by RoxyPosted on Posted in Knitting 4 Comments

Have you ever had a totor-y awesome idea, a sudden spark of the imagination, then reality turns round and goes, yeah, you don’t have time for that?

But as Baron Humbert Von Gikkingen, from The Cat Returns, puts it, ‘Always believe in yourself. Do this, and no matter where you are, you will have nothing to fear.’

So believe in myself I did.

That Totor-y awesome idea? To knit little Totoros for the new Jarl and his kids. This idea came to me Sunday night and I needed them Tuesday afternoon and I had a full day of work Monday and Tuesday.

Talk about last minute…

After the first Totoro I knew they had to be smaller, so I tweaked a different pattern and boom, teeny tiny Totoros!

How do they all look?

Bigger totoro is based loosely on the free pattern Five Little Bunnies by Laura Bain

Tiny Totoros are based on the free pattern Tiny Chickens by Anna Hrachovec (Mochimochi to the win!)

And, well, I couldn’t resist…I really wanted one for myself. Actually, I wanted the whole family.

All the Mochimochi pattern, just fewer stitches and rows to reduce the size.

Genuinely chuffed with these, as was the Jarl and his kids.

Totor-y worth it.

Anyone else doing any last minute creations?

Until the next post, stay safe!

Wool Count

Starting total – 841

Wool used – 98 (2 used)
Wool unaccounted for in my stash – 15
Wool bought – 36 (+9 – it was black DK, I always need black DK!)
Wool given to me – 37
Wool gifted to others – 2
Wool handspun – 15

Total – 846 (Net difference: +5)

by RoxyPosted on Posted in Knitting 6 Comments

I like to knit. And I like to give gifts.

I like to give knitted gifts to those knit worthy. Of all sheeps and sizes.

And often I do lamb-ent at a partic-ewe-larly cute or pretty knit leaving my possession after hours of work, but generally it’s with the knowledge I can just make another if I really want to.

I rarely do.

Howoolver. This knit has gen-ewe-inely split opinions regarding gifting it, and due to its scrap busting nature of mixed yarns, some of which are entirely ewe-d, it can’t be recreated exactly.

Its also been sheep-napped numerous times by n-ewe-merous people, and I have to hunt it down and get it back each time.

What’s worse, I want to be a sheep napper too.

Meet ‘Beep Beep Rainbow Sheep’. (Bobble Sheep Pillow In Partridge by Purl Soho, free pattern) Knitted to match my nieces seat belt covers and to act as a cushion or pillow or cuddly companion in her car. Complete with removable cushion and made of machine washable wool for any accidents that may occur.

The name is Timbercats fault as he taught my terrors ‘Beep Beep, I’m a sheep’. There’s a story, but a later date for that one. And every time they see it, they declare Beep Beep Rainbow Sheep then steal it. A number of my friends have too.

The photo doesn’t capture its squishy cuddliness and soft, unspoken desire to be snuggled which it just exudes.

Can ewe tell I want it too?

I’ve told myself I can knit another. I can knit many. I could do bright rainbow, greytone rainbow, all different natural colours or even with my handspun but… I don’t know.

I guess wool have to wait till after Christmas to see if Beep Beep Rainbow Sheep makes it to my niece or not.

…

Anyone willing to go out on a lamb and thinks sheep’ll be happy with a tiny knitted sheep she can hang from the rear-view mirror instead?

In other news, I have wrote my ‘A Cthulhumas Carol’ oneshot for work and looking forward to being very firmly on the naughty list after having a slaying time that night with my players.

Other than that, it’s the ewe-sual Christmas mayhem and madness. I hope everyone else is doing well with their own holiday chaos, whichever that may be!

Till next post, stay safe!

Wool Count

Starting total – 841

Wool used – 96 (5 used)
Wool unaccounted for in my stash – 15
Wool bought – 27
Wool given to me – 37
Wool gifted to others – 2
Wool handspun – 15

Total – 840 (Net difference: -1)

Woo! I have gone under my starting total!!!! Insert all the happy cat dancing GIFs cause woo!

by RoxyPosted on Posted in Knitting 6 Comments

A little while ago I posted on the family chat that I was planning on knitting everyone a little something for christmas, did anyone have any requests? I got all the usual requests, more or less, but then my niece asked me for something quite specific…

She has learned to drive, and has her own car, but wanted seat belt cosies like I have in my car to stop the belt rubbing into your collarbone etc. I was auto-ley delighted by this request, even more so when the scope was ‘you have free reign, just pick something that will match the car’.

Immediately, it was a drive of activity.

I’ve been on a bit of a rainbow kick since the thneed for Rabbie, and I just couldn’t resist seeing if I could create my own pastel rainbow blend. What do you think?

