More knitting

Time is pretty much flying by at the moment. My job is really busy at the moment so I'm pretty brain dead when I get home hence the lack of posting here.

I have been knitting away. Here's my latest finish - Stevie by Sarah Hatton from a recent Rowan studio in Rowan wool cotton.



I've also been trying out some colourwork in the form of mittens. Mitten one is done so far. The pattern is by Garnstudio/Drops and was originally fingerless mitts but after the last two winters, I think mittens will be more useful.



I'm planning a relaxing weekend of crafting so hopefully I will have more progress to share soon.

Of sewing, secret knitting, splints and framing

The past couple of months have been quite busy with an annual stitching weekend away with friends, Knit Nation and just general life busyness.

Prior to Knit Nation, I had agreed to test knit some lovely new sparkle yarn from Old Maiden Aunt yarns, ready for it's launch at Knit Nation. The yarn is merino sparkle in the shade Dreich and the pattern is Undine.



Another thing that has been taking up my time of late is sewing. I grew up with a Mum who made a lot of my clothes. My mum spent many years working in clothing factories as a sewing machinist. I have sewn clothes in the past with her help but I decided recently that I'd like to try to sew on my own.

So far I finished a Wrap style blouse in some very basic black fabric. This was my testing garment to see if I could do it.

Last week, I moved on to a tunic top with a concealed zip. The pattern is Juliet tunic by Serendipity design studio. It was a little tricky as I had to adapt adjust the skirt part of the tunic to fit my hips and lengthen it. The having to lengthen the skirt section blew my mind as I'm really not tall, only 5ft tall. Usually I have the exact opposite problem. But it now fits really well.

My most recent finish was another wrap blouse from the same pattern. I've altered it somewhat at the arms and shoulders so it fits better.

I've also managed to frame up a recent cross stitch that I already had the frame for.

The only downside lately has been a further recurrence of my previous hand problem so my right hand has been strapped up in a splint for the past month or so and I'm currently having more physiotherapy to try and resolve it. Thankfully it seems to have improved over this weekend so I'm feeling a bit more hopeful about it that I was last week.

Race for life update

Well the Race for life was yesterday and it went very well. I managed to finish in 48 minutes 50 secs which I was very pleased with as I thought I was going much slower than last year but I ended up finishing quicker.

My Sister and I before the run.

Me crossing the line.

My sister, my mum and I after the run. My mum couldn't run this year but is planning to take part next year.

The post race scene.

There's still time to donate and win a prize in my Race for life draw. My donation page is at Race for life and I've listed the rules/prizes for the draw in my last post. As of tonight, including some off line donations that aren't on my online page, my total is sitting at £243, which I'm very pleased with. A very big thank you for all that have donated.

Prize Draw for Cancer Research

Just like last year, I'm going to be participating in the Race for Life 5km for Cancer Research. Its a 5km women runner only event for Cancer Research, the leading UK charity for research into the causes and treatment of all cancers. Cancer Research does amazing work and they have a great website full of useful and accurate information for Cancer patients and their carers. I use their site a lot in my work with cancer patients so its a cause close to my heart.

Last year Lilith of Old Maiden Aunt yarns donated a gift voucher for her webstore as a prize for a draw for anyone who donated to my sponsor page. I'm very pleased to say that Lilith has repeated her offer again and has offered some prizes for anyone who donates.

The first one is a kit for Fugue, a design by the very talented Kate Davies, knitted in lovely OMA yarn.

The prize is for the full kit. She has also offered a couple of skeins of her lovely merino sock yarn as separate prizes.

In addition, I'm offering a prize of a pair of hand knitted socks to fit the person who wins this prize. I'm hoping to have a couple of more prizes to offer which I will sort out in the next day or so.

So how can you win one of these lovely prizes. Well its pretty simple. Donate to my Race for life page using the link at top right of my blog page or visit my fundraising page to donate. Due to the rules regarding Gift aid, you can't gift aid your donation if you wish to be entered into the prize draw. Any donation of whatever size would be greatly appreciated. The race is on the 5th of June and I will keep the draw open for a week after the race.

More knitting finishes

The knitting production line continues here at the moment. The Baby Yoda outfit went down very well and the Father to be is very pleased with it. He went looking on line to see what I might be knitting for a baby that was Star Wars related and I have apparently exceeded his expectations.

I've finished the remaining baby knits and handed them over. The mum to be has promised a picture of the baby wearing the Yoda outfit once he makes his appearance.

First up, another pair of tiny shoes in Yoda green

And a Ten stitch blanket in some James Brett marble chunky

Karoline asked in the comments, what pattern I used for the light saber in the last post. Well I used this one that I found on Ravelry. Its really just a jumbo felted icord.

As well as the baby knitting, I've also managed to finish knitting something for me. The Pattern is Milkweed by Laura Chau and the yarn is Handmaiden Camelspin.

I was hoping to perhaps get some stitching done this weekend but my body has managed to conspire against me. On Friday night on my way home from work, I managed to trip up on the stairs and on my way down, I put my hand out to save me. Unfortunately I put out my right hand that I fell on last year and I also had my keys in my hand. I've managed to flare up the previous injury again. Thankfully I can knit/write and type but anything that involves pinching my thumb and first finger together is uncomfortable and painful. That rules out stitching for a few days until it settles. Hopefully it will settle soon.

May the fourth

Today being Star Wars day, I have a very appropriate knitting finish to share. One of my work colleagues is due to have her first baby very soon. Both she and her husband are fairly geeky (like me) and her husband is a huge Star Wars fan. When I mentioned that I planned to knit some things for the baby, she was very keen and the idea of some more non traditional knits appealed to her.

So I knitted a outfit very appropriate for a new born Jedi - Baby Yoda Hat and sweater with felted baby sized light saber




I knitted a couple of other things also

Tiny Shoes designed by Ysolda Teague in Old Maiden Aunt Sock yarn in Lon Dubh



And one of my favourite baby knits - Little pumpkin hat from Itty bitty Hats



I'm in the process of finishing a blanket and some baby socks, pictures to follow. The Mum to be is finishing up work in a couple of weeks so I'm planning to get the baby knitting finished for this weekend so I can hand over the gifts next week.

Whoosh

Time seems to have been a bit of a blur since my last post at Christmas. Lots of things going on - lots of knitting, beading and some sewing. I have one less tooth that I did the last time I posted as the dental problems I posted about last time got much worse and I was pretty ill for a few days. When you combine that with lots of horrible weather, work stress and lots of other things including an issue from my last job, it adds up to several weeks of me not really coping with life so well. I had a very down spell which I've thankfully come out the other side of now.

Life is onwards and upwards now and I'm looking forward to some time off that I've got coming up courtesy of the Easter Holidays and the Royal Wedding. Hopefully that will mean lots of knitting/sewing/general crafty time. Meanwhile here's a picture of the Laminara shawl that I finished in January. It definitely converted me to Estonian lace knitting. The yarn is some Shetland laceweight that I bought at the Iknit day 2 years ago for the bargainous price of £2.99 for 640 metres.