Search for needles for Mum

Mum has heard about some birch needles that are decorated, so my current mission is to find out who sells them, and she'll probably get at least one pair for her birthday.
I've just seen a gadget to put your ball of wool onto so that it unwinds as you knit.  I think it cost around £30.  That's a little expensive, so if you want to use one of those gadgets but are on a budget there's a simple answer.  You know those things designed to put kitchen roll on?  Well, they fit the bill perfectly.  I bought myself one when knitting with some "doughnut" balls of wool.  (you know the ones, they make the wool look lovely and squishy, but get in a tangle if you aren't careful, it was just perfect for those.
I have been knitting etc, just have been without my pc for the best part of four weeks.

A pair of hats

Well, not a matching pair.

 This little lovely is a baby hat from Itty Bitty Hats.  I did want to knit it, but I will say that sewing all the "rosebuds" on the crown make the crown of the hat quite stiff and I am not so sure if it will be comfortable to wear.  After all, to me stiffness = uncomfortable.  I do like how it looks though.

This other hat is a beanie hat made in Aran weight wool.  It's very comfortable and snug.  Perhaps I should make lots of thick winter weight woollies and then the weather might warm up a little?

Busy little fingers

I've been spending quite a bit of time knitting lately.  It's a relaxing thing to do especially when you've been told to rest by the doctor.  Below are photos of what I have been making.

 Above is a hat in aran weight wool for an adult, it was for me, but I'm not so sure it suits me, so it's looking for a good home.  The fingerless gloves are made with the same sock yarn as the shawlette of the previous post and will be staying with it.  I think I know who to gift them to.

 This shawlette is for me, it is in James C Brett's Monsoon aran weight.  I love knitting with this yarn as it has a very soft handle to it. The close up below is so you can see the daisy pattern and the upper part. I enjoyed making this and the edging was added in a very unusual way.  The pattern is from a Simply Knitting magazine.

 

This little baby coat and hat are to go with the blanket I made last year, and my younger son's girlfriend is going to give them to her friend who has recently had a baby.   I might just make a hat from the Itty Bitty Hat book as well for this particular baby.  This is a second appearance of this pattern as I made it in a blue blend for a colleague, at least three years back now.
Perhaps it's time I made myself something major to wear now, I am working on a cardigan, but have changed the pattern panel as the one in the magazine wasn't working out correctly.  (The number of stitches kept getting more, understandable as it calls for two stitches to be made, but only one taken away.)

Had to order some wool

Yes....I know I wasn't going to buy any before July!   But......I started to make a shawlette, thinking I had two balls of the same yarn with which to make. And..........in artificial light it looked like I did have..........but in real daylight, I'm afraid it was obvious I had two different shades, and as the wool is variegated...similar to Noro dyeing, that I had to buy another ball of the same shade.
I tried to be good and only get the one, but the market where I got it from no longer stock the wool, because the customers will not pay the price asked for it.  Also, the balls are of the loosely wound type and tend to start to fall apart if handled too much.
So I went online to get a second ball of James C Brett's Monsoon.  And while I was there I found Passion also by James C Brett in a beautiful colourway. Passion is a chunky yarn, whilst Monsoon is an Aran weight.  I seriously can't see why this yarn is not more popular. It is beautifully soft to handle. Knits up lovely and washes well, with no pilling. If you knit with cheaper yarns you'll get cheaper results.  All acrylic looks good for maybe a season, two if you are lucky. And what is the point of spending your time and love in knitting a garment in inferior yarn, just for it to turn ugly with washing?
I don't hate acrylic in yarn, just think that it should not be used to knit that special garment.
Anyway, confession over. I should soon be able to finish the shawlette, and post it here so that you can see it.

First finish of 2013

 As you can see my first make/finish of 2013 is a shawlette.  On the pattern picture it is worn with the point at the front as a scarf.  I used a sock yarn for it and think perhaps it should be knitted with a slightly thicker gauge yarn.  However, I think it's pretty.  No home as yet, but as I am going to try to knit some gifts for next Yule....I might not say who the finished objects are for. The picture does look as if it is quite big, but it really is just a delicate bit of froth.

Crafty aims for 2013

I'm going to try to make serious dents in my fabric and wool stash, even trying not to buy any of either, for at least the first six months of the year.
There's a patchwork quilt I have all the fabric for and started, but ground to a stop, make a bit more of that up, perhaps even finish it might be a goal, but definitely  do some more.
I've long thought I would like to do some entrelac knitting, go that can go on my list.
I'm enjoying making my own bread, and like the varieties I can create, so that can join the list, too.

This one is probably a necessity.  I think the kitchen is long overdue a re-paint.  Peach/apricot I think, with white wood work, and try to get a kitchen door.

There, I don't think those goals are too bad, they are achievable, and require me spending time doing things, which will keep me distracted from being on my own.

I'd love 2013 to bring along a "Mr Right", but I'm not holding my breath.

I think I should also try to finish the "Tropical Waterline" cross stitch that I started many years ago, and the Lakeland view long stitch that I bought for Mum, but was too fiddly for her to do.

Pressies finished

I did finish the things I wanted to get done for Xmas.
I made another jumper for Edwin, and a scarf for John, Sam's partner.
Unfortunately, I didn't take photos.
:(
Ah! Well!
Have decided, if I want to give knitted gifts next Yule, I am going to have to start making some now and wrap them and put them away.

I have made sweet chilli sausage rolls again this year, and again, they were well received and demolished in record time.