King Cole Baby Double Knitting;
Colour: 1596 Lagoon
The moment I saw this yarn on-line and how it knitted up, I wanted it. So obviously I purchased a couple of balls, along with a pattern. I am knitting from King Cole 4199, it has patterns for a waistcoat and jackets. I'm knitting the shawl collared jacket. I think they look really cute on little boys.
I'm really enjoying this yarn, it is so soft, and the pattern way is so nice. I was knitting this the morning I went into labour! I attempted to do some to take my mind of the pain, I only managed a few rows.
Since my little boy has been born I've not had chance to finish this as quickly as I would have liked. But I am almost done. I've knitted the back, both fronts and one sleeve. So not much left to do! Overall I'm liking the yarn and pattern so far.
I bought this yarn before I knew I was expecting a little boy, either way I love the colour way, I think it is so lovely. I did originally plan to knit a jumper from one of the Sirdar Crofter pattern books I own, but I actually knitted a jumper from Love Knitting for Baby November 2013 magazine. The hat is also from the same issue.
I really enjoyed using the Sirdar Snuggly Crofter Baby Fair Isle effect DK. The yarn is very soft, easy to knit with and gives good stitch definition. I found no irregularities in the yarn and I felt the yardage was very good. I used one whole ball for the jumper, and I started on a second, but that barely took anything off it. So I used it for the hat, and I still have loads left, so the yardage is very good. The sizes I knitted are to fit 6-12 months old for both the jumper and hat. I would happily buy this yarn again.
The Sirdar Snuggly DK, is so soft. I felt it was a lot more softer than the baby crofter, I can't figure out why it feels softer because both yarns are made up of 55% Nylon and 45% Acrylic. Unfortunately I didn't have a good experience knitting with this yarn. I think I must have picked a bad ball. The yarn would unravel whilst knitting, especially on a purl row. The yarn shed a lot, lots of fluff, not smooth like the baby crofter, and also the yarn would go from thick to thin, it wasn't very consistent. Which as a knitter I found infuriating. But I persevered and knitted two projects with it. I used it as the accent yarn for both the jumper and the hat. Luckily any irregularities from this yarn can only been seen on the wrong side.
Over all I like the outcome of both the jumper and hat, I'm looking forward to putting my baby in it when he is here.
Review: Peter Pan Pattern P1189 and Ricobaby So Soft Dk.
Hello crafters,
So on boxing day, I gave my other half specific instructions
to send over the knitting project I received on xmas to my parents. He didn't
do it! But all was not lost, my mum gave me her new knitting project. (We
decided to do a swap, I've yet to give mum her's oops). Mum and I decided we didn't want to get off
the couch, we wanted to sit on the sofa, watch movies, and knit. We totally did
that, we watched Tom Hanks movies all day, ate cake and knitted. It was bliss.
The new knitting project was of a new pattern and two balls
of yarn. I announced not long ago that I am expecting a little baby :D. So
obviously it's baby orientated hehe.
Rico Baby So Soft Dk
This was my first time working with this particular brand.
The colours I used was Light Yellow (03) and Light Gray (17). I personally
wouldn't have put these two colours together, but I was pleasantly surprised at
how well they complement each other. Yellow is a nice calming colour and next
to the gray it works brilliantly. With this yarn I used 4mm needles, which was
recommended on the label. The yarn is so soft, perfect for using to knit/crochet
baby garments.
When knitting, the yarn didn't split, fluff up and there was
no irregularities with the finish of the yarn. There was only one knot which I
luckily managed to conceal on a purl
row.
I'm really happy with the stitch definition, my tension is
usually on the tighter side, but I am pretty impressed with how the stitches
look. I was very happy that the yarn didn't snap whilst using it. (This has
happened to me with cheaper brands! Much to my annoyance!)
Peter Pan Pattern P1189
This is your straight forward st st stitch pattern. I found
it very easy to follow. The only gripe is that you knit the button band separately
and then sew it on. I knitted them up quick enough, just felt it was a bit of a
faff. I've always picked up stitches for borders and done it that way.
I didn't use the buttons the pattern asked for, I went off
and bought some fun ones. I bought them from a local shop called 'The
Button Hole'. It's a lovely place, with lovely staff. The buttons I picked are
of little pencils!
Over all the project was very easy to do, I would probably
do it again when I know the sex. I knitted the first size, and it will probably
fit my baby at 3-6 months.
Here is the finished product;
My next project, which I have yet
to begin, will involve King Cole Cuddly Yarn. It is so soft.
Happy New Year. I am so looking forward to 2015 and all the new possibilities and mystery's that lay at my feet. I wanted to take some time to reflect over my crafty creations from 2014. I have learnt so many new skills, which I am using a lot.
I learnt how to knit on double pointed needles! Yippee. I was wary about trying dpns for the longest time, but I wanted to have a go at knitting socks. I had heard that hand knitted socks were the best socks in the world. So off I went and bought a ball of sock yarn...and the rest is history. I found it fiddly at first,with the cast of, and getting to grips with handing so many needles, but once I got going, it was so easy. I've no idea why it took me so long give it a go.
