After a long break from knitting I'm finally back!

I took a break,  I was half sorting my life out,  half being extremely lazy! 
I've decided to get back into knitting with the "Baa-ble Hat" from Ravelry.  It looks gorgeous. 
I'm using:
Jarol Shetland Milk DK in shade 2 (looks sandy, natural)
Jarol Shetland Mist DK in shade 4 (looks light blue)
Patons Fab DK in white
Patons Fab DK in black

I've only knitted the rib so far and the hard bit is ahead of me.   I've also altered it so I'm knitting on straight needles with a seam as I haven't had the time to buy DPNS yet. 

I've been on a knitting cull recently.

You know that feeling you get when you're completely bored of knitting after constantly making presents for other people for months in the run up to Christmas.  The stress of not knowing if you're going to finish everyone's presents on time was just too much for me.  I have knitted one hat since Christmas and one mitten.  I really need to get around to knitting the other mitten otherwise these are kind of going to go to waste!  

I am so annoyed at myself for forgetting to take pictures of my knitted presents for Christmas.  I knitted a gorgeous marble scarf for my brother and he's gone back home before I remembered I wanted a picture of it.  I did knit my friends bottle sweaters though and I have a picture of one of them.  They are just adorable and I love that there are button holes so you can actually decide how buttoned up you want it to be!  You can find the pattern in my previous posts!

I am currently in the process of applying for new university courses for the next couple of years and it's stressing me out so much.  I will knit new things soon! My mother is knitting an aran patchwork blanket at the minute so I might upload a few snaps of it when she has more done!

I have been so ill recently

I haven't even had a chance to talk to my friends so even thinking about knitting was way in the back of my mind.  But my mum has been so kind and helped me so much to finish off all my christmas presents so that's one worry out of my mind. 
I have a new love for marble wool.  It's so nice to knit with and not know what colour combination is coming next.  I just hope that everyone likes their gifts.  I've added a hat to the bottom of this post that I made for a friend to give as a gift.  The pattern for this is already on my blog/ravelry page.  People have actually started offering to pay for items which is brilliant too!
Now I'm not sick anymore I can get back to my challenge of knitting a pair of those fingerless mittens with the fold over mitten top!  Wish me luck :)

I have been a busy bee lately getting ready for Christmas.

I've barely put my needles down to pick up my computer.  I've knitted bottle cosies, tea cosies, mittens and my latest endeavour is a lovely cable hat!  I've knitted this hat before, so it only took me a few hours to do, albeit those few hours were over the course of a few days once my work commitments took over.  I'm just glad I have my knitting to keep me warm on these cold winter days!


The pattern is available as a free download on Ravelry and is by Patons.  It is knit with chunky wool and takes about 100g altogether.  The notes for the pattern are as follows:




"No need for circular or double-pointed needles as you knit this tri-colored hat flat and seam it up the back. Seaming technique video tutorial link in PDF. (Patons Yarns)

Patons Shetland Chunky 
(100 g/3.5 oz; 136 m/148 yds) 
3 colors, 1 ball each: 
Contrast A Oxford Grey (78046) 
Contrast B Steel Blue (78105) 
Contrast C Soft Teal (78209)

Sizes 5.5 mm (U.S. 9) and 6 mm (U.S. 10) knitting needles 
Cable needle

Worked flat. Seam and add Pom-Pom to finish."

My hat (the picture at the top) is knitted with a chunky marble wool but I cannot remember the brand of this wool!  It is really easy to knit and the best part is it is knitting flat so you don't have any bother with circular needles!!  The first one I did (pictured below) is knittedin two different grey yarns, both super chunky.

Let me know how it goes for you!

Knitting a really simple reversible hat!

I was always knitting my hats from the same pattern, so when my friends and family wanted me to knit them a hat they were always getting the same and I wanted to spice things up.  For this pattern I use 10mm needles and chunky wool but sometimes, if i want different strands throughout I use three different strands of DK wool.  I knit this on straight needles, although you can use a circular needle if you don't want to knit a seam, I just cannot work with circular needles at all!  It's also a great way to use up left over wool!
I don't knit this based on a specific amount of rows because the wool can often end up knitting differently and I rarely swatch before I begin!  Feel free to comment if you need any advice but it really is pretty simple!

Time: Short
Effort: Easy
Size: One size, but you can add/remove stitches to suit.  It's pretty flexible.

What you need:

10mm needles (US size 15)
Two different coloured balls of chunky wool - 50g for rib, 100g for main body.
Scissors
Knitter's sewing needle

Terminology:
K- Knit
P - Purl
s2togkpo - slip the next two stitches one at a time onto the needle, knit the next stitch, pass the slipped stitches together over the last stitch.  This forms a leaning double decrease.
K2tog - Knit next two stitches together.


This pattern is now available on Ravelry!  
or click on this button to buy instantly