Year of projects - 05.01.14

So I'm guessing we must be around six months in and I know I am not half way through my planned makes, but hey ho....I have six months to work on it!

First up, was a Christmas present I made for my Mum.

Another Veera Valimaki shawl Bolt

Made in three different yarns, almost four, but I reigned myself in!  This was knit with two different shades of four-ply sirdar snuggly, the third was a part ball that I bought in Wonderwool last year.

It is another wonderful pattern, not a uniform shape like the other shawls I have knit.  You knit the first triangle, then cast off and pick up stitches along one side.  The curves are formed with short rows...but what really grabbed me, is the stripes....it is all about the stripes.

To finish of the gift, I bought another beautiful shawl pin from Begemmed this time with a Mother of Pearl stone to set off the hammered finish......another beautiful piece.

Changing up the 'soothing on the eyes' colours, you may want to reach for your sunnies! 

I have finally finished my Little Woollie Mixed Stitch Stripey Blanket This has been my post Christmas crocheting project.  I have picked it up and put it down over the past year and a half....it has been a fun project....and the finished blanket has already been snapped up by my littlest boy....that makes me smile from ear to ear when the things I make are claimed before they are finished.

This was made with Stylecraft Special DK mainly, and a few other acrylics thrown into the mix, it has certainly knocked back some of the weight off my yarn shelves.

The only complaint I have (and this is down to my own incompetence not the pattern) is that I seriously messed up the size.  When I finished the last stripe, I held it up in pride, only to realise it was way out along the sides....I had obviously not been careful enough making the same stitch count  as I went along each different stripe and over the course of the blanket lost loads of width.  I started out unravelling each side on the wider end, but even with hours of work, it was still very trapezoid shaped.  I almost put it away to forget about it, but decided to be done with it, so I've put borders on and I'm just not going to look at it laid out flat! (Head in the sand!)

So there we have it...I have started a new project on the list...a temperature blanket....but more on that next week!

To see more YOP work, check out the ravelry page here.

Year of projects 08.12.13

So I told you last time, I had a few days to make a gift for my MIL who was off to S.Africa for Christmas, well, I did it, with time to spare and here it is.....

Clapo-ktus by Loredana Gianferri

A really enjoyable and quick knit....although, I have to admit to spending a long time trying to figure out what to do....but ravelry's read the useful projects search came in to its own.....once started I didn't stop and I think is was around three evenings to do.

I knitted it in Sirdar Baby Bamboo which is a DK weight with a lovely sheen, which helped when you dropped the stitches to run down.....what a weird experience!

I spent some time trawling about for a shawl pin for myself and one to package with the clapo-ktus, and then had a 'bing moment' when I emailed the local jewelry shop Be-gemmed, who hadn't got any, but said to leave them to it.

I gave them free reign really and they came up with a few designs, from which I picked these two.....

Stunning!

The second shawl pin includes a rose quartz stone,  beautiful in its simple design, but with attention to detail with the hammered finish.....

I am so pleased I can't tell you.....if you are in need of something special, consider dropping Phil and Helen an email or phone call....handmade, therefore with its own unique beauty, and supporting  real craftspeople in a trade which can be forgotten in a factory mass-produced age.

Be-gemmed Handmade Jewelry

Right.... on to the next thing....this time....just for a change.....another shawl....but for now that's all I'm saying ;-)

To see other people's YOP work, check out the ravelry page here.