One finished jumper and easter bonnet

Once again I have been lax in getting these posts up but here goes:

I finally finished the jumper for Jbabe. I throughly enjoyed making it and putting it together, even if I thought I was finished, ironed it and found the sleeves were uneven so had to unravel one and do it again. Turned out I had decreased too early.

I am very pleased with the outcome of this and I look forward to making another, in fact it is fair to say I would be so pleased if my girls sported handmade stuff all the time, a bit ambitious but I would love jumpers, cardis and tops to be handmade. Neither are too fussed with dresses though I would definitely have a go at making some if they wanted.

I have a request from Kbabe to make something for her, as it is Spring has still not arrived and I could muster up a jumper, just worried it may suddenly heat up and she won't get the desired wear out of it, so I am looking for something that will keep her cool on warmer days.

Easter has obviously long past us by but I couldn't pop on and not share my 1st attempt at an Easter bonnet.

Kbabe gave me pretty much free reign over this and I decided everyone else would be using those weird looking chicks you see everywhere so I opted to make my own.I loved making this little guy, the pattern of which can be found on lucy ravenscar's blogspot and look forward to next easter as I have plans to go a bit over the top, probably to Mr RuthlessChaos dismay.

Till next time, be ruthless x

Where have you been...

Micro blogging is my weakness! I am on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and use FB and Instagram everyday whereas Twitter is more of a thoughtbank for me when I am out and about or before my tablet (BT). Anyways, I have finished the Ripple blanket and I absoulutely enjoyed making it and look forward to making more.

Try to ignore the cheeky older babe but this is where the ripple blanket lives when not in use

I am currently knitting the youngest babe a jumper in some lush 'King Cole Melody' wool that creates a purple ombre effect. It doesn't have a name but it is 100g of pure loveliness. 
The pattern was one I purchased at a charity shop. It's by 'Sirdar', no. 3499 and part of their 'Snuggly DK' range.
It's mostly in st-st though the ribbing calls for the usual k1, p1 etc.

Back half way through with pattern

Gorgeous ombre wool

I am enjoying the challenge that knitting brings, mostly that I have learnt to write the rows down (something I need to do in crochet too!), otherwise this would be an interestingly shaped scarf. Being my first time, I have miscalcualted the bottom ribbing but hey it's my first time and I only realised my mistake once I had finished the cuff on the sleeve. It's coming along nicely with the back done and 3/4 done with the first sleeve.

The finished back, I'm not sure why the top looks brown but I assure you it's lilac like the bottom. 

I like keeping my hands busy at night otherwise I am sitting thinking too much or even just to keep me out of the biscuit box. But thats a different blog altogether.

I have some requests from the older babe to knit her a green jumper, of which I have seen a pattern that I like so that will be my next knitted project, and my MIL has asked for a balaclava type hat, again I have found a picture/pattern which she likes so that may be my upcoming crochet project. I would post pictures of these but I have not purchased either at this stage and do not want to get in trouble for using other sources.
I have had a schoolfriend ask about making a ripple blanket, this is in the early development stages so may not happen, but to say I have enjoyed researching what wool there is and thinking of colour concepts would be an understatement.

My fave range which I may just purchase and make a blanket anyway teehee

This is again, a lush range, but it's pricey and only 50g but the colours are lovely

I'm a bit meh with this colour range but it can be tumble dried and is supersoft

There are some lovely colours out there, though so far I have only looked in 2 shops. I will be showing her these ranges later today to see what she thinks. I will keep update if this takes off, if it doesn't I have a concept anyways for the babes pushchair so I will just get on with that and the top range may become a blanket that I can gift to someone who has or is expecting a newborn.

Progress so far

Coming along nicely. I asked my hubby what he thought about how the colours would develop as after the pink I would've needed to either go back to red or as hubby said to go back through the colours backwards.
I had considered it but I never trust my instinct and consult the hubby most times abduction I'm really pleased with the way it's turning out. I'm not sure about length as it covers my legs width ways but it still needs a few more ripples. Am thinking I need 3 more complete rainbows to get it so it covers my legs so I'll aim for that for now.

Coming along nicely

<p>Just an update before I add the next 2 colours. I'm enjoying seeing this come together, with the weather going from freezing to warm, I want to get this done in time for cold afternoons/evenings to be spent with my girls. I'm not sure of length at the moment but it will end on a complete rainbow.

