I keep meaning to post about the rainbow blanket I knitted recently, but then I get sidetracked by something else and it goes completely out of my head.
Tag: Sirdar
Lilly Pond CAL Clue 4
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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Sharing – But only if the internet connection lasts!!!
There seems to be so much going on at the moment that I feel like I’ll fall behind if I don’t begin sharing some of it with you and there’s too much to put in a Facebook post, so please excuse the disjointed nature of this post. It’s probably a truer indication of how my mind works – on a good day that is 😁
(The balloon flower was gifted to me by one of my young students, Miriam, yesterday morning and it set the tone for a lovely day.
The sun was shining and I finally managed to get round to photographing these lovely blankets that Jackie Dunn whipped up for the Chernobyl Children’s Trust. Aren’t they just fab?
As are the scarf and 7 hats that she also made 💕
Some of you might have already noticed that I’ve finished my 3rd pair of socks this week. I had literally been dragging my heels over knitting them because they’re not really my colours and was planning on using them as boot socks. However, I’m prepared to swallow my words and admit to rather liking them.
Just so you know, I’ve knitted them in Heart & Sole sock yarn from Sirdar in shade 107 (Hip Hop) with 2.5mm needles and they’re really comfy 🙂
I’m on a total sock knitting binge and am actually making two separate pairs at the moment, one is a 6ply pair just to see what they’ll be like (I’ll be sure to let you know). The second pair are flying up, so much so that I’d reached the gusset part earlier today, but we were off to see Fast & Furious 7 and I needed knitting 😕 So I decided to risk it and try to work my decreases in the dark movie theatre, what’s the worse that could happen?
I’m dead chuffed with my cinema knitting. Not only did I manage to work my k2tog decreases neatly and without dropping a stitch.
I also completed my ssk’s too and 5 rows of the leg, despite being thoroughly engrossed in the antics of Dom, Brian, Letti, Hobbs and the rest of the team.
Happy Knitting!
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Short And To The Point
As the name of this posts suggests, it’s gonna be a quickie as I have woken up this morning with a bit of a cold virus, which currently seems to be manifesting itself as a miniature someone 👾 thumping on my eyeballs 👀
I have managed to get some baking done and have cleared away all evidence of the whirlwind that is Wednesday baking. I’ve met a rep, looked at new yarn and attempted to clear my desk and get on with some paperwork. It’s not working though the combination of dust from the desk and the constant need to sneeze 👃 are getting the better of me.
What a fantastic excuse, if ever one was needed to go and get comfy and do a little 💟 knitting 💟
So very quickly, I just wanted to show you the lovely new shades in Sirdar Snuggly DK that have arrived in.
They’re fun and bright and definitely invoke thoughts of summer sun, the book of new patterns is in too for you to peruse but don’t forget Snuggly Dk is a standard double knit yarn and will therefore work with any double knit pattern.
I said it’d be short and it is, on a last note if you search ‘virus’ on Ravelry you get some lovely little patterns for viruses including this little one by Krista Frank, which is her amigurumi interpretation of the cold virus. I think it looks too sweet to be creating the way I’m currently feeling, so it must be another kind of virus altogether.
Happy Knitting!
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And The Winner Is…..
The run up to Christmas was a bit mental here (even more so than usual), but I was organised enough to ask Liz from the East Cork Rapid Response team to draw the winner of the Stocking of the Week.
Excuse the terrible writing but Jackie Smyth is the winner 🙂
Yesterday Jackie popped into the shop to pick her prize of €100 worth of knitting goodies.
Jackie picked a couple of projects to work up for herself in beautiful merino and tweed double knit and then lots of odd balls to knit hats and scarves to donate to The Chernobyl Children’s Trust 😀
Happy Knitting!
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The Madness Has Been & Gone
By the madness I mean the build up to Christmas Day, which I convince myself every year that I’m not going to buy into, only to find on Christmas Day that I have 😞 Maybe though, that’s part of the fun?
Unlike previous years I really didn’t manage to get as many presents knitted or even generally handmade as I would have liked to. The year seemed to rush by faster than a speeding car and before I realised it it was the end of November and I’d only knitted the one gift, a Hitchhiker for a friend of mine. Of course I’d forgotten to take a proper picture of it before I’d mailed it, so this is one I’d posted on Instagram whilst I was knitting it.
I used a ball of Rico Poem Superba in green and a ball of King Cole Merino 4ply. The Poems Superba is variegated, so the greens change as the scarf grows. I found it a really lovely pattern to follow, with only 8 rows and by using 2 colours, the stripe effect meant I really didn’t have to concentrate on which of the rows I was on. A lovely happy accident.
Nearly everyone that would wear one received a knitted hat of some kind, mostly these ones though. The pattern is very basic and I should be able to get it up on here over the next couple of days.
I liked them so much that I’ve even made one for me.
Tate looks rather fetching in Leann’s one too, bless him.
Some friends including my Secret Santa recipient received my crochet baubles, which I loved making once I’d figured out what to do. I used several resources to help me, but the circles kept getting bigger because of the trebles. After trying a few different things I decided double crochet was the way to go. A couple of you have asked for a pattern already, but I’m not sure if I can write it up as a ‘proper’ crochet pattern, so it might end up being more of an instruction sheet?
