On Stash Dieting//Knit Life

Back in April, when I was still playing along with Knit the Queue (I'm so much happier knitting what I want, when I want) - I started my stash diet. I bought yarn for the projects I knew I wanted to work on like yesterday!!! Here are some of those beautiful yarns:

 

Candy Skein Yummy in Pumpkin:

 Debbie Bliss Rialto Aran in Green:

 Jamieson's Shetland Spindrift in Sholmit:

I think overall I bought around 10 different yarns, for varying projects. I didn't want to be caught short and NOT manage my stash diet. Of course, with every stash diet there has to be a little bit of wiggle room -which for me comes in the form of gifts!!! If I'm knitting a gift and I don't have the right yarn in my stash, I am allowed to buy it - that sounds fair right? Anyways a good friend of ours is having a baby at the end of the year, a little girl so I'm planning on knitting a few bits for her. I don't own any yarn that's really baby friendly or in the right colourways so I'm going shopping. I'm actually very excited to buy some new yarn. I think that's definitely one of the positives of being on a stash diet. I only have just over 4 more months of the year, then I can shop for me!!!
Have you been trying to stash diet? How's it working out for you?
V xo

On Making Decisions//Knit Life

You know when sometimes things are just not working out properly? When you have to make decisions but it's a little nervewracking? Well that's where I've been at lately - I have felt very bogged down by just about everything; including my knitting.

So I made some decisions - I have left the socktopus KAL, I will knit socks from the book but in my time and without constraints. I have also stopped doing knit the queue - it's really hard to stick to knitting just the things in my queue right now - I fall in and out of love with patterns quite regularly, thus my queue needs to reflect this!!!

I am sticking with Year of Projects as it's comes into a new year at the beginning of July - this is a projects I've really enjoyed, it's encouraged me to learn BUT to do so at my pace, and the people in the group are all really lovely (and supportive - thanks girlies).

So currently I have 2 main projects on the needles; one project that needs felted and one project in mind - that I might just cast on later. I feel good about my knitting again. Sometimes I get a little dragged under by things!!!

Thanks for all the lovely comments on my last post, it's so nice to know that you are all still reading and still here for me.
V xo

Life and Such//Knit Life

I wish this post was telling you that I've been knitting up a storm but in reality I've done very little. Coming home after being in hospital always requires a period of adjustment - usually this means taking everything one day at a time. I will get back to my knitting; and my blog posts will hopefully go back to normal really soon.

In the meantime thank you for being so patient and checking in with me.
V xo

Knit the Queue//Knit Life

I am still playing along with Knit the Queue over on Ravelry; it's taken me a good while to settle on my final queue for 2013 but it's finally done; I have 22 items on there with just these 5 that don't have yarn yet. So what's the plan? I am going to buy the yarn for these last 5 knits; then I'm on a yarn diet (except for gift knits) until the end of year. Then in 2014 I shall join in Knit the Queue again and try to use at least half of my remaining stash - so we'll see if it works. I think I shall probably do some destashing also - it's good for the bank balance and such!!!!

 

New Era Mitts

 Owlings Mitts

 From Norway With Love Hat

 French Press Slippers

 

If you've looked at my queue you will have noticed a couple of toys with no yarn choices - these are both gifts; one is for my oldest son and the other is a baby gift - I'll get yarn for those as and when I need it.

 

Notions (needles, soak, buttons etc) will not be included in my stash list - so I can still buy a few things. Next on my list is a swift and ball winder - those are pretty important for me.

 

How do you destash? Are you on a yarn diet?

V xo

Ouchy//Knit Life

Well I finished my cadbury owl but have not steam blocked it or added buttons yet and I've only knit about 15 rows oif my new project.

WHY?
Well I went to the doctors' today because I have injured my shoulder - it turns out I have a torn ligament. Its very painful and means I have to rest; also it's my right shoulder and I'm right-handed. So no knitting for at least the rest of this week. Also Robbie now has the chicken pox - its all happening here; just not in a yarn way.
V xo

Blue Fudge Plains; 100th Post//FO Friday

That's right, it's finished AND it's my 100th post!!! I can't believe I've managed to get to 100 posts already; I've had a great time blogging here - and I've made some awesome friends along the way. I have to say a huge thank you to all my followers and commentors - you've made this journey really fun and I've felt supported during the tough times too!!!

 

Anyways onto my finished object!! This is Blue Fudge Plains, it took me 4 months to finish although I suspect I could have done it in a month had I worked more solidly over christmas. So here are some pics (taken by my lovely wife).

