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Tag: Wool count

by RoxyPosted on Posted in Cats, Knitting, Little one 2 Comments

Let’s start with that pesky crocodile!

Photographic evidence of him prowling around the farms livestock… Felix has actually been having a ball playing with him as part of her farm, though she now insists that I need to knit some tiny ducks to keep him company in the pond.

Company, eh? More like snacks…

Anyhow, cuteness aside, I just finished another little project:

A pair of ‘magic mittens’ – I’ll get to the story in a moment, details first. The mitten pattern is a free Ravelry download called The World’s Simplest Mittens by tincanknits – and it’s true to its name.  There’s schematics for different sizes of mittens in all different weights, and it’s clear and concise. Definitely a keeper of a pattern. The elephant chart itself is from another free pattern – Elephant Hat – Child Size by Kathleen Taylor.

Story time now. My bosses little one, and Felix’s ‘best friend’ has really bad eczema. And of course, it itches. As a sufferer of eczema myself, I know just how hard it is not to scratch. She’s three. She wakes up looking like she’s been butchered in the mornings from scratching so much.

So, Magic Mittens it is! Lightweight cotton mittens in the colours she picked out with an animal of her choosing on them, and ties that can be double knitted so she won’t be able to pull the blasted things off.

I was made to wear wooly mittens as a child. In summer. These are a much kinder alternative! Fingers crossed they’ll help – if she can stop scratching long enough for her cream to work…

And last but not least: St Gertrude’s Day.

On March 17th, also known as St Patrick’s Day, it happens to be St Gertrude’s Day too. She is the patron saint of cats, gardeners and mental health. When we fostered cats, as we never knew their actual ages let alone dates of birth, it became habit to celebrate all the cats birthday on St Gertrude’s Day. This year, even though we know Dashi’s birthday, we still don’t know Crumble’s (we reckon she’s getting on for eight years old now!) so the tradition continues.

Felix was particularly happy to help celebrate the cats birthday, there was presents and special cat came too – tuna cake with salmon paste ‘frosting’.

I personally think yuck, but Engel happily ate one of the spares and went on the prowl for more. Not that the cats lefts much in the end!

Starting total – 650

Wool used – 25 (1 since last post)
Wool bought – 0
Wool given – 46
Wool gifted – 16

Total – 655 (So close to getting back to that starting total!)

 

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by RoxyPosted on Posted in Knitting, Little one 2 Comments

So after all those chickens (there was more knitted, I didn’t actually know how many there are now, but Felix has claimed a number for her little farm) I felt it was time to knit Inklings (baby to be) first knitted toy.

After I got Felix to agree to let me.

What did she want? A crocodile for her farm.

Well, i’m not one to discourage creativity, and with all the animals she has there really should be a way to help control population numbers…A crocodile was knitted.

I regret nothing with this photo, it’s the circle of life! Anyhow, pattern used is ‘Baby Gators’ by Anna Hrachovec from her book ‘Knitted Mochimochi’.

Crocodile done, I could cast on for Inklings first toy.

What was that sweetie? You want six crocodiles like in the picture in the book?

…

Yeah…There isn’t six, yet, but they make a nice work and out and about project so eventually there will be no doubt. At home though, I did actually cast on for Inklings first hand knitted toy, and even finished it too in just four evenings!

One and a half of those four evenings was hand sewing all those blue spots btw.

Anyhow! Here is a blue ringed octopus (they do exist in real life) and I must admit I am really quite smitten with him! The basic octopus pattern is ‘Octopus’ by Hansi Singh from her book ‘Amigurimi Knits’. I am resisting the urge to knit a whole bunch of these guys, considering the outcome there was surprisingly little work!

Well, back to knitting crocodiles for the time being whilst I decide on my next project.

Starting total – 650

Wool used – 24 (2 since last post)
Wool bought – 0
Wool given – 46
Wool gifted – 16

Total – 656 (So close to getting back to that starting total!)

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by RoxyPosted on Posted in Knitting, Little one 1 Comment

As I hinted last post, I really did knit some chickens!

A story first, my neice is moving house (she’s 12, and leaving the only home she’s known, it’s been a big deal) and to make matters worse, she’s had to rehome nearly all her pet chickens.

So I thought she may like a few knitted ones that could go with her anywhere.

