London Roads Pot Holder

Here is a Pot Holder I have done as part of a swap, I used a block called London Roads with a slight alteration the corner squares should be 1 half & 2 quarter triangles to make up the square I have changed it to 2 half triangles to make the square I have added a piece of Brown ribbon for a hanger on the back so it can be hanged up

Socks For DH

Well another pair of socks these are for DH he okay with them but don't really go mad on the multi colours would much prefer solid/plain colours even if I used different colours on heel & toe still he lucky I even want to knit for him lol

It was our Wedding Anniversary on Thursday (12th) & it snowed that evening even on the day we got married we had a blizzard so nothing new there it was a quiet evening in & today being Valentine's day again not doing anything special but I did get some lovely Yellow Roses & a double CD of Buddy Holly who said Romance is dead, I guess as when we went on our honeymoon I packed a card for him & he didn't even know it was Valentine's day two days later so never got anything since then he never forgets lol well I hope that all who read this will be having or had a wonderful day with their Love One

Butterfly Hot Pad

Here a hot pad that I have done some call them Pot Holders I taken a Butterfly picture from panels & have turned it in to the centre piece of the hot pad, i have used Insul Bright 1 layer & a layer of polyester type wadding this is a test one it will be for me but wanted to see how it turned out not bad.

I have been busy looking at some books on Amazon UK & have ordered 2 books one by Leisure Art it is "Antique Quilts Recreated" the other one is "Making Antique Quilts" by Rita Weiss I love the old quilts so these may give me some inspiration for future projects

Snow in Burton Latimer

We have had a good lot of snow we had snow on Sunday that disappeared with more Snow Monday in to Tuesday that was a fair amount then overnight we have had this lot they say we may get more.
Seems no buses are running around here being a village they have the small buses the big double Decker one that comes has to come down a road that the police have closed lorries have become stuck.
It funny but i remember when i was a kid it could be much worst than this & i my school never closed yet now they close & everything seems to come to a stop i guess the modern generation are as tough as we & my parents generations were also we got snow most winters now this is the first for a while they say it the worst for 20 years

Puss in the Corner Blocks

Here are 4 blocks I did they are call Puss in the Corner I had originally done these for a swap but they came out small, I am blaming my DH as the whole time i was sewing he kept calling me & need my help for a job he as doing I know I cut the fabric correctly as I have checked but they came out small so have to do some more.

I have done one already different block totally it is slightly harder yet came out fine so not sure what went wrong i will be able to use them in something no doubt or if i need them a little bigger I could border them so they won't go to waste

Front & Reverse side of Pinwheel Quilt

I have finished the Quilt below is it done & the photo to side is showing a closer view of top in part & the reverse side which is a flannel fabric which has Nursery Rhymes themes on it such a Hey diddle ect.

I am rather pleased with the outcome of it I used a soft & bright wadding (batting) for this so it warm but light in weight, which I think is good for a young child.

While doing the sewing during the day I have managed to be knitting in the evenings while watching some TV & have finished one sock & have started on another so will finish them this week.

As to next project I do have a couple of tops that I need to know what to do with one will make a single bed size quilt (3ft bed) while the other could be a lap quilt or may be a tablecloth am not too sure with that one yet, the single bed one is nice just not sure who I could do it for or should I do it for my home as I have single beds in one room will decide later as to what to do or who for.

Finished Pinwheel Quilt

Finished Pinwheel Quilt

Pinwheel Top

I finished the Pinwheel Top I have done the sashing (the in between blocks) in WoW (white on white) fabric & done the borders in a purple, I can thank my DH for those two choices as I asked for his imput & he said what he thought would go so I looked at what I had in my fabric stash & came up with these.

