Knitted Baby Booties and Hat

I was supposed to be putting this post up earlier, but lo and behold I ended up taking Lil man to the out of hours clinic with Rikkis Dad because he fell over and bashed his nose at school and made it bleed and I was worried it might be broken. 

It was a long wait which was made slightly longer by the fire alarm going off, but its worth it for peace of mind and I can't fault any of the NHS staff or nurses because they were fantastic with him. He actually ended up having 3 nurses look at his nose because they wanted to make sure it was definitely okay. 

So naturally we got home late and I didn't have time to post until now! 

So this is a little baby set I knitted up a while ago because its useful to have one to hand. I used some nice soft baby yarn that I was given by someone, I have absolutely no clue who though so if it was you please feel free to shout up. 

I used an old knitting pattern that I borrowed from Rikkis Nan. It knitted up fairly quickly which is nice because I fit it between other projects.

The booties are a mixture of stocking stitch and garter stitch so they look quite textured. The instructions said to thread Ribbon through the holes to tie them but I made twists from wool instead. 

The hat was from the same pattern but I;m not as pleased with that as I think it looks a bit lumpy at the top. I wanted to knit a helmet type hat but I've made one of those before and babies don't tend to wear that type of style anymore. 

I've popped the set in the drawer ready for the next baby to be born. Luckily as their a light sort of turquoise I think they'll do for a girl or for a boy. 

Right I'm off to bed today ended up being a lot more stressful than I thought it would be!!

Much Love

Frankie 

xxx

Lace Knit Beret

There's 15 sleeps until Christmas guys! can we say excited? Hands up if you haven't finished wrapping!? Hands up if you haven't finished buying?! Hands up if you haven't written a single Christmas card?????????????? My hand is firmly up for all of these!

Yeah I really need to sort myself out because we all know I've had time for sewing and knitting.....

Anyway! This beret mainly came about because I'm getting thoroughly sick of my old hand knit hat [If you read that blog please forgive my hideous spelling errors! if I were a proper blogger I'd go and fix all the spelling errors in my old posts but LOL! I'd rather be sewing!] 

Anyway the wool for this was a Aran that I got from a shop in Hanley market. In the shop I thought it was Raspberry which had me getting my prince on and singing raspberry beret. And then I got it home and its more of a purple pink rather than Raspberry.

The pattern was from a copy of a Lets knit bookazine, which I had off Rikkis Nan and I'm pretty sure she had it off Aunty Mary. Its a pretty simple pattern even though its lace work and I actually reached the point where I memorised the pattern! 

And yeah its a hat I just sat and followed the pattern like a good little egg [I find it highly amusing that when I sew I throw caution to the wind and do it my way but that when I knit I follow the pattern to the letter!!!!]

In other news, 

I'm exhausted I'm not quite sure what happened but I'm so tired its unreal!

I'm on season four of lost and I'm hooked its just sooo freaking bizarre! I am however on a time limit to finish watching it because we are switching from sky to virgin in January!

And that it really!

Much Love

Frankie 

Pom Bomb Hat

a pom bomb by the way is what lil man calls a pom pom. I'm not sure why? But he alo calls mittens "Knittens" you know "cos they knittin mummy" Kids got a point.....

Anyway so i made anither hat!

This ones pretty blown out but you can see the details of the hat which is nice, I used the same method as for my last hat. But this time instead of the garter stitch I used stocking stitch. 

I used two strands of wool, one plain black ball and one made up of scraps of blues, greys, beige and white. Together they made a cool looking marl effect and they knitted up pretty quickly.

I sized down the Pom Pom too, and I made it on my Pom Pom maker again, In fact I'd say that the Pom Pom maker might be my new favourite sewing tool! They actually save so much time!!!!

I really love this hat!!!! Iv'e worn it every day to nursery and I feel very stylish and it keeps my ears warm as an added bonus! 

And these colours work better with my wardrobe than my previous hat as well!

And I even managed to get some okay pictures of it on my camera too! Which means that YAY winter is nearly ending! Yay for being able to take better blog pictures!!!! 

Much Love

Frankie

xxx 

The obnoxious hat,

I made a hat, it's an obnoxious shade of blue with an obnoxious large Pom Pom. 

