FO – Laika

Posted on 3rd February 2013 by Steph

Sorry for the massive absence of posts in January – it was one thing after the other all month. I have been really busy with work, went on holiday to Bulgaria snowboarding and then got ill – I only just feel like I’m getting back to normal.

So, Laika – I started knitting this in the Summer and finished it in October so why the wait for blogging? Well, though it fitted – I knew that it could fit a lot better. I finally got around to taking some pictures last Sunday and I absolutely love my new hoodie.

Pattern – Laika by Ysolda Teague

Yarn – Wollmeise Lace-Garn in Fritzi Frizzante.

Size – 36″ bust

Buttons – Vintage look yellow buttons (love!)

Needles – 3.25mm Knit Pro metal interchangeable circulars (managed to bend one of them majorly)

Started – 26 July 2012

Finished – 2nd October 2012

Comments/Mods – Absolutely love. No mods made and feel like knitting another one (maybe – what is wrong with me!? It took so long!) with a zipper.

Ravlink – here

Posted in Crafting, FO, Knitting | 6 Comments

In a bit, 2012

Posted on 31st December 2012 by Steph

Following Andi‘s format here:

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

I’ve saved the best for last – can’t forget the Epic TARDIS

And all the best for 2013 :)

Posted in Crafting | 6 Comments

FO – Game of Thrones Waterhouses

Posted on 7th December 2012 by Steph

Things have gotten a little…hectic at Stephcuddles HQ. I found out on Wednesday that I had been linked to by the Yarn Harlot on her ‘gifts for knitters’ feature. Since then there has been a lot of views, a lot of favourites and a lot of orders through my etsy store. I currently have a pile of packages which I will be taking to the post office first thing tomorrow morning. But yes, things are a little hectic as I’m working full time at quite a demanding job and then spending any other available time packaging orders. I loves it though :)

Right, onto the FO.

Pattern – Waterhouse Mitts by Patricia Martin

Yarn – Old Maiden Aunt Merino Superwash 4ply in Mormont and Targaryen

Needles – 2.75mm DPNs and 4mm for the cast on and cast off

Started – 28th November 2012

Finished – 2nd December 2012

Comments/Mods – Unchanged :) still love this pattern and I have started knitting a third pair – this time for me! Mwahahahahahaha.

Ravlink – here

Posted in Crafting | 4 Comments

Yarny Saturday, Relaxing Sunday

Posted on 3rd December 2012 by Steph

I had a lovely time this weekend. On Saturday I made an awesome chicken casserole in the slow cooker and then went out for the day with a friend I have met through work. We went first of all to the farmer’s market at Snape Maltings where I bought a couple of Christmas presents for my mum and her partner.

We then got back in the car and drove to Woodbridge. We went to visit the lovely yarn shop TWIST. Kate needed to get a ball of Cocoon to finish her project and I just like looking at yarn.

After drooling for a little while I ended up buying…

Araucania Botany Lace in a lovely greeny/blue

Schoeller+Stahl Fortissima Color in a manly grey.

The Araucania is for me me me, the Schoeller+Stahl is going to be a pair of socks for my mum’s partner. Maybe one of them will be in time for christmas…

We then had a look around town, got some awesome coffee from Honey and Harvey and picked up some magazines from WHSmiths.

On Sunday after my run in the freezing cold, I settled in with a coffee, a bowl of porridge and my magazines…

I also worked on my second pair of Waterhouse Mitts…

All in all, a brilliant weekend – a perfect mixture of company, places and relaxing at home. This week should be an alright one at work as last week was more than a little hectic. Also looking forward to next weekend as I’ll be going to a couple of concerts.

Posted in Crafting, Stashing | 2 Comments

FO – Waterhouse Mitts

Posted on 29th November 2012 by Steph

Last Christmas I said that I would knit my Aunt Jac some fingerless mitts. She chose the colours (purple and white) and the pattern (Ysolda Teague’s Cottonreel Mitts). I started them on holiday but they ended up awful and gaping and ugh!

I took a big long break from even thinking about what to knit Aunt Jac…until this Sunday. I had a little look at my Ravelry queue and found a perfect pattern!

Pattern – Waterhouse Mitts by Patricia Martin

Yarn – Old Maiden Aunt Merino Superwash 4ply in Ultraviolet and Natural

Needles – 2.75mm DPNs and 4mm for the cast on and cast off

Started – 25th November 2012

Finished – 27th November 2012

Comments/Mods – No mods, totally love this pattern and I absolutely love how neat the reverse is!

