Late Summer Garden

There is a dye-along on the "I'd Dye For Britain" group on Ravelry at the moment with a theme of "Inspired by flowers". I quite fancy taking part, so I took some pics in our garden yesterday.


They reminded me how lovely the plants still look, even as they turn towards autumn.

Anniversary time

I'm very happy to say that today is our 13th wedding anniversary!

We could never have predicted, back in 1996, that thirteen years on we would be living in our lovely home near the fabulous Cornish coast with our 2 beautiful daughters. I couldn't imagine it any other way, nor do I want it to be.

Apparently the 13th anniversary is associated with Lace, Furs and Textiles, Hollyhocks, Citrine, Malachite and Moonstone. I think I'll stick with the Textiles bit..

Happy anniversary hubsta!

I'm in a Treasury!

Woohoo, my ladder scarf made it to the beautiful "Autumn Splendor" Treasury in Etsy!

Quickies!

I've discovered a couple of quick projects that I'm loving at the moment.

These stretchy knit hairbands are made with oddments of 4ply yarn - great for sock remnants!

I'm finding that yarns with a little give are best for this. The most successful one so far has been using Panda Cotton Print which incorporates elastic nylon.

My DDs are wearing them and asking for more for their schoolfriends, and I've sold one on Etsy.

I see many more of these in my future!

The other quick project (although not a fast as the hairbands) are these ladder yarn necklaces - just beautiful!

I wear mine lots, and I'm now making other colours too. One is listed in my Etsy shop currently. What do you think?

Two of three

Remember I said I had 3 FOs to show off? Well here's the second...

It's Sirdar pattern 8877 - which I've managed to lose. I never lose patterns. Good job it's finished.

It's knitted in Sirdar Just Bamboo, shade Driftwood. I have to say that when I bought the yarn (online) I didn't really expect it to be quite so grey.

I guess I was thing of the "wood" part more than the "drift"!

I do love this yarn though, despite having to oversew all the ends with sewing thread as it's so slippy.

I wasn't happy with the increases for the waist shaping as directed by the pattern instructions - they left big holes.

I did it my own way for the front, and they look better IMO. I also added more length as usual, and it's worked for me.

I attempted to try this on when it was half-seamed, and felt very unhappy that it seemed too small and showed up whatever underwear I had on at the time.

Thankfully now it's all done, it does fit as it's so drapey and stretchy, and the right colour underwear just blends right in.

I do love the hem and sleeve edgings - very pretty.

I think I will wear this after all!

Birthday Pics!

It's my 43rd birthday today so here's a picture round-up of the highlights.

Our two clever and thoughtful daughters first presented me with a homemade gift. Our surname is Thornton, so they had spent several hours hand-making (with nan's help) my very own box of birthday chocolates!

They include chocolate covered brazils, chocolate covered marshmallows, chocolate covered ginger, chocolate covered nougat, and chocolate truffles!

Each one is so amazingly delicious - and I have 3 layers in a hand-decorated box too! What a fabulous gift. :-)

Then I had my first ever knitting gift from my DH (as requested) - a beautiful sunflower swift from Purlescence!

I've already put this to good use this evening, and re-skeined two skeins of my hand-dyed 4ply yarn ready to list in my Etsy shop.

I wanted us to have a family day out as we all seem to be so busy all the time, and I wanted us to go somewhere there would be things for all of us to do - but not too expensive of course.

So we ended up using our Muller vouchers to get a reduced-price entry to Springfields Fun Park and Pony Centre.

It was indeed lots of fun as the adults could go on nearly as many attractions as the kids!

I went on the astraslide - several times. Good fun, but the indoor one we went on later was so fast it took my breath away!

Also every photo of the faster one came out blurry, so this one will show you the idea.

Then there were the big see-saws.

For some reason every time me and DH got going on this I ended up in hysterics!

I don't quite know what I found so funny, but I had to get off in the end as my sides were aching too much from laughing. :-)

Finally there were the huge trampolines.

I've never been on one of these before. I couldn't believe how much energy they took. Only a couple of minutes in, I was out of breath! Amazing exercise and great fun.

I ended up with sea-legs when I got off - the ground felt like it should be moving like the trampoline!

It was a really fun day out - just what every 43yo should have. This evening was rounded off with a family buffet, and tomorrow me and DH are off to Carbis Bay Hotel in St Ives for a Sunday Dinner for Two that I won in a raffle! :-)

One, two, three, go!

OK so now I've swapped the crochet hook for a darning needle, and I've now got not one, not two, but THREE FOs to show for it! Here's the info on the first of the trio - the Beachcomber Tunic:

This is a pattern from Interweave Crochet Spring 2007 using Garnstudio Silke Tweed yarn. I managed to drop on that exact yarn in the pale rose shade I wanted on ebay.

Although I started this back in March 2008, this has taken an age to finish - but purely my own fault. I just couldn't face seaming for a long time and I don't think there's much point trying to do it when you feel like that.

