A Year of Projects Update - week 18

Wow, this week has flown by.  I have got a reasonable amount done.

I have a few FO's this week!

I completed the Christmas crackers that I wrote about here.

I am going to make a couple more as presents.

I also finished my first Christmas present this week - one of Sew Sweet Violet - wondrous washmitts.  Only another six to go!

And I also sewed myself a skirt, but I didn't photograph it - I shall for next week. 

Otherwise, I cast on anx have made great progress on Saknes for the latest Pompom magazine. 

I  am really hoping to get to the joining the back and two fronts today (I only have half of ond front to go).  I am using Malabrigo rios in Frank Ochre.

I have yet to cast on my Christmas socks!  But maybe this week...  we will see, I am back to school, so will not have the time really.

Anyway, hope everyone has a great week.

Christmas crackers!

 A while ago, I decided I would like to make some reusable crackers.  I have made my own for several years, but these still come with a whole host of waste that I would really like to reduce.  I think I saw on a podcast, someone say they were going to make some with fabric and I thought that was a fabulous idea.

With that in mind I earmarked half term as a time to create these for the family.

I decided early on that there had to be a snap (otherwise what is the point) and it needed to come apart.  So I had to make two parts to the fabric tube that could come apart, but I didn't want to break the fabric.  So velcro was my solution. 

I made a quick prototype where I had the velcro all around the join.

But although the snap worked it was too strong to pull apart comfortably, so I made an adjustment on the addition of velcro in just four points. 

Assembling the resources:

Four squares of Christmas fabric (I actually used a rectangle approx 44 x 24cm)

Needle and thread (I wanted to do it by hand but most you could have run up on a machine)

Sew on velcro

Cracker snaps

Ribbon or string

Double sided sticky tape

Cardboard tube

So first I cut my tube into 12cm sections.  I then rolled the fabric around to create the outer tube and found that a rectangle approximately 44 x 24cm was what I needed.  Then I pinned it in place and sewed the fabric into said tube.  I then folded over each end (5mm) double to neatly hem it.

At this point I gave it a press and cut the tube in half.  I hemmed the edge in term and the added four pads of velcro around the circle (personally I wanted the harder hooks facing inwards and the softer pads facing out - I donthink it would make much difference but that how I did it!)

Nearly done,  I attached a snap with double sided sticky tape to the inner cardboard tube, and inserted the cardboard tube into the velcro attached outer fabric tube.

Lastly, I used some Christmas string to tie each end of the cardboard tube to prevent the present falling out.

Ta da!!  My Christmas crackers.

A Year of Projects Update - week 17

 I have made it to half term!  We are off to Brands Hatch tomorrow, so I am writing this early or I will forget!

I have 3 FO"s this week!!

I finished the jumper bar the blocking.

I knit this with John Arbon Textiles DK yarn - mostly knit by numbers.

I also finished a pair of shortie socks.

These are knit in some left over Kate Selene yarn.  I have a couple of ends to weave in, but otherwise they are done. 

I  also finally got my act together, and started to make my Christmas crackers!  If I get my act together again, I will make more and perhaps write a post about how I did it later in the week.

Here is the first finished one.

I have a couple of cast ons for this week which I have been looking forward to.

I hope everyone has a great week.

A Year of Projects Update - week 16

 It has been another week of madness at work!  But I only have 4 days before the half term break, so the end is near!

I have made a little time for knitting, however, especially at the weekends as we are still doing very little then.

Firstly, I have made much progress on Daniel's Christmas jumper. 

I have now completed both front and back, and am now working on sleeve 1.

I would love to have this finished by next week, but we will see.

I have also been working on my socks and am now on the heel.  

Since these are shorties I  am now on the home stretch, so should be able to get my Christmas socks on the needles soon!

And that is pretty much it, I  have been doing little else.  I have ordered some fabric from Minerva since it was their craft club sale and I really must start some Christmas gifts soon, but I should have time to put that in next week.

I hope everyone has  lovely week 💗

A Year of Projects Update - week 15

 So I started this yesterday,  but ran out of time!  

This is, therefore,  going to be short and sweet. 

I did finish my Vaara. 

It is not quite like the pattern  I was so focused on finishing up, I overlooked the hem detail!  I still really like it - I  knit it in John Arbon Textiles knit by numbers 4ply.

I  then did a bit of work on my shortie socks and Daniel's Christmas jumper.   I hope to have made much progress by next week so will show you then.

Have a great week 😀

A Year of Projects Update - week 14

 Daniel has been suffering with a cold for what seems like forever 🤧 and now I have finally succombed!  I am feeling very sorry for myself 

I have used it as an excuse to do very little this weekend, other than:

Arrange my flower delivery

Bake cake

And knit.

I've worked on my Vaara in John Arbon Textiles knit by numbers 4ply and have bound off the body.

I've also done some of my new garter stitch blanket. 

And that is that for this week!

I have a pork joint in the slow cooker for dinner and I  have to do some ironing, but otherwise I  hope to finish the sleeves on Vaara and hopefully get to the neckband today!

I hope everyone has a great rest of the weekend and week - off to knit!