And dont fret my gears, the buttons car all mismatched on purpose. Namely because I didn’t have 25 of any one kind that fitted in the button stash. Yes, there is a button stash. And a wool one. And a fabric one. And a fleece one…

Give me a brake, this is my main hobby!

Moving swiftly on…

In other news, I did a prehistoric textile course with Sally Pointer, Felix came as well as she is a big fan and it was an amazing day. We learned two and three ply cordage, netting, carved needles out of antler and even got to have a go at sprang!

Sprang is a kind of braided weaving that only has the warp, no weft. It also worked both the bottom and top of the piece as you manipulate the threads. Absolutely mind boggling but also very fun!

When I clear my schedule I’m going to give it a proper play.

Speaking of, it’s that time of year where everything has gone mad. Presents to wrap, projects to work on for all the family, house to clean (boo) and also time to give the place a proper sort out.

I’ve also been voluntold to run a Christmas themed cthulhu one shot at my works board game club. (Running a single Christmas RPG seems to be tradition now). Couldn’t find any that was right so…well…I’m reading the classic Christmas Carol, making notes, cross referencing with the Muppets Christmas Carol (because it’s the best version) and my tome of cthulhu mythos beasts, monsters and elder gods…

The players are going to have a slaying time with this one.

Till next post, stay safe!

Wool Count

Starting total – 841

Wool used – 91 (4 used)
Wool unaccounted for in my stash – 15
Wool bought – 27
Wool given to me – 37
Wool gifted to others – 2
Wool handspun – 15

Total – 845 (Net difference: +4)

by RoxyPosted on Posted in Knitting 2 Comments

A good few weeks ago, Felix and I went to Abakan’s. It was a paws-itively fun day, with the main reason to go get fabric fur a few projects, but…you cant go and not look at the wool.

Thats just hiss-terical thinking.

Felix fell in love with some fabric, the aurora borealis above a forest, (which the a-meow-sing Rabbie turned into a housecoat fur her) and then she spotted some wool in the sale section.

Felix is, sadly, no longer a little child. She has grown and grown and grown this past year, and matured at an outstanding rate. Although we are getting the early signs of the terrible teens cropping up…although at 11 she does fall into tweenager territory… Because of all this, I have been encouraging her to branch out and start picking the clothing she likes, wear the colours and patterns so that she’s feline happy.

All that to say, she spotted some wool and fell in love with the colours. She bought the wool, with her own money, then handed me it with a smile and proceeded to go ‘Mummy…’

Remember the cats cowl, hat and arm warmers I knit a while ago? Well, she has frequently stolen the arm warmers and hat but left the cowl which is oversized on me as its ‘just too big’…

Meow Felix has one that fits her just right. And with the remaining wool, I made some cute stripy arm warmers so I can at least get mine back… I may try and colour match these and make another hat so I can rescue mine as well…

She thinks they’re paw-some, and is very much the cat that got the cream.

I do hope that as she grows older, she’ll still want my hand knitted things. But rather than worrying about that, I’m choosing to enjoy the meow-ments right meow.

Until next time, stay safe!

Wool Count

Starting total – 841

Wool used – 87 (6 used)
Wool unaccounted for in my stash – 15
Wool bought – 27
Wool given to me – 37 (+1 from the MIL)
Wool gifted to others – 2
Wool handspun – 15 (+4, the urge to sit and spin took over!)

Total – 849 (Net difference: +8)

by RoxyPosted on Posted in Knitting 3 Comments

I type this on a cold froggy morning, autumn finally drawing in with crunchy leaves underfoot and the promise of warm blankets and hot drinks when inside…

You’ll need to frogive me, this is my favourite time of the year, I hope I didn’t leave you susponded for too long there!

For those who follow the amazing Rabbie, you’ll know that she mentioned making a tiny lab coat in exchange for help making bird skulls and bones.

…

Out of context, we both sound toadally insane.

Anyway…

Many moons ago, years now in fact, I knit the Reliability Raptor for the team I was in at my work, as they sorely needed some motivation and something positive to focus on. Since moving team, I keep getting reminded that I needed to make them a better, more awesome, mascot.

I couldn’t just hop to it as I was undecided. The Analysis Ant? Oh, the Analysis Armadillo!

Nope. The people knew what they wanted.

The Quality Quail? The Failure Fish? The Laboratory Labrador?

Nope. No matter the compondium of ideas, the team knew what they wanted and well, you have to give the people what they want.

Meet Fibbit, The FA Frog. The reason? We have a tool called the FIB (Focused Ion Beam) that can make cuts in devices smaller than the width of a human hair, to allow us to look inside at the structures and work out just why they failed.

