Fairysteps Knitwear...

Of being a Busy bee...

2011-11-09T20:51:00.001Z

What a huge amount of work Littlest and I have done for this Charity fair!

Table has been covered in treasures...

So chuffed with my newly designed ESME beret...

And lots of new scarfy, necky, cowls...

Raided the button collection...

I must end with a little detail of ESME... Little pixie points on the tops...

I still have 2 more scarves to finish and then Im going full belt on corsage production in every spare minute I can steal from the day...

Ren x

A little bit of handwash...

2011-10-16T18:08:00.000+01:00

Its a poor excuse for a post but its all I have the energy for Im afraid!

I finally washed the finished latest blanket. Please pardon my poor, very old kitchen sink... I promise its very clean, but it is also very worn (rather like me at present). Mind you it was in a field being used as a drinking trough for many years so we can pardon it, can't we?

Its perfect for handwashing in though! Lots of room.

The blanket is drying on the Rayburn as we speak, and will be revealed this week!

A new weeks dawns tomorrow and I have ooodles to do...

Ren x

The latest blanket begins, and one ends!

2011-09-05T18:03:00.000+01:00

I carried on with my new blanket and am happy to say that it is growing nicely!

Awful picture but you get the idea! Its mainly Shetland wool so its oiled from a cone and will only fluff up once its been washed (fulled).

And the completed Dolly Mixture blanket....

With a little detail to finish!

Right Im off now to play Rummy with littlest, then finish the last episode of Jane Eyre (with crochet hook...) then cook tea...

Ren x

Cough rehabilitation corner...

2011-08-10T20:32:00.000+01:00

I didnt get a wink of sleep last night so I had a day off work for some wallowing 'Cripes I feel grotty' time... This is where it took place...

I had all the essentials that a poorly wool obsessed woman would need...

I am so close to finishing the Dolly Mixture blanket and itching to start the next project. Although I do think that finishing some already started ones may be a better idea.

Projects currently on the go are as follows in order of importance (this is the bit where I frighten / depress myself at how much Ive started at once)...

Long cabled cardigan in pure wool swaledale for Littlest - Back completed.

Brown Sparrow cardigan in Ethical twist, Camel and Lincoln green for me - Back completed.

LOVE blanket in double knit random - 1/6 th completed.

2 new scarves for the shop - completed but without buttons.

Jacobs wool chunky jacket for winter for me - Back completed.

There seems to be a trend here of finishing the back and then... well, then just finishing... maybe I could stitch all the backs together...

Tippet in arctic white called Snow Queen for the shop - half made.

O dear me! Better stop blogging and get knitting I think!

How many projects have you started???? Go on, make me feel better!

Ren x

Dotty blanket update...

2011-08-10T00:57:00.000+01:00

Remember when I started my DOT blanket all that time ago? Back here...

Well, I never did post a finished picture did I. I reckon its about time I did so.

She was based on my Summer Garden hexagon pattern, I did a very detailed tutorial here for this. BUT I added one extra row on the hexagons to make them larger.

And the new DOLLY blanket (had to, because it reminded me of a bag of Dolly Mixtures...) sits very nicely alongside.

Its one oclock in the morning and Im keeping other half awake coughing so... Im off to carry on crocheting into the small hours!

Ren x

Cushion to blanket...

2011-08-08T11:06:00.000+01:00

Well...

Im afraid to say that I unpicked the cushions and decided on reflection that a blanket would be more useful. Also I do feel that the puff stitch will not wear well and will be inclined to catch and pull. Cushions are very 'throw about' and 'squish and squash' sort of objects so they will get a battering.

But all is not lost!

I joined them with the lovely bright pink with a crocheted join up down the centre of the two panels and 5 rows in all of trebles. I am now mimicking this 5 rows of pink around the outer edge. Next will be a complete round of apple green cluster stitch, then onto ivory trebles to reach the size I want the finished blanket to be. Final row has to be picot edge stitch OR scallops.

Should'nt be long now!

Other NEWS...

On a recommendation from a friend I have set a free website for my knitting bits, via www.weebly.com

Its brilliant... and free!

Ive set up an Etsy shop too...

www.etsy.com/shop/pollyputtheknitting

This is empty at present...

I think Im going to carry on with my knitting blog seperatley for a while too. I know, we have been here before... but I do like to see all this woolly goodness in one place!

Thats all for now!

Ren x

Crochet cushions update...

2011-07-18T09:27:00.000+01:00

Well now... I am very happy to announce progress on the large cushion twins front...

Yesterday saw me sat here on my front porch with a lap full of crochet watching the rain...

Its bizarre but I always seem to end up wearing colours that Im working with, be it leather or yarn! Mind you the yarn I made the cardigan with that Im wearing in this picture is being used in the crochet...

Glamorous cardboard box that work is being carted about in...

And look! Both panels nearly completed!

In fact, Im happy to say that both panels are completed as of last night with ends all darned in behind. They are ready to mount on the cream cushion covers that i need to make next!

Watch this space!

Ren x

Heat and hooks...

2011-07-05T09:26:00.000+01:00

While Middlest child went jumping and galloping I sat in the ~~cooker~~ I mean car, and carried on with the caravan cushion panel. This was my view for most of the day...

Littlest was rather sad because Hazel one of our other ponies couldnt go due to a poorly foot. She has a nasty abscess which after a good clean out, salt water and iodine, is much better now... next year...

And here you can see the finished sides of panel one which is now complete. 4 squares of panel 2 for the second cushion are complete and as soon as I press 'publish post' Im heading for my sitting room with my crochet hook and my 'Cold Comfort Farm' dvd.

Ive had a long day with work and Littlest being sick all day... Im about ready to flollop!

Ren x

Hookering in the garden...

2011-06-27T09:24:00.000+01:00

Hot doesnt come near what the weather was yesterday! My legs would look highly attractive to a lobster today and we are back to rain... BUT this was where I sat me down yesterday afternoon with a tray (OK several trays of tea...) and a box of wool, and a plan...

Mr F carried on building his granite wall in front of me...

I fell in love with the crochet blanket in the new Molly Makes magazine...

I searched out Aran weight yarn and some extra DK which could be doubled up...

Heres the shot in the magazine in full sun...

Its growing...

Goodness look at that, even more done...

I am making a pillow case size so that this cushion will fit over a standard bed pillow. Perfect for the caravan... I shall have to make a pair though!

Several tons of soil have been added behind the wall in this picture. Serious graft, but it doesnt look any different than the last picture does it! It would if you stood up and looked over the top...

Wool being muddled up left right and centre...

Have to do some yummy close ups...

All eight completed and stitched together...

Almost edible...

Humpy, bumpy crochet gorgousness...

I did a puff stitch down each long side, ready to make the panel pillowcase size...

Just space them carefully along the side edge...

Next a row of the cluster stitch, but intead of the 4 looped repeat I worked only 3 to lessen the fullness...

And finally another colour row in sets of two trebles, again, three would have been too full on this edge. Next its 2 rows of the off white and its perfect size!

Then I shall make a creamy fabric cover and stitch the crochet panel on one side. Better make another one then...

There will be lots of bags to show you in a day or two so keep watching!

Ren x

Polly does it again...

2011-06-25T09:23:00.000+01:00

Well... what a week Ive had!! Stressful does'nt even come near it... but all is well now so thats as much as we need to say on that score! Lets share some jolly pictures to cheer our souls... Miss Polly (up above) helped me by modelling some more knitwear for the shop. She even borrowed my bestest apron. I love the colours in this shot. I must make more corsages, they are so portable and I always feel as if Im gardening with wool when Im making them...

Knitting for charity...

2011-06-20T09:22:00.001+01:00

MAY in softest viscose / cotton yarn in ice cream colours for Summer...

A little detail showing the minty leather button... I am currently making a faded plaster pink one...

And O my... this took ages to make!

SCARLET mini shawl for keeping snuggly on Summer evenings when picnicking in corn fields full of poppies...

Or extra toastiness beneath a Winter coat...

Both are in going into the shop in the scarf section...

I am so glad that I have decided to use my shop as the outlet for my charity knitwear. It is very important to me that I knit (or crochet) everyday so I have quite a high output of woolly treasures coming out of my knitting bag... Think Mary Poppins carpet bag BUT with wool and hooks and pins...

20% of all knitwear sales will be donated to Cancer Research UK so if you buy knitwear from 'Polly put the knitting on' it means that we can BOTH do something to help others. Plus I get the joy of making the item and you get the pleasure of using it! See, its win, win!!!

Littlest and I will be doing a charity Christmas fair too so thats going to be fun preparing for. Gosh, Christmas seems a fair way off today, but no doubt it will creep up on us all too soon.

I had a wonderful weekend, hope you all did too!

Ren x

LOVE blanket recommenced...

2011-06-01T09:20:00.000+01:00

I found the LOVE blanket started back here lingering in a wooden chest under a pile of wool (fancy hoarding wool... wonder who put that there?). I decided to pop all the DK oddments in a big bag and just work with whatever comes to hand. Its been quite refreshing really! Its growing nicely. Single bed size I think for this one. I shall be adorning it with randomly placed flowers where the squares / rectangles join. May even stitch on a few buttons here and there.

The flowers will be like chamomile popping up between crazy paving...

Another hour stitching and then its time to cook tea, deliver visitors back to their parents and then a stint with the hook I think.

p.s. Did I mention that Ive ordered some fabric for a few new summer skirts?

Ren x

Brown Sparrow in the garden update...

2011-03-18T09:40:00.002Z

A little update on how things are going on the woolly front...

The flower border on the back is nearly complete and Im hoppy up and down excited with how pretty it looks. The back is finished and I am about to start the first front...

I made a pretty cornflower blue hat for my Mum.

I have finished the DOT BLANKET and presented it to Middlest who loves it to bits! I must take some final pictures to show you all.

AMELIE is complete, and I still havent taken photos... Im terrible!

