Crochet comeback

Oh, how I've missed this...all the usual excuses...well you know how it goes...the thing is I have probably gone into procrastination over the really pressing things, such as the big German exam I have next month, so what am I doing ....anything but revision!

This small baby blanket above was a total re-make after beginning a very similar blanket  and finding I didn't have enough yarn to finish and then frustratingly, being unable to find the same yarn again.  Baby blanket #2   

We had two nights away in our little caravan, the sun shone on us and our day-out was simply 'wunderbar'!  Llansteffan Castle and beach, Carmarthenshire.

The latest project....guess what I'm making?  It will always be a blanket.  I'm pleased to be taking part in the 'Last dance on the Beach' CAL 

(As many of you know, this CAL was designed by the late Marinke Slump ( aka : Wink) from www.acreativebeing.com and was the final design she was working on at the time of her passing. In accordance with the wishes of Marinke’s family, 12 of her online friends and bloggers have completed her unfinished design to present this beautiful and sensitive CAL in Marinke’s memory and as a tribute to her work.)

I am here....I am still crocheting, knitting and sewing...although admittedly, a little less.  I'm beginning to be bored with my less-productive self....I'm getting fed-up of thinking about projects, but not actually doing them....so I'm doing something about it! (although I am by no means promising to finish off the hundreds of unfinished projects lurking!)

Year of projects - Happy Easter

Happy Easter one and all!

I'm not sure what its like elsewhere, but here it is glorious!

This week's YOP post is brought to you from sunny Scotland, we arrived in beautiful Fionnphort last night.  It's the first time we've been to Scotland, and we are not disappointed.

First up, I finished my Miss Winkle....in fact  finished it on the journey here, I've only recently discovered I can knit while being driven, which for me (terrible traveller) is a miracle.  We got stuck in a long queue at roadworks for best part of an hour, so out came the knitting.  I have yet to block it, but hopefully it will be done while we are here.

I've started a small baby blanket for a friend who has just had a baby boy....Yay!  Hopefully this will be mainly done by the end of the week.

After a lovely relaxed Easter Sunday roast (and a good bit of chocolate egg), we stretched our legs a bit, and took in our surroundings.

Littlest boy not being a bit put off by our feeling sorry for the rabbit after he had bitten his ears off!

To catch up with fellow YOP-ers check out the ravelry page here.

Year of projects - 20.05.12

Another week has whizzed by, and despite the fact I have loads to blog about, I haven't sat here since last Sunday.

I've turned my hand to both a bit of knitting and a bit of crochet this week.....first and foremost, I finally got around to picking up the baby blanket I started crocheting a couple of months ago, and finished it off.  To be honest, as I said at the time, it wasn't really my favourite project for more than one reason, which made me really slow to going back to it.  I'm glad I did though, as a few hours graft and it is done and ready to packed off to my cousin.

The pattern is from Ravelry here......and the yarn is Sirdar Snuggly Kisses.  I do like the way the stripes have appeared in the yarn........ making it a little more interesting to work on.......but only a little!

I've continued working on my Colour Affection and am now nearly onto the next section where the darker colour is introduced, it is a nice project so far, if not a little long-winded, but I'm still enjoying it, so in the words of my friend Marigold it's all good.

The weather has been superb today, our church took the service outside  this morning, and the sun shone its little heart out....this afternoon, we took boys and dogs for a bomb around in the same woods as last Sunday, but in a different part. I think we wandered off the path a bit, so we were doing our Ray Mears best to trudge through the undergrowth. 

Yesterday we took a lovely walk along an estuary with plenty of trees to explore and water to fall in....all the best walks should contain these elements I think.

Taking a little rest.......

(shortly after this photo was taken, this little laddy was sporting a huge egg right in the centre of his forehead........all in a day's work for my lot!)

Anyway, thank you as always for your lovely comments and support.....I really do have a giveaway up my sleeve, I just need to get around to actually doing it.....more hours please.

Hope you all have happy sunny weeks, where ever you are.  Faithx

Year of projects 15.04.12

At the beginning of the week I decided to jump on board with Sarah (Crafts from the Cwtch) and Nat's (Misadventures in Craft) Stripe Study Shawl KAL.....and I have to say in the beginning it took every ounce of concentration, but now it is straightforward and dare I say......enjoyable.  I use the term tentatively as yesterday when beginning some kind of lurgy and being a little sleep deprived (smallest boy being very sick in the night) I decided unwisely, to do some knitting and ended up stuffing up a few rows which I took a good half-hour to realise this morning.....typical......lots of ripping out and starting again...it does seem to be a familiar theme when it comes to knitting and me!

Although I've obviously caught a sickness bug, I seem to have escaped with just horrible cramps and nausea, which is fine by me as I am not a fan of being sick.  I have done little else but lay about, and that has been about it.....

