So much for that!

Sometime in the early 2000s I realised the best New Years Resolution ever. I resolved to never make another NY resolution again. 


And I've kept it. 


So anything I want to do I start on any day of the year I feel and try to keep it up. Now its' a good thing I didn't make my selfish knitting a resolution. It lasted about a day. I've already begun something for the boyfriend, have yet to finish the teal alpacas (sorry mitts!), and I've begun a pair of baby booties for a friend's little baby. 


As soon as I saw these in Debbie Bliss Winter 2011 I wanted to make them and I've had the yarn for ages, so finally I've gotten around to it! Here are Debbie Bliss' booties.... 

And here are mine.... 

A bit of work, a bit of sewing up and the ears and my first one will be done! They were a bit tricky, so they aren't for beginners but I hope the effort pays off! 

2012, the year of the selfish knits

Since I have started knitting - only a year a half ago - I have actively knit for others. I have done some things for myself, like the Owl Sweater and some random projects but I still wear store bought mittens, a hat, scarves, I tend to use my own projects as learning curves and keep them more out of necessity that no one else would want them than them really being for me. 


My hot water bottle cover was the first thing for me. Since then I have knit a few things for my Etsy shop and considered making things for specific other people. I like making things for people and seeing them enjoy the gift... but maybe this year I should make things for me? I could learn some socks, do some sweaters, finally use that white and grey cashmere merino wool I bought last year for a shawl or something useless and lovely. 


Enter the teal alpaca mittens. I made a pink pair of these for my co-worker and loved them while I knit, so when I started the teal I could already picture them on my own hands. Currently they lie in my Finished Box, without thumbs. 

Why the finished box? So that I don't finish them and have to sell them. I want to keep them. But I don't need another pair, I already have a fingerless mitten that I actually made (first time knitting in the round, first time doing colour work, first time ribbing, I learned a lot on those mittens and to be honest they still aren't cast off properly!). 


Tomorrow I will finish my item for my Etsy shop (HWB cover, what else) and then finish these teal mittens... but tell me, do I have to sell them??? 


Alpaca is amazing. Knit with pure alpaca as soon as you can. Go buy some now. Make these mittens. Really.... Really... YOU MUST!

Accessorise your knitting...

I bought myself a present after Christmas as it was on my wish list and no one else bought it for me! Stitch markers for my knitting!


I cannot wait to start a project that uses these babies! They're delicate and adorable but quite sturdy. This is where I bought them! And they only took two weeks to arrive from the US, which isn't bad at all!

Now the question, what should I make?! 

Heart Hot Water Bottle

It's done! I have to get some better pictures before I put it on Etsy, but thought I would share with you first!  This is made out of Debbie Stoller's Worsted Pure Wool.  I have it listed on Etsy without a hotwater bottle, but it fits a 1.5L water bottle. Here is where it is listed in my shop. 

(This is the finished product, the pattern is a little while away, but I am working on that too!)

I'm already planning my next one!!!  I plan on having some more things posted in time for Valentines...

Obsessive Compulsive

I know I have said before I get sort of obsessed with one thing and kinda run with it... my new relationship with knitting has followed a prior one with cupcakes, friendship bracelets, painting, sewing, kickboxing, yoga.... the list continues!


So once I do something once I kinda have to keep going back for a while to get it out of my system. My last post I showed you my first hot water bottle cover. I love it. I actually have never owned a hot water bottle before so this was also a first for me. And now I want to share the love! I went out today and bought 3 more bottles to create covers for. None of them are the same size, and I couldn't find the size I already have so the cover I'm already working on is a bit lost (poor guy) but I will find that size again I know. I think there are only so many sizes of them... well I hope anyway!


What are your thoughts on Hot Water bottles? And little knitted sweaters for them? Good idea? Jealous? (I am working on patterns, so don't get too jealous! I just need to work out the stitches for each size bottle??? )

Turning over a new leaf....

I started myself a project as its now after Christmas and I feel like I deserve some of my own knitting. I also finished the project today which is very unlike me... normally when it's for me it sits on my needles for AGES and I feel guilty about working on it, but not this one! (I'm also doing this as a test knit to create a pattern to share, so I was also sort of working for others at the same time, so maybe that is why it is guiltless.)


It is also something I've been dreaming up since I first learned to knit. I bought some hot water bottles and if you have seen my Ravelry line up you might notice a small and very rustic one with a heart that I designed and knit last year. This year my skills are much improved and I still had a big bottle to cover, so in Sept when I was at Romni wools in Toronto and bought many balls of amazing wools I dreamed up this design and have finally realised the dream. (Bit dramatic sounding but not sure how else to say it!). 


I want to change some things in the pattern before I share it, like the squareness at the bottom, and some placements of colour changes but otherwise here is the gist of what I will be doing in the next little while!


My FO from today!