Block a Week Friday

I have two blocks to show you this week because I didn't post one last week...

Block 82

Dash

Slip stitch technique very easy to make but keeping the tension correct is more difficult, this one drags in places, it does look better in real life than in the picture.

Rating - easy

Curl - 1

size - 6"x6"
ends - 12

Block 6

Lace Chevrons

Lacy Patterns always look pretty but need too much concentration for my butterfly mind, this one had to be pulled back a couple of times but I got there in the end.  I love this stitch and a panel running up a sweater or cardigan would look lovely I think.

Rating - intermediate

Curl - 2

size - 7"x6"
ends - 2

Progress -  number of different blocks made = 48

Numbers - 1,6, 8,12, 14, 17, 19,24,26,30,31,34,36 40, 41, 42,43,44, 45,48, 52, 56,58,62,64

67,69,70,75,76,78,82, 90,92,96,97, 98,100, 113,133,153,165,177,193,197 200,201 209

(Click on the number to see the block.)

Linking with 

Have a great weekend! :)

Odd Socks!

It seems ages since I posted but really it's only a week, things have been a little crazy around here just lately but first I must show you the boot socks I have finished I can't really believe I have actually managed to make two I have a bag of odd socks that I have started but I never seem to get around to making the second one.

I know that they are odd and by no means perfect BUT they are socks and they are wearable.  I think that the uneven distribution of colours add to their charm don't you?  

I would love to wear these socks they are lovely thick and warm but they were made for a 4-6 year old and even though they have turned out much bigger they are still not adult size, I'm thinking they would maybe fit a 10-12 year old and thats fine because the beauty about charity knitting is you can always find a home for all your makes, these will be going into the box for Operation Orphan.

I am enjoying the DPNS and I never thought I would say that but I think it's because of the new needles I bought they are Knit pro Trendz...

and are really lovely to use and so I'm branching out into knitting or trying to knit a hat in the round I know so simple for most of you knitters but new for me so watch this space. :)

I'm still trying to clear out the small bedroom so that I can paint it next week but where do you put all the stuff, and more to the point where did it all come from? there will be some serious "do you really need this"!! thinking going on I can tell you. I still daren't show you a picture of the clutter much too embarrassing haha

It was my birthday last Thursday and I was thoroughly spoilt by both family and friends I just want to thank them for making my Birthday so special it started with a meal with friends on the Tuesday, than lunch with my daughter on my birthday, on the Saturday evening another meal out with my family and at the end of the meal the lights went out and the waiters carried a cake lit by candles and everyone sang Happy Birthday to me I was so touched and a bit embarrassed I have to say.....

Meal out with family

and then to end the week off perfectly my lovely daughter announced that she had booked us both into a Spa and afternoon tea here  on Sunday. the Spa was amazing and I would recommend it to anyone, afternoon tea was yummy too.

Oh yes! 

 I even managed to make the Christmas cake :) 

Hope you are all having a great week!

Linking with

November party closes on Sunday 30th so link up your November stash-busting makes before the deadline.

All done! and a new Challenge

The very last ends have been woven in.....

I haven't counted them but there's lots and it took me ages, they will be going into my scrap jar and so here it is...

My daughters throw is all done :)

I really loved making this throw, it's a great one to try and I urge you to give it a go if you haven't already.

The beauty about making a corner to corner throw is, in the beginning you don't mind that each row gets bigger and bigger because you are all fired up about your new project..

Then just when you start to get a bit fed up you start the home journey and each row gets shorter and shorter.

I will be making more of these in the future that's for sure as they are great stash-busters too.  Now all I need to do is fold it and tie it with a pretty bow and hide it way till Christmas.

Click here to find the pattern

My throw measures 110cms square and I worked 65 rows before decreasing.

I used Hayfield Bonus Dk in shades
Classic red
Emerald
Sunflower
Purple
White
Navy
Bluebell
It took one ball of each and two of the red this is what's left.

I will be using this yarn for my new challenge which is to make as many things as I can for Operation Orphan, I have just two weeks because the deadline is the second week in December when they will be taking knitted/crocheted.. hats,blankets,cardigans,sweaters,scarves,mittens and gloves to the Syrian refugee children. 

My local Loving Hands group are trying to fill up a box along with lots of honorary Loving Hands members which include some of the ladies from the Day Unit where I work one of which is Maisie who has started the ball rolling with these lovely donations....

