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by RoxyPosted on Posted in Knitting 1 Comment

A very good friend of a very good friend is currently undergoing chemotherapy, and I’m not sure what else to really do to help, so I knit her a hat.

But not any hat! A one of a kind, super soft, purple and black bat hat!

I used the numbers and shaping from Slouchy Cat Hat by Marna Gilligan from her book Cat Knits. The charts are ‘winged’!

Apologies for the photo quality, I literally finished casting off and weaving in the ends at work and dropped it off to her on the way to run some errands before going home.

I’ve been told it fits perfect and she’s very happy, and especially giving the current cold snap, it’s been more than needed!

Thats all this week – it’s been a busy one, overtime at work, visiting friends, a belated leaving do for a number of us from the last place and poor Engel was roped into helping a guy from my new workplace fit heated grips onto his motorbike.

(I have promised him a special treat and an IOU, so don’t worry!)

Wool Count

Starting total – 897

Wool used – 150 (2 this week!!)
Wool bought – 50
Wool given to me – 47
Wool gifted to others – 4
Wool handspun – 13

Total – 845 (Net total of 37 down!)

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by RoxyPosted on Posted in Knitting 1 Comment

Remember how two weeks ago I said:

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?!

Well, I did block my jumper as you saw last week, and this week it’s time to come clean about the mittens.

Oh the mittens.

In short, Felix has been asking for a pair of city mitts’ like mine, but cats. She spotted the pattern Flippy Kitten Mittens by Marna Gilligan in the ‘Cats knits’ book I was recently gifted…except they were adult sized.

Inkling saw these and also demanded them.

So I had them ‘shop’ for wool in my yarn stash and pick the colours they wanted. I measured their hands and, after some debate, settled on doing Inklings first as he didn’t want the flip part that turned the wrist warmers into mittens.

Easy, right?

I cast on for the pattern, dropped needle size, tweaked the stitch count, worked some math and measured all the way and…voila! First pair done!

Except the pattern is written so you have two different coloured cats on each mitten, and each hand has a different coloured cat on top, so they’re not identical. Inkling pointed out he had requested ginger cats on the tops of both mittens.

Ok, easy enough, I just flip the colours of what I did before. Except I didn’t.

Inkling was even less amused.

And so, I knit two more pairs, painstakingly triple checking I had flipped the colours to give:

Four pairs of mittens so he has matching ginger or grey or mix matched pairs. And if he loses one, doesn’t matter, there’s seven more to go!

Life has a habit of, just when you think you can easily alter something and knock it out because you think you have enough skillpoints in your knitting skill…and you roll a critical fail instead and end up with eight mittens…

Oh, and for those curious, here Felix’s:

She wanted them to be different coloured cats, and she wanted the flip top too. See below for a view of the tops of the mittens when folded over.

In other news, it’s busy on the project front, more on that when each one is ready, and work wise it’s pretty manic, so I’ve been doing overtime. Managed another session of Cthulhtu on Friday and it’s getting tense, cannot wait till the next session to see how they’re going to get out of their current mess! And aside from a playdate with Felix’s friend today, that’s about it. Oh, and snow.

Storm Arwen has mostly avoided us, but today we’ve had a steady torrent of snow. It’s finally stopped now, but with freezing temperatures predicted tonight, I suspect a cold and frosty morning will be in order!

No wool count as no changes this week!

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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

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 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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by RoxyPosted on Posted in Knitting 2 Comments

As you’ve already probably guessed by the title, I’m still working through the miles of blue cabled vests, and still knitting  ‘Kawaii Kittens’ by Louise Walker from the book ‘Mollie Makes Knitting’ as little breaks from the endless blue.

This one is different in that I didn’t follow the pattern exactly as written in the book as there isn’t a sushi cat pattern, so I changed the colours and pattern, and added a little prawn/shrimp on top to create…

I couldn’t resist going to get some sushi and soupy noodles as an excuse to get some cute photos! Here’s another, next to some shrimp nigiri, to show you the tail of the prawn/shrimp!

As well as getting sushi, it’s been an eventful week. There was some working from home to tie off all the loose ends of my job before I am fully done and start the next one. The kids are fast approaching the end of the school year so there’s a lot to do and organise with that. My roof sprung a leak which had to get fixed asap, with more work to be done when we can arrange the time and money for it. As well as this, my mum managed to finally visit us, and it’s been near two years since she last set foot in my house. Chaos and good times had by all, but I am thoroughly exhausted!

Which is why this is a day later than usual – feel better for getting some sleep and serious knitting time in, but more sleep and knitting is needed to recharge the batteries I think! Maybe some spinning too…

Wool Count

Starting total – 897

Wool used – 97 (7 this week)
Wool bought – 33
Wool given to me – 21
Wool gifted to others – 1
Wool handspun – 9

Total – 869 (no net change)

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by RoxyPosted on Posted in Knitting 2 Comments

Still working through miles of blue vests, so this week’s quick knit break was:

I’m definitely enjoying these cute knits far more than the vests, but alternating between is definitely helping knitting project burn out! The pattern for the Ice Cream Cat, like the Burger Cat, is a set of three cushion patterns called ‘Kawaii Kittens’ by Louise Walked from the book ‘Mollie Makes Knitting’. Popcorn cat is the remaining cat from the set, but I have plans to tweak the pattern to make other cute food variations…

Aside from the knitting, the rest of the time has been spent sorting out all my craft things (including ripping out a pile of old knitted projects in various states of completion which I had thrown into a naughty corner and forgotten about) and moving everything into the conservatory, sorting Engels things into piles for him to go through proper, and yesterday was a mammoth painting session – all the walls and ceiling are now painted, multiple coats required, especially on the ceiling, which is blue and now awaiting me to get the energy to paint some clouds on it.

Look forward to that, just waiting for the pain in my neck and shoulders to ease…

Hope you’ve all had a good week, and until next post, stay safe!

Wool Count

Starting total – 897

Wool used – 89 (1 this week)
Wool bought – 33
Wool given to me – 21
Wool gifted to others – 1
Wool handspun – 8

Total – 876

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