Tiny Bag//Journey into Crochet

I have actually started to, slowly, master crochet. I'm a little confused as to the names of all the stitches as they appear to be different in the UK from the US. I thought I was learning single crochet (slip stitch) when in actual fact I was learning double crochet - it's all very confusing. I'm going to stick with the UK versions for the moment I think!!!

Anyway I made a little bag for Luna, my blythe doll:

 What do you think? I love getting the chance to style her and I think this bag works well with the outfit. I had such fun crocheting the bag - and it hardly took anytime at all!!!!

I am loving learning new things and trying my hand at new techniques, what are you learning right now? What do you hope to learn next? I'm hoping to make a circular placemat using crochet, and learn a bit more about cables in knitting.
V xo

PS - there is a  lovely giveaway going on right now, go leave a comment for the chance to win!!!

Joy Gerhardt//Knit Nerds

This week I have the lovely Joy joining the knit nerds; Joy has designed some amazing patterns and is one of my favourite designers of the moment. Here she is:

 How long have you been knitting and who taught you?
I learned to knit about 5 years ago, completely on a lark - I was at Michaels (a US craft store) with some friends who were picking up art supplies, and I wandered into the yarn section. I grabbed some colourful yarn and big needles and a friend taught me to cast on and knit. Virtually everything else - including binding off that very first, very holey scarf - has been self-taught with the help of websites and YouTube.
What is your favourite thing to knit?
Socks and shawls! I'm nuts about accessories, but I just can't get enough socks and shawls in particular. While a woolly hat or pair of mitts might languish in my cupboard for months at a time, socks and shawls can be worn in all seasons. I also like that they're relatively quick projects, and great for using beautiful skeins of hand-dyed yarn.

 Who is your biggest knitting inspiration?
My all-time knitting hero is Cat Bordhi. From her seamless knitted moebius to her dozens of sock innovations, I am constantly staggered by her ability to come up with new ideas and techniques. I hope one day to be half as creative a knitter as she is.
What is your favourite finished object of your own?
That's tough, because my favourite FO is usually the one I've finished most recently ;) But one that I get a lot of wear out of is my Heartland Lace Shawl by Evelyn Clark - http://www.ravelry.com/projects/Joyuna/heartland-lace-shawl - It's bigger and heavier than most of the other shawls I've made, which makes is nice and cosy for wrapping myself up when I'm cold. The alpaca yarn was a gift from a friend at university, and I think of her every time I wear it.

 What has been your favourite thing to design so far?
Well, I had a whole lot of fun with something I've just recently finished -- but I can't tell you about it because it won't be released until autumn ;) Sorry!
But I'm particularly proud of the Interwoven Hat - http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/interwoven - It was my first pattern published in a magazine, and I first had the idea for it back before I even started designing. It's seamless and utilises a technique I 'unvented' for cables that go both horizontally and vertically.
What led you to start designing your own pieces?
I'm notoriously unable to follow a pattern. Whether it's adjusting a sweater for fit, converting cuff-down socks to toe-up, swapping stitch patterns or using a different weight yarn -- I've always changed things around as I knit. So, it wasn't such a huge leap from doing that to knitting things up that were entirely my own (and then to writing them down).

 If you could give 3 pieces of knitting advice, what would they be?
- If you have a knitting problem, there is a very good chance that someone else has had the same problem. We are so lucky to have a wealth of information available to us through the internet - take advantage of it! I have solved many a dire issue with the help of Ravelry, YouTube and/or Google.

- Knit what you want to knit, and don't let anyone (even yourself) tell you that you can't do it because it's 'too advanced'.

- If you don't like doing something, you don't have to do it! Knitting should be fun. Hate seams? Knit seamlessly. Don't like scarves? Don't make scarves. On the other hand, don't swear off of anything entirely - every once in a while, try something out again that you didn't think you liked. You may find that you enjoy it!

Joy is giving away one pattern from her collection over on Ravelry; all you have to do is check out the patterns, come back here and let me know which one you would like if you were to win.

You can also find Joy on her:
Blog: http://blog.joyuna.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/joyarna
Twitter: http://twitter.com/joyarna
Thank you so much to Joy for her lovely interview. If you would like to become a knit nerd please feel free to contact me - I will interview anyone and everyone!!! I've got people organised for June, and then a special 30th birthday interview from me (July 2nd) with a little giveaway.

V xo

Wedding Slippers//FO Friday

My little sister is getting married in the summer (I'm her maid of honour); and so I decided to knit her some wedding slippers to wear the night before. We get to have the bridal suite to ourselves, with breakfast in bed so we're feeling pretty special!!!

