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by RoxyPosted on Posted in Knitting 2 Comments

After sitting languishing in the naughty corner for not being knitted in time for Halloween, I finally blocked my 100% That Witch by Brittany Westmorland. It’s an amazing pattern and the community being the MKAL was amazing – everyone was very supportive and there was so many different variations and alternative charts in the chat – it was quite inspiring.

Which is why my jumper had been fully knitted and all ends woven in before going into the naughty corner. But with my mum coming this weekend for a visit, I figured now was a good time to block it and show it off to the person who taught me all those years ago how to knit!

And yes, this is the same mum who regularly thieves my knits and asks me to knit her things as ‘I don’t have the patience or the inclination for the knitting needles these days’… She knits out of necessity, or duty, never as a hobby like me.

So here is my take on the 100% That Witch jumper!

And a WIP close up that just shows the colours perfectly:

As you can see I opted to use four colours, not three as specified. I changed out the writing for bats, added an extra row of bats to the bottom to balance my colours out seeing as I had added more which threw it off…and instead of the tombstones or bats for the bottom, I put in cats.

All in all, I’m really pleased with how this turned out! Both my Terrors want one of their own and my mum is now dropping hints that she would be the next size up in that pattern…

Perhaps trying to get this ready to show her wasn’t my best move…

Oh, and remember how I said she liked to request knits? Yeah, more on that in a future blog. Let’s just say it’s surprising what you can achieve with a three day deadline…

Until next week, when I will hopefully have recovered from the chaos of this weekend (the good kind of chaos, but also the ‘I am so out of practice for this due to the pandemic’ type too, meaning physically I’m fine, mentally I may need a month long nap to recover…)

Wool Count

Starting total – 897

Wool used – 148 (2 this week!!)
Wool bought – 50
Wool given to me – 47
Wool gifted to others – 4
Wool handspun – 13

Total – 847 (Net total of 35 down!)

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by RoxyPosted on Posted in Knitting 4 Comments

Hi all, apologies for the late post but there was several reasons behind it, honest! Between an action packed weekend of catching up with friends, some we have barely seen since pre-covid, and some serious crafting on the sewing machine (curtains, for the conservatory, needed now it’s getting towards winter) and one more little thing…

But that requires some context. At the end of August I volunteered to do a test knit for SuperGreenWitch and was selected to knit her Drop of comfort Cowl in whatever wool I wished. It practically fell off my needles:

The black yarn is Sirdar Snuggly Cashmere Merino DK and the contrast yarn is Sirdar Softspun Chunky in the ‘shale’ colour way. You may have noticed I didn’t link the pattern there – that’s because it’s not been released yet. The reason for getting to post about this now, before it’s released, is that my colour combination was liked that much, it was decided to be the one to actually be featured.

Small problem though: there are rules about publishing patterns, and one such one is that if it’s a garment or accessory to be worn, it needs to be shown as such. By a person. So…

Guess what I did this evening, during a welcome break in the dull weather? Yep. Getting photos of me wearing the item, rather than photographed ‘flat’. It’s a rare thing for me to do as, like a lot people, I prefer to keep myself to myself and that most certainly includes online photos.

But given the opportunity I couldn’t resist! And as I wasn’t sure about what photo to use, the lovely and wonderful Rabbie helped me slim it down to two.

By agreeing to the photos, I get to share it with you all early! And of course, when the pattern gets published I’ll be sure to link back to it, as it’s a very cosy, super quick and very warm knit!

Thats all for this week, hopefully I will either block one of my knits to show for next week, or finish a different project which has taught me the importance of paying attention and reading ahead in a pattern. Again. Twice.

I mean, Inkling can totally do with 8 mittens, right?!

Wool Count

Starting total – 897

Wool used – 146 (1 this week!!)
Wool bought – 50
Wool given to me – 47
Wool gifted to others – 4
Wool handspun – 13

Total – 849 (Net total of 33 down!)

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by RoxyPosted on Posted in Knitting 2 Comments

Last week, after I hit post on my blog, the family set of to Norfolk for the week with a pair of our friends.

There was swimming, Lego, beaches, crabbing, fossil hunting, aquariums, archery, exploring and generally a good time was had by all. Though my friends have been broken. They don’t have children and I don’t think they were fully prepared for the constant go-go-go that comes with my little Terrors!

They’re both recovering after some pretty long sleeps, and cat cuddles, and more sleep, and are keen to do it again…after they’ve recovered some more!

Amongst all the busy busy go-go-go, myself and one of my friends went to a spinning class at the Spinning Barn, where it was just us and the instructor. I came out of it knowing the names of what it is I’ve been doing, as well as number of tips and tricks on how to refine it and get the end product I want.

My friend however, who has only played on my wheel once previously, came on in huge leaps and bounds and is now itching to get a wheel herself.