Tiny chickens! So small they fit into an egg box! (I’ve based these guys on Anna Hrachovecs pattern ‘Tiny Chickens’ from her book ‘Teeny Tiny Mochimochi’, though it is available for free on her website…)

The only problem is, they breed. I mean, I only meant to knit six and then there was thirty…And seeing as all of them found homes, I will be knitting more as Felix adores them…

So, I was going to give these to my neice yesterday as I was up in Scotland to visit the family and the awesome Auntie Rabbie had organised an Otter Cuddle Party for Felix (she is obsessed with otters, and asked if she could have one)

The food was amazing, and the kids all went swimming, and there was a magic show (Felix was enthralled) and it was a fantastic day.

However, it occured to me on Friday, about 20 hours before the party, that my neice and nephew wouldn’t be so good sharing the chickens I had knit them. (It was three each, or seeing as I had a small army, I could have given them six each easily enough…But…)

Cue chickens from 7 million years ago! Based very loosely on the chicken pattern (I didn’t have time for anything else) I managed to whip these guys out with half an hour to spare.

Never. Again.

Apart from the fact Felix now wants her own set…

They all went down well though, so I’m pleased!

Starting total – 650

Wool used – 22 (2 since last post)
Wool bought – 0
Wool given – 46
Wool gifted – 16 (I’m working on my wool karma here! Rabbie is making a patchwork baby blanket for the baby to be and I decided to help by purging my wool)

Total – 658 (Almost at the starting total!)

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by RoxyPosted on Posted in Cats, Knitting, Little one 4 Comments

After having knit the baby to be a blanket, Felix asked me to knit her something with the rest of the green wool. Having knit the snake and the baby blanket in said green wool, I was getting a bit fed up of it, but I couldn’t say no to her request.

So after having a look, it was settled on a cat jumper.

Then Engel took an interest and declared she and the baby to be should have matching jumpers. Yes. The dreaded matching jumpers.

Seeing his eager happy face, and then Felix’s excited face (she is too young to understand the horror of matching jumpers, so we can excuse her) I caved in.

I knew there wouldn’t be enough green to do both, but with a few tweaks and some blue…

This is Felix’s creation. It’s based on the free Ravelry pattern ‘Cat’s Meow Pullover‘ by Amy Bahrt. Minus the striped sleeves. And the cat had to be black, not ginger, so that it was a Dashie cat jumper. Dashie is Felix’s cat.

And this is baby to be’s creation. It’s based on the free Ravelry pattern ‘Children’s Bear Sweater’ also by Amy Bahrt. Except I took the bear off and put the cat on instead. And also, no stripy sleeves.

You can tell where I ran out of green, but I had already intended on a blue button flap (another addition of mine to the pattern to make getting it on baby to be easier) so it wasn’t a huge loss.

For playing chicken with wool, I didn’t come out too badly.

But that green is no more, so my next project can’t be green! Mwahahaha!!!!!!

Hmm…Speaking of chickens, I may just make those next…

Wool count:

Starting total – 650

Wool used – 20 (6 since last post)
Wool bought – 0
Wool given – 46

Total – 676

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by RoxyPosted on Posted in Knitting, Little one 1 Comment

I realised when looking through the archives that I never posted Felix’s baby blanket that I made whilst I was pregnant:

It’s knit using the pattern ‘Embroidered baby blanket’ from Kitty Knits: Projects for Cats and their People (a Christmas gift from Rabbie long, long ago that keeps getting loved and used) by Donna Druchunas.

Donna actually got in touch with me via Ravelry when I posted it! I was really happy she complimented it.

Anyhow, the purple blanket was made over three years ago, and now this one:

Was finished just last week. It’s a lot brighter in real life, more of a lime green. Felix chose the wool, so I shall blame her, though it was nice knitting something so bright with the days being so dark and grey!

So, what does this mean? It means Felix has a brother on the way, and in the spirit of fairness, I made them the same baby blanket. (I will not deny that I actually really like this pattern – simple enough for baby brain, complex enough you don’t have the urge to throw it out the window). It also means that there will be more baby knits no doubt in the near future.

That’s all for today’s post!

