The Hourglass Baby Blanket | A Finish {Knitting}

It is finished and that is before the baby is here! I am having so many (fake) contractions at the moment, that it is a wonder that I managed it. To be fair I only finished and blocked it yesterday - so I am not leaving myself a lot of time. 

This is one of my favourite knits. The pattern, the yarn, the way it blocked - I cannot actually believe I handknitted this beautiful blanket. I am so glad I spent some time finding the right pattern and match the yarn. 

Pattern: The Hourglass Throw by Anne Hanson

Yarn: Swans Islands Yarn organic Merino and Alpaca blend yarn, naturally dyed 
(I used 3 skeins, as per the pattern)

Needles: 5.5mm
Final Dimensions: 29' x 41' (after blocking) 

Modifications: None - do not have the brain for it. But I reckon that it would make a great jumper pattern if someone wanted to take on the challenge!

The yarn - an organic naturally dyed yarn - is amazing to knit with. I am so glad I gave it a try. I have washed it - to block it - and the colour did not change at all. And it did block it beautifully (I used blocking wires and it worked amazingly well). 

So I am finally going to pack that hospital bag as I feel the end is near. I am reading 'The Woman I wanted to be ' by Diane von Fustenberg - it is really good already, so I cannot wait to keep on reading. 

I am joining KCCO and Ginny's today.

Feeling the pressure | WIP {knitting}

This week is my last week at work, and more importantly my last week commuting to work - I cannot actually believe that as from Thursday night, this will be it, but I am delighted about it, commuting has really taken its toll on me. So much so, I was worried I was going to give birth on my way home last week . Not ideal when you are an hour away from your hospital and your husband, who happens to work near said hospital. Thankfully we are all fine. But I am definitely feeling the pressure - and want to finish the baby blanket asap. If I have the hand knitted blanket, all will be fine and will go smoothly (in my head). 

I have made progress - a whole repeat of progress to be precise. I am getting the hang of the pattern, even though I still need the paper next to me at all times, but it makes more sense. By the third - and last - repeat I am sure I will know it by heart. 

It is not a hard pattern, just a lot of cable and yarn over work, and you need to be careful (no late knitting for me!) - this makes a beautiful effect of course. I am in love with this pattern, really. 

I think the colour of the yarn is probably as close to the real thing as can be - and really shows off the pattern. I am always worried that the yarn colour will overwhelm the pattern - but it does not (totally worth that customs charge I had to pay, oh I hate customs charge). 

Pattern: The Hourglass Throw by Anne Hanson

Yarn: Swans Islands Yarn organic Merino and Alpaca blend yarn, naturally dyed

Needles: 5.5mm

Modifications: None - do not have the brain for it. But I reckon that it would make a great jumper pattern if someone wanted to take on the challenge!

I believe we could see a finish soon - cannot wait to block this blanket! There is already a finish at MiH, Slable is finished and has been photographed - but more on this later this week... 

As for the reading, I am finishing Inferno by Dan Brown. It is not the Da Vinci Code but it is surprisingly fun to read, and I do love all the additions of historic details about Florence and Venice. 

Will be joining others over at Ginny's today. 

You can also see my choice of baby blanket patterns here, if you are interested. 

The Big Tidy Up | WIP {Sewing and Knitting}

This is my second go at making myself a boxy pouch - a few years after my first go.. And there is a very good reason for that wait, the first attempt was really bad, did not look boxy whatsoever, everything that could go wrong probably did go wrong with that project, except that I never found out where exactly. But I still think that boxy pouches are the best way to organise knitting WIPs, especially small ones like a certain shawl.  

Sooooo I decided to have another go - and this time it would be made properly. I would read the instructions, I know essential but I am not that good at that, maybe do some basting to make sure I am happy before sewing with the machine - and basically turning a quick project into a really long one.

I found a tutorial by Kelly who blogs at KelbySews that I really liked - there are so many out there - but this one seemed to make sense (and have enough pictures for my photographic brain). I had the fabric and the zipper in my stash - result! 

I love this sashiko-effect fabric (bought here on Etsy ages ago), and the lining is some leftover fabric from the Highbury and Islington baby quilt. I cannot believe how well the two fabrics go together.

So far so good - I have oversized the pouch a bit, so it may not look like what you expect when it is finished - but hopefully still look like a boxy pouch. 

As you will have seen, I am still knitting Settler (the test knit for Libby), and I have also got a new magazine about natural living - Taproot - which has also knitting patterns (by no other than Carrie Bostick Hoge), recipes and experience of natural living. Each issue has also a theme, if you don't want to subscribe. 

Check out other WIP projets over at WIP Wednesday and Small Things today. 

FINALLY I wanted to let you know that I will host my second sale of yarn and quilting books tomorrow on the blog (you can see a sneak peek on IG). This time I will sell a few balls of the same yarn, so you can get a bigger project out of a purchase. Be sure to check it out!

Project Destash #2 | Doily {Crochet}

I mentioned on Monday that I was making a doily out of a free pattern I found through Pinterest (but did not actually pin it) and it turned out that the pattern had a few issues. I am now at my third attempt at making it - no, I will not give up! At the same time I was looking at ways to show you doilies and how to display them. And I came across a genius idea which I am hoping to repeat in Baby MiH's room for him so that it can have his own wall art. 

