W.I.P Pikachu (Crochet)

So the above just got frogged because I forgot to count stitches and ended up with twice as many as I needed. That was about 6 hours work (don’t judge 🙂 I’m new to crochet). So it was a rather heartbreaking realisation.

My first attempt at this adorable Pikachu was using this cotton yarn. Fairly good price on Amazon – although I did find it frayed really easily. I’m definitely not recommending it for beginners.

Personally, apart from finishing off the stash yarn, I won’t be using this again. DK weight but needs about 3.5mm hook to be even slightly usable. If anyone can suggest any recommended patterns for this I would welcome as I have a few balls of yellow, red and black to use up.

Now using this yarn:

Aran weight sugar n cream. Happy days. 3.00mm hook. It’s the same brand as I used for the dog and I should have started with it really.

This is where we are so far. Much more shaping this time! Definite progress

And from above…

This project seems to be a pick up and randomly put down type of in progress work. If I’m honest, I do find this rather frustrating. But it’s my own fault because I keep changing the bag it’s in – I was only able to get these photos by tidying my lounge and finding the last bag I took this to work in.

So locating it means I can hopefully make some progress on it this weekend while I’m curled up on the sofa recovering from the flu. Today I took my first sick day for 2 and a half years. Not a brag, just a general observation that I hate being sick and that I usually have a pretty good immune system.

Immune system – you have let me down. What’s really annoying is I’m going to miss my brother in laws stag do (a Total Wipeout style assault course).

Hopefully this might make some progress, we’re both off this weekend so I might get a chance to recharge.

Love to you all and Happy Knitting!

MrsKirstyHoll

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WIP – Terribly Simple Shawl

So this is a super easy knit that I was inspired to do after seeing A Tangled Yarn’s blog post a few weeks ago. The pattern from Caitlin Ffrench got screen-shootted into my gallery and stored for a latter date.

I got bored and went rifling through my stash (mainly to see if I could justify buying more yarn – turn out that a no-go currently… damn). But what I did find was about 5 balls of cotton textured yarn which have little bobbles all the way through. Honestly, I only brought them because they were only 99p a ball…. Then I had no idea what to do with them…

…Until now.

I’m going to be honest, I love the effect it’s making – the textured yarn seems to match up really well with the lack of any interesting knitting pattern – but its so uncomfortable to knit with. This is a knit that needs to be done, as apposed to one to fall in love with. This is the first me knit I’ve done for a long time. It’s going to be my first shawl and I will take it to work with me – the aircon is freezing and it’d be nice to have an additional layer to hand to wrap around my shoulders!

The plan is to increase the size of the circular needles every 10cm or so to see what happens. Should also mean the long rows knit up a bit quicker!

That’s all from me for tonight. It’s been a long couple of days and I need to get some sleep!

Love to you all and happy Knitting!

MrsKirstyHoll

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Wip – Julia’s house donation knit

This is the original pattern. 

I got asked to knit something for a raffle at work. Wanting to ensure I could get it together on time (deadline end of July) I thought I would play it safe as go for a scarf.

I’m knitting it out of some gorgeus yarn that I found for 50p a ball (I came home with 4 balls) in a charity shop. Punch – brushed chunky. It’s not a brand I’ve used before. But its such a pleasure to knit with. 

I’m currently trying to work out what to knit with the rest of the yarn. I’m thinking I might need a scarf for myself! Anyhow, let’s get this finished ASAP.

Love to you all and happy knitting

Mrskirstyholl 

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W.I.P update

Hi all! 

For reasons I’m not going to share, I’ve ended up having a lot of knitting time this week – Lilys fine just incase you were starting to worry!

But what that does mean is that I’ve finished the picture on Lily’s blanket! I’ve still got at least another 20cm of knitting and the border to go. But this last bit should be pretty quick. 

I’m really pleased with how its turned out. Slightly edited the design to make the top of the head rounder. That’s the additional stitches in dark blue in the pic below at the one end for the top few rows. 

So off to continue knitting. Will get the colour finished and border done for the top end. Then will pick up stitches to extend colour and do border for the bottom. So nearlly there!!!

