Year of Projects - Nearly End of Year Update

So here it is (Merry Christmas) - well nearly - it is the last update before Christmas and it has flown by!!
Iam still doing presents but should be there by Wednesday!

Finished the second crocodile scarf on Friday and so now have cast on the last present which is a little pink bag for my niece.  I still have one sock to finish for my SIL, but now that I am on holiday I am hoping I can fly though that today and tomorrow.

The yarn ordered from Mellifera yarn came this week and here it is - lovely!!

So here is the list as it stands - I have updated with pictures here

Firstly, gifts for Christmas

For Daniel and Lily - a bag for Lily and will knit Daniel an elephant later in the year

For the sisters in law - wristwarmers - finished 14/08/13 

For my mum and brother - pot covers and mug hug - another change of plan - scarf for mum and gardening things for my brother

For Thomas and Luke - crocodile scarf  - finished 20/12/13

For my mum and mil - dishcloths and bag - finished 01/12/13

Then, there's all the projects just for me

Finish tote bag  - hurrah - finished 04/07

Hat for me - finished 09/08/13

Socks for me - definitely using my A Stash Addict yarn

Placemats - in time for Christmas I hope! - next Christmas!!

Scarf for the husband - for mum finished 

Shawl for me - Dragonfly wings by Boo knits - will be my next project - finished 14/07

Winter hats for the boys

Additions!

Little Gradient for Thomas - Finished

Hexipuffs - more made

Bonnet for SCBU - finished 14/08/13

Vanilla socks as first sock project - yarn bought from Mellifera yarns

MKAL  with One skein - scarflette - finished 26/07/13

MKAL with Boo Knits - Morticia - start 01/10/13 - finished 01/11/13

MKAL with Amy Miller group - start 01/09/13 - completed 2 cowl - 2 more to go

September MKAL with One Skein - nearly finished - changed into scarf and finished

Poncho - Lemonade from lemons - Linda Blakeley

Learn to crochet

Willow boot socks - possible Xmas gift for SIL

Year of Projects Update

Several things to report this week!






I finished one crocodile scarf and am furiously working away on the second.












Also, finished the cowl for the childminder.

Have cast on a pair of socks for my sil, although she already has 2 knitted gifts, so may save them for me!!





Have decided to take part in a KAL with a group on Ravelry - it is titled a poncho along as that is what we will be making.  I have sort of decided on cranberry capelet by Thea Coleman but may change my mind yet!
I have also again purchased lots of yarn - 6 skeins of Malabrigo merino worsted in cypress to knit the poncho with!

And finally - Mellifera yarn had a birthday discount today so I succumbed to some of her sportweight yarn in cherry.
Hope you all have a good week!

Year of Projects Update - Yarn!

This weeks update is all about yarn!!




On Monday I had the day off and went to London.  I had a lovely day and came back with this...

I blogged about my day here
I also received a parcel from my swap partner in a group on Ravelry, and got some more yarn - Malabrigo rios in Solis and Paris Night.  So am feeling very spoiled!!

Finished the cowl that was a present, but found it a little too tight, so tuned it into a hat for my dad.  Also finished a couple more dishcloths.  Am hoping to have a crocodile scarf and 2nd attempt at the cowl finished for next week, so will post photos of those then!

Yarny Day in London

Have just got back from a lovely day in London.  Went round the yarn shops and ended up at Hamleys.
Was a bit dissappointed at first as the Handweavers studio was exactly as stated - was lovely but not exactly what I was after!!  Still came out with some hand-dyed Peruvian sheep wool - decided against the nettle!!
Loop was shut so very dissappointed there.  I don't recall seeing that on the website and can't believe they would be shut this close the Christmas.
Iknit however, more than made up for it - very friendly staff that were not too in your face and some lovely yarn to be had - spent a bit but not too much.
Hamleys of course was great and picked some bits for the boys - again spent a little but not too much.

This is the whole haul.  Minus some bits for a Christmas swap I am taking part in.  The colors aren't great as I am taking the photos by fairy lights!!  The grotto is now ready!

Some arun from the West Yorkshire Spinners to make into gloves

 Some sock  DK to make into.....socks!!

 Some lovely DK by Fyberspates to make into a top - haven't decided which yet.

And this is the interesting Peruvian wool from Handweavers!

Year of Projects Update - 1st December

Another week has flown by!  Last week the boys and I went to Tulleys Farm to meet Father Christmas.  It was quite magical, we went for a ride on his horse and cart and they had a winter wonderland where we wrote letters, picked up our reindeer food and listened to Christmas carols.  All in all a fabulous day!
Today is the day we put up our Christmas decorations, so will pop on the Christmas music in a bit and get decorating!!


