Another little coffee bean cardigan

I finished another little coffee bean cardigan, this time for Evie. For those of you on ravelry, I would well recommend getting a copy of the download as it is such an easy and straight forward pattern, with lovely results.

I love the way the raglan shapings are done by a YO, and they set so nicely, the cardigan doesn't need too much blocking at all (none done in the photos!)

I used about 2 balls of the plum and 1 of the red (cashmerino and rialto aran respectively), and love the way it turned out. The fact there is no seaming either is even better!

I made the 12 month size on 4.5mm rather than 5mm needles and it fits Evie perfectly. She is a happy little girl.

My first pair of fingerless mitts....

Although I have been knitting since I was a child, it's only over the last year or so that I've been knitting again frequently and enthusiastically!

I am always looking for smaller projects to do, as having a toddler keeps me on my toes and I have to fit in my knitting during nap times and once she's gone to bed. (For the record I have tried knitting whilst she's awake and it ends up with Leah running off with the ball of yarn and me trying to catch her!)

I came across these fingerless mitts on Ravelry and thought I'd give them a go. I am always losing gloves in one way or another and can never find a woolly pair when I need them. These will do just the trick when I take leah for our winter walks, as my fingers are still 'free' to do whatever I need to do to look after a toddler :o)

I have just used some yarn I had in my stash and to be quite honest I think it has done the job - and the fact the yarn is acrylic means they will be able to be washed frequently.

The pattern was too big for me at first - I ended up frogging the first mitt last night and casting on again with 40 stitches instead, which is just the right fit for my small(ish) hands. I didn't think that the cables were coming out that well, but thankfully they look better in the photo. The mitt (I've only made one so far) tookme about 2 hours to knit, so if anyone is looking for some last minute Christmas gifts, I would recommend them. I'm thinking of making Mum a pair for the cold lunchtimes in the playground ;o)

My latest purchases...

Today the postman had some great mail for me (see the next post for the other items).


He bought me this lovely book 'Beyond the Square Crochet Motifs' which will give me some great ideas for blankets and throws. So far all I have managed to do are some Granny Square blankets so a change in shape of motif will make things a bit more interesting.

I also received my two skeins of hand dyed yarn by Babylonglegs which I bought from Folksy.com and I can't wait to use them. I really love the selection of sock yarns you can buy at the moment, the problem is knowing what pattern to use them on.

I am interested to see what they will knit up like.

Beatrice the Ballerina Bunny

Since joining ravelry last month, I have been having fun with the Fuzzy Mitten Group there. We are all lovers of the little stuffed animals and we decided to have a Knit along (KAL).

As I was away, I couldn't start until I got back, so I started Sunday evening and finished off last night. Here is the result.......

.... meet Beatrice the Ballerina! I decided to alter the pattern so that I could give her some little ballet shoes, and accessorised with some ribbon that I had laying around (it actually arose from her tutu not staying up, so I decided to thread some ribbon through to help with that!).

I thought I would add ribbons to her ballet shoes.....


.. and finished with a bow in her hair. The eyes took ages for me to place where I wanted them, but finally I got there. She had fun today outside in the sunshine with Leah whilst I was hanging out the washing!

Need some friends on Ravelry!

I've just recently joined ravelry, but need a bit of guidance and a little help - plus a few friends! So if anyone who visits here is a member, any tips would be great and I'd like to be your friend please *big smile :o)*

My Ravelry ID is here and I'd love to see you there!