Operation FO

In the past week, I have finished two long-standing WIPs (works in progress). One is a secret, but I can share the other: socks for the Marie Curie sock quest. The socks will be going to a patient at a Marie Curie centre over the Christmas period.* I chose to knit UK size 12 socks as the organiser, Sarah, said that they don't usually get many socks in the bigger sizes. There were times when these socks felt never-ending, but over the past week, I've made a proper effort to get them off the needles, and the feeling of finishing something is lovely!

I considered immediately casting on a new pair of socks - I have some Christmas sock yarn I am itching to cast on - but rather than immediately rushing to my stash to locate the yarn, I have made the decision to work on some WIPs instead.** 

 

My current WIP list is as follows:

• Bunny blanket for my niece: I'm about halfway 
• Mini festive jumper decorations: Just initials and sewing up to go 
• Vinterskov sweater: I've done two thirds of the body

While it would be unrealistic to say I am going to finish these before casting on anything new, I think I can make a decent dent in the WIP pile before the end of the month if I focus on these projects rather than starting lots of new ones. I'll report back at the end of the month and let you know how I'm getting on. Wouldn't it be lovely if I had the decorations and the blanket done and I was on the yoke of the sweater (after all, aren't sleeves just larger versions of socks?)?

Do you have a pile of WIPs that could do with some work, or are you a one-project-at-a-time person?

 

********

 

My Festive Cheer KAL is running in my Ravelry group*** and on Instagram until the end of November, If you have festive knitting that you're working on, whether it's decorations or gifts, it would be lovely if you could join in the fun. Full details can be found here.

* Details of Marie Curie sock quest 2018 can be found here.

** Obviously my sock needles won't be empty for too long. Socks are such a lovely portable project, and are great for knitting while watching TV or while reading.

 

*** You need to be signed in to Ravelry for this link to work. Membership is free.

Blanket-Along update: halfway!

We are now a little over halfway through the Blanket-Along that I am running in my Ravelry group,* so I thought I would give you an update on how I'm getting on with my projects.

First up we have the rainbow crochet blanket that I was working on. And it is finished! I used the Beatrice pattern by Little Doolally that I have used before and really enjoyed both times. Crochet is great for blankets as it grows so quickly. I actually managed to finish this one ahead of time as my friend's baby isn't due until July. I enjoyed working on this blanket in this colourway so much that I have already planned a second blanket project using the leftovers, but this time I'll be using a clean grey (Stylecraft Special DK in Silver) as the neutral. I can't wait to get started on this project as the grey really makes the rainbow colours pop. I'm thinking about using another of Little Dolally's patterns as I enjoyed the first so much, but I need to check that I'll have enough yarn first, otherwise it'll be another Beatrice.

The second Blanket-Along project is a second Peter Rabbit blanket in a slightly different colourway to the first. I finally got round to casting this on over the early May Bank Holiday weekend. I'm not sure that casting on a chunky-weight blanket on one of the hottest days of the year was necessarily a wise decision, and I only did the first border before declaring it too hot and putting it to one side in favour of a much lighter weight project. But as ever, once something is on the needles it does grow faster, and I have been back to it. I have now completed about half of the first row of bunnies, and really need to get a move on as its recipient will be here pretty soon!

There is still plenty of time to join in the Blanket-Along. The chatter thread has been excellent inspiration, and we're all doing a great job of cheering each other along. I'll be drawing prize winners from both the chatter and FO threads, so there's no pressure to finish your project - feel free to pop across, say hello and share what blanket you're working on.

Happy knitting!

*For full details, read this post. My Ravelry group can be found here; you will have to be a member of Ravelry to access this, membership is free.

All the cast-ons!

It's a bank holiday in the U.K. today, and, somewhat unusually, gloriously sunny! It's also the start of my Marathon Sock KAL*, so I'm going to make an effort to cast on some new socks today. There are three major options: long-anticipated socks for my husband (he has rather large feet, so the project will be a long one), or sparkly socks for me, or stripy socks for me (both in yarns that have been wound for ages, but never quite made it to the needles). Or maybe all three...

Three projects lined up, all ready to go

Socks that might take a while...

Sparkly firework yarn

Pastel stripes with contrast heels, cuffs and toes

I had originally made the KAL a WIP-free zone, but decided to add a warm-up thread for those who wanted to get a few things finished before casting on something new.** I have more than one or two sock WIPs lying about, so in the past week I have finished one pair of socks and started the second sock on my long-abandoned Christmas Sockalong socks that I started last November. I have no idea why the festive socks got abandoned, the yarn is lovely and the micro-stripes make for an enjoyable project. By the end of the week I think I might actually have salvaged some sock needles!

Starlight express socks!

Christmas in May...

I have one other cast-on planned for today: a baby blanket for a friend. It'll be a second Peter Rabbit blanket, knitted in bright pink chunky yarn, so good and quick once I get started. Today might not be the best day to cast on a chunky weight project as it is rather warm, but the sooner I start, the sooner I'll finish. This blanket will be my big project for my Blanket Along.***

The original blanket

New colours!

If you want me today, you'll find me outside, knitting in hand, enjoying the sunshine! Happy knitting!

*For more details on that, read this post. The Ravelry thread is lovely and busy!

**Full details can be found in the Ravelry thread. To be eligible, WIPs much have been cast on before May 1st 2018; the FO thread will close early on June 1st 2018. To access the thread, you need to be a member on Ravelry; membership is free.

***Another KAL I am currently hosting in my Ravelry group. The thread isn't as busy as the Sock Marathon thread, but there are plenty of inspiring projects, and you can enter with WIPs if you want a push to get something finished. Again you must be a member of Ravelry to join in.

