From worst to best!

What a turnaround... from my worst FO (poor David Bowie) to my best (I think!)

I present Trees Breeze:



Pattern: Trees Breeze from Cover Up with Nicky Epstein
Yarn: Zettl Sportimo 4 ply acrylic
Needles: 5mm


I am so proud of this afghan. I think it turned out brilliantly. I didn't have enough yarn so I omitted one round of repeats of the tulips each time on it, but I don't think it takes anything away from it. This is a christening gift for my sister in laws baby girl. I really hope she likes it! I think it would make a perfect christening blanket. I am amazed I created something so lovely.

I particularly love the tulip leaf border, it's so pretty! Although it took almost as long as the afghan to make! I did try and crochet the border to the blanket, but failed miserably. I just find it hard to get the hang of it. I must get one of the ladies at my SnB to show me and then go straight home and practice! I ended up sewing them together, but I think I did a good job, there's no gaps and no lumpy seam! yay me!



In other news, the Tangled Yoke is coming along.

I'm almost (9 rounds away) finished the second sleeve and then I've decided to knit a few more rows onto the body of the cardi as I think it's a bit short for me.


I've also cast on a new project:



Swallowtail Shawl from IK Fall 06 by Evelyn Clark. I have seen so many beautiful examples of this on Ravelry that I had to try it. I'm going to try using beads instead of the nupps for a bit of sparkle as I'm going to a world premiere of a new musical here in Dublin in May and thought it would be nice to have something glamorous to wear.



Other good news, we're not moving! yay! I managed to persuade hubby to stay for another while and pay off our mortgage here first. It was greatly helped by me managing to get car parking near the new building. Thank God, that was the biggest worry. So, all's well that ends well.



Happy Easter everybody! I leave you with a picture of my gorgeous daughter who is 7 tomorrow (how time flies) modelling the Easter Bonnet she made for the Easter Parade at school.
Happy Birthday, light of my life. xx

My worst FO yet...

I finished my David Bowie doll today after hours of really bad sewing and he looks a bit like this:

Hahahaha The poor thing should be put out of his misery!

He looks nothing like David as I substituted virtually everything to use what I had in my stash. And I discovered that my sewing sucks the big one. It's just appalling! Definitely to be viewed from a distance - a long distance.

Still, it was intended as a laugh, and he certainly provided that. He is currently standing on top of the cooker hood looking like he is seriously considering jumping off!

Here's my progress this week on my Trees Breeze blanket. I don't think I'm going to have enough yarn, so I've decided to omit one repeat of the tulips on each section. I'm not liking the way they look anyway, so it's no biggie. I should definitely have this done in time, it's powering along!

My Tangled Yoke has suffered a bit of neglect in the name of the blanket. I brought my sleeve along to SnB last week and one of the ladies had a great idea, crochet a row along where the joins are and that should solve the ugly ladders! Brilliant, I said. How do you crochet? So, one of the other ladies lent me a crochet hook and showed me what to do. That was last Tuesday, and I only got around to trying it today, so needless to say I've completely forgotten. I have tried a crochet of sorts and it seems ok. I reckon after blocking it will be fine. Aren't fellow knitters and crocheters great people?

Busy Bee

Lots to report this week, it seems!

My hubby very kindly picked me up this last week:

A photo box for taking my knitting pictures! It's a great gadget, you shine a light through the sides and you get lovely crisp pictures. I'm really pleased with it! And it was only €15! Bargain!

At my SnB last week, Lumia brought a bag I had ordered from her recently:

Isn't it cute? I got the name of our knitting group (Knit n Natter) printed on it. She makes all sorts of t-shirts, bags etc. Check out her shop: US Store EU Store

Now, down to my knitting progress.

An FO!

John's Rambo Socks

Pattern: Slipped Stitch Rib Socks from Sensational Knitted Socks

Yarn: Crystal Palace Yarn Panda Cotton, about 2 and a half skeins.

Needles: 2.75mm dpns

I loved this pattern, it was a really easy knit for the car. And, hubby loves them! He's wearing them today after I gave them to him last night for his birthday present. He had a great birthday, we went to the local Indian restaurant, Shimla, for a yummy dinner with his sister, who also celebrated her birthday yesterday. They're not twins, there's 8 years between them, but it's really weird having two leap year babies in the family! Apparently the world "record" is 3, so they're very rare!

Next, the progress on my Tangled Yoke:

I've finished the first sleeve and am on to the second. I'm not very happy with them however.

Have a look below, I've got awful ladders all the way up them

Can you see it? I have pulled and pulled the yarn really tight when changing needles, but to no avail. All I can think of is that the larger dpns (3.75mm) are what is causing it. Fingers crossed they will disappear when I wash it. Otherwise, I'll be very unhappy!

Next, a new project!

I bought Cover Up with Nicky Epstein a few weeks ago as I totally fell in love with the stunning afghans in it. The photography is just wonderful.

So, I have cast on for this:

Trees Breeze. Also known as the Tree of Life Afghan. This pattern is also for sale on the Lion Brand website.

The yarn called for is Lion Brand Wool Ease in Fisherman, but I can't readily get that over here, although I did buy one skein of it when I was in Florida last October. So, I am substituting plain old white baby yarn. I'm making this as a christening present for my niece. Her christening is on April 5 and my husband is godfather, so I thought this would be a nice gift. I hope it turns out ok, the main part of the pattern is fine, it's the edging I'm worried about. It's knit separately and then sewn on. Yuk, I hate sewing. I'm thinking of maybe picking up and knitting it on instead. We'll see when (if) I get that far!

Until next time, I must get practising with my photo box to improve my pictures!