I need to start another blanket now. My head is buzzing with possibilities. I am thinking of using DK, random patterns OR possibly making a LOVE blanket in this lighter weight and as soon as I just typed that I remembered that I did start one didnt I... Now wheres the blog post, hang on while i look in another window... Found that post from last August here... But where on earth did I put it when I abandoned it??? I must rummage...

Ren x

Knitting update...

2011-02-17T21:00:00.000Z

Its growing! My second 'Brown Sparrow' cardigan. I am now well past the armhole shaping and heading for the shoulder shaping...

BUT, and I know ITS naughty of me... I just had to make a few little flowers on my bottom border. Just to see what they will look like. Heres the first one for you all to see. They will be various colours and sizes and every button centre will be different. I cant wait to finish this project and wear it!!!

I will be finishing a batch of shoes tommorow closely followed by a batch of 20 new purses. Soooo, weather permitting (cant take pictures in the rain!) there will be lots of pictures to see this weekend coming.

Amelie nears completion...

2011-02-03T18:07:00.000Z

Nearly there...

The long strip is complete and the arm seams sewn.

Time to pick up around the centre opening...

Heres a little close up of the picking up part...

This post is very late Im afraid because Ive been so busy shoemaking... But I am happy to say that littlest's Amelie cardigan is complete, for all but the absence of a button! I shall sew that on tommorow and then take some finished pictures to post!

Shall I continue with my berry red one? Well... I must admit that Im never keen to knit two identical things, one after another sooo, Im thinking making my Brown Sparrow cardigan design next instead. I may work a border of hot air balloons along the bottom... I rather like hot balloons... I think it will give the cardigan a lift...

Ren x

Amelie for Littlest...

2011-01-24T19:09:00.000Z

Remember the pretty berry red AMELIE cardigan I was designing back here...

Well Littlest spotted it and that was that so to speak!

After talkings of "feeling frozen in bed reading in the mornings... etc," I had to down hook, search out new wool and start a new beginning all over again.

I chose Pure Merino DK again because its so silky soft, and a pretty shade called 'Oyster'. I chained just 42 plus 3 chains to count as the first treble and I was off...

I measured Littlest across both arms and shoulder which is about a yard in length. So then it was just a case of using my Mrs Cratchett stitch pattern and working a long strip to that length. Here it all is nicely folded up!

Then using 3.5mm needles I picked up a stitch all across the cast off edge. Here is the 2 x 2 rib all finished ready for casting off... I love the gathered effect this has created. Its just as I saw it in my minds eye...

Step two will be finishing the other cuff and partially sewing up the strip to form the sleeves. Then the real fun can begin with my hook as I make the body of the cardigan. I see ruffled edges and vintage buttons and even a bit of cotton lace in there...

Last words: Ive cut and cut till I can cut no more today! BUT am glad to say that a huge amount of bespoke orders are now ready to sew. Also masses of leathergoods will be sewn alongside. It probably seems strange that I dont make one thing at a time but, (and this is difficult to explain why) it just never works like that!

So expect all sorts of treats and treasures coming very soon!

Ren x

Something new for the Spring... Amelie cardigan

2011-01-19T09:55:00.000Z

I had so much fun with the Mrs Cratchett shawl that I decided to use the same formula to make a cardigan for the coming Spring...

Ive made a starting chain of 50 plus 3 for turning. DK pure merino wool with a 5.00 hook...

Work a treble into every chain of the foundation row. Then work 1 treble, 1 chain and repeat across the row, making 2 trebles at each end for a bit of stability.

I will continue until this reaches from wrist to wrist (spanning both arms like an old fashioned yolk...). Then I am going to pick up stitches (approx 45 I think) on 3.5mm needles at each end of finished strip. Knit in knit 2, purl 2 rib for approx 4" to form the cuffs.

Then stitch up from cuff end to 1/3rd up the strip from each end leaving the centre 'body' section open. You know like a shrug!

BUT, I dont want a shrug so I shall continue crocheting around that body opening and into a point at the back...

I can see it in my minds eye and it looks fandabbydozzy!

The Christmas Mrs Cratchit Shawl...

2010-12-29T17:03:00.001Z

Having rather more than a few balls of merino dk left in various states of incompleteness I took up my hook...

Inspired by my previous bunting production... it dawned on me that I could infact just keep making that crochet triangle bigger and bigger and bigger...

Only working solid trebles on every fourth row kept everything light (and more to the point made it grow MUCH faster...)

A quick whip round the edge with a row of scallops in a creamy oatmeal and the shawl was complete! BUT Mrs Cratchit is not having this shawl because I am...

Its my flu recovery medicine...

I do believe its working already...

Ren x

On Snowmen, Shawls, and flu...

2010-12-28T16:57:00.002Z

One of the Christmas snowmen... alas he melted away today...

The house sparkled... literally! I ceased to sparkle by Christmas evening and went to bed with a temperature which developed into flu... I never knew eyeballs could sweat... today is my first semi active day, which amounts to catching up with the gogglebox world on my laptop wrapped up in bed. Thankfully Im on the mend now! Phew!!! But Christmas is so special.

Zambi black cat hurt his toe and had to visit the vets on Christmas Eve. He did the same last year, silly Zambi... Here he is with his sister Daisy saying, Yes I know, but Im worth it...

I had so many special presents that I cant list them all but heres a rather special homemade one. A giant pin cushion made by littlest. Its so special... but then every gift was special...

Hazel, the newest 4 legged addition was taught the joys of sledging... well, the pulling bit anyway!!

Inspired by my bunting I started a new shawl using up leftover merino dk... I may try to finish it in a mo and will try to photograph it tommorow ready to blog.

Wishing everyone a wonderful final week of 2010 and if anyone sneezes anywhere near you... start running!!!

Ren x

FLOLLOP hat... a new style by accident!

2010-11-12T11:55:00.007Z

It all started with a jumper that wasnt really going anywhere very fast!

Having made the decision that I am far too young to start wearing beige, (even if it is the softest, finest organic Cornish wool) I pulled it from my needles! Ha ha, I said to myself! I can see a hat here... Popped it back on the needles and cast off. Stitched up the sides and top, sewed in my many ends neatly. Found some of the Merino yarn used for the stripes....

Tenderly lifted jam jar full of bestest pearl buttons down from the highest shelf, and selected 3 buttons...

Set too at making 3 little flowers with button centres to decorate one side.

And there you have it! The softest, prettiest hat for this winter! I should very much like to make some of these for the shop. Better get this blanket finished then...

Ren x

I was featured On From Britain With Love!

2010-11-11T09:06:00.000Z

I didnt even realise that I was featured on the From Britain With Love blog during British wool week!

It was only a little Corsage but never mind!!! One of the owners of the site has a pair of DELILAH mitts and a CONNIE cowl. She recently tweeted that they were keeping her nice and cosy! Thank you for that!

We seem to be straight into winter weather here so anything woolly is much appreciated!

DOT blanket production...

2010-11-09T21:41:00.001Z

Production continues... I am making piles of blocks and then using the white whisper to join a big batch at a time.

I think Im up to about 10 hex's now. Only about 20 to go... Im finding the simple 3 colour repeat in these very restful colours rather a nice change after my usual 'riot' of colour. Having said that Ive already started planning the next blanket. I have heaps, actually more like mountains, of Rowan DK cotton in oodles of colours. Its been about a year now since the granny square blanket so maybe its time for another variation of it!

Still snatching borrowed moments from my busy days...

LOVE blanket 2 completed...

2010-11-06T18:56:00.004Z

At last... and boy was I pleased to finish this project!!!

Eldest was very, very, I love you Mumma, pleased with it!

And remember this naughty, I shouldnt have started it blanket?? Well... Ive named her DOT and Im ploughing away with my hook. 6 very large hexagons complete so far and Ive nearly another 5 ready to join in. I love the colourway, its so fresh and fun! The Wendy Mode Aran is like working with butter and works up very quickly. It had mixed reviews on Ravelry. I really like it!!! I feel I need more. I wish they did a nice vintage green...

Ive been so busy making shoes and leathergoods for my Etsy shop that I havent had time to knit for my woolly etsy shop. Fact is that Im getting addicted to making blankets! A house that sits beneath cold damp English Winter skies can never have too many blankets!

Can they??

Wishing all a woolly weekend! Ren x

First ETSY treasury feature!!!!

2010-10-23T12:11:00.006+01:00

My Black Mermaid tippet...

Was featured in an Etsy treasury, yipeee! The shops only been open a few days so I was ever so chuffed to be featured! I must knit more tippets soon. I have some rather pretty kingfisher wool which I think will be beautiful. Im rather into brown, kingfisher and red at the moment.

I can see it in my minds eye...

Heads, Hats and Bats... in that order...

2010-09-27T17:29:00.003+01:00

Ive always fancied painting a head... today was the day...

The beginning was not good! A bald lump of plastic... that can never be good to start anything with!

I maybe shouldnt have sponged on gold paint but I fancied a smidge of sparkle... I was aiming for patchy, mottled, fairy-ishness... but Im not sure...

I carried on regardless, like I always do... adding a little bit of the woods as I went...

I quite like the overall effect!

And because she was in fact painted to model hats... heres a new knitted beret for the shop.

Complete with arial... in case you get lost. You can find it in the Fairysteps shop here.

And so onto the 'batty' bit of the post. I know... why on earth does this woman keep kidnapping bats and taking pictures of them???? Are you looking at that pretty little face???

This little beauty blew across the floor of the yard as I sat sipping 4 oclock tea. I thought it was a fallen leaf, thought twice, remembered the fact that we had 4 phsycopathic cats and rushed out to rescue. I whipped my skirt off (dont worry I was wearing a petticoat) and carefully rescued said bat from almost certain death.

I think its a Pippestrelle. Apparently they are small enough to fit in a matchbox (who on earth tried that?). I have placed my enormous hand next to this little piece of perfection from Mother Nature for you to see how tiny she is...

