Gagets and gizmos

Over the last couple of weeks i have been trying out some new gadgets. I have wanted an embroidery machine for a long time, but they are very costly, even second hand, so i decided to buy one of the little Disney applique machines i have seen on e-bay, to see if it was something i would actually use and not just a novelty.

It was really really easy to use , so much so that i wondered if perhaps it was meant for kids to use, so i brought in Molly to have a go and she absolutely loved it. Big brother Ewan thought it was rubbish, till he saw Mollys finished results, then changed his mind and wanted a go himself much to Mollys disappointment.

 This picture pretty much says it all!

 The results were fantastic and these were done to iron into there school coats.

Next i had some orders for big pom pom hats so decided to invest in a pom pom maker. Again they are so easy so i let Molly do the pom poms for the hats.

I finally got round to ordering a wool winder, even Fred had a go at this, till he wound it back on its self and tangled the machine up

This little invention i found in Wilkinsons, it a row counter! which is so helpful when you are knitting cables like i have this week.

These little gadgets have been great this week and i love little finds that make things easier or neater.

Hopefully have some ta-dah moments in my next post xxx

Illuminasia

I am currently sat downstairs with a very weazy baby, its that time of year when little people start getting colds and usually spread them to me. I have been sat here browsing ravelry and planning my next project since 4am. Even though he is now asleep in his little chair i can't sleep, i would love to sit and work on the Aran jumper i am currently making him but am not really awake enough for that as its the kind of knit that require a bit of concentration as there is nothing worse than taking a look at the pattern only to discover 10 rows ago you made a mistake. Today is Fred's nursery morning so if Alex went along with it i could have gone back to bed later, but i can't as today i am running a crochet workshop at Madhatters which is another new venture i will tell you about another day.

Last weekend Paul should have been off, but ended up having to work, so feeling more than a bit miffed, i decided that me and the kids were going out anyway, even though the prospect of taking four children out on a Saturday is a very exhausting and costly business! Ewan had brought home a discount voucher for Illuminasia, the night before from school which made it only £5 per person instead of £12.95 do it was a done deal, off we went on the bus.

We arrived to find they had no idea about the vouchers and they were not valid till next year, why send them out now then? after some....discussion about the face there was no date on the leaflet which luckily i had with me, they apologized and let us all in for £12.95 when with the voucher it wold have been £15 so i was happy, Then just as we were about to go in i was told i could have that money back and have a free visit!!! even better. so here it is Illuminasia Blackpool

 The little ones loved it, as it was so bright and colorful

 You can see how big the displays were

 Time for McDonalds on a quite warm prom

 It was really busy in Blackpool

That was our weekend hope you had a good one too xxx

Busy week of Ta-dahs

After yarndale i felt super inspired and so began a week of new hats and finishing off bits and bobs.

Firstly i finished off Mollys new cardigan, i loved the simple pattern that i had made for some baby cardigans however the only size was 0-3 months so with the help of numerous patterns as a gauge to sizes and number of stitches, i managed to figure it out as a bigger size and also to put into it a lace pattern that i have used before and really love. I used stylecraft merry go round as i love the softness and the way it knits up. The buttons were £1 for 12 from the works and they are wooden and all painted differently and so far they seem to be working out great and i love them. For this cardigan i decided to try joining it on my sewing machine and its alot straighter it has covered up the stitches that i like to see around the raglan sleeve so i will do it again but perhaps make the stitch further in rather than one stitch from the edge.

I used some of the left over yarn to make some booties and a little hat

I then started on some Halloween hats for the kids 

Little Pumpkin

Little Devil

Little Ghost Hat!

Ewan wanted Pokemon and has been asking me for ages so...

I was asked to make a specific Bobble hat, this was my tryout

The pattern eas so easy so i decided to alter it and make some using two strands in diffrent colours

I made my first flower fairy hat order since before the summer ( last winter i made tons of these!)

Cheeky Monkey bottle cosy

An Owl Bag for Molly

Cot Bedding for Alex made out of the same quilt cover Molly has as they share a room and i wanted them to match

And i think that is about all i have finished in the last 2 weeks! 

I now have a Owl blanket and a Aran jumper for Alex on the go now!

bye xxx

Yarndale

Last weekend along with practically everyone else who blogs about knitting and crochet or has a facebook page i went to Yarndale. I had been so excited as i had not been able to go  last year and i wasn't disappointed, it wasn't what i expected it exceeded my expectations and inspired me soooo much and has started me off on some new hobbies. In fact this week i have been more productive than i have in a while. Whilst that's partly to do with Fred starting nursery a couple of mornings a week, i have also finished decorating the upstairs and just have a few crafty bits and bobs to do. My craft space has been re-organised and i now feel like i can relax and head into a crafty wooly autumn

 A few of the balls with knitting needle had fallen off the trees and i had a job convincing Molly to leave them to be put back on as she can knit now and wanted to take them home

 Last years Attic 24 project was on display and it was great to see them in real life.

 There was a competition to create egg cups cosys and i fell in love with this one, but alas it ad already been sold.

 This years Attic 24 project was a wow!

 Looking at yarn few hours was too much for the kids who collapsed as soon as we go outside!!!!

 After was a walk round Skipton, it was too late for the castle, and we had tea.

 My Purchases including my new hobby Spinning, which i started as soon as i got home

 This was after half an hour.

So to sum up it was a fab day and i  love of hand dyed yarn has evolved, maybe even a go at dying yarn one day who knows.

Bye for now xxx