Red Ted

I wrote a post, which I now see was back in November called My Work Basket. How can the months have slipped by so quickly. A few people did spot that I was making a teddy bear, and was using my own pattern. This teddy is jointed, which might put a few people off, but the joints are quite easy to buy on-line (and probably in shops), and I think give a more authentic bear that hopefully will be fun to play with.

Teddy has been finished for a while, but I was waiting to see if my niece had a boy or girl before I made the scarf. I used to a combination of bright red and sock wool for the scarf to give a slightly random stripe. So this teddy is now on his way to Ireland, to meet my new great nephew.

The pattern is called Teddy Bear on ravelry. This teddy also has a small hump, which I now realise I haven't photographed. (Debating whether to unwrap him for another photo-shoot.) Have you ever found yourself saying (in your head) "work it teddy", while getting a woolly bear to pose in the back garden?

Just a reminder that there is still time join in my Ginx Woolly Linx party for February. Click on the photo above or at the top of the page to find the party. I would love to see what you have been working on this month.

My International Socks

I am calling these sock "My International Socks", and will explain why. 

The pattern that I used is called Hiking Socks by Blicknits on ravelry, who is from Germany. I really like to knit toe-up socks like these, because I decided I could use one ball of wool per sock, and just kept knitting until I ran out of wool. (No tricky trying to guess how much is needed for the foot length.) 

But in a few ways I veered off the pattern track. I did not use the cast-on technique for the toe, but decided to follow Arne and Carlos (knitters from Norway), who give advice on toes, and in particular sewing up toes, which you can see here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Euf3Q-4xt2I  I am sure fellow knitters will have heard of them, but if not check them out. I love watching their videos, which are not just on knitting, with glimpses of beautiful clean Norwegian lakes and mountains.

When I got to the heel though, I somehow got in a pickle. I think that I just was getting muddled with the stitch counting, so after a few attempts I decided to use a different heel, called "The German Heel" which I found on Youtube by New Leaf Podcast, who I think is Dutch, although she sounds American.

Heel done, I continued on the pattern, which finishes with the Russian-bind-off.

Looking at the wool I used, which was Drops Fabel, I see it is also from Norway.

So you can see that the only English thing about these socks are the legs that are wearing them! How hard is it to photograph socks naturally. The minute you say I'm about to click toes start to flex and curl.

Just a reminder that there is still time join in my Ginx Woolly Linx party for February. Click on the photo above or at the top of the page to find the party. I would love to see what you have been working on this month.

Ginx Woolly Linx Party February

I seem to have a bit of a Valentine theme going with my features for January, but honestly only noticed this after I had picked them.

Stephanie of Unique Yarn Designs linked with a crochet pattern for these little heart-shaped boxes.  I love this sort of project, and despite my rather ropey crochet skills, I am going to try to make some of these.

Maricarmen of Tramas de Colores has knitted this beautiful rainbow scarf, in a fern pattern. I like every this about it, the colour, the design and the wool looks so soft. Not quite in my theme, but I guess it would make a nice Valentine gift.

And another scarf from Tonya of Sew Crafty Crochet. It was the autumnal colours that attracted me to this scarf, and the heart-shaped ends are a great finishing touch.

and finally Alexandra of Eye Love Knots has made a envelope wallet for your Valentine card. I just love that lacey edging detail.

Thank you to every else who linked up with your projects last month. I enjoy looking at them all, so keep linking and visiting each other.  As we are a fairly small party, your chances of being picked as a featured item are fairly high, and I hope that also sends some new visitors to your blogs.

An InLinkz Link-up

Remember if you were picked as a feature you can put the "I was featured" button on your blog.

The Deer in Richmond Park

 The Hunters Are Coming

I hear a gun shot, a celebratory cry.

As I look in the bushes, a gleaming blue eye.

The hunters are coming, as big and as bad,

They've seen me I know, and they're especially glad.

Up to my feet I get with a rush,

Quickly I charge to hide by a thrush.

"Deer! over there" the hunters they shout.

Will I survive? I'm, beginning to doubt!

I run for my life, over the hill.

Yes! I'll survive. I beating them till ...

I'm flung in the air to the highest tree tops,

I taste blood in my mouth as this little deer drops.

For a moment I lie there, I lie there quite still,

But the hunters are coming, ready to kill.

I try to run, as fast as I can,

But I turn around swiftly, and I'm facing a man!

I close my brown eyes and take a last breath, 

But I squiggle and squirm, not ready for death.

I hear a gun shot, a celebratory cry.

Why was it me who had to die?

As I walked in Richmond Park this week, there was a sign up saying the deer cull is on for the next six weeks. Not completely sure how I feel about this. I do know that the deer, which are in a confined space practically in London, have to have their numbers controlled, and that probably the cull is the least cruel way to do this. 

But then I got home, and saw the poem above, which has been posted on the side of my fridge for the last few years. It was written by my daughter when she was in primary school, and does tug at the heart strings.