New designs: Peter Rabbit blanket and cushion

I'm launching two new patterns today: the Peter Rabbit blanket and cushion. These patterns are perfect for spring and they're both knitted in chunky weight yarn, so you should be able to knit them up in time to give as gifts for any new babies that arrive before the summer. And you can alter the background colour so that the set fits in whatever the colour scheme of your nursery.

The Peter Rabbit blanket features nine bunny rabbits arranged across a square in three rows. The first and last rows face left, while the central row faces right. The blanket is worked from the bottom up with the bunnies added using the intarsia technique. A moss stitch border is worked at the same time as the main body of the blanket, thus minimal finishing is required.

The Peter Rabbit cushion is a much smaller project, featuring a single bunny at its centre. The pillow is fastened with four buttons across the back and is designed to fit a 41 cm [16 in] square pillow with a little negative ease to ensure a nice plump pillow. The pillow cover is worked flat in one piece, starting in the middle of the back with a 2 x 2 rib buttonband, then the first half of the back, the front and the second half of the back are worked in stockinette stitch, and finally the 2 x 2 rib buttonhole band is worked. The pillow cover is seamed down the side edges using mattress stitch.

The large blocks of colour make these items a good project for someone who is new to colourwork. Instructions for the intarsia section(s) are provided as both charts and written instructions.

The samples are knitted in Hayfield Baby Chunky,* a super-soft acrylic/nylon blend, and the tails are knitted using Sirdar Snuggly Snowflake,* a textured polyester yarn, which adds a little extra texture. Both yarns are easy care, making them perfect for babies and new parents alike.

From now until 11.59pm GMT Thursday 22nd March you can use the code SPRING when buying either of the patterns to get 25% off.

These patterns are included in the ongoing 4 for 3 offer in my Ravelry store; you can take advantage of this offer by adding any four individual patterns to your Ravelry basket and the cheapest will be free. Discount will be deducted automatically when you check out.**

*Affiliate link.

**Remember that only one offer can be applied to a basket.

Yarn Along: Hurry up Spring!

The past two weeks have been all about enjoying half term with the kids, and watching way too much of the Winter Olympics! Half term was the week before last and was lovely. We deliberately made it very relaxed, staying local and enjoying walks in the sunshine and family time. Handily the holidays coincided with the Winter Olympics; I never really watch sports, but love both the Olympics and Winter Olympics. The Winter session is my favourite, especially the sliding and snowboarding events. I've really enjoyed watching everything over the past couple of weeks and might be at a bit of a loss for things to watch in the next few days!

The weather this month has been a total mixed bag. We've had glorious sunshine, fog, freezing conditions, sleet, snow and ice. And there's more of the cold stuff to come. I cannot wait for spring to properly take hold. I did make the most of a cold but sunny day this week by photographing a big pile of samples ready for their patterns to be released over the next few months (the pattern shown is my Peter Rabbit cushion, which will be available in my Ravelry store soon. If you want to get notified when it’s released, sign up to my newsletter via the link in the sidebar).

Work has gone from being relatively quiet to very busy suddenly, with a big new batch of exciting commissions, so my current non-work projects are simple ones. The latest issue of Knit Now magazine came with a kit for a cute bunny, which my daughter immediately claimed for herself. I knitted most of it last weekend and hope to finish it tonight.

Yesterday saw a large yarn delivery, so my other current project is a baby blanket for a friend's baby that is due in the summer. I've gone for a crochet pattern I've done before and a seven-colour rainbow, which is proving to be a lovely cheerful project.

I've still not really settled on a good book at the minute. I'm reading The Note, but it's dragging and I want to be done with it soon. It could really have done with a heavy edit to cut out one of the extra story threads... I picked up the latest issue of The Simple Things magazine, which I've been reading when I've been out and about waiting for other things. Sometimes it turns out I only really want to focus on magazine article length reads.

Linking up with Ginny for Yarn Along.

New designs: I Like Knitting magazine, April 2017

This week's new patterns are all about the bunnies! The April issue of I Like Knitting magazine has a section called Some Bunny Loves You, which includes several patterns featuring Bunny motifs, perfect for spring.

First up we have my Peter Rabbit Pillow and Blanket set. 

The Peter Rabbit Pillow and Blanket feature the same motif: a rabbit silhouette with a fluffy tail. Both designs are knitted using the intarsia technique on a stocking stitch background, and would make a perfect nursery set.

The designs are knitted in chunky weight yarn (Hayfield Baby Chunky and Sirdar Snowflake Chunky) so are quick to knit. The set is shown with a pink background, but could be knitted in any colour - I think the bunnies would be perfect on a purple or green background.

And secondly we have my Baby Bunnies Cardigan.

The Baby Bunnies Cardigan features a border of cabled bunnies knitted in stranded colourwork on a background of reverse stocking stitch. The cardigan is knitted in stocking stitch from the top down with a garter stitch border, raglan shoulders and buttons down the front. The pattern is written in sizes 2-10 years, to fit bust sizes 21–28 inches (52.5–70 cm).

The cardigan is knitted in Drops Merino Extra Fine, a DK weight 100% Merino yarn that comes in a huge array of colours and is excellent value.

All the patterns are available in the April 2017 edition of I Like Knitting Magazine, an e-zine that can be accessed either online or via the I Like Knitting website. Subscriptions are available from $19.97.

*This post contains affiliate links for both Love Knitting and I Like Knitting magazine. See the Policies and disclaimers page for more information.*

Want to add these patterns to your Ravelry queue or favourites? Here are the links:

Peter Rabbit Pillow
Peter Rabbit Blanket
Baby Bunnies cardigan
 

All images in this post copyright I Like Knitting magazine.