Last but not least was the jumper I’d been making for my hubby Con in secret. Many of you will have seen me trying to get a few rows done in the shop; especially if you popped in the few days before Christmas when I was frantically trying to get the sleeves finished. I’ll write up a separate post to tell you all about it and I might even be able to get a photo of the man himself wearing it 👨
Since finishing the jumper I’ve cast on and started knitting Cobblestone by Jared Flood for Durahn my son. I’ve also been sticking to my morning walk everyday, regardless of how cold it is and both Kye and myself have been going a bit photography mad with our phones. This morning’s walk produced some beautiful snaps, all with no filter too 📷
I’ve also been watching far too many cheesy movies including the must see Guardians of the Galaxy which inspired me to make my own mix tape on Spotify. If you fancy having a look at what tracks I’ve included my profile is lmillar72. More mix tapes to come me thinks 🖭
Happy Knitting!
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It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas
I’m ♥loving♥ this pair and they’re doing an excellent job of adding a festive feel to the shop counter. I do have a confession though…..my friends Noreen and Liz made them for me along with the Tinsel Owl below. Big thanks to both of them, they are without a doubt, skilled when it comes to making knitted toys.
The snowmen are made using Sirdar Snowflake (dk for the smaller of the two, chunky for the larger) and Stylecraft Special DK for the accessories The biggest chap stands approximately 11 inches tall whilst the shorter one is about 8 inches high.
The design has been created by Sue Jobson for Sirdar, pattern 4513 and the girls assure me they’re a fairly straightforward knit. As with all toys, it can be easier to sew as you go, otherwise the task can seem a little daunting if you leave it all to the end.
Loving the addition of the red on the robin’s breast, much more appropriate me thinks 💡
Here’s the afore mentioned owl, he’s a rather big boy and is the largest size on the pattern. He still only took the one ball of King Cole Tinsel and he’s proving even more popular than the hedgehog at the moment.
As you can see it’s pattern 9022 I think they’d make a lovely little present for someone, especially as owls are so popular at the moment. I think I’d rather like a little white Snowy Owl perched on our Christmas Tree.
Happy knitting!
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Favourite Yarns – New Shades
If I don’t finish this post now, it’s going to be Monday before I get back to it as I’m going to The Knitting & Stitching Show at the RDS in Dublin tomorrow ♥
The yarn companies really seem to have got their act together in terms of colour this season and have selected some beautiful hues to add to the palettes in their existing ranges.
Our most popular yarn in the shop is probably Sirdar Snuggly Double Knit and I’ve decided to add 5 new shades to our range. Look at that blue.
I’m loving the new aqua colourway in Supersoft Aran, but looking at the 3 new shades together they all look great.
Something similar again in Baby Hayfield Chunky yarn too.
Two pretty additions in Sirdar Baby Crofter.
Two more in Bonus Buzz. Every time I see the turquoise and grey colourway it make me think of knitting a stuffed robot for some reason?
Last but not least are 2 more shades in Bonus Aran Tweed and 1 lovely new shade in Bonus Aran (my son will be getting a jumper in this).
I’ll try and get some photos of the show tomorrow to share. A friend has recommended a few of the stalls already, I’m particularly looking forward to seeing the Latvian Knitting Kits. Hopefully, the rain will have stopped.
Happy Knitting!
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Exploits in Crochet
Following on from the crochet madness of Dina’s scarf I thought I’d have a go at making something else and as you might have seen on the Facebook Page or Instagram I decided to have a go at The Chunky Crochet Basket by Elizabeth Trantham.
Heading outside to crochet in the sun, I was grateful I’d managed to get the bottom of the basket made before the rain clouds appeared and chased me inside. Thankfully Elizabeth has put photo tutorials to accompany the pattern up on her blog, great if you’re like me and assume because you can ‘do a little crochet’ you must be able to conquer the most complicated of patterns.
In her original basket, Elizabeth uses 2 strands of a super chunky yarn held together and an 8mm hook. This means the resulting basket is sturdy and stands up independently like you might expect a basket to do.
Cue my attempt
It’s general state of floppy isn’t really that bad.
I followed Elizabeth’s pattern but used 3 strands of Rico’s Country Aran held together and a 7mm hook. This meant the base of the basket when I’d reached the suggested 48 stitches was a little on the small side so I continued increasing my stitches until I had 72. My basket is approximately 10″/26cm’s across it’s diameter.
The basket is a very usable height at /19cm7.5″and as you can see I decided not to add the handles. I did work them up, but didn’t like the way mine turned out and my yarn was running a little short, so I completed 14 rounds of the half trebles.
Perfect for my current crochet project, one of them anyway.
I’m thinking ideal gifts for friends? Ones that don’t crochet though because I’m pretty sure I had more than my original 72 stitches when it came to finishing off the basket with double crochet (ahem).
Happy Knitting or crochet.
World Wide Knit In Public Day
It’s come around rather quickly again this year, technically it’s actually a week but we’re celebrating on Saturday 21st. The Saturday knitting group is scheduled to take place on the 21st anyway, so it would be lovely to think the sun might be shining. Sunshine or not we can still knit can’t we?
As a little incentive to get a few more of you into the shop armed with your knitting and crochet we’ll have the market stall set outside as we did for Yarn Shop Day. For those of you that missed it before, there will be packs of yarn, books and maybe some other bits and bobs all at discounted prices.
Come and join us for a for a bit of open air knitting fun (fingers crossed anyway).
Happy Knitting!
Confessions of a Fibre Strumpet 