Mother hen

One of my colleague is expected his first child (a boy) at the beginning of May. He and his wife have chickens, so as a gift, I thought a knitted one would be a good idea.
On FB, I've posted the building up steps of the hen, and my friends loved it so I thought I should post it here as well:

Finally, this is how it looks like:

I can't wait to see their faces when I'll give it to them!
Have a nice weekend...

Tic Tic Tic

As promised, an overview of the knitted projects I've completed this year so far...
The latest one is for CraftHope project 16 (Lyon hat, free Ravelry pattern here)

A simple crocheted blanket for my friend Lisa's baby, Matthew. I've also made a matching mouse. I shall bring these to its owner in Amsterdam in a couple of weeks...

 Ribbed baby jacket (free pattern on Ravelry here). I still have to buy a button for this one!

Easy fingerless mittens (free Ravelry pattern here)

One of my ongoing project: a hen (Alan Dart pattern). This one is for my colleague's baby (due in May so I have some time to complete it). I've changed the pattern slightly...I am knitting it in the round because I don't like sewing!

I also have a pair of socks on the go but this is for another post...

Markets

Here are some pictures of our stall at the makers market:


It was a good day. We were at a very strategic place: next to the coffee and cakes!!!! I don't know if it boosted our sales but it was very handy and helped us to keep warm. The day was bright and dry so it was not too bad to be standing outside all day!

Cardigan

I am slowly, but surely, using my stash. These past few days I used up nearly 2 balls of Rowan 4-ply cotton to knit this cardigan:


Silver cardigan (Free Ravelry download)
Size: 9-12 months
It will travel to France to its owner who was born last month.

Now, I have 2 Christmas markets to prepare, 5th and 9th November, and I haven't done much so far!!!

Treat

I wanted one for a long time and finally, I decided to treat myself!

A wooden swift :o)

I bought it from Stash Fine Yarns.

It has been very useful already to wind 2 skeins of lace weight merino (1400m each!) bought in Florence a few years ago.

I have started knitting it into a jacket: Daydreams in lace.

BACK!

What's my excuse this time for not blogging for more than 2 months????

MOVING!!!!

I moved into my new place on 6th May but I haven't had time to sit down and enjoy it yet! I've been painting, entertaining friends, travelling, gardening, decorating, planning holidays, working....

Knitting is not on the list because I simply didn't have time for it! I did some before moving though:

Pattern from Lucinda Guy book "Designs for kids". Half of them have now moved to their new owners. A couple of them are enjoying sunshine in France and one will be flying to Poland soon...

I've arranged a little knitting corner in my new pad:

That's it for now. Next time, I'll show you my tomatoes :o)

Cheeky Monkey

This is what fell off my needles lately:

another pair of socks! Cable rib socks from "Favorite Socks: 25 Timeless Designs from Interweave". I've modified the pattern a little: started from the toe and did a short row heel.

For one of my friend's nephew, I've knitted this cheeky jumper (pattern from knitting magazine 050, May 2008):

Now, on my needles, I have another pair of socks (for me, as always) and a lace smoke ring (vent d'est vent d'ouest, free Ravelry download) using the nice yak yarn camoun sent me :o) (and this is for me as well!).

Meandering Vines Shawl

I've been wondering for a long time what to do with 6 balls of Artesano inca cloud alpaca I had in my stash when I found this pattern: Meandering Vines Shawl. It is a free ravelry download. It is a very easy pattern and the result is really nice.
I did 6 repeats of the lace pattern on 5mm needles.
Before blocking it looked like a mess:


Once blocked, you can see the nice pattern:



It is a gift for a friend I will be visiting in June...

Hearts and Flowers socks

One more pair!
For me, as usual :o)
But I must admit that I am glad to have so many pairs (a dozen) of hand knitted socks because they are warm and cosy and, with the weather we had this winter, they've been put to good use!


The pattern is called hearts and flowers socks from Wendy Johnson book "socks from the toe up". I used one ball of Zauberball and 2.25mm dpn.

