Keep on knittin’ on!

It has been close enough to two months since I last posted (oops).  My lack of posting hasn’t been related to a lack of crocheting or knitting, in fact, completely the opposite!  I have been knitting so much lately that I haven’t had any time to blog (that and university has started back so I’m into the swing of the academic thing of things).

I have been knitting up a storm!  To be honest, I don’t think I have picked up a crochet hook since around the last time  I blogged on here; this knitting thing, it is addictive!

It isn’t just addictive though, it has also proven to be a big internal struggle and challenge for me.  When I f*ck up it is a battle between ‘do I just put this down and pretend it never happened‘ or ‘do I keep on at it and not let it get the better of me‘?  Once upon a time the answer would have been to get rid of it and move onto something new, but that’s the old Emma – or at least I like to think it is.

Looking back, giving up so easily might have had something to do with my anxiety.  If I didn’t try, I couldn’t fail, right?  Stupid thinking really, because not trying is like instant failure, or at least that is how I see it now, anyway.  My anxiety disorder seems to be nicely under control at the moment and I am finding that has given me more confidence in most areas of my life, but particularly my study.

I haven’t stressed once over assignments, I’ve just gone ahead and done them (76% in my first 300 level assignment, thank you very much!)… I’m also doing this odd thing called planning.  I’m not sure if you’ve heard about it, but from the age of 5-ish you are told to ‘plan ahead’ for your school/uni/etc work.  After…. god, 26? years of schooling I have finally realised that planning is where it’s at.  Maybe I should make more people aware of this magical idea?

Anyway, before I leave you all to go and do some of that planning stuff I spoke about, I thought I’d leave some photos of my latest projects!

Colin vest

Zanny T jumper

Fish ‘n’ Chip jumper (little sister of the Zanny T)

Simply Soft cowl (for me, but modelled by Emmy)

Seaweed cowl

baby hat

In case any of you are interested in the patterns for the above items, here you go!

Colin vest

Zanny T jumper

Fish ‘n’ Chip jumper

Simply Soft cowl

Seaweed cowl

It’s not purlfect, but it’ll do!

I did it.  I actually did it.  I successfully knitted a hat – and without sending an SOS to my mum – OH. EM. GEE.

The hat is basic, very basic.  Six rows of ribbing and then about 15cm worth of stockinette stitch and 4 rows of knit two together and purl… but… I did it!

Now, I’m not saying the hat is perfect.  It isn’t.  For one thing, it is meant to fit an adult but only just fits Emersyn (4).  The kiddo does have a big noggin, but there is no way this hat would go anywhere near an adult.  It seems I am a tight knitter, odd considering when it comes to crochet I am a very loose crocheter!  Also, the top of the hat, where it closes up?  Yeah, that hole isn’t tight enough and it looks a bit nasty… I think I might add a pom pom as a way to hide the monstrosity of a hole; it will also be a good way to tighten up said hole!

Did I enjoy creating it?  Mostly.  I was a little on edge the whole time though, worried about stuffing it up and needing to delete* undo the whole thing because I’m incapable of fixing knitting mistakes!
*for some reason I always think of knitting in relation to internet/computer terms… I always refer to casting on on as ‘sigining on’…

I did it though.  I stuck at something and finished it.  I accomplished something.  I didn’t give up.  I know it probably seems like a small thing to most people, but considering my mental state lately (it IS on the improve now school is back!  Funny that…) it is a big deal for me.

the colour of the wool is more accurate in this photo (you can also see how loose the top of the hat is)

Wool/yarn:  Patons ‘Rainbow’ 8ply acrylic, Dawn colourway

In case anyone is wondering what hat I did, it is this one from the Craftbits website.

Latest project: Owl hat!

I have always loved the look of owl hats and have been meaning to make one myself.  Well, yesterday I finally did it!  I found a pattern but rather than doing the hat in the pattern I skipped ahead to the ears/eyes/nose and put them on a hat I made a while back.  The result?  Pre  tty freakin’ awesome, if I do say so myself!  I can see many more owl hats in my future…

 

And of course, you can check out the pattern at Repeat Crafter Me – Crochet Owl Hat
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Made something for myself!

Yeap, you read that right.  After months of making things for other people (something I absolutely love being able to do!) I finally made something for myself.

I purchased some gorgeous yarn a couple of weeks ago and spent ages trying to find something to make with it… everything I found that appealed required chunky wool and I only had DK, it was disappointing but I figured I’d find something eventually.

THEN ‘Fiber Flux’ posted a link on Twitter to The Catarina Cowl and I knew I had found my project!!!

The cowl was super easy to make and would be a perfect project for a beginner, the only stitches required are a chain and double crochet.  I followed the pattern as far as length and width goes, but you can make it as long or wide as you want to.  I think if I did it again I would make it a little wider, but the length is pretty perfect.

