Block a Week Friday

Block 113

Basketweave

This one is nice to knit and has turned out very pretty with the striped pattern. Of course when you have stripes you also have ends which is a bit of a downfall, but it's a great way to use up oddments of yarn.
A blanket or scarf would look lovely in this stitch, just take a look at Meredith's beautiful cowl made with the same stitch here.

Rating - Easy
Curl - 0
Ends - 12
Finished size - 6 x 6, 1/4

Progress -  number of different blocks made = 7

Numbers - 24, 30, 40, 41, 42, 45,113

(Click on the number to see the block.)

Number of blocks altogether = 10

yarn used 8 grams.

linking with 

The Ripple is Done!

I finished making this last week

I felt a bit lost when this ripple was completed, I enjoyed making it so much it went everywhere with me and I was quite sad when it was done. 

Gentle Ripple shawl.

I enjoyed making this because it was so easy and rhythmic and I loved how the colours all went so well together. 

I know there are lots of ripple patterns out there but I liked this one because it was a gentle ripple with not too much zig in the zag if you know what I mean.

it's a peaceful ripple. If anyone would like to make one like mine I will write the pattern for you please just say.

It measures 110 x 48 cms 

The tassels are 5 inches long and it took 280 grams of yarn.

This shawl is going to Sue at SIBOL  you can read all about it here
SIBOL also has a Ravelry group you can find it here

The pattern is now available for the shawl you can find it here

I love making these easy shawls because you can be creative and make them in any stitch you like and it's not too big so you won't get bored with it.  I'm making another already in another lovely pattern stitch and..... 

it's a great way to use your stash.

linking with

February is going to be the month of the shawl :)

Stashaholics!
The end of the month is nearly upon us so all of those who are counting please leave me  your totals here for January.

The Monday Smile

This week I'm smiling because.....

 In an effort to catch up, with the mood blanket progress

 I have a blue smile 

 AND a green smile this week

Blue - Green moods =
Upbeat, Pleased, Somewhat Relaxed, Motivated, Flirtatious

I can relate to those, not sure about the last one though. ;)

 That's 21 motifs closer to completing the 'never ending blanket'

 Blonde On A Plane---- 

A PLANE IS ON ITS WAY TO TORONTO , WHEN A BLONDE IN ECONOMY CLASS GETS UP AND MOVES TO THE FIRST CLASS SECTION AND SITS DOWN.

THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT WATCHES HER DO THIS AND ASKS TO SEE HER TICKET.
SHE THEN TELLS THE BLONDE THAT SHE PAID FOR ECONOMY CLASS AND THAT SHE WILL HAVE TO SIT IN THE BACK.

THE BLONDE REPLIES, "I'M BLONDE, I'M BEAUTIFUL, I'M
GOING TO TORONTO AND I'M STAYING RIGHT HERE."
THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT GOES INTO THE COCKPIT AND TELLS THE PILOT AND THE CO-PILOT THAT THERE IS A BLONDE BIMBO SITTING IN FIRST CLASS, THAT BELONGS IN ECONOMY AND WON'T MOVE BACK TO HER SEAT.

THE CO-PILOT GOES BACK TO THE BLONDE AND TRIES TO EXPLAIN THAT BECAUSE SHE ONLY PAID FOR ECONOMY SHE WILL HAVE TO LEAVE AND RETURN TO HER SEAT. THE BLONDE REPLIES, "I'M BLONDE, I'M BEAUTIFUL, I'M GOING TO TORONTO AND I'M STAYING RIGHT HERE."

THE CO-PILOT TELLS THE PILOT THAT HE PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE THE POLICE WAITING WHEN THEY LAND TO ARREST THIS BLONDE WOMAN WHO WON'T LISTEN TO REASON.
THE PILOT SAYS, "YOU SAY SHE IS A BLONDE? I'LL
HANDLE THIS, I'M MARRIED TO A BLONDE. I SPEAK BLONDE."
HE GOES BACK TO THE BLONDE AND WHISPERS IN HER EAR, AND SHE SAYS, "OH, I'M SORRY." AND GETS UP AND GOES BACK TO HER SEAT IN ECONOMY.
THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT AND CO-PILOT ARE AMAZED AND ASKED HIM WHAT HE SAID TO MAKE HER MOVE WITHOUT ANY FUSS.
"I TOLD HER, "FIRST CLASS ISN'T GOING TO TORONTO."