Can't get better than that! 

I didn't use a pattern instead I cast in 60 stitches into size 6mm needles with chunky wool. Knit a few rows rib. Knit a few rows garter stitch then when I was happy with the length I decreased. I did knit two , knit two together for a row and then knit a row. Simples! 

Thinking about it , it could be a lil longer! Sorry for the crappy picture quality , I should get my proper camera out but I can't be bothered! 

Plus my brownies are baking and o don't want to miss the beeps! Yeah I'm making brownies part of my New Years resolution to bake once a week. 

I think it's pretty cute, I might make one in black!!! 

Much love

Frankie 

Xxx

Fuzzy Blue Booties and Helmet Hat

It's miserable weather, its not even snow it's just slush. It's raining slush. I got soaked on the way to nursery today because of the stupid slush and my child's penchant for stamping his feet as he walks. And of course the two very inconsiderate drivers who splashed us with water as they drove as close to the pavement as possible. I'm not saying they did it on purpose but I do hope they burn in hell.

I also have a cold which doesn't help [it occurs to me, after re reading old blog posts that I must seem poorly quite a lot. Just too explain I have a low white blood cell count so I pick things up quite easily!]

Anyway onto the good stuff, I made these last week, I'm trying to do more knitting and expand my knitting skills. Mainly because I've been stuck in a rut knitting wise. Luckily for me there's lots of babies on the way and they will definitely be needing knit wear at some point.

These booties are pretty simple although I think the fuzzy tops look super cute, you can have them folded up or down but i think down is cuter.

I made the smallest size because I always knit the smallest size its just my way!

I also made a matching hat, well technically its a helmet, although I'm not sure if people use these for babies any more. I personally like them and I had one for lil man when he was born I found it kept his ears lovely and snug and fit nicely under his bear suit hoods. Because naturally if your gonna put your kid in a bear suit you have to have the hood up because that's wear the ears are.

I was pleased with my knitting skills on this, I particularly like the seam part that's not actually a seam its just where the increases and decreases are. I do wish I had done the chin strap in stocking stitch though, the pattern calls for garter stitch but I think stocking would look better.

The buttons just from my stash. Although I am wondering if I'm ever going to use all of my buttons, I mean ever!!!!

In other news I got some pretty cool sewing done last night! Which will be revealed soon.

Much Love

Frankie

xxx

Do babies still wear bonnets?

So seen as we had no internet for 10 days I got a LOT of knitting done! Mainly I stuck to baby knits because they are quick and adorable and you don't get much better than that.

It all started off with this pink set, the pattern is one I borrowed from my Nan It's Hayfield 00738, Its a cool pattern it has 4 hats, 3 mittens and 3 bootee patterns.

These aren't the matching booties for the hat but I think they look like a set, and these were quicker to knit anyway. 

The ribbon was from my stash, the pattern says to make twist ties but I really could not be bothered, and apart from using a power drill to make it quicker I had no more ideas on how  to save time. 

The bonnet I'm really proud of, I had to do a repeated pattern and everything and I'm pretty sure I only screwed up on two rows.

The wool was hobbycraft value, Its actually pretty good for the price and as an added bonus I got it in the 3 for 2 sale. I just wish they had a better variety of colours.

Project wise I think its cute and it stopped me going stir crazy, I'm not sure if people still put kids in bonnets though? I'm all for keeping warm so I would but I'm not sure about other people? And I knitted the smallest size so I'm not even sure if there's any babies that I know that would fit into it!

In other news its cold, which isn't too bad at least its not raining but it does mean me and lil knitwit are fully wrapping up in the morning. Hopefully I'm going to photography some other clothing makes today, seen as we seen to be having a rare cold but sunny spell!

We have also completely overhauled the dining/sewing room so that we can fit the computer in so ill have some pictures of that soon hopefully! 

Much Love

Frankie

xxx 

 

Eeny beanie miney moh

I'm still plodding along with my efforts of having a fully wearable wardrobe, and as a stroke of luck I've recently come into a load of boots and shoes and some coats and scarves from a relative. 

