Rainy Days

After a couple of nice days we are back to heavy downpours this morning. The rain has got me thinking about the change of season and transitional Autumn knits.

I knitted these hoodies last year and they proved popular with mums.  Ideal for slipping on for short journeys in the car perhaps to visit Grandma or for popping on in the supermarket....some of those aisles are chilly!

The speckled hoodie is knitted in Sirdar Aran Rainbow Drops and comes in 12 shades so plenty to choose from.  I chose the shade Smarty for my granddaughter's hoodie.

The red hoodie is knitted in James C Brett Aztec Aran in a rich, true red.

The pattern gives instructions in sizes 0-6 Months and 6-12 Months and can be found on my website here ARAN HOODIE baby knitting pattern

Snuggly Baby Cardigan

I knitted these sets set from my snuggly baby cardigan pattern

The stitch pattern creates a cosy, stretchy fabric and is suitable for both baby girls and baby boys.

Instructions are given to knit the outfit in sizes 0-3 and 3-6 months and is a relatively quick knit.  An ideal pattern for those fairly new to knitting as the simple drop sleeve design keeps shaping to the bare minimum.

A beanie style hat and a matching pair of mittens complete the outfit.

There are so many gorgeous baby yarns around at the moment and once I have completed my latest design project I have a couple in mind to cast on.

Pattern available here: Snugly Baby Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Favourite Yarns

One of  the first yarns I go to when knitting for babies is the Comfort Cherish Range from King Cole Yarns

The yarn is so smooth to knit with and glides off the needles.

I have knitted so many little cardigans and outfits with this yarn and the finished knitwear always has good stitch definition and is so soft against babies delicate skin.

The yarn is machine washable (most important when knitting for little ones) and washes and wears well.

I knitted this romper set from my Charlie baby knitting pattern

1st October 2016 - Lazy Saturday

Enjoying a day at home...the needles are busy working on a shawl design called `A New Season` by Maanel. I'm knitting this in Rowan Felted Tweed.  The pattern is a 20 row lace and cable stitch repeat and I'm really enjoying working on it.

I originally purchased the yarn to knit a sweater for myself but I wasn't enjoying the pattern so I decided to frog it and cast on something else.

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. 

Order Finished

I was asked to knit a little outfit for a baby boy's christening day to go over his suit.....and here it is all finished.

His mum couldn't decide on which style of hat she preferred so I made a helmet style and also a baker boy style.

I have sent the pictures to 'mum' for approval and she is very pleased...just hope the set will fit him on his special day

Sunday - Stash Down

I am putting myself on a 'yarn diet'

I have so much yarn just sitting in boxes and bags and still I buy more...but no more!

I am intent on using the yarn I already have and seeing what I can create with what I have sitting here. 

I started on a baby ripple blanket using yarn from my stash in shades of pale blue, white and navy blue.  I am going to do a random stripe effect and see what I end up with.

 Looking at how the blanket is going I may also have enough yarn to make a baby hat and booties.

These are the sweaters I made just before Christmas.

This is my daughter's sweater, it was knitted from a Stylecraft pattern using a super chunky yarn.  

It grew quickly due to the size 12mm needles but they were a little awkward to knit with being so chunky.  

She was really pleased with the finished result and I would knit this pattern again.

This is the sweater I made for myself. 

 Knitted from a Wendy pattern I used James C Brett Rustic Aran.  It is a lovely yarn to knit with and has made a really lovely, warm and snuggly sweater.

Back To Normal.....

I had a really lovely break over Easter.  We spent a busy few days visiting family and attending football matches but this morning it was back to work for hubby and back to running my little online business for me.

I spent the morning printing patterns and packaging up little booties that had been ordered over Easter and then it was on to housework.  We have barely been at home the past few days so caught up with the washing, hoovering and dusting etc

I found time this afternoon to make a lasagne and a yummy lemon drizzle cake so that's tea sorted for when hubby comes in from work.

I'm looking forward to sitting down this evening and doing some knitting/crochet....I have a fine 3ply shawl that needs finishing and I also want to make a knitted hat and pair of mittens to put with a pram blanket I finished last week.