Hopefully the next one for this blanket will be a finished object post… 

Love to you all and happy knitting!

Mrskirstyholl

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W.I.P Progress Report

Made some good progress on the blanket over the last few days. Stocking stitch is making this a pretty quick knit.

The blanket is twice as wide as this – mainly wanted to show you the picture progress. 

You’ll also see that it’s rolling up at the bottow. Thinking of countering by picking up a cable stitch or ribbed stitch border. It’ll also help extend the length a bit. 

For the first few lines I was cutting and rejoining. But finding the tension remains more consistent when I’ve been weaving the colour in with the black. Also has the benefit of being less ends to weave in 🙂 (complete win!!) 

That’s all from me for now… off to stare at my yarn collection…

Love to you all and happy knitting!

Mrskirstyholl

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Be W.I.P Update

Hay guys! 

Lily is asleep (for now) and I’ve managed and shower and some housework. So definately winning.

So I’ve started back at work this week. It’s been a pretty gentle catchup week. So that’s been a great way to readjust. Hoping to get properly stuck in next week!

Patchwork blanket

I’ve picked up stitches for my border. So I’m hoping the stocking stitch could be a quick way to finish this off!

About half way through border 2. 

Odd ball/scrap yarn blanket

So this is the stocking stitch Harry Potter blanket for Lily. It’s using up the pile of yarn I have left from the patchwork and some other spare ‘what do I do with these?’ Balls from the stash.

Premmi baby blanket

This is the blanket I’m knitting as part of the preemi knitting group on a Monday. The ripple pattern is simple, but it looks really pretty.

Octo for a Premmie

This is my first go at this pattern. On tentacle number 4 now. I love the look. But my tentacles are a bit hit and miss!

Anyhow, I’m off to do some more knitting!

Lily says hi by the way – she’s 3 months old today!

Love to you all and happy knitting

Mrskirstyholl 

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Work in Progress Update!

So I do appreciate that I haven’t posted much this week! In all honesty, this week is my last week of maternity leave and it has absolutely flown by. Any spare moment where Lily has been asleep has been spent knitting furiously!

Star Wars Scarf

After being sat in a bag in my cupboard since we moved in, it is now fully knitted, blocked and ready to back. I’m going to see what fabric I have in my stash for this one… So I’ll update you when I have some time to sew it on!

It’s definitely more of a Lily size scarf.

Patchwork Art of Knitting Blanket

So totally on the final countdown with this WIP now (It’s the Final Countdown!). So I’m super excited about the progress this week. It’s really starting to look awesome. When I’ve finished writing this post I’m going to get on with the rest of the sewing  – all the squares are fully blocked 🙂

I have today borrowed a set of KnitPro 120cm 4mm circular needles from mum (we’re both knitting obsessed) so I can pick up stitches for the border. I’m going to border in black DK and edge the border with some slightly thinner sparkly greeny DK from my stash.

Spare yarn blanket

In my excitement this week I’m also cast on the spare yarn blanket in an attempt to use up some of the yarn left from the patchwork blanket. I’m not joking when I say I have 2 gift boxes worth of spare yarn left….

Premmi baby blanket – Monday group

We knit for PremmieUK, with the yarn donated by a local funeral directors.

I’m knitting a Ripple design blanket for the first time in 4Ply. It’s a really light weight blanket and looking really nice – although it’s not particularly interesting to knit if I’m honest as it’s only 2 lines.

Octopus for a Premmi – Facebook group
This is my practice octo. Trying to figure out how to make the tentacles curl!

Knitting with tiny needles (2.25mm) in cotton (which is a first for me). My hands ache, but it’s for a good cause. Lily will probably be having this one, but it’s a useful chance to practice and figure out the pattern. Currently my tension seems good and I’m not seeing any holes!

In another exciting update this week – I have new hair!! Yes, for my new look I’ve gone part red head. If I’m honest I keep forgetting about it and catching sight of it in the mirror!

 

That’s all from me today!

Love to you all, Happy knitting!

MrsKirstyHoll

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