April #30daychallenge Results.

As with the worlds health situation, April had a rocky start in my crafty life. With no desire to craft for the first 3 weeks my #30daychallenge seemed doomed to failure. With no crafts taking up my time I decided to clean and sort the craft storage areas, also know as my entire house.

I have always had a love hate relationship with spring cleaning. I have a tendency to empty every draw, cupboard, box and hidey hole into the middle of the room and failing to find room to put everything away. This time I decided to tackle one area at a time. I started with my wash cloth cotton store. Looking at all the colours I have collected over the years my desire to craft came back and I began sorting my wash cloth cotton by using it. Over the next 7 days I knitted 20 washcloths removing 9 skeins of yarn from my stash and most importantly making me look at my mountain of abandoned craft with new found joy and a need to finish all my makes.

The new question is which project to start with. I want to work on all of them so I'm just going to dive in and work on the first project I find that speaks to me.

Stay home. Stay Safe and happy crafting.

#30makechallenge update.

April 27th 2020

After a rough start I am catching up on my #30makechallenge completing a total of 19 wash cloths in 1 week, all I have to do is weave in the ends. As my stack of wash cloths grows and plans of what colour and scent of soaps and candles to match with the wash cloths,  my thoughts drift to my ever growing gift list and the hardest question to answer is always would they like / use / need that I can buy or make and give to them.

With my will to craft still in hiding the search for this years Christmas make is ongoing. Last year I made hats and cowls for the whole family from Tin Can Knits Anthology Pattern. The Anthology Pattern is a quick and easy knit with loads of colour work options and sizes for all the family. 

What is your Favourite gift make?

Stay home, stay safe, keep crafting

Washcloths to the rescue.

April 22nd 2020

Way is it every time I set myself a crafting challenge, I lose the will to craft. Since the starting the 30 makes challenge on the 1st of April I haven't touched any of my crafts. That was until I started sorting the stash and found an embarrassingly large collection of Knit Picks Dishie. With so many colours to choose from I find myself collecting skeins every time I get board.

Knowing I can knit a washcloth in about an hour I dived into the stash and started knitting up the Dishie. Using the yarn stash is the same as tidying up right? In one day I managed to knit 5 washcloths kick starting my crafty impulse.

The best part about washcloths is they are so quick to finish. I can cast on dozens of new projects every week without adding to the ever growing mountain of discarded projects.

With a mountain of washcloth growing in the corner of the room, the next challenge is what to do with them all. Last Christmas I paired up the wash cloths with home made soap for the standard toiletry gift with a twist. The gift sets went down really well and I got several requests for more of the same next Christmas and birthdays to.

With so many requests for gift knits I best dive back into the stashand find this years must make gift.

Stay home, Stay Safe And Keep Crafting.

Crafting Through Corona

With Social distancing turning to self isolation turning to lockdown, I can't help but wonder how people who don't craft will stay sane. With my ever growing pile of PHDS, Now is the perfect time to once again try and make a dent in the pile and get some projects finished.

Knowing how much I love to start new projects I trying another 30 makes in 30 days challenge with the focus on quick and easy gift projects. With a new caston everyday my almost empty git box should get a much needed boost.

I will be spending my isolation making washcloths, soap, bath fizzers, candles, hats and anything else I can put in the gift box.

To spread the love I will try and add a free pattern or tutorial for my daily make, some will be mine some from other people.

How do you plan to stay sane in this caotic time?

Stay Home, Stay well, and happy crafting

Catching up

As the winter cold passes its time for a mental heath crafty catchup. When I'm ill the first thing to go is my crafting and my mental health suffers as a result. Now I'm feeling better it's back to the craft starting with my nieces jumper.

I had almost finished her jumper when she had a growth spurt leaving me unsure whether to add length or reknit in the next size up. I finally decided to add length and finished the jumper.  She loves it. Then I moved on to the second of my Christmas knits.

Christmas 2019 I gave my Mum a Party On My Needles Shawl by Joji Locatelli. I knitted the shawl out of Drops Fabel and finished faster then the last one, Putting Party on my needles top of the gift knit list.

