SUMMER COTTON BUMP BITS!

Hello there! I seem to have spent most of this month 'baby' knitting, but at last I have finished and am very pleased with the results, especially the cute little Mabel dress from Erika Knight's book 'Simple Knits for Cherished Babies'. I bought the book a few weeks ago and have already made the garter stitch cardigan, shown in my last post, from the book and a pair of sweet little shoes. So, it's already nearly paid for itself!!


The pattern is very simple and the yarn is absolutely gorgeous. It's called 'Splish Splosh' by Elle and I must admit I preferred using it to the Rowan Cotton Milk that I used to make the other items.



The hat was adapted from a pattern used for the hat in my previous post. This time I omitted the ribbon, because I couldn't find any to match, added a little garter stitch detail and then a crotcheted flower to finish it off.



The little bootees were made from a Paton's pattern that I picked up in John Lewis a few weeks ago.


Oh and another gorgeous Mousie Mousie.....a little plumper this time I think! The pattern works so well and just uses up small oddments of yarn.



My June socks have had to take a back seat whilst all the 'little person' knitting was going on. I picked them up again today and decided that the pattern I showed you last time was knitting up rather baggy. I tried out a couple of other patterns this afternoon, but the yarn pooled really badly. So, in desperation, as June is already drawing to a close, I have decided to make another pair of Circle Socks. 'Oh no!' I hear you cry, 'Not another pair of Circles!' I'm afraid so. After all, it is my current favourite sock pattern. I promise next month I will make it up to you and tackle something really challenging, as a penance for breaking the rules............that is, the rules according to my good pal josiekitten! Hopefully, I will be able to choose from Cookie's new sock book, as I have a birthday looming and a 'Cookie Sock Book' shaped gift is already sitting on the rocking chair waiting to be opened, along with a small parcel of squishiness!!!!! These were left ready for me by my youngest daughter before she returned to her work abroad.



Stash-busting is not really going too well. I find it almost impossible not to be taken in by the pleading of gorgeously coloured, scrummy yarn begging to be taken home with me. These little orphans have joined us during the last couple of weeks.


This yarn is simply wonderful. I already have several other colourways, but had this one on order since February. Don't you agree, it was well worth waiting for?
The yarns below are all Trekking XXL. It always produces a fab pair of socks that wash well.





Well, that's all for the time being. Hopefully, I'll have a finished pair of socks to show you next time and whatever else has taken my fancy over the next week or so. Have a good week!

MOUSIE MOUSIE!

Hello there! This is just a quick post, to relieve the boredom of marking endless end of year school tests. It's a good job the weather has been wet and miserable this weekend or I would have been extra grumpy at the prospect. Nearly done now, so a little 'play time' has been earnt!
I finished these bits and pieces for a friend's baby over the half-term holiday.


All the items were made using Debbie Bliss Baby Casmerino, which is very soft and great to knit with.

The little jacket was extremely quick and very easy, with the additinal bonus of not too many seams to sew up!!! The pattern was from Erika Knight's book, 'Simple Knits for Cherished Babies'. It's a lovely book full of modern, pretty, but straightforward knits.

The gorgeous hat was from 'Baby Beanies' by Amanda Keeys. This book is full of delightful, fun and colourful ideas. I had a major hunt for the light organza ribbon, finding that even John Lewis now stocks almost all of its ribbon on rolls. You end up buying metres of the stuff! Anyway, I was pleased with the finished effect.

Rowan's book of baby knits using 'milk cotton' is really lovely;including modern and more traditional designs. These little 'Lucy shoes' can be made with or without the bar across. They took about an hour to complete and used up some wool remnants.'Mousie Mousie' is from one of my very favourite books. It's another Rowan publication called 'Designs for Kids' by Lucinda Guy. The designs are colourful and creative, featuring jumpers with dinosaurs and diggers on the front and fab bags, hats and toys. Mousie Mousie has to be my favourite and again, he was made in an evening.



The whole set took 4 balls of yarn. Not bad eh!

It's taken me ages to find a pattern that would show off the gorgeous striping effect of my June 'Sock Challenge' yarn. I've cherished this gorgeous Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock yarn, in colourway Dessert Flower, for ages. It's been carefully wrapped in the pink tissue paper that it arrived in; only to be unwrapped for an occasional sniff or fondle! So, now the time has come to use it, the pattern has got to be right. I have tried two patterns already and not been happy with the result, but I've finally plumped for this one. I'm not totally happy with it, but it does show off the striping to good effect, don't you think?






I also have this pretty little baby dress on the go for another family baby due later this month. I love the pretty cotton yarn, which is called 'Splish Splash' by Elle. I've never heard of it before, but spotted it whilst in my local LYS, 'Norfolk Yarns'.


Hopefully it won't be too long before I can show you the finished item, as the baby is due in a couple of weeks!