This has been frogged again since the picture was taken

So I am de-stashing yarn as well as fabric, and making doilies is a great way to do this - as I can adapt the size of the doily to the yarn I have left and add more rounds to the doily if I feel I want something bigger. Also doilies are great portable projects! 

from the Socialite Family

And you know when you have this idea in your head, and the same day something appears in your blog feed with exactly what you were looking for - but you did not know you were looking for it (am I making even sense here?). This is what happened with this wall art made of doilies, it is a great to use vintage (or your grandma's) doilies and add new ones to the mix. To make the shape I found this tutorial - using some Stiffy (who thought of that name, seriously). I have also seen this inspiration picture, and wondering whether I could recreate that crochet pattern - anyone has any ideas? 

Shelter yarn, to be excited or not to be? | A WIP {Knitting}

I finally had the chance to knit Brooklyn Tweed's Shelter yarn. Yes you heard right Jared's own yarn, the same Jared who made me knit Tapenade and the Baby MiH's favourite blanket. It was supposed to be the ultimate connection. Shelter is tweedy, comes in amazing colours, durable and gives a fabulous stitch definition. And of course Jared has designed several knitting patterns for Shelter that are wonderful.

 

But I am a bit disappointed - and believe me it is really hard for me to tell you this. From the start the yarn was a little splitty. I think this is because of its handspunish quality. I also kept finding bits of organic matter spun right into the yarn so I am spending a bit of time picking that out while I am knitting - and it is a bit strange. I like rustic, but there may something as too rustic.. And it is coarse - this isn't something I'd necessarily want to make a cowl with as it would bother me.  Now, perhaps a good soak in conditioner will help but I haven't done that yet.

It is a bit expensive. It runs GBP 10.50/skein and you only get 128 m (140 yds). You can see that I will need 2 skeins for one beanie hat - when I usually use one. For small projects, the price isn't prohibitive...but if you're looking to make a long-sleeved, cabled cardigan (like Channel), this yarn can get a little expensive.

I had to match a BT pattern to Shelter - if you are going to knit his yarn you may as well knit a pattern he approves right, and pick one of my favourite projects of Wool People 6. 

Pattern: Bough (WP Vol 6) by Leila Raabe

Yarn: Shelter in Soot

Needles: 4mm circular (smaller than recommended as saw comments 
on the pattern knitting big)

What I would say is that it is a wonderful pattern and it will look great in Shelter - I am just hoping it will be comfortable enough to wear, and that there will not be any itchiness.. But you know what, I am glad I am knitting it, and I am still Jared's fan.

So who has knitted with Shelter before? What did you think? Am I being too harsh - and the blocking is going to make it much better? 

Nearly a new start

I am starting work in a couple of weeks'time, argghh! And it is time to clear my work space for new projects and a new routine. 

Top right: Big Chevron Quilt; Top left: A Christmas project
Bottom left: a beanie hat; Bottom right: the Effortless cardigan

So tackling one WIP at a time... and here is to a Friday full of finishes!

Vintage Stamp Collection | Big Chevron WIP {Quilting}

I started Jess’ Big Chevron Quilt – as you can see. The chevrons are really taking shape, or not. I decided to make it slightly more complicated, and try my hand at stamp collection as a first step (12 first steps to be precise).

I cannot show you why I am going with such an orange brown theme – I am getting ‘it’ back over the weekend. All I can tell you it is orange and brown – and useful… Hence my fabric choices

(top from left to right) Nancy Wolff Circus; Michael Miller Smoochie Chocolate; 

Robert Kaufmann Bright & Buzzy Amber;

(centre from left to right): Kona Brown; South Seas – Owl Wonderful; Michael Miller Tweetie Pie;

(bottom from left to right): South Seas – Owl wonderful Red; South Seas – 

Owl Wonderful Medallions; Lotta Jansdotter - Echo

(Found at PlushAddict and Fabrictastic, or already in my stash)

To make the block I followed the (amazing) tutorial of Oh Fransson!

I did not have scissors small enough – so I had to improvise a bit..

It works, and look at how everything matches perfectly. If you have not tried this tutorial – do. It is really rewarding.

1 down, 11 to go... Better get sewing! Linking up to WIP Wednesday today. 

Isa {Knitting}

This has been a WIP for a long time. I started knitting the jumper when I was pregnant - and added a few stitches to take my growing belly into account. I picked it up a couple of weeks ago, and Mr MiH laughed at it - it was double my size. 

Back to the drawing board - I am making a less loose version than La Poule. After a lot of (probably bad) maths, I think I have the right number of stitches on my circular needles, and the ribbing is nearly finished - and then comes the confetti stitch! 

bookmark pattern here

 I am using exactly the same yarn as La Poule, it is the perfect sweater jumper yarn!

I am also wondering what to make with the leftover of Steel after Steel Snow...I am thinking making this necklace, a chunky version?

I am reading again! I got a few books back from France... so far the comic book is much more interesting... the book is proving a bit too romantic for a thriller.. 

Joining other WIPs at Tami's and Ginny'. You can find my quilting WIP here.