Cards, Cake and Knitting

Yesterday I made some cards again.  Using the papers I blogged about here and some inspiration from here, I stitched some cards...

It was fun doing them on the machine, and it made an interesting change from just sticking papers onto card!  I didn't have matching envelopes for every card- some in my stash were too large to go with anything, so I cut them down to size and them stitched them on my machine too, which made for a nice 'set'.

All three of my new knitting projects are underway, and though I shan't reveal them all now, I shall mention one of them- the one I am using my lovely knitpicks yarn that I mentioned in my last post.  I am doing the beautiful "Charlotte Dress" by Nicole Montgomery.  I am enjoying working in the round on my circular needles, and at the moment, because the skirt of the pattern is pretty simple, it's easy to pick up and put down when I have a moment or two.

The only frustrating thing about knitting with this lovely yarn is that it comes wound up in a skein, which then is rather messy when you're working with it (see first pic above).  Does anyone have any tips for keeping this neat? Do any of you bother to wind it up into a ball as I am slightly tempted to do?

Lastly today, I have made a yummy chocolate cake for a craft evening tonight...

Mmm. Can I wait for tonight?!

How are you this week? 

C x

Can a girl have too many shoes?

Since getting my new sewing machine, I decided that I needed a little project to get started on it.  I chose these lovely baby shoes from "Handmade beginnings" by Anna Maria Horner (who, if you are interested, has a lovely blog).  I made them in 0-3 months size, and used a Cath Kidston fabric with a white floral print inside, finished with a lovely big chunky button to adorn them.

In addition to this, I made a pair of little garter stitch silk slippers from Simple knits for cherished babies, in some 4-ply wool I had left over from a project a while back.  I decided to add a couple of odd buttons to give them a little feature.

The pattern is really simple, and they can easily be completed in an evening.  I enjoyed making them so much, that I thought I'd adapt the pattern to use moss stitch instead of garter stitch, and I used the slightly larger Debbie Bliss Cashmerino wool (which is oh so lovely to knit with!).  I was particularly pleased with the result...

Nice, and again quite simple, but in need of a little extra something, which was provided with a little bit of stitching around the edges...

So. There are still 10 weeks left until number 2 arrives, but she already has a growing shoe collection. Well, start as she may well go on I guess.....!
Happy Weekend.

Singing away

Yesterday and today, we saw a rare sight (well, rare for recent weeks)- blue sky! I can't believe how much that lifted my spirits- so much so that I had to capture the moment on camera to remind myself that it is still up there above the clouds...

Now that we are well and truly into the New Year, I am allowed to get making and knitting for the impending arrival.  It is quite exciting to be doing things in girlie colours too, as I have done lots of making in blues and browns these past few years. So- on the go at the moment are...

A Debbie Bliss Cardigan in Cashmerino (so lovely to knit with!)

Some booties (a good chance to try out my new Singer!)

My new Singer sewing machine arrived this week, and, being incredibly conscientious I refrained from just jumping in and playing, and actually read the manual cover to cover first!  It does lots of fancy stitches and looks rather lovely too.

What a lovely start to the New Year.  What are you planning to make at the start of 2011? I'm all up for sharing some inspiration!  Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Finished!

At last, I have finished making all of my Christmas presents, and I can get on with some different projects!  Here are a few of the presents that I have made...

A needle case to match a knitting needle case and...

A lined purse.

A reversible tractor/lorry dressing gown (rather large!)

I have been given some lovely crafty bits...

Some gorgeous materials...

Some inspiring books...

And I have started on a lovely Debbie Bliss cabled coat for the Bump! I have been making myself wait until after Christmas presents were all finished before starting, but now I am allowed...!

With some money I have been given, I have ordered a new singing and dancing sewing machine- Incredibly exciting!! And, in terms of getting inspiration to carry me into the new year, I am currently loving the Hatched and Patched blog.  I have ordered a couple of the books featured on this, and will report once I have given the patterns a go.

I hope you are having a lovely Christmas break!