I like the cables, I really do

Hello and welcome! My FO today is near and dear to my heart--my second ever Aran jumper! It took me about 5 months to  knit (off and on) and I finished it way back in March and didn't get around to posting it (due to the move). So here she is, in all her cabled glory!

My first Aran knit was a project I finished for my Mum-in-law for my Grandma, I posted about it here. I had so much yarn left over, that I decided I'd make a sweater for myself. I call it my feed mill sweater, because I plan on it keeping me warm during work in the winter. One of the many layers I'll be wearing.

It is a free pattern, raglan aran pullover, by Hayfield. I loved knitting this, and I even liked that it was sewn. There is something so satisfying about finishing a section and starting the next. I wasn't too sure about the first at first, because it is shorter than a traditional Aran jumper, but I've grown to really like it. The yarn is Hayfield bonus tweed. I did have to buy a small amount to finish, but really, I needed less than 100g's to do so.

If you haven't ever knit an Aran jumper, I do recommend it. It is so very addictive and fun!

Sometimes I need help

Hello! We are having some cooler weather this week in Michigan (Polar Vortex anyone?) and I'm not going to lie, I'm loving it. In fact, I'm loving the weather this summer in general. Except when it gets humid. I do not like that. When I'm not knitting, I work outside (to have money to buy yarn and food), and it can get to be a bit much in the summer. But so far, I can't really complain (except for that one really bad day).

One of the baskets my Grandma made, she's super talented

What I am doing right now, pretty much exclusively, is working on my Braid Hills cardigan. The construction is interesting, and keeps me on my toes. So much in fact, that after I had all the separate pieces put onto waste yarn (per the instructions), I looked at it in despair. Then I showed my clever husband the piece, and the picture, and he helped me see how it would work out in the end. So nice to have someone to help me see past my own confusion!
 

The sleeve caps are made using Sunday Short Rows, which I think are pretty brilliant. I'd never done sleeves this way, and I love it so far. I can't wait to try it on when I get further along.

Right now I'm also loving the library. I do like my Kindle, but I haven't touched it since we moved to this town with its glorious library. The girls and I go once a week, and this past week I checked out the knitting section. So big! So many books to peruse. I couldn't resist the hat book!
 

And I just finished the Collector of Dying Breaths. It was an interesting read, but I had a wee bit of a hard time investing in the characters/story. I'd say three stars.

And that's it for me this week. I won't have a FO for weeks at the rate I'm knitting this cardigan, but I am so enjoying it. The yarn is such a gorgeous color. 

Happy Crafting! 

Mum Green's Gift

In December 2012 my husband lost his Mum to cancer. She was a wonderful lady with a funny sense of humor and a love of knitting--mostly Aran jumpers. Lots and lots of jumpers for my girls when they were little, which I've saved safely away for when they have little ones of their own. She knit me at least 4 sweaters, my Grandma got a couple, my aunt at least three, even my Dad received an Aran jumper. We miss her every day, and I think of her often when I knit. She was the only one (aside from you blogland friends) that ever cared about what I was knitting, and why.

When Mum got sick for the last time, she was working on a cardigan for my Grandma. They met at our wedding and hit it off immediately. Here is an excerpt from an email of Mum's, 9 May, 2012:

How is the knitting going? I am not sure how you find the time. I have at long last finished that cardigan I was doing. Four times I had to pick up 340 stitches - three times it was all wrong. Talk about patience. So I have been sitting here wondering what on earth I can knit next. As you know I hate knitting for myself anyway, no incentive. I was wondering if your Gran would like another jacket/cardigan. Remember i did one for her a year or two ago. You will definitely remember because I nearly drove you mad when I was convinced it was not going to get there! Thing is, I have found a pattern which will not be too detailed (like your Dad’s was) in one of my Aran books. What do you think? I don’t want to do the Aran colour AGAIN but perhaps if you ever get a minute to spare, you could look online at the Knitwell Catalogue where they sell this Bonus Aran (400g. balls) and see if there is any colour she might like. Most of them are very bright, but one or two paler shades One I thought of was called “something storm” I cannot remember now but then I thought it looked a bit gray and she maybe would not like that. Difficult really. On the other hand you might think she maybe does not want one at all!!!! Anyway, when you have time – I can always knit squares!