Looking back through my photographs, I realize I do not take many of the deer. The one at the top was taken at this time of year, and I kept it mainly because I liked the framing by the trees. And the other one was in mid-summer, when I think I was trying to photograph rabbits, and came upon this deer a bit too close by surprise. I am not sure who was more shocked.

Not much to show on the knitting front. I am making socks, and they seem to taking a long time. On the second one though!

Just a reminder that there is still time join in my Ginx Woolly Linx party for January. Click on the photo above or at the top of the page to find the party. I would love to see what you have been working on this month.

Cardigan ... Finished at Last

I thought about calling this post "The Reluctant Model", as you can probably tell that my son was not over keen to have me take his photograph. Although he has said I can post them on my blog. (Mind you, I am usually not very keen on having my own photograph taken, so I do know how he feels.)

I prefer the photographs taken above, even though they don't show the cardigan very well. I knew if I started faffing about the cardigan I might lose my model completely, so here are some taken outside, which show the garment off better. 

I'm rather pleased with my improvised stripes on the sleeves, although in the end I had wool left over. So I didn't need to do them, but I think they have added something to the garment - the college preppy look.

The pattern I used was call "The Boyfriend Cardigan" by Erica Knight, bought from John Lewis. It is actually a woman's cardigan pattern, but I reversed the bands. It fits my son very well, as he is tall but very skinny. The grey Aran-weight wool is Drops Alaska and was bought online from Wool Warehouse. It seemed good value for 100% wool at £1.80 for a 50g ball, and by clicking about a bit I managed to find a discount code. (I bought 18 balls, but have 2 left over.) 

I was tempted into buying some sock wool, as spending over £30 put me into free postage. So expect some more family knitting here soon.  

I'm also rather pleased with how the toggles look, instead of buttons, bought from Fabricland.

I know this is not great, but it did capture the feel of most of the photos that I took but haven't used.

Just a reminder that there is still plenty of time join in my Ginx Woolly Linx party for January. Click on the photo above or at the top of the page to find the party. I would love to see what you have been working on this month

Ginx Woolly Linx Party January 2019

Hello, and Happy New Year!

I am so pleased to welcome you to the first Ginx Linx Party for 2019, and to celebrate that the party has reached its first birthday. I was a bit nervous a year ago when I started the party. Will anyone come and join, and will I be able to technically put it together each month? But much to my relief you have come from all over the world, and shared your wonderful projects. The party has grown a bit month by month, but also lots of you have come back regularly. 

I have picked a few more favourites than usual, just couldn't limit myself to just four.

Lilia of Lilia Craft Party in Venice has knitted this lovely London Scarf. Her own design, I think it is both cosy and glamorous.

Gema of Hebra de Lana has made Leopold, a polar bear who looks all set for cold weather in his Nordic sweater.

Jo from Three Stories High has made this sweater from a pattern called The Simplest Sweater, but added her own unique coffee-coloured band of Nordic decoration.

Sabine of Nephi Handmade has been running a penguin CAL. I recommend you click on the link to see all the penguins that have been made so far.

Maricarmen of Tramas de Colores has made these cute little Christmas gnomes. I would like to make some of these myself for next Christmas.

and finally Olga of Lacey Crochet has made this beautiful leaf-inspired doily from her own design. I am always a bit in awe of this type of crochet work, done with such fine thread.

So thank you to everyone who has joined in the party over the last year, and I look forward to seeing and being inspired by your projects in 2019.

An InLinkz Link-up

 

Remember if you were picked as a feature you can put the "I was featured" button on your blog.

"A Christmas Pickle"

Has anyone else got themselves in a Christmas knitting pickle. Taken on too much, and not got it done in time. I've mentioned a few times that I'm knitting a garment, which is in fact a cardigan for my son. It's taken a bit of planning, as he doesn't like anything too flamboyant. I am not completely sure he will wear it. I know that handknitted cardigans are probably not the coolest thing, but he might, as he is not particularly into fashion. 

So I am in a pickle in two ways. Firstly, as you can see, it will not be done for Christmas. The back and two fronts are done, but I am still on the sleeves. Second problem is that I think I am not going to have enough wool. So I have decided to try and solve this problem in two ways. I'm knitting both arms at the same time, and the new plan is to have some stripes of other colours around the elbows. (Does anyone knit arms like this? I have heard that some people knit socks this way.) He is at university, and perhaps this will give him a preppy look. I think this might work out, but will keep you updated, and perhaps eventually I can get my son to model the finished garment. Not sure he will, as he is a shy young man.

And I just thought I would finish off with a few of the knitted ornament that are on my tree this year, made from my own patterns. Christmas Tree, Sand Dollar and Scallop Shell.  

These come out every year, but I may have to think of a few more ideas for next year, as the dog had a bit of a session on some of my other decorations. These are the broken ones on her bed. She had got some knitted ones off the tree, but they seem to have survived. So perhaps she is the "Christmas Pickle"!

Happy Christmas to you all!