I am more than pleased with how it gone so far & hope to cut the wadding (batting) & the backing fabric in the next few days

Pinwheel Blocks

I have been sewing I have sewn the triangles which is 16 trianges of each colour then I had to put 4 triangles to make 1 block I done 4 blocks of each colour so got 16 blocks of the Pinwheel pattern block to put in to a quilt each block at present is 8.5 inches so it will give a size of 32 inches by 32 inches before I put any borders on or if i do any sashing not full sure how I will do yet, you will see when I done it

Jacket for a 1 year old

I Just finished a jacket for my grandniece's first birthday it not just yet but thought I get it done.

I used a yarn that similar to Sidar Snowflake Chunky as this is a pain to cast on or even pick up I decided on using a Aran yarn for the ribs that a nice Lilac & I used 4.5mm needles for the body I used 5.5mm needles, the yarn is a sort of bobble yarn but is so soft the colour is Mauve.

Benjamin

Here is a photo of my youngest Grandchild who was 1 yesterday he is Benjamin, a rough & tumble sort of chap he will try all sorts of foods as well he like his dad he loves his food lol

Confetti Yarn Scarf

Here is the first of two scarves I am doing I am using the same yarn Sidar Confetti but different colours this one is called Eggshell the other one which is more a mint colour both are done on 7mm needles & I have just done a garter stitch I am still working on the 2nd scarf, this is taking 3 balls of yarn which are 50gms each ball.

Once you can get the cast on & first row done it fairly easy, the yarn is not the easiest to work with & hard if you either drop a stitch or have to undo any as it a bobble style with the thread being thinner but it does feel so soft when knitted up.

Merino Wool Socks

I finished a pair of socks these are for me, well I thought I would be the guinea pig for a change lol the yarn is 50% Merino wool 25% Bamboo & 25% Polyamid the yarn is what I got from Germany it felt lovely & soft before I knitted it & it has knitted up very nice, & I have enough yarn over to do another pair just shorter leg should do it.

I have been ordering some yarns for me to do some gifts out off & am waiting on that to be delivered plus I have ordered some patterns for the yarn I ordered plus some baby patterns, the patterns are really nice & they use a chunky yarn which is very unusual as normally most patterns are done in Double Knit so will be interesting to see how they go when I do them I do have some nice Lilac chunky yarn so that will do nicely

Reversible Triangles Dish/Face Cloth

As you can see I have been busy, I finished a dish/face cloth last night it is called Reversible Triangles a interesting one to do only 6 rows to the pattern so a fairly easy one which I needed to do as the evening before we had visitors who stayed overnight so while I was chatting I needed something that I didn't have worry too much about.

I may start another pair of socks but using some yarn I haven't tried yet it feels so soft & I am hoping it knits as well as it feels, these will be for me.

I hope to get a block done as I need to get at least one block done for a swap I do have I think about 6 to do so all the blocks are done but one will keep me on track for now.

Plain Coloured Back Scrubber

Here is another back scrubber but done in a Plain colour it a Mint Green colour & it looks nice just in a plain colour as it does in Variegate yarns

Knitted Back Scrubber

Wishing you all the very best for the Season, well I have been knitting Back Scrubbers or as some call it a Loafer I did one which I gave as part of a Christmas present to my DSIL where we was for Christmas dinner, I done another one which you can see, the pattern is from http://knittingbunny.blogspot.com/2008/10/scrubber.html I quite like knitting these as it mindless knitting while watching TV so it handy.

I am not sure what my next project will be it will be knitting as I know i won't do any quilting until at least the New Year, I have ordered some wadding ready for projects next year I ordered some Insul Bright which is a Heat Resistant one plus I ordered some Soft & Bright & Warm & Natural I have not used either of these two so it be nice to try, I have used the Insul Bright before & as i want to do some Pot Holders (Hot Pads) plus some Placemats I know I will need some, I got a book called 101 Fun-To-Quilt Pot Holders so will have plenty of ideas from the book to do them.

Well if I don't post again before the New Year I would like to take this time to wish all of you & your families a Very Healthy Happy New Year

Kayleigh's Socks

Here is the latest pair of socks these are for my eldest granddaughter who is 14 the colour is not too good they are browns going from dark to light beige colour.

