Snowman Cocoon and Hat

After sorting my huge stash of yarn a few weeks ago I am now determined to start knitting my way through it!

I have quite a few balls of  Sirdar Snowflake Chunky yarn but was unsure what to turn it into.  After a couple of days deliberating I took my lead from the name of the yarn 'snowflake' and came up with a Christmas themed cocoon and hat set.

The cocoon is made to resemble a snowman by adding buttons to the hat and down the front of the coat and I made two 'snowballs' one to top the hat and one stitched to the bottom of the cocoon.

I think it would look great for a babies first Christmas photo shoot or a great photo prop for the reborn doll artist to display their reborns.

The set can be found in  my ebay shop here: Tipeetoes Ebay Shop

Playing Catch Up

Don't seem to have had much blog time lately I have been so busy catching up with  my knitting.  I've been trying to get ahead with Christmas presents and feel I have made quite a good start!

I also had a few requests to design a simple matinee coat and hat for early born babies so whilst I have been having a bit of a good spell with my shoulder I got to it and came up with this little set.

I've designed it to be a quick knit which uses less than 90g of yarn for the complete set.  Ideally sized to fit early babies 3-5lb in weight but also suitable for 16" reborn dolls.

The set can be knitted in one colour or two and is a great pattern for using up those small balls of yarn left over from larger projects.

You can find the pattern on the website here:   Tipeetoes.co.uk for baby knitting patterns    or you can also download it from Ravelry.

Now cuppa in hand I'm going to catch up with all the blogs that I've missed....ta ta for now x

Latest Knits

Been feeling quite sorry for myself just lately.....my shoulder has been playing up again so not had much knitting time which I find very frustrating to say the least!

I opened a Folksy shop earlier in the year but have been a little neglectful of it lately so I thought I would list a few small items that I have managed to complete over the last couple of weeks.

I so love this damson pink yarn and it works so well with cream.

Crofter socks - this yarn is so lovely to knit with and it is great to see patterns emerge as you knit.

Another yarn which I love to knit with is this Magi-Knit from James C Brett

If you fancy taking a peek around my shop you can find it here: Tipeetoes Folksy Shop

My Latest Knitting Design 'Lara'

I've probably said before that I love to knit with Sirdar Snuggly.  I  fell in love with this gorgeous shade of dusky pink and designed the outfit around the yarn.  

I felt that a complete outfit in just the one shade may look a little heavy for a young baby so I added this delightful mingled yarn from the Sirdar Snuggly Kisses range called Patter Pink.

The outfit consists of a cardigan, nappy cover, beanie style hat and bootees.  The whole outfit takes less than 200grams of double knitting yarn and is knitted on size 3.25mm & 4mm needles.

The jacket has lace panels running up each front and features picot detailing along the hem line and on the cuffs.  The same lace panel is used on the front of the nappy cover.  I always like to add an elasticated waist to baby shorts ensuring a snug fit for little ones.

I originally thought to add a bonnet to the outfit but on reflection I am pleased with my decision to go with a beanie style pull on hat.

The completed outfit is sized to fit a baby 0-3 Months but would also be suitable for a reborn collectable doll 19-21"

If you would like to knit the outfit you can find the pattern on my website here: 

Tipeetoes.co.uk for baby knitting patterns

I have also listed the design on my Ravelry page here: 

Ravelry Patterns

Yorkshire Coast & Moors

Hubby and I have spent a lovely couple of days in Scarborough, Yorkshire.
We visited some great places and had quite a hectic time,  so much so that we could do with a holiday to get over  our trip!
Of course I took some knitting with me to work on during the car journey.  I am currently knitting a pair of socks for my lovely father in law which I will put in his Christmas box.

We stayed at a great little bed and breakfast place which was about 10 minutes walk away from the beach.  On our first evening we took a walk down to the beach and the harbour.  The waves were lashing against the harbour walls and it was so funny watching the children trying to dodge the sea spray. 

We have been to Scarborough before for a day trip and visited Scarborough Castle which you can just see at the top of the hill in the last picture.

Boats moored in the harbour

Sun going down on the light-house

Sock Knitting....

Another of my addictions especially as we are heading into Autumn is sock knitting....mmmmm, I think I must have quite an addictive personality!!