What on earths coming next?

Hope all had a good start to the week!

Ren x

NEW STOCK! Poppet berets for Autumn chills...

2010-09-13T15:23:00.001+01:00

I had woolly delights on my lap at the seaside yesterday...

In my spare time (blink and youve missed it...) Ive been busy with my new crochet pattern.

Making a hat sit atop your head in a nonchalant way isnt quite as easy as it may seem...

After much unpicking the pattern is perfected and safely noted down in little blue book of woolly spells for future reference...

I particularly like this colourway...

Then again I like this one too...

All are listed here in the Fairysteps Shop. Watch out for more of these... hot off the hook. Apologies for the model head, its awful I know but its all I have for hat modelling at present. I do have plans for a new one soon. Im just not sure what to go for. Any suggestions for hat forms would be much appreciated though!

Ren x

Did I mention another blanket...

2010-09-10T19:31:00.002+01:00

I am shockingly good at starting 20,000 projects at once...

Couldnt resist these 3 colours together though. Its based on my SUMMER GARDEN hexagon pattern but is 2 rows larger in size. Ive also worked this with Aran weight yarn instead of DK so each motif is much larger. In fact its altogether even speedier than before...

I had a huge dilema (with myself) if I should make all the flowers one colour and all the centres one colour, and the borders all one colour. In the end I kept thinking, its going to be so boring to make I couldnt face it and its going to end up as a cushion cover... Then I thought to myself, what about if I make piles of pink flowers using the standard hexagon, worked on two rows of that scrumptious powder blue and then worked the fixing together round in white. Its going to give a wonderfully dotty effect to the whole blanket once completed.

I shall have to call her DOT...

Have a wonderful weekend everyone! Eldest Tiddlywink is building me workshop shelves so I will be sorting piles of stock tommorow. Off to a National Trust event on Sunday which celebrates the art of housekeeping from the last 100 years. Beret production continues inbetween general mayhem...

Ren x

The LOVE blanket... number 2

2010-09-04T11:17:00.001+01:00

Eldest tiddlywink requested / begged for his own LOVE blanket from mumma so I had to oblige...

He chose colours straight out of my 1970's childhood...

As he has now reached / past six foot and seems to grow like grass I have decided that this one must be bigger. Im working on 9 squares on the strips. The first strip is complete and I have been taking this project everywhere I go so that I can get it finished before winter sets in...

Ive started another blanket (its heaven on a hook) as well (how naughty...) but promptly told myself off for being so forward and have now stuffed the poor beginnings into 'another' bag for later...

Still waiting for those extra arms in the post...

Ren x

The LOVE blanket is finished...

2010-08-24T21:20:00.002+01:00

The LOVE blanket was finished this weekend past...

Tiny tiddlywink hasnt let it go yet...

Ive already started the next one for big tiddlywink. He chose colours right out of my childhood! Chocolate brown, navy blue and purple!!! I wasnt too sure at first, but they really look good!!! Pictures soon on this project. My jumper is going well too so an update is needed there.

Well, its time for bed now. Nighty night all x

NEW STOCK! Pretties...

2010-08-11T21:06:00.001+01:00

Presenting a pile of treasures...

Meet CONNIE...

and VIOLET...

and DELILAH...

and GENEVIEVE...

These new styles all form part of my newly designed woolly collection...

Best laid plans of mice and men...

2010-08-08T20:54:00.002+01:00

Where have you been???

Apologies for the absence of late but Ive spent a rather horrid week in hospital with a loved one. A daily vigil of hand holding and loving and hoping.

A month of initial treatment lies ahead for loved one so a long stint of travelling and supporting is ahead before we can begin the ever hopeful road to recovery. And I am hopeful, and I am wishing and I am happy to help now when Im needed. And apart from the odd "Im home from hospital" mention I wont be blogging about this. BUT, I just wanted everyone to know that Im still here and will be in the weeks to come, just not as often!

Best laid plans... well, Im going to be running a little late with my mass shoe production plans (thank goodness I made lots of other stock in the past few weeks), BUT I have set up a small glove factory in the corner of the hospital... production is going well and it helps to while away the long hours of waiting. My knitting bag is shown above with a little peep of whats inside. As soon as I have time I will start listing in the shop. In fact my stay sane plan is to knit for a month! Ive sorted out some new designs and invented a few gloves and planned colour schemes.

So there we go! Life has gone yumpy, but its going to be OK... The shop will stay open and its business as usual. Orders will be fulfilled, parcels wrapped and treasures sent.

On the needles... and hook...

2010-08-01T17:05:00.001+01:00

LOVE blanket number one has ground to a halt due to a lack of cream aran... so I had to start another...

Ive rumaged out a pile of various wool blend DKs and started. This time I am working random strips keeping the eyelet pattern going and just stopping each colour as and when Ive had enough of looking at it on the hook anymore!! It is going to be much lighterweight this time so a longer project...

The SUMMER GARDEN blanket is complete, and was ribbon wrapped and given as a present to my Mother. She was thrilled to bits with it!

On the knitting front, Im a little lost...

I gathered some yarns and am considering a jumper adventure...

Main colour will be the Camel Ethical Twist, hideous on me if it was entirely this colour, but as a background colour for those other shades its subtle and just the job!

I also rather like HUSH by Sarah Hatton out of Rowan Studio issue fifteen. Maybe I need one of those as well??? That rather yummy berry red merino DK might be the ticket for that one...

Whilst on a woolly vien I must confess utter dissapointment as the WOOL man did not arrive in Fairysteps land on Friday. Poor chap was unwell but has promised to 'send' bits in the post... Im taking a small 2 man tent up to the postbox later today...

Im off to pilfer materials... film later this afternoon me thinks as Im quite wore out today!

Ive a mass of packing to do tommorow morning, more fruit to pick, and then sew for England after lunch and most probably late into the evening... and the week is chock a block... better rest today!

When on earth are these extra set of arms going to arrive? I sent off for them ages ago...

Polly Put The Knitting On - The LOVE blanket

2010-07-28T15:09:00.005+01:00

The LOVE blanket. A How To project for your hooky pleasure from Polly Put The Knitting On! Its quick, its light, its pretty, its adaptable, it could be a bag, a cushion, a scarf, a blanket...

Ingredients:

5.5mm crochet hook

Aran weight wool blend yarn in 3 colours as follows, 200 gms of colour A, 200 gms of colour B, and 300gms of colour C. You can in fact make this with any weight wool but make sure you change your hook size to suit!

Stolen time... take your blanket bag with you WHEREVER you go...

Method:

First of all using colour A chain 22 (not too tightly remember).

1st row - Insert hook in the third chain from the hook and work trebles (for British crocheters or double crochet for Americans...) all along the foundation chain. You should have 20 treble stitches there all lined up nice and neat.

2nd row - chain 3 to count as the first treble, then work 1 treble into next stitch, this is the eyelet row, basically it consists of 2 trebles, *chain 1, miss a stitch, then 1 treble into each of next 2 trebles* and repeat from* to* across the row. See picture below to illustrate the eyelet row.

3rd row - working 3 chains to count as first treble repeat the last eyelet row.

4th row - 3 chains to count as first treble, then work trebles into every stitch including the eyelet spaces across the whole row. Have a count, you should still have 20 stitches!!!

Repeat rows 2 to 4 untill 10 rows have been worked.

NOTE on the last stitch - before you take those last 2 strands off of your hook you need to join in the last colour for a tidy beginning on the next square! Simply let go of colour A, pick up colour B leaving a long tail for darning in and use it to complete the stitch. You now have B ready on your hook to make the next square.

Continue like this making the squares and alternating colours as you wish until the strip is as long as you want it to be. I worked 8 squares as I want my finished blanket to be 8 x 8 squares in size. This is approx 130 cms with the border.

Starting the next strip and joining as you go...

Obviously it goes without saying that WE all hate sewing in ends... we'll have none of that here! The only ends to sew in are the start and the finish of the square. Heres how...

To start the next strip, simply change colour as above and instead of working the next square, work 22 chains to form the foundation for the next strip. You then work back up the strip that you just made!

Below is another image showing the joining method at the end of a row.

When you have the last incompleted stitch on your hook with 2 strands showing (prior to wrapping and pulling through) push your hook through the top of the adjacent row of trebles of the first strip.

Just like this! Pick up your working yarn and pull it through to complete the stitch. There is your first join!!

To start the next row (this is the eyelet row by the way), work 2 chains.

Then push your hook into stitch opposite, its there at the very tip of my finger in the picture.

Pick up the working yarn and pull it through.

Now turn your work so that the other side is facing you.

Working into the top of the next stitch pattern across the row.

Turn, and repeat, changing colour when necessary until you have completed the second strip.

Isnt that nice and tidy!

NOTE - finding the top of the second to last stitch as you are working the join up through the strip can be difficult. The pictures below show in detail where to put your hook! If you find it a fidget, then simply work both of these last two stitches into that last coloured space below! It still looks good and is quicker!

2 stitches left to work before the join and Im wondering where do I insert the hook? The stitch is very slightly twisted so the usual easy to spot V is pointing towards the back of the work. Push the hook in as shown.

There we go, the stitch is being worked.

To work the last stitch (the joining stitch) insert the hook into that space inbetween the last 2 trebles of the row underneath. Work as described earlier.

Working the LOVE in!

You can use your hook to embroider the LOVE on the blanket. I have worked mine into the 4 corner squares.

Leaving a tail end and holding the working yarn under your work, insert your hook and pull through to the top.

Keeping things nice and loose, push your hook in again and pick up the yarn from underneath, pulling it through that loop on your hook.

Work along the surface, literally drawing your letter shape with the hook and yarn.

Easy peasy!

The back of the work is nice and tidy too.

I worked a heart in place of the O... because its for my tiny tiddlywink.