Then I remembered it's mums birthday and decided to knit her the jumper she has wanted for 18 months. With less then 2 weeks before my mums birthday knitting a jumper in a different gauge to the pattern should be no problem, If you do the maths. I didn't do the maths and the jumper was a total of 10 inches bigger then I needed, 14 inches bigger hen the pattern sizing. So I did the maths, Right. Wrong I guessed a different size and tried again. This time the jumper was a infuriating 2 inches to small, so near and yet so far.

So with just 7 days left until my Mum's Birthday it's 3rd time lucky. Heres hoping that I've got it right this time.

Remember when knitting garments always check your gauge and if it doesn't match the pattern either do the maths or try again.

Happy crafting.

Stash down update. Week 2.

With 5 skeins of yarn arriving in my knit in a box subscription I thought this week would have more yarn entering the stash then leaving the stash. Then I tried to put the wash cloth cotton stash away. The cotton doesn't fit in the cube I have to put it in. My solution as always was to stop tidying and start knitting. As I finished the second skein I spotted 4 Giant Skeins of Aran weight yarn destined to be 3 tops, 2 cardigans for my mum and brothers ex, and a jumper for my niece. Those skeins take up a lot of space so I finished one of the cardigans. To celebrate finishing a adult sized cardigan I cast on the shawl that came in January's knit in a box subscription.

This week I have managed to knit

• 7 Wash cloths
• 1 Blanket Squares
• and 1 Adult Cardigan

My total in meters is
Meters in 978.4
Meters out 1650.7
Result 672.3 meters have left my stash this week, So far this year my stash is 1,049 meters smaller then it was on new years eve.

With so many amazing yarns and patterns avalible I wonder how long I can keep the stash shrienking.
Wish me luck

Happy crafting.

All the KALs

As I take a break from spring cleaning and start catching up on podcasts, I started making a lsit of all the KAL's I want to enter. How many knit along's can I enter a pair of socks into, so far I have found 4. There is the Yarn Hoarders Free all the house elves 2020 year long sock KAL, Grocery Girls January sock bash, Craft House Magic Retro MAL, and The Bakery Bears Patron Race to the moon KAL.

I love looking at everyone's finished makes, Adding patterns to my queue, and yarn to my stash. I find joining a KA*L motivates me to finish projects in a reasonable amount of time. With a long history of never winning I rarely join KALs for the prize's, I join for the inspiration, motivation and conversation with other crafters.

With so many KAL's to take part in this year I should have no problem completing my gift crafts.

What motivates you when you lose steam on your projects?

Happy crafting

Post Christmas clearup

As the spring cleaning starts the first task is to tidy the craft supplies. Everything I own seems to get pulled out during the Christmas makeathon, unfortunately very little gets put away. I decided to start with the mountain of yarn that has snuck into my house and multyplyed. As I put the yarn away I am making sure it has been listed in my Ravelry stash and was shocked to discover how little I had listed.

I find the Ravelry stash is an amazing feature. When you look at patterns on Ravelry it has a link that says yarn ideas. As I update my stash and look through my pattern queue I was surprised to see how many patterns I already have yarn for. Maybe I will be able to shrink my stash after all.

My favourite find of the clean up so far is the 26 skeins of Drops karisma to knit the Silver dream Cardigan by Drops. I brought the yarn back in March and wanted to make the full set of hat, gloves, cowl, and cardigan but had never knitted colourwork before so I brought the Oh deer cowl kit from Deramores to practice on. I started knitting the cowl in May and haven't finished yet so thats the housework over. I have a colourwork Cowl to knit.

Knitting is the same as tidying up the yarn.

Happy crafting

Knit in a box.

For Christmas I got a 3 month subscription to the ladies Knit in a box. My first instalment arrived Saturday morning, and I couldn't be happier. When I opened the box the knit was exceptionally well packaged, with a great deal of thought and care going into the selection of each and every items included in the box.

 It contains a pattern, yarn to knit the pattern and a few extra goodies. I can't wait to cast on my new project and already know who the finished item will be given to next Christmas.

I love every item in the box and went straight to the website, saved it in my favourites, and will extend my subscription as soon as the gift subscription runs out.

Looking through the previous boxes I wished I had found it sooner. I can't wait to see what I get in future boxes as their arrival is sure to be the highlight of the month.

I would recommend Knit in a box to anyone and everyone looking for a crafty gift to give to a knitting friend. The boxes are definitely worth every penny.

Happy crafting.

Clubs don't count.