In November, when Mum knew she really was ill for the last time, Dave was down for a visit. When he left she gave him the bag with her knitting, the wool, and the pattern book. He was crushed when he brought it home to me. I was so sad, it went straight into the cupboard, and there is sat, for months and months, across the ocean to Australia, and back into the cupboard. I couldn't decide if I wanted to finish the cardigan, or just leave it there in the closet, forever. One day I was discussing it with my Mom, and she said I really had to finish, because that is what Mum wanted when she gave it to Dave to brig home to me. I knew she was right, but oh what a road I had ahead of me. Mum had finished 3/4 of the back, and that left a whole lot of cardigan for me to complete.

And that is how Mum's last Aran jumper became my first. I picked it up around June, and I knit it in fits and spurts until my Mom arrived for holiday in December. She said if I could finish it before she left at the end of January, she'd deliver it to my Grandma in Michigan in February. THAT is what I needed, a deadline and a freezing cold winter in the USA. I finished it with a week to spare, and my Grandma loves it.

For several years now I've been focused on knitting in the round, with no seaming if I can at all avoid it. This jumper is seamed, and I loved making it. I loved that I could do it a piece at a time, and make other things without losing my place in the pattern. I really enjoyed making it, and I love how it turned out. I love that my Grandma, who I love dearly and was a good friend to my Mother-in-law can wear a hug that comes from both of us.

Have needles, will travel

Not a bad view from our holiday cottage, the girls asked if they could stay just a bit longer!

I'm back home from a short holiday on the Isle of Skye, just in time for WIP Wednesday!  Even though I've been doing a bit of sight seeing (nothing like a staycation and dry weather), I've been trying to work on a few projects as well. 

The market bag is getting some sides:

This pattern is free, and actually popped up on my Facebook page yesterday for the Crocheting Club.  For once, I'm ahead of the game.  Ha!

 

I cast on a new pair of socks, with some Paton's yarn my parents brought me.  I love the colours. I know you can't see the pattern in the picture, but I'm only two repeats in so there isn't much to see just yet.  I'm making hermiones everyday socks

I finished that hat I was working on for my Mom, so as soon as I can get a picture of it I'll get it posted.  She looks great in hats!

Lastly, if you would care to see any of my photos from Orkney, you can see them here.  It was incredibly foggy, but still great fun.  Good-bye from me, until next week!

A tartan what?

Hello crafty friends, I am feeling happy it is Friday.  Why?  Well I'm getting my hair cut today.  I know, no big deal.  I hate getting hair cuts like I hate going to the dentist.  I am sure there is some deep psychological reason why, but I haven't figured it out.  I hate it even more now that I've got the kids, because pregnancy and the aftermath did awful things to my hair.  I had a blond fro for a while.  However I seriously need a new style.  Or rather, any style.  Anyway, I digress.  By the time my American friends read this, I'll have a new do.

Here's what I've wrapped up this week.........

The slippers!!  They are done, felted, and being worn as I type this.

Here's the info:

Pattern: Felted Slippers

Wool: Patons Classic Wool in a denim blue (100g) and a self striping colour (maybe 30g?) and some Fishermans' Wool in cream (mayb 30g?).

I like them.  I ran out of the blue yarn and the striped yarn, which is why the left slipper has cream in it. I actually intended to put one square of cream on the back so I knew which was left, which was right, but there is a bit of 

cream on the side too.

Even with the different yarns, they felted pretty much the same, hurray!  Hopefully these will last!

I also finally finished the toddler pull over for KAS I was working on.  It is knit in Hayfield (I think?) 25% wool, 75% acrylic.  I finally finished off the jumbo 400g ball I had.  Hurray!

Lastly, I had a little sewing project on Thursday.  My girls attend Rainbow's once a week.  This past Tuesday was Burn's Night, and the girls were asked to wear something tartan to the meeting.  Yikes!  I should know by now, having lived this long in Scotland, to have tartan things handy at all times.  Oh wait, I DO have some tartan fabric.

