F.O. – Scrap yarn cot blanket

My knitting speed has definately increased. This is good news in light of my limited knitting time these days. 

So this was knitted with my favourite curcular needles – addi premium. Such a pleasure to knit with!

Luckily I finished knitting on a day with some glourious evening sunshine!

I’m so pleased with how this turned out. Really love the image and the mix of colours within it. I have used up some yarn balls… but not was many as I thought I would. So need to look and some other smaller projects for that…

What I really learnt with this project was colour changing. It wasn’t something I’d really done before. Initially I was just cutting off the ends with the intention of sewing in later.

Then as I went on I figured out that winding the yarn was much tidier and saved a lot of time. Will definately use this method on furture projects!

The final side of this was 1m x 1m plus a 5cm border on both ends. 

On a side note the border matches my nail polish…

I had originally hoped that a 4×4 ribbed border would have prevented the end curling. I think sticking with the same needles with the slightly thinner dk mucked up tension and so it curled anyway. 

But it still looks shiny  

This blanket will be a christmas present for Lily. She’ll have grown into it by then!

Now time for a crochet project  Already planned with yarn in the bag and pattern downloaded. So watch this space!

Love to you all and happy yarning!

Mrskirstyholl (and Lily)

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W.I.P Progress Report - Scrap Yarn Harry Potter Blanket

Made some good progress on the blanket over the last few days. Stocking stitch is making this a pretty quick knit.

The blanket is twice as wide as this – mainly wanted to show you the picture progress. 

You’ll also see that it’s rolling up at the bottow. Thinking of countering by picking up a cable stitch or ribbed stitch border. It’ll also help extend the length a bit. 

For the first few lines I was cutting and rejoining. But finding the tension remains more consistent when I’ve been weaving the colour in with the black. Also has the benefit of being less ends to weave in  (complete win!!) 

That’s all from me for now… off to stare at my yarn collection…

Love to you all and happy knitting!

Mrskirstyholl

F.O Premmi baby blanket

So after about a month of on and off knitting the lavender blanket is done. It’s not perfect, but hopefully it’ll keep some else’s little fighter nice and toasty  

The ripple knit pattern was a new one for me. Definitely something I’d like to try in a shawl or something with some colour changes!

So this F.O is going to be donated on Monday. I’m off to get started on my next project!

Love to you all and happy knitting 

MrsKirstyHoll

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Be W.I.P Update

Hay guys! 

Lily is asleep (for now) and I’ve managed and shower and some housework. So definately winning.

So I’ve started back at work this week. It’s been a pretty gentle catchup week. So that’s been a great way to readjust. Hoping to get properly stuck in next week!

Patchwork blanket

I’ve picked up stitches for my border. So I’m hoping the stocking stitch could be a quick way to finish this off!

About half way through border 2. 

Odd ball/scrap yarn blanket

So this is the stocking stitch Harry Potter blanket for Lily. It’s using up the pile of yarn I have left from the patchwork and some other spare ‘what do I do with these?’ Balls from the stash.

Premmi baby blanket

This is the blanket I’m knitting as part of the preemi knitting group on a Monday. The ripple pattern is simple, but it looks really pretty.

Octo for a Premmie

This is my first go at this pattern. On tentacle number 4 now. I love the look. But my tentacles are a bit hit and miss!

Anyhow, I’m off to do some more knitting!

Lily says hi by the way – she’s 3 months old today!

Love to you all and happy knitting

Mrskirstyholl 

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Work in Progress Update!

So I do appreciate that I haven't posted much this week! In all honesty, this week is my last week of maternity leave and it has absolutely flown by. Any spare moment where Lily has been asleep has been spent knitting furiously!

Star Wars Scarf

After being sat in a bag in my cupboard since we moved in, it is now fully knitted, blocked and ready to back. I'm going to see what fabric I have in my stash for this one... So I'll update you when I have some time to sew it on!

It's definitely more of a Lily size scarf.

