Nessa Wrap [Giveaway] :: Knitting ::

Happy Sunday everyone! And welcome Spring! I was finally able to take pictures of the Nessa wrap since finishing it! I really needed natural light for this shawl, to show off the texture and the amazing colourway of the yarn I used. I may have also needed a bit of time to work out how to take pictures of Nessa. It is really long and wide, and with a lot of detailing, so not necessarily the easiest to capture. But now that Libby has published the pattern, you will be able to find more pictures on Ravelry. 

I did this test knit for Libby - I have been knitting it for the past 2 months, and as those following me on IG know as I kept bombarding them with pictures of Nessa. The longest part was the middle part (the garter stitch bit), I could not get myself motivated to sit down and just knit it. Give me lace panels and I will be happy to finish these in days. In fact, the lace panel was the reason why I wanted to knit Nessa, and they are amazing. Nessa is a wrap that I will most probably wear as a scarf, I like my scarves really long and wide - so this one is perfect for me. 

 Pattern: Nessa by Truly Myrtle Designs

Yarn: Fyberspates Vivacious DK (Tweed Imps) - 
I reviewed Fyberspates in my yarn with attitude series here
Yardage: I used 564m/282g (2 skeins and a bit)

Needles: according to pattern

So for the giveaway... Libby is kindly offering the pattern to one of my readers!

You have 3 chances to enter this giveaway:

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

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

2.Follow me on Facebook (and let me know you did in the comment box)

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

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

My October here and elsewhere

It is a bit late ... But here is what caught my eye in October, or is new in my house this month. 

- I am preparing my post-baby wardrobe and the Denver top pattern is SO going to have to be in it. I first saw it on Annie Cotton - and I just know that I will have to make it at some point. I am thinking a plaid version - a cosy fabric for the winter months, and a pattern that might hide the post-baby tummy. 

- I may not be a complete beginner when it comes to sewing, but sometimes it is nice to be reminded of the basics - especially that there is always an 'ugly stage'. 

- I had to wait a bit to get my new scarf - but I have been wearing every day since receiving it. I love A Peace Treaty story and how it ethically works with artisan workshops. I bought mine in the UK here. I am now hoping to make a hat that will go with it - hopefully with some naturally dyed yarn - but I am still looking for a pattern. 

- I found a new UK-based Etsy shop that sells naturally dyed yarn - and I am hoping to start knitting in November with it. It sells more than just the one skein of the one colour - and therefore would allow me to make bigger project. 

- I love that blouse and Pauline Alice's Autumn look (ok it was a September post, but I saw it in October) - such a great smart casual look! 

- My vintage purchases of the month are now in my kitchen. A flour sifter (Portmeirion Totem) and a vintage tin. Love them! My kitchen is finally getting some personality. 

- And finally I got some new comfy shoes to get ready for walking behind the pushchair - and they are vegan, but not too expensive, from Esprit. And they have zip on the sides, so my giant belly cannot stop me from wearing them! 

I suppose we are coming to the most exciting month - we will be meeting Little Baby MiH soon - I am enjoying the remaining days before sleep deprivation, and also making the most of having just the one baby - although I cannot wait to be able to pick up Baby MiH again, so frustrating to be so slow at everything! 

Has anything has caught your eyes this month... I would love to know!

Pattern Picks| BT Fall Vol. 14 {Knitting}

*For a chance to win one yard of organic cotton fabric dyed naturally

please make sure you enter the giveaway here*

It is out... Another 16 patterns released yesterday by the designer team over at Brooklyn Tweed - and if you are a fan of cables you are in for a treat. These patterns are meant to be knitted in the long nights that are coming with the winter. It is intricate work - and some patterns are beautiful. However I am not totally overwhelmed by one pattern - they are all very beautiful, just maybe not my style, or some awkward shaping? 

I do have some favourites - and it is interesting to compare my favourites to the ones on Ravelry (if you go on the pattern list, you can see for instance that Wake is currently the favourite but does not feature on my list). 

I am not sure what is more appealing - the styling of Ludlow (love the burnt orange/electric blue combo) or the geometric pattern. I like the idea that there is no wrong side to the wrap. It mentions that this would be a project that you can leave and pick up whenever you want, again probably the sort of project that would appeal to me right now, or when the baby is here. I do love a big stole to wrap around my neck in winters. 

I think I like Backbay, but I definitely don't like it in that colour. It reminds me of course of Berenice from BT Kids - and I would actually consider make a short sleeves version of it to layer on top of a chambray shirt - an all-year-round garment. I am not sure about the bottom ribbing, it looks funny - maybe it is a question of proportions, a longer ribbing may be better? 

I am not as inspired by Skiff as I was by Bough but it may be a great hat for Mr MiH especially in that chocolate brown colour. I do love the cable work and how it comes together at the crown of the hat. There is a slouchy version too, but even with the addition of a pompom, and we know how much I like a pompom, Bough still wins. 

Rowe would be like my ultimate knit. Chunky ribbing, amazing cable work - I would be impressed if I were able to every finish it, and how amazing would that be. It would be perfect for the winter. But I have to be realistic, this is not going to happen this year - or until I have to attend the boys' sport training sessions, and get 'free' time to knit. 

Tiller may be also a  for Mr MiH . I gave Wayfarer to my Mum - Mr MiH was never wearing it, and then he decided (of course) that he liked it... The net of it is that I owe him a scarf, and Tiller might just be the ticket. I think it is probably too chunky for me, but at 6'2 Mr MiH could handle all that pattern. Also I think I would be learning quite a few techniques from it, a bonus of course. 

So what is your favourite? What did you think? Other patterns, and beautiful photographs are of course on line in the Ebook available here.

Pin Obsession | WIP {Knitting}

* Do not forget to enter my current giveaway for a chance 

to win a skein of TFA Mulberry Silk and knit your own beret*

This is probably the third version of this project.And I think I am now happy with the number of stitches - and potential width, the yarn used (well the combination) and the stitch I am using. it is clearly a not complicated design, but I have in mind this pin (OMG, I am obsessed with that pin)- and I have just spend time to replicate that scarf in that colour - and it is wide, seems quite thin and it is not a simple ribbing. I think I got it, and to be honest right now I am sticking to my decision. 

All I need now is for this (future, maybe a long time away) scarf to grow. To be fair I have given myself the tools to make it grow fast - two strand of yarns and 7mm needles! 

I know the colour is not exactly right (despite Mr MiH and I spending an hour trying to work it out) - but I love it. It is a combination of Cascade 220 Superwash in Straw (870) and Drops Kid Silk in dark brown (15) (both quite good value options). I got them from the Wool Warehouse which is a fab (UK) yarn online shopping site - good value, quick to deliver and the site is easy to naviguate (and no, they don't pay me to say this). 

I seem to be going through a phase of easy knitting projects. I am sure I will go back to more intricate lace patterns soon, but with SO many amazing TV shows to catch up on (last night GBSB as baby MiH woke up 15 minutes into the program, House of Cards, Death in Paradise), this is ideal! 

What are you knitting at the moment, linking to Small Things and Tamis' Amis today.