Baby's sleeping bag

This is my current project - a sleeping bag for a baby.  I've chosen Christmassy colours because it seemed appropriate for the time of year.  Red always makes me feel warm so hopefully it will have the same effect on baby.

The wool I'm using is a double-knit (Worsted in America) and two colours, red and white with just a hint of brown. English needle sizes 10 and 7 so it will knit up quite loose.

So, a nice way to spend the winter evenings.  When the snow is gone I shall go to town and buy a 20 inch zip to put down the front.

What are you currently working on?

A Christmas Jumper

I have just completed a winter woolly jumper for my grandson, Dylan.  I chose a bright, pillar-box red yarn because it looks so warm and with temperatures at -2 deg. Celsius today, he could probably do with an extra layer to keep him warm.  He's only five weeks old today.

The camera seems to choose its own colours sometimes, particularly when I'm taking red items.  In the next picture, although it is the same jumper, it looks more pink than red.  I don't know why that is, must be something to do with the lighting. In any case, it has a nice sort of a glow, doesn't it.

Quality Giveaway

Quality Giveaway

The Quiet Quilter at One More Quilt blog is celebrating her 100th post with a lovely giveaway.
There are fabrics and more quality fabrics to choose from. This pic is only a sample

The giveaway ends Dec 5th

Emu Coolspun

This is a tension square using Emu Coolspun cotton yarn.  It knits up in a loose, bobbly fashion and is extremely good fun to use.  I bought this one on the internet because I liked the colour.

I have already made a couple of tops with it but it is more suitable for summer wear because it is so cool. 

It also washes well and can be put in the tumble drier.

I don't know if it is made any more but I like it.

The weather's getting cooler.

Since the weather is getting cooler, I thought I would break off from the baby clothes and make myself a hat.

This one is crocheted, using white wool and pink wool combined.

It keeps the top of my head nice and warm and it was so comfortable that I found myself wearing it around the house all day.

I used this very old 1970's pattern book.

Have a lovely, crafty week.

T is for Tennessee

This is a piece of a patchwork quilt I have started. Can you see the T shape? When I saw that in the pattern book, I thought it looked like a T for Tennessee. So, of course, it had to be orange - that's Tennessee's colour! and I'm quite pleased with it so far.

It will not be a quick result. I pick it up when I feel like doing it and put it down after about an hour because it's hard to keep the pattern right.

I think it will end up as a duvet cover. I prefer those to quilts really, these days.

Have a good week everybody.

Star

A new blanket for winter...

This is a patchwork blanket I'm working on for the winter. Last winter was so cold that I made a note to work a new blanket for this year. I am about half way through it now. I try to stitch the squares together so the stitches can't be seen - not always easy. There is quite a science to blanket making. ha ha. I know I have finished a strip when it stretches the length of the couch. That's when I stop, put the stitches on a stitch holder and start a new strip.

I always leave enough of an end to stitch that particular square to its neighbour, which involves a lot of loose ends, but it is worth it in the end. I usually keep the pattern plain so I can watch complicated TV while I'm doing it and not have to worry about counting stitches.

So it is ideal to pick up when I feel like an easy hour. Slowly it grows and grows and when the winter does come round, I shall be nice and cosy underneath it and Patch will be curled up on top.

As you can see, I'm getting on with the little pink dress, not so little now. I am currently working on the sleeves, then it will be the hem and finally the back opening. I think I will use velcro for that so there will be no hard buttons to dig into the little one's back.

Star

Something pink!

I am in the process of making a little dress for 'Peanut' if she turns out to be a girl. If not, then it will be put by for the next one. This is the yoke. Isn't the material pretty? I have put it together from bits and pieces and I think that when it is finished, it will all come together and be pretty and practical. It is in the early stages but I like to pick it up when I feel like handling something small.

Star

Latest Additions

These are the latest additions to the baby cupboard. I made the dress, the little bonnet and the bootees and my friend Ruth made the matinee coats.

My Knitting Bag

Every knitter must have a knitting bag and this one is mine. I have had this bag for quite a long time and am fond of it. It is good to keep the wool for my current project in here, away from the strong rays of the sun, which would bleach out the colour.

I can keep the needles in here too so I don't lose them and a tape measure for easy finding! There is a pair of useful scissors, just waiting to cut some yarn.

I fold the pattern carefully so as not to crease it and keep a piece of plain paper handy for making notes.

