Knitted globes and heartfelt rings

A gap in the rain, and therefore some very rare December daylight means I have been able to take a couple of quick photos of some of my projects ...
or a great deal of December I was knitting Christmas globes, they've disappeared off to various new homes but these are three I managed to keep ...
The heart globe was my first attempt, the yarn I used was a it on the thick side, but it had worked out ok. I knitted a few reindeer globes, I suppose it's the influence of all those Christmas jumpers in the shops! The green globe is my own design, the colours chosen because I wanted a real retro feel (as if i'd found the pattern in a 1950's craft book), and design is based on the stone decoration above my front door.
I'm sure i'll be knitting lots more next Christmas ...

The heartfelt ring was a very quick project - just to give me a break from globes and gloves! The yarn is Rowan ine Tweed - which I bought just because the colours looked so lovely! I partially felted the ring by hand and then finished it off by chucking it in with my washing - I know it could have gone horribly wrong!!! I want to make more of these, they are so cute, I need more Rowan yarn!

Challenge 52 - Week 52

My last challenge of the year, and hopefully a sign of things that I want to be doing in 2012 - knitting lots of socks! Months ago I joined the Knit.Sock.Love group on Ravelry - a group for those who are fans of Cookie A's sock designs. I'd got the book on order, but it never really materialsed ...
Then, earlier ths month, Joy (The Knitting Goddess) announced that she was sponsoring the group's January KAL 'Cusp', and by reading through the details I found that I could order a PDF copy of the book - which I did!

Image from CookieA website

I've done one skein KALs, and i've also completed one of the Woolly Wormhead KALs that I took part in (one hat still onthe needles!!), so I thought i'd give this sock challenge a go!

I ordered some yarn from The Knitting Goddess, although not pink, I went for this orange/red semi-solid 'Bella's Truck', and i'm ready to cast on sometime after the start of the New Year ... now to dig out some needles ...

If you are interested in joining in with this knit-a-long, here's the link ...

http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/knitsocklove/1946960/26-50#50

Top Five Knitting Books 2011

2011 was the year that I went knitting mad ... studying knitting patterns on Ravelry, investing in all sorts of double pins and circular needles ... and buying tonnes of yarn (online and in shops). I have a huge to-do list, a few bags containing part-finished projects and of course, i've been buying a few knitting books to help me with my 'habit'.
Here's my top five collection of knitting books bought in the past year ...

1 - The Gentle Art of Knitting - Jane Brocket
This is such a beautiful book, lots of inspiring pictures and divided into different sections - comfort, practical, charm, colour and style. If you only buy one general knitting book make it this one.

Image from Amazon

2 - 10 Simple Cosy Projects - Sarah Hatton

I've used this little book so much! Yes, the patterns are very simple, but it's well worth owning this book just to give you that extra push to get knitting. I've knitted so many pairs of wristwarmers, and fallen in love with Rowan Cocoon!

Image from Amazon

3 - 55 Christmas Balls to Knit: Colourful Festive Ornaments - Arne and Carlos
I've made so many Christmas decorations since buying this book. Ok, so you can only use it at certain times of the year, but this one has defintely paid for itself already.

Image from Knit Magazine

4 - The Scrumptious Collection: Volume 1 - Fyberspates
I've yet to make something from this fabulous book, but that's mainly because I can't make up my mind whch pattern to do first. A wonderful mixture of garments and accessories.

Image from Amazon

5 - Socktopus - Alice Yu
Much as I would love to join the Knit Love Club, Alice's sock club, it's out or my budget range, but this collection of her sock designs more than makes up for it. There are great sections explaining different fibres and yarns, and the anatomy of a sock, and I love the fact that her designs are so heavily influenced by popular culture.

Image from Amazon

Tuesday Treasury - Sketchbooks

I'm going to attempt to make my own sketchbook/notebook this week, but should things go wrong, here's a mini-treasury of sketchbooks from Etsy ..
Leather sketchbook with Medieval binding, a beautiful luxury item ...
http://www.etsy.com/shop/SusanGreenBooks

Travel Journal, made from vintage red leather ...

http://www.etsy.com/shop/ThePaperMachines

Monochrome Notebook, the bindin on this is so neat -

http://www.etsy.com/shop/TheGiftShed

Vintage Fashion notebook, I love Moleskine, and this custom design is great -

http://www.etsy.com/shop/craftypagan

Another treasury next Tuesday.

Challenge 52 - Week 51

We're getting near to the end of my 52 week challenge ... and it's Christmas Eve, so, although I won't be thinking about doing my challenge task until at least Tuesday, i'm blogging about it as next Saturday will be the last Saturday of the year and I still have one challenge left!!!
I've got photographs from previous challenges to take - things in my sketchbook and some knitted globes, and i've also got some heartfelt rings from last week's challenge that, well, need felting - my first attempt did nothing, think there was too much nylon in the yarn I had chosen!!!