And luckily for me both of the coats are black! Mr knitwit got me a lovely coat for Christmas but it's very pale and I'm worried about making it dirty so a black coat was just what I needed! 

And if I'm having a black coat I'm going to need a black hat! Especially with how the weather is now on the nursery run! 

It's a really simple garter stitch hat that you knit in "short rows". Basically you knit the hat across so the garter stitch ridges are vertical. It's pretty simple to do and I'll link to the pattern I used on raverly as soon as I'm on a computer and not my phone. I'd say it's a pretty good pattern for those who are starting to knit and can't stand the thought of making a scarf or a dishcloth.

I'm pretty happy with it as a first attempt, but I have already cast on another one which I'm making a few alterations to. First of all I'm making it longer so I can turn the brim up, I'm using a slightly thicker wool and I'm hoping to add a furry Pom Pom to the top when it's finished. Furry Pom poms seem to be quite "in" this season and I think they look adorable! 

In other news I went to see my lovely friends lovely baby yesterday and although little knitwit was unimpressed I thought she was lovely! I had big snuggles, and have been thinking of ways to spoil her since! 

I've still got two projects to photograph but the way my face looks today it just wasn't happening!!! 

I'm still watching the sopranos and have even reached the point in my obsession where I'm texting my brother to clarify my thoughts on the plot. Luckily for me I can text him "how long was pussy talking to the Feds for?" And he knows what I mean !!! 

Much love Frankie 

X

Winter is coming.....

I don't want to alarm you but when I woke up this morning, well, there was a distinct chill in the air. 

Yes a chill

And yesterday a quick trip to the shops left me looking like this . 

Thats right folks, winter is coming, put away those flip flops and dust off your winter wardrobe. 

I don't have a winter wardrobe , in fact when I was at college a friend commented that my transition from summer to winter involved wearing thick tights and a scarf. But that was the good old days, when a puppy dog look in the right direction meant I had a lift to school and didn't have to brave the weather. 

However me and lil knitwit, we walk to nursery, and I mean 20 minute walk. 30 minutes if he's grouchy/tired. In fact it's that much of a walk that I destroyed my winter boots last year, the soles came away and they had to be binned! 

But anyway it's got me thinking about my winter wardrobe and winter fashions. And here's a few things I want to make/buy/steal from relatives this year. 

I want a hat like this, something with a seventies hippy vibe, but preferably in a dark brown/black. 

And I'm going to attempt to make myself a slouchy beanie. There's a few patterns online I just need to find a nice grey wool I like. 

I'm seeing this is a darker grey or black knit with the bones appliquéd on. 

A tartan skirt, I did have some left over tartan poly cotton but I wasn't sure it would hold up to being a wiggle skirt. (Read: my backside would have destroyed it!) 

A grandad jumper, complete with fake leather buttons and chunky cables! Every year I say I'm going to make one for myself and every year I bottle it. Note to self: must be braver, or create knitting monkeys to do it for me. 

A leather jacket, I have a brown one but my sister has a black leather jacket she's getting rid of so there might be a refashion on the books! 

Cable socks, yet again my lack of knitting skill and dedication lets me down. 

I just really love the heart elbow patches!

Stag jumper, send like a pretty simple appliqué project if I can find the right jumper. 

Anchor jumper, ditto

So yeah winter is coming and I'm already preparing myself for cold mornings and wet hair ! 

Much love

Frankie

X

If you can't fight, wear a big hat...

I'm not sure where that saying came from, I remember my dad saying it a LOT! when I was growing up. 

So anyhow I was recently given a bag of jewellery bits and pieces and in the bags were some hair combs. 

One thing led to another and.... 

I started to make a fascinator 

I basically used folded bits of netting that I then sewed to a comb. 

I layered them up and then added some pearly beads! 

It's a pretty big fascinator to be honest, in fact I'm wondering if it's a bit too ostentatious! However for my first foray in pretty darn pleased with it. And as an added bonus there's a second comb so I can have another go if I want! 

In other news , I felt like poop today, take out food is not agreeing with me at the moment. I think it's because it's so greasy and I tend to eat a lot of fresh food.

