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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May Needle Round Up

May 13, 2015 LeftFootDaisy4 Comments

In my last post I alluded to the fact that I haven’t been getting that much knitting done of late and that despite having completed my summer cotton Kimera Granny Shawl I was feeling like I had achieved very little, 🎨 creatively wise 🎨

Since posting, the last few days have been almost the polar opposite, as I feel reluctant to do anything other than sit and knit or crochet. I’ve managed to complete my first Clue 2 block from the Stylecraft Yarns and Jane Crowfoot Lilly Pond Crochet Along, but I’ve mislaid it 😳 Hopefully, I’ve just left it at the shop. Either way, I should probably give clue 3 a go and I’ll pop up both blocks over the next couple of days, so we can all have a laugh at my poor attempts.

I’m also really happy to report that I have finished the Flax jumper from Tin Can Knits, I’d been knitting on the off chance that my son Durahn, would like it. Not only does he like it, he seems to be really rather fond of it 👍 Although I may have inadvertently set myself up for a bit of a fall as the yarn I used was Rico Fashion Aran and he loves how warm it is whilst being so light weight. Most woolly aran weight yarn isn’t so light, but we’ll deal with that issue as and when it arises.

Lots of people overlooked this yarn when we had it on sale in the shop and yet I get loads of compliments when I wear the jumper I have made in it on. I’m not sure why it didn’t attract the attention it deserves. Maybe people thought it might be a little on the itchy side because of the alpaca fibres. Maybe it looked a little thin for an aran weight? I do have a hard time explaining to some people that yarn is designed to be knit at a certain tension in order to achieve the over all desired fabric. Maybe it was the colour palette, most of which were earthy, Autumnal hues?

Regardless of the reasons why, the Rico Fashion Aran yarn just wasn’t a great seller for us and so I cleared it for as little as €1 a ball in the end 🙈

I made Du the M/L size which measures 39″ around the chest, because as you can see in the photos, he’s quite a slim chap. I didn’t block the jumper as he seemed eager to wear it, even going so far as to say that Carlsberg don’t knit jumpers, but if they did…. High praise indeed.

If you haven’t knitted it, I’d wholeheartedly recommend Flax as one of those great patterns, that you’ll end up knitting time and time again. Unisex and with sizes from newborn to 4XL it will do for everyone of the family and if that wasn’t enough – IT’S FREE!!!

The photograph at the top of this post is a dead give away I know, but my newly finished socks are just so pretty, don’t you think?

They look even better with my green shoes too 💕

That’s my 4th pair so far this year and I’ve wasted no time in casting on another pair in the new Cotton Premium yarn from Opal that I mentioned in one of my previous posts.

The new pair of socks are flying up and I’m loving how the more muted colours are coming together. The socks are my more portable project, so I’ve also had to cast on another ‘larger’ knit too.

2015-05-07 23.15.59-2 — My lovely stitch marker is one of a set handmade for me by Catherina and her daughter Molly 💖

You might have noticed that the latest Green Bin clearance items are Adriafil Saetta and Stella Jacq? I’ve been lusting after one of the shades in the Stella Jacq for some time now, but in truth, they’re probably not my colours. Deciding to clear the yarn meant I had to decide whether to knit with it or not. Fortunately, I’ve also been looking for an excuse to knit the Oslo-Anorak pattern from Pickles for a good while too. Of all the Oslo-Anorak projects on Ravelry, I prefer the ones where a multicoloured yarn has been used together with a solid, so I’ve opted to use a dusty pink for the bands and hood of the design.

As with all patterns from Pickles, one size is available for free and with this design it’s the 6-12 months version, but the price of the complete pattern with sizes from 6/12 months to 7/8 years will set you back $6.40, which to be fair with the current exchange rate is a little pricey.

Inexplicably organised for once, this little jumper is actually going to be a Christmas present too 🎅

Have to go now, having just been for a walk on the farm in the beautiful sunshine, I need to try and get a few rows of knitting done 🙂

Happy Knitting!

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New For Us In February

February 9, 2015February 14, 2015 LeftFootDaisy1 Comment

I have at least a couple of posts for you this week, this being the first it’s supposed to be about this months woolly and not so woolly, additions to the shop. However, I’ve been so moved by the movie I saw last night that it would seem slightly criminal not to mention it. Especially as I was dreaming about it last night and haven’t stopped thinking about it all day either.

My first visit to the Triskel in Cork City was yesterday to see Patrick’s Day – wow!

Patrick’s Day if you haven’t heard, is a film about a young man (Patrick) with Schizophrenia and the lengths his mother will go to to ‘protect’ him. It throws up loads of things to ponder, not least the right for every man or woman to experience an ‘adult’ relationship and by adult I’m not necessarily talking about a sexual relationship it could be friendship or love. Regardless of how the relationship between two adults manifests itself there is always an emotional side and it’s this aspect that the film centres on.

The cast were fantastic particularly Moe Dunford who plays Patrick, his performance was outstanding. There were several parts of the film that made for uncomfortable viewing, but compelling none the less. I urge you to pop over to the Patrick’s Day Facebook Page and watch the trailer to see what all the fuss is about for yourself. The relationship between Patrick and his mother is central to the film and trying to put yourself in her shoes, is painful to say the least. We’d all go to great lengths to protect our children from the moment they’re born, but are our decisions always the best for our children? I can’t wait for knitting on Wednesday night so we can debate the whole thing over tea, cake and stitching.

