2010 round up - doodles

by Four Year Old...

December

November

September

July

January

2010 round up - I did it!

a random list...

a crayon roll

our first gingerbread house

launch The Woolly Brew

The Woolly Brew Felted Shoulder Bag

knitting needle roll

vegetables!

my first pair of socks, my first shawl and cowl, lots of knitted toys, a toadstool...

obviously not a complete list...

2010 round up - to do

try out other sock knitting methods...

insane idea to create a sample of knitting stitches...
crochet!  I have tried but it wasn't pretty....
sewing machine!
my other fingerless glove... will I EVER get a matching pair!
I still haven't finished my Black & White Fabric Book!
set in sleeves of E's ballet cardigan
design, write, print and distribute a zine
big sofa shawl
writing case
snow shoe scarf
a jumper for me!
sew a bag
garden playmat... I didn't rush it for Christmas...
do something with my hexagons
a manly scarf

its not that long really....

knitting - new project?

A cardi for Four Year Old in Petite Purls

my library card - December 2010

Small business finance all-in-one for dummies
Jamie's 30-minute meals
Embroidered countryside
Last-minute patchwork & quilted gifts
Simple knitting : a how-to-knit workshop with 20 desirable projects
Just like mother used to make
Picture knits : easy designs for the novice knitter
Dye plants and dyeing
Natural dyeing
Collins complete photography course
Cook now, eat later    
Made by me
       

a creative odyssey

Epheriell Designs has organised a blog hop.  It is called A Creative Odyssey and spans 4 weeks of December.  2 different blog writers post each day about their creative dreams and goals for 2011.

I've come to it abit late (via 74 Lime Lane) so I'm catching up with previous posts but so far I've 'discovered' some really interesting creative business type blogs like blacksburgbelle and Imaginative Bloom.

Interesting because The Woolly Brew is going online in early 2011 so I need to be like a sponge...

oh... and Merry Christmas!

can we build it?

photo taken before Four Year Old picked off half the front wall...

soft furnishings

living room set to go with the bedroom set.

all packaged up

garden playmat update 7

original post here and then here and here and here and here and here and here.

knitting - a manly scarf

My brother has just informed me that he doesn't have a scarf.

I'm shocked.  Not just because its sub zero outside but also because I never noticed!

I am now on the hunt for a nice manly scarf pattern  which I can whip up before the end of winter...

This one (a P1 K3 rib) is free from Lion Brand.  Obviously I would do it in a nice charcoal  grey..

 

There is also this one from HipKnitizer which looks quite fancy...

can we build it?

knitting - a new hat

 

using this pattern from Woolly Wormhead.

I recycled my Colinette Art again!  I originally knitted a scarf but it curled too much and then I knitted a cowl.

But I twisted it too many times (only suppose to be once) and planned to reknit it.  Decided on a hat instead.

I need to block it to loosen it up abit (I have a LARGE head).

snow

knitting - oh interesting

I've been thinking about knitting myself a cardigan or jumper (again).  Mindful that I need to wear it after I've invested money and time knitting it...

and then this little teaser pops up on Ravelry which led me here to Ysolda's link. 

"..Part pattern collection, part resource book Ysolda shares all of her tips for creating successful sweaters that perfectly fit your body..."

oh...

new year... in one week

I can use my new diary in one week!

it's a poor photo as the conservatory roof is covered in snow (again).

crayon roll

Yeah!  I have finally made one.  It has been on my to do list for a long time - as a simple roll or something more complicated.

My Four Year Old has never shown any interest in having one (despite having a huge collection of well used drawing materials).

So I've made one for my friend's little girl who is one year and a bit.  E loved her crayons then and we were lucky that she didn't eat stuff that shouldn't be eaten or scribble where she shouldn't.

This crayon roll is made from felt with a cotton pocket.  I used what I had to hand although initially I did buy some felt as I didn't think I had a big enough piece.  However I bought acrylic felt (which was all the craft shop had and I didn't have time to wait for my favourite wool blend felt to be delivered) and it is AWFUL!

I'm really pleased I managed to find some wool blend pieces big enough.

