Stash down preperation.

When my Auntie saw the Party on my needles shawl I made my mum for Christmas, she wanted one. The Party on my needles shawl is a large 3 colour crescent shaped shawl. The shawl took me 3 months to knit. With 12 months warning till Christmas knitting one should be no problem, except two of my cousins want one as well. Well that's 9 months of knitting, plus socks for three of my friends, plus jumpers for my niece and nephews and at some point I would like to knit my self something.

The next problem is finding 9 different colours of yarn in my stash suitable for shawls and machine washable. Solution Shopping spree. You'd think after my pre Christmas spree I would have dozens of skeins to pick from but that would be boring. 

Luckily or unluckily depending on your point of view I have 24 hour access to the internet which enabled me to buy 75 skeins of yarn totalling 12,100 meters in less then an hour.

My first stop was Knit Picks for 5 skeins of fellici for socks and 21 skeins of Dishie for my mini spa sets. I mean it's not as though I already have 30ish skeins of Fellici or 15 Skeins of Dishie in my stash waiting to be knit. My excuse is my friend has adult size feet that need 60-70 grams of yarn for a pair of shortie socks and Fellici only has 50g per skein meaning I need 2 skeins per pair. I like to give wash cloths in matching sets of colours that remind me of the recipient which means I need a large selection of colours to choose from, and most importantly I love gift shopping almost as much as I love Yarn.

Next came the shawl yarns.I picked out 9 colours of drops fabel and 3 colours of drops delight.

The main reason I pick Knit Picks and Drops yarns for gift knitting is they are cost effective.Dishie, Fabel, and Fellici yarns are also machine washable. I aim to buy machine washable yarns so when the recipient puts them in the washing machine the items won't be destroyed and I won't be devastated. 

I may also of brought a variety of yarns to make myself some reward knits. I can't wait to get knitting or see the looks on peoples faces when they open their gifts.

Wish me luck in my year of socks and shawls.

Happy New Year and most importantly Happy crafting.

Me Made Christmas Success

After 3 years of trying I finally managed to make a gift for everyone on my gift list. It took me all year and was worth every second. All gifts have been gratefully received which just leaves one question. What should I make for next year?

This Christmas I have made

• 16 Cowls
• 15 hats
• 1 scarf
• 5 shawls
• 18 bars of soap
• 2 pairs of socks
• 9 pairs of shortie socks
• 30 wash cloths
• 1 cardigan 
• 1 tea cozy

With big plans and an even bigger gift list its not surprising that my stash has grown at a terrifying rate.

In November I purchased 83 skeins of yarn containing 16,293.2 meters of yarn while I used 6,001.5
You'd think I would have more then enough yarn for all my Christmas knitting but oh no in December I brought more. To finish my Gift knitting I purchased 49 More skeins adding 12,293.2 extra meters of yarn to my stash with just 4,958.8 meters leaving the yarn mountain.

As the new year arrives my stash is out of control. I can not go on a yarn diet, if i tell myself not to buy yarn I will buy a metric tonne of yarn. Instead of banning myself from shopping I am challenging myself to use more then I buy on a meter for meter balance. Starting January 1st 2020 I will be keeping track of my progress in the stashdown 20 thread in the torc crafts ravelry group (Link to Ravelry group).

Wish me luck as I dive into my stash, and if I'm not back in a week send help.

Happy new year and Happy crafting.

Rachael

New pattern Coming soon.

As I was working through WIP mountain Looking at each project deciding weather to finish or frog it, I got sidetracked by my pile of knitting books. As I looked through the books avoiding the ever growing pile of WIPs I noticed a stitch pattern I couldn't take my eyes off. As I thought about the stitch I started putting the stitch pattern into different items and finally settled on my favourite combination.

The swatch is done, the stitch count caculated all that is left to do is write up the pattern and put out a call for test knitters. 

