Settler Shawl | A finish and a GIVEAWAY {Knitting}

Here it is.. My kidney bean Settler shawl. If you are following me on IG, you know that it was blocked twice (forgot one repeat, oops), and that I kept on cursing the weather as I could not take any picture outside. So I came back home yesterday, and although it was raining in London, it was sunny once I was home. That was it, time to take pictures of the shawl. 

It is really difficult to actually capture the colour - it is even more gorgeous in real life. I have one more skein left and I cannot wait to knit a beanie hat, and maybe mittens (let's face it summer is over here in Britain - so may as well embrace the colder months). 

Libby released her pattern yesterday - congrats to her! This is really a beautiful modern shawl, and that can be worn many ways. I am much more of a scarf person, so this is a great addition to my wardrobe. When she asked me to test a shawl, I was worried about the shape of it, but I should not have been worried! 

Pattern: Settler Shawl by Truly Myrtle Designs

Yarn: Artesano Definition Sock yarn in kidney bean (one skein) 

Needles: 4mm

Modifications: None but it may be worth noting that my gauge was totally off, and it still the required length (in case you gauge for shawl...)

And now for the giveaway, Libby is generously offering a pattern to one lucky reader!

You have 3 chances to enter the giveaway:

1. This giveaway is open to my followers only - old and new. 

Let me know how you follow my blog in the comment box.

2.Follow me on twitter, and tweet about the giveaway - and mention @noaslibellule

3. Follow me on Instagram (natmadeinhome) and post the shawl picture and come back to leave me a third comment

The giveaway ends Wednesday 3 September at 5pm (UK time). Please, please, please leave me a way to contact you if you are a no-reply blogger Good luck!

Settler | Testing { Knitting}

It feels like I have not been knitting for a while - I was not feeling it for some reason. I have started Nord again whilst on holiday and suddenly I wondered how I could have lost my knitting mojo (the heat maybe?). And now I cannot stop knitting, hopefully that means that some projects will get finished (finally) and also that I will be able to start on baby projects (a little more than 3 months to go, and nothing is ready!)

And of course this is not an old project that needs finishing, nor a baby project. I am again testing for Libby (I tested Skeppe last year) and in the process made a decision regarding this beautiful yarn originally meant to be the Follow your Arrow KAL. I decided to frog and keep the yarn for the right project. And this is it - a shawl that will be worn more like a scarf, more my style. 

Although the patterns calls for a fingering yarn, which this is, my gauge is actually totally off - and there is not a lot I can do about it. I am still carrying on with this yarn, hoping to have a good go at blocking the shawl and make it grow, and end up with the right length. Fingers crossed. 

This project is a destash one, no new yarn bought, although I was tempted.

But I was reading about self-sufficiency in Extracurricular magazine, following Melody's WIP post, and I have now read mine cover to cover - I even made my husband read an article. It is a great start to understand how people interpret sustainability and how they include it in their lives. Totally inspiring. 

I will be linking up to Small Things today. 

Also check out le challenge today for a discount code at Mary Emmens vintage shop and a chance to enter her giveaway - this month's theme is ERA! 

Meet Desmond the Dragon | A finish {crochet}

He is cute, he is green, he is a dragon - let me introduce to Desmond (not my choice). If I am honest, I still cannot believe I have finished it. I do not crochet as much as knit, and thought that might be actually above my skills level. But look, I made him - with my little hands, on my own, no help! And he does actually look like the pattern - I know, amazing!

He is MUCH bigger than the pattern suggested - which may be why Baby MiH is not that keen on him (basically he is a big as he is when baby MiH sits).

In other things I am proud of having made are the eyes (well one of them, the other one is a bit wonky - did you notice the editing of the left eye). I could not find any, and then I thought of that fimo clay I had, 30 minutes in the oven, a bit of clear nail varnish (essential DIY tool) - et voila!

Then there is the clever bit about the spikes, so clever! You make a backbone chain, and then make the spikes! The back of the head is not the easiest of bit, but it is still very clever!

The ears are probably the cutest bits. Again it took me a while to understand - and a lot of Ravelry stalking to make sure I understood what I was supposed to do - I think I managed it ok.

 

Here is the back, it is a bit wonky, totally my fault - it happened when I pieced together the head to the body..

 

Pattern: "DIRK" - lalylala crochet pattern N° VI - Dragon, Dinosaur (available here)

Yarn:  Artenaso Definition sock yarn in Crocodile and Drops Karisma in Forest Green
(the white and orange yarn are leftovers from the fox hats, and the fabric from the Botanics collection)

Hook size: 4mm 

Modification: none only mistakes (except the size)
  Filling: Soft toy filling found here

There are many other great patterns by Lydia, I love the afro on Loni the Lion ... which one is your favourite?

Catching up | #Followyourarrowkal {Knitting}

Catching up is what my life is all about at the moment. I have been travelling a bit for work, and despite taking a few projects with me, I never get to make as much progress as I would like. And of course when I come back, it is all about catching up with Baby MiH and Mr MiH, doing some washing, cooking for my boys, packing/unpacking and sleep..

I would like to say that the #followyourarrowkal has not progressed as much as I hoped because of this but it is just not true. I am losing interest in it as it is just too small for me. I have been on IG a lot to see how other projects were progressing and other knitters are sharing my frustration. 

And of course until this Monday (the last clue in the KAL), I did not know what to do about it - and actually even know that I have all the clues, I am still wondering if I am just not going to frog it and use that beautiful yarn for something else. 

It totally goes against signing up for a pattern - but it was a mystery KAL so I did not know what I was going to knit really and on the positive side I have now a beautiful lace pattern in my Ravelry library that I could use elsewhere. 

So what would you do people, carry on - making it up as I go along, hoping that it will grow enough to become wearable or just frog and start something that I will like (such as this pattern)? 

The unusual WIP {Crochet}

I have some many WIPs at the moment, it is getting out of control - but of course in a good way! It also means that at some point there may a few finished projects to share. Sometimes I really wished I was a one-at-a-time-project kind of girl - but let's face it your are either one or you are not. And I am definitely not. I have currently 3 knitting projects (one is the follow your arrow kal though, so not exactly a typical WIP), a crochet project, and 3 sewing projects I should be getting on with... And many many more in my head! 

So the issue is really which one to share here. I decided to go for the crochet one because 1) I have not crochet in a while, and I forgot how much I enjoyed it!, 2) because it is the most unusual project out of my current WIP, and will get you guessing, and 3) it is the one I am most likely to finish. 

So he is a HE ...

So he has legs, and thanks to his Mum (yours truly) he has one shorter than the other, oops...

 A head (sort of)...

he has  a long body... 

he is made of Artenaso Definition sock yarn in Crocodile and Drops Karisma in Forest Green (both already in my stash whoohoo- so I really got an interesting green. The white and burnt orange yarns are leftovers from the fox hats.   

Oh and he has one arm (so far)..

And he is about to become Baby MiH's best mate - and new dribbling pillow... I hope to properly introduce him to you very soon.