Tah dah! My first pair of socks completed. I loved knitting them. Took me a while to knit them because the yarn is fine, but never the less I did it. Even my other half was impressed and he wanted a pair.
So obviously I used this excuse to try another pattern to make more socks. I knitted these ones in Aran weight yarn for a more chunkier feel. Which I thought was the best option for a men feet. These took no time at all to knit up, with these ones I knitted them using 4 dpns, whereas my first pair was with 5dpns. I prefer knitting with 5dpns, I find there is less strain on the stitches.
In 2014 I also developed a taste for the more fancier yarns. Don't get me wrong, some of the bargin yarns are brilliant, but sometimes I just fancy some of the fancier ones! I recently went to a knit and stitch show and there were so many hand dyed, hand spun yarns I could have stayed there forever and be quite content.
Now in 2015, my resolution is to knit, crochet more and to do more sewing. Last year my hobbies got pushed to the wayside because of university. In the past few months, I have learnt that I can do both, IF I organise my time properly. Even though I love what I do at Uni, I will always love to knit and crochet more. One of the career paths I can take with my Textiles degree is a Yarn Designer...think I may look into this.
I wanted to share with you what I am currently working on. To be honest I have about 50 million projects on the go (bit of an exaggeration ha :)), but these three are the ones I am working on at the moment.
I am obsessed with crochet at the moment, in the morning I am on pinterest looking for inspiration and ideas, not to mention the odd pattern, my crochet board has so many pins, I think I have a serious love for crochet. I'm fairly new to crochet so this is probably why I'm obsessed with it.
Anywho, I have a lot of odd balls of DK left over from the coral reef I did for my uni exhibition and I needed to use them up. Mum was telling me about the wool eater stitch a while ago, it eats through your stash, I was like yea! I need to do this, that would be perfect, so off I went onto pinterest and I found a pattern. Each colour is only two rows, and it looks awesome! I've already finished off two balls.
First two colours
Making progress.
The back of the blanket.
A while ago I wanted to knit something in DK on the larger scale, like a jumper for me. So I decided I would knit myself for Christmas the Stylecraft Twilight Jumper 8672. I'm also knitting it in the same yarn as in the pattern picture ( I don't normally do this ha), and that is Stylecraft Amethyst 1281, for me I need 4 balls.
I really enjoy using Stylecraft yarns. This particular one, is really nice, it is a black DK with a purple metallic thread going through, it is really nice to knit with. I am currently still on the back piece, but as of yesterday I am up to shaping the arm holes. Can't wait to get the back piece done, I want to start the front piece, it has a diamond like, lacey type pattern going on, which looks fun to do.
It is a fairly easy pattern to follow at the moment, it is just st-st. I am knitting this on my interchangeable Hiya Hiya circular needles, I'm knitting it flat though, and not in the round. I have found it so much easier to use circular needs to knit flat with because there is long needle in the way, plus it makes it easier to carry about ( I'll tend to knit when I'm travelling)
I started my socks a few months ago, and I am enjoying knitting in the round, it baffles me how I only need to knit every row to get the st-st look. I still have a few more rows to do of st-st before I turn the heel. Excited. I am enjoying using the yarn, for the life of me I can't remember what brand it is, I remember the ball band having a cat on it, that is it. But I do have the ball band somewhere, so when I find it I will let you know!
I am using Hiya Hiya dpns for this project. I really like using bamboo needles, I find them so much nicer to work with rather than steel or plastic.
My tension is a bit all over the place, but with it being my first pair on dpns, I am not really bothered. My feet won't notice :-)
I have also recorded a video about these projects, so you can listen to me ramble on about them :-)
My last post was in August last year, wow. A lot has happened since then!
At the mo, I'm sat in Bens student room watching series 2 of The Walking Dead. I finally caved and watched more than one episode, I am officially hooked!
I have a few knitting projects on the go, jumper for his nibs and a sparkly jumper for me! I've finished a jumper and a cardi for myself :). Ill share some photos soon :)
Mum taught me how to crochet a few weeks ago, and I'm hooked hehe!
Uni is going well, the year is almost over! More on that later.
I was getting super bored with knitting my jumper, I needed another knitting project. So out came the knitting magazines and searching the internet for a pattern that took my fancy.
My grandparents bought me a 400g ball of Wendy Aran a couple of years ago, I have been saving it for something I really wanted to knit it with.
I fell in love with the Renwick Cushion pattern from Knit Now Issue 16. I am knitting it in Wendy Aran in Shade 463, 75% Acrylic and 25% Wool. It is lovely to knit with. The pattern is so easy to follow, with a simple cable. It is enough to hold my attention as it has been growing quickly and I am loving the effect of the cable.
I started knitting it yesterday morning, and after three hours or so this is the result.
Here I have finished the first 48 rows, and started on the next 38 rows to complete the front of the cushion. The little flower in the middle of the cables is really effective.
Since knitting this, it has barely touched my 400g ball of Aran. I plan to make a set for my bed. I may even do a blanket/throw to match. Depends if I still love the design after I have finished the cushion set!