After months of thinking about what to design and trying to force the process I went back to the inspiration journal my cousin brought me several years ago. Within minutes of rereading the introduction I realised what the problem was, I was to focused on searching for inspiration to let the inspiration find me.

When you stop and clear your mind you create space for ideas to form, sometimes from the most unexpected places. Now I have a new problem to many ideas. Which one should I focus on first, Which combination of stitch patterns to use, which item to place the stitch patterns on, and the biggest problem of all where do I find the time to knit them all.

Where do you find your inspiration?

Happy crafting

Rachael

Gearing up for gift crafting.

With Christmas fast approaching and last years scarves still being worn regularly (For free pattern click here), the pressure is on to find or design a gift for this Christmas. I have had many ideas over the last few months, to many ideas, I don't know where to start.


The 4 objects I keep coming back to are

1. A new scarf design.
2. A new shawl design.
3. A new cowl Design.
4. A hot water bottle cover with hot water bottle.

The hot water bottle cover is quick and easy. I have more then enough yarn, All I need to buy is hot water bottles to put inside the cover. I can buy the hot water bottles wholesale for less then £5, it's the design that is slowing me down. Should the cover be plain or textured? One colour or multi coloured? Strips or fair isle? So many ideas I don't know which one to start with.

I'm having the same problems with every item, to many ideas. With all the ideas flying round my brain I can't focus on any idea long enough to test knit a swatch.

As I look over my Christmas gift list there is enough names to design and make a different item for each person leaving the problem of is there enough time.

Then I realised the easiest place to start is with the men, teens and children. For them I have a much more limited selection to choose from. The men most likely prefer a scarf or cowl, the teens are female and will probably find fault in anything they get from me. A hot-water bottle and cover will be the most acceptable to them as it will stay at home where none of their friends will see it and pass judgment. The kids won't notice their gift unless its a toy, hats scarves and mittens will be appreciated by the parents.

The problem is the ladies. They would like any and all of my options. With them still wearing and commenting on last years scarves I accidentaly set the stranded to high to met this year.

The only way I will solve my crafty dilemma is to dive in and start crafting. Watch this space to see where my Christmas crafting journey takes me.

Who's the reason for the Christmas season? In my house the reason is JESUS! If I keep Jesus in mind as I begin crafting every gift will be as close to perfect as a mere mortal can manage.

May all your handie crafts be filled with love and warm wishes for the recipent.

Happy crafting

Rachael

What a difference a wash makes.

18 Months ago I knitted a Spring Festival shawl by Jo Kelly for my cousin. I intended the shawl to be  Christmas present but when I finished it the shawl was tiny. far to small to be any use to an adult. Feeling disappointed and wondering where I went wrong in my 3 months of work on this project I dumped it in the box of long forgotten projects that didn't go to plan.

This week I decided it's time to sort through the discarded projects and either finish them or frog them, Use them or give them away. When I found the  spring festival shawl at the bottom of the pile I remembered how much difference washing and blocking had made to the Reyna shawl by Noora Backlun. I knitted the Reyna shawl twice the year before once for my mum and once for my cousin and both times the shawl doubled in size after washing and blocking. So I weaved in the ends washed and blocked the shawl and the difference is amazing. Not only is the shawl a useable size it is really pretty.

 
I can't remember where I got the tips on quick and easy ways to block shawls but this is what I did. After socking don't squeeze the water out, Instead hang the shawl on the washing line and let the weight of the water pull the shawl into shape for you. Once the shawl is on the washing line leave it to dry. I place pegs about every inch along the top of the shawl and place a peg on any points along the cast off edge.
 

Whats your favorite shawl pattern?

Happy crafting!

Rachael

Toy Time

For 3 years I have subscribed to Lets Knit magazine. I started buying the magazine because it came with a free toy knit kit. 3 years later I have finished 0 of the 36 knit kits and have a mountain of kits in a laundry bag. After finishing 14 projects (1 blanket, 8 washcloths, and 3 pairs of shortie sock, 1 pair long socks, and 1 pair of mittens) I am going to try and make a dent in my pile of toy knit kits.