Well I am glad to say that I now got all the 3 pairs I needed to do done & will wrap them & post them off for their Christmas present I didn't take them when I went to see all of them last week as i wanted to make sure I had all done.

If I don't get a chance to wish all of those who read this here is Wishing you all a Very Merry Christmas & a Extra Happy New Year

Aiden's & Rebecca's Socks

Well I have finished 2 of the 3 pairs of socks I have to do for 3 of my DGC these are my daughter's 3 children, I have done Aiden who will be 10 in January the same as DH's socks as I had enough yarn over from them to do the same & what boy don't like camoflauge, Rebecca's socks are bright as that is what she likes she is a bubble 12 year old girl, while the last pair I have to do which will be for Kayleigh who is 14 are more subdue dark colours as that is more her type of colours.

I have decided that once the holidays are over that I really need to get down to doing more I have a fabric & a yarn stash so come next year some of it will be turned in to a gift stash so I may be ready for next Christmas even if I wasn't for this one plus with the way things are going financially all over the world it may be a wise thing to do plus I don't know about any of you reading this but i would rather have something that cost a little but was hand-made than something that cost a lot that was shop bought.

Greg's Camouflage Socks

Well I have finished my DH's 2nd pair of socks these are more like commando socks with the camouflage colouring lol I use a 4 ply yarn it called Twister it yarn I got from Germany it knits up nice & is good length for a 100g ball.
I think I may have enough over to do a small adults pair of socks so may do myself a pair at a later date.
Not sure what is next on the needles, had to laugh as I took the socks to take the photo & then went back in to the sitting room with them & DH said well can I have MY socks back they are mine lol this is someone who is not bothered if I knitted him a pair or not lol, I do think I will stick to plain colours for him while he will wear these & another colour in same yarn I know he much prefers plain colours so it depends on if I can get the colours in sock yarn at a good price as it does seem that this self-patterning type yarn is much more available or at least where I am looking on the net, if I do find some then it does tend to be much more expensive.

Toddler's Aran Cardigan

I finished the Toddler's Aran Cardigan, what a nightmare the knitting of the parts was fine but the bands well the pattern wasn't very good it called for way too little stitches to be picked up & the way they say to do it seem to me wrong comparing to other patterns i have done cardigans with so i have decided not to do the leggings if i have the trouble with them like i have with the cardigan & i done cardigans before i would get really annoyed with them so am not going to bother, as luck has it it is a cardigan that looks okay on it own.

I will at least be able to now start something else not sure if i will do some more socks or what yet will decide later, after i have done some housework well i been putting it off so better do it while i can lol

Aran Cardigan/Jacket so Far

I have finished the back & left front on the Aran Cardigan/Jacket that I am working on I should finish the right front & possible one sleeve today if I can knit & not have to do or go anywhere.

This is a toddlers set that I am doing it will have leggings to match something I can't say I remember doing before if I have it was when my children was small & the youngest is 32 lol the set also has a hat & mittens which can be done depending on how I feel & how long it takes will depend on if they get done

Black Socks

Well I have finished the pair of socks I was doing for my DH he being as he is didn't want any self-patterning yarn & only likes plain colours for the main part I do have some yarn he said he may like but would wait to see it knitted up.

So I used some black 4 ply yarn & as you can see finished the pair I have this time used a row counter so I know that the size for both socks will be the same as I find that measuring when on the DPs needles can be a little inaccurate.

Bless him when I have given them to him today he said that one pair won't last very long, but I said that I will wait to see how he gets on with them he is diabetic so has very sensitive feet if they are okay I will of course be knitting many more pairs but hope to use a little lighter yarn as I found that I need extra lights on when knitting in the evenings.

