{kid's clothes week}

If you've been following along with kid's clothes week over at elsie marley this week, you'll be aware that it's already day seven. As in, finish up. Scissors down. The end. I would love to have a beautiful finished something to show you. Or even an ugly, badly-sewn finished something to show you. 

But no. Instead, this is my progress, after a week:

The book has been opened. The pattern has been printed. The pieces have been cut. The end. Not one stitch has been sewn, so far, on the designer baby bubble dress that is to be Tilly's party outfit. But all eight -- yes, eight -- of the ruffles have been cut out, and I have a feeling this will either be the most impressive thing I've ever created, or the most impressive thing I never create...

Christmastime, Mistletoe and Twine

Over the past week, I've been knitting up a Christmas cardigan for Tilly with this gorgeous red-and-white striped wool, using this free pattern. I love how the two-toned wool comes together -- not too pepperminty, not much too like a candy cane -- and looks like it would be right at home on a little Danish baby!

And all that striped wool inspired me to pull out the roll of baker's twine. Our house at Christmas is almost all red and white (with the exception, of course, of the Russian Doll cones!) and so baker's twine is a perfect compliment.

(source)

Use it to string up decorations:

(source)

To tie a gift bag closed:

(tutorial)

To keep your Christmas cookies neatly in a pile:

(source)

Or, for a bit of simple charm, it would look lovely just wound around an old wooden spool:

(source)

So, don't let ribbon have the monopoly on Christmas trim again this year -- give baker's twine a try! And, as always, please post a link if you do, as I'd love to see!

(linking to My Creative Space today!)

New Projects

It's been a lovely weekend-- part relaxation, part getting-things-done. We went to the cinema, barbequed four of the best sausages I've ever eaten, cleaned the shed, and Justin 'fixed' the vacuum cleaner (i.e. took it apart, cleaned it, reassembled it, and then found I'd been trying to use it while it was on the 'hose' setting... oops!) so I could do a major clean around here.

I've got a few new craft projects on the go, too.

Firstly, a little wool soaker to put over the baby's nappy, which should turn out a bit like this (but in red, of course!):

(Pattern from here)

I love knitting for the baby, as it's so calming, and I feel like all the emotions I feel go right into the wool! And this will actually be a doubly heart-felt soaker, as I knitted the entire thing with a twist in it the first time (assuming, incorrectly, that knitting in the round would 'sort itself out'!) and had to start over.

Secondly, a quilt for Justin (probably for Valentine's day... but maybe 'just because' if I finish earlier or later!)

I'm hoping to make something like the quilt my Mum just made for my Dad's birthday, from special old shirts that no longer fit (or have been quietly moved from the wardrobe for fashion reasons!).

Mum's quilt, from her lovely blog, here

(Stop by and visit... you'll love it!)

So, plenty to do!

And... we should find out if our newest family member will be a boy or girl this Thursday, hopefully, thanks to a kind friend with after-hours access to an ultrasound machine! EXCITING!

(My bet's on boy, by the way!)

On the Needles

I'm really working hard on Christmas gifts at the moment, and have decided that warm and cosy fingerless mittens are the way to go this year!

Right now, I'm finishing up a pair for my brother, (who never reads this, so I'm safe!) in the colours of his favourite English football team: Newcastle United.

As he's quite a tall guy, I changed my normal pattern a bit. I found that ribbing the mittens all the way from wrist to fingers looked a bit strange when stretched over big hands, so I simply did the cuff in rib stitch, and then stocking stitched the rest.

A very easy pattern for these 'Man Mitts':

I used two colours (A: black, B: grey), and size 9 needles

Cast on 36 stitches

Rows 1-4: Use colour A, rib stitch (knit 2, purl 2, repeat)

Rows 5-6: Use B, rib stitch

Rows 7-8: Use A, rib stitch

Rows 9-12: Use B, rib stitch

Rows 13-14: Use A, rib stitch

Rows 15-16: Use B, rib stitch (B can be cut as it won't be used again)

Rows 17-18: Use A, rib stitch

Rows 19-40: Use A, stocking stitch (knit one row, purl the next row, repeat)

Cast off!

How easy? So really, you just make a big patterned rectangle, and then take the two sides together and sew it up with mattress stitch (leaving room just above the last stripe of B for the thumb).

Enjoy!

xo

Things I Heart Tuesday

I tried my hand at inventing a knitting pattern today, and came up with a rather deformed, but pretty recognisable heart! I couldn't really find a pattern for knitted hearts anywhere online, and my goal was to work it out and put the pattern up for others to use, but I think it still needs a bit of work before people would want to! But, hey, it's got personality. :)

So, here are three things I heart:

Mrs. Beaver, willing model and great company-keeper while I knit!

Rusty things in general... I love that aged metal orangey-brown colour

Reading! And writing! And books! And bookshops! And stacking my books... these really should never have been unpacked, but I couldn't bear to not see them for three months!