Crafting 365 :: 1-7 ::

You may have read last week about the challenge I set myself to craft every day, well I really do craft every day so the challenge is really to document the crafting. If you follow me on Instagram you'll have seen my pictures popping up daily, I was actually a day late with yesterday's but it's there now.

So here is what I go up to ::

I finished 1 project (well actually I finished 2 but one is a secret!), which was my neon shawl, using the gorgeous Techno Boom yarn from Pollyorange. I was making this for myself but it looks super cute on Effie, so I think it's been rehomed. I will share the pattern for this super simple garter knit shawl on the blog soon.

I worked on 3 different work projects.

I finished the main knitting for the Arlo cardigan I'm knitting as a school sweater for Milo (spurred on by the fact the mr said I couldn't start any sewing projects until I finished this). It's currently soaking ready for blocking, seaming and the knitting of the button band.

I printed off and read the instructions for the dungaree dress from Marilla Walker's Roberts Collection. I'm really hoping to get this whipped up to wear to the Handmade Fair this weekend. I wouldn't hold your breath, but you never know!

If you want to join in, please do, it's been lovely seeing everyone else's projects this week. There's no official start date, just jump on in whenever you like (though I would recommend numbering your photos so you can keep track of where you are in the 365 days), simply craft, capture, share, use the hashtag #crafting365.

WIP wednesday :: Puerperium Cardigan

Inspired by nicsknots, who was in turn inspired by Tami Amis I am going to start sharing with you my wip's (work in progress) on a wednesday and my fo's (finished objects) on a friday, this is an attempt to get me working through all those unfinished items and all that stashed yarn, and trust me there are many of both to share with you!

However today I have a very newly begun project (around about 10pm last night) worked in some newly acquired yarn (purchased yesterday around about lunchtime). As you can see this practice is really going to serve it's purpose!

Also inspired by nicsknots I am knitting the puerperium cardigan by Kelly Brooker. This pattern has been in my favourites on ravelry for quite some time now and as I have a cousin expecting early summertime, I thought it the perfect opportunity to cast it on.

I am loving both the yarn (Debbie Bliss, baby cashmerino) and the patten so far, Kelly's patterns are written out so clearly in a real step by step way, which is great. I knitted (though I then frogged) her vanilla soaker a while back, though the finished item wasn't quite right, I'm not sure that was the fault of the pattern or the knitter, but I do remember the pattern itself being very easy to follow.

I'm thinking this may well be friday's FO at this rate!

my ravelry notes :: here

the pattern is available for free :: here

the yarn is :: here

Cardi in 4 days? Day 4 :: Complete ::

I did it! With a little last minute crochet on the train and some late night weaving in and button sewing, I finished the cardi, though it's probably more of a shrug. I even made the buttons myself, with a little help from the toddler.

I made it a lot shorter than I intended, not just because of the tight deadline (promise), but also because the dress had such a high waist band, I thought it would look better if it stopped where the skirt began.

I like it a lot and I think it went really well with the dress (I didn't have time to block it, which looking at the photo it probably would have benefited from) and it did it's job of keeping me warm, though it was hardly required what with it being such a delightfully warm sunny day!

This is the only picture I have, because I tend to take all the photo's and truth be told Johnny really has no idea how to use the camera, but I think you get the idea.

I am a little behind with my pattern writing at the moment, but I will write this one up when I get a chance.

Cardi in 4 days? Day 2 ::

Almost finished with the bottom now :)

In fact depending on how I go it may be finished, as on trying it on with the dress it stops perfectly at the waist. Although I am concerened that it flares out a little too much. So I'm going to work on the sleeves today and if I get them done in time I may even frog the bottom and make it a little less flouncy, you know because I haven't given myself a tight enough deadline as it is!

Cardi in 4 days? Day 1 ::

So I am going to a wedding on Saturday, for which I have decided to make myself a cardigan to wear with this gorgeous dress from digforvictory :

Of course I have left it entirely to the last minute and started yesterday! I did purchase myself some Aran weight yarn to try and make the whole process a little quicker and I also intended to crochet it. However after doing a little swatch, crochet on the yoke with the Aran was just much to bulky, so now I am knitting the yoke (I'm working top down) and going to crochet a lace pattern on the bottom and arms.

I have oh so nearly finished the yoke, but with 3 days left, I must admit I'm not feeling all that hopeful!

Wish me luck!