Knit, Shear Bliss!

The Story Behind the Baby Blanket, 16+ years in the making...

I started this baby blanket in the Maternity Ward after delivering my second child, yes 16 years ago. Its was a great "little" (em, yes little) project that I thought would nt take long to knit. Emmmmm....well I didn't count on the fact that I would have two children under 2 years of age and I wouldn't have any time to sleep let alone knit.

I worked on the blanket on and mostly off for many years and then packed it away in a little plastic shoe box where it sat, luckily away from moths quite safely. Until a found it again I am still trying to finish the lace border.

It is a very rewarding knit and I really do enjoy it, but maybe in some ways, (I think subconciously) finishing it would be a final reality check that my babies are growing into adults....so I am still working on the blanket......I promised my 16 year old the Blanket that I would give it to her when she leaves for college.

Pattern; Mrs Mc Hugh's Blanket by Louisa Harding, published in Rowan Tadpoles & Tiddlers. 4ply yarn

 

Quill

I haven't been knitting much these days. I have been happily, so busy with sewing the bags for the etsy store, that knitting has taken a back seat. I knit the English throw style and I am getting pains in my hands and arms when I am knitting. I even had the pains when I wasn't knitting?

I saw this lace shawl on Ravelry and fell in love. I found some Rowanspun 4ply in my stash.  Rowanspun 4 ply yarn in color 704: Slate a black gray colour. This yarn was discontinued in Fall 2000. I bought it on Ebay some time ago.

Maybe this would be a good pattern to practice knitting in the continental style. I may give it a go.....Time to download the pattern....

 

Recycling Yarn from Sweaters

A few years ago I really got into recycling yarn. I scoured the thrift stores for good sweaters that I could unravel. I bought some 100% cotton sweaters, came home and set to work picking away at seams, and unraveling. It was alot of work. I ended up with several cakes of yarn in lots of different shades. It works but it does take a lot of time and you do end up with bits of fluff and yarn everywhere. Even so, I am thinking of recycling some sweaters, I have some sweaters lying around that would work and it all helps to turn unwanted items into something useful. I love to make do and mend.

There are some great yarn recyling tutorials out there, like this one and this one and on youtube there is this great video.

There are some other great things to try like t-shirt yarn and also using the recycling yarn to spin your own new yarn.....I have to give this a go!!

However, it is tempting to just buy the recycled yarn. There are several Etsy stores that sell Recycled Yarn, ready to made into something new. The work has all been done and the pricing is great :-)

 

I would love to find some cashmere sweaters to turn into a lovely shawl for winter.....oooh!

New Slippers

I found this lovely pattern for super quick slippers, the Duffers, 19 Row Felted Slippers, by Mindie Tallack (who is super clever). The pattern can be found on Ravelry here.

I had started another pair of slippers, using yarn from my stash, over a year ago, but ran out of yarn. So I discarded the project in disgust :-) So there the yarn and half finished project lay, until I found the Duffers pattern online. The project uses less yarn and I was able to complete the project and wear them within a couple of days. Me happy :-)

New Vintage Tea Cosy

Time for a new Vintage Flutted tea cosy, created from my pattern with pom poms this time. I have made another tea cosy for sale in my Etsy store.

Tea Cosies

I am back into tea cosies, I am knitting a fluted tea cosy in blue, using my tea cosy pattern. I also found some vintage tea cosy knitting patterns that I have listed at the Etsy store. Like this one below. So fun to knit.

My favourite Bag

I love, love this Bag. It is the perfect size for sock knitting, to grab and go! I created it from some vintage embroidered linens and new vibrant pink fabric.

Hexagon Blanket

I am officially obsessed with Knitted Hexagons! I was watching a movie at the weekend and I couldn't help noticing this hexagon shaped patchwork blanket. At first I thought it was crochet. But studying it further I noticed it was knitted. The knitting radiated out and the shape looked so appealing to me. Well that was it. I am hooked. The closest knitting pattern I could find to the movie blanket was this one. I hope "knitty, Vintage and Rosy" wont mind me reposting it. Check out her blog its addictive, just like these hexagans.

Use left over yarn, each hexagon only takes 12 yards each. Sew them together to make a blanket, or a cushion. Just too cute.

 

The Knitted Hexagon

Materials: Worsted weight yarn

Needles compatible to yarn

One Hexagon requires about 12 yards of wool

Cast on 79 stitches.

Row 1. And every odd row, Purl.

Row 2. K2T, K 10, *Slip 1, K2T, PSSO, K10. Repeat *four times. Slip 1, K1, PSSO.

Row 3. Purl

Row 4. K2T, K8, *Slip 1, K2T, PSSO, K8. Repeat *four times. Slip 1, K1, PSSO.

Row 5. Purl

Row 6. K2T, K6, *Slip 1, K2T, PSSO, K6. Repeat *four times. Slip 1, K1, PSSO.

Row 7. Purl

Row 8. K2T, K4, *Slip 1, K2T, PSSO, K4. Repeat *four times. Slip 1, K1, PSSO.

Row 9. Purl

Row 10. K2T, K2, *Slip 1, K2T, PSSO, K2. Repeat *four times. Slip 1, K1, PSSO.

Row 11. Purl

Row 12. K2T, *Slip 1, K2T, PSSO. Repeat *four times. Slip 1, K1, PSSO.

Row 13. Purl

Row 14. Slip 1, K2T, PSSO, Slip 1, K2T, PSSO, K1.

Break wool. Leave a twelve inch tail. Run end through remaining 3 stitches. Draw close and seam two edges together. Leave end for joining next hexagon.

I think its time for a new pair....

They look great on the top. I have loved them to death. I wear these every day. I love the cosy, warm feel on my feet. They seem to hug the feet like a cosy sock. I suppose its time for another pair.

A Farmhouse Treasures Duck Egg Spring