A Busy Few Days.....

I've been taking advantage of this lovely summery weather we have all been enjoying for the past few days....it certainly puts a spring in your step!

I've had a good sort out in my back garden...tidying up my pots and topping them up with fresh compost.  My little veg patch has been turned over and fresh compost added all ready for this season's veg.  I've planted potatoes in 3 large pots and have sown lettuce, beetroot, spring onion and radish seeds.

On Sunday we had a trip to the Garden Centre and I bought some pretty tulips and cheerful pansies to spruce up my flower pots....I could spend a fortune in there!

It has felt so good to be out in the fresh air and heaven being able to give the washing a blow on the line...so much nicer than drying it inside!

I've also found a little time to just sit with my knitting and a cup of coffee and enjoy the sun.

Tommy..

Tommy is my latest knitting design.....I wanted to create a traditionally styled baby boy's set with a modern feel about it too

The design consists of a collared jacket which has a simple to knit 4 row eyelet pattern on the yolk and the collar.

The sleeves and body of the coat are worked in simple garter and stocking stitch

I tried 3 styles of hat to the outfit before I finally settled on the 'peaked cap' style to give me the look that I was trying to achieve. The eyelet pattern is worked as a band around the cap.

A cute pair of T-Bar style ankle strap shoes complete the set.

Once knitted up the outfit would make a perfect 'new baby' gift

Quick to knit using double knitting (light worsted weight) yarn and looks as good worked in one colour as it does in two.

If you would like to knit the set the pattern can be purchased from my website Tipeetoes.co.uk for baby knitting patterns 

 Ravelry where you can purchase an immediate download and also in my  Etsy Store or my  Ebay shop Precious Newborn Knits

Recent Knits.

The weather is very, very chilly and with snow forecast for over the weekend I can see lots of knitting getting done!

I'm in the middle of designing a new pattern for a baby boy.  I've done the first outfit and typed out the pattern so now I am in the middle of checking through the pattern and re-knitting the design to check for errors.  I am hoping to have it ready for release sometime next week (all being well)

It's been bright and sunny here today and if it wasn't so cold you could be mistaken for thinking that it was a summer's day!

I got the camera out and snapped these two little outfits that I recently made

Still Chilly!

Another bitterly cold day today so I am thankful that I am tucked away in our warm and cosy home.

I've spent the morning taking photographs and listing in my ebay shop.  I can't say that I am thrilled with how the pictures have turned out but it is hard to get a good, sharp picture when the day is so dull and dreary.

I am awaiting delivery of some fluffy yarn to start on my next knitting order but I feel at a bit of a loss whilst I'm waiting so I am going to start a small project.  This afternoon will be spent looking through patterns and hunting through my stash of yarn....heaven!

These are the items I've listed in my shop this morning, if you have a moment or two to spare please stop by and take a peek.   Ebay Shop

Still Here, Still Knitting

I'm afraid I have been guilty of neglecting my blog.....life kinda caught up with me!

I hope you all had a lovely Christmas and a great start to the New Year.  I caught the dreaded Infulenza virus a couple of weeks before the big event but thankfully come Christmas Day I was feeling much more 'human' and an enjoyable day was spent with family.

I've just started working on a new crochet granny square throw for the sofa in shades of burnt orange, cream, coffee and chocolate brown, it may take me some time as I am going to make it in my spare time and my aim is to do a couple of squares a day.  

The knitting needles have also been busy with knitting orders  and I've been beavering away  to ensure the outfits are ready for the babies once they are born. (pics to follow soon)
 It's been  very chilly here today with a real nip in the air.  I cooked a traditional Sunday lunch with Roast Beef, Roast Potatoes, vegetables and Yorkshire Puddings with lashings of gravy...it went down a treat!  Homemade apple pie with custard to follow and I was so full I didn't feel like moving off the sofa for the rest of the afternoon...but after a little crochet time hubby and I wrapped up well and went for a walk to blow the cobwebs & the calories away :-)

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

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!

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

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!