I like to knit socks in the evening whilst watching television.  I like easy to follow patterns that I don't have to to think about too much and which grow quite quickly so that in a couple of evenings I have a wonderful pair of socks to show for my efforts.

Sock yarn is available in wonderful self striping mixes that create the most wonderful socks with each pair being different.  I find that ribbed socks work the best for me as they hold their shape well and don't slip down.  

There are hundreds of great patterns on Ravelry and I decided to make a basic ribbed pair designed by Kate Atherley.  You can find the pattern here: Basic Ribbed Socks  

The yarn I have used for this pair is Regia Design Line.  I have had this yarn in my stash since last winter and thought it was time it saw the light of day.  The colour mix is lovely...mainly blues with a little pink & moss green.  I am so happy with the way they turned out.  I made the socks in the traditional way on double pointed needles but the pattern also gives instructions to make them on circulars if you prefer.  I've not tried socks on circulars as yet.....I think I love working on my double points too much.

 

I really enjoyed knitting these socks, the pattern was so easy to follow and I would highly recommend the design to anyone just starting out knitting socks or like me someone who wants an easy knit which you don't have to concentrate too hard on but which gives great results.

I can see this pattern becoming a firm favourite of mine and I have already casted on a new pair that I am going to make for my lovely father in law.

Crafty Catch Up

It's been a beautiful, warm sunny day and the gorgeous weather spurred me into action and I finally got around to taking some pics of the baby items I've been working on....

A knitted cocoon and hat set...great for babies first photo's

 

Knitted Car Seat Blankets with matching hats....so cute!

Two Granny Square Blankets....I'm still addicted to making these, I love turning those little squares into warm and cosy blankets

Toddlers Cardigan...I think this would look so cute over a pair of jeans or denim skirt and tights.

and finally newborn diaper covers.. I used Squiggle Chunky for these and love the great colour choices available.

I've listed all  the above items in my ebay shop : Precious Newborn Knits

My new knitting design 'Lara' has gone to be test knitted today so fingers crossed I should have the pattern available in the next week or so.

Sorting My Stash....

I admit...I'm addicted to buying yarn especially when I feel like I have found a bargain.
The only downside to my addiction is where to store all that delicious yarn...well I have a craft room with  shelving heaving with boxes and bags full of my 'bargain buys'.

I've spent the last few days trying to sort out my stash and re-assemble my yarn boxes into some kind of order so that I am able to find that 'particular' yarn much more easily.  In the past it has been a case of rummaging through numerous boxes and bags trying to track it down so I now hope that as I have everything sorted & arranged by colour and ply that I will be able to find that elusive ball much more easily.

I've also been working on a new baby knitting design which is coming along nicely and I am hoping to be able to send the pattern out to one of my lovely test knitting ladies sometime next week.

I'm knitting the design in one of my favourite yarns for babies...Sirdar Snuggly..it is always a delight to knit with so soft and as the name suggests very snuggly.  It also comes in a great range of colours too!

Spice Cake

I've not been able to do any knitting for the last couple of days due to a recurring shoulder and wrist problem I have but what to do to stop the boredom setting in......bake cakes of course!!

I love to try new recipes and found this very simple one to make a low fat spice cake on the allrecipes.co.uk site.  I find this site so useful and have had successful results from the recipes on the site.

The cake is very, very simple to make with minimal ingredients:
flour, syrup, brown sugar, cinnamon and mixed spice with no eggs or butter being used.

The cake took literally minutes to mix and have oven ready....

and this was the finished result

the cake is absoloutely delicious and one I am sure I will be making again in the future

You can find the recipe here: Low-Fat Spice Cake

Rain, Rain, Go Away....

The weather has been terrible here today...I was awaken about 6.30am with the rain beating against the bedroom window. I had a peep outside and the rain was literally bouncing off the floor it was so heavy.  
It has been quite warm and humid here for the past couple of days so I thought that maybe the rain would help to clear the air but to no avail as it is still so stuffy.  
Needless to say we have had a few more downpours throughout the day.....I felt so sorry for a young man stood waiting for a bus this afternoon, he was wearing a short-sleeved t-shirt with jeans and the heavens decided to open, the poor lad was literally dripping wet.  The rain came so fast and furious that the road outside our house looked like a stream.  Thankfully we live on a slight hill so no fear of flooding.