Ravlink – here

I love this pattern so much I have started a second pair already…

Posted in Crafting | 1 Comment

FO – Baskerville

Posted on 26th November 2012 by Steph

This is the second pattern in the OMA-KarieBookish yarn/pattern club. I absolutely LOVE this yarn – I really want to get more of it and knit up a gorgeous jumper.

Pattern – Baskerville by Karina Westermann

Yarn – Old Maiden Aunt Bluefaced Leicester DK in Grimpen Mire

Needles – 3.25mm and 4mm Knit Pro interchangeable circulars

Started – 12th November 2012

Finished – 18th November 2012

Comments/Mods – None at all, just knit to the pattern with lots leftover (mitts???).

Ravlink – here

And for Viv – the dress went over well and I will try find out what the grey knitting was when I go to knit and natter tonight :)

Posted in Crafting, FO, Knitting | 1 Comment

Knit and Natter Aldeburgh

Posted on 22nd November 2012 by Steph

On Monday evening I went along to the first ever Knit and Natter meeting in Aldeburgh. We met up at 7.30pm in the Mill Inn and we will be meeting every week at the same time. Here are a couple of photos from the evening (and yes, there were only 3 of us but there should be more next week). All pics by the lovely Bec :)

I have a very busy day at work today which involves getting a coach to London with a lot of colleagues. And just to let people know – I have re-opened my etsy shop after a little break. I took a little time out as I was trying to get used to working full time but now feel able to open up again as I’m coping with everything a lot better.

Posted in Crafting | 5 Comments

Done and Half Done and Stashing

Posted on 19th November 2012 by Steph

This weekend I finished Baskerville.

I finished the first sock of my Back to Basics socks. The yarn is Hot Socks India by Four Seasons Gründl.

And I received the most gorgeous yarn in the post today which was a lovely gift from FleecedHandspun (on twitter) THANK YOU SO MUCH ESMEE!!!!!

I hope everyone has had a great weekend. I journeyed to Ipswich on Saturday to do a bit of posh dress shopping for my big work function on Thursday and I met up with the ever lovely Vivianne. Viv needed a bit of knitting technique help and I was happy to oblige! (Viv’s blogpost on the subject is here)

So, last week I went to my first ever WI meeting and I met some lovely ladies who are interested in starting a Knit and Natter in Aldeburgh. Our first meeting is going to be tonight in a local pub – I’m really looking forward to it!

Posted in Crafting | 1 Comment

FO – Posh Cria

Posted on 15th November 2012 by Steph

I finished this a little bit ago but haven’t really felt like taking a photo of myself wearing it until recently. I even put it on the sculpture in the garden rather than take a picture of myself.

Pattern – Cria by Ysolda Teague

Yarn – Posh Yarn Martha Sport in (can’t remember the colourway – will check at home later, something to do with Thunder?)

Buttons – Gorgeous commissioned buttons from Fey Designs on etsy

Needles – 3.5mm Knit Pro symfonie interchangeable circulars

Started – July 2012

Finished – 31st August 2012

Comments/Mods – Second time knitting a Cria – really really love the yarn and had to squeak out the last bit to finish the sleeves. I knew I couldn’t do full length so just did as much as I could and do a few rows of garterstitch to finish. Really enjoy wearing this as it goes with so many dresses/tops.

Ravlink – here

I do love knitting Ysolda’s patterns and I hope my next jumper will be Skelf from her Little Red in the City book.

I hope everyone is having a good week!

Posted in Crafting | 4 Comments

Back to Basics

Posted on 13th November 2012 by Steph

I’m going completely back to basics with this new project…

A plain but lovely vanilla sock for me.

I got this yarn on a whim on Saturday in Saxmundham. I wanted to find out where I could get some passport photos taken and found myself in the yarn shop instead. My thought process went a little something like this:

‘I love yarn…I don’t need anymore yarn though…wonder if I could just ask the lady where to get photos taken without buying anything…naaaaah…got to buy something…oooooooh pretties…too expensive for a whim….ooooh lovely affordable sock yarn I haven’t used before…buy buy buy…don’t forget to ask about the passport photos…aw yeah…yarn and photos’

I have also started knitting on the Old Maiden Aunt/Karie Bookish November knit kit…

I absolutely love the look of twisted rib, I don’t even mind the process of doing it though I know a lot of people hate to knit it.

Do you find going back to basics helps when you’re in a bit of a knitting/life funk? Simple rib and stocking stitch is so soothing to me and I find I’m reaching for this sock over other, more complicated projects.

Posted in Crafting, Knitting, WIP | 3 Comments