Let's Knit Issue 63 ::

Last week, issue 63 of Let's Knit magazine hit the shelves, displaying my Jessica Sweater on the cover!

I'm crazy proud of this.  I do love this sweater and really enjoyed knitting it (I do love a bit of colourwork), but I never ever expected it to make the cover.  This is only my second ever knitting pattern and my first pattern published in Let's Knit.
This is now my third cover in my short designer life time, I cannot believe how far I've come in such a short space of time, it just goes to show that if you are really passionate about something and put you all in to it you can do anything you want!

Anyway enough beaming.

 

I love this issue, I realise I say that a lot about magazines, but I really really do.  The theme is vintage, and there are some really cute 50's inspired sweaters and a great piece on stranded colourwork, if you've never attempted it before.

finding inspiration :: BIG knitting/crochet ::

I cannot get enough of giant knitting and crochet at the moment.  I love the way the stitches look so clean and tidy when the are so massive!

Here are a few of my favourites that have been making their way on to my pinterest boards recently ::

Source: awelltraveledwoman.tumblr.com via VickiBrown on Pinterest

Source: plaza.fi via VickiBrown on Pinterest

Source: nummynims.wordpress.com via VickiBrown on Pinterest

Source: lillysartcreationandcrafts.blogspot.com via VickiBrown on Pinterest

Source: sundayinbed.tumblr.com via VickiBrown on Pinterest

Source: ladiesandgentlemenstudio.com via VickiBrown on Pinterest

WIP wednesday :: nimbus ::

I am actually still working on the puerperium cardigan but rather than sure the same wip with you two weeks running, I thought I'd start working my way through the huge pile of months/years old wips I have stashed away.

This is the nimbus cardigan by the berroco design team, I found on ravelry whilst looking for something to cast on quickly before a knit and natter morning, as a result of this I didn't think to alter it in to an 'in the round' project instead of a pieced one. Since I learnt to knit on circular needles I do not like knitting like this not one bit! Why would you want to sew all those seams together when it's not necessary. I am fairly sure this is why this project (originally intended as a christmas gift for my Mum) has been abandoned. I finished the knitting part ages ago, much before christmas, I even purchased a lovely button from cariad clay to add a fabulous finishing touch, but the sewing up has remained ignored.

My Mum has even seen the pieces now and declared she very much likes it, so really there is no excuse for this poor cardigan's complete abandonment. My Mum will be visiting this weekend, therefore I vow to finish it and share it on a FO friday post very very soon!

The pattern is called Nimbus and is a free download by the berroco design team available :: here

The yarn is :: wendy mode chunky

My ravelry notes can be found :: here

You can see lots of other WIP wednesday posts :: here

new obsession :: knitting podcasts ::

I have been doing a lot of knitting and crochet recently, a lot indeed, I am not complaining, no not one bit, but I have discovered a new listening pleasure to accompany all this clicking and hooking, knitting podcasts. In all honesty I have never really listened to podcasts before, I think there was a time a few years ago where I researched some I might like, but when I couldn't seem to put them on my iPod I just gave up on the idea. I knew they were there, all these knitting and crafty people talking about all the things I love, so when I had watched myself up to date on Neighbours (my knitting, watching guilty pleasure) I hunted some out.

I'm sure there are lots and lots of fabulous knitty themed podcasts out there but so far I have stumbled on 2 favourites, both of whom have a huge back catalog for me to listen through. These are The Knitting Pipeline and Electric Sheep.

The Knitting Pipeline was my first find and I got sucked in straight away, listening constantly until I had worked my way through about 12 episodes! I love Paula's voice and the way she talks about knitting is perfect company to the click, click, click of my needles. I've been listening from the beginning where she talks a lot about Elizabeth Zimmerman and reads some of her personal letters from the lady herself, which are wonderful. She also tells amusing stories about 3 wild turkey's who visit her garden regularly!

Having enjoyed listening to Paula, I decided to search out some more listening delights, she had mentioned a UK podcast by the name of Electric Sheep, so I hunted this out. Listening to an English accent after spending so long listening to an American, was odd, but lovely. And I adore the Electric Sheep, her knitting insights are so funny and oh so true. I started with the most recent one's this time, which means now I have lots of old ones to listen through.

I'm sure there are loads more out there and would love to hear any recommendations you may have. Especially any other UK podcasts as I couldn't seem to find any more, or crochet shows as I couldn't find any of those at all.

WIP wednesday :: Puerperium Cardigan

Inspired by nicsknots, who was in turn inspired by Tami Amis I am going to start sharing with you my wip's (work in progress) on a wednesday and my fo's (finished objects) on a friday, this is an attempt to get me working through all those unfinished items and all that stashed yarn, and trust me there are many of both to share with you!

However today I have a very newly begun project (around about 10pm last night) worked in some newly acquired yarn (purchased yesterday around about lunchtime). As you can see this practice is really going to serve it's purpose!

