Sunday 31 January 2016

A Year of Projects Update - week 31

It's been a much quieter week this week.  It doesn't feel as though I have made much progress though.
I have worked on 3 projects this week -
The spidey mitts are back on!  I am nearly half way through now, just have to remember the thumb hole in the right place this time!!
 
I have completed another couple of pattern repeats on my first cloth.
I have also started my Whitby socks which are the first installment of my Knitting Goddess sock club.
And I have knitted about 3 more inches onto Vianne.  Ok, you can see the addition clearly and although it was the same yarn it clearly isn't the same batch I finished it off with, but I think it will just look like ribbing and at least there is a chance I will wear it with extra length. I am aiming for another couple of inches.
I haven't worked on Hitofude this week but I intend to now.
I also confirmed a couple of craft fairs this week so I need to start on a couple of sunhats when I have finished the cloth.  I was going to do some soap today but thought I may wait for half term then I have a little more time (only 2 weeks to go - yeah!)
I cut out my fabric last week and was going to sew it today but again I thin I may leave it for half term - I have just ordered some new fabric for a couple of tops so then I can do them all - that is the plan anyway!
To read more from the year of projects or to join us us click here!

Sunday 24 January 2016

A Year of Projects Update - Week 30

We have had a busy week!  It was Thomas's birthday party yesterday and it went down a storm!  I hired the school hall and we had a go kart party - here he is in action.
So what with making cakes and sandwiches I haven't had that much time this week.  However I did find time this morning to organise my WIP's.
From the top  I have started a first wash cloth to go with my soap.  Lots of people asked about the soap, when I have made the other type, I will write a post.  So far I have made the melt and pour type that was particularly easy, and I will move to the more complicated type next week.  I'm intending to give everyone home made soap and cloths as gifts this year so I am starting early!
The glove is the first of the spiderman mitts.  Having done the thumb hole wrong last week, I soon realised they were going to be far too small for either Thomas or Daniel.  Last week whilst reading a fellow YOPper's post I was thinking there was no way I would attempt cutting into my knitting in the form of an afterthought heel that I hadn't planned before.  However, when I realised the mitt wouldn't fit, I decided this was a way to do it - so I picked up the stitches either side of where I wanted the thumb hole and cut my knitting!  And it worked - I now have a finished mitt that fits Daniel - I now have to build myself up to knit the second one.
Then on the far right is my Vianne - much as I like it I have never worn it as it is too short, so I have found the rest of the yarn and I am going to attempt picking up stitches and continuing the ribbing for a few more inches.
The last two are the start of my Whitby socks - the first installment of my Yorkshire sock club from the Knitting Goddess and my Hitofude, that I am enjoying a lot but feel may take me a lot of time!!

Lastly, it's been a while since I have done any sewing so I cut out the fabric for some pyjama bottoms that I have been meaning to do for a while and a dress - I will, hopefully get to sewing them next weekend.
To catch up with the other Yoppers click here.

Sunday 17 January 2016

A Year of Projects Update - week 29

We have snow!!
Its only a little bit but its snow nonetheless!
I've made a little progress this week.  I'm nearly finished with Daniels socks.  I got him to try them for size the other day and to see if I needed to knit any more leg - he looked very perturbed and said they were good but did I think he could have a bit more down to the toe!!!  (Just in case you were wondering I was intending to knit the rest of the sock too!)  It made me laugh anyway.
I have also made progress on the they call me spidey mitts, although I got so engrossed in the colourwork I forgot to split for the thumb!!  I am not frogging colourwork, so I put it in when I realised.  It should be fine - I was intending to make them a little shorter than it said anyway - not anymore!
Well, we have played snowballs and the snow is beginning to melt, so we are now in having coffee and a cake.  It's Thomas's birthday next week, so it's busy, busy, busy at the moment, making cakes and putting party bags together.
Have a good week and do catch up with the rest of our group here.

Wednesday 13 January 2016

Yarn Along - A new Year

I know we are 2 weeks into the new year but this is my first yarn along of the year.
I have finally finished a few WIP's and so this last week has been one of new beginnings.
I started my 'they call me spidey' mitts and have been making good progress.
Daniel announced he wanted some socks, so I decided to use up my 'elf'' yarn before I progress to the first sock of my sock club. I am just making him some plain socks that was a free pattern on Ravelry.
I have also finally cast on Hitofude, for which the yarn has been all ready and wound for some time - anyway we are off!
Otherwise, we made some gingerbread at the weekend (its been a while).  So with instruction from Daniel (and a little help from Mary Berry!) we set to.
Its totally delicious and Daniel is right, it is perfect for breakfast.
I also used my new soap making kit at the weekend and have been very pleased with the results.  This is orange flavoured!  I have used it already and it is lovely.  It was very easy to do as I used a melt and pour base.  Then I added the fragrance oil and colour.  Next time I shall work up to the proper kit which involves gloves and everything!
Linking with Nicole and Ginny.

Sunday 10 January 2016

A Year of Projects Update - Week 28

Oh so I have made great progress this week despite being back at school (which wasn't too bad!)
I finished my 'elf' socks.
In all honesty, I'm a bit disappointed with these as they are a little on the small side and I dropped a stitch (something I never do) so had to mend that when I first tried them on, when finished (and therein lies the fitting problem - I should have tried them on before then).  Both my own fault - they are currently on the sock blockers in an attempt to stretch them a little.
Anyway I still love the pattern and the yarn and so when Daniel announced he wanted some socks I knew exactly which yarn I was going to make them from.
I also finished the waving lace top - I hope to get some modeled shots soon, but at the moment I love it - the yarn (Louisa Harding amitola) is heavenly and I just love looking at it and squishing it.
As a result of finishing those two I have cast on the socks above, some 'they call me spidey' mitts for Thomas and my Hitofude at last.
I also got some soap making kits for Christmas so I am going to make a foray into that, possibly this afternoon.
So there we are, that's me for a while!  To see what the others are up to click here.

Sunday 3 January 2016

A Year of Projects Update - week 27

Oh what a lovely two weeks - really not looking forward to getting back to work tomorrow :-(.
Anyway, I have made lots of progress on the two projects that I took away with me, but I had wanted them finished for the 1st!  That was not to be, but they are both nearly finished.
The Christmas socks - Solstice by Rhian Drinkwater.
 I wanted a plain pattern but with some detail to keep me interested and this is perfect. The yarn is from the Knitting Goddess - Elf.  I arrived home to find my first installment of the Knitting Goddess sock club had been delivered, so I am itching to start that, but will finish these first.
The waving lace top by Joji is coming along - I think I need another repeat of the lace pattern then I will be onto the front, which shouldn't take as long.
After this I want to finally cast on my Hitofude that I have the yarn wound for.
I have also found a little KAL for some spiderman inspired mitts that I want to do for the boys - I figure that with their little hands they shouldn't take too long!
So that is me for a moment  hope you have all had a great start to 2016.  For more posts click here.