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.

Inside Crochet 37 ::

The day we set off on our Christmas adventures (we managed a total of four christmas's all in!) this lovely arrived on my doormat to accompany on the many train journey's that lay ahead.

Issue 37 of Inside Crochet.  I love this issue, with so many great patterns within and as always fabulous photography, styling and a most beautiful model indeed.

I have two patterns in this issue, both men's, both chunky.

This cable centred raglan sweater, worked in one piece bottom up.  This is a great project, because it's simple enough to be quick, chunky enough to be super quick, but with just enough detail to not be too boring.

And this scarf, again the chunky yarn makes this a super quick project.

Unfortunately I left my copy somewhere during the christmas rush around (we returned from our adventures with 9 bags of gifts, there are few occasions where I'd admit that not being able to drive is an inconvenience but carrying those bags on over crowded post christmas trains was certainly one of the few!).  But I'm hoping to be reunited with it soon, when I have no doubt there'll be a few projects jumping on my hooks.

Jesamine Necklaces ::

My Jesamine Necklaces, originally published in Inside Crochet Issue 33 and more recently seen on the cover of the Complete Guide to Crochet, are now available to download in my ravelry store for FREE!

Click on over to get the pattern written in both US and UK crochet terms and whip up some lovely statement pieces for you or a friend.



Notes from the pattern ::

A simple chain necklace can become a great statement piece when worked in a fun, chunky yarn on a big scale. A quick project, perfect for beginners.

One 100g ball is enough for one necklace, though you could use more for a longer necklace if you wanted to.

Any similar super chunky yarn would also work, or any yarn of any size could be used in this project, though the resulting size would obviously vary accordingly.

This pattern was originally published in Inside Crochet Magazine Issue 33 http://www.insidecrochet.co.uk/

Photography by Britt Spring http://www.brittspring.com

FO Friday :: Little Flowers ::

So I haven't quite finished the cardigan yet, there was little unknitting to do following a couple of silly mistakes, but I do have a finished object(s) to share today, hooray!

Namely a collection of little flowers, made for the lovely Bex of Stuffed Nonsense, who requested them to attach to a lampshade.

These are super fun and easy to make, such a satisfying little project.

I shall try and get the pattern written up in the next day or so and ready to download if anyone fancies hooking up a little extra springtime sunshine.

For more FO Fridays check out Tami Amis' blog.

Edited to say the pattern is now available for free download on ravelry here.

yet another blanket ::

as I mentioned on Monday, despite already having 3 crochet blankets in progress at the moment, I decided to take on yet another!

Hexagons this time, as requested by the mr.

I'm afraid I don't have a pattern link for this, as I sort of made it up myself from a photo provided to me by said mr.

I'm using a variety of acrylic yarns I already had, in some fantastically bright colours!

I initially thought I'd run this alongside my leap year blanket, doing a square for each everyday, but to be honest, I'm starting to think that the leap year blanket is going to be huge! As much I love the idea of a huge granny blanket, I expect realistically I only really have room for one of these in my life, so I'm thinking the hexagon will be more ideally suited as a lap blanket or maybe a single blanket for the boy's bedroom. This is assuming of course it doesn't just find it's way to the pile of incomplete projects!

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