Hope this made you all smile
Have a great week !

 

Block a Week Friday

This week I made two in blue.


                                                                  Block 40
                                                                  Deepdale

I love the texture of this block but not really the making of it.  Easy enough, just purl and garter stitch but, I  had to keep my eye on the pattern and religiously tick each row as I went  I had to pull it out once and start again.  If you wanted to use this stitch in a larger project, you would get into the swing of it eventually. 

Rating -  intermediate

Curl - 1

Ends - 2

Finished size - 6"x 6" 

Block 42 

Staircase

I'm going to call this one a brain training block, you think you know which way it's going for the first few rows but then the rhythm changes and you wonder have I read this correctly.  Pencil and notepaper is a must and concentration to the max.  There is also a mistake in the pattern for row 15 and 16.  

I did a little dance after I had finished this one, I had to pull it back twice and the needles nearly went through the window a few times,  I like the finished result but would I make it again NO WAY!!

Rating - hard

Curl - not really a curl but needs blocking to obtain correct size.

Ends - 2

Finished size - 6"x 6" 

Amendment to pattern - rows 15 and 16 are wrong and should read - repeat row 13 and 14.

I also made 

Three more of block 45

Progress -  number of different blocks made = 6

Numbers - 24, 30, 40, 41, 42, 45

Number of blocks altogether = 9

Stash busted 40 grams

Linking with

Have a great weekend! 

Baby Throw

I loved the textured look of this pattern and just needed to make it as soon as I saw it. Do you have that compulsion sometimes? I know we see patterns we like all the time and they go on the to do list, but every now and again, I see something and it just has to be done there and then.

and when I did start it, it was like revisiting an old friend.  I have done this stitch before many times but in a finer yarn and so didn't make the connection right away. 

This time I used Aran weight in peppermint and because I had no Aran in lemon but an awful lot of double knit, I combined the lemon Dk with cream 3ply and the resulting colour was a pale creamy yellow which looks lovely in real life but the photo's are dull and you can't really tell.

The pattern consists of nine blocks which are sewn together but I made mine in three strips of three which I think gives a much better finish and of course there is less sewing up to do.

 I love this texture

There's no edging on the actual pattern but I felt it looked unfinished and so I did a round of sc/dc in peppermint and then a round of the actual pattern stitch in lemon and I like it.

So does Florence ;)

You can find the pattern here ( it's a lion brand pattern and you will need to register or sign in)

307 grams of yarn busted.

 Other things I have made with this stitch, just click on the titles to find the pattern.

Bubbles Baby blanket

cup cake Scarf

Hope everyone's having a good week!  
see you Friday xx

The Monday Smile

There are three things that are making me smile this week, the first came because of a light bulb moment really 

I have been reading over and over again about the mood blanket that so many of you are taking part in and then I was reminded again last week when Debi posted about it.  I love to become involved in everything I possibly can just for the fun of it but I thought it would be silly of me to begin something else when I have so many other things to finish.  

Then it came to me a little light just clicked on and it all became clear.  Its a mood blanket right? well I have decided to twist it somewhat in my favour.  I have been making the 'never ending blanket' on and off for two years now....or could it be longer? anyway I haven't touched it for ages, why? because I'm not in the mood! get it?  sooooo by my reckoning I have my very own mood blanket screaming to be finished and believe me there is still a long way to go.  I have decide therefore to join in with this challenge in the hope that by the end of the year it will finally be completed.

So seven motifs complete this week..

 and because I had this great idea

 I was happy happy happy!

