cards. I had bought 'papers' in Lidl a while back.  Only thing was it wasn't papers it was card,  so my original idea/plan went out the window.  I had made a few toppers and tags months ago and had put them away and forgotten about them.

I was looking for something else a couple of weeks ago and came across them again, so thought it was about time that I finished what I started.

Also I was reminded that a friend is having their milestone birthday this month. Just so happened that she had a newspaper article 20 years back in the national paper, which I stumbled upon last year at the bottom of my Christmas box.  

The fun starts when you have to scan it on to the computer in 4 parts - it was a 2 page spread.  Getting all as straight as possible, which is no easy task. Then stitching them together to match so that the writing and pictures are perfectly aligned..... this took quite a few attempts and rescans of certain areas before I managed.  Usually I only work with 2 pictures, which is relatively simple to join, but getting four together required patience which I was running out of.  Some things you just need to take a break and get some sleep before it all comes together.  

With that done I printed it out along with a recent photo, mounted the photo onto card with foam pads, did the same with the happy birthday.  Cut a frame out of some pretty card to mount the article onto the card. Here is the end result.

 For those of you who are curious, yes the clothes are made using paper, crepe paper backed with interfacing, hand painted, glittered, cut, stitched and sequined.