Would definitely recommend!!!

We got back yesterday, and today was the Manchester Halloweekend where we have torn around town, enjoying all the spooky delights on offer! We all dressed up and gave a fair few people some frights too, all in good fun if course!!!

And on that spooky note:

The Spookie Ookie Cat trio!!!! The patterns are: Itchy Witchy Hat Cat, Ghostie Cat and once again, Jack-o-Cat all by Anna Hrachovec (creator of Mochimochiland).

Till next week, stay safe and enjoy the last of this spooky day! (We’re about to go deliver some more frights trick or treating)

Wool Count

Starting total – 897

Wool used – 144 (2 this week!!)
Wool bought – 50 (Just 1 ball!)
Wool given to me – 47
Wool gifted to others – 4
Wool handspun – 13 (2 Spun at the Spinning lesson)

Total – 851 (Net total of 31 down!)

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by RoxyPosted on Posted in Knitting 2 Comments

Drumroll please! I would like to introduce Inklings amazing idea:

A pumpkin cat basket so Dashie can be just like the little Jack-o-cat I knitted last week!

When he told me his idea I was floored at how simple yet incredibly adorable it was. I did have to buy a wicker basket and some wool (those 14 balls last week) but it came together super quick and yeah, with Dashie in it, it’s just too cute!

There’s also a few contests I was planning on entering and this photo is definitely going to be the entry!

Hmm…does that mean I have to share any prizes I get with Inkling? And credit the 4yo with the amazing idea…?

In other news, Lockdown. (This post is all about the cats this week) He had his vet appointment on Monday and the vet was genuinely shocked at how well his tail had healed, and how well he was responding to treatment and had shown no signs of grooming it etc. (We did not to get a soft cone for him which he hated, but at least he could get into his little hidey holes and move around much more freely!)

The verdict? Despite the fact the vet was positive the tail would have to come off, he gets to keep it! Hooray! Though he has used at least one of his nine lives over this whole ordeal.

Thats all for this week, it’s a super short post I know (but a cute one) and it’s earlier than normal but that’s because of chaos that is about to ensue. More on that next week. If I survive…

Till then, stay safe and marvel at just how photogenic Dashie can be when your waving treats off camera…

Wool Count

Starting total – 897

Wool used – 142 (11 this week!!)
Wool bought – 49
Wool given to me – 47
Wool gifted to others – 4
Wool handspun – 11

Total – 852 (Net total of 32 down!)

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by RoxyPosted on Posted in Knitting 2 Comments

What can I say? It’s coming up to my favourite holiday and I am definitely getting in the spooky mood!

Heres one of my projects currently on the needles (I know I don’t generally share WIPs but I’m quite proud of how this MKAL has gone!)

The pattern is 100% That Witch by Brittany Westmorland – it’s a MKAL that’s currently running on Ravelry and I’m actually running two weeks behind as my needles were in another project. I’ve also deviated from the pattern in a few places (I can’t help it!) but I’m really enjoying how it’s come out so far!

Now, here’s one of my latest super cute and completed spooky knits:

Isnt this pumpkin kitty adorable?! The pattern is Jack-o-Cat by Anna Hrachovec (Mochimochiland) and is part of her Spooky Ookie Cats set – look out for more coming in the future!

Now, Mochimochiland is running a competition based on spooky photos involving her designs, and Inkling has come up with a rather amazing idea when I was taking the above photo. I’ve collected all the things I need, including 14 new balls of wool, and it’s a race against time to see if I can make his idea happen to submit it for the contest!

If not, still expect cute photos at some point in the future!

Speaking of future, I am still waiting on the go ahead for two finished knitting projects and one sewing project to share with you all…sigh…soon I hope, soon!

In other news it’s been a bit of a week. The lurgy has hit the house making small chores seem like mountains to climb, and on top of that, Lockdown came rushing in Wednesday night dripping blood everywhere. Turns out something bit his tail and it’s tooth punctured clean through it.

Emergency day off work Thursday and off to the vets for first appointment of the day – antibiotics, painkillers, anti-inflammatory meds, cone of shame and house arrest have been prescribed for my ginger trouble maker, and fingers crossed when he goes to the vets tomorrow (Monday) they will decide the wound has healed enough with no permanent nerve damage and he won’t have to get it amputated…

Not sure who would be more upset about that, myself, the kids, or him. I suspect myself mainly.

Other than some gardening and Felix going to her first sleepover (they grow so fast!) not much else has happened really. On that note, I’m going to get back to knitting Inklings amazing idea and keep an eye on Lockdown who is having a little break from his cone so he can groom himself…I don’t trust him at all however…

Wool Count

Starting total – 897

Wool used – 131 (1 this week!!)
Wool bought – 49
Wool given to me – 47
Wool gifted to others – 4
Wool handspun – 11

Total – 863 (Net total of 21 down! Curses! I will claw that number back!!!)

