I think my new years resolution is to finish all my christmas presents for next year by December 1st. If it’s not made its being bought. I just can’t cope anymore with the stress I put on myself to get bits done. This year  for christmas I have made 3 stockings sewn, 2 pairs of mittens, 2 pairs of maternity pyjama bottoms (sewn) , some lavender sachets, 2 doll blankets, 2 scarves, 1 pair of socks and 3  cushions sewn. I am sure there are other bits I have forgotten but hey ho. I also have three December birthdays,

I am rather pleased with myself as I have almost achieved the target I set my self at the beginning of the year. I have a week and only four projects to complete the A- Z of the year, I was worrying slightly as I thought I’d only meant knitting projects but it did include sewing as well. Ironic really as I’ve only used one letter for a sewn project. I will take some pictures and upload them shortly

Seasons greetings one and all. Keeeep crafting

Worldwide Knitting in Public Day, Sat 11th June, marked the official woolly launch of this year’s innocent Big Knit and they need your help.
They want to raise £160k this year for Age UK by knitting 650,000 little hats which will go on Innocent smoothie bottles and be sold in stores in November. For every little hat knitted, they’ll give 25p to Age UK to help them make winter a little warmer for older people across the UK.  They need your help to reach this huge target – they have 3 different patterns to start you off and there will be lots more going up on our website very soon.  You can find the patterns by searching innocent’s Big Knit on ravlery and the pdfs will also be going up on the website next week
Every hat counts- so why not get together with your Knitting chums and make a few hats for innocent’s Big Knit?

I’ve knitted these previous years and they don’t take long and are great for using up the smallest scraps of yarn.

Im not very good with the titles lately. I don’t think I am going to reach my short term target straight away, however I have knitted the Unwind Wrap from Rowan Magazine 49. The pattern calls for 2 balls of  Rowan Summer Tweed in one shade, one ball in four other shades and the same amount in Rowan Kidsilk Haze. I found I only  used one ball of each  shade and in all bar the first shade in KSH I used approximately half a ball so it’s a great pattern for using oddments up. It is the easiest pattern I have ever knitted. Even the fringing is easy, you just tie a knot every fourth row when you join a new shade in. I am almost up to the collar of the second side of  Dominka  and have knitted half of both sleeves of Vivienne

I am due back at work in 6 weeks and before I return I thought I should use this time to finish some bits so I have set myself a couple of goals.

Knitting wise I want to finish Dominika, Vivienne and The Knitter Subscription Cushion.

Sewing wise I want to  sew a couple of  the basic sewing bags for display. I also want to finish the christmas stockings and hem the sashes for the bridesmaid dresses.

If I get time I also want to sew the wedding message book cover. I’ve already designed it just need to do a test run then the real thing.

I shall update on here as as and when these targets are reached or should that be if?

I am exhausted but rather pleased with myself as I have finished another WIP.

I have finished Damson by Ysolda . As I said before it’s a really simple pattern and I cannot believe the silly mistakes I made. Now I have finished it I can see where I and how I messed up. I need to block it then I shall post a picture

>I have finally finished my friends hat. It was supposed to be a christmas present but I ran out of time. I have tried five different patterns and kept going wrong and was beginning to despair of ever knitting her one when I discovered the Edge of Lace Hat from 101 Designer One Skein Wonders.
I used Rowan Pure Wool DK and normally I would have knitted this in an evening but due to the hysterectomy I’m not up to full speed yet.
I shall post a photo once I’ve given it to the friend in question.
I have a lot of WIPs 10 to be exact and am in a bit of a dilemma. Three of these are blankets. I have a bad case of startitus but really feel I should finish at least one of the WIPs. So do I cast on a small project like socks or mittens and do these inbetween the larger projects or do I just get on with it and finish one of the garments.
I was doing really well with Vivienne the cover knit from Precious . I finally finished the body and was looking forward to knitting the sleeves and finishing it, but for some reason I had it in my head that they were short sleeves. They’re not they’re long stocking stitch sleeves in 4ply . This means I have kind of stalled on this project. I am in the mood for starting the second side of Dominika so I think I may start this.
I have also partially decided to destash some of my Rowan Cocoon because as much as I love this yarn it moults for the first few times you wear it and it drives me and OH potty. I may of course use it all and knit lots of scarves and hats ready for christmas and I still want to knit Mabel from Rowan Winter Kids for each of my nieces so We shall see. Decisive as usual!