Ginx Woolly Linx Party January

 

Happy New Year to everyone who visits my link party.

Thank you to everyone who has stuck with me, and kept joining in with your projects. I have just looked back to the first party - 3 years ago - and have realised that some of you have been linking since then. When I started I used to worry about the numbers, but I seem to not think about that too much now. I see some much bigger parties, but I am really happy that everyone sticks to the yarn, wool theme, and that we are so international. I don't usually talk politics, but I voted to stay in Europe, but what can you do ...

As you can see I have chosen five projects this month. Just could not stop myself. I have been trying my hand at some crochet, which I will post about soon. I have looked hard at the projects, slightly thinking, could I make that? I still find it very hard to follow a crochet pattern, particularly the ones that have diagrams. But with the help of some youtube videos, I have learned a few techniques. 

Raji of Raji's Crafty Hobby has made this pretty two colour doily coaster. The photo instructions are really clear and very good, and must take quite a while to create. 

Alexandra of Eye Love Knots has made a stunning Christmas wreath out of granny squares. One for the to do list.

I really like Sandra of Hakelfieber's collection of baskets, decorated with a spike stitch. 

I also could not resist showing you these Dutch house cushions from Liz of Howling at the Moon. Two colours, and really eye-catching.

And finally say hello to Toby the Triclops, made by Con Hilos, Lanos y Botones. I have just sat and watched Monster's University with my daughter, and I think he would fit in there very well.

I wish you and your loved ones all well for 2021. Surely things will start to get better. I may be publishing a little early, but the party will open on 1st January. If you have linked a project very near the end of the month, please feel free to link again, so you can be considered for the featured posts.

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A Waddle of Penguins

Did you know that the collective term for a group of penguins is a waddle? Isn't that great? You can also call them a colony, a rookery, or better still a huddle. If they are on the water they are called a raft. I love this sort of information.

So here is a waddle of penguin chicks, who are heading over to my Etsy shop. It is really a bit close to Christmas now, but I can still post them out. If you let me know I will add a hanging ribbon if you want to put them on your tree.

All has changed so quickly in the last week. My daughter is isolating, because she was in contact with someone at school who tested positive. Christmas seemed to be slipping away, but last week we were thinking so long as both still well, we could travel to my husband and son for a late Christmas. But now because we are in Tier 4 that is also not possible. But my daughter still seems well, so I am very thankful for that, and just for once I am going to have to do a bit more than just peeling the sprouts and potatoes. 

So with more time on my hands I am planning to crochet (yes crochet!) a hat.

 

Just a reminder that tomorrow you can still join in my Ginx Woolly Linx party for December. I would love to see what you have been working on.

Baby Penguin

I like to think that when I make a knitted animal I make it realistic. I don't go for a cute version. So in this case all I can only say that baby penguins really are this cute. Actually I think they may be even cuter.

This is my third polar Christmas decoration. The others were Polar Bear and Arctic Hare. I think I need to stop now, but I am really pleased with all these little animals on my Christmas tree. 

Baby Penguin is really quick and easy to make. Just for once I am going to recommend a wool. I used Rowan Alpaca Classic Shade 00101 to get the fluffy grey look. I think any other fluffy wool would work. Some of my first penguins were in a non-fluffy grey, and they are cute too.

The penguins have gone off again to the icy land of fluffy dressing gown. But they just keep waddling away in different directions when I try to photograph them.

These baby penguins are tiny - approximately 4.5 cm tall, and each one take less that 2g of wool. So this is the pattern for you if you like quick makes, and I am planning to make a lot more from my ball of wool, and those ones will be heading for my Etsy shop. But it is not for you if you don't like working small.

 

The pattern is be available on ravelry, Etsy and LoveKnitting. 

I have set up a discount code on ravelry if you buy any 2 of my polar animal decorations: Christmas Baby Penguin, Christmas Arctic Hare, or Christmas Polar Bear you will get £1 discount. If you buy all three the discount is £2. The code to use is POLAR, and this offer will run until the end of 2020.

 

Just a reminder that tomorrow you can still join in my Ginx Woolly Linx party for December. I would love to see what you have been working on.

 
 

Ginx Woolly Linx Party December

 

Welcome to the Ginx Woolly Linx Party for December. I have just put up my Christmas Tree. Never done this quite so early, but I feel like we all need a bit of extra cheer. There are so many things that we won't be able to do this year - no nativity shows or carol services at the school where I work, none of the Christmas get togethers, but one place where we can still get Christmassy is our decorations, and of course our crafting.

