January make

Another lovely sunny day yesterday - no photos because I didn't take my camera - though when I saw the snow on the fells in the sunshine I wished I had.

Have just come back from seeing the Decendants with gorgeus George!!  Enjoyed it, though it is definitely bitter sweet.

Anyway here it is my January make. It's a Debbie Bliss matinee jacket for a friend at work.  I enjoyed knititng in the baby cashmero and the lovely texture the wool made in garter stitch.  There were some problems though the neck seemed unfinished so I crochet a round to finish it off- and instead of having a ribbon which tied at the front - not great for a baby jacket - I added a popper fastening with a little crochet flower (the first I have made and I'm sure not the last).  Hope she likes it ....

A late weekend!!

Three posts in and I have already missed the day I wanted to post my next blog on .... however, that does reflect a rather good weekend, a bit of knitting  (apologies for shadows).....

This is a baby jacket knitted with Debbie Bliss baby cashmero - which hopefully will be finished by this weekend.


...a bit of cross-stitch ..

... this is my progress on my rose cushion, which I'm quite pleased with.  It's another big project so coming on quite slowly.

..  lots of baking ... with an apple cake and bakewell cake to give to friends (can't keep whole cakes when I'm on my own!).

Also enjoyed a bit more sunshine on my walks with Rosie.  I'm lucky to live in a beautiful part of this world.  This is a view just walking round my village.

..and the first crocuses

It definitely made me feel spring is in the air and that can only be good!

Sunny happiness

A much better week at work with all headaches gone and a much more positive mood .. and then the sun came, wonderful.  A lovely frosty walk on Saturday and the first snowdrops are blooming ...



Lots of frosty loveliness and sunshine on the berries. 

I wanted to keep a record of films seen and books read .....

So my first film of the year was the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.  Pretty good though it didn't really improve on the Swedish version (unless you hate subtitles).  Very dark subject matter and a couple of bits where I closed my eyes (I knew what was coming).  Daniel Craig looking very craggy, but still strangely attractive.

Not much to report on the crafting front as my projects (ripple blanket and roses cushion) are quite slow, but I have just started a baby matinee jacket and that should be my January finish.  I'm using Debbie Bliss baby cashmero which I absolutely love - its so soft and cuddly to knit - shame about the price!  Photos next weekend showing the progress on all 3.

Well a nice glass of wine with this weeks episode of Sherlock calling!

First make: 9th January, 2012

Not a great start to the year!  A five-day headache impossible to shft and 2 days off work (with associated guilt!), my lovely son gone back to University, leaving it very quiet at home and continuing rain every day!  Still feeling much better now and there was some lovely sunshine today.  I'm also very excited to have received my first comment from Anie The FeltFairy - I quite expect no-one else to read this so it's great to have a post!

I've finished my first make (though it was started at the end of December) - a Debbie Bliss scarf for Dan.  I wanted a chunky pattern which would look better for a man and this is a double stocking stitch which was easy to knit and cosy.  I used Rowan aran wool though as it was much cheaper.  (Does anyone else think when you have paid for a quality yarn there shouldn't be a join part-way through the ball - which was impossible to hide!).

My 2 wips are both quite big projects.  I am very excited to be producing a ripple blanket.  I was inspired to do this by Attic 24s lovely blanket, but have never crocheted anything before so wasn't sure I would be able to and .....

.. it's going great!  I've chosen quite subtle colours, mostly a duck egg blue with some stronger colours making 15 stripes.  I'm using Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmero and it is absolutely lovely! So soft and cuddly.  I expect it will take me until Easter to finish this, so more updates in future.

I'm also completing a cross-stich panel of roses for a cushion (World of Cross Stitching pattern - but I have changed the colours).  Again this will take ages, so I'm sure I'll be doing some quicker projects too!

Apologies for the creased appearance due to not using a hoop!

To finish off I can't resist including a photo of my little 7 month old puppy with her Xmas present (looks a bit like she is smoking a cigar) just because she is so cute, although also scruffy!

NewYear

This is my first ever blog.  Having enjoyed reading many other blogs and learning lots of great crafty things I am finally trying myself. 

I really started getting into crafting this year with a cross-stitch project and since then there has been no stopping me.  My list for last year includes:

Crossstitch cupcakes picuture
Emily Peacock Hug cushion
Helen Phillips Xmas sampler
Helen Phillips rabbit toy and 8 assorted hearts
3 Helen Phillips houses (yes, a bit of a Helen Phillips fan)
Small Xmas tree sampler
10 various cards
1 louisa harding sweater (too big!)
2 scarves
MaryJane Tearoom knitted Bo Rabbit

Have had a lovely 2 weeks holiday.  Thanks to the fantastic Attic 24 tutorial I learnt to crochet more than granny squares and have started a ripple blanket which I love (photos to follow).   I've been knitting a simple scarf (the only thing I can do without looking so I can knit whilst watching telli) and today I started a new crossstitch cushion (roses from last months World of CrossStitch), so lots of crafty goodies being enjoyed.

Back to work tomorrow!