Saturday 25 January 2014

Project 2014

Hello all!

So we are 25days into 2014 and true to my word I have bought NO new clothes. I haven't actually made any either but I am planning something as I type. I still have a few things on the back burner but unfortunately progress in the Bug & Squish household has been fairly slow due to an extreme lack of sleep and therefore motivation and energy!  

Hopefully I will have something to show you after the weekend, I'm prewashing fabric as I type!

I've not been completely idle but I did have a disaster making a gift which led to tears of frustration and me feeling I needs to hide my knitting needles for a couple of days!

We were very lucky to welcome a new baby into the family recently and so I had decided to make a blanket.  I created a pattern and set in motion.

This is the start of it


It looks slightly rough here but I can guarantee it would have been gorgeous had I not dropped the stitches about 50 rows in! And of course I hadn't marked the first lines of my pattern repeats so I couldn't find my way back.  I've since started it again so hopefully it will be finished and with baby soon.

Ok all have a good weekend and thanks for reading, Gem xx

Friday 3 January 2014

Handmade Christmas


InHello All

Finally I can show you some goodies I made for Christmas.  

For my 2 sisters and my friend Heather I used the Leaving On The Edge Cowl pattern again and made them one each in different colours.


This pattern is fantastic even for beginners I would say.  I used some beautiful chunky wool for each and they were a delight to knit with.  

For my stepdad and one of my brothers I  knit simple k2,p2 rib knit cowls.  My step dad cycles to work a lot so I figured that a cowl would be a great idea as it wouldn't flap about in the wind! 



My mum had requested the same scarf as I made her last year in blue but this time she wanted it in browns so here it is.  Another Lacy Ladder Scarf.



Stepping away from knitting I also used a fab website called Festite to create some fantastic word gifts which I printed and popped into frames.  I created one for each of Bugs nursery teachers, one for my bestie and also one from Bug and Squish to their Grandparents.  The one below is for the Grandparents.  I love the whole concept of this and will be making some to hang at home. 


In other news I passed my driving test yay!!!


Wednesday 1 January 2014

Happy New Year!!!

Wow it's 2014 already!!! 2013 was such a quick year for me that I almost can't believe today is today, if you know what I mean? 

So regular posting is back from now on as I'm over the whole festive period now and am back to selfish sewing/ knitting  for me and for Bug and Squish yay!!! 

I was so busy in the run up to Christmas making pressies that I haven't done ANYTHING for myself! My Miette is still only at row 27, my Cynthia Rowley dress is still in its muslin phase, my Circle Skirt needs hemmed and my Knickers still need elastic!  Not to mention I still need to share my review of the pattern!  I better get my bum in gear!  Oh I actually started something new too, I'm terrible! Currently on the pins is the Cowl for the Winter Eye Open Tunic by LucySusy Grace which you can find on Ravelry.  It's a fab little pattern for doing in from of the tv since it's only a 3 row repeat.  Since my hubby treated me to this beautiful pink Aran wool at Christmas that's what in using to make it.


Also check out my new size 19 needles from hubster too! Eeeeekkkkk what to make? What to make?

Here's the start of my cowl.



I can already tell it's going to be lovely and snug! 

So now it's officially 2014 it means Project 2014 is now in effect! For regular updates check out the Facebook  Page where I also welcome your contributions so feel free to message me there.  Regular readers will know I have pledged to buy NO NEW CLOTHES for the whole year.  I can go wild making from scratch, wear what I have, refashion and buy from charity shops but I can't but anything to wear which is new.  I have had some wonderful donations made to me for this challenge.  Some of it is ready to wear and some of it isn't so watch this space for more info.

As Project 2014 is my New Years Resolution and I've shared with you, I'd love to hear/ read what yours are, feel free to drop me a wee comment, I love to chat.

Thank you for baring with me and Happy New Year! Gem xxx