My blanket still isnt completed because Im working on 20,000 projects at once... but its not far off completion. I shall work a border with yarn C (hence the extra ball) of half trebles, then a tiny bobble edge to finish.

Then I will start another one because its just been too easy for words! I hope to have a new delivery of Aran 50% wool blend yarns arriving next week. The colours are truly lovely and I feel I may have to steal some shop stock for the next woolly adventure...

This pattern has been drafted for personal use only please!

Crochet tantrum..

2010-07-24T12:16:00.002+01:00

And last but not least...

My Summer garden blanket has been 'thrown' onto my little yellow wicker chair in disgust. Yes... I had a crocheted tantrum this morning. Shocking isnt it!

Just when I thought, this is it, last hexagon, border next, freedom to plough on with new threads, etc, etc... I laid the whole caboodle out onto my bed and realised that NOT squareing up the corners with a million green hexagons was NOT an option I could leave, unless I added 2 more flowers. This would solve the dip caused at each end and would in fact make the blanket more of a big oval. I can then get away with an edging and then running away from it.

So the hexagon saga continues...

Maybe I can escape to the garden and finish them later??? Ive a million parcels to pack up first ready to post on Monday morning. Better get on with it so I can run away with my hook...

Ren x

The LOVE blanket...

2010-07-23T14:48:00.001+01:00

Im such a wicked woman...

Ive started something new...

And the Summer Garden blanket isnt even off my 4.5mm hook...

Shocking isnt it...

BUT you'll have to forgive me because Ive started a tutorial on how to make your own blanket of LOVE. I am currently over halfway through so not long to go.

Tiny tiddlywink asked for a blanket for her bed. Being physically UNABLE to face another granny square or hexagon for the forseeable future I put on my crochet design hat, meandered through a few old crochet books from my collection dating back to the 1970's, saw a few squared patchwork designs and was off on my own hooky adventure...

The colours are not ideal, and dont come anywhere near what I envisaged, but it is at least thrifty as its all old stash yarn. Aran weight combined with a 5.5mm hook means that its a super quick project despite the size being fairly large. A nice border will be needed and I plan to embroider the word LOVE in large letters on 4 of the bottom squares.

Naturally I am stitching in kisses for tiny tiddlywink as I go... hence the name.

Ren x

Weather inspiration...

2010-07-15T16:05:00.003+01:00

They are turning... despite the current grey skies...

These are swelling fit to burst, because of the grey skies...

Inbetween the heavy showers yesterday, I looked like this...

And during the heavy showers, I sat on my front porch with this on my lap...

Being read to... a story of a little pony called Merrylegs (not unlike our own Cocoa) with big dreams...

BUT today, I am procrastinating... on a grand scale.

Hatching new plots and schemes... cross your fingers and toes, because its going to be rather nice if I manage it, but more on that later.

Cutting jet black leather into tall Moonshine boots, a birch bag, pan purses and drip pouches...

Sorting piles of already cut leather into coloured piles ready to stitch...

Time to away to the workshop and get on, or should I contnue with a lap full of colour!

Ren x

Theres wool in them there hills...

2010-07-08T08:51:00.002+01:00

Tea cups in my case...

I had a very late night listing lots of woolly goodness in the Fairysteps shop. Ive also selected a few patterns that I thought worthy of selling. Hopefully lots of people will think them worthy of buying!

It feels rather nice to be combining my love of Leather and wool under one roof. Im still not a hundred percent sure how people viewing the shop will feel about this combination as I primarily deal in leathergoods, but Im keeping fingers crossed that it doesnt feel too strange for visitors.

I will have new shoe pictures from the latest orders to show you by the weekend. Im a bit woolled out at the moment so its back to rolls of rainbow leather for me today...

Woolly heaven and beyond...

2010-07-07T10:01:00.001+01:00

I had a woolly tea party this morning...

A big green van brought me a little piece of heaven yesterday, and now I cant stop smiling...

The colours remind me very much of the same subtle pallette that Rowan often uses for its yarns. In a word, timeless.

Ren x

Summer garden blanket update...

2010-07-05T14:51:00.001+01:00

Just a quick update to show the new yellow centres. This was taken a good 2 weeks ago and its much bigger now... Ive even started 'squaring up' the whole shabang so that I can head to victory! I MUST hurry up and complete it as my new wools have been ordered for the shop and its going to be a mammoth job listing all that new stock!

I have something rather special in mind for the presentation of the new yarns BUT you are going to have to wait to see what Ive got up my sleeve!!!

Back to the Fairysteps workshop after a mountain of dishes... Ive got shoes to make...

Ive got me some yellow... part 2

2010-06-19T09:24:00.002+01:00

Here is the primrose wool sat on my lap yesterday evening with Doris Day sitting beside me singing... Its by SIRDAR so although its, turn away as Im going to say something rude...acrylic... it appears to be very good quality. AND I need yellow!!!

The need for the yellow increased to alarming heights once my daisies started flowering...

It took 3 hours last night to unpick all of the centres and rework them in primrose. I also worked 2 more flowers making a total of 11 now completed. The appearance of the whole blanket has changed and all because of the flower centres. I hope my other 4 colours arrive today as Ive reached a bit of a 'cant do much' stage. I could sew in ends... or I could complete the green pathways on the new flowers? I'll do that then!

The yellow wool came from http://www.clarkcraft.co.uk/ a new to me company which were very helpful and speedy at sending my bag of yellow goodness.

Wishing everyone a woolly weekend!

Ren x

Ive got me some yellow...

2010-06-18T17:47:00.002+01:00

My primrose yellow wool came...

Its sent me into a state of agitation. I realise now that the centres MUST be this yellow. I realise that I MUST unpick all of the 9 flower centres I have worked so far and rework them in yellow. It contrasts so perfectly with the vintagey green on the borders and makes the whole blanket seem, happy, somehow! Drat...

I did one while I was eating dinner today. It wasnt too bad a job in the end. At least I wont have to unpick the whole blanket!!

I shall finish the others tonight...

Flower garden blanket update...

2010-06-16T15:03:00.002+01:00

I have now completed 9 flowers on my blanket!

This has proved to be a fun project and I am so glad I started it. Now that its growing though I am aware that the lack of colours for my flowers will prove a bit of a problem. With this in mind I spent £15 on extra wool this morning. So 5 more colours will be with me before the weekend hopefully. I bought 4 colours in Life DK, a nice wool mix which most of the blanket is made in. I chose colours that I have used in the past. Cardinal red, cranberry which is a sort of dark plum, wedgwood blue and a rose pink. These came from a website called Busy Fingers. I then ordered a Sirdar DK in primrose from another company. Alas this is not a wool blend, its pure Acrylic, but Ive just got to get some yellow in there! If only the flower centres were yellow. Im always going to regret that! The good news is that my pile of DK is going down and its good to turn it all into something useful.

36 flowers should be about the right size...

Brown Sparrow cardigan FREE PATTERN by Ren Cuming

2010-05-26T10:03:00.007+01:00

Brown Sparrow Cardigan by Ren Cuming

Size:
This pattern is sized to fit a Medium.
Loose on a UK 10/12, Fitted on a UK 14 and snug on a UK 16.

Ingredients:
DK yarn – I used a pure wool yarn as it’s a good long term economical choice!
1 x 50gm ball of your contrast colour (referred to as B).
**If you want to knit both fronts or both sleeves at the same time on one pair of needles you will need 2 balls of the contrast colour!
8 x 50gm balls of the main colour (referred to as A).
I pair of 3.25 and 4mm needles.
Any type of yarn as long as you can achieve the following tension.
17 stitches and 25 rows, over a 10 cm x 10 cm sample knitted in stocking stitch.

Method:

Back.
Using contrast yarn B and 3.25mm needles cast on 81 sts.
Change to yarn A and work in K1, P1 rib for 6 rows.
Increase 1 stitch at each end of next row. (Increase in this manner on every following 6th row until you have 97 sts.) Continue in rib for another 3 rows ending with RS facing you.
Switch to 4mm needles and using stocking stitch, work 2 rows.
Change to yarn B (do not break yarn A, simply strand loosely at the side) and work 2 rows of St st, ending with RS facing, break yarn B leaving a tail for sewing in later.
Change to yarn A and using stocking stitch work 4 rows.
Strand yarn not in use behind the other stitches, never going more than 3 stitches without carrying it.
Simple fairisle cross pattern (worked over 3 rows):
Row 1 - Using (yarn A knit 4 sts, using yarn B knit 1 st) repeat to end.
Row 2 – Working in purl, work the centre 3 stitches of the cross, placing the centre stitch over the last rows coloured stitch.
Row 3 – Work as for row 1, forming the top of the cross with a single coloured stitch as before.
Work 4 rows in yarn A alone.
Work 2 rows in contrast yarn B.
Working in main colour only continue in stocking stitch increasing as already set until work measures 27cms from cast on edge.

Shape armholes thus…
Cast off 4 stitches at beginning of the next 2 rows.
Decrease 1 stitch each end of next 7 rows.
Decrease 1 stitch each end of following 5 alternate rows.
Continue with remaining 65 stitches until armhole measures 20cms from beginning of armhole shaping
Shape shoulders…
Cast off 6 stitches at beginning of next 2 rows.
Cast off 6 sts, knit 10 then turn, working on these stitches only. Cast off 4 sts knit to end. Cast off remaining 6 sts.
Rejoining the yarn, cast off centre 21sts, knit to end. Work this side to match other, reversing the shaping directions.

Left front.
Using contrast yarn B and 3.25mm needles cast on 40 stitches.
Change to yarn A work K1, P1 rib as for back, again increasing as before on every 6th row at the outer seam edge only until you have 48 sts.
As set by the back, work the colour band on each front, placing the first cross carefully to match on each side.
Continue until work matches back to underarm shaping.

Shape armhole…
At seam edge, cast off 4 sts.
Work I row.
Cast off 1 stitch at seam edge on next 7 rows.