 

This is me wearing the shawl, I love this picture and it's made me more determined to knit one for myself (this is going to a close friend):

 One from the back, I'm really pleased with how the rows worked out - I've never done stripes before so it felt good to try something new:

 And of course a glamour shot!!! I love the fact that this shawl is asymmetrical - it's not a traditional shawl at all!!!

Of course having a finished object means..... I've cast on OWLS!!! At last - and I'm loving it so far. I'm looking forward to seeing what everyone else has finished this week!!!
V xo
PS - remember I have a giveaway with Eskimimi on my blog right now, go leave a comment for a chance to win!!!

Knit the Queue//Knit Life

So there's a new group over on Ravelry called Knit The Queue; where you aim to knit all of the items in your queue (you can check mine out HERE). I have 24 items in my queue so maybe do able.... I have yarn for all of the projects so I'm quite excited to get started!!! Here are a few of the projects I want to work on:

 

Owls by Kate Davies

This sweater has been in my library for ages because I've been nervous to just START, but now I'm just feeling like if I don't then I never will:



 Hitchhiker by Martina Behm
I love the shape of this shawl, it's super cute and I have the perfect yarn for it:

 Rebecca's Mittens by Katja Ottosson
I saw these mittens while they were still in test knitting stage and I just fell in love; so they went straight in my queue as soon as the pattern was released:

 Memory Vest by Vera Sanon
I decided I definitely wanted to try knitting some garments this year, move on from accessories a little, and I just fell in love with all the little details on this:

So there you have it, what are you planning to knit this year?
V xo

Learn//Knit Life

Kristofer has wanted to learn how to knit for a while, I tried to teach him when he was 4 but he just wasn't getting it. However he's 5 now and we decided to try again - maybe it was something Kris and Mummy could do together......

So I cast on 10 stitches and knit 3 rows for him, while he watched and then we started knitting together. He managed to do a whole row by himself - I'm so super proud of him. It was definitely a huge proud mummy moment:

He got a little bit stuck on the next row, not really understanding the whole turning your knitting around - but we'll get there. We're going to try again in the week, and see how much we can get done. I bought him a little knitting kit just before christmas so once he knows the basics we'll have a go with that.
Hope you are all well, in the coming week I have a FO and a WIP to share - yes a FO, you read that right. I'm really enjoying knitting right now and it's going well for me. Remember I have a pattern testing right now, so if you're interested just pop over and let me know.
Have a knitty day.
V xo

Knit 2013// Knit Life

So a new year; means a new lust list!!!! Here are just 4 of my lusts for 2013:

 

 

Wholehearted by Erika Flory

 

I have become a huge fan of shawls (I have my own shawl pattern release coming very soon); and I just think this one is beautiful - I think it would try to make it in similar colours.



 

Regina by Carina Spencer

 

I absolutely fell in love with this hat the second that I saw it; it's simply beautiful.





Pekoe by Laura Chau

I do want to knit a sweater this year; I'm not sure that this one will be my first but it is on my sweaters I love list, it's very simple in the front but the back is super pretty.

 2 Hands Make a Heart by Mari Chiba

And lastly, these mittens are amazing!!!! I'm not sure I need to say anything else about them.

So what's on your lust list for 2013? Are you making plans already? I'm going to get my WIP's finished before I cast on anything else....... so wish me luck. And Happy 2013!!!!!

V xo

2012; A Knitting Retrospective//Knit Life

I can hardly believe that today is the last day of 2012; tomorrow will be a new year - and that brings new knitting challenges and new life goals. But before that can begin, I felt a retrospective look at 2012 was in order. I thought I had finished alot more projects that just these ones this year; however some of these were big projects and obviously I was sick for a portion of the year. So here are most of my FO's and one of my YOP's (knitting in public):

I'm actually really proud of myself for knitting this much in 10 months; I started this blog back at the end of February. I've fallen really in love with knitting; and I'm starting to like crochet a little - although it's slightly more complicated than I expected. Knitting has thrown up some complications, and I have much to learn but I love to learn and grow in my hobbies - so it's pretty perfect.

Lastly I want to say thank you for reading/following my little blog; I reached over 10000 readers this month - which is amazing. I hope you continue to stop by in 2013 - I have alot more to give: interviews, knitting goals, WIP Wednesday's and hopefully at least a few FO Friday's.

So I guess the (actual) last thing to do is to say a big HAPPY NEW YEAR to you all; I hope your 2013 is knitty.

V xo

Knit Plans//Year of Projects

Ok so in all honesty I've been pretty bad at keeping up with my year of projects, um project. Thankfully this runs from July to June, which still gives me over 6 months - great huh??? So I think my first goal is to get all of my current WIP's finished!!! At the moment I am working on a shawl for my gran's birthday - I shared that on Wednesday. So here are 4 WIP's I want to get done in the next couple of months:

 

Luxe Hooded Scarf:

This has actually grown since I took this photo, it's such a pretty pattern - and I'm going to work away on it once the shawl is done - I want to wear it this winter!!!!

