All posts in category Neck warmers

The first finish of 2014!

Hi everyone,

My daughter really does know what I like. She brought me this wool all the way from Stowe, Vermont, USA. As you can see in the photo, the yarn is from an alpaca. Her name is Nessun Dorma and she lives at Sugarbush Alpacas in Stowe. Isn’t it wonderful how we can trace the origin of such wonderful natural products these days, even down to the individual animal that it came from?

I knitted a neck warmer using this free pattern on Ravelry and added some vintage leather look buttons from my stash. This has to be the warmest and softest wool I have ever used. It’s gorgeous! Just what I need to keep out the chilly winter 🙂

My crocheted ripple blanket is progressing nicely and I’ve almost got one motif completed in the Cirque des Cercles cross stitch SAL that I’m doing with Claire and Izz. You’ll have to wait a couple of weeks for a photo update on those.

Last but not least, don’t forget to take part in the Chicken Run over at my patchwork blog Oh Sew Tempting. You have to agree to do something fun to be eligible to enter so hop across and see what it’s all about before it’s too late!

Thank you for all your lovely comments. Have a wonderful weekend

Avis x

19 Comments

by Sewing Beside the Sea on January 18, 2014 • Permalink

Posted in 2014, Finished!, Knitting, Neck warmers

Tagged button, Cirque des Cercles, craft, cross stitch, Cross-stitch, DMC, embroidery, fabric, floss, free, handmade, Ink Circles, interior design, knitting, Needlework, pattern, wool, yarn

Posted by Sewing Beside the Sea on January 18, 2014

https://sewingbesidethesea.wordpress.com/2014/01/18/the-first-finish-of-2014/

It’s that time of year again!

Hi everyone,

It’s the time of year when my knitting needles are screaming out to be put to good use. I love those dark winter nights when I can curl up on the sofa under a quilt and knit.

I have no idea what made me park up the car and take a long stroll down our mini high street yesterday. Maybe the knitting magnet pulled me towards the wool shop Winking smile . I found this yarn and had to buy some. I found more colours in this online shop and it is cheaper than the high street store that I went to. I bought one ball of South Downs shade (purple) and one of Glens (blue).

http://www.deramores.com/king-cole-country-tweed?gclid=CKq5ubTKnrsCFUflwgodV1EAiQ

OK, I know I wasn’t compelled to purchase and I had no projects in mind, but by the time I got home, I couldn’t wait to get started. Here’s some photos of my progress.

Isn’t it lovely how each colour randomly morphs into the next one?

There’s also little flecks of brighter colours which add a bit of extra interest when you get close up. You have probably guessed that I decided to knit a scarf so here’s where I’m up to now.

It’s 26 inches long and I’m looking forward to knitting more tonight Smile .

The pattern repeats every 6 rows and the cables are reversible. I’ve always avoided doing cables on a scarf before because the back wouldn’t look great. This pattern solves the problem. The back looks the same as the front except there are 5 cable twists on one side and six on the other. If you want to try the pattern designed by Jan Cullen it is free here http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/caswell-scarf. Thank you for your generosity Jan! The pattern explains that to increase the width of the scarf you just need to add multiples of seven stitches to the cast on stage, which I did. This wool is nice and snuggly, not prickly like some yarns can be.

Before I go, I need to mention Angela who has sent me this from the other side of the world Smile .

I won a prize!!! Angela of Pretty Little Things in a Box offered to send me something handmade or a shop bought prize and she wanted me to choose BUT I like surprises….so I asked her to choose for me. So this little Christmas Bauble shaped package will be going under my Christmas tree. I have a good idea what it is because I couldn’t resist feeling around the parcel but I’m going to open it on Christmas morning Smile . Thank you so much Angela! There is a little something on its way to you now. I hope Santa can deliver it to you before Christmas!

Well, that’s it for now. I hope you are all finding time to craft if you are preparing for the Festive Season. Have fun!

Avis x

6 Comments

by Sewing Beside the Sea on December 8, 2013 • Permalink

Posted in Knitting, Neck warmers

Tagged cable, craft, free, knit, knitting, needles, pattern, purple, scarf, wool, yarn

Posted by Sewing Beside the Sea on December 8, 2013

https://sewingbesidethesea.wordpress.com/2013/12/08/its-that-time-of-year-again/

Throwing down the gauntlet!

Happy Saturday everyone and a special warm welcome to my new followers!

You may remember this lovely hand dyed yarn that I bought on the Waternish Peninsula, Isle of Skye from Shilasdair.

Well, it now looks like this Smile

The pattern was free from Ravelry and it is called Easy Peazy Shawl 2.0, designed by a very generous lady called Megan. It always amazes me that crafters are so willing to share their ideas. Thank you Megan Smile You can visit her blog by clicking here. Megan also has other patterns available and I’m sure I’ll be knitting more of them as this one was really well written. I did change it very slightly at the end because I only had 660 yards of yarn and the pattern requires 770 yards. Basically, I omitted the final repeat pattern and added an extra border. It’s certainly big enough for me. I haven’t knitted with a circular needle before. However, this shawl is knit back and forth rather than in the round. I’m really happy with the result. I haven’t blocked it yet but I don’t think it needs to be so I probably won’t bother.

Here is a closer view of the bottom point. This wool is soooo soft and snuggly.

Now for your challenge….

My daughter has bought me a little prezzie.

This lovely little bundle is from Kate Sharp near Edinburgh. She has her own sheep and spins and dyes her wool. Unfortunately, I don’t think she has a web site but she sells wool like this at the Edinburgh Farmer’s Market if you’d like to pop along and buy some of your own.

The only problem is, I only have 30 (yes three zero) grams of this wool. Your challenge is to suggest something I could knit with 30g of double knit (8 ply) yarn. If it helps, there are 90 yards altogether. If you could recommend a particular pattern at the same time, that would be great.

I’m all ears!

Avis x

14 Comments

by Sewing Beside the Sea on November 9, 2013 • Permalink

Posted in 2013, Finished!, Knitting, Neck warmers

Tagged circular needle, easy, knitting, pattern, ravelry, shawl, wool, yarn

Posted by Sewing Beside the Sea on November 9, 2013

https://sewingbesidethesea.wordpress.com/2013/11/09/throwing-down-the-gauntlet/