Owl Hats

My friend and workmate Fran saw a fabulous pattern for an owl hat on Facebook from Julie is Coco and Cocoa

Of course I offered to make her one which she requested in a sort of oatmeal colour like the picture. Then Dawn said she would like one too and also Jackie said she would like a red hat and before I knew it I offered to make them all one in different colours and one for myself seeing as we're a team and all that.

Here's the one I made for Fran

It took three attempts. On the first attempt I realised that it was going to be far too small so I pulled it out and started again. On the second bigger attempt I realised it would fit (just) but once I had started the shaping at the top I realised it was too short so pulled it all out and started again, a bit wider and a bit longer. On the third attempt it worked out fine.

The other hats were a lot easier after that. Here is Dawn's.

And here is Jackie's.

I used King Cole Big Value Aran from Wool Warehouse in Oatmeal, Damson and Cranberry. The pattern calls for button eyes but wanting to be a bit more glam I bought strings of beads from Hobbycraft in the jewellery making section. They were only about £1 for each string of about 32 beads.

After that I was pretty sick of them and wanted to do something else. So using the coming spring and slight possibility of warmer weather as an excuse I put off making mine, in seaspray until next winter. Much to the disappointment of Fran, Dawn and Jackie. 

Heaven help me if any of them ever find out that there's now a free fingerless glove pattern to match. Ssshhh!!!

Twin gifts

My good friend Alice added twins Freyja and Robin to her family last year, making them a family of seven!! Rather her than me as I don't think I'm cut out for that!
I made them this blanket in fan and feather stitch for them to share. I used turquoise and yellow in bright shades as I didn't know if they would be boys or girls when I started.

I thought I would like brighter colours rather than the traditional baby pastels but now I'm not so sure. What do you think?

I used Aran weight yarn for quickness and size 6.5mm needles.

I also found an interesting pattern for a cardigan knitted in one piece so that no sewing is required. There was an easy version in garter stitch or a harder version with lacy detailing so of course I went for the harder one!

I used Sirdar Baby Crofter DK in Georgie for one twin (above) and in Bonnie (below) for the other.

After searching high and low for inexpensive nice buttons I eventually found a nice assorted pack in Tesco's kids craft section for about one pound. I only needed two for each cardigan so there's loads left over for other projects.

The last I heard all the gifts were well loved by Freyja and Robin and their brother and sisters too!

Scottish Piper

Here is the masterpiece of my knitting adventures so far....

He took almost forever to knit (a few months)!

Here is his back:

I made him for my lovely work friend Debbie as she wants to send him all the way to the USA for Christmas! Amazingly, I actually managed to get him finished in time for Christmas.

Here he is from the side, where you can see the sprigs of heather in his cap:

I knit him using Stylecraft Special DK in soft peach for his skin, matador red and white for the tartan (Aberdeen FC colours), black shoes & jacket & cap, silver sporran chain & buckle, copper hair & beard and oddments of yarn for the green & purple heather.

He is based on the Macscarecrow Clan patterns by Jean Greenhowe

I can't recommend her knitting patterns enough. They are so easy to follow and have amazing detail and look wonderful. I can't wait to try more! Having said that I did adapt the piper pattern to make him more tall man than dumpy toy and designed the jacket myself (a first!). I gave him lace up shoes and made his socks ribbed with mock cable turnovers for a bit of interest.

If you look up his kilt you'll find he's a true Scotsman! There's no photos of that as he's a bit shy (unlike so many true Scotsmen) and he tells me it was a bit cold!

I am rather pleased with him and I think Debbie is too as she bought me these gorgeous flowers as a thank you! 

Thanks Debbie, it was a pleasure to knit him and I might even make some more in the future.

Sail away dishcloth

I've made a dishcloth to keep for myself instead of giving it away!

Whilst in Florida I picked up a free pattern for a sail away dishcloth and here's the one I made using Lily Sugar n Cream. 

I love how the pattern turned out and t does a fantastic job of wiping up around the house.

Jo Ann

In October I went on holiday to Orlando in Florida. It was lovely and while I was there I couldn't stop myself from visiting a craft shop. Move over Hobbycraft, they really know how to do craft shops in the USA!

I visited a shop called Jo Ann. It's for fabrics and crafts. It was massive! I loved it!

I took a few pictures just to show how spoilt for choice a I was.

Outside.

Loads of yarn to choose from!

And more!

And even more!

And more yet!

It was amazing. And cheap! 

I bought some 454g balls of Aran weight yarn for making baby blankets and some huge balls of cotton yarn in self patterning shades to make dish towels; and also some multicoloured purple, pinky, blue coloured Aran yarn just because it was gorgeous!

And the good news was that I managed to fit it all in my case to bring home!

Little Birdies

Recently I discovered that Poundland sell cheap wool just perfect for making novelty items to sell through Kintore Knit and Stitch group to make money for local charities. 

I've hardly been to knit and stitch lately as I've mostly been going to bed after working at the time that I need to be getting up and going to the group!

Anyway I thought I'd still make a small contribution for the Christmas stall and found a pattern online by Amanda Berry for festive birdies. They were red, green and white to be festive but of course I had to be different so here are the ones I made with sparkly yarn from Poundland.

They're only little but took a while to make by the time I stuffed them and sewed them together. They do look quite cute and hopefully someone will buy them to,hang as baubles on their Christmas tree.

Tiny Angel Blankie

Yesterday I did some very special and important knitting.

I knit a tiny Blankie for a poor baby girl due to be born asleep today :'-(

This is the first time I have knit anything like this and I wasn't sure where to start or what to make but I decided on this Blankie pattern from  Tigerlily Trust website and used Sirdar Baby Crofter DK. It will keep her cosy, loved and guarded by angel wings for evermore.

It's not the neatest Blankie ever but it was knit in one day into the early hours to make it in time for baby's arrival. 

I hope baby's Mummy and Daddy like it.

I know some people knit all sorts of different outfits and things for sleeping babies for charity on a regular basis. I think I'll leave it to them to continue for now as knitting this made me feel quite sad. I was glad to be able to make it though as it meant I could help a friend and hopefully it will help bring some comfort.