So here it is, I am five stripes in, each stripe taking gradually more time, so I guess I am a while off yet, and probably a bit behind everyone else.  But it is a relaxing knit (when you are running on all four cylinders)

Fallen by the way-side is my baby blanket (and I guess if I admitted it, lots of other half started projects) which I must fit some time in on, as the baby will be a teenager before he receives it!  I have to say I am liking the yarn for this pattern, it's very delicate.

Well, it sounds like the rabble have finished their roast, which I cooked but could not face, and once it has been cleared away, I may return to the kitchen, although the smell is making me feel a little wobbly. 

I think we may get some fresh air this afternoon, as outdoors is looking a lot more inviting than yesterday.

Looking forward to reading about all your progress later........thanks for your lovely comments, always soooo enjoyed.

Actually, while I think of it....those knitters among you, which circulars do you use?  I am finding the ones on my shawl hard to work with as the stitches always get caught in the join from flex to needle.  I was looking at those circulars with inter-changeable heads and wondered if the same thing happened?

Your thoughts very much appreciated!

Year of projects 01.04.12

I did consider not posting this week, as I've been dilly-dallying, running here-there-everywhere and generally not really achieving much.

Last week's update caused some differences in opinion over which blanket was better suited for my cousin's new baby.  I must admit to carrying on with the pale green shell-stitch blanket, as I still feel that knowing the mother and it being her first baby, the plainer blanket would suit better.  However, I will buy some more stylecraft and finish the other one too as I do love bright and colourful!

I also showed you the start of a cat (please note I said cat, this may prove useful later) the pattern taken out of a book borrowed from  the library. 

I mentioned last time how much I LOVE this yarn, it is Juniper from Sirdar (in mulberry) and it is divine!  It is thick and thin and swirly and multicoloured....it is also in short supply....if only  I had enough to make a garment out of it....... I have maybe 6 or so balls left but it doesn't seem to go far.....maybe when the weather gets cooler in the autumn I will make a cowl.

Hmmmm......can you guess what it is.......

I'm afraid it is not really as it should be....but hey-ho, it was fun to make and it is beautiful to look at!

Our week of birthday celebrations for biggest boy culminated in a bowling party last night with a group of friends.....phew I'm relieved that is over! 

Today we've been enjoying the sun again....and it seemed we weren't the only ones.

This young lamb was taking full advantage of the sunshine and a relaxed mummy......our lambing is just about over now and the weather has been very kind to us.  Our normal season of lambing seems to throw everything at us, even a bit of snow a couple of years ago.

D'you know I really do enjoy to read your opinions, having other people's creative input is invaluable....thank you all.....

Anyway, to catch up with other year of project work, please check out the Ravelry page here.

Year of projects 25.03.12

What a gorgeous weekend it is turning out to be, here in sunny Wales.  The hour has gone forward this morning........ the day is stretching out ahead with the promise of a walk on the beach later........ the sun is streaming through the windows......woweeee!

As for my year of projects, I am at a bit of a lull at the moment, as I have a few 'off topic' projects, so I am paddling around in blanket world!

One of my cousins has had her first baby, a little boy and I figured I would make a blanket for him.....you know me, any excuse to make a blanket.

I've seen these 'waffle' style blankets around and thought they looked lovely, but for some reason, probably choice (or lack of choice) of colours, it just looks all wrong.  My stylecraft stash needs renewing, as I have little more than 'girly' colours left.

The 'wrong' side of this pattern, looks a lot better, but still, I know its not right for the job.

I started to also think, that being her first baby, she would probably prefer something more pastel (trust me to hit the colours!)  Anyway, I searched for something that took my fancy and found a pattern on a french blog and thought I would give it a whirl by following the simple chart.

Its not very 'me' but I have a feeling it may be better received.  The baby yarn was in my stash and a colour I would be unlikely to use otherwise, so I reckon I have given it a worthwhile home.

I am also doing a little spot of knitting too, after picking up a lovely knitted toys book from the library.  I am currently making a cat, but may go onto making the owl that goes with it ....and maybe even the boat....

This yarn is sublime....the colour and texture....I am truly gutted I don't have enough to make a jumper from it and try as I have, there  seems to be no more available......I am  not in mind for scarves etc.....but maybe when the end of the year comes around again, I will be more inclined to have a re-think.....if I haven't made loads of owls and pussycats out of it!

Anyway, I really should be doing something 'houseworky'....uuuggghhhh, I know, but if I don't, I can hardly be swanning about on the beach this afternoon now can I?

To catch up with other year of project work, see the ravelry page here.

I will hopefully have time to catch up on all your lovely blogs, later this evening when little boys are in the land of nod!  Thanks for your weekly encouragements, you really are a lovely lot!