Have done lots of bits in the knitting department and finally finished the cloths and packaged them for presents.
I'm also in the middle of the cowl for Daniel's childminder.

Tomorrow I have a day off.  I'm planning a day in London.  I have planned my route to take in some yarn stores and end up at Hamleys (a big toy store).  I intend to mostly shop for me apart from a couple of toys.

I will report back next week with pictures of my wares!!
Have a good week.

Year of Projects Update

Another week has gone by - I have been reasonably productive this week!!

I finished another cloth for Christmas and started a third.







And started and finished a pair of mittens for Thomas - now I just need to do another slightly smaller pair for Daniel!!






Other than that, this will be short and sweet this week as we are about to wrap ourselves up to go to or local farm for the arrival of Father Christmas!  The boys are very excited and making lists as we speak!!

Hope you all have a good week - next week will be busy with decorating the house!!

Year of Projects Update - week 21

I can't believe it is week 21 already!
I finally had a productive week and therefore, feel it is time to consult the list!




I finished the scarf for my mum.

Also, finished 1 cowl for my friend who is unwell and am delivering that today





And finished another cloth for Christmas!

Firstly, gifts for Christmas

For Daniel and Lily -  a toy- ?dragon and rabbit using stash yarn

For the sisters in law - wristwarmers - finished 14/08/13 

For my mum and brother - pot covers and mug hug 

For Thomas and Luke - crocodile scarf  - one nearly finished

For my mum and mil - dishcloths and bag - finished 4 cloths and starting KAL for 12 on the 1st October

Then, there's all the projects just for me

• Finish tote bag  - hurrah - finished 04/07

Hat for me - finished 09/08/13

Socks for me - definitely using my A Stash Addict yarn

Placemats - in time for Christmas I hope!

Scarf for the husband

Shawl for me - Dragonfly wings by Boo knits - will be my next project - finished 14/07

Winter hats for the boys - finished 01/11

Additions!

Little Gradient for Thomas - Finished

Hexipuffs - more made

Bonnet for SCBU - finished 14/08/13

Vanilla socks as first sock project - yarn bought from Mellifera yarns

MKAL  with One skein - scarflette - finished 26/07/13

MKAL with Boo Knits - Morticia - finished 01/11

MKAL with Amy Miller group - start 01/09/13 - completed 2 cowsl - 1 more to go

September MKAL with One Skein - made into a scarf - finished 15/11

Year of Projects Update - Halloween

 Another week goes by and half term is almost over!  We all went out to see the fireworks yesterday - all wrapped up with ear defenders on!  A good time was had by all!!

 During the week we had some friends over and we all made Halloween biscuits - here they are in the act.

And here are the finished articles!!












I didn't get quite as much knitting done as planned - best laid plans and all.  I had to do some marking as well.
However, I did finish and block Morticia - pictured below.  I did the picot bind off, so meant although it took an incredibly long time, I learned several new techniques including beading and the picot.  In the new year I think I would like to learn crochet as a result, but not yet!

The colour on this one is not quite right - the second picture is better colourwise.  I would have liked to have blocked the points a bit better, and probably will before I give it away, but it is too big to block with the space/equipment I have.  I have no idea how people managed to block the large ones!!  This is a small!

Made a little progress on the scarf for mum/dad, but no progress on the crocodile scarves.

Did, however, cast on an Amy Miller cowl called Basketcase for my childminder.  Think I will make a second one if I like it for a friend who has just discovered she has cancer - something nice and warm for when she starts chemo.

Hope everyone has a good week - my mum and dad are visiting from Thursday so will have to try to get the scarf out of the way!

Had a lovely baking day today with my friend.  She has 2 girls and we all decorated biscuits!!

 And here is the outcome!!

Very short Year of Projects Update!

It's going to be a very short update this week, as, although it is the start of half term, I'm trying to get some serious knitting done during the week.

We are due a storm this evening, so have been weather proofing the garden as far as possible.

I have no FO this week, but have made great progress on Morticia and hope to finish this week in time for Halloween.  Then I should be able to finish the scarves and get on with some dishcloths.

On the baking front, we have been making lots of Halloween biscuits and will make more on Wednesday when my friend and her girls come over.  And I have my first paid commission for a wedding cake in March!!

All have a good week and hopefully, I will have lots to report next week!

