lacy sweater pattern ::

now available for purchase is the 'lacy sweater' pattern I originally designed for inside crochet issue 25.

It's a fairly simple sweater, worked in a lace pattern repeat.  The sweater is worked in one piece from bottom up in the round.  Originally worked in cotton this light garment, is a great feminine edition to a spring/summer wardrobe. 

ravelry page :: here

yarn :: here 

child's raglan sweater pattern ::

Now available for purchase, is the child's raglan pattern, I originally designed for 'Inside Crochet'.

This easy, chunky weight, child's sweater, is great for beginners, a simple, quick to work, versatile jumper.

I used a discontinued yarn, by paton's for the original I made for Milo, and Wendy Mode Chunky (a lovely soft merino) for the Inside Crochet sample, but any chunky weight yarn would work.  It would be great in cotton for a warmer weather sweater for example.

ravelry page :: here

yarn :: wendy mode chunky 

in the garden ::

so it has not exactly been sunny here the last couple of weeks, in fact it has been positively miserable.  It has been rainy forever, well it certainly feels that way.  As a result my garden is very much behind compared to this time last year.

But there is still stuff happening, plants are still growing, fruits are appearing, and even, ever, ever so slowly beginning to ripen.

blueberries, we have lots lots more than last year (the bushes first year) and they are looking much bigger this year too, though I'm guessing they are still a way from ripening.

   

 cornflower, the first to open, last year I had flowers in April!

 

 

courgette, I'm fairly sure that by this time last year, we were already putting courgette in everything, this is the first and doesn't seem to be growing at all.

I'm trying not get down about it all and hoping that we'll have a lovely hot, long summer yet.  

On a more positive note we did have our first handful of raspberries a couple of days ago and a handful every day since.

Granny Heart Bunting ::

Just a note to say that my granny heart bunting, that was published in 'inside crochet' issue 24, is now available for free download on my ravelry page.

You can find it :: here

finding inspiration :: BIG knitting/crochet ::

I cannot get enough of giant knitting and crochet at the moment.  I love the way the stitches look so clean and tidy when the are so massive!

Here are a few of my favourites that have been making their way on to my pinterest boards recently ::

Source: awelltraveledwoman.tumblr.com via VickiBrown on Pinterest

Source: plaza.fi via VickiBrown on Pinterest

Source: nummynims.wordpress.com via VickiBrown on Pinterest

Source: lillysartcreationandcrafts.blogspot.com via VickiBrown on Pinterest

Source: sundayinbed.tumblr.com via VickiBrown on Pinterest

Source: ladiesandgentlemenstudio.com via VickiBrown on Pinterest

WIP wednesday :: Dahlia Cardi ::

Oh my I love this pattern, I came across it after I purchased the online edition of Interweave Knits Fall 2011, for the Pembroke Wrap pattern, as soon as I saw it I wanted to make it, but wasn't really sure my knitting skills were up to the challenge.  But I needn't have worried as it turns out they were (well so far anyway).

 

 With all the miserable rain we've had the last....hmmm....well it feels like forever, but lets say, week, I've had plenty of oportunity to stay indoors and knit.  I literally spent the whole weekend on the sofa doing just that and as a result finished the lace panel on the back in super speedy time (especially for someone so new to lace knitting) and as far as I can see without any mistakes!

 

I'm now on to the mass of stocking stitch which makes up the rest of the piece, I have a feeling this bit is going to take a long time, but I'm so eager to wear the finished piece I'm hoping this project won't get abandoned.

my ravelry notes :: here

the pattern is available from interweave knits fall 2011 :: here 

the yarn is :: here

For more WIP wednesday's check out Tami Amis' blog.

FO friday :: pembroke wrap ::

Oh my I'm a little behind, I've missed a couple of weeks, but I'm back now.  I have actually had a few FO's to share too, just not the computer time to do so.

Anyway here is a new one, literally just finished this morning and still blocking as I type, it is my first ever shawl and my first completed lace knit item too.

OK so there are quite a few mistakes in the pattern, but I don't think you'll notice when I'm wearing it, it's also quite a lot smaller than it should be.  I'm putting this down in part to the yarn, in part to the needles, and well, of course, I didn't swatch so really I deserve no sympathy.  I'm blocking it pretty hard and hoping for the best, as long as it fits around my neck I'm happy!

I had, had a couple of unsuccessfully creative days, everything was going wrong and nothing was turing out as I had hoped, as I result I really needed something satisfyingly quick to knit but a little challenging.  This pattern couldn't be more perfect for this, I cast it on last night, and as you can see it did not take long to complete!  And there was a lot of unknitting involved too!

 

 I had the yarn held up in an unfinished baby blanket that I frogged for this purpose and I really didn't use very much either, less than 4 50g balls.  It's rowan's cashsoft chunky, which I purchased from a closing down yarn shop a few years ago.  It's lovely, and I still have quite a lot left, if it didn't seem ridiculous to own 2 shawls in exactly the same colour and yarn and pattern I would knit up another!  Maybe I'll need to make one as a gift.

The pattern comes from interweave knits fall 2011 and is by Andrea Rangel, ravelry page :: here

The yarn is :: rowan cashcotton chunky (which I believe has been discontinued)

My ravelry notes :: here

For more FO Fridays check out Tami Amis' blog.