I've been watching Kirstie's Handmade Britain and was particularly interested in Isabelle Ting's handmade books.
http://www.channel4.com/4homes/how-to/crafts/how-to-bind-a-book

I love notebooks, and remember attempting to make my own sketchbooks as an art student many years ago (but they only had about eight pages as I didn't know what I was doing).
Isabelle Ting, who is based in Edinburgh makes all sorts of wonderful handmade books ...

I'm sure my attempts will not look this wonderful, but i'm hoping to at least produce one little sketchbook that I can keep in my handbag for doodling!

All images from Isabelle Ting's website
http://www.isabelleting.com/

Merry Christmas!!

The last of my Advent globes ...

... have a brilliant Christmas x

Snow Globe

So, not long until Christmas now ... the last of the presents are wrapped, and tomorrow should be relatively stress free - i'm sure i'll find some opportunity/excuse to 'cast on' or stitch if I find it too relaxing!
Today's globe is a snow globe ... one more globe to go ...

Hearts and Checks

Today's globe is inspired by Viennese decorative design ...

Christmas House

I'm so tempted to make this as a felt globe for my Christmas tree ...

Bird

I know i've already made a robin globe, but I couldn't resist adding another litle bird to my decoration designs ...

Tuesday Treasury - Last Minute

Ok, so it's too late to order goodies from Etsy, today was the final Christmas posting day in the UK!
Instead i've got a mini-treasury of patterns from Ravelry that (hopefully) can be used to make last minute gifts ...
Big Button Hat by my Duvendack, if only I could part with some of my nice buttons and give them to someone else ...
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/big-button-hat

Scrummy Mitts by Jane Pool, great for using up chunky yarn you may have in your stash ...

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/scrummy-mitts

Weekend Granny Afghan by on Brand Yarns, another project to use up any left over chunky yarns ... this one grows quickly!

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/weekend-granny-afghan

Going Green Coffee Cosy by Anne-Marie Kavulla, coffee definitely needs to be kept warm at this time of year ...

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/going-green-cup-cozy

Go on, sort through your stash and cast on!

 

Trees with peppermint bark ...

I think I may have read my 'Martha Stewart Holiday' magazine a bit too much - today's globe is definitely influenced by her recipe for peppermint bark!

Perhaps I need to make some peppermint bark .... hmmmmmm ....

Challenge 52 - Week 50

I was a bit stuck for a challenge this week - I've been knitting constantly for two weeks, and still have two hats and two shawls on the needles, so was loathed to start another big knitting challenge ...
I'm doing some sketchbook challenge work still too, so I didn't want another sketchbook project!
Then I got an email alert from Tiny Little Owl - a fab mini-project for creating little felted rings, great for using oddments of sock yarn, and very portable, so I can take it on the bus and train while i'm delivering presents this week ...

Image from Tiny Owl Knits

Here's the link to download this free project, go on, give it a go ...

http://tinyowlknits.wordpress.com/2011/12/17/heartfelt-rings-free-pattern-and-video-knit-along/

Toadstool

Today's Advent globe ... not exactly a Christmas theme, but i'm sure these little toadstool will look fab adorning any Christmas tree, or string them together to make a bunting to adorn the place where the fairies live in your garden ...

Button Heart

Today's globe is based on some felt globes I have been making for my tree, I hope I can take some pictures this weekend ...

I'm also going to make some felt 'heart' tags to put on people's presents ... only a week left!

Plates and Spoons

Today's globe is another 'retro' one, I call it 'Plates and Spoons', can you guess why? ...

Stocking

For next Christmas i'm already panning to knit some Christmas stockings, in the meantime, here's a globe or two ...

Sparkle

Not quite a snowflake, not quite a star ... it's a sparkle ...

Tuesday Treasury - Green and Red

This week I have a mini-treasury of green and red goodies. I love this festive colour combination ...

Paper Christmas Decorations, large red white and green hanging geometric curves -
http://www.etsy.com/shop/bookity

Mistletoe And Wine Button Charm Bracelet, I love buttons -

http://www.etsy.com/shop/MrsGibson

Handspun Yarn, Claret and Mistletoe, so pretty -

http://www.etsy.com/shop/HookLineAndStitches

Fused Glass Art Ring, handmade glass makes such lovely jewellery -

http://www.etsy.com/shop/Tias

Noel

I really thought that we might get some snow today ... oh well!
Here's my 'Noel' globe with a few snow balls added for good measure ...

Tree

A 'Woolworths' style tinsel Christmas Tree for today's globes.

Colour in the tree outline and decorate with loads of sequins!!