It's been too long!!! I got a few projects done or on the go. Mostly crochet stuff. I made a Zingy though he didn't turn out exactly the way I wanted (the beauty of crochet?). I used this pattern and it turned out really well, though I messed the 'flame up'. I will make another soon as I have a load of wool in that colour left over. I like the little guy, the adverts still make me smile after all this time.

Zingy, 1st attempt

I have completed my scarf using the merino multi-coloured wool i pictured in my last blog. I have now seen a hat pattern with the same bobble stitch so I am going to experiment with the same wool to see what the hat looks like. Not sure about the band but I like this one or this one, have not attempted ribbing in crochet but I love knitted ribbing and would love to master it in crochet. I like the idea of having a matching hat and scarf without going to a shop to buy them pre-made. The scarfs are never long enough and the hats never slouchy enough for my liking.


I did some bunting for the babies room and envisaged putting lettering on to personalise it but have yet to get that far. I gave myself till she actually spent her first night in there to complete and did meet my deadline albeit minus the lettering. I followed this pattern and want to make some christmas and halloween coloured ones as I do love bunting.

To letter or not...

I made myself a fast single crochet crochet holder as I was bored of rounding them up when I was looking for a size (and for safety reasons with small babes I like to make sure I have them all and put away). I broke my 2.00mm hook which made me sad as I bought them in a set off of Ebay so had to buy myself a new one. It was a bittersweet moment as I realised it was a more comfortable hook to work with as the groove was deeper allowing a better grasp of the yarn, still I feel my set is lacking the pizzazz it once held being multi-coloured.

Simple but effective, all my hooks in one place

I started an amigurumi dinosaur for the older babe and bought some dark green Aran wool (I know it's cygnet). I have been using a 3.50mm hook and it's coming along nicely. I messed the head up but then again, I prefer the eyes I did. I would like to make another in different coloured Aran wool so may stick to the pattern 100% and see what the babe makes of it.

Grr dinosaur

In need of legs and spikes

I am most excited about a rainbow ripple afghan I have just started. I have bought all the wool in the same brand and it is turning out nicely, though I have restarted it several times as I tried to get the hang of it. For some reason I kept increasing, but since starting it at the start of a drop i.e. (\), it is developing a straight edge . As I am trying to inject colour into my life via the material objects I use everyday. I often curl up on the sofa of an evening and I hope that when I am feeling down, wrapping myself in a rainbow will cheer me up, that and a nice cuppa. I want to an identical one for the babies pushchair but with holes for the straps as she throws things off her when she's grumpy. This is also something I want to make with Christmassy colours so we have something to make the sofa festive. I do like the idea of transforming our home into a wonderland for Christmas whilst the babes are young and it's exciting.

This is a labour of love, have restarted it several times to get it right

My rainbow ripple colours

This colour makes me think of strawberry milkshake

Speaking of the festive time of year, I was out in town and noticed one of the well known charity shops had decs up already (it was 31st August!) and another was advertising Christmas offers. I'm all for starting early though I am thinking making some bits for the kids in the family. I have an idea to make my babes some hats for the winter and have seen some fab in the style of 'Hello Kitty' ones. I'm not a great fan of brands though I make an exception for this as she is cute. I seen some bits and bobs and am wondering about putting some literal Christmas boxes together for my family and sending them down. I have some crafty ideas for certain members and seen some bits in the shops so it could be an interesting attempt.
I will post my progress of the blanket as it takes shape, as I said I am excited, though I know there are a million others that will look the same, it is my hours and effort going into making it and therefore I am excited for it to be completed.
I like to have 2-3 projects on the go at once as I like to do different ones at different times of the day (kids permitting). I have found the blanket is best done when they are napping or down for the night as they like to pull on the yarn or the developing fabric. My eldest will allow me to work on the dinosaur as she knows this is for her. For now though I will sign off and get these darlings to bed and find some piccies to put with this post. Happy hooking.

So I caved and had a look online and found a pattern for the amigurumi I was trying to do. I don't think I am really ready to design yet. I'll post pictures and a link to the site where I got it when I have completed. Guess I better unwind all my work...doh!

Been a bit naughty

This is what happens when you don't do anything for ages than you decide to step back into it. More like a mahoosive jump. But anyways, working on an arigurimi which I am designing so I don't want give too much away but I wanted to have a flat base so it will stand, though I may have to weight it, we'll see.

The wool is 4ply and the needles are 3.25mm which I plan to turn into socks/booties for nieces and nephews born or due to be. I want to be that aunty who knits and crochets the kids gifts. Might be a bit annoying but I love receiving.knitted goods for my girls as it says someone has taken their time and effort into making the gift. Nothing like a snuggly cardi either.