I lengthened the top knitted bodice as I wanted thew whole thing longer and wasn't keen on the knit/crochet split being right across my bust - the model in the original pattern is fairly neutral in this area.

I've been noticing this a lot recently - garments modelled on fairly small-busted women, which makes the finished item look very different on me - and not usually better!

Other than that, it's a great pattern, and very easy to do.

Now I want to wash the tunic a couple of times to soften up that silk/lambswool yarn before I actually wear it.

Hooked on crochet

I seem to be hovering on the darker side for the time being - happy to be using a hook rather than needles for now.

I've been busy making sets of coasters such as the vibrant "Can Can" set here.

There is another set is a different colourway but those are a special gift for a friend.

I've moved on to washcloths - crocheted in different stitches with various cotton blend yarns.

These are intended mainly for my latest niece (and her siblings) who is expected around the end of August, although some will stay with us.

My DDs have been dabbling too, although we've only done chains so far. The next lesson is imminent as they're keen to learn!

Made it!

Phew - the cabled tank is finished. Despite posting it the day before my nephew's birthday it arrived a day late, but that was quicker than he expected to have it so all is well.

It is liked and looks like it will fit - although it's been too warm to try it on yet!

Since then I've finished the split-toe socks for eldest DD and also one of the year-old projects for myself, but more of that later...

Faster, faster..

The ribby lace socks with the split toe for eldest DD are so close to being finished - just the toes to do on the left foot. Then I can finish writing out the pattern for that toe option and bat it over to some Ravelry test knitters. BUT...

I've had a request for a knitted garment for my nephew, after his little sister received her poncho - it's only fair. His 4th birthday is on 2nd July so I thought it would be a good idea to make something as his birthday present.

A quick chat with his mum led to the requirement for a vest-type tank top in a blue or neutral colourway. I scoured my yarn stash but couldn't find enough of anything suitable, so more purchasing was required.

I ended up buying Sirdar Click Aran yarn (in shade "Loom Blue") and the matching slipover pattern - great value from Black Sheep Wools. I reckon the pattern will look just as good in girly colours on my DDs, so it'll get repeat use.

Of course since I decided this would be the birthday gift I've had precious little knitting time, so now the date is looming far quicker than I'd like.

The back and front are now finished - just the seams and rib edgings to go. The pattern is very easy but I need more time! Hence the delay on the sock pattern, and the manic cable knitting in every spare moment...

Dyeing again

This time with my oldest DD.

She did pretty much all of it: tied the skeins, picked out the Kool-Aid shades, mixed the dyes, poured them on, wrapped the clingfilm, microwaved the yarns, and then rinsed them once I'd unwrapped and cooled them a little.

Here are the results:

Lovely Lemon and Lime - this is the one DD wants to keep for me to make something for her to wear.

Sizzling Strawberry - this one taught her that you don't always end up with what you first envisaged, especially with Kool-Aid.

The initial idea was pink blending through to purple - quite different to the result!

Fire Light - we ran out of time before dinner to finish off the dyes, so later I mixed them together and poured them into a pan to kettle-dye this third skein.

These are all superwash sock yarns, and the red ones will be listed in my Etsy shop ready for you to buy soon. Both my daughters are so excited to have their hand-dyed yarns up for sale!

I've recently changed the name of my hand-dyed yarns after finding another dyelicious in Australia. As we are so close to lovely Perranporth, I have settled on Perran Yarns. Please take a look!

The great Cornish outdoors

We've been trying to do more outdoor family pursuits since the weather has warmed up, in an attempt for me and DH to get fitter.

Last Sunday we walked up St Agnes Beacon. It was great exercise, and the view from the top is stunning.

One one side the Atlantic Ocean stretchs away into the distance, and on the other a vast expanse of Cornwall spreads out like a beautful blanket.

Just wonderful.

Today we cycled the Camel Trail from Wadebridge to Padstow - that's a total of 10 miles!

No doubt there will be some sore leg muscles tomorrow, but it was a lovely day out.

The trail is flat and follows the side of the estuary so there are great views.

Both of those outings are set to become regulars I think!

Developing patterns

I'm working on a sock design to publish and sell as a multi-way pattern right now. It's following on from the Toe-Footsies that I made, and will include three sizes and three different toe options.

These are the adult size with the regular toe version.

I used my Yarn Addict merino/bamboo blend sock yarn from my stash - very nice to work with, and hopefully very lovely to wear later this year.

This is the latest addition - the teen/small adult size with the split toe option to wear with toe-post mules.

I've used Regia Cotton Surf (again from stash!) for this one, and I love the way it's turned out.

So does DD - she wants me to start on the second sock right now instead of blogging about it!

The pattern should be ready soon - watch this space.

Teach 'em young

I spent a while this afternoon playing with Kool-Aid dyes and 3 skeins of sock yarn with my youngest DD. What better way to spend a half-term cloudy afternoon - creative, educational and yarny!

