Monday, 9 April 2012

Chick Photo's as promised

Well here they are as promised, a little out of focus as they would just not sit still.

 The two eldest held by Daddy!!






In  the brooder, a large box!




I am sure you agree they are just so cute!!!

Sunday, 8 April 2012

Easter chicks

The Easter chicks are hatching from the eggs we put into the incubator 21days ago. Little cheeps of cuteness just in time for Easter.  
This is the first time we have used the incubator so we are on a real learning curve.  Much more stressful than using a broody hen as we have done in the past.
I will do another post midweek with photos.

Mum really liked her cardigan, she is taking it on her holidays to Malta later in the month, her friends say it gets quite chilly at night so it will make a nice cover up.

My Grandaughters cardigan has been a bit hit and miss.  We decided on a cable pattern, then decided we didn't like it.  Frogged it back, out came the stitch dictionary again and decided on another cable.  It's now got to be frogged again because I really thought I could knit, watch tv and follow a new cable pattern with just a table lamp for lighting using dark grey yarn.  Obviously I can't because I've cabled to the front when it should have been to the back.  Oh well.

On the needles this week:  the Grandaughters cardi, the skirt for the exhibition (which is feeling a little neglected).  Awaiting yarn from a top designer it's a secret so can't tell yet.

Happy Knitting!!  Please pop over to Handmade Monday the wonderful blog hosted by Wendy to see what all the other crafters have been upto this week.

Sunday, 1 April 2012

A busy week

My what a busy week, all decorating finished and new carpets laid.  Isn't it funny how decorating one room seems to throw the whole household into dissarray!!

Well the schools are closed for Easter, the lovely sunny weather has gone and they are now forcasting snow. Snowmen and Easter Eggs what a great combination.

I did however manage to finish Mum's cardigan.





Just plain stocking stitch with the cable and lace border.




Still need the buttons, but I'm pleased with how it turned out.

Have started the cardigan from my Grandaughters sketch, hope to have it finished by next week, lots of cables, lots of maths!

Once again thankyou to everyone who left comments, will spend today exploring how to add to my reading list.  Please now pop over to Handmade Monday the wonderful blog hosted by Wendy of 1st Unique Gifts to find out what all the other crafters are up to.

On the needles this week: Grandaughters cardi, the black skirt for the exhibition.

Sunday, 25 March 2012

Make the most of it...this could be Summer!!

Well, hasn't it been a gorgeous week, a bit chilly in the mornings here in Yorkshire with a bit of mist but once the sun came out.. Wow!!  We are making the most of it, this could be Summer.  Remember a few years ago when Easter was really hot then it rained till September.

Been out in the garden planting but making sure everything is well covered, we have been known to have frost in June up here.

The decorating is nearly finished and we have the carpet fitters in on Thursday.

Not much knitting done this week I'm afraid although the yarn has arrived for the Grandaughters cardigan.  I chose a baby/toddler acrylic, very soft and not a bit itchy, although it does look woolly.  I think I've covered all the requirements set out.

Mum's cardigan is coming on well though.  Done the sleeves, one front and I'm half way up the back, hoping to have it finished for when I visit her on Tuesday will take pics and post them.

I would like to say a very big thankyou to everyone who left comments, they really are appreciated.  I am still learning with the blogging and hopefully will be able to leave comments on your blogs very soon.

Lastly, please pop over to Handmade Monday where you will find some lovely blogs, lots of inspiration and some wonderful crafters.

Happy knitting!!

Monday, 19 March 2012

Time for a change

We have recently had some work done on the house.  A new log burner fitted which now runs all the central heating, so the upstairs is now cosy and warm (I don't need an extra cardi on in the craft room now), and solar panels, which we are hoping will save money in the future.  

The OH has now decided that he will decorate, now it's not often he makes decisions all by himself so this came as a bit of a shock.  Over the past week we have chosen paint and decorated the hall, stairs and landing.  Chosen a new carpet for the living room, purchased paint and collected boxes to pack 'stuff' in, and this morning while passing the carpet store a new carpet for the hall, stairs and landing!!  I am that overwhelmed I have come out in hives, which only usually happens in times of great stress or when I have sat out in the sun too long.  As it is not summer, I am assuming my body just can't cope with all this change.  I just keep patting my own hand and telling myself everything will soon be back to normal, when he can't make up his mind what he wants for dinner.