I used the same principles as my knitting needle roll but obviously smaller and less complicated.

I'm very pleased how it turned out and I really really like sewing with felt.

If I were to make it again I would change the following...

1. I used chubby crayons and took their thickness into account when making my pockets (4.5cm width) BUT I didn't take it into account when calculating the height of the pocket.  I think the pocket needs to be a little bit higher.

2.  I would sew the colour squares onto the pockets BEFORE I sew the thing up.  I didn't think of it until I had finished and popped all the crayons in.

3.   I would have done a different fastening as the ribbon covers the monogram on the front.

soft furnishings

These are a gift for Four Year Old's best friend...

The rug is a triumphant!  I'm very pleased how it turned out.  Its the same pattern as this one except I cast on 30 stitches and used bright pink and pale pink yarn.

The bed 'quilt' is reversible too...

I'm working on a living room set too.

toadstool

I've made a toadstool for Four Year Old's garden playmat.

I used this excellent pattern and instructions at Little House by the Sea.

I highly recommend it!

Zines - some more resources

Katie Green Bean has published some Self Publishing Tips on her blog.

which linked back to My Girl Thursday which also had this making your own zines by Missy

real world

this is a link to a blog entry by knitwear designer and vintage specialist Susan Crawford on her blog Just Call Me Ruby.

it very eloquently speaks for itself...

Sea Queen Day 2011

I've started thinking about Sea Queen day 2011.  Our stitching group has a stall each year at this local gala.

We raise money for a local charity.

Its not until the summer and I'm thinking this far ahead as I keep moving balls of yarn from one shelf to another and I need a plan of action!

I've managed to pick up some yarn in a charity shop and my Mother In Law bought some at her church sale.  Most of its blue - which is good as we always have people asking for baby boy things.

Sirdar Snuggly 4ply in pale blue approx 500 yards.  Baby v- neck jumper from Sirdar, available for free here. Although comments on Ravelry suggest that it's quite complicated and time consuming... certainly would be for me as it involves cables!  I suppose I could knit the smallest size...

Robin DK in beige approx 600m.  Childs placket-neck pullover, Ravelry link

Sirdar Country Style (blue Fair Isle effect?) DK approx 477m. Baby Hoodie from Bernat

Sirdar Snuggly DK in white 197 yards.  A hat?

I also have 6 balls (4 blue and 2 white) of a DK but there is no yardage listed...

garden playmat update 6

original post here and then here and here and here and here and here

the Christmas tree is up

garden playmat update 5

original post here and then here and here and here and here

knitting - doughnuts

I'm experimenting with some mini doughnuts...

knitting - dolly

 

Using Jess Hutchison pattern from Unusual Toys for you to Knit and Enjoy (Ravelry link)

I bought this book years ago (more than 4, less than 6) but couldn't knit anything from it as I didn't know how to use double pointed needles, or indeed how to properly increase or decrease.... or that I was a very loose knitter and I should really use much smaller needles than indicated in patterns...

I am very pleased that I now know these things!

She's quite tiny - less than 15cm.

knitting - fancies

more fancies from Jean Greenhowe Tea Party Treats pattern

knitting - doughnuts

 

yet more doughnuts using this pattern from CakesKnitsandCosies on Etsy.

oh look at the clouds

Taken yesterday.

Today the sky has been grey all over, all day....

oh new project!

Just read this post at Ginger Knits. 

Further investigation is needed.  I LOVE ginger beer!!!

Last Minute Patchwork & Quilted Gifts

I have this book on order at the library...

its actually at the library but the library is closed due to the weather...

Until it opens (perhaps not until Monday!) I'll have to make do with this flickr group.

knitting - work in progress update

from this

to this

1. I STILL need another handwarmer!
2. rolled brim hat for Grand Neice's Christmas
3. hot water bottle cover using a free pattern on Ravelry by Kaity Von Rader
4. dinosaur (Ravelry Link) for Nephew from Zoe Mellor book Knitted Toys
5. lacy clutch using Louisa Harding Willow Tweed - and Ravelry pattern
6. another felted shoulder bag