Also inspired by nicsknots I am knitting the puerperium cardigan by Kelly Brooker. This pattern has been in my favourites on ravelry for quite some time now and as I have a cousin expecting early summertime, I thought it the perfect opportunity to cast it on.

I am loving both the yarn (Debbie Bliss, baby cashmerino) and the patten so far, Kelly's patterns are written out so clearly in a real step by step way, which is great. I knitted (though I then frogged) her vanilla soaker a while back, though the finished item wasn't quite right, I'm not sure that was the fault of the pattern or the knitter, but I do remember the pattern itself being very easy to follow.

I'm thinking this may well be friday's FO at this rate!

my ravelry notes :: here

the pattern is available for free :: here

the yarn is :: here

Cardi in 4 days? Day 2 ::

Almost finished with the bottom now :)

In fact depending on how I go it may be finished, as on trying it on with the dress it stops perfectly at the waist. Although I am concerened that it flares out a little too much. So I'm going to work on the sleeves today and if I get them done in time I may even frog the bottom and make it a little less flouncy, you know because I haven't given myself a tight enough deadline as it is!

Cardi in 4 days? Day 1 ::

So I am going to a wedding on Saturday, for which I have decided to make myself a cardigan to wear with this gorgeous dress from digforvictory :

Of course I have left it entirely to the last minute and started yesterday! I did purchase myself some Aran weight yarn to try and make the whole process a little quicker and I also intended to crochet it. However after doing a little swatch, crochet on the yoke with the Aran was just much to bulky, so now I am knitting the yoke (I'm working top down) and going to crochet a lace pattern on the bottom and arms.

I have oh so nearly finished the yoke, but with 3 days left, I must admit I'm not feeling all that hopeful!

Wish me luck!

mustard hearts for me ::

 

my newest short sleeved sweater is finished!  It still needs blocking (which I'm really hoping will give it a bit more length as it's a teeny bit short) but otherwise it's all finished and I'm quite in love with it.

I made a few silly mistakes with the fair isle pattern, but for a first attempt I think I did pretty well.

I have to be honest I didn't knit it all in continental style as I had intended, in order to get some practice, it was too easy and quicker to slip back in to my old habits, but I did do enough to just about justify knitting myself yet another sweater!

• owls pattern available to download as pdf for £3.50 :: here (although this is fairly modified)


• my ravelry notes :: here  

 

finding inspiration :: london fashion week ::

there was some lovely knitwear appearing on the catwalks last week, here are some of my favourites.

Super cosy oversized stripey cardigan by Betty Jackson.

Betty Jackson had lots of fabulous knits mostly in gorgeous reds, here's another of my favourites.

Margaret Howell had very chic and simple knitwear.

Though I'm not sure I really like Christopher Kane's pieces all that much, it's nice to see the granny square making an appearance.

But my absolutely favourite items have to be the amazing granny style crochet pieces from House of Holland.

I mean granny square print tights...amazing!

another short sleeved sweater for me ::

so as I said, new knitting skills require practice and well, what perfect excuse to knit myself a new sweater.

I saw this beautiful Katia Peru yarn in my local yarn store a few weeks ago and fell in love with it.  It's super chunky and soft and I imagine it will be oh so warm too.

I found a fabulous book of fair isle in the charity shop this week, it has some really interesting history of the technique along with some patterns.  I'm using Kate Davis' Owls pattern for the main body of the sweater, though I'm going to try and amend the bulge that appeared on the back of the last one I made.  I am going to be omitting the owls this time and instead working in some fair isle hearts (I think anyway), where the owls would be.

I'm really pleased with my colour choices and it just so happens they match the crocus's, that appeared on my window ledge this morning perfectly!

continental style ::

last week I attended my first neighbourhood 'knit and natter' gathering, it was lovely and there were fabulous cakes!

Whilst I was there I was taught to knit continental style (essentially holding the yarn in your left hand rather the right).  So far, so good, I'm not quite as fast as I am english style yet, but getting close.  I'd love to be one of those super speedy knitters, you know where the needles are a blur of motion.  I guess it just takes a whole lot of practice.  But I'm fairly convinced that I can be a lot quicker with the continental knitting than I am currently.  I just need a bit of practice, which is the perfect excuse to knit myself another sweater I feel!

owls for me ::

I was asked to knit something for a twitter friend.  I've never been asked to knit something for someone before (normally I just inflict my creations on others) so I was hugely flattered.  

The pattern in question was owls by Kate Davies.  I had never heard of Kate Davies and her blog needled before, but my am I glad I now have, she has some beautiful patterns!  I completely adore these gorgeous paper dolls.

So anyways...as I have never knitted anything on request before, I thought it a good idea to make one for myself first (just as a practice run of course!).  Off I went in to town on saturday morning (sans baby, bliss) and headed straight for the yarn shop!

