Dolly cardigan update

The cardigan is making slow but steady progress and I’m so pleasedwith it so far! I have never knitted anything this complex before (ok so hardly complex but it is for me!) and there are a few minor mistakes but overall I’m happy so far. Now I think the sleeves may be a bit more tricky but I’ll try and work it out (oh thank-you You Tube)

It’s the perfect size for a little learning project and an excuse to use up left over wool too. The ravelry pattern is here and it’s very simple to follow.

Taking part in this week’s Yarn Along from Small Things an Crafting on from Frontier Dreams

(PS. I’m still reading Anita Shreve’s ‘Rescue’ and found it hard to get into at the begining but I’m now hooked!)

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Giveaway from ‘Eleanor Makes Nice’

Oh my I was excited when my post just came through the letterbox today, it was some absolutely adorable jewelry from the lovely Etsy Store; ‘Eleanor Makes Nice’

Eleanor lives nearby us in rural Wiltshire and In 2009 earned a BA in music composition with visual arts practices from Dartington College of Arts in Devon, where she specialised in the hammered dulcimer and folk harp. In Eleanor’s words:

I had always found high street jewellery too gaudy, traditional jewellery too fussy, and set out to create the simple, unusual and practical jewellery I wanted to wear.

I find inspiration for my pieces in natural history collections, English folk music, and the wildlife and countryside that surrounds my home.

I make each piece entirely by hand – saw piercing sheet metal, drilling holes, soldering components and connecting pieces. My current range is entirely made to order, so there are no mass-production methods involved.

Here are just some of the beautiful pieces available in her lovely Etsy store:

Now for the best bit – your chance to win these beautiful bird earings. I can proudly say I own a pair too and they are just so nice to wear!:

Either:

• leave a comment below.
• share this giveaway on the web (blog post, twitter, facebook etc) and let me know that you have done so.
• ‘like’ my facebook page (over there at the top on the right) and let me know that you have done so.

(or do all 3 for 3 chances to win!)

The winner will be drawn on 28th Feb – good luck everyone! xx

(Pssst. – head over to Eleanor’s beautiful blog for more information about her and what she does best!)

Knitted hat complete and knitting for Aids orphans of South Africa

I finished the hat made with the lovely wool from Six Skeins – it is the nicest wool I have ever worked with! I’m pleased with the hat, there is a slight mistake by the seam but overall it’s made me happy.

I have now knitted 2 x hats and one is too small for ‘T’ and this one is not really needed (she has 2 hats already – how many hats does a 2 year old really need?!). This week my husband was watching the BBC World News in the evening and my ears pricked up when I heard about the poor children in Afghanistan who were being supplied with hats by charity workers. Within seconds I was searching on Google and came accross many fab charities which provide for such terrible circumstances some of these children have to deal with. I’m not sure how or why I decided on this particular charity, probably because they accept hats, jumpers, knitted squares and all sorts of other knitted goods to go to their children, but Knit A Square provides knitted goods for the Aids orphans of South Africa:

I already had a little stash of crochet squares (given to me along with the wool from freecycle), the hats and a few other bits and now I’m knitting furiously to see how much of the left-over wool that I have will make of a blanket for one super grateful little person.

If you fancy joining in, or know a school, work-place or group that could get involved then please have a look here for more information.

Even if you have never knitted before, knitting a simple 20cm square is not that hard (I’ve only recently learned and there are so many tutorials on youtube to help you)

(taking part in this week’s Handmade Monday from 1st Unique Gifts x)

Winner of Six Skeins Giveaway revealed

Thank you all for the great interest in this giveaway, it’s such beautiful yarn so there’s no surprise it was so popular!

By using random.org I have randomly selected 1 x winner to choose 100g yarn from the Six Skeins etsy store (excluding lace)…………..

and the winner is……………..

Rachel (huggermugger)

Congratulations!!!

Please contact the lovely Steph from Six Skeins to arrange your prize

And many thanks to all those that entered, keep your eyes close for some other fab giveaways coming soon as well as the current one for winning some adorable Chunky Bunting – click here xx

this moment

this moment} – A Friday ritual. A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. – soulemama

(feel free to add a link to your own ‘this moment’ in the comment section below)

A cardigan for dolly…

Here’s the start of what may hopefully turn into something that will resemble a cardigan for the Dolly fot T’s Birthday, I have a stash of small amounts of wool and thought a dolly pattern would be good practice for something a bit more taxing than hat. So far so good, though there is PLENTY of time for mistakes yet!

I have started reading Anita Shreve’s ‘Rescue’ this week, I’m finding it less easy to absorb than her last book (‘Let It Snow’) though I think that may have something to do with the amount of concentration I am left with when I get around to picking up my book.

Joining in with this weeks ‘Yarn Along’ from Small Things and ‘Crafting On’ from Frontier Dreams x

Bunting giveaway from ‘Chunky Bunting’ (& a winner!!)

It’s time for another giveaway!

This week’s giveaway is for your chance to win some of the beautiful bunting made by Kate from Chunky Bunting!!

Kate is kindly offering the winner some of the most adorable red gingham and floral bunting, it has been beautifully made and is sure to brigten up a nursery, bedroom, garden party……..the possibilities are endless:

Here are a couple of the other many other pieces she has created:

Kate also makes cushions, pillow, aprons and more so be sure to contact her if there is anything you would like her to make for you.

For your 2 chances to win, either:

• leave a comment below.
• share this giveaway on the web (blog post, twitter, facebook etc) and let me know that you have done so.

(or do both!)

This giveaway is open to the UK only, the winner will be drawn in the second week of March and announced shortly after so all entries must be in by then- good luck! x

And now for a winner:

I have used random.org to select a winner from the previous giveaway from naturalmat – the organic swaddle cloth by Aden and Anais………

The winner is……………Twinkle Toes!! – Congratulations!! I will be in touch to arrange shipment!