And despite telling the requesters repeatedly that this isn’t a magic tool that gives answers at the press of a button…

FIB it!

FIB it!

Fibbit!

And thus, we now have Fibbit. He got a full induction on his first day, and even a pass was made for him. I can’t share all these for reasons, but I do have permission to show this cute photo of him chilling in the edge of the FIB.

So thank you Rabbie, for helping create the best, toadally awesome, mascot!

And with that, I shall hop to it myself and catch you all next post!

Wool Count

Starting total – 841

Wool used – 81 (3 used)
Wool unaccounted for in my stash – 15
Wool bought – 27
Wool given to me – 37
Wool gifted to others – 2
Wool handspun – 11

Total – 850 (Net difference: +9)

by RoxyPosted on Posted in Knitting 3 Comments

Sew happy to be sharing knot just a finished project, but a pattern!

Sort of.

Its a patchy situation, I recommend you thread lightly.

On to the knitting part

Sew and behold, my Yumyan Hammerpaw inspired bag! Yes, I have knit a plaid dice bag, an actual Yumyan Hammerpaw and now, a plaid tote bag complete with a Yumyan Hammerpaw twist to it. This is the last in a series of Timbercat inspired gifts for Timbercat. Will need to decide a new theme for his next birthday!

Oh, and I know knot everyone will believe me, but I even lined this bag!

Sew, onto the pattern now.

Here it is! Link also available via the free patterns tab!

The reason I have been sew uncertain with this pattern is that its knot a pattern. Its a chart. Although I have included the details and rough recipes of the two bags I knit using said chart.

And thats all for today. I am quilty as charged of being knackered, sew leaving it at a short post.

Until the next one, stay safe!

Wool Count

Starting total – 841

Wool used – 83 (5 used)
Wool unaccounted for in my stash – 15
Wool bought – 27
Wool given to me – 37
Wool gifted to others – 2
Wool handspun – 11

Total – 848 (Net difference: +7)

by RoxyPosted on Posted in Knitting 1 Comment

Its a plague.

An infestation.

Its…getting out of hand?

This photo of this little Zombie hand (Free pattern Zombie Arms by Elizabeth Pierre) was my intention. Then during a gaming session, it just grew arms and…more hands…

Four in fact. Two were promptly stolen and the other two, of corpse, went to work with me for a little Halloween mayhem.

Took a few hours, but the infection was found, isolated, then there was an outbreak. They were found again but as of typing this, one has managed to escape and is crawling in the wild, ready to…pounce? lend a hand?

Hopefully get a laugh, which was the whole point of the en-cadavar. I am dead-icated to trying to bring some humour to life, or at least the undead in this case, around me.

In non knitting news, I visited my family up north and, although the drive was a bit braining, it was amazing. Lots of fun, lots of laughter, no one died, amazing.

And with that, I’m gonna take a brain check and see you all next post, till then, stay safe and don’t get infected by any zombies!

Wool Count

Starting total – 841

Wool used – 78 (2 used)
Wool unaccounted for in my stash – 15
Wool bought – 27
Wool given to me – 37
Wool gifted to others – 2
Wool handspun – 11

Total – 853 (Net difference: +12)

by RoxyPosted on Posted in Knitting 4 Comments

“Sir! You are crazy with greed. There is no one on earth that would buy that fool Thneed!”

Perhaps not buy, but me? I thneeded to knit one. Why? Blame Rabbie.

Although she will blame a Ticktock of a sleeved shawl.

“It’s not about what it is, it’s about what it can become.”

Which, upon watching it, goes from a sleeved shawl to a scarf to a cowl to a sleeved scarf or sleeved cowl, a hood and even a little top…

“It’s a shirt. It’s a sock. It’s a glove. It’s a hat.”

Yeah… I call a thneed when I see one.

“A Thneed’s a Fine-Something-That-All-People-Need.”

And you know who thneeds that thneed the most? The very someone who showed me that tick tock? Who happens to have Reynard’s and has icicles for fingers even in summer? Yep, Rabbie. And she deserves a treat in thneed form. So to the woolservatory I went…

“And I first saw the trees! The Truffula trees! The bright-colored tufts of the Truffula trees! Mile after mile in the fresh morning breeze.”

…ok, change the word tree to wool and I totally suddenly feel called out. Moving on. I opted for a slow colour changing wool, in muted rainbow colours.

And the stitch pattern?

“He’ll tell you, perhaps . . . if you’re willing to pay.”

Its Dropped! by Arlene’s World of Lace, and like a lot of what I like to post, its a free pattern. The edging is another free pattern, the originally named Lace Edging 2 by Knitting Fool. I went for short colour changing grey to compliment the brighter rainbow yarn. Rainbows on a cloudy day as I kept saying.