Maisie has helped us before and I wanted to put her photo here along with the donations but bless her she blushed and said "Oh no! I don't think so pet" So I just want to say a huge thank you to Maisie who's in her eighties and has so many health problems but still wants to help wherever she can.

If you want to join in the address to send your donations is...

Operation Orphan
1st Floor Offices
Unit 13
143 Attenborough Lane
Attenborough
NG9 6AA

Block a Week Friday

Block 75

Seed Squares

It took me two attempts to make this one, I kept purling when I should have been knitting and knitting when I should have been purling, I got it right in the end and so I should because it's really not difficult if you concentrate.

This block is made with rico creative cotton in turquoise, I edged it with sc and I am going to use it as a dishcloth and of course I had to try it out, it's a perfect size to wash the inside of mugs and cups and now that I know the blocks can be used for dishcloths I will be making more for that purpose to be given as gifts

Rating - easy

Curl - 0

size - 7"x7"
ends - 2

More examples of this block....

Made by mamamia

Made by Triccia

Progress -  number of different blocks made = 46

Numbers - 1, 8,12, 14, 17, 19,24,26,30,31,34,36 40, 41, 42,43,44, 45,48, 52, 56,58,62,64

67,69,70,75,76,78, 90,92,96,97, 98,100, 113,133,153,165,177,193,197 200,201 209

(Click on the number to see the block.)

Linking with

Have a great weekend

Trying to get organised!

Thank you everyone for all your lovely comments about the doily, I'm so pleased you like it and I'm glad to say that my daughter likes it too.

It's that time of the year when everything seems to crowd in on you do you feel like that?  I always mean to be so organised in the run up to christmas but somehow the time seems to fly by and before you know it Christmas is upon us and we are nowhere ready for it.

I'm looking back on my October to do list and although I did manage to get a lot done it is in no way complete. so it's time to rethink and move forward with yet another list..

I have a special visitor coming for Christmas my sons girlfriend from Hong Kong, I haven't met her yet and she is coming to stay for a couple of weeks.  I can't wait to meet her but it means that I am going to have to get my small bedroom (which I use for an office and was going to convert into a work room!) looking halfway decent for her to use.  Believe you me it will take me a while because when I say it's a mess that is putting it mildly so watch this space I will do a before ( if I dare) and after.... it could take a while so if I disappear for days at a time you know why.

 I have been asked to make a shawl for a lady who attends the Day Unit...I have yet to start! but this is the yarn I'm going to use, just odd balls from my stash.

I can't decide on a pattern it needs to be an easy one that I can fit in with everything else so I'm thinking either granny stripes, V stitch or Lucy's new pattern for her cosy blanket, I could go with that and just continue until it is shawl size but I'm still not decided I will decide once I have my daughters throw out of the way...
Remember this was the yarn

well this is what the basket looks like now.

The throw is actually finished and I am now weaving in the dreaded ends, just started and have a long way to go but I'm hoping to show it to you it very soon. 

Still doing block a week but it's drawing to a close and I have got the blocks positioned so that I can start sewing up the blanket.

I must use this lovely cotton I bought to make some washcloths/dishcloths for gifts.

I have started making some boot socks! don't ask me why, I saw them in a magazine and thought come on you can do this and bought myself some short 4pns, why do I torture myself so! regular readers of my blog will know the difficulty I have had with sock making in the past but this time ...

I'm hoping to get them finished it would be lovely to actually finish the second sock they are supposed to fit a 4-6 year old but somehow I have a feeling they will be way too big and the pattern says knit until desired foot length, how long is a 6 year olds foot? any help gratefully received.

I'm also making a cardigan for myself 

now why did I start the socks before this was finished? I really don't think there's much hope for me on the organisational front but I do try I really do! now where did I put that list?

Have a great week. :) 

Block a Week Friday

Block 76

Eccentric Stripes

As you can see this is a very simple striped design but I do love striped designs especially random stripes it's a great way to use up stash yarn too.  Of course the negative side is all the ends that need weaving in. 

Rating - intermediate

Curl - 2

size - 6"x 6"
ends - 16

More colourful examples of this block

Both made by Appledumpling

Progress -  number of different blocks made = 45

Numbers - 1, 8,12, 14, 17, 19,24,26,30,31,34,36 40, 41, 42,43,44, 45,48, 52, 56,58,62,64

67,69,70,76,78, 90,92,96,97, 98,100, 113,133,153,165,177,193,197 200,201 209

(Click on the number to see the block.)

Linking with

Have a great weekend