High Plains Drifter
This too has grown since this photo was taken, I'm really excited to get this done and posted off as it's for a good friend of mine:

Owl Poncho
I was really enjoying this knit before things got hectic and I got sick. I'm about halfway done though so I want to get it done - I really want to wear this before winter is out too:

Sylph
This is my first and only lace weight project; it's super fun to do but quite complicated. I hope to get this done so I can wear it in spring:

Of course if you look at my project page over on Ravelry; you will have realised that I missed a project, yup my come josephine afghan. I'm still loving this project but it's going to take ages to do and it's a pick up when I feel like it project - I don't feel like I need to rush getting it finished:

I'm quite excited to get these projects finished, so I can complete at least a couple of my goals from my year of projects - wish me luck.

V xo

FO and A New Baby//Knit Life

Ok so I will be doing a proper FO post on Friday as I want to do a review of the pattern then - so come back to get the low down on this excellent pattern; I  had a great time knitting this hat and my lovely wife has claimed it as her own:

 Ok so a new baby? Not an ACTUAL baby but this little pretty:

 So I had my name on the list for a pygmy hedgehog from a fabulous breeder in Edinburgh; I was expecting my email sometime early next year telling me she/he would be ready - however a couple of weeks ago I got an email saying that this baby was available now and would I like her. My wife and I had a discussion and decided that I could be her mummy. Her name is Miss Holly Marie, and I love her so much - she's got a lovely personality; she already loves my boys, some of the cats and her nana (my MIL). She is obsessed with dried mealworms, eats dried catfood and has tried apple (she's not sure). Here she is in her home:

Note the cute log cabin; she loves it in there!!! The purple fleece is a bag for her to sleep in - she is crazy about it. And she loves pushing her toilet roll tubes around and playing on her wheel. I am so in love with her.

Thanks for stopping by; let me know what you think of the hat and Miss Holly.
V xo

Currently//Knit Life

This past few weeks have been super busy, so I thought I would quickly catch you all up!!! Firstly I had a hair cut, I had it cut super short and I LOVE it:

 We had Halloween and I carved these 2 fun pumpkins:

 And I started knitting this hat (photo courtesy of Buttons and Beeswax); the lovely Faye is asking people to test some of her hat patterns and I chose this one - it's super cute and I'm knitting it in cream:

I'm also still knitting on my High Plains Drifter shawl, it's getting really big, it's super pretty and a lovely pattern to work from. What are you doing right now? I hope wherever you are, you are keeping safe.
V xo

Autumn Lusts//Knit Life

Autumn is definitely a time for a new lusts list; I have so many things in my library and in my queue over on Ravelry - I really need to take some time out and sort through what I'm REALLY going to knit - and take out those things that are just a dream. Anyways here is my autumn lust list:

 

 

Skoosh!

I love this shawl, it's free and I could see it in some yummy autumn colours - maybe a rusty orange? It's a nice simple knit too!!!



Terra
Terra has been in my library for ages, it's such a gorgeous knit and is by the ever fabulous Jared Flood - who doesn't like his knits?

Veyla

These mitts are so beautiful, and by the lovely Ysolda Teague - I love the lace detailing on the cuffs, and the extremely cute little buttons.

 Big Honkin' Bag
I NEED this bag, it's so beautiful - and BIG. I have a thing about big bags, I can't help it and I certainly won't apologise for it. I have to knit this, soon!

So what are your knit lusts for this season? I'm so excited and ready for autumn; I smell a giant batch of pumpkin jam in my near future.
V xo

I'm Back//Knit Life

Hey all,
I'm back, I know I haven't blogged in like 6 weeks. Reasons? Okay so I spent 4 weeks in hospital, I got pretty sick but I'm doing ok now - not great but ok.

I've been home for a while now but I haven't really done much knitting, I started a couple of new projects from the new Knit Now magazine, but I just haven't felt inspired to knit - until now. I found a nice new(ish) group on Ravelry called 7 wips in 7 days; it's awesome. You have your 7 works in progress organised in bags, and work on a different one each day. So I'm just organising what I'm going to do on what day; it should be a nice simple plan but I have a relatively busy life with kids in school, and after schools groups etc. So I'm going to spend the next few days organising my WIP's and I'll hopefully be back on Wednesday with some organisation and a little WIP Wednesday.

It feels great to be back, I hope you are all well.