Start shaping neckline…
At neck edge cast off 6 sts, knit to end, (but continue shaping armhole by decreasing 1 st at seam edge on following 5 alternate rows). Decrease 1 st at front edge on next 5 rows, and then on every following alternate row till just 18sts remain.
Continue without further shaping until front matches the back to shoulder shaping.
Shape front shoulder…
Cast off 6sts at seam edge on next row and following alternate row. Work one row. Cast off remaining 6 sts.

Right front.
Work as for left front, reversing all shaping.
Some people work both fronts on the same needles at the same time to make sure they match… it’s a good idea, but you will need an extra ball of the contrast colour to do this!
Sleeves (make two, again you can make both at once on the same needle).
Using contrast yarn B and 3.25 needles cast on 43 sts.
Change to yarn A and work 1 x 1 rib for 8 rows increasing 1 st at each end of last row. (Continue increasing thus on every following 6th row until 67sts).
Change to 4 mm needles and work 2 rows of stocking stitch.
Change to contrast yarn and work 2 rows… this sets the colour band as used on the back and fronts. Once you have completed the color band continue working in stocking stitch with the main colour until your sleeve is the desired length. Approx 40cms.

Shape underarm…
Cast off 4 sts at beginning of next 2 rows.
Decrease 1 st at each end of next 7 rows, and again on following 5 alternate rows. Work 4 rows decreasing at each end of this 4th row, work another 4 rows, again decreasing at each end of the 4th row.
Decrease 1 st each end of next 5 rows.
Cast off 3 sts at beginning of next 4 rows.
Cast off remaining 9 sts.
Block all pieces as necessary ready for assembly.
Buttonband.
Using main yarn A and 3.25mm needles, cast on 5 stitches.
Work in K1,P1 rib working your first buttonhole approx 2cms from beginning, make the front band long enough when slightly stretched to fit right front from hem edge to beginning of neck shaping.
Work another band, omitting the buttonholes for left front.
Stitch these bands neatly in place.

Neckband.
With main colour A and a pair of long 3.25mm needles, and right side of work facing you, carefully pick up and knit stitches evenly around neckline. You will feel what is the right amount so have faith in yourself! Just make sure that each front neck has the same number of stitches.
Work in K1,P1 rib for 6 rows.
Cast off neatly in rib.
Sew in your ends, match up the buttons to buttonholes and sew on carefully.

Design notes: This cardigan can be varied so much it’s a dream! Change the colourband to have a different pattern. Leave the colourwork out altogether. Crochet embellishments for the neckline. Add small knitted patch pockets… Its endless!

This pattern has been drafted for personal use only please!
Copyright POLLY PUT THE KNITTING ON 2010

Brown Sparrow cardigan finished!

2010-05-25T16:38:00.003+01:00

That took a while didnt it!

The low round neckline turned out just right!

The colourwork was simple, effective and a sinch to do!

Ive all but finished drafting the pattern for this. Its been fun to do but very time consuming. Its made me appreciate why knitting patterns cost so much to buy! Ive only drafted the pattern for a size UK 12 to 16 but its going to very adaptable for several sizes. I shall be popping the pattern onto Ravelry hopefully by the end of the week...

Next project is already on the needles. Its a sleeveless pullyover made in the same DK yarn as this cardigan but in various colours. Random stripes with cats paw lace patterning. Its either going to look rather interesting or be an 'O dear what possessed me' type of project! Pictures soon!

The new blanket, Summer Garden, using my SPEEDY hexagon pattern is growing very nicely. Im on my 4th flower. Back to the dishes now!

Ren x

Seeing double...

2010-05-10T07:56:00.001+01:00

Brown Sparrow Cardigan is going very well...

Just to let you know that I have tried the knitting 2 sleeves at once method, and can see that its a fabulous idea. Heres a little picture taken in the potting shed yesterday (hence packets of seeds, etc). Working colour work with this method is a little tricky due to the double amount of yarn which = double amount of tangle, which in turn = double amount of cussing...

BUT, I am consoling myself that once I reach the top of a sleeve I can say to myself, "Wow, Ive finished". Instead of the usual, "Hang in there, only one sleeve left to go". For perfectly even shaping on both identical parts its fantastic.

I must get it done and dusted before the holiday because I would love to take it. Judging by the temperature outside I am going to need it!

This will be my first garment on my Ravelry patterns so I am doubly excited to complete it!

Yesterday evening saw me here, knitting for England...

Yes indeedy, very speedy SUMMER GARDEN hexagon tutorial by Ren Cuming

2010-05-07T21:02:00.019+01:00

Everyone loved this hexagon pattern that I invented so much, and lots of people on and off the internet have asked for a pattern so I decided that I must sort it out. So here we go a very, very long detailed tutorial showing every step including how to join them up without sewing and a few tips on the way too!

Its quite a plain hexagon which is just what I wanted. I wanted to simulate the Grandmothers flower garden patchwork design. I wish I had used only one colour for the 'petals' on each block now, maybe next time...

Directions:

I used a 4.5mm hook

For a lap and leg size blanket like the one I made above you will need 7 flower blocks.

50 gms of DK yarn should complete each flower block, so buy 7 pretty colours.

50 gms of yellow for the flower centres. I worked out that I used approx 7 yards of DK wool for each hexagon.

Buy at least 250 gms for the borders, bearing in mind that you may need more (choose a nuetral shade for the pathways. If this is a project that will be made over a length of time using project leftovers then an easily found pathway colour may be best, like black, white, ecru or grey).

Written using British crochet terms.

As always we start with a slip knot, then work 4 chains.

Slip stitch into the first chain to join.

Holding the tail and the main yarn chain 3 (this does make it a wee bit bulky, but it makes it worth while to eliminate sewing in this end, you can just snip it off).

Chain another 2 with just the main yarn (5 chains in total), then work 1 treble into the centre loop.

Chain 2.

Work another treble into the centre loop, and continue working 2 chain spaces and 1 treble into that centre hole untill you have 5 'holes'.

Work 2 chains ready to join the circle.

Push the hook into the 3rd chain and work a slip stitch by simply picking up the yarn and drawing it through the work and the loop on your hook.

There... this round is complete, time to work the next round.

We have to get the yarn in the right position first (patterns never explain this...). Put your hook through the next adjacent hole and pick up the yarn, pull it through the hole and the chain on the hook (slip stitch).

Then work 3 chains (to count as first treble). See how that slip stitch moved us into the edge of the space? Rather nifty.. I invented that!

Work another treble and then 2 chains (the chains become the corners of our hexagon).

Work another 2 trebles into the same space. This corner is now complete.

Work 2 trebles, 2 chains, 2 trebles into every remaining space.

Nearly all done...

A neat slip stitch joins the ring and completes the round.

Remember we did that nifty slip stitch trick before to get the yarn into the correct working position... time to do it again! Push into the top of the next available treble and draw the yarn through the work and the stitch on your hook too.

There, all done, nice and neat.

Now work 3 chains to form the first treble of the third and final round.

As before we are working 2 trebles, 2 chains, 2 trebles into every corner space.

Work 1 treble into the top of the next available treble (its number 2 on the row below).

Then work 1 chain.

Missing one treble top, work 1 treble into the next treble top (thats number 2 treble from the bottom row).

You will then be ready to work the next corner (2 trebles, 2 chains, 2 trebles).

Continue working the corners as set and 1 treble, 1 chain, 1 treble into the middle of the rows all the way around.

Work one chain to finish and then join the round with a slip stitch, as before, to finish. Cut a nice long tail of yarn for finishing off. You will get really quick at these! About 5 minutes to make each...

And now for how to join them up as you go, saving that tedious sewing up bit at the end which we all loath!

This really depends on how many sides are being joined at once. If you are working into a corner there may be 3 sides being joined. Its perfectly do-able and these pictures will show you how. I have one side to join here so Ive worked all the way around my third round and left one complete side unworked and ready to join. Ive worked just 1 of the corner chains.

Push your hook through the other hexagons corner space and pick up the yarn.

Draw it back through the space and the stitch on your hook (thats the second chain of the corner groups effectively worked BUT through the other hexagon too!).

This is what it looks like.

You can now carry on with the 2 trebles into the corner space.

As before wotk the first of those centre trebles.

And work the chain through the next space on the other hexagon as we did on the corner, catching it in place.

Carry on working the next of the middle trebles.

Then work 2 trebles into the corner space.

And once again work that (first this time) chain through the corresponding corner space, as shown.

Nice and neat.

Then chain 1 and complete the corner.

And around you go to complete the hexagon your are working on. All joined up, nice and neatly and not a sewing needle in sight!

The back is equally as tidy!

Well... there we go then! This took about 4 hours to do so I hope very much that Ive done it right and that it proves helpful to someone!!!

If you use these instructions for your own project I would be very glad of a link back to the blog.

Thank you x

The Shetland hexagon blanket is completed...

2010-04-30T19:13:00.001+01:00

I nearly forgot to say...

The edging is complete and the little blanket is finished...

The perfect size for covering legs and lap on cold evenings, or for folding in half and using as a shawl in bed...

I really enjoyed this project, especially as I used a homemade hexagon pattern. I promised a tutorial on this pattern and I will do it soon, honest!

I fancy using these to make a garment of some sort for the winter. Combining crochet and knitting. Hmmmm...

Daphne darling has grown...

2010-04-28T18:02:00.002+01:00

Daphne enjoying a thumb nibbling moment...

Daphne's new friends (rustled from the farm)... Thats Soots head there on top.

And his sister Flopsy with ginger ears!

Ren x

In the knitting basket today...

2010-04-27T17:25:00.001+01:00

As promised yesterday time for a knitting basket update!

Not exactly Summer knitwear BUT I am being very practical with this project! In future I am determinded to only knit items which will give me years of wear. With this premise in mind It has to be top quality materials and well fitted patterns in super useful colours.