(ugh excuse the major double chin in one of these photos…)

 

 

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Another completed project!

When one is given a whole lotta wool for her birthday, it is only right to make use of said wool!  I found a shawl on the bobwilson123 youtube channel  and decided to give it a go.

Like I have said before, we are huge fans of Outlander and I have a [not so] miniature obsession with Outlander-esque  items and decided I should probably make a shawl for Lauriel.  The shawl I made isn’t in Outlander-ish colours, but it is Outlander inspired.  Even though she doesn’t wear a lot of purple, I think she suits the colour, so a purple shawl it was!  I like the way the grey breaks it up a little bit!

 

 

If you want to check out the tutorial or the pattern, you can find them bobwilson123 ‘Crochet Rainbow Shawl’

Pay it forward: Easy peasy barefoot sandals

I noticed a few days ago that Gabrielle and her friend were using loom bands to make… bracelety things for their feet, hooking around the toe and then going behind the foot, kind of like a sandal.  When looking on bobwilson123’s YouTube channel (something I do on a daily basis, I must confess!) I found some ‘barefoot sandals’, which let’s face it, look a LOT classier than bloody loom bands (yea, I’m not a loom band fan).  So I set about seeing just how ‘easy peasy’ these sandals are and was pleasantly surpised to find they were simple… so simple that if I had the patience, I could probably teach Gabrielle to make them herself.

But I do not have the patience required.  Trust me.

I made a pair for Gabrielle then decided to make a pair for her friend, Tilda, who she is having a sleepover with tonight.  Of course I can’t make something for one child without making something for the other kids, so Eloise and Emersyn also ended up with a pair… Aidan wasn’t such a fan so I am going to make him something else today.

Gabrielle’s barefoot sandals

Emersyn’s smaller barefoot sandals (I adjusted the # of stitches for these ones)

Eloise’s (on the left) are a different pattern but not a hell of a lot harder!

 

And it wouldn’t be a pay it forward post without the patterns, so here are links to the two tutorials, first for the ‘easy peasy barefoot sandals’, the second for the ‘triangle granny barefoot sandal’ that Eloise is wearing

bobwilson123 ‘Easy Peasy Barefoot Sandal’

bobwilson123 ‘Triangle Granny Barefoot Sandal’

I cannot recommend bobwilson123’s tutorials enough!!!  Prior to looking at her tutorials I could do a simple chain and a double crochet.  That was it.  But after looking through her channel and trying a couple of tutorials I found I could actually follow her step-by-step directions and create items that looked somewhat awesome!  She has hundreds of videos on her YT channel and all of the ones I have looked at have a link to a free written pattern.  I’m telling you, if I can follow her tutorials anyone can!

You can find her on all the usual social media channels:
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Pay it forward: Capelet (similar to one worn on Outlander)

This week we began watching Outlander and it is fair to say we were hooked from the first episode.  Along with the hot man in the kilt (duh) one of the things we love about the show is the costuming!  In the hunt scene Claire is wearing a cute little capelet and Lauriel mentioned on several occasions that she loved it.

So I did some searching online for a capelet pattern, hoping I would find one that was similar to the one worn by Claire in Outlander.

… and I think I found it!

photo credit: Mademoiselle Mermaid

 

Check the pattern out! Red Heart Yarns: Renaissance capelet

Paying it forward: Elsa cape

I don’t really know of a child who DOESN’T love Frozen.  Our kids are always talking about ice powers and being Elsa or being Ana… When searching for a capelet (ala Claire from Outlander) to make my wife I came across a pattern for an Elsa cape, and thought I should probably share it here!  It is quite cute and doesn’t look like it’ll be too hard to make.  I MIGHT see if I can get it whipped up in time for Gabrielle’s birthday next month…

 

photo credit: Knot Your Nana’s Crochet

 

You can check out the pattern here Knot Your Nana’s Crochet: Elsa cape

Paying it forward: ‘Plarko’ monster

Aidan’s birthday is coming up soon and Lauriel suggested I could make him something.  I thought it was a fabulous idea so did some searching to find something I thought he might like… AND that I could do myself.

Enter: Plarko!

Isn’t he a little cutie!
photo credit: knitting fever website

 

Check out the pattern for yourself! Ella Rae ‘Plarko’ pattern

Paying it forward: Cute little owl pattern!

I love when I find a free pattern, even more when it is easy and the results are adorable.  As someone with low self-esteem and low self-confidence, I can’t tell you how good it feels to actually complete a project and to feel proud of it!  I have decided that when I come across a pattern I particularly enjoy I will share it on my blog, pay it forward so to speak!

Love this little guy!

And here is the pattern! Love The Bluebird – Owl pattern

I would love to see photos if any of you make one!