and the list keeps growing

 I've just finished reading The Beach by Alex Garland.  Absolutely amazing.  You have to read it. I'd seen the film but years ago, so I don't remember it, but I have to see it again now.  I'm a little sad this book is over.  It's definitely one I'll read again. 

get scared

 

It's that time of year again...
Just in time for me to start my new read, picked up for £2 from an amazing second hand bookshop I found in Glossop.  You can't beat a good cheesy horror...

good reasons to be poor

Things I've been spending money in the last week (which I probably shouldn't have) but am happy I did...

This book 'Just Kids' that I cannot wait to start reading! About £5, brand new from Ebay.

This super cute bike necklace, £7 from Accessorize, on a nice & long gold chain. I couldn't walk away from it...

This dress from Traid charity shop on Holloway Road (one of my all time fave charity shops) for only £4.49.

This vegan face mask with avocado and goji berry was £6 from Superdrug and it's soooo good.  Great to have affordable vegan beauty products more accessible!

This nail jewel set was only from the 99p store at the end of my road... I couldn't not get it! I did this two days ago and half the jewels have fallen off now, but it's a lot of fun and worth it if you want to bling up your nails for a big night out, haha!

Headphones (£4 from a sports shop) and water bottle from Sweaty Betty... I also got an amazing sports bra from them too. That was the big spend of the week; but it was so worth it.

Went out for a run the night I'd gotten it and ran for 7 miles - my new personal best! Being able to listen to music (finally) when I'm running was a major help too. Oh and having water with me. You don't even have to grip this bottle because it just sits on your hand.

I became a member of Sweaty Betty for free and get to attend free excercise classes they hold in the evenings - Wednesday is running club. I can't wait to go along to one!

Jiffy - Lace

I  was delighted to be introduced to this fantastic paper pattern book earlier today...

Jiffy lace uses a knitting needle and a crochet hook to create the stitch pattern (?!)

I'm in love with this collar and cuff combo ~

  Here's how JIFFY LACE is done:

STEP ONE:

STEP TWO:

STEP THREE:

STEP FOUR:

Clouds... My First Knitted Sweater

I have finally gotten round to knitting my first ever jumper:

It was great fun; really quick to knit as the stitch pattern is quite loose.

I used Debbie Bliss angel yarn which is a blend of kid mohair and silk and it feels so wonderful!

For the cuffs I knitted with an organic 100% wool dk yarn; all of which I treated myself to from Loop Knitting in Islington. 

The pattern is from this fantastic book I got given second hand.  Seriously worth checking out!

(If you click on the pic it'll take you to it's Amazon page).

There's some great patterns in there and I've already got my yarn lined up for the next one from it...

Knitting Fashion 69: Miser Mittens

A few years back, my Grandma handed me down all of her old knitting supplies; including what is now 'my stash' of needles in all lengths and sizes, some fantastic crochet and knitting patterns (torn out from 80's 'ladies fashion-esque' magazines and all a bit dog-eared for that authentic retro-knit-feel) and this book...

 It's a real jem; the first half of the book is dedicated to explaining every kind of technique and knitting querie you could think of. Seemingly, it was commissioned by the BBC. I think, years back, this was a short series of television shows, which later got published in paper form. (How great is that - knitting on the box and then into a book!?)

 

 I've always wanted to knit myself a pair of fingerless gloves.  'Knitting Fashion' had a nice, simple looking pattern in it, titled 'Miser Mittens' (all the patterns are numbered in the book - this one was 69 out of 150).  I decided it was time to put this classic beaut of knitting knowledge to use (not to mention find a use for that ball of Regia sock yarn I picked up in a sale eons ago...)

Resulting in these:

 I feel the photographs here really do not do them justice - I'm so pleased with the result.  They fit perfectly and this yarn is gorgeous, so soft to wear.  Will definitely use it again.

The pattern was great! So easy to follow, such a simple item to make once you see how it is done... (Think I know what the fam are getting for Christmas this year).

Knitting Fashion is definitely still very 'now' and goes to show that knitting is no longer just for Grannies -

it's for their grandchildren nowadays!

Cheers Grandma

My First Granny Square

Ta-da! My first ever crocheted granny square:I have wanted to make me one of these for sooo long and finally took the opportunity to this Sunday (to all those who came to my market stall this weekend may have noticed an expression of deep concentration on my face...)

I used a slightly larger-than-needed crochet hook to make life easier on myself and am so pleased with the result! My plan is to incorporated plastic & acrylic wool crocheted squares for a summer picnic blanket.

This is my absolutely lovely crochet book which I was working from. I inherited this copy of 'Good Housekeeping Crochet' from my mother, it was first published in 1981 and my copy (the 4th released) followed in 1984. It has great illustrations to help teach you all the various stitches and great colour photographs of different patterns, embellems and trims you can create with crochet.

I love the illustration on the front cover the best!

Here is the page I was working from: not too bad a comparison to the example in the book! Once it is pressed and I am confident to use a smaller hook it will be far more similar.
The stitch I was practicing here is called an Almond Stitch and it is one which has stood out at me from this book everytime I have leafed through the pages.

Also in the 'Good Housekeeping' range there is a needlepoint, embroidery, patchwork & applique and a knitting edition! No bets as to which one I'd love to track down, but I imagine that they are all little published gems.

Going Loopy Socks

I have just completed my first pair of sock from my new book 'Knitted Sock Sensations' (Louise Butt & Kirstie McLeod). There's lots of great patterns in there and I couldn't wait to make a pair of the 'Going Loopy Socks'
Unfortunately I ran out of yarn towards the end of the second sock... I did see it coming but couldn't help but keep on knitting anyways! People won't see the toes when I'm wearing shoes anyway... Right?

The cuff is created using loop stitch, which I found quite time consuming (possibly as it is the first time I have ever used it) but definitely worth the patience as the result is fantastic

Here you can see the basic sock method and how the heel and toe decreases knit up.

Buy the book here:

I'll keep posting up more sock sensations as I knit them; there's so many great patterns in there, I'm not too sure which ones I'm going to start next...

Green Is The New Black

I've just finished reading 'Green is the New Black' by Tamsin Blanchard and it is an absolutely fantastic book!

It was published in 2007 but is still super relevant and has so many good tips and crafty projects to do; I really recommend getting yourself a copy to read. It has loads of info on where and how to shop ethically; what companies to choose, how to challenge other companies and a directory of shops & websites.

I managed to get mine for only £3.99 on sale in Oxfam!

See here for some more info:

www.greenisthenewblack.typepad.com