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! 

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)?