Friday Favourites

Another Friday is upon us and with it comes another of my Friday Favourites!

This week I have finished my first project for the year, Whisper in Cotton Fine

I am utterly in love with how this turned out; it weighs an entire 140g's and will make an ideal transition cardi for cooler evenings in autumn.

I enjoyed everything about this project, the yarn, the pattern and of course the finished garment. (I don't often knit the same pattern twice so when I do you know that it is something special!)

So of course, I had to share my favourite thing this week with you all...

Stitches on needles and yarn on hooks
Bright woollen colours and new pattern books
Tangled Yarns bundles tied up with strings
These are a few of my favourite things!

All Brown Sheep Yarns 10% Off

From now until 9am Monday 18th January!

Friday Favourites

We have so many wonderful yarns and other goodies in the shop that I can't help but be inspired on a daily basis! Sometimes it's a project that I come across, other times I just can't get a particular yarn out of my head.

I would love to include you in my excitement by introducing something special for all of our valued customers... my Friday Favourites.

Each Friday, I will share with you something at the shop that I am loving - it might be an exciting pattern, a squishy yarn, some stunning buttons or fabulous needles... who knows!

I will reveal my Friday Favourite of the week through our newsletter and pass on a little of the inspiration by offering these items at a special price for the duration of the weekend, both instore and online. *Conditions Apply

To kick off Friday Favourites this week we have the beautiful Berroco yarns.

Like me, many of you may be finding the warm weather a little too uncomfortable to knit with woollen fibres. That is why I am gravitating to the naturally cool Berroco blends, I currently have two projects on the go using different Berroco yarns and have several more on my to knit list.

If you have ever thought about trying one of our Berroco yarns now is the perfect time.

I have included below some pattern suggestions that may inspire.

Julie Cuff in Berroco Seduce

Clapotis in Berroco Seduce or Berroco Mica

Queen Anne's Lace Scarf in Berroco Seduce or Berroco Latitude

Bell in Berroco Naturlin

Wavy Razor Shell Scarf in Naturlin

Fantasy Naturale Market Bag in Naturlin

Summer Sling Tote in Linen Jeans

Reusable Crocheted Grocery Bag in Linen Jeans

Grocery Bag Purse in Linen Jeans

Coral in Berroco Seduce or Berroco Latitude

Bath Puff in Naturlin or Linen Jeans

Leaf Kimono Top in Naturlin (from Interweave Knits Summer 2008)

Don't forget we have plenty of patterns for the Berroco yarns in the Berroco Pattern Books and lots of amazing kits made up and ready to go!

My picks of the Berroco Kits would be the crochet Randolph placemats, the Thoreau striped throw and the delightful Lowal owl!

I hope that you will enjoy our Friday Favourites as much as I do...

Stitches on needles and yarn on hooks
Bright woollen colours and new pattern books
Tangled Yarns bundles tied up with strings
These are a few of my favourite things!

*Friday Favourite Conditions - Applies to in stock items only. No custom orders or layby. 15% Off does not apply to kits as they are already reduced. Special prices apply from launch of newsletter until midnight Sunday 10/01/10.

Confessions....and Finishing Month

I usually try really hard to keep on top of my projects, keep them to a minimum while at the same time having a nice variety to keep things interesting.

And let’s not forget that there are projects that are suitable for different situations!

Blankets are too large to lug around so you need a portable project. Lace patterns require concentration so are no good for social situations (unless you like the one step forward, two steps backwards method of knitting and frogging! ) So I tend to have a mixture of projects on the go but in the past few months several of my projects have been tossed aside for new, exciting, must knit it now projects...

With the end of the year came some unfinished projects guilt so January has become my 'Finishing Month'. I am going to try my best to not cast on anything new and I have picked up my untouched projects. Now to assess what I will finish and what I will frog...

On the go I have -

Summer Sling Tote

I have completed one side and started the second side, and then all that will be left is the strap and a little sewing to line the bag with the perfect fabric.

This one will stay and I hope to at least finish the crocheting by the end of the month. Sewing time is hard to juggle with two little ones that are oh so curious!

Whisper Cardigan

I actually started this back in November sometime with plans to gift it to my mum for Christmas. December was a crazy busy month with many Christmas decorations begging to be made. I am lucky that she is an amazingly patient person and also happens to have a birthday towards the end of January. Goal is to have this completed and ready to gift by 19th January.

Buttercup

I picked this up again over the weekend and have made some good progress already. I am down to 4 more increases and the lace before casting off! I’m sure I can squeeze that into the next 25 days...

Baby Log Cabin

Now this is a tricky one, would have to be my longest outstanding WIP... I started this back when I was expecting Miss A. I have already ripped it out once as I wasn’t happy with the way I was picking up the stitches and joining in the new colours.

Second time around I am much happier but I must admit that I have lost the love. The Rowan yarn is lovely and soft and this would make a perfect newborn baby blanket.

So my decision is...do I rip it and destash the yarn or hibernate it and wait until a friend is expecting?



Now these three are my large / long term projects for 2010. Obviously I won't get these finished in January but I would like to use them this winter!



Noro Lace Hexagon Blanket

I am so in love with this blanket, after seeing some lace hexagon motifs in a Japanese craft book I became obsessed with the idea of creating a throw for our lounge at home using this one colour of Noro Silk Garden Lite. So far I have finished 15 hexagons, the plan is to make it 10 x 15...so I only have, ummm 135 to go!

Babette Blanket

I started Babette as a blanket for my two girls in the middle of November. I stalled for a while there as I wasn’t happy with the turning chains and when I was changing colour. For me it was too obvious, I often know that I am not happy with something when I pass over it in favour of working on other projects.

So on New Year’s Eve I actually ripped out the 9 blocks that I had finished and started again. I had been doing a lot of research on different methods of ‘turning chains’ and joining colours and I think I have found an almost perfect method! I am now back to where I was at the end of last year and have the 9 new blocks drying on the blocking board waiting seaming.

I hope to have a little production line happening where I complete a section, block a section, seam a section before I start another.

Hexagon Blanket

I had originally planned Babette to be a blanket for both of my little girls but they have since decided that they need one each so what a perfect excuse to start another!

I had been admiring the Hexagon Blanket from Attic24 for some time now and knew that it would be perfect for Miss J. I am using the same colours of Cotton Fleece as Babette.

Ok...25 days left of January and LOTS to do.

So, anyone else game to join me??

I have also started my planning and list of projects and yarns for my Autumn knitting and crocheting, I will share that next post.