My next project well have a few ideas I am thinking of doing a toddlers jacket for my Niece's daughter she 8 months old not sure as to what yarn I will I will decide when I look through all my patterns I have the yarn in my stash, i am thinking a Lilac chunky yarn or a Mint Green or a beige/Tampa colour Aran I will know when I sorted the pattern out so watch this space

Special Olympic Scarf

I have finished the scarf for the special Olympics details can be found at

http://www.coatsandclark.com/Crafts/Crochet/Features/Special+Olympics.htm I like to thank my friend Karen who was kind enough to send me the yarn as we don't get this over here in the UK so it not just my efforts it her's as well.

I don't know if many of you find the smaller items seem to take longer to do than say a adults garment for the size i am not sure if it just me who may be don't knit as much if i am working on a smaller item rather than a adults or even a child's jacket.

I heard on Friday that my Niece is expecting again so i will be a Great Aunt yet again i am in fact a Great Great aunt makes me sound so old lol i am of course also a Grandmother & will be off to see them tomorrow (Monday 3rd)

Here in the UK on Wednesday is Bonefire Night also know as Guy Fawkes this is where he & others in 1605 tried to blow up our Houses of Parliament you can read more at http://www.bonfirenight.net/gunpowder.php now as kids we use to make a Guy this is a like a scarecrow & in days before the 5th of November we would be in the street saying Penny for the Guy & with all the money we collected we could buy our fireworks or more if our parents had got us some, i have not seen kids doing this for Many Years now but i know that i use to enjoy it it was fun it was a time when things were safer & innocent now everyone says it begging but if i saw children doing i give them a little something but i don't think a Penny would go far not like when i was a kid lol

I am hoping to make a start on my next knitting project this afternoon possible my DH socks to see how they come out it will be in some black 4 ply yarn & i will let you know how they go

Quilting Blocks

I have managed to do some Quilting Blocks i have done 4 the same as these are for a lottery on my quilting group, where members have signed up to do how ever many they wish for each block your name goes in, so lucky person is going to win quite a lot of block which will make a very nice quilt or two, i uesd cream on cream fabric with a sort of autumn colour for two blocks & deep red/burgundy for the other fabric the block is called Arrowhead Puzzle & can be found at http://www.quilterscache.com/A/ArrowheadPuzzleBlock.html if your interested to see it.

Sad news

Well it been a month since I last posted, & it been quite a month my mum came out of hospital but was still not well & I spent from end of September until she passed away on 5th Oct 2008 while I was there I did 1st of a pair of socks I finished it while she was able to see it & she loved it even while she was getting weaker she still wanted to see the pattern I would be doing for my next sweater & she had a copy with her patterns so I showed her it.
The day before she died in her sleep her hands was going as if she was knitting, I like to think Old Knitters Don't Die they Purl Their Way to Heaven which is where my mum is now she at peace & free of pain.
I have just finished the 2nd sock of the pair which is what the picture is of, it Regia yarn the self-patterning ones, I am pleased with the way they have come out.
I also have posted a photo of me & my Mum when we were on Holiday in Scotland some years back & just looking at the photo brings back some lovely memories of her & we had a great holiday to boot
So this post is in Memory of my mum Nellie Smith born 6th May 1911 died 5th Oct 2008 age 97 She was buried in the Prayer Shawl I had knitted her which is shown in a earlier posting, She will live on in my heart & my knitting as she is the one who taught me to Knit Thank You Mum

Project Finished

Well I did finish the 2ND sock the other day, but my mum has gone in to hospital again so not had much time on the computer to post, I have also finished a cross between a dishcloth & a towel it just going to be used as a cover for DH PlayStation I used two oddballs of yarn a plain black which i did the rib in garter stitch then I changed to a variegated yarn which is black, grey & white & i did the body in that before changing back to the black the pattern of the body a free pattern i got off http://traciknits.blogspot.com/2008/05/basket-rib-hand-towel-free-pattern.html it was more a use up project than anything that I was going to use as a towel I do like the pattern & hope to do more of these out of some nice yarn, the yarn I used is fine for what i wanted it for but wouldn't really like it for a dishcloth or a towel, i may have used it for a mat for the tea tray it too dark for my taste but fine for things like a cover or tea tray.
I hope to start a new project later today not sure what as yet you know in my next post