The kits are cute bright colours and most importantly quick to knit so I should be able to knit one a week. My problem is finishing them. I started a mermaid toy in July 2016 and a hippo toy in August 2016. The knitting is finished, the toys stuffed they just need sewing together. Maybe I will finally finish them on Stuff it Saturday.

What are your oldest projects?

Happy Crafting 

Rachael

Me made May part 2

My me made may outfits have been anything but me made. I have only been able to wear hand knit socks. I have enough hand knitted socks to wear a different pair everyday in spare and still have unworn pairs. More sewing required.

I have been working my way through Gertie sews vintage casual (Buy it here) making garments from old duvet covers to make sure I was making the right size. I was just about ready to cut into my good fabric when my health deteriorated and I lost 7lbs changing my measurements so none of my practice garments fit. Before i can remeasure and remake my practice clothes my health and weight needs to stabilize. In the meantime I am churning out hand knit socks, berets and starting to knit cardigans and jumpers with no ease (garments measurements are the same as body measurements) or less then 2 inches of positive ease (garment measurements are less then 2 inches bigger then my body measurements) so the garments I knit should fit even if I gain weight.

My favorite garment knitting patterns at the moment are

•  Driftwood by Isabell Kraemer (Driftwood pattern page)  Driftwood is a free jumper pattern designed to be slightly oversized. I am knitting it in Cygnet Aran colour 991 Claret. I got the yarn from Deramores in the sale and paid £10 for 6 100g skeins. The yarn is 100% Acrylic and amazingly soft.
•  Harvest by Tin Can Knits (Harvest pattern page) Harvest is a cardigan from Tin Can Knits Simple Collection. The simple collection are free patterns designed with beginners in mind and contains links to tutorials. The Cardigan is designed to be open So it doesn't matter if I cant close it. I have Knitted this cardigan from Cygnet Aran Colour 6684 Grape.
• Silver Dream by Drops Design (Silver Dream pattern page) Another free Pattern This time with colour work and kitted out of Drops Karisma which is 100% wool. I have picked colour 11 Orange for the main colour and 56 Dark Brown for the contrast.
• I also want to knit almost every pattern in the Tin Can Knits book Strange Brew (Strange Brew pattern page) I haven't picked which pattern I will start with yet. Which ever Pattern I pick I will use Drops yarn as it matches my yarn budget.

I am having so much fun picking patterns, yarn, and fabric for my me made wardrobe I can't wait to see all the items come to life.

I hope you craft time brings you as much joy as my crafting brings me.

Find a project that makes your heart sing and enjoy every second.

Craft Book Bargains

This week I got an amazing bargain on a haul of craft books. While i was binge watching back episodes of Stranded Podcast (find the podcast here) Amy showed a knitting book a friend had brought her from The Works (Shop online here). I remembered some bargains I had found there in the past and decided to see what they have available this week.

When I found the knitting books I was thrilled to see dozens of knitting books with huge reductions in price. There was so many books I wanted to buy, Unfortunately my budget won't stretch to all the books so I decided to start with the cheapest. The website has free delivery on orders over £20 and I can't believe how many books I had to order to get the free delivery. I got 9 knitting books, 1 sewing book and an owl cross stitch for a budget friendly £23.50.

I am so happy with my purchases. Every book contains multiple project I want to start, but I will have to wait till I have saved up and ordered the recommended yarn. The books I brought are