V xo

Mid Year//Knit Life

Ok so technically it's past mid-year now, so I'm a little late posting this. However it is around mid-year for how long my blog has been going - does that count? I started this little blog at the end of February, I now have 34 followers (hi) and I've had nearly 6000 page views - that's huge for me. I'm really pleased that people are enjoying the blog, and enjoying my little rambles!!!!
Anyhoo I decided to share my 4 favourite knits of the year so far:

My owlie shawl: I loved knitting this, it's not perfect but it's so cute and I love to wear it. I'm planning on knitting another one of these as a gift really soon:

 This knit started out as a cowl, but got ripped back and ended up being a winter collar for my sister, Lisa, I am really pleased with it and she just loves it; let's face it you couldn't buy one of these in the shops:

 Florence, my Elefante, was going to be in there somewhere right? I loved knitting her too and my mum has requested one so I'll be knitting another identical one really soon too:

 And lastly, this was a really simple knit but my kitty hat was one of my favourites - I need to knit some more of these for winter - but maybe just a little longer!!! Cute huh?:

So those are my mid-year favourites, what are yours?
V xo

Ravelympics//Knit Life

For those of you who are member on Ravelry, you will have already heard of the going-ons regarding the Ravelympics. I personally think it's ridiculous for anybody to get on their high horse and complain about people with yarn and sticks.........

I am not usually all that interested in the olympics, however this year because of Ravelympics (and of course London), I was taking a little bit more interest in it. I'm just not sure how much I want to do with it - when the Olympics are making money from hundreds of sponsors and the olympic logo is on EVERYTHING, what harm are we?
What are your thoughts??? Are we denigrating the athletes or supporting them?
V xo
PS - i have a little pink finished object for you tomorrow.........

Lusts//Knit Life

This week I am lusting after loads of knits for babies and children - some of the patterns out there are just so cute, so I thought I'd share a few of my favourites:

Aviatrix Hat:
Isn't this just the cutest hat? Or is it the baby? You can knit this right up to aged 4+ but I think it just looks gorgeous on little ones. It's on my list to knit for a friend's baby.

 Basil the Boogie-Woogie Brontosaurus:
This pattern by Rebecca Danger makes me smile; I have one of her other dinosaur patterns and I have plans to get this one too. My boys, Robbie and Kris would just love these - and the best part? You can knit them in any weight yarn!!!!

 Easy Baby Blanket:
Yup that's right it's a crochet blanket, and it's on my list..... I can't even crochet that well yet but somehow I fell in love with this!!!

 Zest:
I want to knit this for my youngest, it's so cute and would really suit him. He actually ASKED me to make him a cardigan - he's not quite 5 yet; I'll ask him again when he's 15!!!!

 Gansey Booties:
These are just too cute, I can see them in other colours too - these are also on my knit now list.

What's on your lust list? What do you want to knit RIGHT now?
V xo

Sunshine Award//Knit Life

I recently got nominated for the Sunshine award from the lovely Danielle at A Stash Addict. Thank you so much Danielle, this award made me smile.

 

On to the Sunshine Award Rules

1. Thank the blogger who nominated you.
2. Answer the 10 questions on your favourite things.

3. Nominate 10 blogs to receive the Sunshine Award and let them know they've been nominated.

1. Favourite animal: Giraffes, always has been, always will be!!!
2. Favourite number: 7
3. Favourite non-alcoholic drink: diet coke 
4. Facebook or Twitter: Twitter, definitely.
5. My passion:  art, I love to make things
6. Getting or giving: Giving (although who doesn't love receiving)
7. Favourite Pattern: the Hogwarts Express Shawl - I loved knitting it!!!
8. Favourite day of the week: Friday
9. Favourite flower: Orchids 
10. Favourite country: Scotland - I havent' travelled much outside of Scotland but everytime I travel around our country I fall in love a little more!!!

So my 10 bloggers who I feel bring a little sunshine to my blog life:

Myrtle of Truly Myrtle
Charlotte of An Accidental Knitter
Ginny of Small Things
Compositions of Wool
A Playful Day
Meredith of One Sheepish Girl
Pumpkin of Pumpkin Spins
Evelyn of Project Stash
Lynn of Fidlstix

Enjoy your award ladies, and have a knitty day.
V xo

Today//Knit Life

I should probably be knitting on my lace scarf or my owl-cho but I'm not..... today I am doing a very special project.....

The recepient of the project knows I'm knitting these, they will be cute little slippers for her to wear the night before her wedding in July - I'm her maid of honour and I can't wait to present these to her. I bought this yarn a few months ago with no specific project in mind but then when I started thinking about special somethings for my sister and this yarn is just so soft and so pretty - it's sirdar softspun DK. I just wanted to share what I'm upto today, go check out my other blog to see what I've been doing this week. What are you up to today? What will your next special project be?
V xx