Now That's More Like It!

This time I stuck to what I know best which resulted in this....

An easy crochet sweater made with Aran yarn

and it took me only five days! It would have been even quicker of course if there wasn't a thousand other things to do in the day.  Just think in the time it took me to do the May sweater I could have made  three of these!

I used poundstretcher Aran which is quite soft and very reasonably priced and an Aldi variegated yarn  which I'm not too keen on but it was perfect for this sweater

You can find the Free Pattern here

I will be linking this to the latest stash-buster party why don't you link your latest stash busting make just click on the stash-buster icon below.

I intend making a hat and scarf with what's left of the yarn at some point. If you can remember I was going to finish a sock by the end of the month but something else has been urgently asked for so the poor sock will have to wait once again. 

I hope the sun is shining for you today it's cloudy but warm here, leaving you with a picture of my favourite rose it's looking beautiful just now and the scent is heavenly.

It Took 17 days!

Honestly I thought that I was never going to finish it! this is my May boy sweater, it was started in May even though I finished it in June so I suppose it's ok to call it the May sweater...

 So why did it take so long? well it's worked in the round in fact it's the first sweater I have ever made this way, I'm a two needle tuck the needle under the arm sort of girl, that was how I was taught and it's very difficult to change your method after 55 years, but as you know I'm always up for a challenge, working in the round for me began when I made my sock making debut back here. I thought making a sweater in the round was a great idea, no sewing of seams I forgot to factor in just how slow I am using this technique..

and have you seen the stripes? so many! I wasn't sure if I should cut the yarn at each colour change or carry the yarn up the work, in the end I used a combination of both to see which worked best and I think cutting the yarn gave the best result but meant I had a zillion ends to weave in.

I'm not happy with the finish, I made so many mistakes and I hate how the colour changes are staggered..

I know that there is a way around this but it didn't work for me because there were just too many changes.

CONCLUSION..
Did I like the pattern? yes I did, I love the idea of working a sweater in one piece neck down.
Would I make it again? well, no at least not with all the stripes anyway, maybe a plain sweater or one with less stripes.
Even though it's not perfect it will still keep a little one warm.

STATS
I used 177 grams of DK yarn out of my stash.
worked on 3.5mm and 4mm circulars 
It will fit a 5-7 year old.
You can find the free pattern here

Making this sweater has really slowed me down  I still have to start my June boy sweater, make two June puppets finish a sock and decide on a doily pattern for my coffee table, will I do it? 

What are you all up too? I hope you are having a great week :) x

I made it!

It's the end of May already I can't believe how quickly this year is speeding past, I hope you are all having a great Spring, the weather always lets us down on the cold east coast of England, the rest of the British Isles may be bathed in warm sunshine but it's usually freezing cold here with sea fret to contend with I'm hoping that the sun will burn the clouds away so that I can pressure wash my drive this afternoon.

This month like the last one has been extremely busy for me on the home front and I think it may continue for a while but at last the property is on the market which is a huge accomplishment. I have been trying for the past ten years and to be honest I never thought I would see the day, it's such a relief,   I'm hoping it will sell fast and we can draw a line under it and move on with our lives, it is as you can appreciate a very complicated family situation.

On the crafting front I have managed to complete the hat entry for the Crochet Crowd's feel good charity challenge.

I used my chunky yarn stash for most of these and made the smallest size which has turned out big enough for a young teenager.
It's a lovely easy pattern and you can find it here

I have also made my two Teddy Puppets...

You can read all about the Teddy Challenge and find the pattern here

As for my May boys sweater it has been started....

I have never used this method to make a sweater before so it's taking me ages but I am enjoying the process and I will finish it sometime but certainly not for this month thats for sure.

So counting the Afghan my total stash-bust for May is 1,626 grams which is the best month yet, it helps that I have been using bulky yarns of course.

June Targets

1. Finish May Sweater. 
2. Complete the sock I started months ago.
3. A boy sweater for June.
4. Two Teddy Puppets.
5. Start a doily for my coffee table, pattern yet to be decided.

How has your May Crafting gone and what are your plans for June?

Have a great week :) 

April Sweater.

I have challenged myself to make one boy sweater each month and I have succeeded so far, well okay it's usually a rush to get it finished in time and so far it's nearly almost been last minute but I get there in the end....

I like to use this as an opportunity to try out some of the many free crochet/knitting patterns that are available to all of us from so many sources..

This time I used a Red Heart pattern it can be found here.  One of the problems with stash-busting is you rarely have the same yarn that the pattern calls for and so have to compromise.  This pattern asked for sport weight yarn and I used DK, as a result the chest size is two inches less that the expected finished measurements.  I made the 24 inch chest size which is supposed to have a finished chest size of 28 inches that's a whole 4 inches more, mine measures 26 inches which I reckon is just right a two inch give I think is more than enough.

I don't like this type of crochet ribbing it has no stretch at all, you can't beat knitted rib for stretch, if I make a knitted ribbed crochet sweater I will  get the best of both worlds I think. 

So enough of the moaning I think for all my complaints it's still a lovely sweater and was very easy and quick to make, it's quite an open pattern so I will be supplying a little T shirt to go underneath.

STATS

It took 170 grams Marriner Yarn in shades..
Apple
Royal
Madonna
Oatmeal.

Now I just have time to make my two April Ted puppets for the Teddy Puppet Appeal before the end of the month. Click here for more details about this appeal.

Have a great week.

Linking with...




Snickerdoodle Sunday
Hookin on hump day
Cooking and crafting with J&J
Handmade Monday
Lunamon Design
Scrapability Saturday
Link and Share Wednesdays