1. Knitting vintage by Claire Montgomerie. Cover price £12.99 I paid £3.00
2. Mollie Makes Knitting. Cover price £15.47 I paid £3.00
3. Closely knit by Hannah Fettig. Cover price £17.82 I paid £2.00
4. French girl knits accessories by Kirsteen Griffin-Grimes. Cover price £17.06 I paid £2.00
5. Step it up knits by Vickie Howell. Cover price £14.99 I paid £2.00
6. The knitted alphabet. How to knit letters from A to Z. By Kate Haxell and Sarah Hazell. Cover price £16.99 I paid £1.50
7. How to use, adapt, and design knitting patterns. How to knit exactly what you want, everytime - with confidence! by Sam Elliot and Sidney Bryan. Cover price £17.06 I paid £2.00
8. First frost. Cozy folk knitting by Lucinda Guy. Cover price £19.35 I paid £2.00
9. Metropolitan knits. Chic designs for urban style by Melissa Wehrle. Cover price £17.80 I paid £2
10. Sock it to me. Creepy, crazy and strangely appealing by Brenna Maloney. Cover price £13.92 I paid £2.00

A saving of £141.95 on books. Without the price reductions I would only of been able to buy 1 or 2 books. I hope the price reductions encourage people who don't have any crafty hobbies to try a craft.

Hope you find some bargains on your next outing.

Happy crafting.

Socks Away

I am an Addict. Over the last few weeks I have reached for sock knitting every time I sit down. I love the speed, simplicity, endless possibilities and speed of socks. They are a fantastic way to test stitch patterns to use in other items. 

As I follow the patterns I get in my mystery sock box I always find myself imagining new designs to try. 

I have a notepad full of scribbles waiting to be turned into socks, scarves, shawls and cardigans with yarn and needles all over the house waiting to be knitted into something amazing. so where do I store all the projects I am desperate to cast on. I need project bags so its time to dust off my sewing machine and start the search for a size, shape, and style that works for me.

It would be so much quicker and easier to buy project bags from one of the amazing makers who sell project bags they have spent years perfecting the design of, however I don't know what to look for. I have spent 30 years storing my craft projects in plastic bags  which makes writing a list of what to look for in a project bag impossible.

As spring adds colour to the garden the house is full of crafty chaos.

Let the crafting commence. Enjoy your craft time don't waste it on a project that dosn't make your heart sing.

Totally Hooked

As a child I was obsessed with my grandmas granny square blanket. I wanted one of my own but had no idea how to make one, who to ask for help making one, or even what questions to ask. 

After several years of converting my grandmas blanket I discovered it was a crochet blanket and the auntie who was visiting could teach me how to crochet a granny square. We didn't have the right crochet hook, and yarn combination but it was close enough for me to learn. The next challenge was finding the right colour palette.

Fast forward a decade or two and I saw a part work called the art of crochet, I had already collected the art of crochet part work and knew the weekly magazines would be designed to to guide the reader from absolute beginner to expert by introducing new skills each issue paired with projects to practice the skills. Unfortunately I missed the release of both series when I started collecting magazine I had no idea what the patterns were asking me to do. I was just about to give up learning to crochet when I spotted a new part work in the supermarket Called big & Little crochet Find it here. The series is made by the same company who made the art of crochet so I was cofident I would be able to make the throw that comes with the magazine.

The series is everything I hoped it would be so I subscribed and started work on the crochet throw. I learn new skills with each issue and enjoy making the hexagons. I havent had the confidence to attempt any of the other projects yet and yes I do have an ever growing list of projects I want to make.

I can't wait for my throw to be finished and I'm already planning different colour schems I can make the throw in.

Sew many crafts so little time.

Happy crafting.

Me Made May.

This year I am Planning to join me made may with more than hand knit socks. I have spent winter collecting patterns, sewing books, a dressmakers mannequin and of course massive amounts of yarn and fabric. 

During my research I learnt a very important lesson. Always read the instructions. Gertie sews vintage casual Buy it here recommended making a muslin ( prototype made from cheap fabric) to test the fit. I made my muslin from an old duvet cover and its a good job I did. When I tried my skirt on it fell off. I had cut the pieces on the fold instead of separate making the skirt 2 and a quarter inches to bigger then the pattern sizes. 

After I had corrected my mistake I tried the skirt on again and found it was still to big. When I measured myself I was between sizes and decided to make the bigger size as I could take in the seams but I cannot add extra fabric if the skirt is to small. For my 3rd attempt at the flared skirt pattern fits. I am so glad I used the free 70's duvet cover from my mum's linen cupboard instead of the £36 worth of fabric I brought for the skirt.

