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by RoxyPosted on Posted in Knitting 2 Comments

Mission Objective complete.

Final package dropped off in Liverpool.

Business concluded.

Engel had far too much fun with the insinuations of this ‘business’ and ‘package’. On Friday I had, in fact, dropped off the last of my largest commission undertaken. A friend is getting married soon and, instead of flowers, she wanted a knitted bear and liger on each table, each toy being about a foot long. For eight tables.

I’ll admit I was a tiny bit tired of this by the eight pair!

But, none the less, here are the little guys:

The bear is based on ‘Brown Bear’ by Sally Muir and Joanna Osborne from ‘Knit your own zoo’

And the Liger is based on ‘Tabby Cat Prowling’ by Sally Muir and Joanna Osborne from ‘Best in show: Knit your own cat’

As an amusing aside, I originally decided to knit the bears out of  a fuzzy wool, and using the pattern ‘Grizzly Bear’ by Kath Dalmeny from ‘Knitted World of Toys’

Lets just say fuzzy wool isn’t so good at holding its shape. At all.

I did get a cute guinea pig though!

Not much else to say other than a pleasant Easter was had by all. Oh, and lastly, 2 balls of wool this week.

Wool Count down:
Starting total (28Feb15) – 747 balls
Extra stash found – 10 balls (so far)
Wool used – 26 (Yeah!)
Wool given – 3
Total – 734

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by RoxyPosted on Posted in Knitting No Comments

Technically its tomorrow, but I wont be on the computer at all then, so now’s the time for a quick post.

To start, this will be my own second mothers day. Having Felix has certainly changed things! Don’t quite have the time to make as much as I used to, but its worth it.

Anyhow, I’m going to get all mushy if I go on, so I thought I’d show a previous knit I’ve made on a previous mothers day! This is for Engels mum.

Mothers day panda

Its the Giant Panda pattern from Knitted Wild Animals by Sarah Keen. A book I’ve actually used a lot – though the vast majority of the creations are nabbed so quick there aren’t any photos!

Oh, and since we’re looking at pandas:

Micro panda!

From Alan Darts Advent Tree pattern book – this is actually a modified polar bear. Its amazing how much you can change a pattern just with a few colour tweaks!

Lastly, not mothers day presents technically, but something which is purely my mum: Pineapples!

Pineapples!!!!

So the big one on the left is the Pine Apple Bag by Isabel Gancedo (free, just click on the link), to the right, a tweaked, smaller version of the same pattern and at the bottom, Fruit Bookmarks – Pineapple by Amalia Samios (another free one!).

I’ll end my post there, Happy mothers day to everyone out there – be your little one a small child, a grown up now, or a cute pet!

Oh, and importantly, my wool count! This week I’ve used a massive 15 balls of wool! So the previous weeks total of 752 is now…737! Yeah! If only my whole wool collection consisted of 50g balls, those 500g ones I have aren’t going to go anywhere near as fast…

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by RoxyPosted on Posted in Knitting, Little one, Patterns 2 Comments

Tunip!

Or perhaps, my life has been taken over by the Octonauts?

As you may have guessed from that line alone, Felix has taken to watching (and demanding) the Octonauts whenever we put on the TV for her – though she does this by pointing and declaring ‘Oct-Octs!’ Though she did manage ‘Octagon!’ the other day…

Anyhow! I digress. Watching her play with her little plastic Octonaut toys (blame Engel, he’s obsessed as she is) and I realized that she needed a cuddly version of them. Some pattern hunting later and I turned up no knitting patterns, so I made my own!

Well, started with Tunip, may make more if this proves popular with her. Either the rest of the Vegimals or the Octonaut crew…

Go ahead and have a look, make some yourselves and put them on Ravelry and let me watch the vegimal army grow!

I think I may need some sleep now…

Lastly, apologies for the camera phone photo, I still haven’t found that camera yet. Sigh.

Oh, and wool update! Since Feb 28 I have used 5 balls of wool. I also found 10 hiding away. So grand total is…752!

I feel cheated – all that hard knitting and its gone up by five!