Remember this wonderful vintage cardigan pattern? I decided that I would use the pattern but not the previously planned cotton DK. In fact Ive decided I am never knitting with cotton again, I just dont like the feel of it on my needles! Crochet, yes, knitting no!

I dont want a plain brown cardigan so have added a little contrast here with the rust coloured wool. I really fancied something traditional like an OXO fair isle border but on second thoughts realised that it would make the border rather heavy. I chose a simple pattern that I made up myself. Just a simple cross design bordered with 2 rows top and bottom. I am also casting on with one row of the contrast in the rib.

And the all important tidy stranded rear view!

Im having lots of fun knitting this and have even ordered some embroidered brown cotton fabric to make a simple A line skirt to go with it. Ive got a really nice burnt orange stretch top to pick up the rust colour too.

Better carry on knitting...

Anenome corsages...

2010-04-26T22:15:00.003+01:00

I invented a new corsage last weekend...

I snaffled this carpet bag of Shetland up to the vegetable garden (best place on earth to knit)...

Then had lots of fun with a 3.5mm hook inventing these little beauties!

All sorts of colours...

This one above was made using Rowan luxury cotton, LOVE the colours!

They are rather addictive to make despite being a right fidget to make! They took about 5 times longer than I anticipated... but it was time well spent.

O and Ive started the next knitting project at last... more on that on the next post!

Anenome corsages...

2010-04-26T22:15:00.001+01:00

I invented a new corsage last weekend...

I snaffled this carpet bag of Shetland up to the vegetable garden (best place on earth to knit)...

Then had lots of fun with a 3.5mm hook inventing these little beauties!

All sorts of colours...

This one above was made using Rowan luxury cotton, LOVE the colours!

They are rather addictive to make despite being a right fidget to make! They took about 5 times longer than I anticipated... but it was time well spent.

O and Ive started the next knitting project at last... more on that on the next post!

New corsages...

2010-04-23T21:34:00.003+01:00

And last but not least... remember last weekend when I said I was heading to the veg patch with hook and wool? This is my new corsage pattern. Terribly fidgety to make but worth it. The pictures dont quite do them justice really. The whole flower is centred around a centre ball. Ive called them ANEMONE.

The first batch is in the Fairysteps shop - click the link

Thank heavens the sun started shining...

Daisy chains and Daphne darling...

2010-04-20T11:56:00.002+01:00

Daisy chains are THE thing to be seen in on sunny days...

She is growing by the hour...

The tiddlywinks successfully rustled 2 more lambs from the farm... A brother and sister, Soot and Flopsy who has the most adorable ginger floppy ears...

They all have an Irene Castle bob...

Ren x

Tickled pink...

2010-04-12T17:12:00.003+01:00

Ive been secretly working on this alongside the blanket and work and other bits...

The ends were sewn in last night...

The cotton lace was added this morning...

And I was twitching to get my hands on my camera to show you all...

I was very much thinking 1930's boating party when this was created... Im calling her Madelaine...

I have to admit that I cant abide crochet patterns (they make my brain overheat) so I made this up as I went along... Made in softest pure cotton...

I must copy its every detail and make myself one in that gorgeous spice coloured cotton first!

I shall let Daphne have the last word... asleep in the sunshine...

The absolutely beautiful mannequin and rose corsage shown in this post can be found at Corset Laced Mannequins. These seamless mannequins make a perfect display piece for handmade treasures like the lovely Madelaine shown here...

Ren x

Come in Daphne darling...

2010-04-10T19:12:00.002+01:00

Meet Daphne darling... Yes, of course you can come in.

The tiddlywinks smuggled her home (makes them sound like sheep rustlers... they are at lambing time) on Thursday. Ive been waking up to her little high heels tippy tapping on my bedroom floor. Jim jam clad little people come and remove her before she widdles... once again in the house...

She is the third of a triplet and sadly wasnt wanted.

We even have a little purpose made lamb coat made by the children several years ago now. Its perfect for keeping tiny babies warm in the early days. They are all the rage in woolly circles...

She has impeccable taste... Yes of course you can stay Daphne darling!

Ren x

Update March 2011: Dearest Daphne was hunted with dogs and taken by sheep rustlers in the night. Im so very sad...

A jumble of a week but the blanket nears completion...

2010-04-01T13:05:00.003+01:00

Such a jumble of a week...

Starting with Earth Hour 2010 on Saturday last... I captured the heart of a flame.

My aproned lap took on a rosy glow in the candlelight and the texture of my knitted stitches looked wonderful...

The blanket is all but finished...

Ren x

Finally! The chosen one....

2010-03-21T16:56:00.004Z

Before I embarked on the 'Im starting it right now' bit, I forgot that I had this book...

I highly recommend it to everyone, even if you dont knit!

I remembered this little beauty...

Can you visualize this in dark spice cotton? I can, so last nights knitting was all unravelled and I cast on the smallest size this morning, over a cup of tea in the garden.

I dressed up for the meal out... my new Fair trade retro roses dress. What a perfect fit! It went in and out (ive got rather alot of in and out..) in all the right places. I love it.

The pattern is even lovelier in the flesh.

Well Im off to make a tray of tea and do some more knitting, it is Sunday after all and the work will all still be there tommorow. Thats what Im telling myself anyway, to assuage the guilt that I should be doing something productive!!! I promise a crochet blanket update this week.

Have a lovely Sunday evening everyone x

What to knit next?

2010-03-20T19:04:00.002Z

Dont women on vintage patterns look cheerful... unlike the models in the Rowan magazines, who always seem to look on the brink of manic depression. I wonder what the photographer sayes to them on the photo shoots? I like seeing pictures of smiling women, it makes me feel that maybe its worth knitting what their wearing to catch a smidge of their good mood!

The pattern above is, I think the perfect shape! I am determinded to make one with a small simple lace eyelet pattern and another with a fair isle band just above the ribbing... but not just yet...

Pattern no 9526 by Sirdar (shown above)... See that spice coloured cotton above... well Im going to knit this cardi for the Summer using that yarn. Its a 50% cotton mix DK. I like the long sleeves and the lace edge. Im going to knit the smallest size so that its very fitted. I think the one on the model could do with being tighter personally. Its a 'I can watch my new Emma dvd while Im whizzing through the stocking stitch' type of knit, so very quick! Probably quicker to make than the hours its taken me to decide today! I started the day with a headache and its not going away! Early night I think.

Hope everyone elses weekend is gong well! Im being treated to a meal out tommorow so Im very much looking forward to that!

Shetland hexagon adventure update... and sunshine

2010-02-26T14:18:00.001Z

At last some of the yellow stuff dropped out of the sky today... about time too! It made the woolly nest glow...

Remember the bag of Shetland wool?

I finished my first group of 6 while I waited for my tiny Ballerina...

I was going to just use random colours BUT decided yesterday that I would turn this into a Grandmothers flower garden theme and use black for the borders. It really shows up the bright hexagon 'flowers' a treat.

Im feeling a little uninspired as to what to knit next so carrying on with the blanket is a good alternative!

Did you spot my new spectacle case? My bestest friend bought it for me as a birthday gift from Cath Kidston. I love the pattern and colours! Thank you Lulu xx

Chocolate tent to glove..... its finished!

2010-02-23T22:02:00.001Z

Whilst the tiddlywinks did their morning lessons at the kitchen table I sat and finished my latest woolly project.... fuelled by 2 pots of Clipper fairtrade tea.... and encouraging comments from the tiddlywinks...

Then it was the exciting bit where I got to fiddle with buttons..... carefully selected to match but not match. Everything was finished off neatly, seams were tidied and squished and then it was time to tentatively try it on and see if it fitted.....

I hate working ribbed bands, but this one turned out very neatly! Phew!

The set in sleeves sat in just the right place...

The waist shaping that I worked into the pattern turned out just right. Its very plain but just what I was after. Having said that I think I will probably be knitting a lace extension for the hem. Partly because I could do with another 3 or 4" in length, but also because a teeny bit of jazzing up is need, but nothing too fussy.

I wore my new MOON print skirt today... they are in the Fairysteps shop here

Apologies for the photos but these were all taken by myself at arms length!

So the whole sorry story ended well!

What shall I start next???

I met Jack Frost in the lanes....

2010-02-10T13:27:00.001Z

I had a rather chilly walk this morning....

The BIG, LONG tweed coat had to go on ready for the walk, adorned with a corsage made from handspun yarns... I blended in with the leaf mould quite well today... and of course my textured beret.

Berets for moi

2010-02-08T20:26:00.004Z

Ive been posting FAR too many pictures of myself lately.... I hate seeing images of myself because, sadly, like so many poor souls out there I have very poor self esteem when it comes to looking at reflections of myself. Maybe inflicting these pictures on Blogland will help me to overcome this affliction....

Enough of these blitherings, I wanted to show you all the new beret I knitted last night. I love berets. They take forever to knit but are worth every stitch. Look at that perfect way that they effortlessly slouch on your head. They are in essence a laid back hat, a 'Im so relaxed up here today, the views lovely' type of hat.

I always find adult beret patterns way too large, and they always stretch so much that they end up falling over my eyes and causing terrible accidents... With this in mind I have made a much smaller one this time! It fits perfectly! A textured band makes the whole thing more interesting and makes it sort of slump in a relaxed manner...

The view from above that magpies and blackbirds or passengers on double deckers see.....

A little stitchy detail in a very fuzzy image... oops.

The whole thing came out looking like an acorn. Naturally the acorn had a little stalk on the top....

The colour is very muted, having a slightly darker nutmeg shade on the ribbing and a single milky coffee colour wool for the rest of the hat. It matches my shorter tweed coat a treat.

I need to feel the sky smiling down on my beret a little more often!

Endings and beginnings... the chocolate tent

2010-01-23T11:31:00.001Z

It all started a year ago.... where did all the time go?