Now I have to decide on the next pair of socks I am going to knit (for me again, I am so selfish when it comes to socks). I like to have a pair to knit as it is a small portable project you can take anywhere :o)

1 sheep, 2 sheep, 3 sheep...zzzzzz

This is my first completed knitting project this year (started 1st january 2011):
A sheep yoke baby cardigan. The pattern is a free Ravelry download and can also be found here. I used 4mm needles and Jarol Heritage classic DK yarn (55% wool, 25% acrylic and 20% nylon). I've knitted the 9-12 months size. It is for my friend Ilka's baby who's due in 2 weeks.


She does not know what she is having, hence the versatile color scheme.
I've bet chocolate with another friend that it would be a boy.... we should know soon ;o)

Aeolian shawl

I've done a lot of knitting last week, and I finally managed to finish a beaded shawl I started in March. It is a shame, we can't see the beads (about 2500) on the picture but to give you an idea of the size, it is pinned on a king size fitted sheet. I probably should have done the shoulderette size, it would have taken much less time and would have been easier to wear...

The free pattern is here.

I used about 150g of lace weight baby alpaca. It is very soft.

I've also finished the socks I was showing you in the previous post. The pattern is called circle socks and is free on Ravelry.

I've started another pair of socks. The pattern is called hearts and flowers socks from Wendy Johnson book "socks from the toe up".

Now, I should pack my bag and I am away again till next year....

Have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Knitzi

Last month I decided to treat myself with a must have knitting accessory: a Knitzi!

It is a sock-in-progress holder. It comes in various sizes so I've chosen the one that fits perfectly my beloved KnitPicks dpn :o)

I also had to start knitting some socks before showing off!

I've done the foot plain, turned the heel and I now have to decide on a pattern for the leg.

The yarn, hand died 100% pure Blue Faced Leicester from Laal Bear, is a pleasure to work with.

The Knitzi is both beautiful and extremely practical so some of my fellow knitters at the knitting group have asked Santa to bring them one ;oD

Mirror mirror

With the first Christmas market only a few days away, I've started wrapping all the little things I made and finishing the bigger projects.
The gloves were done a while ago and I used the left over yarn to make some crochet flower brooches.



I also finished the mirrors this afternoon. They are about 35 x 22 cm.

I might do a few more stained glass suncatchers before the event.
Now I have to think of pricing these items...

Some knitting

I haven't done much knitting lately (or much posting either), life is too busy!

Anyway, I am making some gloves to sell at Twist.



I also have a lace WIP: I started it in March and it will probably take me another year to complete it because I am knitting no more than 2 rows every week. It is a free pattern from knitty: Aeolian shawl. I am using Misti Alpaca lace yarn and 2250 beads.

I am also working on some stained glass projects for the Christmas market but that will be for another post.

Nanner Socks

As promised, this is my latest pair of socks:

This is a pattern from Wendy Johnson called Nanner socks (free pattern, and more, here). I didn't follow the pattern for the heel. I've knitted a wee bit too much for the feet and I was too lazy to rip it off so I didn't do a gusset and did a simple short row heel instead.

Books

I do not count the number of days, or weeks I should say, since my last post. My excuses: lack of time and laziness! I should add holidays as well. I am just back from 10 days in France...
Anyway, this is not today's topic. I wanted to show you two wonderful books I bought in the US:


Some of the patterns:

And:

Some of the patterns:

I have not tried any pattern yet and I am not sure which one to go for!
I have a pair I want to finish first! I should be able to show it to you next week...

Owl

I've knitted an owl for Rory who was born 2 weeks ago.

Pattern from this book: "knitted Toy Tales" from Laura Long.

One more!

Today, I finished another pair of socks. Considering the weather, they will be put to good use straight away.

I used the lovely ball of Noro Camoun sent me three weeks ago and this free pattern: interlocking leaves. Fairly easy and well written.

Surprise

This week I had a great surprise in my mailbox: a gift from my blog friend Camoun :o)
Last year I sent her a few bits and pieces from Scotland (pictures here) and this year I received this:

Thanks again Camoun (I don't have your talent for writing so I keep it short).

Schooner socks

I've finally finished the socks I've started beginning of December!
The pattern (called Schooner) is from this book: "knitting socks with handpainting yarn" by C. Sulcoski. I made a few changes though: I used my basic toe-up pattern and then followed the chart for the legs.

I used 100% merino wool from Violet Green, a pleasure to knit and wear.
With the left-over, I made a sock for my phone:

Well, I am off to Paris for a loooong weekend :o)

Cheerio !!!