Since my last visit they have had delivery of some utterly delicious new chunky yarns, which I was oh so very nearly tempted by, but having promised the Mr I wouldn't spend too many pennies and after a quick calculation, 14 balls of beautiful teal tweed at £3.10 each just wasn't going to make its way in to my basket on this occasion when compared to 7 balls of the 100% acrylic, fairly soft, a lovely colour and a snip at £1.99 each.

I cast on Saturday afternoon and I knit and knit and knit, quite solidly, breaking only for a little sleep and to occasionally tend to the toddler.  At around midnight on Sunday I was so close to finishing, as I started on the neck ribbing I decided although I was eager to get it completed, I would be furious at myself for making a foolish mistake because I was tired, so I put it aside and headed to bed.  I finished off the neckline and stitched the the underarms, plus weaved all the ends in, whilst watching Milo play on Monday afternoon and put it on straight away!

I don't think the pattern is perfect, there appears to be some flaws in the shaping on the back as I have a bit of a back bulge!  But otherwise I really love it!  The pattern suggests buttons for eyes on the owls them selves, but I have yet to decide whether or not to add these.  I'm thinking I may just put them on one?

I'm afraid the photos of the finished item aren't fabulous, I'm rubbish at trying to take photos of myself! 

• pattern available to download as pdf for £3.50 :: here


• my ravelry notes :: here  

 

another placket neck ::

I made Joelle Hoverson's placket neck sweater for Milo back in the summer and I loved it!  The pattern was so easy and quick to knit (it does come from last minute knitted gifts after all).  It also introduced me to some new techniques, including knitting on circular needles, which is now by far my favourite way to knit.

So at when time was running out for all the holiday handknits I had promised myself I would make, I figured I'd revisit this for my youngest (and only) nephew.

I used sublime organic cotton, as he has fairly sensitive skin, I thought this would be the best bet and added stripes to the pattern.  Adding the stripes meant a whole lot of weaving in at the end, which was fairly painful, but other wise all was well!

I'm afraid, it was so last minute that I didn't have time to photograph it properly, but I did get this one snap of him with my mum, whilst wearing it!

• pattern available to download as a pdf on ravelry for free :: here


• my ravelry notes :: here

magic yarn ball ::

I learnt about magic yarn balls, somewhere on the internets back in November and imeadiately wanted to make one for someone.  It seemed fairly fruitless to make one for yourself, so I figured my sister would be the perfect receiver of something so awesome.

I started planning straight away!

If you haven't heard of magic yarn balls before, they are basically balls of yarn, full of goodies!  I included, chocolates, magnets, buttons, sewing needle book, earrings and right in the middle a crocheted pin cushion.  I made most of the items, I included, myself.  I used the pin cushion to start and then rewound the yarn around this, adding other items as I went.  Therefore when my sister came to use the yarn she would uncover little prizes as she crocheted away!

I was really pleased with the way it turned out, especially as you couldn't see any of the hidden treasures peeking through.  My sister had never heard of magic yarn balls before either so the whole thing was a huge surprise to her when she started using it! Making it all the better!

loveheart pixie ::

I have been admiring Meg's lovely version of the stella pixie hat on her boy for a while now.  But somehow it didn't seem right for Milo, plus I think that boy has quite enough hand knits for his head for the time being!  But when my step sister went in to labour a little earlier than expected with her baby girl, I knew that this would be the perfect little hat for her.

In retrospect I should have tried to alter the pattern to make it smaller than the 3-12 month size, but at least it will last her a bit (though of course she probably won't fit in to it until the spring!).

I used some beautiful hand-dyed merino from snowberry and lime, I already had.  I love the colours and the way it knitted up, plus I still have some left over.

  

I used one of my own loveheart buttons for the fastener.

• pattern available to download as a pdf on ravelry for free :: here.


• my ravelry notes :: here

 

hello ::

welcome to my little (new) creative space.  I have been blogging in various places for a few years now, but I wanted to set up a new place to write about and share my knitting, crochet and sewing adventures. 

You can mostly find me over here.  I've been making beads, buttons and ninjas from polymer clay for about 3 years now and selling them over on etsy, but I have been knitting and crocheting for a whole lot longer than that.  As the ninjas started to become my business and main source of income, my knitting and crochet and stitching became more and more part of my leisure time, with the birth of my little boy 2 years ago in April I was drawn further in to knitting.  Having the ability to produce soft warm garments to cover that little body is a fabulous feeling!

I set up a shop to sell some of these creations almost two years ago now, though I've never really dedicated much time to it.  I feel that with the dawning of this new year it's time to put a bit more in to it all, I don't want to consider it a business as such because I fear I will begin to lose my passion for all that stitching if it started to become a necessity rather than a pleasure, but I would like to spend more of my time, developing my skills, sharing my patterns and if I can make a little pocket money for more yarn in the process then that will be a wonderful bonus!

Welcome! I hope this will be the start of a fabulous creative adventure!