Year of Projects Update

Had a week off last week - it has got so busy at school I ran out of time all round, but there is only one week to go to half term so the end is in sight.
My hubby has been away this weekend in Spain watching football, so I have had a bit of time to do some extra knitting in between entertaining the boys!!

I have been continuing with Morticia and have been just about keeping up - am nearly finished with clue three, so should be ready for the forth and last clue on Tuesday.

Also suddenly realised last week that time is coming along and the boys need hats for the 5th November.  So set to knitting the Strib hats I had picked out for them.  They were very easy and both are now done - I have got a basic mitten pattern that I will do for them as well in the same colours.

I have not made any progress on the crocodile scarves or stripey scarf, but will do these when I have finished Morticia.

Hope everyone is well 

Year of Projects - Update

I have numerous WIP this week!!
I have started the Morticia KAL - It came out on Tuesday and I have made fairly good progress as you can see.

Here it is pinned to the carpet!!  I am going to do a small one so this is nearly the first clue finished.  The colour is more red than shown here - rather than pink.

Here is the progress on my 'one skein' KAL!!  Now it is more than one skein as I have turned it into a scarf!

And here is my crocodile scarf - I have nearly finished one and have started the second.

This is the finished first cowl of the Amy Miller KAL for September - I really love this one although my finishing wasn't brilliant (I can cover it with my hair!)  There are 3 more but I am working on the other pieces at the moment so will complete them when I get a chance.  I also signed up for a dishcloth KAL but I haven't had a chance to start that yet but have the first 3 patterns.

So that is my progress this week - nothing to cross off the list so will update that next week when hopefully I will have some FO - you never know!!

Year of Projects Update

Since the wedding (posted here) last weekend, I have not had much time to take pictures this week, so this post is all to do with the list!!  In summary, the crocodile scarf is nearly finished and I have finished one of the Amy Miller cowls.  The one skein MKAL is finished - but think it is supposed to be a cloth - in which case the yarn is completely wrong - I have decided, therefore, to get more yarn and turn it into a scarf for my dad!
So, here is the list so far.
Firstly, gifts for Christmas

For Daniel and Lily -  a toy- ?dragon and rabbit using stash yarn

For the sisters in law - wristwarmers - finished 14/08/13 

For my mum and brother - pot covers and mug hug 

For Thomas and Luke - crocodile scarf  - one nearly finished

For my mum and mil - dishcloths and bag - finished 3 cloths and starting KAL for 12 on the 1st October

Then, there's all the projects just for me

• Finish tote bag  - hurrah - finished 04/07

Hat for me - finished 09/08/13

Socks for me - definitely using my A Stash Addict yarn

Placemats - in time for Christmas I hope!

Scarf for the husband

Shawl for me - Dragonfly wings by Boo knits - will be my next project - finished 14/07

Winter hats for the boys

Additions!

Little Gradient for Thomas - Finished

Hexipuffs - more made

Bonnet for SCBU - finished 14/08/13

Vanilla socks as first sock project - yarn bought from Mellifera yarns

MKAL  with One skein - scarflette - finished 26/07/13

MKAL with Boo Knits - Morticia - start 01/10/13

MKAL with Amy Miller group - start 01/09/13 - completed 1 cowl - 3 more to go

September MKAL with One Skein - nearly finished -but to be turned into a scarf

So thats all from me this week.  Hopefully, I will be able to do more this week and will post pictures next Sunday.

Hope you all have a great week.

My Brothers Wedding

Saturday 21st finally came and the cake was successfully transported to Somerset by car and assembled Saturday morning.

Very happy with it if I say so myself!!

The boys got very bored after the wedding and didn't have much patience for the photos after that!

It was lovely though to see all the family including my aunt and cousin that we haven't seen for ages.  The ceremony was great, dinner (roast beef) was lovely and the disco was perfect - a brilliant day with the boys behaving themselves right through to falling asleep on the chairs in the hall!

Year of Projects update - lots of WIP

Short and sweet today as I have no FO but lots of WIP!!

Firstly, the Amy Miller KAL is coming along nicely - although the third one is due out today and I have yet to finish the first!!

 The Crocodile scarf is also coming along - I have completed the 20 ridges and now am on to the decreases.

I have also started a KAL with one skein on ravelry - another mystery KAL - this one is only just started and as usual I have no idea what it is!!










The roses are completed but they are packed away for next week so I can't take a pic. Am making the cakes today and icing them in the week so will take a finished pic next week - crossed fingers!

Hope every one has a lovely week - will be at the wedding next week so unlikely to be able to check in!!