MERRY CHRISTMAS....

Merry Christmas from Snoopydog headquarters! I've been so so busy this term with never-ending assessment marking and recording and excessive lesson planning demands, that my blog has been sadly neglected and is feeling very sorry for itself. However, today is the day when there seems to be a slight lull in festivities, as everyone takes a short break to recoup their energy before the annual Boxing Day quiz at the local pub this evening.

What little I have had in the evenings and weekends has mainly been taken up with getting this little beauty under way and red hoodie knitting for Evie. The blanket is Attic 24's Hydrangea Blanket and I have to say, the very simple pattern and gorgeous soft colours have made for perfect wind down crochet after busy days.

This is the simple red hoodie made for Evie's fourth birthday. It just doesn't seem possible that this little munchkin is four years old already. It only seems like yesterday, that we were making a rushed and unexpectedly early, long journey to Manchester to meet this little sweetheart.

The hoodie pattern is by Debbie Bliss and always turns out well. I used Rowan's pure wool DK in a suitably festive red, as her birthday is on the 22nd of December.

December 1st  heralded the start of another December's worth of Opal mini-skeins. I love the anticipation of seeing what wonders lie behind the little door each morning. I have yet to decide what to make, but I suspect i may well go for a pair of granny square cushions, like the one featured above that was made alongside six socks with last year's yarns.

I managed to make this beautifully festive bunting a couple of weekends ago, using a ready cut kit, given to me by Josiekitten last Christmas. The fabric designs and colour combo are perfect, ensuring that the little flags make a perfect addition to the festive decorations.

All the children and grandchildren are home for Christmas and we have enjoyed relaxing dog walks and just being together, sharing good food and wine and most importantly, each other's company. Here's hoping you've enjoyed the festive also!

Busy beeeee!.........

Here, at long last, is Isaac's little blue merino and silk hoodie. I had no idea a bumble bee was flying across it as I took the shot. How funny! I even captured his shadow! :-)

This is such a good pattern from Debbie Bliss's 'eco- baby' book. It helps not to have to choose buttons, because there are none needed, or to have to pick up stitches to knit the hood band! I hate picking up a large amount of stitches evenly.

It's nicely styled too with the little side vents and simple neck opening. All in all, it's a pretty good knit.

It's been a warm and sunny weekend in our little corner of the UK and Oscar has made the most of it!!!  Long may it continue!

LET'S GET A MOVE ON..........

I seem to be an old slo-mo at present. This little hoodie for Isaac has been on the needles for a little too long for my liking. It's such a pretty blue and the pattern from the Debbie Bliss 'eco baby' book is fab. It's just that it's not very exciting to knit! To be fair, I love a bit of easy stocking stitch sin the evenings after a busy day in the classroom, but if I'm honest........ I just want to sock knitting.

However, Isaac is a growing boy (he was 1 year old on Friday) and these small people knits don't fit for very long! So it's time to fire up those needles. It's definitely coming along now, as the hood is almost done and then I'll just have the sleeves to make before stitching up. I've made this little one several times before and it looks lovely once it's completed. The added bonus is that there are no stitch pick-ups to make edgings or borders. The open neck and hood borders are integrated into the main knit. Perfect! I HATE picking up stitches!

These little beauties have also been waiting around for rather longer than I would have liked. However, my mission is to clear anything already started, before allowing  myself a new cast-on. Two new blanket packs are lying ready and waiting too and once I allow myself blanket hoodie time the poor old WIPs won't get a look in! I love seeing them sitting in the yarn bowl patiently awaiting their turn to be chosen. I love them all dearly! ;-)

Oscar met up with his 7 month old red setter pal, Alfie yesterday. They had a lovely time sniffing, chasing and swimming (well Oscar swam) around our favourite lake and country walk.

Then it was back to some plant potting in the garden. It's such a pleasure to be outside at this time of year in the garden. Peaceful and relaxing!

HALF-TERM DONE AND DUSTED........

Good evening! So sorry to have missed you last week, but I have been away for the half-term holiday visiting our children and grand children. We've had a thoroughly lovely nine days, with plenty of cuddles, trips to the park, ice-creams and fun! The weather has been superb with glorious sunshine for almost the entire time. It makes such a difference!

Not much knitting has taken place, except for some sock progress during the car journeys and managing to get a move on and finish Evie's hoodie, so that we could leave it with her. 

The pattern is 'Jake Hoodie' by Martin Storey and it works brilliantly. It's a super easy knit, with the only downside being the picking up stitches for the rather tedious neck and hood band. But it all seems to work out nicely and the fit is just perfect. I used some Rowan 'milk cotton DK' that I bought several years ago in a John Lewis sale. I'm not a great fan of knitting with cotton, but it is perfect for a summer hoodie and washes and wears very well.

I've managed a small amount of progress on my first attempt at Magic Loop and Continental Knitting. This is a little knit along practice challenge with Josiekitten, although I seem to be lagging behind by one whole sock! I'm totally smitten with the Magic Loop method and now wonder why I've not attempted this before. It's so much quicker than using DPNs and there's no chance of loosing your needle down the side of the car seat. However, the continental knitting method has not taken off quite as quickly. I have practised using it on my sock, but only intermittently as I'm too impatient!