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by RoxyPosted on Posted in Cats, Knitting, Little one No Comments

Hours in the day.

Days in the week.

Weeks in a year…

I’ve been busy. Really busy. Visiting the family up north for a whole month, going further up north for a holiday for two weeks, trying to get going back to work organised, childcare for Felix, little pile of projects, unpacking my house some more, building furniture and ripping out bits of the house (Engel with a crowbar and brute force) destroying the things I’m allergic to in the garden (Engel with a shovel, hedge trimmer and brute force) and much much more that I wont go into detail about.

Instead, completed projects!

Wa na na na na na na na Bat Shawl! Free pattern by Emilee Mooney

Not a great photo but the best I could do sadly to highlight the pattern. Free pattern can be found here.

I wanted to make something for me as I couldn’t remember the last time I had done so, and I wanted a nice little black shawl for the few occasions I wear dresses. But it had to be a little fun, a little quirky. Solution? Make one!

Spiderman-blanket, free pattern by AnneM

As you can see, I did a spiderweb as opposed to a spiderman colour theme, and lovingly modelled with Sabrina. Free pattern can be found here. Cutting a long story short, Engel was driving me mad getting his lego all over the floor ad under the sofa, so I decided enough was enough and made him a solution.

Its essentially a large circular bit of knitted fabric with a drawstring all the way round the edge (finished with cute spiders I add) so when he’s done playing with lego, I can just pull the drawstrings and voila! A sack of lego! The fabric also helps stop the pieces skittering across the laminate flooring.

Engel denies this though and claims that it was actually Felix and her toys that made me do it. But we all know the truth, don’t we?

And last but not least!

Itsy Bitsy Spider, pattern by Lara Breese

Too cute, are’t they? Pattern is free but only available as a ravelry download here. The one in the middle is one of two knitted fr the spiderweb blankets drawstrings. The other two are knitted from scrap wool I had kicking about after I noticed how much Felix really loved playing with them. And I wanted to knit more of them.

Still do. There may be an army of these guys…

Anyhow! Hopefully the next post wont be as long a wait as this one was!

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by RoxyPosted on Posted in Knitting, Little one No Comments

Seriously, I blinked and its February…

Been a busy few weeks – Rabbie Burns day, Australia Day, Chinese New year, and that’s only the official days! There’s been learning baby massage (I was sceptical at first, but I’m converted now) finally addressing my silly little rather irritating fear of water by going swimming (I ache all over, panicked twice, floundered a few times and got water up my nose, but I didn’t die!) and soon I’ll be taking little Felix to a baby swim group so she wont get my phobia, hopefully.

Or I may get Engel to go instead and watch from the side lines with a thermos flask of hot chocolate and some cake…lets see how brave I can be in that regard.

I realised that its been over 10 years since I nearly drowned, and I haven’t swam since then – oh, I’ve put my feet (and even my whole body) in the water to show I was brave and willing, but swim? Ha! Though I did go diving with sharks 7 years ago, but I think |I only coped with that because a) there were sharks! and b) there was a trained instructor with me at all times and c) I can breathe through those masks, oh and d) no way was I going to let Rabbie have all the fun without me!

Did I mention the sharks? So cute! Especially Tinkerbell, the 10ft Great White…

But enough about me! Lets get to the knitting. This update theres mostly been an awful lot of boring sock knitting (about 8 pairs of men socks for Engel – the feet on those are never ending!) a toy hammock which I need to get an action photo of (see next post I think for that) and this:

Drop bear using the Mother Koala pattern by Kath Dalmeny from World of Knitted Toys

Drop bear using the Mother Koala pattern by Kath Dalmeny from World of Knitted Toys

Its cute, isn’t it? I made this for my boss whom I joined in the celebrations of Australia Day with.

Its a drop bear, which are commonly said to be unusually large, vicious, carnivorous marsupials related to koalas that inhabit treetops and attack their prey by dropping onto their heads from above.

Various methods suggested to deter drop bear attacks include placing forks in the hair, having Vegemite or toothpaste spread behind the ears or in the armpits, urinating on yourself, and only speaking English in an Australian accent.

