Feeling Snuggly

So after feeling so totally inspired for some time on the crafty front, the autumnal days and dark wintery evenings have been making me think about knitting again.

So that’s what I’ve been doing... well that and some Christmas crafting planning. I don’t know about anyone else, but whilst I publically curse the fact that there has been Christmas stuff in the shops for the past month, there’s a little bit of me that inwardly leaps for joy at the fact that Christmas is just around the corner! Bit to early for posting about Christmas though so more on that at some other point!

It was mums birthday not too long ago. I spied this gorgeous point 5 Colinette yarn…

and turned it into this snuggly high neck cuff (please excuse the dodgy ‘its me’ shot – wasn't feeling my best on the day of that photo)...

Love LOVE high neck stuff. So simple yet it turns into snuggly loveliness. Perfect for easing me back into the crafty groove.

My Creative Space – cheating slightly...

Photos: Second ever bag, first dress and top

In my creative space this week (today in fact) my blog has turned 2! Who knew! I had a shock when I realised. Saying that I don’t actually count it as a proper blogging birthday, as I didn’t really start blogging in earnest until the start of this year. So, instead of doing a traditional blogger ‘what I’ve learnt/ things I’m proud of’ birthday, I am tenuously using the occasion (and cheating slightly as I'm not going to show any crafting from this week) to share with you some of my earliest crafty/ blogging offerings. These are things so deeply buried that they’ll never see the light of day otherwise.

So here's my first and second bags.The first was made completely off piste and I basically made it up as I went along. The second (pictured above) was slightly more restrained affair and actually used a pattern. It was soooo easy to make that I have now made and given away quite a few!

Theres also my first ever top and first ever dress. I wear them both constantly and they are still holding together which makes me feel quite proud.

Finally, if you want a giggle take a look at my first ever post. I didnt have a clue what to write, and it shows! :-)

To hear from people who are undoubtably showing some more recent creative offerings than I have, pay a visit to Our Creative Space.

My Creative Space – Thrifting and Planning

Without my trusty sewing machine and awaiting new wool, I've not had huge amounts of crafty things to do, so instead I have been scouring local thrift/charity shops to see if there was anything I might be able to use for repurposing...purposes.

I found a couple dresses that looked like good contenders…

 

 Dress no.1

Dress No.2

Now whilst the dress no.1 is just a little bit too ‘busty milk maid’ for me, I just I love love LOVE the embroidery on the bottom.

Goegeous detail isnt it! I'm going to have to find a special project for that one.

As for the other top/dress thing -  i kind of think its...   well...   pretty awful actually!

However, taking aside the fact that I wouldnt ever wear it, I reckon that the pattern itself, is pretty darn AWESOME! Its got something of a vintage sheet or set of curtains about it. Imagine seeing a little flash of that from inside a linen purse or something. Yummy!

Luckily my machine is due back from its spa vacation tomorrow – hurrah!!!  I have all kinds of plans to get it back into the swing of things. Nothing madly inventive, but a few purses (lots of birthdays coming up) and a few phone/camera covers (I got a ‘fun’ camera from Mr T. for my birthday that needs a home!) will do the trick. Plus it’s a bank holiday this weekend so EXTRA sewing time – double bonus!!!


For more creative spaces have a peak at the new Our Creative Spaces page

Work in Progress and Biscotti

Its another lazy Sunday here in Greenwich. I started out by having a shoulder and neck massage in the market (I’d highly recommend the guy with the ponytail if you are ever over this way) which set me up very well for the restful day ahead!

Next I moved on to the biscotti. Amy from Angry Chicken posted about her biscotti recipe the other day so I gave it a whirl.

Its a really simple recipe to follow (I went for the chocolate ones) and the results are lovely. I went for the chocolate ones. Admittedly they could have done with being a touch sweeter, but that was totally my fault for using granulated sugar and not putting as much in as Amy had specified in a bid to make them “healthier”. Why on earth do I bother!?!

Anyway I’d recommend them. The white chocolate and cardamom sound gorgeous too so they’re next on my list of things to bake. I have been enjoying the results with my tea whilst knitting up a storm this afternoon.


Whilst waiting for more stocks of Debbie Bliss to finish off the endless journey that is the creation of my summer shrug, I’m going completely off-piste with the creation of my own pattern. Probably a stupid move for a novice, but I don’t enjoy patterns quite so much! I’m going for a kind of summer vest top, something  this one that I got some time ago...

I’m using a garter eyelet stitch to get lacy/ crocheted look (as I just cant crochet yet) and am kind of making it up as I go along.

So far its quite shlumpy feeling which I am taking to be a good sign. Hopefully I’ll be able to post the results up next week.

My Creative Space - Repurposing

In my creative space this week I’ve been re-purposing in the simplest way possible:

I’ve had a few silk scarves hanging around for a while that I bought in various markets like this one.

I’ve been wanting to do something clothing wise with them for ages, but I hadn’t managed to find any inspiration… until I started knitting my shrug. The pattern is so simple (I am basically knitting a big ol’ square and then sewing it up at each end) that I thought, ‘my scarves are also made from big ol' squares. Surely the same principle would work on them too!'.

So I tried it…

This was the result (forgive the dodgy photo – I just couldn’t get the angle right).
 

What do you reckon? I'll try to get a better picture at some point. It feels like it will be lovely and light to wear on my shoulders in the summer. I now have to get on with converting the rest of the pile!

To see what everyone else is up to this week pay a visit to Kootoyoo.

Clear Blue Skies in London Town

Today has been the most GORGEOUS day in London. Clear blue skies and smell of spring in the air (literally I can smell blossom everywhere).

I made it to the cloth house, and had to try really hard to keep to my shopping list. I could spend an absolute fortune in there if I wasnt careful! Anyway I am very pleased with my purchases. More on that in the week.

For now – the oatmeal cotton wool I mentioned yesterday...

As you can see, it of the Debbie Bliss variety. I just LOVE the colour. It just looks so cool and lovely. I bought a cotton wool rather than a woolly wool to make this shrug for the summer. Its not the most exciting thing to make, but I've never knitted a piece of clothing before so I figured something simple was probably the best way forwards!

I have had to buy some new tools to make my shrug – circular needles! Eeek!

They have taken a bit of getting used to, but I think I’m starting to get the hang of it.

One additional bonus to the day...scones...

...I whipped 'em up in about 20 minutes flat during the rugby. Awesome!

I love Saturdays!