I bought a pile of New Lanark aran wool in natural black. I bought a pattern. I was very excited and raring to go. I knitted on and off all the year long. It took forever..... it gobbled up more and more wool, far beyond what the pattern called for. Still I remained oblivious to the fact that something was 'wrong', and that instead of knitting a very stylish, unusual cardigan, I was infact knitting a chocolate coloured tent, capable of sheltering at least 3 people.....

It all boils down to tension squares (well, the lack of them to be honest). Im a terribly arrogant knitter and NEVER work tension squares, I always seem to have perfect tension.... see thats the arrogant part!!! The last New Lanark aran I used was a silk blend and it worked at perfect tension on my usual 5mm needles which I always use for aran yarns. This natural range of aran did feel thicker and very much more springy. I should have noticed. I think looking back that starting with the yoke (cables always pull the work in somewhat) might not have been a good idea. It took forever and once I had completed all 3 miles of it I felt committed to carry on with the rest of the cardi. I remember thinking when I cast on the back, Cripes, this is huge....

The definition of the cable is rather lovely...

Look at the massive surplus of wool at the front, and its just as bad at the back...

Its saggy and very unflattering. The whole thing needs to be unpicked and forgotten...

This all happened late last night. Instead of going to bed utterly depressed I went to the wool cupboard and had a rummage. I found my favourite knitting book. I checked the tension that this New Lanark aran had knitted to on 5mm needles, it matched the Sirdar Tweedie Chunky perfectly. I became quite hopeful and excited even despite the chocolate tent lying on the bed beside me....

I rather liked this... cables again.... and it is rather open in the front, flareing out to a A line at the bottom, not always a flattering shape. I have a thoery that flollopy, baggy clothing does not flatter any shape! In fact fitted is always the way to go.

And so, here we are. The chosen one!

Plain and simple. Should be warm. Very quick to knit. Perfect with my smaller Fairysteps buttons down the front. No pockets as I will only stuff them full of rubbish. I may work a picot bobbled border on the neckline ribbing and again on the sleeves and bottom, but not up the front. I can see this being a winter cardigan that I shall wear for years and years. We may even grow silvery together...

One last note.... I think that there may be wool left over from this.... I have even planned the next project is there is enough wool. I found this delicious jumper on Ravelry OWLS by the very clever Kate Davies. I see she has donated all sales from the pattern to the Haiti appeal fund. Even more reason to buy it! Its perfect!

Update at dinner time... Ive bought the OWLS pattern and had a look on Ravelry. It looks as if other knitters have used the New Lanark Aran for this pattern too, so I may not be alone in having a large tension with this wool... Im going to start unpicking the tent tonight...

No will power AT ALL.....

2010-01-19T14:57:00.004Z

I knew I said that I would'nt but I just could'nt! Once I had cleaned up the bag of Shetland wool it looked so inviting that I felt myself pulled towards a crochet hook.... and yet another blanket adventure began...

Could I find a simple hexagon pattern in my vast collection of crochet books? Could I find any on the web that werent too fussy or small or too big? Nope! In the end I had to just have a fiddle and make up my own based around the simple knowledge that it had to have 6 sides so would need 6 spaces in the centre. This one shown in a green tweedy mix shetland was the one Ive settled on as best. I dont want any colour changes on the individual motifs (partly because I am feeling too lazy to go through a 'sew a million ends in' episode and partly because I think adopting the less is more approach to home decorating is feeling very much the way to go. Im joining these in as I go too.

I will of course keep you updated with progress, which will be very slow as I only plan on doing one hex a day! I do intend printing this homemade hex pattern and how to join them in here on the blog in the near future.

Last notes:

Its turned very cold here and my Mum mentioned the word 'snow' again.... O no...
I went across the Moor to look at a lovely black 1950's Morris Minor today, alas we decided not to buy it. I have an old one, silently rotting away in the field... I used to love him.... we had 8 years together.

Ren x

A small pile of corsages...

2010-01-17T13:05:00.002Z

I think Spring may be just around the corner... Im checking daily for any snowdrops brave enough to pop their heads up to see the sky.

Ive also been beavering away at a small flower garden growing in my knitting basket..

This sunny Sunday see's the fairy shoemaker retreating to the studio sorting a shelf of what appears to be utter rubbish. It has sat there quietly, as all rubbish does, pretending to be needed, and like so much in my studio it all appears to be rubbish! Since I had to move everything for the 'grand upheavel' and have been FORCED (that needed capitals) to sift through it all Ive decided to be really thorough, questioning every items need to stay or go. So far on the shelf, I have kept only a quarter of its original contents. So then, what does that tell me.....

Im a terrible hoarder, that has to mend her ways or I will eventually drown under my own rubbish.

A new hat for Mum

2010-01-15T22:15:00.001Z

Ive been busy making a new hat for my Mum. Knitting odd rows between work and sleep. I finished it today. Its a lovely pale wedgwood (Mum has beautiful blue grey eyes) with a contrast camel which I used for some simple stripes. Just a nice plain round pull on hat to keep Mums ears warm!

Now I am determinded to finish this started nearly a year ago now. But Im near to completion so pictures of the finished cardi will be on here soon. Its certainly the weather for it!

As much as I want to start using my newly redyed wool for the aran jumper I am making myself NOT start it yet! I also want to start another crochet blanket, in pure shetland wool this time. Ive got literally bags and bags of 4ply shetland which I can easily double up and criochet as DK. Warm perfection!

Granny square scarf in plum and burnt orange

2010-01-11T21:02:00.003Z

I made myself a new scarf just before Christmas. I used a plum and burnt orange shade of double knit left over from the big crochet blanket escapade. I made it nice and long to wrap around and around for the ultimate in snuggliness. It was very easy to make. I just made lots of standard granny squares, joining them as I went to save seaming. I then went around and around the edge in trebles and double trebles. Finally finishing off with a few contrast crochet flowers on the end 4 squares.

The best bit is that my new scarf matches perfectly with the newly dyed / revamped pullyover. Long sleeved shirt, skirts, petticoats and a nice cardigan and Im sorted for the day!

Ren x

Dyeing knitwear to give it a new lease of life...

2009-12-11T14:50:00.002Z

I did this a few days back but havent had time to post about it!

Good old Dylon dye. A tiny pot of SCARLET add an ounce of salt, a big pan, a small pond in a dye pan and you can practically change anything in your wardrobe.

Here are the before and after pictures side by side. The mustard and blue colour did NOT suit me, but I have discovered that orange and dark plums do. I chose a scarlet red dye working on the principle that red and yellow = orange. I knitted this little waistcoat with a Fair Isle border in pure wool about 9 years ago now and couldnt bear to part with it. So I am extra chuffed that I rescued it.

I even threw in a cream skein of yarn and a yellow ball of wool to take up the leftover dye in the pot. The double knit wool is destined for a new vertically striped tea cosy in orange and green with red pom poms on top.

Last notes

I have a new crochet project to show you very soon, its all but complete.....
I have formulated a cunning plan on the shoe front to be able to offer shoes off the shelf in more styles but limited colours..... more on this as and when Ive sorted it all out. I have footwear orders to finish first!
Im feeling on the mend!

Look...Look... bundles of delight!!!

2009-12-02T18:35:00.001Z

I spent hours last night unravelling the front and back..... The wool is stunning!

Its very much more of what I wanted now. I must buy another little pot of brown dye and 'do' the sleeves. I may need that extra wool once I start knitting it up. I went to bed at 11 o'clock with a small pile of knitting books to find a pattern that inspired me. I want it fitted and shaped and as simple as possible to really show off the colours. Ive narrowed it down to these 2 patterns from Rowans, Summer Tweed book.

I like the long ribbing on this and the neckline if a little lower, plus the cable, but not for this project. No shaping though.

I love this one, Ive made 2 already using this pattern. Perfectly shaped on the waist. Sooooo, Im making this pattern but changing it, incorporating some of the elements of the other pattern. So wide deep ribs on the cuffs and welt. And the neckline wont be split, instead I shall knit it as a round neck and work the same rib on the neckline with a row of buttons off centre for detail up there.

Im so excited to start, I can hardly contain myself!!!

I dyed by mistake....

2009-12-01T17:39:00.002Z

Im feeling terrible low today, Mr Fairysteps is away and that always makes me sad. To attempt a cheering up I finally did some dyeing on a project I have been planning for simply ages. Many, many years ago, about 22 to be precise I made a present for Mr Fairysteps when we were still courting. I didnt earn very much money at the time so buying pure wool for an aran jumper was quite a big investment. I used a pattern from one of my favourite knitting books. "The traditional sweater book", by Madeline Weston. Its still possible to get secondhand copies on http://www.amazon.co.uk/ and I highly recommend it.

I bought my copy when I was 16 years old on the first year of its publication and unlike many of the knitting books from the 1980's it hasnt dated at all. The patterns are all based on traditional and vintage originals so I suppose that speaks for itself. The one I used had a beautiful chevron cable which was very easy to knit. It was an enormous jumper come finish with arms that would fit an orangutan. The pattern is quite cropped and as Mr FS is a 6' 4" giant the jumper always rode up at the back and left a draughty gap. I didnt have enough wool to lengthen it so it remained unworn for 21 years gathering the dusts of time.

Last year I decided to pull it out and have a go at dyeing it. I used Ashford dyes making a rainbow dye pot. This is how it came out.

This was when I was still unaware that any bright colours, especially purple and blue looked revolting on me! It looked like I had lunged at a Rainbow and squished it flat, getting rainbow juice all over my jumper.... I unpicked about 10" off of each sleeve and re cast off the cuffs. I used the spare unravelled wool to make myself a beret. The colours once reknitted were amazing, just like a handspun in their variations.

Sooooo the courting jumper sat in the cupboard for another year... Untill about a week ago when I started unpicking all of the seams and the neckline to leave me a front, a back and two sleeves ready to redye.