My First Knitted Heel Sock

I have finished my first sock with a heel that you knit as you are doing it, I have only in the past done tubular or 2 Needle ones which you sew up the heel I used 6ply Regia yarn, I had started using the pattern from Coats Crafts which is a free pattern for Regia yarn but when it came to the heel I just couldn't understand it & was going to give up it was as if little green men had written the pattern lol so i was going to do a tubular one so while looking at patterns I had printed off I found one that I could understand, & it used the same number of stitches that I had used on my one anyway so I could carry on the photo is the result.
I been to see my mum today & took her the shawl I knitted her & she loved it so I have to do more for her but will see if I can find a different pattern more of a wrap type but we see. She did ask to see her jumper again that is in her wardrobe & she even commented about me lending her the pattern to knit one but i don't think she would really be able to not now after all she is 97 & has trouble holding things but it would be nice as I remember her always knitting & she still was up to about a year or less ago

Knitted Prayer Shawl

Well I finished the Knitted Prayer Shawl for my mum, I was using the remainder of the Aran yarn I used in my Aran Sweater, so I ran out of yarn to be able to put the pockets on, if my mum likes it I & would like another I will do one with pockets, for those who wish to see the shawl with the pockets you can see it at the site I bought the pattern from which is at the link below
http://www.e-patternscentral.com/detail.html?prod_id=4248&cat_id=3
I will be taking this to my mum at the week-end, I now have to think what to start next I not made up my mind yet, so it may be a small item such as dishcloths, or socks (not that i am any good at doing them lol) or a larger item such as another Aran Sweater or Cardigan just thinking about it for the present

Winter Jacket/Coat Finished

Well I have just finished my winter Jacket/coat this morning I just put on the buttons. i am sort of pleased with it the yarn wasn't as nice as i hoped it was not the sort that was well twisted so had to be careful when knitting with it & even sewing up but it done which i am glad of.It taken longer than i expected but having 3 of my grandchildren here for a few weeks & my daughter for a week it cut in to my knitting.I hope to get started on a shawl for my mum today i will use the remainder of the peach Aran yarn i use for my Aran sweater so it will be warm for her the pattern comes from the Knitted Prayer Shawls pattern book which i got off e-pattern central it has pockets each side so it should be handy but i will wait to do the pockets until i finish the shawl as you never know being that i am using a different yarn well i can't get most of the yarns that USA get here in the UK i have to substitute yarns.

Still have the grandchildren here & their mum, she taken them to London for the day so we have a peaceful day which is nice, it great having the grandchildren here but it will be great also when they go I think 3 weeks is a long time to have them here we not as young as we was lol also I really need to give the place a good clean but all I am doing is moving things from one place to another lol
I found a nice site today which was sent to me by my friend Ruth it has quilting, knitting & other crafts & you can buy patterns which are either singular or in a book or even e-magazines & so if your in a different country it don't matter as you download them, i got a Knitted Prayer Shawl book & a quilting one Log Cabin Treasures both are great books & i got a 20% discount on the price so am happy the site if you wish to look at it go to http://www.e-patternscentral.com/ it certainly has a few different crafts to choose from.
Here in the UK we still waiting on Summer it feels more like Autumn & we been having & still will have showers some very heavy & lasting hours i think we missing Summer this year at this rate, i am still working on my winter jacket/coat & at this rate will need it sooner rather than later i am at least on the last sleeve so once that finished it then put it all together & do the bands & collar not sure if that will be before the week-end i have some buttons but not sure if the size is right i do want something that makes it look like a coat rather than just any old button so we see how i do when i get to that point.