Now the hunt is on for old bedding. I don't think I would ever wear the skirt in public but it will not go to waste. Now I have finished practising I will turn the skirt into project bags for my knitting.

On to the next pattern. This time remembering to read all instructions before starting to sew. 

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and Enjoy

Happy Crafting  

Creativty overload.

As a late Christmas gift, I  treated myself to a dressmakers mannequin, some patterns and a stitch dictionary.  I can not stop going through the patterns and stitch dictionary. The inspiration that  I have found has astounded me, as a result, I have been hit with a server case of startitus. I spent January finishing long forgotten PHD's and have now started 10 design projects within 3 days. I love switching from project to project watching as the ideas become reality, unfortunately, I am not as good at finishing the project or keeping track of what I am doing.

I have been designing patterns that will become Christmas gifts for friends and family. As soon as I have washed and blocked them I am planning to wrap them with a written handmade Christmas card and store them organised into groups by delivery location. This year I will not spend Christmas morning wrapping presents. 

Between the knitting designs, I am also working my way through Gertie Sews Vintage Casual: A Modern Guide to Sportswear Styles of the 1940s and 1950s (Gertie's Sewing). I love every pattern in this book and have spent many happy hours looking for the perfect fabric and imagining the outfits I will crate. I can't wait to take part in me made may. 

Watch this space for a stream of new knitting and possibly a few sewing patterns, assuming I ever get them finished and written up. Right now I will settle for finishing more projects thenI start. 

Mark 9:23 King James Version (KJV)

²³ Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

New Year New Challenges.

As the spring cleaning begins I am once again shocked by the size of my craft stash. I have more then enough supplies to last several lifetimes and love all of it, But how can I make space for all the new supplies I want to add to my collection? Solution, use it or lose it. As I wade into the mountains of craft supplies I am trying to look at each item and ask myself

• Do I like it?
• Will I use it?
• How will I use it?
• When will I use it?

If I don't like the item, and I don't think I'll use it then it is time to find a new home for my beloved craft supplies. The biggest problem I have encountered is I still love all my craft supplies and don't want to get rid of any of them. So know the race is on to find uses for and begin using my supplies before I find enough new supplies to bury myself under.

The next issue is combatting PHD mountain. As I go through my supplies I find to many new projects to start, so I am trying to finish 2 projects before I start a new one.

Happy Crafting

FO (finished object) Parade

Happy New Year.

Now that Christmas has been and gone, all gifts given and happily received, its time to start planning my crafty year. Over the holidays I have had dozens of ideas for knitting designs, sewing patterns and crafty organization. All I need is time supplies and a clean and tidy workspace. So let the spring cleaning commence.

As I find cleaning boring and have a million different ways to distract myself I have begun the spring clean with my craft area and supplies. The most fun way to clean my craft area is by using the supplies. So far I have tidied (finished) 21 cozy memory squares, 10 wash clothes, 2 socks (from different pairs) and a cardigan. I have also found the supplies and kited up 15 projects, from dresses to quilts, socks to cardigans, the mountain of wish list crafting is growing at an alarming rate and is now threatening to out grow PHD (project half done) mountain, the race to finish existing projects is on.

I am balancing the startitis with the growing urgency to make a dent in PHD mountain by splitting my craft time in 4. I am trying to work on a sock, a large project, a quick finish and a design at the same time. The quick finishes are cozy memory squares or wash cloths feeding my startitis, the socks are second socks from an abandoned pair, the large projects are garments or blankets and the designs are focused around this years holiday gifts.

The best part is cleaning is finally fun. Looking through my craft supplies and dreaming up what projects I can use them in, imagining the finished item as I kit up the projects waiting to be started.

Whatever your plans for a crafty new year remember to live life to express not to impress.

Happy Crafting.