Tunisian Cluster Mittens

Hello all,

Happy days, Inside Crochet have been so kind and printed my pattern!!!!! Please check it out!!!!

This piece is a pair of Tunisian Cluster Mittens. This piece came about as I played with a new stitch pattern I had found. Once I had made head and tails of it and created the original sample I sent a picture to Rhian Drinkwater and she loved the design. Rhian suggested using the beautiful MillaMia Naturally Soft Merino. This has to be one of the most beautiful and soft yarns that I have ever worked with. I wanted a piece that would test Tunisian crocheter but the pattern needed to be relaxing. This stitch was perfect as it is quite repetitive and builds up quickly. I created the piece and sent it off and it is lovely to see how the piece has been published in the magazine. I was also touched to see a mention on the editors page.

I have a couple more patterns on their way soon and I have just been commissioned for a project next year. It is all very exciting!!!!!

I have started the Christmas presents (I know Christmas crafting already!!!!).....I am designing original pieces for my friends and family and hope that they enjoy them. In addition to this, I have my ticket ready for the Hobbycraft and Christmas craft show at the NEC. I love this show as there is a good range of craft items to buy and also there is a little Christmas Market to look at too. I am heading there on 6th November!!! I'll be there with my knitting buddy Becky and I hope to see you there. 

I am proud to announce that I will be going on my first holiday with my new man!!!!!. We decided to go to Scotland.....which I only recently remembered that it is freezing. This was a perfect reason to knit a new hat. As we are planning to go on hikes I did not want to get lost in the dark so I felt it was a good time to us reflective yarn. I made an order to Wool Warehouse and was sent (very quickly) Schachenmayr Lumio. I am a proud owner of a rib stitch hat.....with a massive pom pom!!!!!!! I am looking forward to showing this piece off and also I hopefully will not get lost with my shiny hat. 

Right, lets get back to it!!!!

Until next time

Happy crafting

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SUP and commissions

Hello all, 

It has been a busy few weeks. I have finally decorated my bedrooms. I have learnt the beauty of wallpapering.......or messy I am with the paste. I have also realised that I should not be left alone to paint......At one point I head butted the freshly painted wall and walked around with a purple fringe most of the day. My poor white carpet has also suffered as it is now decorated with purple splodges of paint......I guess this is an excuse to get new carpets. 

I have finished my run of commissions for the magazines so hopefully they will be released within the next couple of months. My Ravelry and Love Knitting shop also appear to be doing well. Please do have a look if you're able.

My knitting buddy Becky and I recently went to Fibre East. It was a great show and there was such a variety of hand dyed yarn. Becky made a good purchase of hand dyed white yarn with colourful specks through it. It has since become a beautiful unicorn!!!!

I can't believe it's already September so I will need to start thinking about Christmas projects....maybe this year I wont make anything too complex......oh dear. 

I have attempted to SUP (stand up paddle boarding) this was good fun!!!! It is quite difficult to stand up on the board but I was able to. I tried to reverse the board but failed epic-ally and fell in the sea........twice. I would say it is worth doing it!!!!!

I'm off on holiday soon and I will be crocheting on the beach....hopefully......it will be a nice break ..........with an attempt at surfing. 

right time to start planning for Christmas....

until next time 

Happy crafting

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True Love and Zorbing

Hello all,

It has been a busy few weeks. I have commissions to work on for Inside Crochet and the knitting collections which is exciting!!!!

I have also been zorbing. It was a lot of fun but I do not recommend doing it on a hot day!!! I went with my knitting buddy Becky and we tried to zorb on the water to begin with. This was an epic fail as we could not even stand up!!!........We decided to instead to lie in the ball and sunbathe. After this we were part of an it's a knock out round....Again I spent most of the time on the floor.......I couldn't keep stood up. Finally we did a maze where we raced against each other. As it was so hot it was like being stuck in a green house....we quickly went from running to walking. It is a good experience but I don't think I need to do it again lol. 

I went to Yarningham which was amazing.It was lovely to attend a local yarn festival which has local suppliers. I found a great stall which provided me with buttons needed for a commission I am working on. They had a lovely range and I suggest looking at their supplies. 

I attended a steeking workshop ran by Ann Kingstone. She was a lovely teacher and had really built my confidence in this area. It felt a bit scare cutting up the knitted samples I created but using the methods used in this workshop really made me want to take on a steeking pattern. 

