Holiday crafting...

January is coming to a close, and I am only just sharing my holiday crafting... A squishy red festive hat for a friend, using the Farm Beanie pattern by Allison Britt and drops merino extra fine.

Wingspan for my mum, using drops delight.  I really like the long colour changes in this yarn, it works really well with this pattern.

And more freezer paper stencils, I love Fenny bags, for friends who just love Fenny Stratford.

I still have some other rather fabulous knitted gifts, but can't share them just yet!  In the meantime, have you seen this wonderful knitted Black Forest cake? 

Knitting Progress...

I have been busy knitting away.  Firstly, I can reveal my secret knitting... A drops shawl for my nan.  I used some lovely Vincent van Gogh inspired Opal sock yarn.

This pattern is a good TV knit, as once you get used to the pattern, you can easily knit away in front on the box.  I might have started something with this pattern, as now my mum has knitted a shawl for herself and even made the crochet edge!  Next, I am attempting to make a dent in my yarn stash.  Firstly some Rowan handknit cotton scraps become some Spa Day facecloths.

I really like the texture of the waffle stitch.  And now on the needles, Stjarna stars.  The first few rows are rather fiddly, what with 6 dpns and a circular needle on the go at the same time.

The first one is off the needles, and looks rather cute.  Photos of the finished item to follow!

Knitting progress

Birch is finished, though needs to be blocked.  My hands were then itching to get started on something else, so I made myself some more Wise Hilda socks.

 This time I used some yarn that I brought some time ago in Lidl.  I really like this pattern, it is a k3p1 rib, which is so easy to do whilst watching TV (or watching the seagull chicks outside).

Last year we had one seagull chick on the roof opposite, well this year we have three.  They are rather comical to watch as they get bigger and start to practice using their wings.  Although my heart is in my mouth every time they start flapping close to the edge!

The start of birch...

After much swatching and head scratching, I have cast on birch.

This is my first experience of using Kid Silk Haze.  The yarn is beautiful, but requires concentration, time and patience.  As those yarn overs and k2tog are quite perilous when using such a fuzzy thread.  For anyone who is interesting in knitting a birch shawl, I would recommend reading these notes here and here.  When not staring at some blue fuzz, I went to for an adventure to Cairnpapple Hill.

A sacred burial ground, with amazing views all the way to Arran and Bass Rock.  And the perfect conditions for kites.

My first shawl...

I did it.  I knitted my first shawl.  Zippy is impressed.

Due to my toe injury I had plenty of time for sitting and knitting (and watching lots of Horrible Histories).  Every two rows equals an increase in ten stitches.

Perfect for a spreadsheet.  I knitted approximately 3,500 stitches per day for seven days. 

I used the Drops 120-19 pattern, though decided against the crochet border, as I like it just the way it is.  And next... another shawl!

Things I have learnt this week...

1) That I should wear my glasses when cutting my toe nails.

2) That I should not ignore the pain in my foot for over a week.

3) That knitting a shawl doesn't have to be a huge complicated knitting project.

Shawl knitting always seemed quite daunting.  Using some drops fabel that I'd won from A Playful Day Podcast I cast on this pattern.  My very first knitted shawl.  Easy knitting to do whilst resting my foot!