Sandra of Hakelfieber has made her Bobo into a toadstool.  To me he looks festive, and I just love the details - his hat, his ruffle and the grass around his feet. He is also photographed so beautifully.

Andrea of Ich- völlig ungeschmink created a magical Christmas forest in a cup.

Tonna of Sew Crafty Crochet has been using the wool in her stash to make some beautifully coloured bright Christmas Baubles.

And finally Linda of Linda's Crafty Corner has crocheted a Christmas cushion. The tree design looks great with this mix of colours.

I look forward to seeing what you have all been working on in the build up to Christmas.

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Christmas Arctic Hare

 

Meet the Christmas Arctic Hare, my second polar Christmas decoration. Once again I have had problems with my photographs, until I discovered the polar region of "the land of dressing gown". Taken with a zoom lens, I really think it looks like snow.

I have become a bit hooked on the Philip Pullman's Dark Materials, being shown on Sunday evening. Perhaps I should have called the Arctic Hare Hester, and the Polar Bear Decoration Iorek. I am thinking of making my polar bear a suit of armour out of felt. You can see Polar Bear by scrolling down or find the pattern on ravelry by clicking here - Polar Bear.

Arctic Hare is tiny. I tried to weigh the wool I had used, and at first it did not register on my scales. So I would say he takes 1-2g. So this is a pattern for people who like quick projects and working small.

Arctic Hare pattern is available on ravelry, Etsy and LoveKnitting later today. 

As I mentioned I am hoping there will be one more (not arctic but antarctic) Christmas animal pattern coming out soon. I wonder if you can guess.

 

Just a reminder that tomorrow you can join in my Ginx Woolly Linx party for December. I would love to see what you have been working on.

Christmas Polar Bear

I've been thinking hard about a design for a new Christmas decoration, and have been pestering my family and friends for ideas - something original, but not perhaps not too unusual.

After a lot of thought I remembered a pattern I started back in 2014. I had the idea to make a collection of polar animals, and after getting quite far with two of them, the final animal stumped me. The project was put to one side, and sort of forgotton. 

But now I have reworked my Christmas Polar Bear, and here he is. He is not large (about 7cm long). If you can find the right sort of wool, one with a bit of fluffiness it really helps make him look realistic.

 

Below are a few of my previous Christmas decorations with links to the patterns on ravelry if you click on the pattern name. The Christmas Tree decoration was quite conventional, but then I branched out with Christmas Birds, and a symbolic Scallop Shell.

One year I tried to start a new tradition - Christmas Elephants. The Christmas Sand Dollars were requested part someone who wanted a seaside themed Christmas, and even sent me some real sand dollars as a thank you. And my Christmas Sloth took so long last year, that I did not have him ready until January. Perhaps I was a bit like the sloth. The Tiny Christmas Elf Clogs are just a good place to hide chocolates.

So the Christmas Polar Bear pattern is available well before Christmas, and I will be publishing my second polar animal shortly, and possibly number three will follow ...

Below are the original bears I made back in 2014.  I'm not linking this photo to the pattern, as I have made a few alterations. I can not even find the instructions for the two little cubs, and am not even sure I wrote it down, but they are rather cute.

You can find the pattern on ravelry, Etsy and Love Knitting if you want to make your own little hanging polar bear.

 

Just a reminder that there is still plenty of time left to join in my Ginx Woolly Linx party for November. 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 November

I hope that everyone who visits the link party is keeping well, and your family and friends. Life does seem hard at the moment, and the only way through seems to be to look for small pleasures, and to be kind to each other. I hope that my party is one of those small pleasures.

I liked Sandra of Hakelfieber's crochet pencils. She has translated the pattern from the original Russian into German.

Julie of Sum of Their Stories has made a lovely baby blanket in yellow and pink. So pretty with those spirals, daisies and hearts.

Carolyn of Flickensalat has also used a lovely colour combination - pink, grey and while. I really like this checkerboard cushion, and she has made a lovely throw from the rest of the wool.

And finally Caroline of Inekedcblog has made these really imaginative fish dungarees. Aren't they adorable.

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Conker and Shell

One subject that I have revisited from time to time is conkers. I just can't help picking one up at this time of year and slipping it into my pocket. Putting my hand in occasionally and feeling the lovely smooth surface. Then I get home and give it as a gift to someone. I think I also do the same thing with pebbles if I am walking along a beach. Do you have anything that you like to pick up when out for a walk?

There seem to have been more around this year than others, and we have a little pile on the mantlepiece. I have just made this conker and shell for a customer on Etsy. Photos not great, but it is already on its way to Scotland. You can find the pattern on ravelry here if you want to make your own. Or I make then to order from my Etsy shop. I made this one in a very long evening, although the version with the whole shell would take longer. Making all the spikes is a bit of a fiddle, but I am always please with how it turns out.

