SO2017 – February

I’m at it again and loving it! Socks are just sooo satisfying – quick to knit, pretty, useful

Some say they’re pointless because they’re never seen but I say pooh pooh (also, I have a baby and baby groups tend to be shoes off affairs!)

Anyway, here are my February lovelies

YinYang Kitty Socks

Aren’t they fun? I don’t think the variegated yarn is the best for these but I needed to use it because I love it so much 

In fact, I’m still sorely tempted to frog the crochet socks made from this and knit the yarn into something nicer

In other news, work on my lovely lace shawl has stalled because it’s too too fiddly and sloooow. But I’ve already got another pattern lined up for after I finish my other current WIP – a lovely cardi in hand dyed 4ply. 

Th ose are both knitting (hence the one at a time approach) but I’ve also got some crochet projects waiting to be swatched and started

But for now, I’m trapped under a feeding, sleeping baby with no crafts within reach so I guess I’ll read for a while…

Sock obsession – August super update

I finished the pesky gift sockies!

I struggled so much with my DPNs that I actually ordered mini circulars

So, the first sock took me four months (FOUR) because I was worried about the combination of tiny DPNs and tiny baby

The second sock took me less than one month – no worries about eight sharp sticks and generally quicker progress

For some reason, however, I messed up the colourwork on the second sock but I don’t think it looks too obvious (especially to a non-knitting giftee)

I’ve already cast on a new pair of me sockies so it looks like the obsession will continue this year!

Now the question becomes – late 2016 gift or save them for 2017 gift?

Playing with lace

Super quick update – more details soon

It’s really fiddly but I’m already itching to do more!

2016 sock obsession review

I’ve finally managed to ponder my 2016 socks and write up a review.

In total, I made 15 3/8 pairs using 13 patterns, 10 of which were new to me and two my own design. I’ve tried several new indie dyed yarns including a new to me blend (yak – rather feltable) and one new to me commercial yarn.

I’ve certainly learnt a lot along the way, not just patterns and techniques but my own preferences.

I always preferred toe up socks because I found them easier to judge the fit but now that I’ve made several cuff down pairs and fought with a stretchy cast off, I’ve definitely revised and reversed my preference.

Similarly, I’ve always preferred to err on the larger side of sizing because I hate too tight socks but hand-knit socks definitely need a touch of negative ease.

The one problem I haven’t managed to overcome is fitting the heel of crochet socks – my two pairs of Cluster F**ks are fine but my Step by Step socks are a frankly hideous fit and actually hurt if they’re not in the right position (I’m gutted, it’s one of my favourite colourways).

The obsession certainly hasn’t abated and the challenge has been rather fun.

I will, of course, be continuing work on those pesky August gifites (I finished the first sock yesterday!) and I’ve bought myself some mini circular needles so you never know, perhaps there’ll be a 2017 sock challenge…!

January – Moss Check test knit
February – Cluster F**ks
March – Sea Steps
April – Regia lace
May – This Way Please test knit
June – Sport Weight Toe-Up Socks with Gusset Heel
– Posey
– Baby Booties x3
July – Riverflow test knit
August – unfinished secret gifties
September – more Cluster F**ks
October – Step by Step
November – own design
December – own design for baby

I’ve linked to my Rav project pages, which link to the pattern pages.

I’m rather proud of myself

FO – nursing jumper

I’m still compiling my sock obsession info so here’s a quick pic of my nursing jumper

The pattern is from Natural Knits for Mums and Babies by Louisa Harding and I used Rico Creative Cotton.

I was actually pleasantly surprised how far the yarn went and the only thing I dislike about the pattern is the 16 buttons it requires (they took me about four days)

The idea is so genius but I struggled to get this finished with Little Miss around (she learned to grab my needles and yarn at a very early age!)
I have got enough yarn for another though because I asked for loads for my birthday so I might have to persevere or perhaps adapt a crochet pattern since I’m finding it easier than knitting these days.

Having said that, the weather will probably start to warm up before I manage to finish it so we’ll see.

Hopefully, I’ll have time to post more now that Xmas is done because I’ve been a surprisingly busy bee

Sock obsession – December

I did it!

An ickle pair of festive sockies for Little Miss.

I had plenty of yarn left over from my own elf socks so I decided to make a baby pair.

Again, I made it up as I went along so extra chuffed, particularly since she always seemed to be napping when I needed to try them on her!

Hopefully I can get a nice pic of us wearing them together sometime next week…

And look out for a run-down of my sock obsession year and some crafty aspirations for 2017

Countdown to Xmas

The festive season this year feels so much bigger – more exciting, more magical (more expensive!)

But last year was pretty magical too because we already knew we were pregnant so we had this amazing secret between just the two of us.

If you remember, last year I decided to make a stocking a day for ‘advent’ but didn’t get around to the finishing off.

Well, this year I did and just in time for December 1st (I finished it that day but it still counts)

Ta-da! You can’t actually see the whole thing here because it’s so long

The original plan was to hang rows of them in a frame and make them random but I couldn’t get a nice frame and hubby said he thought a string was better anyway.

The main issue with this is the colours – there are too many places where there are two together but it’s done and it will last for years.

I bought the felt numbers for Hobbycraft but the number 1 is actually missing! It will be easy enough to make one when I can get to my felt stash but it’s low priority at the moment

The stockings are just a nice size for a choccy or two but in later years, when Little Miss is older, it will contain other things!

Right now I’m working on some amigurumi toys, oh and I finished a jumper but I haven’t photographed it yet.

But yesterday was jab day so we’re in our pyjamas for a cuddly day (right now we’re watching the xmas sewing bee from a few years ago!)

Sock obsession – November

Yay, another month, another pair of socks!!

Festive sockies! (Please excuse the pic, we’re squeezing this post in before heading out for ceramic painting)

I’m extra proud of these because I pretty much made them up as I went along.

Obviously I had some prior knowledge of heels and toes but I have tweaked them to make these truly my creation.

The yarn was from a festive box last year that I didn’t get around to making. There was a knitting pattern included but, with Little Miss making sock knitting nigh on impossible, I took a chance.

I think the yarn actually works really nicely and I love the contrast heel, toe and cuff.

I went for picot instead of ribbing because I love picot edgings and wanted something a bit different.

I *might* write up the pattern in the new year but for now I’ll just enjoy my elf stripe sockies and ponder making a matching pair for Little Miss because I’ve got loads of yarn left.

Better run, nappies to change etc etc!!

Sock obsession – August update

I had hoped to make some progress on these gifties while we were on holiday last week but I find it a bit tricky to knit socks in the car and we ended up driving down in the dark anyway.

I did manage to get a few rounds of the foot done but progress is still super slow.

With this in mind, I might have to resign myself to not getting them done this year (oh, I hate how that sounds!)

I’ve got other things to get done before Xmas which are much more realistic but it will take me a while to be okay with it.

In other news, it’s nearly the end of the month so look out for an exciting update soon!

Happy Halloween!

This was Little Miss’s Halloween outfit 

It consists of the Layla dress, a net petticoat, and a little hat – all made by me with some help from my mum!

Little Miss looked super cute at her photoshoot last week and I’ve had an idea to use the same materials for an outfit every year to see how she grows.

Time for a scary movie – Happy Halloween!