The Next Chapter

The past week has been one of contemplation, decision making and general considerations about whats going to happen in the future. Currently my partner and I live in Glasgow and are coming toward the end of our university courses. We moved up to Glasgow originally because he decided this would be the best uni for him, and we both fell in love with the city. Now as we both come to the end of these courses we had to decide what the plan was, were we going to stay up here or move back down to our families.

Its been a hard decision, I've made so many friends up here and without meeting the people I have I wouldn't have developed this obsession with knitting that I have. Not to mention all the friends I have made through my university course. But we've decided it would be in our best interests, especially jobs wise. Neither us are particularly benefits savy and have the feeling that the flat that we are currently in won't entertain having people on housing benefits, especially seen as they were so accommodating with us being students in the first place (insert sarcasm here).

Besides this way we will have the luxury of being able to job hunt and not have to jump at the very first thing just so we can pay rent etc as we will be moving back in with the parents. His course finishes before mine though so wherever he finds a job I will follow.

I am a little sad about it, but I know its for the best. Besides Glasgow is not that far away and I will definitely be journeying back up to see people and for yarn events and so on. I couldn't live without it ;) But I have to say, I'm very excited to move back down and see people more often especially family and close friends including my little godson. Its too shocking the development in him when I haven't seen him for a few months! Besides there is a big enough yarn scene down in the old textiles capital of West Yorkshire for me to get my teeth into!

WIP: "Stonor" by Belinda Boden

I had an acute uncontrollable case of startitis this week as I finished off the wedding shawl and my shrug for my brothers wedding, for more info see Whats on my Needles: March 2012, although I have yet to post about them as FO's. And even though I haven't finished the little dolls for the cake I just needed to start something else (bad me :( ). However, its involved me using up a cardigans worth of stash so GO ME! 

 
Introducing Stonor by Belinda Boden ;) she is a beautiful long sleeved cardigan with a deep rib at the waist and an incredibly addictive lace pattern. The lace pattern is a really simple 4 row repeat which although the cardigan only uses 4ply, its going to knit up nice and quick I think.                                                              

The other aspect I found really attractive about this cardigan is the way that it just has buttons at the top and due to the deep ribbing it opens up beautifully at the waist but in doing so really emphasises your body shape. Whereas some cardigans that open like this can just leave you looking a little bit pregnant.       
      
The pattern is only available in Fyberspates Scrumptious Collection Vol 1, which offers 20 patterns and retails at £12.50, to be honest I bought the book primarily for this pattern although I have spied a few other projects in there that I will be making, such as "Challow", "Hinksey",  and "Tirrold".                       

The book is lovely, very well set out and all the patterns are presented really well with the inclusion of graphs and some of them are seamless. This cardigan is meant to be knit in separate pieces but I have chosen to knit the back and fronts together up to the arm hole where I will split them and start to work the sections separately, I have included a faux purl seam though to split the sides a little bit visually.                          

Now, the yarn that I'm using isn't the suggested yarn. If I had the money I would definitely have splashed out on some of Fyberspates Scrumptious 4ply, that merino and silk blend is SO SQUISHY! Not the mention the beautiful colours its available in. However, when I'm still on a bit of a yarn diet, and I had just the right about of Cygnet 4ply in my yarn cave I had to behave myself and satisfy myself with this.

I love how its turning out and even though its not going to have quite the same amount of sheen that it would have with the suggested yarn, I love the colour and its going to be lovely and just the right amount of warm. The lace detailing on it will make it cool enough for the summer cardigan its designed to be whereas the wool will make it just right for a Scottish Summer, or its attempt at it at least! I can't wait till its finished!I love the colour and think it will go well with alot of the things I wear :)

Craftsy

So, I've just joined up to the site Craftsy, (heres my little bit in it) mainly to make my patterns available for purchase on there. Its an interesting little site, although I'm aware it could be a danger zone for me. At least with Ravelry I'm stuck (in the best way possible) with just knitting and the occasional bit of crotchet if I so desire it. But Craftsy :o there's sewing and felting and all sorts of crafty-ness on it. I don't need any more hobbies! I serious! There's lots of workshops that you can sign up for aswell which seems very intriguing, although I am not investigating that front just yet as I really don't have the time and do not want to get sucked in.

The pattern data base is a bit slow uploading the patterns which was a little frustrating when used to the streamlined format that Ravelry has. But I'm sure this is only because it is "beta" format and so as it grows I'm sure it will be a much better experience :).

I really am going to have to be careful and not go on the site too much for the next few weeks. At least until after Paul's wedding otherwise I'm going to end up with my schedule going completely to pot.