I dyed the front and the back together with a Dylon dye, one of those little round magic pots we all love, Havana Brown. As I type they are drying on the Rayburn front rail, after their simmering, cooling, rinsing, spinning adventure. The colours look interesting so far! Lots of russety colours and a few dark, dark damsons. If they are dry enough I may start unravelling tonight. Im very excited about this because I dont want to loose this wool (it holds memories), and I want to make something wearable and special with it. A fitted cardigan for the winter.

I threw in the beret I made last year to tone it down a smidge.

Pictures as soon as its dry!!!

NEW woolly treasures in the shop!

2009-11-16T09:12:00.002Z

Beechmast is finished. I was going to make it for me, but had that, "I really ought to sell it" feeling, you know the one....

And as promised... the stained glass tippet. It turned out so well. A little detail of the vibrant colours are below...

I cant stop using my leather buttons.... they are just so right for so many things.

And a few cowls and corsages are in there too!

Daffydowndilly.....

The weather is appalling but the colours outside are stunning, all golds and oranges. Ive even put orange and red clothes on today to make me blend in....

I have a really busy week ahead finishing shoe orders and bag making so posts will be sparse, but listings of new leathergoods stock by the end of the week will not!

Have a fun week x

All Hallows Eve.... accessories

2009-10-30T11:46:00.002Z

As promised.... pictures of the hat in daylight. See it doesnt look like cellophane now!

I stayed up rather late to get a TILLY neck cowl made which would go with the whole outfit. It HAD to be dark chocolate brown, the green one in the last post just was not doing it for me! I made matching chocolate grained leather buttons for it this morning.

The flowers took me an absolute age to make (STELLA you must spend day and night making yours!) but they look wonderful. Just my colour too!

I had to make a new big leather button for the jacket too. The other one was just too pale and I think the button ended up drawing it all together so the colour was important.

So there we have it..... a little pile of chocolatey coloured goodness to complete my outfit. A rather nice transformed hat, a Tilly scalloped edged woollen cowl and a pair of lacy fingerless mittens.....

The big event is tonight so I will be dressing up this afternoon. I know its not Halloween today but I like to spend special days at home so its off to the garden fire and brewing up hot tea in tin cups for me tommorow night...... a bath outside under the night sky might be in order too... I could sip tea in the bath then, a sort of double pleasure hit. Mmmmmmm....

And of course I need a big black cat.... luckily I already have one.... Zambi Bambi.... Isnt he beautiful.

Im off to find a helpful birch and hazel tree now to cut a stick and twigs to make a besom broom for tiny tiddlywink....

Happy All Hallows Eve to everyone x

Pretty in pinks.... neck dainty

2009-10-27T10:28:00.002Z

Pretty in pinks.... perfect for pink fairies!

Its in the shop ready to be snaffled up.

A little delicious detail to tempt you....

All modelled on my new seamless mannequin from the very special talented CORSET LACED MANNEQUINS thank you Lucy x

Last notes.... Ive tidied up the navigation menu on the website this morning, hopefully making it super duper easy to find all the information you need. It took me ages to sort out how to split the pages into sections but it was worth it.
Im pattern drafting fairy shoes today untill my overlocker turns up, at which point I shall ditch EVERYTHING and play.........
What a rebel....

Ive knitted an orange tree...

2009-10-25T15:09:00.001Z

What a stunner! Perfect Autumn colours! It reminds me of oranges, so if you are feeling in a clementine-ish mood this is the one for you!

I am currently working on a 'pretty in pink' neck dainty....

More treasures coming soon x

Last days at the seaside.....

2009-10-15T14:48:00.001+01:00

Midweek last week we went to the seaside, to Bigbury - on - Sea for a family outing.

The sun shone warm and bright, the seaside was empty of other humans.... the sky was cornflower blue and the sand stretched before us, endless and inviting. It was perfect.

We were even organized and took proper chairs (of course my knitting basket went too, you can just see a TILLY cowl peeping out over the edge). The basket goes everywhere I do...

NEW knitwear stock... Tilly cowls

2009-10-10T18:03:00.002+01:00

Heavenly Autumn to peep just above your fairy coat!

Both are in the fairysteps and need a home....!

Ive been busy making some new hairslides too in a poppy design (I know Danielle, about time too!) each one unique. They are sooooo pretty Im wishing that my head was like a girls world, you remember, the toys which you could pull a knob on the neck and loads of shiny hair comes out of the top of the head.

I cant find the knob.... Ive looked...

Black mermaid tippet

2009-10-05T19:13:00.001+01:00

If I were a mermaid I would wear this for watery winter parties...

If I were a very chilly blueberry which needed warm camoflage I would wear this...

And if I were an Autumn fairy who liked hiding in Oak trees once the leaves had fallen I would wear this....

Ive been a busy bee!

Fairy knitwear dainties in the shop!

2009-09-30T10:30:00.002+01:00

I LOVE how these colours just came together... All sage and lichen greens.

And lastly a new fairy cowl / collar. I have named her SOPHIE. Very pretty for fairy necks which require a little warming on chilly days....

Buttons, buttons and more buttons...

2009-09-24T09:01:00.005+01:00

I have gone into button making overdrive....

I just felt the need to make lots and lots of the little dears. Ive still got several piles stacked up on a saucer next to Reggie ready to be stitched so this isnt all of them. Ive had so much fun putting them on my handknits that I thought other knitty people might too. So Im hatching a plan to sell them in the shop! They are so perfect for knitwear, especially woollen knits where handwashing is the order of the day. So many finished projects call for a BIG button and most of the ones Ive seen are so heavy they pull down and distort the knitted fabric. Not so with leather! Light as a dandelion clock and washable. In short.... perfection!

Button making is addictive though... and its not getting anything else made is it!

Ren x

Buttons, buttons and more buttons...

2009-09-24T09:01:00.003+01:00

I have gone into button making overdrive....
I just felt the need to make lots and lots of the little dears. Ive still got several piles stacked up on a saucer next to Reggie ready to be stitched so this isnt all of them.
Ive had so much fun putting them on my handknits that I thought other knitty people might too. So Im putting them for sale in the FairystepsKnits Etsy shop. They are so perfect for knitwear, especially woollen knits where handwashing is the order of the day. So many finished projects call for a BIG button and most of the ones Ive seen are so heavy they pull down and distort the knitted fabric. Not so with leather! Light as a dandelion clock and washable. In short.... perfection!

Button making is addictive though... and its not getting these fairy shoes made is it!

Dainties on Vintage dainties....

2009-09-23T17:44:00.002+01:00

After my tea drinking session on Monday morning I took some rather pretty pictures of the Fairysteps woolly bits on my friends wonderful vintage and reproduction vintage mannequins. She has some real beauties and I can only imagine some of the treasures these would have displayed in the shop windows of yesterdays past. Visit her wonderful website Corset Laced Mannequins here!

A new tippet....

2009-09-20T18:35:00.002+01:00

This rather beautiful tippet is made in shades of Raspberry sorbet with a contrasting trim in a very soft green with a touch of golden sparkle. Gossamer ribbon ties to close.

I rather like green and pink.....

More dainties in the shop to dribble over....

2009-09-19T19:22:00.001+01:00

By jingo the needles have been fair smoking...

Colours were all around me and crept into the stitches...

The trusty wool basket that NEVER leaves my side... It looked rather pretty today and warranted a portrait.

Neck dainties....

2009-09-18T12:21:00.002+01:00

Not quite a scarf, not quite a necklace, but very decorative, warm and eyecatchingly beautiful. I am calling them neck dainties because I think it sums them up very well. Ive had some wonderful feedback on this one already! Lots of Oooo's and Ahhhhh's.

I shall make more of these treasures very soon. Im thinking of working all different colourways, greens, blues, creams, purples..... These would be rather good for (yes, Im going to mention it....) Christmas presents for loved ones. And yes, that includes yourself!

Its going in the shop now!

CASCADE neck dainty... nearly there!

2009-09-17T09:38:00.002+01:00

Just a little peep at a new woolly project in the making.... its taking forever, but its coming together so nicely I think its worth it! I hope to finish it tonight... better find some purple ribbons....

Textured weave cowl in pea green and a self portrait!

2009-09-16T20:27:00.002+01:00

This is me with my friend Polly (the namesake of this blog...)!

She doesnt say very much, I think her head may be too small for prolonged conversations.... Or it may be because she doesnt have a mouth? Anyway shes wonderful to talk to.... One last note to say about this picture, my hair is growing!!!!!! Yippee!

I think this one would double up as a headband too!

A new category! Fairysteps knitwear!

2009-09-15T12:46:00.001+01:00

Ive decided that I will add my knitwear to the fairysteps shop and have added a new category link dedicated to them alone! Some of the New knits which will be added very soon are shown in this post. Arent they pretty!

I knit wherever I go, be it doctors, dentist, being a passenger, waiting rooms, bedtime, visiting friends..... and how many scarves does one woman need???

We would drown in hats in this house if I didnt sell some!

Neck cosy, cowly, collary yumminess!

2009-09-14T19:37:00.002+01:00

Isnt this beautiful!

The colours blended perfectly. Ive added deepest damson leather buttons which compliments the yarn a treat. Its going in the shop probably tommorow ready to grace a special someones neckline!

And another in a green tweedy mix with blue leather buttons. From the other end of the rainbow but perfect for someone!

New treasures in the shop!

2009-09-12T13:07:00.002+01:00

All made up and in the shop! Isnt it wonderful!

And a new tippet complete with giant handmade leather button.

Come back soon for more woolly delights!

NEW tippet and woodland fairy cowl

2009-09-12T12:54:00.002+01:00

It turned out just as I envisaged. Full of pointy woodlandy goodness!

Complete with small handmade leather buttons to close.

Something NEW coming up!

2009-09-11T17:49:00.001+01:00

Isnt it just heaven!

I shall be making a small mountain of these for the Autumn / Winter 2009.

They remind me of the Woodland flower fairies by Cicely Mary Barker.

Made in various woolly mixtures for neck enveloping softness on chilly days.