New directions

I do love learning something new.  I learnt to weave in 2013.  I bought a rigid heddle loom ages ago and had a lesson from a weaver.  There it sat for years, half completed and very much unloved.

I made the decision to remove this project and make a fresh start.  Several youtube lessons later and I was ready to start.  I made a very simple plain weave scarf.  I used Fontainebleau in Sokkusu O as the warp and Triton in Sokkusu O as the weft.  A few evenings later, I completed the scarf!!  It wasn't perfect but it wasn't too bad for a first attempt.  Tension was the main problem,  The edges were a bit wonky.  It's not very even. Having said that, I'm inspired to make more.

New Year and new start

Happy New Year!!  

I can't quite believe how quickly another year has gone by.  I remember having this exact thought, exactly a year ago.  And here we are, one year later......

2013 had been a year of changes and new adventures.  The new business is still in its infancy but going well. I'm learning a lot about running the business.  I'm having loads of fun with the dyeing.  I'm so grateful for all the support from my wonderful friends, family and customers.  Thank you!!!

One of the drawbacks about making your hobby into the day job, is losing some of the love and enthusiasm for the crafting.  For the last 2 -3 years, this is how I felt.  My Ravelry project page hadn't been updated.  I have tons of started but not finished projects.  I'm surrounded by so much yarn that I'm not interested in yarns, or projects.  Towards the end of this year, I made the decision to actually make and finish some projects.  And to enjoy the crafting.  One of the projects that I really enjoyed was making the button ornaments.  In fact, the whole family got involved too and we had a brilliant time.

My next (almost completed) project is a crochet wreath.   There are so many beautiful crochet wreaths out there and I was inspired to make one too.  It took me a few days to crochet the striped band and the snowman.  I ran out of time to crochet the snowballs but luckily, the white styrofoam balls look OK.  I have a whole year now to put the finishing touches!!

My New Year's resolution, with regards to crafting, is to keep making.  I love making things whether it's knitting, crochet, food, sewing, jewellery and I must remember this.   

Getting ready for Christmas

It's been busy in Whimzy land - life with 3 children and running a business means that I really have no time to do anything!

Today - I decided to have a little fun and make whimsical Christmas decorations.  I have a stash of beads, buttons and jewellery making equipment.  A quick look in Pinterest for some inspiration and here's what I made.  Colourful Christmas tree ornaments.  They're so much fun to make.  I had a little help from Dee and my 3 children when they got in from school.  I think they'll add a splash of colour to any tree.

Photo Challenge Day 1 - UFOs

I really did intend to photograph all my UFO's (UnFinished Objects and long abandoned projects), except that 1 September fell on a Sunday and that means hubby is around the house.  It would take me a fair few hours to dig around the stash and project piles to find ALL the UFOs I have.  I'd have to also admit how many uncompleted things I have!!  I don't think I'm ready to do that.

The longest UFOs I have is Mr Mouse - I started him when I was in University (nearly 25 years ago!)  He was a little stuffed toy that just needed some eyes and ears but because he was my first stuffed toy, he was a bit wonky so I never finished him.  I'm sure he's hiding somewhere in a deep, dark corner at the bottom of a cupboard.

I also have a cardigan which I started for my daughter when she was born.  It was little wrap cardigan in a Dusky Pink colour in Rowan 4ply soft.  She grew too quickly for me to finish that.  And when my second daughter came along, I thought I'd finish that for her, but that never happened too.  I'm such a bad mummy!!

I did manage to take some photos of UFO's that I did manage to find.  This is a crochet blanket that I started 2 or 3 years ago.  I was doing quite well until I ran out of the cream yarn.  I have managed to find more yarn, now for some motivation to finish the blanket.  It might be a lap blanket........

This hexagon is supposed to be a Norah Gaughan tank.  I don't even remember why I didn't continue with it.  Maybe I'll knit a second hexagon and make it into a little bag for one of my daughters.

FO Friday

I want to showcase another beautiful FO in Sokkusu O.  This is Afternoon Tea Shawlette, by Helen Stewart.  The pattern is in Knitty.  It was knitted by Dee.  The colourway is Haymitch - a semi-solid pale blue.  

And if you head over to Dee's blog - you'll notice that she's running a Yarn Photo-A-Day Challenge.  I'm definitely going to participate as I've noticed that I don't take as many photos any more - not of my children, or my knitting (maybe because I've not done much!) or just generally.  I'm looking forward to where this journey takes me.  I'm a bit frightened by Day 1 already - UFOs - where shall I start?  I'm not sure if I could fit it all into 1 shot!  #YARNPADC - come join us in Flickr, Instagram, Twitter and Tumblr.

Another work in progress

It has been lovely visiting my parents in Kuala Lumpur.  I can't believe that we've been here almost 3 weeks and it's almost time to head back to London.

The nice thing about being on holiday is the holiday projects.  This time I took 1 knitting project and 1 crochet project.

With my knitting project, I wanted to knit a sample in the Silkie Merino in the fingering weight.  So I jumped on the bandwagon and started a Song of the Sea cowl, by Louise Zass-Bangham.  Here's the link to the pattern on Ravelry.  OMG - I love the Silkie Merino base.  I think I might make myself a top in that base.  It's perfect for this warmer weather.  This is the progress so far.  I just have one repeat of the large waves left to go.  Hopefully, this won't take much longer......  The colour is a silvery lilac (it has more variegation in real life) which I may name Daenerys.

And my other project is a crochet project.  My intention is to make a blanket in all the colourways of Sokkusu O.  Well, I say all, but I don't have all of the colourways, especially the one hit wonders.   The pattern is from Purl bee - Bear's Rainbow blanket.  The link is here. Here's the progress so far. It's going to be a long term project!!!

A newly completed project

I can't believe in the recent heatwave, I finally finish a woolly scarf.  The pattern is Lace Ribbon Scarf by Veronik Avery.  It's a free knitty pattern - available here.  The yarn is Sokkusu X in Spruced Up, a club colour from last year.  It took 1.3 skeins of yarn.  I knitted it in 4mm needles.

I'm really pleased that I've finally finished this.  It feels amazingly squishy and soft.  I'm glad the weather isn't right to wear the scarf.  I'm happy to wait a few months before I need to wear it!