Moving on to matters less serious and more woolly.

The shop sale has drawn to a close and I now have my kitchen/classroom back which means the return of Saturday knitting group -hooray 🙂 As you might expect there are still sale balls of wool remaining, so I’ve filled up the €3 baskets at the top of the shop and we will continue to use the Green Bin concept to bring you a super bargain or two.

At the moment the Green Bin contains Rico Glow Worm for €4 per 100g ball.

Last week we took delivery of Country Tweed DK from King Cole in six beautiful shades. Country Tweed has been around for a little while now but I thought it filled a variegated double knit shaped hole on our shelves nicely. Each 100g ball contains approximately 280 metres/306 yards of yarn made from a blend of acrylic, wool and viscose and costs €6.99. It’s a standard double knit yarn so will work with most dk patterns, but I’ve chosen a good few designs that specifically use the Country Tweed for you to peruse. Personally, I’d like to find some time to have a go at using Broomstick Crochet to make a scarf with the yarn. If you’re not sure what I’m talking about pop over to the photo tutorial by Ashley Little here on Craftsy.

Does anyone else fancy having a go too?

We’ve also taken delivery of a couple of shades in Stylecraft’s Merry Go Round yarn to see what the response is like. It’s a basic 100g ball of fun, colourful acrylic, specifically aimed at smallies. I could only find a photo of one of our shades but it’s a pretty one 💗

There’s also been a delivery of something really rather un-woolly, but they smell heavenly. Whilst at the City Hall Christmas Craft Fair I couldn’t resist making a few gift purchases from the Celtic Candles stand. I ended up burning one of the gifts 😄 in the shop over Christmas and a good few of you commented positively on the aroma, so I thought ‘why not?’.

Celtic Candles are an Irish owned, family run company that produce candles, reed diffusers, lip balms and other products, but it was their Organic Range of candles that caught my eye (should that be nose?). Anyway, think essential oils, think 100% plant based wax and then select your aroma. Maybe you want to Relax with Lavender, Geranium and Tea Tree or what about Recharging with Neroli, Clementine and Geranium? The 20CL Aromapots have a burn time of up to 50 hours for €16.99 and the 9CL Votives should burn for approximately 25 hours for €6.99. Interestingly, you can use the candle oil on your skin as a massage oil 🎂

I’m off to get a few rows of knitting done, hope you are too?

Happy Knitting!

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It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

November 27, 2014 LeftFootDaisyLeave a comment

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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The Bear With No Name

November 23, 2014November 23, 2014 LeftFootDaisy2 Comments

This is Knit’s latest addition to the Knit Family Menagerie, there’s only one problem though – he doesn’t have a name yet 😯

I knitted him up using pattern 9019 from King Cole Yarns, however the wool Luxe Fur, is impossible to purchase because it’s completely sold out EVERYWHERE 😦 Undeterred, I decided to try knitting the design up using Tivoli Husk as a substitute instead and I think you’ll agree he’s turned out great?

He’s the baby bear and there’s also a mummy and a daddy bear (medium and large) on the pattern. He was fairly simple to knit up and the trick is not to stuff him to firmly with toy filling, otherwise he won’t be so cuddly.

The pretty knitted garment hanging behind our friend the bear is called The Pheasant Shawl by Julie Ferguson which I’d spotted in issue 73 of The Knitter in June and instantly fell in love with. A naughty purchase of yarn for said garment happened on a trip to York during the summer and I managed to find some time in amongst knitting all the other projects to get it made up. The yarn used is a double knit from West Yorkshire Spinners from the New Country Birds Collection and is 100% Blue Faced Leicester.

Unfortunately, I ran out of the multicoloured yarn several rows before I’d completed the main part of the shawl, which means the shawl is slightly smaller than the size specified on the pattern.

The colours are beautifully autumnal, unlike most of the clothes I own

Nigel maybe?

Happy Knitting!

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So Much Yarn

November 19, 2014 LeftFootDaisy3 Comments

There have been so many yummy yarnny deliveries of late that the stock rooms are fit to burst and there’s a danger that I’ll go in one day and never return

There were 2 deliveries last week, 2 the week before and there have been 3 so far this week, with at least one more due. Sadly, this does mean that I’m a little behind when it comes to telling you all what’s in and even more behind with knitting my samples for the shop 😳

Cracking on then –

Last week was a good week for those sock knitters among us with several different items arriving in to help keep your toes toasty. The Knitpro Karbonz in 2.5mm are back and I’ve also stocked up on the 2.5mm Knitpro circulars too.

Now for some yarn porn

3 delightful shades in Opal Beachcoming

The almost complete range of Opal Solids

Something we haven’t had for a while now – 6ply sock yarn. It’s the Daydreaming range from Opal. Can’t wait to give 6ply (double knit to you and me) socks a go 💡

Another new addition and one completely at the other side of the woolly spectrum is Flame from Rico Yarns.

Flame from Rico, is a lightweight super chunky yarn, note I said lightweight. Each 50g ball contains a whopping 90 metres and knits to a tension of 10 stitches to 14 rows on 10mm needles. it’s a wool blend, 40% wool/60% acrylic and I’ve opted for 6 of the available 7 variegated shades (2 of them were very similar). Reasonably priced too at €4.99 per ball – Bargain!

We have patterns too and I’ve promised Dina a cardi but I have to cast on a jumper I’ve been promising Durahn first. In the meantime I think I might get a hat knitted up for the shop and possibly the odd Christmas gift too.