Baby Due

My little brother and his partner are due to have a baby tomorrow, 1st July.  They found out that it will be a boy and have decided to name him Thomas.  So with the arrival of a new baby, I have decided to make a few things. firstly a fleece blanket with hood, a cuddly jumper, again with a hood, and I found a pattern for a teddy bear that looks fantastic.

I had it in my mind that he was due in July, and thought I have plenty of time yet, but, as with the plans of mice and men, they are thwarted by time and all of a sudden I realised that I need to step up, so this weekend I will be crashing my needles throughout and trying to get the garments made.  The teddy can wait as the little one will not need it for a little bit.

One of the problems I have with making baby clothes is that I really do not enjoy making them, they are small, and not every exciting thing to make.  I love huge complicated projects, so it really is something I have to force myself to do, but I know my little brother will love whatever I make.

Once I have finished the items I will, of course, post photos, but so far it is a bunch of balls and nothing much to see.

Beautiful Knitter

I am very happy to have been featured by Beautiful Knitters

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Meet E, from the United Kingdom! 🇬🇧

E lives by the sea in a village in North West England with his partner and their two Staffies.

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Favourite yarn store: My favourite has to be @stephen.and.penelope in Amsterdam. Living in the UK, it’s a little far to go to every week, but I would if I could.

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Favourite yarn: I guess my favourite yarn would be toss up between @hedgehogfibres and @malabrigoyarn. I have used both to make socks, and they are truly beautiful to work with.

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Why do you knit?: One of the reasons I knit is because I can. I learned when I was a kid, and picked it up again about 4 years ago – much to the surprise of my partner, who had no idea I knew how to knit. Being male also inspires me, as knitting has been thought of as a female hobby for so many years.

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Most challenging project (and why?): I would say one of the most challenging projects I’ve done was @westknits’ Old Forge. I saw it on Instagram and thought it would be great to knit. It’s huge (I love massive projects), and has a lot of techniques I haven’t done, like knitting in the round, which now I love to do as much as I can. Although many feel that cable work is hard, I find it really easy and relaxing.

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What’s your new favourite thing?: My new Nespresso coffee machine. I have tonnes of tech items at home, but this really is a boom in my life. I can have espresso all the time whilst knitting, without all the messing about.

 

 

Socktastic

We are mid way through May 2017 and I have just finished making my 4th pair of socks.

I decided to use a variety of yarns from DK to 3 ply. I had used double knit for the first pair of socks, and since my Mum had given me a huge stash of yarn she would not be using I decided to use Sirdar Snuggly Baby Bamboo, and the pattern I used was “Gentleman’s Matrimony Celebratory Socks” by Sockbug.  Although I liked the pattern, and the yarn was really nice to work with but, once worn they seem to become baggy and so far, not tighten up.

My next pair was with Patons UK Fab DK Solids, self pattening yarn, using a pattern called “Nascar Socks” by Laurie Sundstrom, however, I did alter the pattern, and rather than have a continuous plain knit, I did several squares in purl, just to add contrast.

Next step was to go to proper sock yarn, so, after a trip to Amsterdam, and a visit to Stephen & Penelope’s shop I bought among other yarns a lovely Malabrigo Yarn called Arroyo, and used a pattern called  “Bespoke Vanilla Socks (Sport)” by Melissa Lund.  I also used for the cuffs, heal and toes Rowan Donegal Lambswool which I found in Oxfam for 50p a skein.  Both beautiful yarns to work with.

My final pair so far this year, I used the same pattern as above, but this time used Cascade Heritage 150 Yarns and the cuff, heal and toes in MillaMia Naturally Soft Merino.

 

Socks

We all wear them, and I had seen people on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram showing off their hand-knitted ones. Loving a challenge I decided to pick up my needles and give it a go.

My first pair I made for my hubby, however, he put them in a hot wash and they are good for either a child or someone with really small feet.

The pattern I decided to use was Colonel Mustard Socks by Erin L Black, this was the result using Wendy Mode Double Knit Yarn.