Lilly Pond CAL Clue 4

May 23, 2015May 23, 2015 LeftFootDaisyLeave a comment

I can’t believe it’s been 2 and a bit weeks already since the last Lilly Pond Blanket Clue was released. I know I’ve been busy, but I’d struggle to tell you doing what 😕

Moving on…..

This Tuesday did indeed see the release of the Stylecraft/Jane Crowfoot CAL clue 4 and judging by the Facebook Group Page, there were lots of people eager to get started. Looking again this morning loads, loads of them have already completed all 4 blocks too 💩

Block 4 as you can see, is called Bobbles and Pin Wheels and the design is meant to represent the ripples of the water with little pink lilies at the waters edge.

The chart above shows the colours needed if you’re making the block using Stylecraft Life on the left and the alternative shades for the Special DK on the right.

Not being particularly fluent in crochet, I’ve struggled with this clue the most so far. I think for me crochet is easiest when I have to make a square (going round and round), rather than working a piece that goes back and forth. I’ve managed this much so far and now have had to allow my brain time to heal I’ll be sure to get the rest finished when I’m back from my travels (I’m off to London later today).

Before I go and pack my suitcase, because I’m one of those last minute people (bet you couldn’t have worked that out?) I guess I should really show you my attempts at blocks 2 and 3……

The Tiny Lilly Block from clue 2 wasn’t really that bad after I’d got the hang of it. it’s not the best piece of crochet in the world, but it’ll pass. It is however over 4 centimetres bigger than the reccomended 12cm square size.

As alluded to by Jane, the blocks are likely to get harder as they go on and I definitely found the third block – Lilly Bud, a little more intense. Truth be told, at one stage I’d have rather eaten it than continue.

The eagle eyed amongst you, will notice that my 3rd block is again larger than the specified 12cm. Happily though it’s the same size give or take the odd millimetre to my clue 2 block 🙂 So I’m hoping everything will work out OK.

Yes, I have managed to get through it, but look at all those scary ends that still need to be sewn in.

😱 😱 😱

The next clue, for block 5, is due to be released Tuesday the 2nd of June.

Happy Crochet!

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There Off and Where You Can Find Them

November 19, 2014 LeftFootDaisy2 Comments

I’m happy, no throwing cartwheel ecstatic, to report that we’ve done it!

We’ve managed to collect our target 5000 stockings for the Knit Happens Campaign and more 🙂

The stockings have been checked, counted, bagged up into 50’s, (checked twice) and sent out in counter top boxes to the lovely East Cork Rapid Response people to distribute for sale around the East Cork area.

So far you should hopefully be able to find them at the following outlets.

Castlemartyr Resort

Garryvoe Stores

Ladysbridge Post Office

Greengrocer Castlemartyr

Castle Holistic Clinic Castlemartyr

Pobail Scoil na Trionaide Youghal

Cobh Leisure Centre

East Ferry Rowing Club

Robinson Tyres Midleton

Ballymacoda Post Office

Crowleys Youghal

O’sullivans Gortroe

Brodericks Garage Shanagarry

Sammy Revins Butchers Youghal

Read n Write Youghal

Sean Twomey Butcher Youghal

Crees Card Shop Youghal

Castlemartyr Florist

Centra Cloyne

Cloyne Post Office

Youghal Library

Wallis Bar Midleton

Midleton Park Hotel

Results Fitness Midleton

Dr. Morehan Killeagh

Colemans Newsagent Killeagh

Arcade Midleton

McCarthys News Midleton

Well n Good Midleton

4home Midleton

Costcutters Carrigtohill

Dr Dorans Surgery

Centra Carrigtohill

Bramley Lodge

Garveys Supervalu Cobh

Murphys Centra Cobh

Keatings Londis Newtown Cobh

Rosies Aghada

Days Whitegate

Nutrition Club Midleton

Ladysbridge Market

Old Thatch Killeagh

Community Radio Youghal

Big, big, big thanks to everyone involved so far.

We’re still in need of more outlets and would love to hear from any in the East Cork Area that would be happy to sell a few stockings to help raise funds for the East Cork Rapid Response. If you see the boxes in any of the places mentioned, please take a photo and share it on the Knit Happens Facebook Page so we can give a little nod to all of those supporting the campaign.

In the meantime…..

Happy Knitting!

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It’s A Bit Bonkers Round Ere Of Late, Ain’t It?

November 4, 2014November 4, 2014 LeftFootDaisy3 Comments

Wow!

There has been so much going on lately that I’m struggling a little more than usual to keep up.

On Sunday as I’d mentioned, I went to the RDS for The Knitting & Stitching Show. Unfortunately, for my ever suffering husband, my car decided it really had had enough of driving back and forth on the Dungorney Road.

I feel the need to point out to those of you that won’t be familiar with the afore mentioned road, that I mean ‘road’ in the loosest sense of the word. Imagine a road as smooth as silk, a pleasure to drive, that your car no matter the age, make or model, glides smoothly over.

The road from Lismore (where I live) to The shop in Midleton, is the exact opposite.