I whipped up these tartan and purple flowers, and just used a safety pin to attach them to their tops. Job done.

That's what I've been up to this week.  Here are the hops:

Let's Catch Up..........

First of all, let me do a bit of catching up.  I posted a few months ago about knitting my Mom a Leafy Top, and I wanted to share a picture of her wearing it!  It was made for Mother's Day, but I didn't get to see her until July.  I'm am really pleased about how well it fits!

Now, while I was slaving away on the Leafy Top, my Mother-in-law and knitter of over 70 years was slaving away on an Aran jumper for my Dad.  I bought the wool for his father's day, and she knit it up in, I swear, about 2 months.  Can we say, "talented" because she blows my mind!  Anyway, he was over the moon with it, and now he wants to visit me in winter so he can wear it.  Alas, he lives in Phoenix, but perhaps for not much longer..........

And if you are wondering, yes, those are my girls wearing their pj's while playing in the garden in the middle of the morning.  Isn't that what summer is all about?  


Now, making this a long post, here is what I originally intended to post about--hot water bottles!  We have moved into a stone farmhouse out in the country, and it is wonderful.  However, we call the house "the castle" because, well, it isn't the warmest place to live if I'm honest.  Having grown up in Arizona and California, the notion of a hot water bottle is new to me.  I jumped on it though, when I found them for sale on Amazon for £2.5 each.


Dave got his cover knit first, in black, because I had it and it seemed manly :) 

The pattern is called Pure Warmth, and I found it on Ravelry.  The wool is.....uhm, 20% wool, 80% acrylic but I'm not sure what brand it is any more.  I've got to keep better track of labels..............

Mine is up next, I've got no interest in it now though and I've moved on to other things.  I know as it gets colder I'll pick it up again.  If only I had another set of hands!

Here is where I hop:

Where did my internet go??

Hello everyone, and welcome back to my blog!  I have been for gone over a month now, and let me tell you, I missed blogging!  I missed crafting.  I missed you guys!

First of all, we had a great summer holiday.  Two weeks with the family in the Midwest, and it was HOT.  That just enabled us to go swimming every day, lay in front of the fan (something we never get a chance to do in Scotland), eat ice lollies every day, and sometimes twice a day! 


Second, we moved.  Succesfully, or at least, it is done!  The house sale was final the beginning of August, and it was such a pain and so stressful, I couldn't be more glad it is over.  All of the boxes are unpacked, and I LOVE our new house.  I will post some pictures of my craft room as soon as I feel it is clean enough.  I am still trying to get organized, without spending any money............

Here are a few pictures of the house though, it is a stone farmhouse in the Scottish Highlands.  Gorgeous. 

View from the font door

So what if when it rains the water turns murky/golden from the peat in the soil.  So what if we have to turn the heating on in August because it is grey and cold.  It is relaxation itself.  Today the sun is shining and everything in my little world seems perfect.  Except........

I HAVE NO INTERNET!!!

I have to got to the library each and every day to check my email, and since I teach online, things are difficult.  But still, it is only a hiccup on the road, and should be sorted by the end of August.  At least, that is what I am telling myself.  So my blog posts will be scattered here and there, but I'll try to get one out every Friday, since creative/crafty/wooly Friday is my very favorite blog day of the week.


Once final note, to tie into kntiting/crafting.  I finally have a local wool/craft shop.  It is right in the local high street, and full of the most gorgeous wool I have ever seen.  An added bonus is that they offer classes.  The first one (for me) is in September, and it is wool felting a bag.  I can't wait, I've already signed up!

Take care everyone!





View of the village



View of the village and river

Fingerless Gloves

Hey everyone!  I've got news, and it is GOOD! We are in the process of selling the house!  Just when we didn't think it was going to happen--it did!  I am feeling very lucky right now, and also very stressed.  We are moving about 4 hours north of here, up into the gorgeous highlands of Scotland.  And hopefully we are destined to live in a beautiful stone farmhouse out in the country (I'll keep you posted on that).  