To the right of the cuddly critter is some home made lamingtons that she made, as was as sugar free anzac biscuits for Engel. Both are very delicious traditional Australian desserts, and tasty ones too…

I’ll try and not leave it so long until the next update – hopefully the month of February wont up and vanish on me like January did…

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by RoxyPosted on Posted in Cats, Knitting, Little one, Updates 1 Comment

…coming to you from under a blanket…

First things first, photos of all the holiday knitting I’ve been keeping secret.

Haughty Hen Trio from Knit & Purl Pets by Claire Garland

This is for my niece, a miniature version of her very own pet chicken!

Holy Hand Grenade, free pattern by Wylde Strandes

And this is for a good Monty Python loving friend of the family! Pattern is a ravelry download that can be found here.

For those not in the know, its featured in the movie ‘The Holy Grail’.

And lastly, advent stockings!

Little Christmas stocking for beginners, free pattern by Fluff and Fuzz

Never. Ever. Again. Ever. That’s five sets of twenty four stockings, that’s a hundred and twenty stockings! I was dreaming of knitting these things! For anyone out there mad enough to attempt their own, the pattern can be found here. From the top, red, white and purple for my niece. Green, white and blue for my nephew. Dark red and sparkly white for my mum. Black and grey for Engel. Red, green and white for me.

Sadly, the hardest part wasn’t the knitting or sewing, but assembling it together. Here is a photo of me trying to do so:

Crumble supervising to ensure all is done properly

Wool everywhere, stockings everywhere, cat trying to ‘help’…the moment I gave her a sacrificial extra stocking, she lost interest and decided to go play with her catnip mouse instead…

Anyhow, a good festive season has been had so far by myself, Engel and Felix. Engel has actually been festive and put christmas music on yesterday, in the 6/7 years I’ve known him, this is a first! He blames Felix on being the christmas spirit…

How about you guys?

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by RoxyPosted on Posted in Knitting, Little one, Updates No Comments

Did everyone go out Haggis Hunting in preparation for their traditional St Andrews feast on Saturday?

I did! Here’s the evidence:

Traditional method of catching the wild haggis

Had friends round and a good time was had by all. Except for the haggis. I think being skinned and boiled wasn’t very enjoyable…

What else has happened since my last post? Went to see the Barenaked Ladies in Manchester (I blame my friend entirely for that).  It all started with their album snacktime…

Anyhow, I would highly recommend seeing them if yo enjoy a good laugh, Engel doesn’t so he stayed home and looked after Felix.

Finally everyone has the plague.  I came down with a cold and have managed to infect Engel and Felix…

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by RoxyPosted on Posted in Knitting, Little one 1 Comment

I have no idea where my time has gone! (Probably swallowed somewhere between chores, Felix, knitting, socialising, dreaded dentist and trying to cram some sleep in somewhere)

Another busy day today so I’ll be brief, past few days I’ve been at the dentist (getting a crown fitted soon so it needs drilled and readied) spent some time with Little Felix and her Grandmama and grandpapa, visited my boss and her baby as well as her parent group, visited a different parent group near me, went to work for a flying visit – Engel had a contact lens disaster – and…there was more, I’m sure…

But on to the knitting portion!

Flat rat bookmarks, free pattern from Fleegles blog

Which can be found here. I’m addicted to these – cute and quick to make! And who cant laugh at a squashed rat for a bookmark or coaster?

A Scottish Hippo Tea Cosie

And lastly, this guy! I was asked to do a commission for a very nice person as a present for their friend with the instructions of, ‘she’s Scottish so it’d be nice to incorporate that into it, but she also really likes hippos.’ So I made a hippo wearing a tammy hat, i did try the stereotypical ginger hair, but it made the finished item look…odd. so I left it off.

Fingers crossed she likes it!

Well, thats all for now. Felix needs to go to the clinic to be weighed and measured, then hospital for her BCG, after that meet up with Engel for dinner before my knit club. Hopefully Felix will behave if I give her a ball of wool for herself…7 weeks isn’t too early to start their love of wool, right?

