Knitted Christmas gifts

OK I managed 2 whole days with out knitting........ aaargh I can't take it anymore!!  Actually I was trying to rest up a bit, cos I have what I call knitters elbow ( if there is such a thing), yes yes I know it's usually in the wrists or fingers, and normally that's what I get.  Just lately my elbow is bothering me.  I should really find a crochet project for a 'rest'.  ;o)

Anyway I've been knitting like a woman possessed lately, with 3 things on the go. 1st was the Cardigan which I've already posted, by the way I redid the button band in moss stitch, looks and fits much better.

2nd was the Baby Bunting bag. Which I had problems getting stitches per inch so had to basically do some math and kinda rewrite the pattern but keeping the design, it's all done now and ready for my friends baby due in a few weeks.  A lot of people seem to have had the same issue.

3rd was another aran cardigan for the mister, I had to write my own pattern to get the right size as again my gauge was out (becoming the norm of late!) Anyway it was this pattern that set me off. It looks exactly like it, although it was my first attempt at a shawl collar and I had more of a hood than a shawl at 1st try, but round two was much better.

Cabled Cardi for her

 I've completed the vogue patterned cardi with quite a few modifications, mainly added cables to the back and sleeve, only added lower pockets and made it longer, as well as adding shape to the body and working stocking stitch.

I've put buttons on it for now, but  think I will try and find a raspberry coloured zipper for it.

Like I said previously my gauge was way off, but I knitted the smallest size which made a UK 16, so I was lucky that way at least.

I've also been knitting a baby bunting alongside this, which is half done..... and yes my gauge was out on that too..... seems to be common place for me lately so have to mod all the patterns.

I've started another cabled aran cardigan for himself, looks ok so far and I'm hoping it turns out like this one here.  I may have to take a break from knitting as my hand is quite achy ~ not surprising after that last one!!

Recycle your Yarn

I've taken to ripping back my knitwear recently.... only the worn out stuff!  Sometimes you can knit aran up as dk or aran the second time round.  Anyway I had this very old, very oversized aran coat that I made about 9 years ago.  I decided to deconstruct it and make something new out of it and since there was 800g of it first time round I wouldn't have any shortage.

I found this great pattern in Vogue from 2004, but I'm not keen on the rib throughout the cardi..... but that's just me.  I also decided I wanted some shape to it so am modding the body part that way and making it a bit longer.  I also wanted the cables on the back like some of the others so have done that too, just because you don't see the back doesn't mean it has to be blank!

My gauge is off ...... no change there then.  So I'm making the smallest size on 4.5mm needle and it appears to be working out at the same measurements as the next size up so I'm pleased about that.

I do believe I will have painful hands before I finish these cables, but they'll be worth it........I hope!  ;)

New Card Stock

I am toying with the idea of bring out a new line of cards.  I made 3 the other day as I had a family birthday coming up next month.  Thinking I had plenty time, only to be told that the said family is off on holiday next week for 3 weeks........... arrggghh.  so I was a bit rushed ~~ not part of the plan at all!

Anyway, a while back I had bought a little fabric craft pack, at the time I knew what I was going to use it for but being me I put it in the cupboard and forgot all about it until 2 days ago.  I also keep all 'bits' that might be useful, so this was the outcome of my hoarding.

The butterfly one has gone off in the post now and hopefully will reach before they go on holidays!  I think I'll make a few more and see if they sell.  These are my own designs and you may not copy they without my permission.

More Knits

I remember knitting this very sweater for my daughter about 18 years ago so it was a little wierd to get the book and knit it again just to use up the stray balls of yarn that were hiding at the bottom of the stash.

I think that the yarn is trying very hard not get be all used up!!

I found some horrible green yarn too, the colour is nice but the fiber content is dreadful.  it has polythene in it......... so I thought since I'm just knitting for the heck of it why not try a dog sweater.

I found the pattern on the Drops website, so I knitted up the smallest size and slightly dented the ball, so now I'm making the next size up and hopefully that will be an end of the yarn.

Kinda makes me want to get a small dog :)  The other half is a cat person though, me I would have any animal!

Pocket change

Considering I do most of my shopping online I am pretty annoyed that I have on just discovered Fatcheese which give you cash-back on goods ordered at certain sites through their website.  Would have been good when I was booking my travels!!

I really wish I'd known about it sooner, it would have been a nice wee bonus to spend on something I wouldn't normally be able to get.

I've also sent my daughter to the uk site since she's a student and orders a lot, including her food shop online.  Lets face it students need every penny they can get!!

I've seen a few similar sites that offer you rewards but to be honest they have never amounted to anything with me.  Of course that and the fact that I'm always wary of this sort of thing.

Oddball Scraps to Charity Bits

I really hate having these tiny balls of yarn leftovers.  Normally I just throw them out, but this time there were too many hoarded to do that. I started of with some hats, but then got fed up with knitting the same thing over and over.  So I found a Monkey pattern and adapted it a little, I'm currently working on another one in burgundy.  There will be enough yarn to make another hat I think.  I'm hoping that will use up all those leftovers, but I will have to check the bottom of the stash bag first.

The colourful toy kinda reminds me of Mr Blobby!! Well hopefully the charity shop will find a new home for all of it.

I'm also wanting to downsize on the fabric scraps.... That'll be a job and a half, trying to figure what to do with it all. Anyway just to warm up I made a few hearts, 2 with a ribbon hoop for hanging and the other with a face,, just for fun.

I just have a urge to do a belated spring clean at the moment...... might have something to do with lack of storage space and things just piling into disorganization!