 

Just a reminder that there is still plenty of time left to join in my Ginx Woolly Linx party for October. 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.

Garden Diary September and October

I am a bit late with my garden diary, because I am back in town.  I tried to persuade my husband to write something, and although he has been keeping me up-to-date, he did not seem keen on this. But fortunately I have been down for a long weekend, so have been able to see how all the vegetables are.

All the beans, peas, and courgettes are over. But we still have lots of vine tomatoes. I think next year I will try some other varietes of tomatoes. The peppers are also looking good, and we are waiting for them to perhaps turn red. My husband says he is going to make some chutney, perhaps with the tomatoes and apples.

Somehow the broccoli plants (which I nearly gave up on at one point) have pulled through. And the turnip seedlings, which had also got eaten, are hanging on in there and plumping up.

We have dug a few potatoes, and although the early ones were not very big or many, the main crop seem good and roasted nicely. I have memories of my father digging all the potatoes and storing them in the garage, but we are just digging a few plants as and when we need them. I guess when there are signs of frost we may dig all the remaining ones. Also planning to dig the Jerusalem artichokes and make and earthy soup. 

We have put aside some of the older runner peas, french beans and peas for seed for next year. Sunflower seeds we are planning to let the birds eat. I have also picked some sweet peas and poppy seeds. It just seems sense to try and save some seeds.

We also had a second crop of raspberries - enough to make a crumble. I think these are the ones that I may have over-pruned in the spring.

The squash and pumpkins are still looking great. We picked one of the squash, and it was really good. This is a pumpkin. I have mislaid the seed packet, and cannot work out what sort of pumpkin it is, but it is clearly a bit different from the traditional orange ones.

Our other big project is brewing. There are several apples trees, and although I have picked some of best to store as eating apples, we have so many that we decided to make some cider. So far we have started two batches, and I think there will be enough for a third. So we spent a very jolly morning chopping and pressing. Very hard work, and with blisters from all the cutting, but it was a nice family activity, and even my son joined in. Only seemed fair, as I am sure he is expecting to drink some of the finished product. 

So that is it for now. I am not sure if I will do a November/December diary, as I will have to see what there is to write about. So you may next hear more of the garden in the Spring.

 

Just a reminder that there is still plenty of time left to join in my Ginx Woolly Linx party for October. 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 October

 

Most months I get around everyone's blog and comment, but this time the end of the month has rather snuck up on me. So apologies, but I have visited all your blogs, and really enjoyed all your projects.  I did not even get my garden diary post written this month, so am going to go for a two month summary in October. 

Alexandra of Eye Love Knots has a lovely pattern for this Through the Window Hat. There is also a Through the Window Scarf. I think this stitch and the colours used is just magical. 

Leyla of Silk and Wool has working on macrame. Lots of lovely projects, and my favourite was this bag. We really don't see enough macrame. 

Sandra at Hakelfieber has made a stunning dreamcatcher from this lovely mandala.

And finally I had to pick this sunny top from Liz at Howling at the Moon. My daughter is also at the age when she loves a crop top, and she would really like this one.

Thank you all for joining in the party. Rain is pouring down outside, and although I love knitting at any time of year, we really are getting to that time of year when you need to hunker down for the evening with a good old project. So don't forget to share what you are working on in October.

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A Cauldron of Bats

I did not know that the name for a group of bats is a cauldron. So here is a cauldron of bats, the grey one above knitted by me and some by other people from ravelry who have used my new pattern. I do love it when folk link their projects back to the pattern, so I am hoping I may see a few more before the end of October and Halloween.

Thank you to everyone who has given me permission to post their photos. 

 

Just a reminder that there is still plenty of time left to join in my Ginx Woolly Linx party for September. 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.

 

Bat

Bats keep appearing in odd corners around my flat. I have had in mind to knit a bat for a while, and although it is still a while until Halloween, this new pattern will give you time to knit a few. 

 

This is a fairly quick knit, and although all my bats are knitted with doubleknit wool, I think you could use this pattern to use up any wool oddments you have left over in other thicknesses, so long as you adjusted the needle size. Children could have a lot of fun if their bat were put on an elastic thread, and I am also thinking of stringing mine together to make a bat bunting.

 

 

This pattern is available on ravelry, Etsy and Love Knitting. I hope you have fun making some spooky bats.

 

Just a reminder that there is still plenty of time left to join in my Ginx Woolly Linx party for September. 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.