Not too bad for a first attempt! I'm loving the gorgeous Fruit Gum colour way of the Opal Yarn. Just scrummy!

On my arrival home,  a squishy parcel of sock yarn goodness was waiting for me. I've spotted these gorgeous yarns and the lovely socks made from them  several times on Instagram and Revelry and decided I needed to give them a go. Postage was free for three balls, so three pairs it is then! ;-) I'm sure Mr Snoops will be the recipient of one these yummy pairs.

Right, now time to sort out what I am supposed to be doing tomorrow at school!

AT LAST..........

At last, this little beauty is home and dry! It's been on the needles way too long and waited much longer than it should for its moment of glory. But well worth the wait! 

 It's a very easy plain knit, as you can see, but just right for a busy one and three quarters year old!

I really wanted plain buttons but had no success finding any that were both the right size and the right colour. These little wooden ones were languishing amongst several hundred other buttons in my button tin. Good to use up stocks, but I'm not sure whether I like them on the garment or not.

As you can see we are in fuschia heaven again at the moment. They all seem to have burst into full bloom this week, as the temperatures have warmed up again. They make a beautiful show of colour as the autumn 'nips' begin to rear to rear their little heads. 

Such delicate, pretty flowers!

Right, now I can get down to some sock finishing, as well as rescue my Cosy blanket that has spent a peaceful summer in solitary hibernation. I won't rouse him just yet, as he may be rather grumpy. Maybe next Sunday!

LITTLE GREY MOUSE ...

Well, after weeks of feeling disgruntled about the lack of knitting time, I finish this little beauty in under a week. I've made several of these little hoodies and each one has been a great success. The pattern is quick and easy (Hooded Kaftan by Debbie Bliss and the Rowan Baby Merino Silk DK is lovely to work with and washes beautifully.

So little Evie, you'll be a snuggly little grey mouse in your new hoodie. It's a little large at the moment, but will soon be a comfy fit. I made the 12 to 24 month size, using five balls of yarn.

The surprising thing about these photos, is that they were all taken during a five minute snippet of time at around 5.30p.m. on a sunny late afternoon/early evening, and yet the light has thrown up two ends of the 'grey' colour range!!!! The actual colour is the darker grey.

Never mind the success of the close-up shot to show you the sweet side styling, have a look at that great grass! ;-)

Love how the simple neck opening lays well and requires no buttons or extras.

So, little grey mouse, what colour shall I make next? Perhaps you can become a gorgeous green alligator!

TIME TO UNWIND......

Hello! We're just back from fun family times in North Yorkshire. It's been lovely to spend time with our grandchildren and potter around the pretty villages, forests and beaches.

Needless to say, nowhere near the expected amount of knitting got done! I managed to complete a second hoodie for little Evie; just the same pattern and yarn as the purple version that I showed you in my last post. I hurriedly completed it the evening before we came home and forgot to take photos. My dear daughter sent me a couple, but they don't really show the garment in detail. Sorry! :-)

I've also been working on a fab pair of socks. The pattern is 'Gabriola' by the talented Kim Swingles and the yarn is Whimzy Twisted MN. It has a high twist, giving lovely stitch definition and I have to say, I adore the colours!

Just cast the second sock on this afternoon, so hopefully there'll be a pair by the next post.

Right, must dash. Things to do and places to go! See you next week!

HALF-TERM BEEN AND GONE...

It seems ages since I last posted, but life has taken over. The last week of school before the holiday was very hectic with far too many deadlines. Mr Snoopydog and I decided to have a few nights away in Pickering, one of our favourite haunts in North Yorkshire. We love spoiling ourselves with a short stay at the White Swan Inn. Pickering is so pretty, with the castle up on the mound and North Yorkshire steam railway. There are also loads of lovely places to visit close by and great walks up on the moors. Our son and his wife, along with Scott (my grandog), and one of our daughters and her boyfriend were going to meet us for a meal on the Saturday evening, but eventually decided to hire a cottage in the town and stay for the weekend. It was Mr Snoopydog's birthday on the Saturday and as a surprise we secretly flew our youngest daughter in from Slovakia, where she is working at present. All went to plan and Mr Snoopydog was thrilled to see her, although a little bemused when she first appeared! The sun shone and we had a fabulously relaxing few days out in the fresh air. It was great!
The trip also spurred me on to finish the Central Park Hoodie, that I had begun for my elder daughter way back before Christmas, so that I could deliver it to her. I managed to complete it just in time and was thrilled with the result. The pattern is easy to follow and accurate, although the sizing is rather small. I used Cascade 22o bought from Get Knitted. It is a well priced yarn, but lovely to knit with. The big black buttons were my daughter's choice.....I had no idea how expensive buttons are. Let's hope she doesn't loose one! She was thrilled with the hoodie and kept it on all weekend...... yes, I mean ALL weekend!

I've also managed to complete one of my February Nutkin socks. The ten row pattern is very easy to memorise and is nice and stretchy. I love the yarn! It's from Indie Dyer and the colours are fab! I need to get my skates on to finish the pair before the end of the month and will post pics when they are done.