I have created a new pattern....I feel it is a symbol of true love. This happy couple is a banana called Bernard and a sausage called Selina. This crazy combination came about as my boyfriend gave me the affectionate pet name....sausage........I went with my knitting buddy Becky it was an Andy Warhol exhibition at the Ashmolean museum in Oxford. Amongst the pictures there was one that I felt impacted me greatly. It was a picture of a sausage and a banana.....From that day I decided it was fair that if I was to called sausage he would be called banana. To commemorate this special moment, I made a pattern for a crocheted sausage and banana. The pattern is available on Love Knitting and Ravelry.

I am off to Fibre East on Sunday and I can't wait!! I will fill you in on all the lovely things I buy.

Until next time

Happy crafting 

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Baby card and wakeboarding

Hello all,

I hope you are all enjoying the gorgeous weather 

This is the perfect excuse to sit outside and knit away the hours whilst topping up your tan. 

Hopefully you have had a look at The Knitting collection 2 to see my latest published patterns. I have been working on a baby card for a colleague at work. The idea that they had was to have mini baby garments placed onto a washing line. I looked for inspiration from my Christmas stocking bunting to create little booties. I had a play around and created a teeny tiny pair booties (they are very sweet). I have created a small grow and a nappy.  I am in the process of getting the pattern checked and hopefully it'll be posted on Ravelry and Love Knitting soon.

I am pressing on with my quirky thirty list. I have actually cooked with rhubarb for the first time!!! I have avoided this for years as I remember being terrified of it as a child. I remember being told you could be poisoned by rhurbarb......as I did not know what could cause the damage...i was too nervous to eat it. I wondered why so many people would risk eating it. I was with Hannah and successfully (and safely) made a delicious rhubarb crumble. 

The next thing I have done is gone wakeboarding!! You are on a board that you are strapped to (bit like a snowboard) and you hold onto a cable. You are then pulled through the water. I found it to be an amazing experience and I really enjoyed it. I did this at Chase water and the staff were so friendly there. I would definitely recommend it!!!!

I have no idea where I have found this but I am currently reading a knitting murder mystery. Oh yes, such a thing exists. The author is Maggie Sefton and she has a series of these books. I am hoping to slowly pick them up to enjoy. I am not too far into my book but I am enjoying 'Knit One, Kill Two'......

Right, back to it 

Until next time

Happy crafting. 

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The Knitting Collection two

Hello All,

I hope you are all well.

 Nigel Cat is now available on Ravelry and Love Knitting (Yay!!) please check out my designs for more. I am also proud to announce that I have two patterns published in The Knitting Collection Two. 

The first design is titled 'Big, Bold and Beautiful' which is a summery tea cosy. I developed this concept with Claire Montgomerie. I wanted to design a project that used a seed stitch, I had previously designed a seed stitch hat (which is available on Ravelry and Love Kniting by the way). Claire selected some beautiful summery colours to create this tea cosy. The yarn used was chunky King Cole yarn which was soo bright and soft to the touch. The cosy is made in 2 halves and then sewn together at the end. I like how the white row splits each row of colour change. There were quite a few ideas on how to top the cosy. I originally tired a flower but Claire and I decided to use a fun pom pom instead. Make it today and please send me any projects as I would love to see it. 

The second pattern in the collection is 'Take Away A Piece of Summer'. Claire again selected the lovely yarn for this project. It was Stylecraft's Special DK. the colours were vibrant and the yarn worked well in showing the texture of the stitch. The project involved a double moss stitch but it was also made in the round. It was a good challenge to work on this project. I think the pattern is sweet and also quick and easy to make. 

I have ticked another thing off my Quirky thirty List!! I attempted to make pottery. The workshop was at Whichford Pottery and the day was quite a laugh. I had a go at throwing, which is playing on the pottery wheel. I found it OK to start with but attempting to make a leveled pot at the end was extremely challenging. I succeeded in making a few wonky pots....I also want to add that my experience was nothing like the scene from Ghost......The second half of the day was making free form items out of clay. I was not too sure what to make so I I was lucky to have the opportunity to press a baby chick. I will post up a picture if they survive the Kiln.....fingers crossed....

Right back to my latest commission.

Until next time

Happy crafting. 

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Nigel Cat

Hello All,

I am beginning to get my Crojo back again. A crojo your knitting or crochet mojo (haha did you see what I did there). My need for knitspiration was great so I decided to go to my local knitting group. 