 I used the pattern, Ridiculously Easy Mary Jane Slippers, but made a few modifications. I needed them smaller as Clare has teeny feet and I didn't particularly want the band - so I just knit a little higher up the front and they fit like a dream.

She really loves them and can't wait to wear them - I love knitting things for people who truly appreciate the work that's gone into it. I'm in the middle of a few gift knits right now, what are you gift knitting?
V xo

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

Normal Service//WIP Wednesday

Back to normal service today, a proper WIP Wednesday - are you glad?? I'm really happy to be back, I'm not promising major posting right now but I'm getting there. The medication is starting to work, it's making me tired but that will pass. I want to take this chance to say thank you to all of you for your kind messages and comments - they've really kept me going through all of this. Anyways I shall stop rambling and show you my WIP's (that sounds weird!!! hehe).
Ribbed Baby Jacket
I've made quite huge progress on this in the past 3 or 4 days; I'm really pleased with how it looks and I'm falling in love with the colour more each day:

Come Josephine
I started my own version of an afghan last night, 2.5 squares done, just 97.5 to go. What's with the name? I was watching Titanic and I just love the song:

Owl-Cho
And of course it wouldn't be WIP Wednesday without the illusive Owl-Cho; it hasn't grown much as the rows are SOOOOOOOOOO long but it's growing:

And finally, I have been learning to crochet - I have no pictures to share but I will have some for next week. I love it so much, my tension is not great and it's incredibly squint but I'm getting there - I learned single crochet this week so onwards and upwards to double crochet - wish me luck!!!

I'm hoping to get a pinterest sunday out this week and maybe a knit stuff post...... lets see how it goes. I'm playing along with Tami and Ginny this week - check them both out for some fabulous WIP's.

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

Charley Dunning//Knit Nerds

Before jumping into another knit nerds interview, I wanted to say a huge thank you to everyone who has commented here and left me lovely messages over on Ravelry - it has been truly appreciated. I am slowly starting to feel better, and I'm taking time to get things done a small step at a time. So who have we got today on knit nerds? I met Charley through ravelry over the course of knit and crochet blog week - and I have to say I loved her down-to-earthness and her knitting is pretty perfect (not to mention she has the sweetest niece). So here she is:

How long have you been knitting, and who taught you?

When I was about 9 or 10, my Great Grandmother taught me to cast on and knit, she was partially blind so I have no idea how she managed to teach me. I didn't end up picking up the needles again until I was almost 17, when I became housebound with my M.E & Fibromylagia. My Mum showed me the basics, but I've had to teach myself from that point on. I've been knitting a year now, and I love it!

 

What is your favourite thing to knit?

Well, I have just started knitting socks, and I can't seem to stop! So I would have to say socks, but before them I was obsessed with knitting fingerless mittens.

Who is your biggest knitting inspiration?

I would have to say my Mum. Although she doesn't knit (she can do that basics, but that is as far as she ever learnt), she is always interested in what I'm making. She asks questions about what I'm knitting and what yarn I'm using, and what mix it is (her favourite is merino/cashmere mix). She gives me ideas for patterns, and as she is an artist she always has a billion ideas about yarn colours for when I start dyeing. So yes, my Mum is my biggest inspiration!

 

What is your favourite finished object of your own?

I would have to say my first pair of socks. I loved, loved, loved, knitting them. I used the pattern 8 Stitches per Inch by Ann Budd. I had a total fangirl moment when Ann commented on my sock project page on Ravelry!

What has been your favourite thing to design so far?

I would have to say my Pixie Mitts. Slip Stitch colourwork is one of my favourite techniques, so incorporating it with Rib (another favourite) was a sure winner for me!

What led you to designing your own pieces?

I had only been knitting about 3 months, but already I had so many ideas for patterns that I thought knitters should create. No one was interested in taking my ideas and making them into patterns, so I decided to do it myself. I just create things that I personally would knit, and I try to make the designs as simple as possible. I hate when patterns are overly complicated! I've designed 10 patterns so far, but I have 4 more designs I have releasing during May and many more I'll be creating over the next couple of months.

If you could give three pieces of knitting advice, what would they be?

1. Always challenge yourself!

2. Don't make knitting stressful by setting loads of deadlines, knitting is meant to be fun remember?

3. Make sure you knit for yourself every once in a while.

 

Thank you so much to Charlotte for her lovely interview; you can leave her some love here or pop over to her blog, An Accidental Knitter. You can also find her on Ravelry and check out her free patterns on her Rav Designers page.

 

I'm hoping to get back to posting a little more regularly now - so look out for a WIP Wednesday post from me in a few days. Also check back next Monday as I have another fabby interview to look out for.

 

V xo