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by RoxyPosted on Posted in Knitting 2 Comments

Thats not the most burning question, really, it’s actually:

Which looks cutest? Just shorn, growing back in or time for shearing? (Left to right)

Need more cuteness to help with the decision?

Just look at those faces!

These are all knit with the same needles and same pattern (the one used the other week – Tiny Alpaca! by Anna Hrachovec) but with different fluffy/textured wool and it has affected the size, shape and cuteness by a lot!

I’m curious to know which is your favourite? I’ll reveal later which one actually won out for my grand alpacalypse plan!

Been a busy week (isn’t every week these days?) and have just got back from seeing friends at the zoo, and I am physically and socially worn out from it! We all had a ball – Felix was super excited to see a leopard up close and Inkling had a bonding moment with a gibbon who was as curious of him as he was of it! And for me it was all about the ring tailed lemur, which due to Covid, meant that the walkthrough enclosure was currently closed. Turns out lemurs are susceptible to human respiratory illnesses and that includes Covid.

The things you never knew!

Oh! We also saw a pair of vicunas today (the smallest of the camelidae family and the wild ancestor to what we know of as the modern alpaca) with a fleece that is super fine and soft but can only be sheared every three years…and was of great value to the Incas to the point only royalty could wear things made from their fleece…If it went for the electric fence…

More things you never knew!

So with that, I shall leave it till next and until then, stay safe!

(Oh, and in case your wondering, I have three projects – 1 sewn and 2 knitted I can’t reveal quite just yet but hopefully soon! Until then, expect more alpacas. Or llamas. They appear to have become interchangeable in this house and I haven’t quite had the heart to sit everyone down and go through what exactly separates the two species!)

Wool Count

Starting total – 897

Wool used – 130 (2 this week!!)
Wool bought – 35
Wool given to me – 47
Wool gifted to others – 4
Wool handspun – 11

Total – 863 (Net total of 34 down! Or 45 if I don’t count the handspun, cause it was fleece in the stash anyway…it’s just changed form…what are your thoughts?)

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by RoxyPosted on Posted in Knitting 2 Comments

It’s a frisbee!! Made following the free circular How to Knit a Granny Square pattern by Frankie Brown.

As someone who knows how to crochet, and can technically do it, but can’t due to a knackered wrist, I was very keen to have an excuse to try knitted crochet, and these cotton frisbees for the Christmas set was a perfect opportunity!

I will say that it was still hard on my wrist, and I had to take breaks from it more than if I had been knitting normally, but I could do it for far, far longer than crochet!

Curiosity satisfied, another present finished.

In other news, you will have noticed I didn’t post last week – you can blame Rabbie for that one! You can read about the chaos on her blog, but regardless, I was just too tired from the week, the weekend, and the start of another week to actually take the time to post anything!

There has been family meet ups, Dog fest, socialising, work stuff, gaming, littlest terror has started his swimming lessons and oldest one has gone up four book bands this school term already…it’s been busy!

Project wise there’s quite a lot on the needles, and as such, not a lot of progress on any of it! I’m usually a monogamous knitted but…yeah…more on those as and when I have things to show.

Until next week, stay safe!

Wool Count

Starting total – 897

Wool used – 128 (2 this week!!)
Wool bought – 35 (2 this week, but for a specific project, promise!)
Wool given to me – 47
Wool gifted to others – 4
Wool handspun – 11

Total – 865 (still a net total of 32 down!!)

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by RoxyPosted on Posted in Knitting 1 Comment

As I mentioned previously, I’ll alternate between the more boring practical Christmas knits and the cute and random ones that seem to appear frequently in my life…

And so, I present:

Rather than wrapping paper, or a plastic bag, I’ve opted to knit several large Boardwalk Beach Bags by Holly Beemer (a very easy, quick free pattern) out of cotton and a cotton/linen mix. But me being me, I couldn’t resist making them look cute, and thus bumble bees! (Though more than one person has pointed out that the darker yellow/orange and black ones look like Hufflepuff house colours…which is perfect for my sis, who is a self declared Hufflepuff!)

I have also made two small ones which will hold little knitted cotton pads for cleaning faces/removing makeup (worryingly most of the supermarket ones contain plastic! Didn’t realise that till I looked at the packaging…)

And that’s all for this week regarding Christmas gifts.

I’m currently working on three things at the moment, and very shortly a fourth which will involve me spinning a fair bit of wool. All I’ll say on that is “Rabbie, you’re a genius, and that’s going to look awesome on the wall – may have to make two!”

Its been a weird week this week – work has been quiet, giving me lots of time to start thinking things over, and plot, and plan… I’ve also started training someone and accidentally became their buddy, which is quite hilarious seeing as I have been signed off after the fact on all my own training!