Nasty weather aside I have been catching up with some knitting.  Here are the little bonnet sets that I made with the snowball wool.  The yarn is quite fiddly to knit with and once I have used up the balls that I have in my stash I won't be buying any more.  I think I prefer the all cream set to the white and pink.


I made these sets to fit 3-6 Months and added a simple pair of stocking stitch mittens with drawstring ties.  I think they will be great for the winter.


I've listed them for sale on my website: 

Tipeetoes.co.uk for baby knitting patterns

Latest Knitting Pattern ' 'Jacob'

Over the last couple of weeks I've been busy working on a new knitting design.  I wanted to do something a little 'traditional' but also wanted the design suitable for the 'modern' mum too.

I am really happy with the finished pattern which I have named Jacob. I love to see new baby's dressed in white and the addition of pale blue just adds that little 'something'.  I think the design would work equally as well for a baby girl using pale pink to trim rather than the blue.

Very simple to knit using a mock bobble stitch with a rib design the pattern knits up surprisingly quickly using double knitting wool (light worsted).  Size 3.25mm needles are used on the ribbed edgings changing to size 4mm for the main pattern.

Trousers are not my most favourite item to knit but the simple rib design that I chose for this pair knitted up quickly.  They are pull on style with an elasticated waist.

The traditonally styled helmet is tie fastening under the chin and features an oversized pom pom which adds to the cuteness factor.

The completed set is sized for a newborn to 3 month baby.  I have modelled the outfit on a reborn doll who is 21in long.

If you would like to knit the outfit you can find the pattern on my website where it can be sent via email in pdf  format or if you prefer I can print and post the pattern to you. 

Please click on the link to go to the website:

Tipeetoes.co.uk for baby knitting patterns

Busy Day

Isn't it funny how energised the sun makes you feel....the sun has been shining here for most of the day and I've felt full of beans and just in the right frame of mind to crack on with the housework. My day has been filled with polishing, hoovering, washing and ironing and I even found the energy to clean all the windows...not a chore I particularly enjoy!

Needless to say not much crafting time has been found today but I intend to sit down with my knitting this evening and crack on with the baby bonnets that I started yesterday.

Lazy Sunday

Today has been a sort of lazy, laid back kind of day.
The sun has been shining for most of the day and it has been lovely just pottering about in the garden and doing a little bit of trimming here and there.
I also managed to finish a baby cocoon and hat which I started a couple of evenings ago.  I've a few items that need photos taking of so I can add them to my ravelry page so if I find time tomorrow I will try to get  them all sorted and have a little photo shoot.

This evening I am going to settle down with my knitting.  I've some Sirdar Baby Snowball yarn which I bought last winter which has been sat in my stash so I am going to make some baby bonnets and use the snowball yarn as a trim.  The yarn resembles little pom poms and is quite fun to knit with although it does take a little getting used to.
I made a couple of scarves for Christmas presents last year but never got around to knitting up the baby colours.  I think it will look lovely on little bonnets!

So Sad...RIP Amy Winehouse 1983-2011

After a great day watching the Mighty Whites v Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough we arrived home to hear the sad news that Amy Winehouse had died aged 27 years.  A sad end to such a talented singer/songwriter who struggled with substance abuse problems for many years.

Read the full story here: Daily Mail

My Other Great Love....

is football and more importantly Leeds United.

Weekends are just not the same without the match to go to, it always feels like something is missing.  Thankfully we have some pre-season games before the season starts so Tuesday night my hubby rushed home from work so we could drive up to Rochdale  to see the Mighty Whites take on Rochdale in a pre-season friendly.

As Leeds fans we are quite anxious at the moment with the lack of player signings and only a couple of weeks left to the start of the new season.  After watching the game on Tuesday my fears have not been allayed...if we are to compete this year we really do need to strengthen the team.

A few pictures of the lads warming up before the game which Leeds won 1-0.

Our next game is on Saturday....we are off to Hillsborough to take on Sheffield Wednesday.  I think this will be a tougher test for us and I'm really curious to see how we will fare against tougher opposition!

Sunshine After the Rain

After a dreadful few days of torrential rain we had some lovely sunshine today....so I thought I would pop out into the garden and take a few pics.

My pot of Fuschia's

Cherry Red Geraniums

Petunias

Courgette plant with four courgettes forming

Bell Pepper just starting to grow

Lavender & Mint

Lots of flowers on my Tom Thumb tomato plants