The bag is always ready for action. I can grab it and take it out with me if I want to knit away from home, knowing that everything inside is ready and waiting and I won't have to go search.

All in all a very useful piece of equipment.

Free knitting patterns...

I want to tell you about a website where you can go to get free knitting patterns to download.
Just click on the shawl picture on the sidebar and you will find many delightful and easy projects to make.

Hope you're all having a good week.

Star

Nursery Blanket

It gives me a lot of satisfaction to turn this (above) into this (below).

I've been busy watching the football lately and sometimes I knit while I watch (not the England games though). This is a mixed blessing because I can go wrong in the pattern when the game gets exciting. I had to unpick a section because of that and that has put me even further back.

However, I had to get this blanket finished because next week I return to England.

I have finished the blanket and it is packed in a box ready to go on its long journey.

I think it looks nice and it feels really snug and warm. It was a good way to use up the odd wool which is no longer available.

I shall miss having the blanket over my legs in the evenings.

Star

A tea cosy for Barbara

My friend, Barbara has just turned 60! Happy Birthday to her and many returns.

I have just finished a tea cosy for her in her favourite Chelsea Football Club colours. I hope she likes it. It will be winging its way to Holland in the next few days.

Then the teapot will not be cold anymore!

Barbara and I have been friends for more years than I care to remember. When she was a teenager, she moved from England to Holland to marry the man of her dreams and the marriage gave them two lovely sons. I missed her a lot when she moved to Holland but we have kept in touch over the years, sharing our trials and tribulations as well as the happy high spots of life.

Long live friendship.

Almost done.

I sewed on the rabbit applique motif and I think he looks quite happy to be there, don't you?
I love the colours in this little suit.

Only the poppers to go on now.

Do you like your new home, little rabbit?

I think he's nodding.


Star

Here is my giveaway

Here is my giveaway. Three magazines from England.
When I first came to America, I had some magazine subscriptions transferred so I could keep up with what was going on over there. Also, I liked the feel of something that came from home!
I chose the Peoples Friend because it is old fashioned and just right for my age group. I'm not a lover of sensational headlines. The other magazine is for younger people.

Just leave a comment below and I'll get L to draw out the winner on Sunday afternoon.

I'd just like to say a thank you to my followers on here.

Star

A greeney article takes on life...

Well, despite the hot and humid weather, I've made a start on this greeney item, but what is it going to be?

Here's the pattern, sitting in my elegant knitting basket, purchased from Cracker Barrel.

and here again, a black and white picture of the pattern, complete with baby.


I wish you could feel how soft the wool is. Come by again soon and see how I'm getting on.

Watch out tomorrow for a giveaway offer.

Star

Still feeling green!

Here comes my latest venture, in green. I am enjoying making small things.
The pattern lives in here...

and comes from the Family Circle book of patterns.


There is a really cute little bunny motif on the front.

I bought some remnant material from Joann's Craft Shop and couldn't wait to get started.



but I soon got tired of all that cutting out and retired to a comfy chair to read my latest book.



Call back again soon to see how the work is progressing....

Star

A bluey, greeney sort of a mood.

Today, I am in a bluey, greeney sort of a mood so I thought I'd show you a little of my stache in that colour range.

The balls of wool above are by Wendy wools. I don't think they make this type of wool any more, which is a pity because it is nice to knit with and very easy to wash. It also tumbles well in the drier and doesn't turn to felt. I love a wool that tumbles well, don't you. I bought the wool from the internet.

Some of my wool lives here in a drawer. Needless to say, I have wool all over the place, but that doesn't mean that I know where to find it when I want a certain ball.

Here are some greeney cottons to enjoy.

and being a greeney, bluey post, I had to include my very special pin cushion.



Tomorrow I'll give you a peek at what I am going to make next. Can you guess?


Have a wonderful day.

Star

Tea Cosy

Just finished this tea cosy for a dear friend over in England. I had some small pieces of material left over from making Peanut's baby quilt and using a book which I won on Char's Blog, I have made this cosy. Hope she likes it!

Have a great Memorial Weekend.

Star

Purple Jumper finished!

The purple jumper, to go under the romper suit, is now finished and I think the colours go well
together, don't you?

I am beginning to imagine a child in this set, although it is more girly and I don't know for sure what sex the grandchild is?

There's always the next time, isn't there.

I am feeling the passage of time as it melts between my fingers when I knit and sew. Already I have only twenty weeks left and still so much more to do.

Star