I really enjoyed the Stitch and Sip session at Stitch Solihull. It takes place on a Saturday morning 11am-1pm and there are a lovely group of people who attend. They are all so friendly and welcoming and willing to give advice on your current project. There is also a fab selection of drinks and teas. After being surrounded by so many lovely projects, my Crojo instantly returned. 

I was asked to create a cat and this is what I have been working upon. I decided I wanted it to be bright in colour so chose the scrumptious Stylecraft Jaffa. The yarn is acrylic and soft which was purrfect for this project. I managed to buy this lovely yarn and the toy stuffing needed from Christines yarn shop.

I recalled how much I did not enjoy making the head and the body separately and then sew them together. For my design I decided to make the head and body in one piece. I wanted the cat to be in a sitting position and so made the legs to suit this pose. After some work, Nigel cat was born. I'm just finishing off the pattern typing and it'll soon be available on Ravelry and Love Knitting. 

Hopefully on Friday 13th May a bookazine that I am featured in will be released.....more on that next time. 

I am officially 30 (I am slowly accepting this) and I have completed 2 tasks on my Quirky Thirty List. The first was playing the lottery. I have never brought a lottery ticket until now and I have come to conclude that it is a waste of money as I only got one number !!!! bbbboooooo. I'll have to keep saving to get my knitting shop in the future......

The second thing on my list was to attend a Drum and Bounce class with my friend Bithiah. The class is an aerobics session which takes place to a drum and bass sound track......It was really tough and I thought I was going to collapse at times. I am also in extraordinary pain today......However, despite this it was such a great laugh, I'd recommend that you have a go. 

Right back to the next project

until next time

Happy crafting

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Skiing and Spas

Hello all,

This is the month where I turn 30 (I cant believe it!!!). I have been keeping myself occupied by challenging myself to do things that have previously scared me. I have also been knitting. 

So far out of the two things I have tried,.....50% of them I already regret. I have now got quite obsessed with Groupon and found a deal to try skiing. It was at the Snowdome and the idea of cruising down the slopes seemed extremely appealing. Also the idea of knitting away in a snowy log cabin by a log fire sounded brilliant. However, the reality was completely different. I was unable to stand still so would automatically fall down the slope....and yes I mean literally falling......On one occasion I did this ssoo well I managed to ski down the slope on my shoulder!!! I really felt for the instructor as on the few occasions I made it down the slope I had to grab her legs, arms and her waist.......I feel that skiing was not my calling....

The second activity that I have taken part in was going to a spa. I made a slight error in that I booked myself in for a deep tissue massage. I had never had a massage before and expected a lovely relaxing session. However, I ended up leaving feeling battered and bruised......although I felt much better the next day. I also indulged in a facial and a body wrap, which was amazing!!!! I feel I am a spa girl and could happy image myself knitting away at a spa. 

The spa was also a lovely treat as my best girlfriends joined me in celebration of my birthday, I received so many lovely presents but the one very relevant to this blog was from my knitting buddy in crime. Becky presented me with a great top that I am sure to wear to all future knitting shows :-)

The next thing on my list to do is a pottery course....how wrong could that go....:-s

until next time

Happy crafting 

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Well....I managed to loose a month

Hello all,

The last month has flown by in a blink of an eye an I have no idea what's happened. I hope you are all well and enjoyed your Easter. I have my chocolate to munch through whilst I'm knitting!!!

One of the main reasons that I have lost a month was that I have been working on a commission with quite a short deadline. It's been very exciting working on these projects and hopefully you will be able to see them in May. It's been so lovely to have projects to get my teeth into and I feel full of knitspiration.

I have been playing with different knitting stitches and to expand my skill set. One stitch that I love is a rice stitch. This involves having a row with an odd number of stitches. The combination of stitches are P1, Ktbl to the end but ending with a P1. The next row is a knit row then the two rows are repeated. I love the texture created by this stitch and it is visually appealing. Check out my shops on Ravelry and Love Knitting for my Rice Stitch hat.

I have started looking into different knitting events taking place over the country. Some that I have my eyes on are Fibre East and London's Yarn Crawl. Last year, my knitting buddy Becky, and I went to Fibre East and were impressed with the range of stalls. fingers crossed she can join me again. The Yarn Crawl is an equivalent of a pub crawl. It involves travelling around yarn stores around London. I am hoping this is something that I can get involved in.......I suppose I should start saving my cash now :-\

Love your Yarn Shop day is coming up soon. It's worth looking into what events are taking place at your local yarn shop and supporting them. 

I have a new project under way. I have been requested to create a cat....hopefully when I work out how to make this I will post a piccy. 