My 2020 shop the stash challenge was going really well for a whole 18 hours, Then a Bellica yarns posted on Instagram that they had released a new mystery sock box. so I brought it. In my defence I have been collecting Laura's sock boxes since September 2016. I love all the colourways I have received. Out of the months I have knitted I have been able to get a long pair of socks, a short pair of socks, a mitred square, a granny square, and still have left overs. with 2 blankets on the go that contain only Bellica yarns mystery sock box yarn I couldn't not buy the new box.

Apart from the sock club I have made no purchases and have used more yarn then I will be getting in the sock box.

This week I have finished

• 1 Dishcloth
• 1 Adult hat 
• 1 Adult cowl
• 1 Baby hat
• 1 Pair baby mittens
• and 11 Blanket squares 

This used a total of 367.3 meters of yarn and 1 full skein from my stash.

I am happy with my progress so far and have no guilt over my purchase. Most of the projects I knit are knit out of 100% acrylic yarn, so I am choosing to see my hand dyed merino nylon blend socks as a reward for all the gift crafting I do.

Join the Stash down 2020 Challenge over in the Ravelry group
Chatter Thread   Prize thread

Enjoy your crafting and never feel guilty about what you use, make, or buy.

Happy crafting

The never ending skein.

On December 14th I purchased 3 skeins (300g) of Sirdar supersoft aran rainbow drops in the 0861 Pick and mix colourway. I picked this yarn to knit a jumper for my nephew knowing I would have a spare skein. I made the a Flax jumper by Tin Can Knits in the 2 - 4 years size which used 1.68 skeins (168g).

 After checking yardage I decided to make a Flax jumper in the 0 - 6 month size for the gift box, which used 0.79 skeins (79g).

I thought Knitting a Anthology hat in the newborn size would finish off the skein but no it only used 0.18 skeins (18g). I still had 0.35skeins left (35g), I don't know what part of a 0.18 skein hat made me think knitting Baby Mitts by Susan B. Anderson would finish the skein but off I went and surprise surprise the mittens only used 0.07 of a skein (7g).

 I am know sick of the sight of this yarn and want it gone. With 0.28 of a skein (28g) left I can't decided weather to do baby socks or 4 more pairs of mittens either way it has to go.

I have been knitting for almost 33years and in all that time I have never know a skein of yarn go so far. Living on benefits I try to make my money stretch as far as possible. I knit because I get the fun of choosing the yarn, days of entertainment knitting the item and have a garment to ware or a gift to give at the end, Instead of going to the supermarket and buying the cheapest cloths and toys I can find.

This yarn has been amazing for keeping me entertained. I have lost count of the hours spent on Ravelry looking for patterns, trying to use the last little bit. At £4.05 a skein I have defiantly got my moneys worth out of this yarn and will be buying more in the future.

I hope you have as much fun with your crafts as I'm having with mine.

Happy Crafting. 

Clearing off the needles.

As I sort through my stash trying to find room for all my purchases I keep finding yarn that is perfect for one of the far to many patterns in my ravelry queue. I excitedly gather the yarn download the pattern and no needles. As with everything else I have to many PHD's. Before I can cast on any new projects I need to get some of the long forgotten projects off the needles.

First on the list for completion is my new beginning  socks by Laura Britton. I got the yarn and pattern in the Bellica Yarns mystery sock box January 2018, in my defence I hoarded the yarn in my stash until October last year. I can knit a pair of socks in 2 days, the only reason I can think of for these socks still being on the needles is that I started gift knitting or got distracted by a new project. Either way my feet are cold so I really need these socks finished.


So I tracked down the pattern, worked out where I was and knitted half the leg, the heel turn and half the foot. Then I tried them on. Youve guessed it my gauge has changed and now they are to small. So the sock is getting frogged and cast back on with a larger stitch count. I'm starting to wonder if these socks will ever get finished.

As I stare at the pile of frogged yarn I keep thinking I should move on to a different project except my gauge has changed and none of the socks, or garments in my mountain of PHD's are going to fit. I find socks so quick and easy that reknitting these socks will help me work out how my gauge has changed and what to do with my other projects.

Wish me luck as I fight with knitting needles, yarn, gauge rulers, calculators, and maths. this could take a while.

Hope your crafting is more successful then mine.

Happy Crafting.

Rachael


 

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.