slightly off topic...

I am easily distracted at the best of times, and I definitely like diversity in my knitting projects, and lately it's felt a bit like all-sweaters, all-the-time.

So despite needing to sew up my Peasy, and having a Ferris Wheel to finish...not to mention a Miette on the needles as well, I decided to take a slight detour this weekend and work on some instant-gratification projects.

Firstly, I whipped up not one but THREE of these wee little baby hats.  Knit in the round using aran yarn, they zoomed off the needles and into the blocking bath. I made all three in a 24-hour span.

The pattern is the Garter Ear Flap Hat, a freebie from The Purl Bee, and I used some Rowan Pure Wool Aran (pink) and Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran (grey and teal).

Super cute!  I just need to add the tiny tassels to these and they are ready to go in the gift stash box.  I think I've even got enough leftover from each ball of yarn to make another two to three hats, probably with some colour blocking.  This pattern is definitely a win, in my books - free, quick, small yarn usage, and CUTE!  I think it's turned my baby-knitting mojo back on, for sure.

I also had a delivery of some Murano wool from Bendigo this week, that I bought because it was on special, and I wanted to make a blanket of some description.  I toyed with a mitred square pattern, and a knitted chevron, but in the end I decided to give crochet one more crack and try my hand at the Round Ripple Baby blanket.

And with all the stars miraculously aligning, I managed not to stuff it up!



This is a really simple pattern, and I found the instructions very clear and straightforward - perfect for those among us that perhaps struggle with crochet terminology, or reading stitches.  I usually always end up with extra chains, or not enough, and I'm never exactly clear about which is the "next stitch" the pattern asks me to slip stitch to!!

The yarn is great for this type of blanket too.  Self-striping in fairly long repeats; it makes impressive work out of something really rather simple.

As far as blankets go, this is also working up very fast.  In two evenings work, I have just finished the second 200g ball, using a 5mm hook.  I was debating whether to stop here, as it's probably big enough for a baby blanket, but I think I'll persevere and use up the third ball I ordered so the finished blankie is nice and snuggly.

shoes for scale...

And the best thing is, now that I have got that instant-gratification out of my system, I feel like I'm ready to knuckle down to seaming and probably a bit of garment knitting. 

What's exciting your needles this extra long weekend?  I'm working at Sunspun tomorrow, then we are shut for Good Friday but will be open 10-5pm Easter Saturday, so pop in if you're in the area?   I had the pleasure of finally meeting missfee last week, after probably 7-8 years of "knowing" each other online (hope your yarn purchases are bringing you much happiness, lovely lady!).  I really enjoy meeting more of the people I regularly chat to but have never met in person, and I feel like Sunspun might just end up being the great facilitator...

Hope to see you one of these days soon xx

retro knitting

I feel a bit like it's all retro, all the time around here, but even more so than usual this week!

Firstly, my crochet couch granny blanket has gone from WIP to FO.

Using leftover wool, mainly Bendigo Rustic and Luxury, in shades of grey, blue and red, this has been a great project to work on in-between other projects.

I started with classic granny treble...clusters?  I'm not sure if that's what they are called if you don't pull them all together with the last chain?  My crochet friends will know, I have faith.  I got bored with those after a while, so switched to straight trebles for the border, finishing with a 5tr...shell?

I am not a natural crocheter, so I do like how you can "fudge" minor stitch errors.  And how you can just pretty well make it up as you go.

It's the perfect "couch" size, just right to ward off drafts, but not too warm as to be considered bulky.

Then my chevron scarf in Crazy Zauerball got some serious attention and it turning out so deliciously retro, I can't stop admiring it!

Red, green and yellow are not my favourite colour combo by any means usually, but there seems to be enough blending and colour surprises to keep it just off the edge of replecating traffic lights.

I'm anticipating I'm about halfway through the ball now - didn't weigh it at the start, but it doesn't really matter with this pattern.  To echo Dory, just keep knitting...