Squee! Baby Knitting!!!!!

It looks like it's going to be a busy year this year! 3 friends having babies! I have literally just had a phone call to tell me about the third, it has totally brightened up my day! A day which has seen beautiful sunshine in Glasgow, which I'm pretty sure is meant as a form of torture to me as I have an essay (formative, only 1,000 words) to write for tomorrow and so can't go out. PLUS it's spin sunday at my local yarn shop The Yarn Cake. So as a result my spinning wheel is behind the sofa muttering at me because I haven't paid her any attention this month. I've been so focused on wedding knitting and uni, more emphasis on the former as always I must say. And now I have the temptation to trawl through Ravelry again for more Baby knits! Must Restrain Myself!


Obviously I cant link pics through to this for copyright reasons so click on the links and go and have a look at all the pretty projects! I'm planning to try and do unisex ones because I think all 3 Mothers are looking for surprises. Typical ;)

Booties:
I think its a must that all the babies get a set of Saartjes-bootees I have made any of these yet but they will be   such a quick little knit :)
Also these amazingly cute little things! DUCK FEET! How cool are they? I've been wanting to do a set since they came out!
Cardigans:
And look at the absolute cuteness of Ella-funt
And theres one with little Sheeps on too
And this pretty little thing Maile sweater
This GarnStudio pattern is a lovely little unisex one too

There are tonnes of lovely blankets too but I end up getting so bored with them! Although they do end up getting more use out of them.

What's on my needles: March 2012

My big Brother is getting married in April this year and so currently the only things I am working on right now (along with uni work-grump) are things which I need to do for the big day!

"Sea & Shells Stole"  by Val Campion
For Rachael (the Bride).

This shawl is based on "Print o' the Waves" by Eunny Jang. This is the forth time I've knit this beautiful Shawl since Mid 2010. All 4 Brides I have knit a shawl for as soon as they see pictures from the FO's page for it on Ravelry all want that one. Now usually I hate knitting the same thing even twice. But this shawl is simple and stunning and the perfect addition to any wedding dress. Not too complicated, it doesn't take too much attention away from the dress! Here is a pic of the most recent, I'm working this newest one in that same yarn.
Craft: Knitting
Yarn: Natural Dye Studio "Precious Lace"
Colour: Silver
Fibre: 100% pure silk *swoon*
Needle: 3.5mm















The next bit of cuteness is a Saplanets Original wedding couple "Jake & Fiona" they're to go on the table with the cake.

The plan is to make them a bit more like Paul (the big brother) and Rachael. I've crocheted a tiiiiny little climbing harness, the same colour as his, and I'm planning to do a climbing rope too. I have a camera which I'm going to fix to Rachael and she's going to have bright yellow hair. If I have enough yarn let from her shawl I'm aiming to do a mini shawl for her figurine.
Craft: Crochet
Yarn: Various bits and bobs of scrap 4ply
Hook: 2mm





"Aphrodite Shrug" By Sarah Hatton, in Vintage Inspired Projects. This is to go with my dress, no not a bridesmaid dress :( (she has 3 sisters, there would have been to many) the dress was a bargain! £23 down from £80! The shrug has a very interesting construction and I love how it's turning out.Not the mention the yarn is AMAZING
Craft: Knitting
Yarn: DROPS Lace
Fibre: 70% Alpaca 30% Mulberry silk
Colour: (not sure on shade number) Rust
Needle: 3.5mm






31st March (Update)

I have finished all the projects!! Yey!! I'll post picutres in a new post after the wedding when all the items can be seen in all their glory! I'm very impressed with the dolls, in the beginning I wasn't too sure about them and thought they didn't look brilliant, but once they had been personalised and put on a cake base with the other little bits and pieces I crocheted to join them, I think it looks really cute! Even if I do say so myself! 

I feel like a big girl now!

I has taken a year, but march is my designer birthday month! I don't know what date I published Aislinn, but Ravelry notes it as March 2011. And today I got my very first invoice from Ravelry because I have sold over $20 through the site in the past month. This makes me very happy. Plus it means I now actually contributed to the site, although it was only 70p, it's still something. Hopefully I'll carry on selling enough patterns to contribute something each month to Rav.

Also I only just learnt today about PayPals micropayment plan, where businesses which tend to only deal in small transaction (under £5) get charged a smaller fee per transaction! So whereas before for a £3.50 pattern I would only receive £3.16 now the fee should only be 5%&5p I will get £3.27 . All those pennies definitely add up! Wish I had known about this earlier, but what can you do!