Moose or Reindeer?

The first thing I noticed about the US Olympic team as they entered BC Place during the Opening Ceremony in Vancouver, were there wonderful hats - and then I spotted their horrendous turtleneck jumpers !! Fortunately my attention went back to the hat. Hat envy took over. The idea of making said hat was inconceivable. Now don't get me wrong..... I knit a lot of hats, but hats with moose on them (or are they reindeer??) - was very much outside my scope of practice !!!

It wasn't until a few weeks ago that I met a very lovely lady at the PT clinic where I work, who was extremely keen to find a pattern for the TEAM USA hat. A couple of clicks on Ravelry later and I stumbled across this amazing pattern by Helena Bristow. So delighted in the pattern, (and maybe my PT treatment ??) - she generously gave me the yarn needed for the hat as a gift, and said I should give it a go !!!!

So after a little visit to the Yarn Studio, and Cathy's marvellous tuition, I learned the fairisle/stranding method of knitting and my Olympic hat is now very much underway..............

I'm using Lambs Pride Worsted Navy Sailor and White Frost Yarn

Just about to start the moose/reindeer - so excited about how its turning out!

St.Patricks Day.........

A few days late, but this was my entry to the Etsy Shredwear St. Patricks Day competition - a cosy clover cowl. Knitted in seed stitch, with gorgeous kelly green wool. A knitted leprechaun outfit would have been even cooler - maybe that will be next years entry !!!

Dropping Stitches

I learnt a new stitch - and I am very excited by how it looks. Its called a 'drop stitch'.

Combining the drop stitch with a garter stitch formed this toasty tube scarf !!

Its super easy to do - knit each stitch as normal, but instead of wrapping the wool around the needle once, wrap it 3 times. Repeat on all the stitches across the row. On the next row, knit each stitch, dropping the extra wrap off the needle as you complete the stitch.

To make the tube scarf as seen, I used size 15 mm straight needles (US 19), garter stitch for 8 rows and then one row of drop stitch, repeating this sequence until in was long enough to wrap around my neck twice. I then cast off using the 'three needle bind off technique'. Dropping stitches has never been so fun !!

Wear it long or wear it wrapped multiple times around your neck to keep you extra snug !!!

ETSY Shredwear Team Member

Etsy Shredwear has officially become an Etsy team - and immidesigns is an official member!!

Check out the blog - and learn about the other members who are handmaking clothing & accessories for all you snowboarders and skiers out there. I'm loving the bandanas from Cyanide Stitches - too cool !!

Florence

My beautiful niece Florence Grace Bellairs was born on December 3rd 2009 !!!! I was lucky enough to spend her first Christmas with her in the UK, and it really was the best Christmas in a very long time !!!

Flo in her festive Christmas outfit with Auntie Hels

I decided the birth of my very first niece was a great excuse to knit a really awesome baby outfit and perhaps follow a complicated knitting pattern for the first time too !!!!!! I found an adorable pattern in Pipsqueak Knits. This wonderful 'Sleepy time - sleep sac' pattern looked great. Ideal for little Flo to kick her legs around in, whilst still keeping nice and snug in her very own sleeping bag.

This is how it looked in the book

.........and this is the finished product with Flo looking delicious !!

The knifty knitter hat, which I also made, kept her lovely little noggin warm - albeit with a bobble that I might even have to agree was a little too big !!!!!

So darn cute it almost makes me want to have one - and then I remember my poor sister being a sleep deprived, 24 hour milk bar, with those poor swollen ankles............and I'm swiftly reminded that there REALLY is plenty of time for all that !!!!!!!

Knit yourself to good health !!

Who would have thought knitting would get so much good press and be so good for you? Interestingly I just stumbled across not one but two articles published by the BBC about how knitting is good for your health.

The first article claims knitting can delay memory loss, and reduce the risk of memory impairment by 40%. While the second article talks about how knitting relieves the stresses of modern life and how the repetitive action can create a trance like state which creates general relaxation and helps to reduce stress. So all this knitting not only makes me happy and relaxed, but also is stopping me from losing my marbles. Fantastic!

It is actually really interesting to read this because I cannot agree more with the second article and just hope the first one is correct. I would say knitting is like meditation but for someone who has a little ADHD. I couldn't possible sit still, meditating and humming to myself - I have too many things whirling around in my head - but with knitting, if I am counting stitches and repeating patterns I do get into a relaxed state and can empty my head of all the whirlyness !!! (not sure thats a word - but you know what I mean !!). Furthermore the joy of having made something from nothing is so delighting, that I'm sure the happy hormones are in over drive. So what are you waiting for - grab your needles and a delicious ball of scrummy wool and knit yourself to good health !!!

Move over Martha!

Having religiously watched Project Runway over the past few months I was inspired to spread my craft wings and learn how to sew. Luckily for me I got an amazing sewing machine for my birthday, so I got right on the band wagon and blindly jumped in. As someone who isn't proficient with using a sewing machine I fortunately stumbled across a great website - sew mama sew - and found my first project - rice therapy bags. As a Physiotherapist I use heat and cold therapy a lot - so these were the perfect thing for me, and as someone who suffers with frozen feet 95% of the time - I now use the heat bag an abnormally large amount of time - I even stick it in my bed at night to keep my toes nice and toasty !!! Not so great for Chris as he isn't a massive fan of the smell - but if my feet are warm - life is good !!! I used lemongrass essential oil for the heat bag and peppermint for the 'boo boo' bag. These are going to make great Christmas pressies too. Now all I've got to do is decide what my second sewing project will be.......................?? Move over Martha - here I come..........