Right back to the projects 

Until next time

Happy crafting 

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Double the fun!!!

Hello all, 

I have completed my piggies order. The patterns are from one of my favorite knitting designers called Anna Hrachovec. Her quirky designs are so fun to make up and absolutely adorable. This pattern was from her first book called Mochimochiland. The second piggy has a mighty fine Mohawk going on. It was a great pattern as it was worked in rib stitch and then turned inside out. The little piggies have been sent to their new home and they have been well received :-)

I have started to work on a design for a cushion. I have returned to Tunisian crochet and I am working with West Yorkshire Spinners Yarn. I have found a basket weave stitch which I think would make an interesting design. I quite like the textures created. I will post a picture when I have a completed sample. 

I am approaching my 30's and have decided to make a list of things that I would like to do. This list includes things like a pottery course and a life drawing class......One item is attempt to break a world record. I haven't got to far into researching something that fits my talents (such as eating a lot of food) However, on Facebook I have found a knitting related one I  could join in with. Occ Barton On Humber are a group that create shoe boxes full of lovely things to send to different countries. One thing they are requesting are for knitters to knit teddy bear hand puppets. They are hoping to have the record for having the longest number of knitted bears in a line. This is a way I could tick this item off my list. If you are also interested, check out their Facebook page for more details.

Right, back to it :-)

Until next time

Happy crafting. 

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A Pig with a Wig

Hello all,

I hope you are well. Perhaps you are knitting away for a loved one for valentines day or something to keep you warm........I am working on my pigs with wigs (yay)

I have completed one of my two orders and I love it to bits. The patterns are from one of my favourite knitting designers called Anna Hrachovec. Her quirky designs are so fun to make up and absolutely adorable. This pattern was from her first book called Mochimochiland. It was due to this book I had to learn how to knit in the round immediately as I was so excited to make up the cute creatures. 

The first piggy is completed with a bob style wig. I think it suits him very well and I hope he will be well loved in his new home. The second pig will hopefully have a Mohawk style wig to show off to his piggy friends. 

I am still to complete my Holly Berry socks which was a pattern from West Yorkshire Spinners. I went to Stitch Solihull where the wonderful Anna helped me with the toe up sock cast on......the problem was I went home and accidentally pulled all of the stitches off (ooopphhh) I may need to have another visit soon..... 

I have finally uploaded some new patterns to Ravelry and Love Knitting (yay!!!) My newer patterns include the Tunisian Lace Lampshade, Tunisian Cross Stitch Cowl and Geo Cushion which have previously been featured in Inside Crochet. If you get the chance, please check it out.

Right I'm off to work on a Mohawk....never thought I'd say that sentence......

Until next time

Happy crafting. 

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New Year, New Start

Hello all,

A bit delayed but Happy New Year to you all. Christmas was wonderful as the family came over and their knitted gifts were much appreciated. 

I had been quite busy before Christmas to make up the 7 gifts for my family.I made my brother and brother in law gloves and I also made my sister a fantastic pair of gloves. I found the pattern for free on Ravelry. The pattern was made by Crystal Baer and they are titled Alice's Queen of Hearts Gloves. They were based on a deck of cards and one was mainly red and the other was black. They were fun to make and I felt the pattern worked extremely well. I would recommend this design. 

My sister and sister in law were knitted chunky slipper socks using a Toft pattern. The yarn used was Rico Creative Bonbon Super Chunky Multi yarn which was gorgeous and colourful which went down well. I brought it from Guthrie and Ghani and I would recommend the yarn for any chunky project. My nephew also loved his T-Rex which was made from a Toft pattern. He chased the family around the house and roared in our faces many times......... 

As you may recall, I hunted down all of the Shaun the Sheep sculptures around London and Bristol. As my father joined me on my adventure, I thought he deserved a permanent reminder of the fun we had so I knitted him a Shaun the Sheep to treasure....I'm not quite sure he saw it that way.......

I have had a request to knit a Pig with a Wig!!!!! I had previously made this item for my cousin and I have been requested to knit up 2 more. I enjoyed making it previously and it the pattern is from a knitting designer I love called Anna Hrachovec. She has released a number of knitted book under the Mochimochi series. The designs are quirky and sweet and I have admired them for years. So to have the opportunity to make an item from her pattern is amazing. check out her website for more on Anna and her patterns. I will post them when I have finished working on the items.

Right I am off to continue to making up these little piggies,,,,eeekkkkk

Until next time

Happy crafting. 

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