 

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by RoxyPosted on Posted in Knitting, Little one 2 Comments

Couldn’t resist the post title…

Been a busy fortnight since I posted last – had my sister visit, which was great fun, but tiring, and did some visiting of my own.

Rabbie and her fiancé came down last weekend to stay for a few days before staying at a caravan nearby for a mini holiday. The main purpose of the first part of the visit was for Rabbie to meet Felix. I’ve never seen Rabbie actively interested in holding, cooing and cuddling a baby before, and I’m sure if Felix understood she’d have been honoured that her auntie was smitten!

Later in the week we all went to the zoo and I couldn’t help tease her that her fiancé was definitely looking broody with my Felix! Her response: we’re getting a dog!

Watching them, I think they may need two, or three…

Missing them already as they went back home at the weekend. To keep me busy, I visited my boss last night who just had her own little one – so tiny! Not as small as Felix was j8ust those few weeks ago, but seeing as she’s ‘filled out’ and had a growth spurt…

Anyhow, I can post the presents I gave my boss now without feeling like I’m chancing things! So lots of knitting photos ahead!

Koala from Knitted Wild Animals by Sarah Keen

Added the bow and scarf in purple as she had a girl.

Heavily modified Koala from Knitted Animals by Jean Greenhowe

The head and ‘bib’ are from the pattern, I did a provisional cast on, worked the head as written, removed the cast on and using larger needles, did a three needle bind off then increased the remaining stitches, added arms, then decreased for the ‘body’. I wanted a matching snuggly but couldn’t find one, hence why I winged/butchered this pattern – cute though, right?

Koala bib – free pattern from Down Cloverlaine

Pattern can be found here. There are loads of other cute animals, but I was going with a theme here!

Fishes mobile – free pattern by Jackie Z Knits

And something a little different, but still matching the colour scheme.Ravelry download can be found here.

For those wondering, my boss is Australian, and I couldn’t resist running with that as a starting point for a theme. Engel tried to convince me to make them all drop bears, but for a baby…koalas they stayed!

Have a good week!

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by RoxyPosted on Posted in Knitting, Little one 1 Comment

Last week my eldest sister was in the area so decided to pay me and Little Felix a visit. (OK, she was just visiting Felix, but I can try and muscle in on the quality family time) Brother in law, niece and nephew were also here and I can sum it up pretty well as a whirlwind of activity.

On Tuesday my niece and nephew played with Sakura:

My Chilean Rose tarantula

Isn’t she adorable? My niece saw her the week before on Skype so was desperate to hold her, and my nephew just loves anything that moves. Amazingly, my big sister who is terrified of spiders actually held her. On a bet mind made by her husband. For £50. For 10 seconds.

Subsequently, my niece wanted a tarantula. A real one wouldn’t be allowed to step a furry leg into her house, so I knitted one for her in the requested colours of purple and green. I found this out last week so had the time to make it for her!

From ‘knitted pets’ by Susie Johns

And I couldn’t leave my nephew out, who requested a ‘lizard’, with so little time, (one evening) I made him a tiny crocodile.

From Knitting Mochimochi: 20 Super-Cute Strange Designs for Knitted Amigurumi by Anna Hrachovec

They got to take these home with them on Wednesdays visit. This visit also involved a lot of finger paint – my big sister wanted to get all the grand-kids hand prints together, though Felix wouldn’t co-operate (she was just over 3 weeks at this point!) so her footprint was used instead.

I had a fun time explaining why there was paint everywhere to Engel when he got home from work, and even more as to why Felicity was now red and blue…but it all washed off so she’s back to her normal colour!

What else happened this week? A meal with Engels extended family which Felix slept throughout (hooray!) though i was (jokingly) accused  of drugging her milk with sleeping tablets…the next day she decided to be awake for nearly three hours just to make up for it, I’m sure…

Last but not least I’ll be attending a craft fair this Sunday at the Hazel Grove Conservative Club, Manchester, open from 1 till 5. Its raising money for the RSPCA and there’s a raffle which all stallholders will be donating a prize to.

Hmm. I’d better get knitting that prize…

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