I also retraced the lilou bodice because I've misplaced mine and gave the sewing room a good old tidy! And I mean good old tidy! There was too bin bags of rubbish. 

Much love

Frankie

Xxx

My really old animal hat

Okay so I made this project years and years ago! In fact it's that long ago that my sister lived in her old house and I was working at the pub! Little knitwit was not in existence and I'm pretty sure that Mr knitwit was still just the cute barman who served me drinks on my nights off.

Anyway at the time the river island animal hats were the MUST HAVE super cool winter accessory (<--- my phone claims this is spelt right but my dyslexic eyes think it looks weird and wrong) anyway anyone who was anyone had one of these hats, and I was a person and I wanted one! 

Until I saw the price tag that is! From what I can remember they were not cheap at all! Which probably means they were ten pounds or more! 

So I made my own! 

The hat was pre brought by my mum, I think she got it for something stupid like 10p? (I have another two in the drawer), the nose was embroidered by me by hand, sat on my sisters sofa whilst house sitting, as were the Pom poms! (Funny story as I was finishing the second pom-pom her evil cat attacked me and I accidentally batted it across the room. In my defense it really scratched me and I didn't damage her, she's still alive now!)

I also went one better than river island and opted for Google eyes! Which were given to me when I was about six by a neighbour! 

Anyway even after all of these years it's still a firm favourite for poor weather! 

In fact this is me looking super grouchy after walking lol knitwit to nursery in the rain this morning, and I'm starting to think it's looking a lil tatty? So I might whip up another and do a quick tutorial for it? It's a super easy project and I think it would appeal to teenagers or people who are new to sewing! 

Much love

Frankie

Xx

Three little monsters

I actually finished these yesterday but as usual something else ended up being done instead of blogging! 

 

The pink and grey one are done in super soft wool and the blu one is in regular wool. I like doing monsters there's a bit more freedom than with owls, 1 eye , 5 eyes, 1 tooth a mouth full of teeth! The possibilities are endless! Anyway I'm back to a day of hard graft mr Knitwit and his friends are laying patio slabs outside and I'm trying to help. But I'm fairly sure I'm more of a hindrance!

Much love

Frankie

Xxx

Owl hats and horrors...

I nearly had these finished last night but we ended up watching "the hills have eyes" instead. For someone who believes that everything in life should be colourful and cute I actually enjoy horror films quite a lot (although "the exorcist" had me screaming with laughter rather than terror) But I did not enjoy "the hills have eyes" it was just a little but too messed up for my liking, and about halfway through I wished I had just stayed down stairs and finished of my projects.

Instead I managed to get them finished this morning whilst Little Knitwit was having a rare quiet moment! 

This is owl hat number 1, is super soft and what I would call newborn size! I love the splash of orange it really makes it pop!

And this is hat number 2 , also done in soft wool and the same size. I've got  2 more hats knitted up but they are destined to be monsters! Other than that I've done some embroidery that I want to add beads to but I'll have to wait until I have a little Knitwit free moment. Toddlers and beads do not mix! 

Right I'm off to try and get the horrible images out of my head from last nights film! Why do I let mr Knitwit talk me into these things? Horrors would be so much more pleasant with a couple of owl hats thrown in, don't you think?

Much love

A terrified Frankie 

Xxx

Owls and Monsters

I actually managed to get a little bit of something finished today! I'd had the hats made up for ages it was just a case of stitching on a few details (which I'd already cut) and Voila!

 

 

One Monster hat! green with pompoms and a knitted tooth! And of course one eye! (this was a perfect stash buster for mismatched buttons!)

 

And one owl hate! This hat is awesome! Not only does it fit Little Knitwit, it fits me as well, I'm not sure if that because Lil Knitwit has a big head full of brains or whether I have a little head full of fluff? Wool? I dread to think what the inside of my head looks like if my craft drawers are anything to go by.

 

 

I have a few more of these made (well two) and I have plans to make a couple more!

 

Just a quick one today because I'm back of the sit on my bottom watch me some corrie and finish my knitting, whilst drinking tea and eating biscuits. Its a hard job but somebody's got to do it!

 

Much Love

 

Frankie

 

xxx