That's why I made them in red because red makes me happy, it feels good to be making this blanket again, I've been feeling ever so guilty, knowing it was lying there squashed under the bed... unloved... ahhh bless,  it can smile again now :)

Smile Two

So the first smile came because of Debi really and the second because of Luna and her post here.  I do love my clover crochet hooks and I never use anything else.  The only thing that I don't like about them is their colour, they aren't very pretty really and I have to look at each one to find the size I want. So when Luna showed us her pretty hooks I wanted some too, so I used some of my Christmas gift money and....

 I love them!

Nice and light to work with too and I know that dark blue is 4.50 mm and orange is 4 mm already. Every girl needs a spare set of hooks right ? :)

Smile three

The next person to put a smile on my face was Astri with the lovely donations she has sent to me to be forwarded on for the Syrian refugees.

Beautiful makes, thank you so much Astri they will be very well received and much appreciated.

I have said it before and I will say it again aren't bloggy people lovely people!

Have a great week! xxx

Block a Week Friday

I have completed two blocks this week and it's really hard for me to stop there because I'm having so much fun making these I could go on making more and more.  I have to be strict with myself because I have so many other things on the go I have to make myself do a bit of everything or nothing will ever get finished.

Block 24

I loved making this block, once you get into the rhythm of it it's very easy to knit. You slip stitches while carrying the wool across the back of your work, thus making a thick fabric ideal for blankets or hats.  Another plus to this block is you don't break your wool at each colour change you carry it up the sides so there are only 4 ends to weave in. 

Rating - Easy

Curl - 0.5

Ends - 4

Finished size 6"x 6,1/4"


More examples of this block

Patti Loving Hands

Pat SS Loving hands

Cosy Little hat made with the same stitch

Block 30

I liked this one too, it did turn out a little larger in the width (As did the one above) but just by a quarter of an inch so it shouldn't cause any problems when sewing up.

I found this block interesting to do because of the colour changes, I find found myself wanting to finish each block of colour quickly so that I could see what it looked like.

Rating - Easy

Curl - 0                                                      

Ends- 9

Finished Size 6 x 6,1/4


Progress - 4 blocks made so far

Numbers - 24, 30, 41, 45

Now for lots of Linky fun!

9 grams of yarn busted.

Have a Great weekend. :)

Questions Answered , A Child's Cardigan and an Award.

I just want to say hello and welcome to both old and new friends who have joined in with Stash-busting for Stashaholics.  It's lovely to see all your beautiful projects taking their place in the link up...please keep them coming I can see that we are off to a great start.

I have had a few questions about the challenge and though I have answered all by email it seems that some are not getting through so I will answer them here and add this to the introduction so that it can be seen by everyone.

Is it too late to join in ?
No it is never too late, the challenge to bust the stash is on-going and not confined to this year only.
I can't see my name listed.
I am not listing names because there are so many of you, the official sign up is in the comments section here and any blogs that are taking part can be found in my right side bar, you can recognise any blogs that are taking part because they will have the Stash-busting for Stashaholics buttons displayed in their side bar.
Can I still join in even if I don't have a blog?
Yes of course you can, for those who don't have a blog......

1.  May I suggest that you follow me by email top right then you will receive all of my posts and won't miss out on any updates.  
2. You can still link your projects to the link party even if you don't have a blog, just use the new link method.  
3. If you would like to weigh your projects and give me the total weight in grams each month I will add your name to the totals section here, which I will be updating very soon.

Please let me know if there are any more questions.

Fun Time Cardigan

This little jacket was another one of the things I made and sent to the the Syrian refugees back in November.  

You know how I like quick and easy well this little jacket was certainly that.

A very easy pattern to follow and you can find it in a number of sizes too.

I was in a bit of a hurry to get this finished, if there had been a bit more time I would have embellished it with something cute, but the main thing is it will keep a little child snug and warm, I'm hoping it's doing just that right now. :)

Find the pattern here

This what I love about stash-busting when you see the results.

Out of this stash of Aran yarn here....

I managed to make all of these 

Now that's what I call a result

almost 1600 grams of yarn busted (I still have some little balls)

and was added to last years totals.

So what's next?

I'm rippling!

and finally thank you so much Susana from The Blue Window for awarding me with the Versatile blogger award

 I'm very honoured to receive it.