Wool count:

Starting total – 650

Wool used – 14 (3 since last post)
Wool bought – 0
Wool given – 46

Total – 682

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by RoxyPosted on Posted in Knitting, Uncategorized 1 Comment

There’s really not much to say or show knitting wise or life wise – lots of working and chores and a baby blanket that’s taking an age to knit is all.

So I present to you, From the Archives – It’s cold!

Ok, so not so much a theme as a response to the temperature but it is cold.

As the temperature drops, I instinctively start making a cocoon for myself out of blankets and hot water bottles. I keep hoping to emerge as a beautiful butterfly come spring, but the best I can manage is a moth…

So blankets first. I’ve posted my ten stitch blanket before. And my chunky bright green weekend TV lapghan.

Here is my ‘Knitted Blanket of Awesome’. Done on 5mm needles, no pattern and primarily a giant stash busting project as well as desperately needed sofa throw/blanket back in 2011.

And lastly for the blankets, my pride and joy: Free pattern A Recipe for Fish by April Broken.

lt took 2 years to complete (namely because I kept abandoning it for months at a time and the moment the weather got warm) but I did manage to complete it just in time for my wedding, and subsequent honeymoon in Aberdeenshire. It was needed. There’s 375 fish in there, for those curious.

On to the hot water bottles:

I’ve already posted my Aperture Science hot water bottle cosie, but I haven’t shown you:

The hot water bottle pattern is based on the free pattern EXFOLIATE! Dalek Cloth by Penwiper – I put the image (tweaked to be in colour) on a hot water bottle cosie pattern I made up as I was going along. The tiny matching Dalek? He’s based on another free pattern, Dalek Egg Cosy by Lyles Knit.

Speaking of Daleks, I have made this guy…

Back in 2008. He was huge! Used the free pattern EXTERMIKNIT! by Penwiper for him.

Thats all for today – keep warm guys!

Wool count:

Starting total – 650

Wool used – 11 (4 this week)
Wool bought – 0
Wool given – 46

Total – 685

…

Ok, no one’s going to just let 46 balls of wool slide into the wool count, I was given a work friends Mrs wool oddment stash – she knits blankets and jumpers, so all those odd balls of wool, partially used balls etc, kind of sit there, not doing an awful lot. She was clearing her stash and as I’m primarily a toy knitter who only uses a bit of a ball here, a bit of a ball there, she figured I’d like them in my stash.

I won’t deny that this is a very true fact, and I’ll just have to knit extra hard this year to bring the wool count back down. At least it hasn’t hit 700! Yet.

 

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by RoxyPosted on Posted in Knitting, Little one 2 Comments

Ok, marathoning Disney movies may not have been the best idea for my sanity, but seeing as none contained princesses in need of rescue, I do have a few shreds of it left.

For those curious, the title is a Jungle book reference – more specifically Kaa’s song. Why you may ask?

This six foot beast! The pattern is based on Snake by Kath Dalmeny from her book ‘World of knitted toys’. The reason? Felix of course.

Felix has a little gap down the side of her bed that she loses toys down – she requested a ‘soft snake for the gap’ in greens.

I couldn’t resist such a cute request…

Though now she wants one in every colour I own. I’ve told her to limit it to three. She’s compromised on five. I shouldn’t be losing arguments with a three year old…

That’s all for this post, just a short one as it’s been the first week back at work and I have the work lurgy.

Wool count:

Starting total – 650

Wool used – 7 (1 this week)
Wool bought – 0
Wool given – 0

Total – 643

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by RoxyPosted on Posted in Cats, Knitting, Updates 4 Comments

I don’t know if a lot of people feel the same way, but 2016 was cursed. My family was hit pretty hard, there’s been death, terminal illness and long term ill health. I won’t go into detail on those.

One I will speak of however is Salem, he died in Engels arms on the 21st of December.

(Picking a photo of him just now brought the tears back)

Despite the rest of the menagerie (2 more cats, 2 tarantulas, 1 snake, 3 fish, small child) the house feels a little empty. Explaining death to a 3 year old, whilst an important lesson, was not a delightful experience. I’d have rather gone over where babies come from with her again! (Yep, had that talk a few months ago as well)

So here’s to 2017 being a better year. Fingers crossed.