I let her choose the colours to be used and then showed her how to make them up into the dyes.


She came up with the first colourway - her favourite - a rainbow one of course.

Then we decided together how to use the remaining colours on the other 2 skeins of yarn. Here are the results:
This one is a gorgeous bright mix of red and orange, which hasn't shown up in the picture well at all - goodness knows why not.

Then this one which is the leftover blue, green and lemon.

Cool!

Crochet adornment

I've felt more like experimenting recently with the lovely range of colours I have in the mercerised cotton yarns and glass bead stash.

These are two of the end results, currently for sale in my Etsy shop:

This was my first play, in beautiful aquamarine shades which I seem to be drawn to at the moment.

Must be something to do with catching glimpses of the sea so frequently!

The second one is also inspired by the coastline, with a combination of neutrals, browns and blues - more like the sand, rocks, and sky.

I really enjoy combining the colours, threading the beads on to the yarns and crocheting them together right now.

Of course this means I'm on the lookout for more large-holed beads to use, so I'll have to go bead shopping during my time off work next week. :-)

Perfect Pink Poncho

The visit from my family last week resulted in an impromptu knitting project - a cute little poncho for my gorgeous niece, who is now 1 year old.

My eldest put her poncho on the little one and she looked so adorable that I agreed to make one for her.

I've used all stash yarns (phew, another small bite out of the huge mountain of yarns!) - Wendy Supreme DK cotton and Patons Sorbet knitted together, and Wendy Shimmer for the edging.

It's a really simple garter stitch poncho with a crocheted edging and applique.

I have to package it up to send it by post to her as we won't see them again until the autumn, when there will be another little one added to the brood! Hopefully I'll get sent a pic of her wearing it in return.

Forget me not

Slow progress this last week or so as we've had family visiting. It was wonderful to spend time with them, so the Forget-me-not socks took a back seat.

I did manage to finish them the night before our visitors left though, so my Mom got to see them done.

It's not the world's best picture but the only time I seem to get for crafty stuff right now is after dark.

They feel lovely on - really soft and silky. I used the Panda Cotton Print (a great-value bamboo/cotton blend) in the Strawberry-Lime colourway, and of course my DDs both love it. I may have to buy some more to make socks for them.

There was yarn left over from both balls, so they could have been made longer but this is a cuff-down pattern. I guess the leftovers would make great hairbands for my DDs!

I'm glad I also bought the same yarn in the Chocolate-Almond colourway - now to find another short-ish pattern..

Panda Cotton socks

I was very brave yesterday - I had a large filling replaced as it had developed a hole right up to the root. I was in the chair for 30 minutes!

Thankfully my dentist in Truro is wonderful and it's feeling fine now. I won't show you the result - it's not a pretty sight.


Take a peek at this instead:

It's my latest sock using my Panda Cotton Print yarn from stash (see that halo glinting?!).

I'm loving this free Forget-Me-Not pattern - easy and pretty.

The yarn is quite splitty but I love the colours and it feels silky, smooth and squishy, so all is forgiven.

Toe-footsies

This time of my own variety.

I've finally finished the daughter socks that I wanted to design to use up the Tofutsies yarn remaining from my Kaibashira socks.

I found an easy but pretty lacy rib stitch pattern, and worked out a p3-k3-p1-k3 rib to match up with it.

I wanted to use the standard heel stitch to give a little more padding here, so it was cuff-down.

(I've since found a recipe for knitting toe-up with this kind of heel, so that's next on the ToDo list.)

When we got to the toe, I was instructed by DD that a separate big toe was in order so that the socks can be worn with flip-flops.

So I checked out a few patterns and can up with this modified toe-rib type affair.

You know I'm pretty pleased with the whole thing, and quite amazed at how easy it was to come up with my own sock pattern.

So here are the finished Toe-Footsies - complete with toe-post for wearing with flip-flops.

Well we do live by the sea now.

One more thing - Poppy Cottage asked about the needle thing. Yes I do use magic loop for socks. I'm sure it must sound horrendous to read about (I can't vouch for that as I was lucky enough to be shown it in person), but just dive in and try it.

I think it's by far the most portable and child-friendly (and therefore parent-friendly!) method of knitting socks, so it's my most favoured method.

And finally...

One small oasis of beauty in the garden that seems (for now) to be rented to the builders yard.

I do love DH's camera.

Just wish I could remember the name of the darn shrub. ;-)

Tofutsie socks and building blocks

The Kaibashira socks are done - they have been for a while but now we have the computer back so I can show you - woohoo!

They only took about half the ball of Tofustsies, so now I have 46g left - obviously I need to make more socks for my daughters.

I've got all the way down to the toe of my very first own-design cuff-down lacy rib sock, only to find that it's used too much yarn. Poo.

I will persevere though - 46g of yarn is too much to waste!

The other thing that's progressing is the extension - we're now up to roof level:

The window and french doors should be in place soon too, then we're on the internals - yay!