Twixmas

So apparently that awkward bit between Christmas and New Year is called Twixmas - who knew? I hope you've been having a lovely break so far. Now that the big day is over (sigh) I am safe to share with you a few of the presents I whipped up for the relli's (or relatives). I became quite the Wool and the Gang groupie and knitted a few extra Zion lion hats, including an 8-bit beanie and a Giles Eek hat to go with the 1984 beanie I wittered on about in an earlier post. The picture's aren't amazing I'm afraid as seconds after leaving the needles - the hats were swiftly wrapped and placed beneath the tree! Last minute - me?

Reasons to knit

Source: 1, 2, 3, & 4 below

Why not pick up some needles and get knitting? Not only can it be extremely relaxing, but it can make watching the TV or listening to a podcast say seem more fulfilling. Just the other day my Ma was telling me that Sigmund Freud's youngest daughter used to knit during analytic hours - now there's multitasking! To top things off there are now a multitude of useful blogs, books and clubs concerning the art. All of which dispel the myth that you have to be female, over the age of 50 and own at least one cat to qualify.  Choose ethical wool for your creations and you'll have one of the most YOEF abiding items hanging in your wardrobe. Trust me, it's oddly addictive.

Twist Headband

Becca

Chipped nail polish, messy hair and blurred pictures -- all signs that its been a little busier around here of late. But ... I won't complain. The past three weeks have been full of good company, tasty food and perhaps a little too much alcohol. I fell back in love with Edinburgh, longed for the cool salty water of Brighton and discovered what its like to be at a conference, but purely as an observer. Should you wish to make something, whilst attempting to be both  overly studious and sociable  (and perhaps failing at both) - I'd recommend Elisa McLaughlin's Parisian Twist headband/ ear warmer pattern. Without sounding like too much of a knitting geek - it's really straightforward, but has an ingenious method to increase stitches ... anyway, I'm hoping Becca approves. Happily, things have calmed down somewhat and I'm indulging in an exceptionally lazy Saturday. Hope you're having a good weekend too!

DIY Chevron Blanket

 

Sorry for the drought of posts recently, I have been busy prepping for a rather exciting trip - more of that later. For now, I bring you a knitted lap-blanket I made for my nan's birthday. I'm hoping it will keep her snug when she sits on her patio as the cool summer evenings draw in. I knitted it up in a bamboo/wool blend, so its super soft. Not quite sure what went on when I was picking skeins of wool though - my current obsession with mustard, blue and grey is erring on the unhealthy ... 

Anyhow, for other stick and wool wielders out there, I used the following pattern to get my chevrons: 

cast on a multiple of 12 stitches, plus 3 stitches to balance the pattern and work as follows ... 

Row 1: (RS) k1, k2tog, *k4, (k1, yo, k1) in next st, k4, sl next 2 sts tog as if to knit, k1, psso (double decrease); rep from * to last 3 sts, end ssk, k1

Row 2: Knit 

Repeat rows 1 and 2 for pattern

** I used hot mustard (174) & scooby blue (121) for the contrasting chevrons and warm grey (170) for the body. It took roughly 2 balls of each colour to make the full blanket **