In knitting news, just one complete project to show:

It’s the last knitted thing for my neice to be, over in America. It’s based on the pattern Little Daisy Cardigan by Sublime Yarns – I made the garter at the bottom deeper and used two colours. Also knit numerous prices together rather than separately to be sewn together afterwards.

Got a more fun, but giant, project on the needles at the moment – more on that when it’s finished!

Lastly, as it’s a new year, I get to reset my wool count and start again – hopefully I’ll have a bit more restraint this year and not buy so much!

Starting total – 650

Wool used – 6
Wool bought – 0
Wool given – 0

Total – 644

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by RoxyPosted on Posted in Knitting, Uncategorized 4 Comments

As mentioned since the end of October, I’ve been Christmas knitting. Some I’ve shown, like knitted shrugs and pokemon hats, the rest I’ve been keeping a secret. But seeing as Christmas is now past, I can show you all what I’ve been making!

This post is really image heavy, you’ve been warned!

So, first, the bags!

Its a free chart called Spirit Cat Knitting Charts by Melanie Nordberg

Its a free chart called Spirit Falcon Knitting Chart by Melanie Nordberg.

Its a free chart called Spirit Owl Charts by Melanie Nordberg.

Its a free chart called Spirit Deer Knitting Chart by Melanie Nordberg.

Its a free chart called Spirit Wolf Charts by Melanie Nordberg.

And now, little wash cloths! (Yes, I did make everyone a wash cloth and give them soap, all wrapped up in their designated houses bag above. There was, I hasten to add, other bought presents!)

Free pattern Batty Dishcloth by Dee Frey.

Free pattern Halloween Cat Dishcloth by Kelly Daniels

Free pattern Whooo Loves Ya, Baby? Cloth by Elaine Fitzpatrick

Free pattern Mint Swirl Cloth by Sarah Florent (I tweaked the colour changes to create the pokeball effect!)

Free pattern Dragonfly Dishcloth by April Moreland

Free pattern Soccer Ball FaceCloth – Dishcloth by Barbara Bradford

Free pattern Louie the Lobster Cloth by Tricotine

Free pattern A Cheep Cloth by Elaine Fitzpatrick

Free pattern Dinosaur Washcloth by Elaine Fitzpatrick

Free pattern Pineapple Dishcloth (Knit) by Lily / Sugar’n Cream (and yes, this one was for my mum!)

Hope you all had as fun a Christmas as we all did!

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by RoxyPosted on Posted in Knitting, Uncategorized, Updates No Comments

I think I’ve knit the last Christmas gift, I hope I have anyway as I’ve moved on to other projects.

Present 1:

This is for my nephew and uses the free pattern A PokéHat by Mrs Luedeke. Quick and easy knit surprisingly! It fits me, so if my nephew doesn’t want it, I suspect my Pokemon loving sister will nab it…

Present 2:

For my mum, who nabbed off with a replica of the original Fairground Fish (free pattern Frida the Fish / Francis the Fish by Lion Brand Yarn)

I have the one photographed above, it was originally given to my grandfather in 2011 as a random gift as he often fondly told us the tale of ‘that cursed fairground fish, it lasted 25 years it did!’ The sole purpose of this was to make him smile. It worked. He passed away this year, and it’s the only thing that I took as a reminder of him before the funeral. The replica was more or less an identical match, a gift I never got around to giving, and when my mum tried to walk off with the original, I gave her the replica instead.

The reason for the silver version? My mum had fish. They all died this year – curse of 2016 we’re calling it – but before they went belly up, they laid eggs, and out hatched two fish. A gold one and a silver one.

So the silver one I just made is to join the gold one from before.

Pretty convoluted, I do apologise.

Not a Christmas present:

Same patterns as featured in my previous post back in April 2016. (Cardigan is ‘long or short sleeved coat with flower’ from sirdars ‘Beautiful baby knits’. The booties are from the same booklet, they’re from the ‘Sweetpea’ set for those who don’t want to read the previous post)

These are part of the growing bundle of gifts for my neice to be in America – I’ve got another on the needles at the moment, but will post about that when it gets done.

Anything else to comment? Not much except it’s getting scarily close to Christmas, and now I’ve finished the last of the Christmas knitting I think I may actually be getting excited about it…

Starting total – 697

Wool used – 117 (4 since last post! Again!)
Wool bought – 53
Wool given – 7

Total – 650

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