So Coni and I headed off in the wee small hours and arrived pretty much as the doors to the hall were opening. As usual there was a right mish mash of vendors, many with yummy woolly, fabricy goodness, lots of papercrafting and embroidery too, but there were quite a few stalls selling everything from clothes to hard skin removers, which as always is a little disappointing.

Happily there were a couple of stalls with new items on them including 2 new Irish companies that caught my eye especially.

Denise Pinnegar is the woman behind the new Irish business Unravel, which she runs from her studio in Co. Wexford. Denise has created several knitting and crochet kits which use Irish Yarns, find out more about Unravel here.

The Bead & Button Emporium is the brainchild of Sharon Murphy who has developed a unique collection of hand-crafted jewellery, buttons, beads and more. Working with polymer clay, Sharon’s wares are beautiful and imaginative with a little quirkiness thrown in for good measure. As a fan of all things buttons I’ll certainly be looking into the possibility of becoming a stockist of The Bead & Button Emporium goodies.

The other items I purchased were material for my son to make himself a pair of trousers and some grey denim to make a dress for me. A hank of beautiful Coolree Yarn to have a little play with, a couple of books to add to my library and the ball of Katia Chevrolet is so I can knit it up an see if I’d like to get it in for the shop. I also picked up one of the fantastic Latvian Mitten Kits from Hobbywool as they were just to tempting to resist.

If that wasn’t enough excitement for one week TV3 met us at the shop first thing in the morning yesterday to film a 2 minute piece on our Knit Happens campaign for the lunchtime and evening news. Lee Ann Flemming a friend and one of our knitting group regulars was persuaded to come along and join me for the filming, bedecked in and rocking her woolly creations (thanks babes).

The cameraman Rory was a genius and really managed to bring out the beauty of the stockings when he zoomed in for the piece and I was really happy with how pretty the shop looked on the film.

What wasn’t shown on the clip was how much of an ‘accomplished’ knitter Paul Byrne is 😉

All of this publicity, on the telly and in the newspapers as fun as it looks, is to try and get our message out there and raise awareness of the very necessary service that is the East Cork Rapid Response.

Today I have 100 flatpacked boxes to get ready for the next stage of our Knit a Stocking Campaign – Selling Them.

We hope to have the boxes in the shops and business in the East Cork region, that have agreed to help us raise funds by the end of this week, so keep an eye out for them. It would be great if some of you could take the time to post on the Knit Happens Facebook Page if you notice one of our boxes.

Tomorrow is the launch night and I have to make a speech – wish me luck.

I’ll keep you posted.

Happy Knitting!

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The Sweat Shop For Knit Happens

October 27, 2014October 27, 2014 LeftFootDaisyLeave a comment

Dina my daughter said to me on Saturday “to be fair mum you never do things by half” and whilst I’m loathed to admit it, she could be right.

The best thing about taking on a big project like the Knit Happens Knit a Stocking for the East Cork Rapid Response Campaign and the blankets before, is the laugh we manage to have as the countdown begins. This Saturday was no exception, as my lovely knitting ladies turned up in force to help with the ‘quality control’ aspect of the campaign.

Every stocking that has been handed in so far had to be checked to ensure it was complete. I’d noticed as they were handed in, that some of the little socks were without hanging loops, or had ones to small to successfully hang on a tree. We also wanted to separate the novelty stockings, as we’re hoping to try and sell these for €5 each on a ‘Lucky Dip’ basis.

I need to say a big thank you to the following friends, for generously giving up their time on Saturday afternoon only to find themselves squashed into the kitchen with bags and crates of stockings.

Fiona, Lucy, Sadie, Deidre, Martina, Michelle, Shirley, Agnieszka and Lee Ann.

Hopefully, you can tell from the photos that we managed to have a laugh.

There’s more to sort and we’re hoping they’ll be a good few more stockings handed in too. In the meantime we managed to get through a good few of them and have checked, counted and re-counted the little stockings into bags of 50. These will be distributed to the businesses around the East Cork area, that have kindly agreed to try and sell some of them to help the collection for the East Cork Rapid Response.

81 bags ready to go so far, or to put it another way 4050 little Knit Happens Stockings which we hope will become €8100.

Happy Knitting!

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Sirdar Bonus Buzz

March 21, 2014 LeftFootDaisyLeave a comment

Sirdar Bonus Buzz DK is a bright, cheerful, multi-coloured yarn, with each shade having up to 6 colours in it. Machine washable, great value and incredibly colourful, making it the perfect yarn for children. It’s great for making fun accessories, such as hats, mitts and scarves.

As it’s part of Sirdar’s Bonus range there are no specific patterns for it (yet), but it is a true double knit, so will knit to any double knit pattern.

Each 100g ball of 100% acrylic contains 280metres/306yards so it will go a long way and costs €3.99. Knit to a tension of 22 stitches by 28 rows to 4 inches / 10cm square on 4mm needles







I think both of these garments would look great knitted in Buzz Dk, each of the patterns are free to download, just click on the links.



http://www.yarnspirations.com/pattern/knitting/babys-hoodie






http://www.yarnspirations.com/pattern/knitting/top-down-super-stripes





If by chance anyone’s interested? It would also make great stockings for the Knit Happens Campaign (I’m just saying)

Happy Knitting!