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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http://www.loveknitting.com/catalogsearch/result/?order=relevance&dir=desc&q=sarah+reed

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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http://www.loveknitting.com/catalogsearch/result/?order=relevance&dir=desc&q=sarah+reed

Santa Dash and Crocheting

Hello all,

Not long until Christmas!!!! and I hope that you have all of your knitted gifts ready to give your loved ones. If you haven't (like the rest of the knitting community) I hope your not up too late at night trying to get it done.....remember, you probably never specified which Christmas your loved ones will received their knitted gifts ;-) 

I have completed the Santa Dash !!! It took place on Sunday and I went with my friend Laura. We arrived in Warwick where we were given our Santa Outfits. It was hilarious being dressed up with a mass gathering of Santas. It was at this point I whipped out my yarn, which I had brought from Wool Warehouse. I decided to go for a acrylic yarn so it wouldn't get damaged in the rain! I also went for a chunky yarn so that my scarf would be created much quicker. I used my 10mm crochet hook and began crocheting my scarf whilst completing the Santa Dash. I decided to work 11 trebles on each row and worked on the piece until the 2 balls of yarn ran out. There was a lot of support as we completed the dash and I would do it again!!

I would like to thank Countryside Online, Myton Hospices and Inside Crochet for there support whilst completing the Santa Dash. I would also like to thank Laura as without her, I would have missed this brilliant opportunity, 

 Myton Hospices is a brilliant charity that provides wonderful end of life support. If you have enjoyed my antics and are able to give to a great cause please follow the link to my Just Giving page www.justgiving.com/sarahssantadash2015

I've decorated my house with some of my previous Christmas knits which includes the Christmas stocking bunting and my knitivity. It is also not too ling until I pull out my Christmas Jumper!! I feel my new home is ready for the family to visit so we can celebrate Christmas together. I'm really looking forward to it!!!!

I currently have two patterns in the guide to Crochet volume 5 created by Inside Crochet.. this beautiful bookazine contains 2 of my Tunisian crochet patterns from this year. Please check it out 

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for supporting my work and I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and a happy new year. 

Until 2016

Happy Crafting. 

Sarah x

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Man hat and Santa Dash

Hello all, 

I am happy to announce that the man hat is completed after all of the drama. As I did not have measurements, I felt it was safe to work with a 2 x 2 rib pattern. This would give the hat much give. I used DK weight yarn and cast on 112 stitches. I wanted the stripes to be distinct so felt it was best to change the colour of the yarn every 10 rows. I wanted the hat to be too big so this would allow a length to fold the hat back. This makes sure that the hat would not be too short. After much tea drinking and tv watching, I completed the hat!! I think it's fab but I felt I needed to make it clear where my loyalties are :)

West Yorkshire Spinners have gorgeous Christmas yarn, which I am now the proud owner of. They also have a beautiful sock pattern which I am currently working on. I only happened to find this pattern by going to my local knitting group at Stitch Solihull. The wonderful Anna showed me this pattern and I have fallen in love with it. The pattern has a new challenge for me as it is worked toe up. I will show it off when it is completed :) I found the pattern on the following link http://www.wyspinners.com/patterns/WYS_Holly_Berry_Free%20Pattern.pdf

I have now ordered my yarn for the Santa Dash I am taking part in. This is on the 13th December around Warwick. I will be dressing up with Santa with my friend and completed 2 laps of the park. To make this more challenging I have decided to crochet a scarf as I go around the course. I think it will be quite a laugh and hopefully I will be able to raise money for Myton Hospices which is a great cause. The charity support people through the final part of their life and also support families. If you are able to donate to this great cause please follow the link to my just giving page www.justgiving.com/sarahssantadash2015 

I have also now released my patterns on the Love Knitting website. Please check out the link to my designs http://www.loveknitting.com/catalogsearch/result/?order=relevance&dir=desc&q=sarah+reed

I think all of my Christmas knitted and crocheted gifts sorted to give to the family. I just need to sort out my decorations. I had a lovely time Christmas tree shopping but I still need to try and get other bits and bobs. I think I will be pulling out my Christmas stocking bunting and adding it to my fireplace. The dilemma is how soon can i put the tree up........

Right back to the Christmas socks

Until next time

Happy Crafting

Sarah :) 

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Halloween and Man Hat Drama

Hello all,


Hope you have all enjoyed your Halloween and Bonfire night. I am proud to say I managed to sneak a bit of crochet into my Halloween costume. I was struggling for an original idea and contacted my sister for inspiration. We searched far and wide and came up with a brilliant idea. I needed to wear clothes that looked French. I already owned a striped top and I went to a fabric shop to buy red cloth to be my scarf. I was in need of a beret.........I looked on Ravelry and I found a free crochet pattern. I was able to whip the pattern up quickly and it completed my outfit. I painted my face like Gene Simmons from Kiss, which made me a............French kiss (haha genius!!!)


I met up with the lovely Denise from Peeko crochet. We met in a cafe and she taught me how to create double sided Tunisian crochet. Denise is a great tutor and I would recommend attending any class that she is teaching.  It was lovely to meet with a fellow enthusiast and chat crochet. I saw some of her patterns and after this felt more inspired to create more original design work :)

I have been given a mission to knit a hat for a man. The specification was that he is a hiker and he wanted a purple and blue hat. I went to Stitch Solihull where the lovely Anna prevented me from ripping my hair out finding a masculine purple. We found some lush Bergere de France yarn which was manly in colour. After further conversations with the man I came to realise that he was a Villa fan......and then said he would like his hat in the colour of the football kit!!!!!!!......Back to stitch Solihull this time with my friend Becky and Anna stopping me from ripping my hair out. In the end we found the colours needed and I have started work on this piece......

Right I'm going to get back to it :)

Until next time 

Happy crafting

Sarah :) 

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Tunisian Cross Stitch Cowl and another use for yarn

Hello all,

I am currently drowning in Christmas projects which has made the months fly by......I have 1 and 1/2 more family projects and some friends to knit for and I'm done.

I recently had a project published in Inside Crochet. It was my Tunisian cross stitch cowl, which is my first design made in the round. The design includes West Yorkshire Spinners Yarn and a new stitch. The project involves a double ended hook which means the forward pass is worked on one end and the return pass is on the other way. It's a great technique as it means no sewing!!!!!!!!

I have also been out and about trying out new things. I can now say I've attempted clay pigeon shooting and archery. It went well until I found the recoil of the gun painful........turned out I don't have enough padding. After being covered in extra layers of coats, it wasn't so bad :)

I have also found another wonderful use for yarn. Another hobby of mine is walking and I recently went on an 8 mile walk. I decided to wear fashion boots instead of my walking books as they matched my outfit. After damaging my poor feet I was unable to walk when I got home. Slippers did not relieve the pain however resting them on top of a ball of yarn was pure bliss......

Right back to work

Until next time

Happy crafting

Sarah :) 

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