Review: Sirdar Snuggly DK and Sirdar Snuggly Crofter Baby Fair Isle effect DK.

Sirdar Snuggly DK : Shade 0423
Sirdar Snuggly Crofter Baby Fair Isle effect DK: Shade 0176

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.

Nikki xx

Work In Progress (WIP) - Wool Eater Blanket, Twilight Jumper and Socks!

Hi Guys,

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 :-)

Nikki

Forgotten Knitting Project

I am sooooo terrible when it comes to actually completing a project! I have quite a few on the go.

Last night I was scanning my mums magazines for a new knitting pattern, I haven't done any knitting for a while, I knew I wanted to do something with a cable in though. I found this cushion pattern, with a cable that looks like a honey comb pattern. I've decided I'm going to knit it in the Aran my nan bought me a few years ago! It's a lovely purple colour. Anywho,  I told myself I could not start a new project until I finish one I have already started! I'm very good at doing half a project and then forgetting about it. 

Last year I started knitting myself a cute jumper from Simply Knitting issue 90. It has a cool look about it, and looks super comfy. Last night I found it in one of my many project bags, I have completed half of it already! It's knitted in two pieces, arms and middle together. I only have to do the back piece sew it up and tah dah. Done, and brand new, knitted by me, jumper to wear to uni! I am knitting it in King Cole Riot Chunky.

I have even taken some photos to show you all!

I love the pattern in this.

Here is what it looks like from what I'm knitting it with.

Chunky needles! ;-)

King Cole Riot Chunky - Bought from Crafty Addicts

Shade 652 

The front piece, seems to be an odd shape at the moment...it may become the back piece!

Are you like me? Always starting projects and forgetting about them?

Nikki xx