The finished thneed, complete with cuffs, was thoroughly tested and it does indeed turn from a sleeved shawl which can go from a scarf to a cowl to a sleeved scarf or sleeved cowl, a hood and even a little top. I don’t have any final photos of the thneed in its all its various forms, but I think that fits with the image of a thneed, as we all know, its whatever you need.

I gave the thneed to Rabbie when I met her at Alton Towers, and as she was thanking me, she was already winding it on and snuggling into its colourful squishiness…

“I felt a great leaping of joy in my heart.”

Hmm…I should have asked if it was Truffula tree soft…

And with that:

“Get over here fast! Take the road to North Nitch. Turn left at Weehawken. Sharp right at South Stitch.”

Until the next post, stay safe.

“I am the Knitter who speaks for the wool, which I seem to have so very many bags full!”

Wool Count

Starting total – 841

Wool used – 76 (3 used)
Wool unaccounted for in my stash – 15
Wool bought – 27
Wool given to me – 37
Wool gifted to others – 2
Wool handspun – 11

Total – 855 (Net difference: +14)

by RoxyPosted on Posted in Knitting 3 Comments

Tis the spooky season, and I kicked it off the best way possible – Scarefest at Alton Towers with my sister Rabbie and her husband.

And you had better be-leaf it, we tree had a blast.

It was exactly what I needed to help get my knitting motivation going again, starting with Rabbie’s slipper subscription:

Made following the free pattern Nola’s Slippers by Nola Miller – I love this pattern as it just eats up odds and ends and, after Rabbie jokingly let me loose on the actual scraps pile, ended up with the craziest slippers ever.

Even if she doens’t like them, I know she will wear them to death as she lives in slippers.

But before I -fall- down that particular rabbit hole, and yes, I know thats a-corny, lets get to the big project I wanted to show today.

This is my new Autumn Wreath. Its a mixed media, and multi person project. Felix made the needle felted fox and acorns, and Inkling made the needle felted squirrels for me. There’s brown alpaca, black Hebridean and beetroot dyed Jacobs fleece in this, as well as a range of wool types for the leaves.

Speaking of, would you be-leaf it, another free pattern – Autumn Acorns and Oak Leaves by Amanda Berry was used for those leaves.

This was one of those projects that just kept sprouting…leaves and roots I guess. I needed something to balance the fox, I needed more leaves, I need more colours… I tapped into my Valkyries Craft coven three times to help decide on placement but, finally, its done.

And I am actually a little sad that its place in the window is currently being taken by my Halloween wreaths. Next month it will get a chance to shine.

Want to know what’s made me more sad? Devastated in fact? Just looked at the first of two highschools today as Felix will begin highschool next year… She’s too little! Too sweet! My little baby is growing up too fast!

If anyone comes across either a time machine or a device that stops time, let me know. Asking for a friend.

With that, I will call this post done and I’ll catch you next post. Untill then, stay safe.

Wool Count

Starting total – 841

Wool used – 73
Wool unaccounted for in my stash – 15
Wool bought – 27
Wool given to me – 37
Wool gifted to others – 2
Wool handspun – 11

Total – 858 (Net difference: +17 – no change this week.)

by RoxyPosted on Posted in Knitting 6 Comments

Trying not to get too hopeful, lest I salmon Sod’s Law, but the immediate future is looking eel-ly fun with a few shenanigans planned with Rabbie.

But I wont start ray-ving about those until they’ve happened.

Swimming along now…

Let me shoal you my latest project!

I wanted to knit some-fin aquatic themed to go inside some-fin for someone. Both my kids immediately declared it needed to be a manta ray.

This little cutie is knit following the pattern Ray by Sachiyo Ishii from her book ‘Mini Knitted Ocean’.

Doesn’t he look so cute and happy? There was just one problem…

Someone has clearly been eating all the frys…

Even if he had been skinny, the plan for this guy was doomed to fail. So instead, he is off to the bag of things to use/gift at a later date.

And you know what? That’s ok. I eel-ly enjoyed knitting this guy and would like to make more of the cuties from that book.

With that, I’ll be fin-ishing this post. Just a very quick, short update on knitting and knitting only.

…

OK, there was a trip to Abakan’s and my wool collection has grown by ten. I only bought four, but Felix picked up four for a set of gloves and a cowl and my friend gave me two to knit some Viking cheat socks for her.

With that, till next time, may fins go along swimmingly for you!

…

Just keep knitting, just keep knitting…

Wool Count

Starting total – 841

Wool used – 73 (1 used)
Wool unaccounted for in my stash – 15
Wool bought – 27 (+4)
Wool given to me – 37 (+6)
Wool gifted to others – 2
Wool handspun – 11

Total – 858 (Net difference: +17)