Mothers Day was just lovely, sparkly earings from my daughter, flowers from my eldest son, and a wonderful phone call from my youngest son who lives in Germany.

Anyways back to the knitting, the merino booties are done.




As is the 3ply vintage baby dress.

 

 The skirt for the exhibition is still on the needles, being black it does strain the eyes a tadge, so can only be worked on for a hour or so a day.


On the needles this week:  a cardigan for my Mum, and I have to source some yarn for my Grandaughter a cardigan (which must be woolly but not itchy, and she has drawn the design for me with all measurements!).


Oh nearly forgot we also have 12 eggs in the incubator which are due to hatch, so himself informs me, on Easter Sunday. Oh happy days.


Just keep calm and carry on knitting.  Please pop over to Handmade Monday the wonderful blog by Wendy at www.1stuniquegifts.co.uk/blog/ 



























 

Monday, 12 March 2012

Last minute Mother's Day Gift

The weather here in Yorkshire has been beautiful over the last couple of days, spring is certainly in the air.  Yesterday I went for a lovely walk in our local park, forgot the camera unfortunately, but everything is waking up from its long winter sleep.  I saw a bright yellow butterfly (at least I think it was a butterfly it seemed a bit large for a moth), lots of ladybirds and a trio of frogs making their way to the pond.  It really is a lovely park, with lots of ancient woodland.  I think I will take photos and do a whole post about it.

Mother's Day for me is the first real celebration of spring a time for loving, giving and remembering. I was reading about Mother's Day and the tradition of girls in service making Simnell cake to take home, and I got to wondering if my Nan who was in service from the age of 14 made one for her Mum.

This week I made this iphone/ipod touch cover which I thought I would share with you, it will make a nice gift for Mother's Day or to make for charity sales.

 I used:

Approx: 30g of Sublime Soya Cotton Double Knit in 2 colours or any Double Knit yarn
A pair of 3 3/4mm needles
Approx: 1/2 metre of ribbon
A tapestry needle with a big eye for sewing up and a small safety pin to thread ribbon through.

Special Abbreviation:  Make star = p3tog leaving all sts on the needle, yarn over, purl same sts together again and slip all 3 off needle.

Cast on 37sts
Row1: Using main colour knit.
Row2: Using main colour p1, (make star, p1) to end of row.
Row3: Using contrast colour knit.
Row4: Using contrast colour p3, make star, (p1,make star) to last 3sts p3.

Work the last 4 rows 7 times in all, carry each colour up the side of your work when not in use.

Using the main colour work 8 rows in st.st. (knit 1 row, purl 1 row).
Cast off.

To make up: Fold over the st.st.to the wrong side and slip stitch to the first row of st.st.
Fold the work right sides together and sew along the bottom and up the side leaving the st.st. open to thread the ribbon through.

Please pop over to Handmade Monday  a lovely blog by Wendy of 1st Unique Gifts there you will find lots of links to some wonderful crafters.


On the needles this week:  a pair of merino bootees, a vintage baby dress in 3ply and a ladies black pleated skirt for an exhibition.  Busy, busy!! Happy knitting.

Sunday, 4 March 2012

Stash Busters

While continuing the great clear out, (and there are a lot of happy bunnies on ebay), there were a lot of odd balls of yarn.
Mmm.... thought I, what can I do with this lot.  Cushions were the answer.

I see a little 12" or 30cm square cushion the ideal 'blank canvas' for trying out new techniques, new stitch patterns or just to play.  

So, if I can find out how to upload pictures there should be some below.





This one is just 2 x 50g balls of Sirdar Crofter DK worked in a 4 knit 4 purl basketweave pattern, pretty effective don't you think?




  This is just 2 balls of acrylic DK, the pattern is created by slipping stitches, so you are only working with one colour at a time, and no stranding across the back.  It works up as quite a thick fabric and only took about 150g of yarn.