This weekend has been two family fun days, and despite panicking every time anyone came near me, it was brilliant – the kids even got to play with a fireman’s hose and go into the cab! So jealous! It’s strange though, post Covid, in that even though it was crowded, everyone kept themselves separate from everyone else…

I am thoroughly shattered though, physically and socially, I have definitely got to start building up my tolerance of being around people again!

Wool Count

Starting total – 897

Wool used – 125 (6 this week!!)
Wool bought – 33
Wool given to me – 47
Wool gifted to others – 4
Wool handspun – 11

Total – 866 (A net total of 31 down!!)

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by RoxyPosted on Posted in Knitting 1 Comment

Some of you may be wondering why I haven’t mentioned a certain set of blue projects for a while, a set of three matching blue sweater vests to be exact, and the answer to that was…

Well, I finished them. Did all the picking up of stitches and ribbing, weaved in the ends, then shoved them in a bag and out of sight for…three weeks…?

I am ashamed to admit I have only just pulled them back out to photograph them and to share with you all!

Apologies for the photos being somewhat uninspired, but with so much blue, and it being three identical garments in various sizes…there’s not much you can do with that!

I’m planning on gifting these today, and if my measurements and maths are all correct, they should fit the FIL and the little Terrors well. Can’t wait to see them all matching!!

In current knitting news, I am doing a spate of Christmas knitting. These will get shared, in part, on the blog as the only member of the family who reads this and will receive them has been helping come up with ideas and inspiration behind it all. More on that later.

I did mention last week about sewing projects, and there’s been some fun photo shoots with regards to that, as well as a few extra little projects sneaking their way in. There’s debate as to when I should share these as I don’t know if I should before I send it off to its new owner, or wait until they have received it… When I get an answer I will post about it, until then, we’re all somewhat being kept in the dark!

In non knitting news, my new job has been going well. It’s strange working for a company that focuses on nurturing their employees and encouraging ideas and creativity, compared to being just a number who gets their workload increased until they crack…

There was a lengthy conversation with Engel where I explained that I was happy, but also anxious, because surely, at any moment now, the other shoe is going to drop and it’s all going to turn out to be some elaborate ploy with some awful catch attatched… I’m still waiting.

There’s been some spinning going on as well, I have a project planned that requires some hand spun, and some natural dying of fleece for no other reason than I wanted to have a play with colour.

Yesterday saw me getting my second Covid jab, which I am pleased to have now had. Its a strange one, I wasn’t keen on getting the vaccine for myself, as in my health, but was very keen to get it so I would feel that the risk of making friends and family and loved ones would be greatly reduced.

Give it two weeks and I will be giving out all the hugs!

Thats all for this week, sorry it’s a bit of a ramble, I feel like I have lots to say but also not sure what to say, or where to start.

Until next week, stay safe!

Wool Count

Starting total – 897

Wool used – 107 (5 this week!!)
Wool bought – 33
Wool given to me – 47
Wool gifted to others – 4
Wool handspun – 9

Total – 882 (A net total of 15 down)

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by RoxyPosted on Posted in Knitting 2 Comments

It’s been a very long and busy week. Despite the heat it’s also been very productive. The roof is all fixed now, my nest egg is but a few pieces of shell, (just in case, commission’s are open!) I got all the fences painted, both gardens weeded, fruit harvested and a whole load of cleaning, tidying and sorting!

Thankfully the majority was done at the start of the week as it’s been getting hotter and hotter as it’s progressed. But I was planning on physically resting anyway as my new job starts tomorrow.

The nerves have well and truly hit me, but there’s still excitement! Keep your fingers crossed for me!

On to the knitting content!

Its approaching the end of the school year here, and as such I’m knitting a few small gifts for the teachers and teaching assistants. One of the TAs in Felix’s class also runs Welsh club, which Felix has really enjoyed going to, and as such, Felix felt she deserved a special knit – a little red dragon! Or should I say ‘draig goch fach’?

(Ok, I have a friend he speaks Welsh, and I asked her as I know zero Welsh)

Anyhow, the pattern is Dragons 9051 by King Cole Ltd – I added front legs, ears and the little spikes down his back though to make it more like the Welsh dragon.

Anyhow, I’m exhausted and dying of the heat, hopefully I’ll have a post for you all next week but with it being the first week at not just a new job, but of a career change, I make no promises!

Wool Count

Starting total – 897

Wool used – 98 (1 this week)
Wool bought – 33
Wool given to me – 29 (Andrew picked me up 8 balls of cotton for the Christmas projects I’m plotting)
Wool gifted to others – 1
Wool handspun – 9

Total – 876 (Up 7, sigh, still more out than in though!)

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