As you know, I'm taking the girls to visit my family and now we have to add the move on to that--I've got stress people!  So that brings me to another piece of news; this will be my last post for a month or so.  Do try not to miss me too much, and know that I'll be back before too long.  But before I go, here is my latest crafty project.

Dad's Gloves

I made these for my Dad for Father's Day, and of course he will get them belatedly (not to mention in summer), but he won't mind.  I made them to match the hat I made him earlier this year, and I'm really pleased with how they turned out.  My first fingerless gloves, and good fun!  I used a pattern I got in this book, which I checked out of my local library.  I LOVE my library, especially the mobile one that comes to the bottom of my street each week. 




In all honesty, I have three gloves, as the first one I made fit me perfectly, and therefore wasn't any good for a man's hand.  On the upside, I only have to make one more and I'll have a pair for myself, and they will match the cable hat I made myself.  Almost like I planned it!

Happy crafting everyone, and a fond farewell for a wee while.  Keep those needles clicking!

What a week we've had!

Well, I've been busy this week, with a number of things happening in our small corner of the world.  My other half starts his medical finals this week, so he's been away a lot studying.  In the meantime, we got his placement for the next two years, and he is assigned the Aberdeen hospitals for one year, and the Elgin ones for the second.  Yippee!!  We love the north of Scotland, and will be happy to move back up there.  However, that means selling the house, and that means packing.  Ahhhhh!

This week I've been having estate agents around, finding a storage locker (yes, we have too much stuff), and even, yes, packing.  We are going to put a few pieces of furniture and loads of, er, crap, into storage so we can list the house next week.  All that and the kids have been off school, so things are hectic. 


In the mean time, I've been trying to get my craft on.  This past Christmas my mother made me a pair of fleece trousers that are heaven.  The girls were wanting a pair, and I've been surfing the internet for a good price on fleece.  It makes me sad that it is cheaper to buy clothing made in China than to buy the material to make it myself.  Anyway, the cheapest I could find was on Ebay and it was £3.99 a meter plus shipping.  Then yesterday we were in IKEA and as we were leaving I saw fleece blankets on clearance for 99p.  Now THAT is a deal.  Isla and Rori agreed, so we bought two, and took them home to whip up some comfies.
 

The girls weren't overly pleased at the light blue colour (though it matches mine), but given the price we reached a compromise.  I said I would doctor them a bit with some colour, and they agreed they would be happy.  

I decided to appliqué their first initial, use a patch we had from Granny, and on the other leg add some felt appliqués.  I'm rather pleased at how they turned out.

There is about 2" extra rolled in the cuff for the next growth spurt!

They past the kiddie test, Isla hasn't taken hers off since I let her try them on.  That pleases me beyond any thank you could!

Check out these blog hops:

Baby boom

It seems to me there is a real baby boom going on right now.  I know of at least 4 people that have just had babies in a 2 week period!  One such couple just had a little girl they named Willow (love that name) and I quickly whipped up a present for them.

This is my favourite baby hat to make, it is fast and I think really cute.  I also used my new-found love of Ravelry to get a pattern for little mitts.  Here is the link:

They are from Spud & Chole, and the blog and 

free patterns are fabulous.  I need more time in the day to knit!

I knit the mitts using magic loop--for the first time.  It really is magic, I'm hook on it now.  Right this minute I am trying to make a bowl to felt--for my first ever felting.  So many firsts lately, I love it.  If you haven't tried magic loop before, here is a great tutorial on youtube:

Knitwitch magic loop tutorial

Being a new blogger, I'm still leaning.  I took several different pictures trying to get the white on the hat and mitts to show up (it is bright white) without being full of glare, and I had little success.  I am still practising with my camera to take good pictures of my crafts, sometimes a hit, often a miss.  I actually quite like this picture above because it reflects the gloom we are having outside right now.  While we can't compete on the scale of blizzards and cyclones, we had some serious wind and rain last night.  I woke up this morning to see this in the garden:

Normally that playhouse is well, right side up, and about 10 feet away from where it is lying.  One of our neighbours had a side of their fence blow down, so I count us lucky.