My Next Blanket

I felt the urge to start on a new blanket....I've chosen to make the Rose Trellis Afghan.  It is a free pattern and can be found here.

Pattern

The shades I'm using are a very pale peach (although it looks pink in the pics) a fresh minty green finishing with a surrounding of  bright white.

I am going to veer from the pattern slightly and use a join as you go method rather than work the openwork trellis between the squares.  The pattern calls for 30 squares - 5 squares wide by 6 squares long.   I almost have enough done for the first strip

I am aiming to finish at least two squares a day :-) 

The Knots Prayer

So apt for me today!

Molly....

This is my latest knitting pattern and the first of the New Year.  I've had it half finished for quite some time but other projects took precedence and this outfit took a bit of a back seat.

The pattern consists of an all in one romper with matching bonnet and booties.  I came across this pretty openwork rib stitch and thought it would be perfect for an outfit such as this as it is quite stretchy.

I've designed the pattern to fit two sizes 

Newborn & Early Baby/Preemie size.

The larger size requires double knitting yarn whilst the early baby size calls for finer 4ply yarn.

It is an enjoyable knit and quite a quick knit too.  

The pattern can be found on my website: 

Tipeetoes.co.uk for baby knitting patterns 

Happy Valentines Day...

Visiting Mum....

Been to visit my mum this afternoon...I normally go on Thursday's but we have been invited out to a family meal tomorrow evening so decided to go today.

Mum is still bed bound and feeling pretty fed up staring at the same four walls.  I really hope that they will remove the plaster from her ankle and give her a 'shoe' so that she can at least move around her little flat.

I did a little baking yesterday....two banana spice cakes (one for us and one for mum) 
I also made some chocolate walnut brownies for my hubby.

A Few Makes....

Such a lovely, bright day yesterday so I got the camera out  to take pics of a few items in my'ready to list' basket.

Ripple Blanket, Hat and Bootie set.  I used navy blue, white and sky blue and worked in random stripes to create this ripple blanket so it will be a 'on off'.  There was enough yarn left over to make a matching pull on hat and booties

Hat & Mittens Set ...this set is knitted in Adriafil Knitcol....which is a wonderful self striping 100% Merino yarn which is just perfect for little hats.  This set is knitted in the round so no irritating seams 

A baby girl's ripple blanket in shades of pink, lilac and white.  Again I used random stripes of colour to create a 'one off' blanket

These adorable bonnets are knitted in Sublime Cashmerino 4 ply yarn and I am so happy with the finished hats.  The yarn is a joy to knit with and I love the stitch definition that the yarn gives.  I added satin roses to each side of the bonnets.

Finally a new baby can never have enough little cardigans.  They are great for slipping on over little dresses and suits.  When my daughter was a baby I use to put her to bed wearing a babygrow with a knitted cardigan over the top.

You can find the items listed in my folksy shop here: Folksy

Thought Provoking...

Just been watching How To Build a Bionic Man on Channel 4 

Amazing and slightly scary how far technology has come, and just think how much further it could go!?

The programme is available on 4OD  here:

Marmalade

I've been wanting to make some marmalade for quite a while but have not found the time to make it.  So this morning I decided today was the day!

Have you seen these easy to make cans from Lakeland ?

The oranges are prepared for you and all you need to do is add sugar and water....simple

First off I warmed my clean jam jars in the oven

I emptied the tin of oranges into my jam pan and added 4lbs of sugar and 3/4 pint of water.

Stirred the mixture until the sugar melted

Brought it to a rolling boil and boiled for about 18 minutes, and this is what I ended up with....jars of delicious marmalade.

I'm going to take my mum a jar when I visit tomorrow....hope she enjoys it spread on her toast.

The Snow's Back

We awoke this morning to a light dusting of the white stuff and it has snowed on and off throughout the day.  This is where I sit with my knitting in the summer months.  The chair is just outside my kitchen door and on warm, summer days I put on the radio and take my work outside....not much chance of doing that today!

I have been busy with small orders and in the last two days I have made four pairs of baby boots, 3 pairs of loafers, 2 pairs of Mary Jane shoes, 3 Diaper sets and 2 curly tail hats.  I love being kept busy and I'm so happy that my baby knits are popular right now.  

I also have a new knitting pattern in the pipe-line.....the first outfit is complete and ready for photographing.  The pattern just needs test knitting and proofing now and it will  be ready to go. 

Friday...

This week has just flown by, I can't believe we are at the weeks end already!

My mum is not in the best of health and is more or less housebound now.  She has always enjoyed reading but these past few months she doesn't seem to be able to concentrate on the words as her attention span seems to come and go.  

I am going to look into talking books for her.  I don't really know much about them or what equipment she will need so today I am going to research and see what is available.

It's mum's birthday this month so I think if I could get her a couple of talking books and a player this would make a very welcomed gift for her.

This afternoon I have my lovely mobile hairdresser coming round to sort out my locks.  My hair hasn't been cut since before Christmas and is in need of a trim.  I'm sure this will give me a bit of a boost as I've been feeling quite sad over mum's declining health this week.