Teeny Tiny Toe up Socks

http://www.ravelry.com/projects/baxcreative/toe-up-baby-socks

Should have photographed with a tape measure... Also double up as nice thumb warmers...

Pattern thanks to Sheila Toy right here

DC Comic Skirt for sale

Awesome Batman, Penguin & Joker DC Comic strip skirt for sale - made by me!

Currently up for auction on Ebay, bidding ends 20:43 on 5th June 2013, one week to go!

More photos and details on the Ebay auction HERE


Also for sale, lots more of my wardrobe and an amazing electronic Brother Knitting machine, a KH 910 Electroknit RIGHT HERE

finished

Last night I finished the second of the purple socks I began knitting earlier in the month.
This one got done a lot quicker than the first.
Day off well spent.

I haven't knitted socks for over a year now, so I didn't really bother with a tension square, or a complex pattern.

They'll definitely get a lot of wear though, if a touch on the slouchy side.

I got the pattern for free from this blog or you can find it on Ravelry.

unstashed

I knitted this cardi a few years ago now.  I haven't worn it much; mainly because I've been a bit too precious over it (a lot of time went into making this) and partly because I really didn't like the original buttons I'd sewn on it.  Time for a change.  Small details can really alter the appearance of things.  

I'd forgotten how many pretty little treasures I had stashed away in my button collection.

Bags and tins and boxes in boxes of them

These multi coloured buttons are the perfect match for the textured forest green cardigan.  I got these from MacCulloch & Wallis (off Oxford Street) back when I used to work there.
I'd completely forgotten I had them.

Now it'll definitely get worn.  I love it like it was new

400+ miles

Some of my bees made a flight last week, to a new home in Scotland.

Safe journey little ones!

BIKE chain maile

Lookie what I made today

{ Gun metal bike chain links (recycled) }

 Like it? Buy it

More photos & details right here

pour mon père

My Dad is my hero.
Nothing says 'you mean the world to me' more than a handmade card.
This is what he got from his twenty-something-year-old daughter for his birthday in March:

 ...And just a few of many, many handmade cards from previous occassions:

[ One of my favourites was when I got a spoke and bent it into the shape of 'DAD' ]

[ Or when I superimposed his face onto the head of Chris Hoy having just won gold on the track ]

my Dad may have something to do with my love for bikes

Gem ~ Stones & Gold ~ Wire

Some better images of the beautiful jewellery I bought earlier this week ~

Some pieces are created from single, large, statement stones. Others used a variety of smaller ones; some smooth, some unpolished.  Meaning the shapes and forms created vary.

Beautiful.

So different from anything that is out there at the moment - look for the fabulous lady who makes & sells these for ONLY £10 in Old Spitlefields Market & Portobello.

{made from semi-precious stones & gold wire}

Making PomPoms

1:

 2:

3:

4:

 5:

6:

How To:

1:
Cut out two cardboard circles the same size as you want your pompoms to be and cut a circle out of the middle of them too

2:
Place them back to back and thread your yarn through the centre and begin to wrap it around the circles (I thread my wool onto a darning needle as I find it easier - especially if you are making smaller pompoms like I was - these ones are 1.5")

3:
Keep going until you can't see anymore cardboard - the more yarn you wrap around, the fuller the pompoms will be

4:
Carefully slip some scissors along the edge of the flat pompom and cut the yarn all the way around

5:
Taking a seperate length of yarn, slip it in between the two cardboard discs and tie it really securely around the centre of the pompom (this is what will hold all the threads in place)

6:
 Carefully cut the cardboard discs off the pompom, fluff it up and trim any excess lengths of yarn.

Then make more!

Slash Neck Top {finished}

The finished result of my Slash Neck Top project ~

 I began knitting it from a pattern I had been handed down, in amongst a bunch of second hand knitting needles, a few years back.  It had been typed up (on a typewriter!) and had no photo or picture to show what the top looked like.  So I decided to find out.

 I used second hand wool I had from my generous stash...

 The pattern calls for 2 x 100g ball of DK; I didn't have a whole 200g in the same colour, so opted for this 100g ball of sky blue acrylic yarn and this not-quite-a-full-ball of 100g mid-blue.

 The only amendments I made to the original project was to down-size my knitting needles; as I always need to do this to achieve the correct tension square for projects.  Although no tension measurements were given in the pattern, I decided it would be wise.  I also kept track of how many rows it took to knit the 2" rib, so it would match perfectly for the front and back.

 I knitted the back half of the top solidly in the light blue yarn; for the front, I had to mix both the shades in to make them last.

  So for the front, the rib was knitted in the light blue and then I joined in the mid-blue for the bulk of the stitch pattern.

 When it came to the sleeves; the pattern calls for extra stitches to be cast on and these knit in moss stitch.  I used a stitch marker to keep track of where the pattern changes.

 For the front; I cast on these extra stitches in the light blue, as the mid blue was running out...

 The darker shade lasted for a few more rows; then I completed the rest of the top in the main light blue colour.  It actually worked out really well in relation to where the colour change sits on the top and also in terms of the effect it creates.  The change in colour picks out the wave effect created from the lace pattern.  Perfect.

And it's a perfect fit, too.

Tropical Orchid

All sewn up and just in time for spring ~

 Kid mohair & silk, candy stripes, delicate texture, intricate lace pattern...

It took a while but it was worth it.

I love the organic edge the stitch pattern created.

It's on Ravelry here

Bobbles & Cables

Some of my favourite arm warmers, not much need for gloves now, but these old favourites may need some use still...

Acrylic & lurex yarn - sparkles, cables, bobbles & moss stitch.

The pattern came from Knitting Lingerie Style (Joan McGowan-Michael)

Entrelac Bag

A bag I knitted a while ago now, to try out entrelac knitting.  The pattern came from Knitting Magazine and was originally for a make-up bag (I think); but I decided I was more in need of a new crafty handbag.

 I've been meaning to try out an entrelac jumper since; I love this stitch technique.

 I gave the bag a lining from some recycled scrap material I had; added an inside pocket, tabs with D-rings to attach a strap to and a recycled gold metal tooth YKK zip with a clashing pink tape.

The (slightly gross, I know) broach is made from recycled lace & an extremely child-like, oversized, plastic button.  Can't have it looking too sophistiacted now.

Party Time

Best send-off a girl could ask for:

 Courtesy of Team Haby @ MacCulloch & Wallis last year.

  Party time in Richmond Marilyn Moore as the beautiful boutique celebrated it's first birthday:

[Behind the scenes - magic bites - party time]

 Shop & window displays courtesy of the fabulous Jen @ the evershine project