Patchwork Art of Knitting Blanket

So totally on the final countdown with this WIP now (It's the Final Countdown!). So I'm super excited about the progress this week. It's really starting to look awesome. When I've finished writing this post I'm going to get on with the rest of the sewing  - all the squares are fully blocked :)

I have today borrowed a set of KnitPro 120cm 4mm circular needles from mum (we're both knitting obsessed) so I can pick up stitches for the border. I'm going to border in black DK and edge the border with some slightly thinner sparkly greeny DK from my stash.

Spare yarn blanket

In my excitement this week I'm also cast on the spare yarn blanket in an attempt to use up some of the yarn left from the patchwork blanket. I'm not joking when I say I have 2 gift boxes worth of spare yarn left....

Premmi baby blanket - Monday group

We knit for PremmieUK, with the yarn donated by a local funeral directors.

I'm knitting a Ripple design blanket for the first time in 4Ply. It's a really light weight blanket and looking really nice - although it's not particularly interesting to knit if I'm honest as it's only 2 lines.

Octopus for a Premmi - Facebook group
This is my practice octo. Trying to figure out how to make the tentacles curl!

Knitting with tiny needles (2.25mm) in cotton (which is a first for me). My hands ache, but it's for a good cause. Lily will probably be having this one, but it's a useful chance to practice and figure out the pattern. Currently my tension seems good and I'm not seeing any holes!

In another exciting update this week - I have new hair!! Yes, for my new look I've gone part red head. If I'm honest I keep forgetting about it and catching sight of it in the mirror!

That's all from me today!

Love to you all, Happy knitting!

MrsKirstyHoll

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Wip progress Knitting Project update

Hay guys, so this is going to be a slightly longer post. This has been an exciting week!

The last of the squares... 

So we are on the last stages of the patchwork blanket! After just over 2 years on this project I am seriously excited to be finishing it. Although, it has been a fantastic project for improving my knitting skills and confidence.

Here's a few of the final squares...

So these were meant to both be the same... but I had some spare wool. So I mixed the colours up a bit!

I also managed to knit this 2 little ladder squares... the pattern is so simple. But I really love the effect!

While knitting the last square I took the time to organise and lay out the knitted squares. I've then piled each long row together and in that order I can then block them on the foam pads I brought last week.

This is the last completed square!!! After 90 squares, this is the final one.... *drum roll please*

I've set out the foam pads and pins (serious useful by the way in terms of being able to vary the shape). The pins are also really sturdy.

To dampen the squares I soaked kitchen roll in water and then used candle holders to help flatten the squares. This picture is of the squares after they had been left for 12 hours. They still need to finish drying. But hopefully I should be able to start sewing tomorrow! Plan is to sew one line while the next row is blocking. There's only 9 rows and then I need to knit the border. The plan is to find some pretty yarn from the stash and pick up stitches for the border. Their wavy version is going to involve knitting separately and sewing on - which just seems far to much effort when I have so many other projects I want to get on with!

GIANT KNITTING

So one night last week (while Lily fell asleep on Daddy) I cast on the beginning of a blanket for her on those Giant Needles (24mm). I'm not entirely sure what pattern this blanket will end up being - I'm going to experiment a little as I go along - but it will be fun to see what happens.

Premature Baby Knits

So the background to this little number... I was knitting in the doctors surgery when a bloke struck up a conversation about me knitting and not looking at it. Then a lady next to him joined in. It turned out that she knitted at a local knit and natter group at the local Methodist church on a Monday morning (which fits in with my schedule when I go back to work as well - win!). They knit clothes and blankets for PremmieUK - with the baby yarn donated by a local funeral Directors.

This will be a new pattern to me, so will update as it emerges....

Star Wars scarf

This is the mysterious WIP that I started planning a good few years ago. I found the colour work sections in a blog years ago (sorry that I don't have the links) and put them together to make a colour work pattern for a scarf. Initially I attempted a sample square working on the short side sideways in 6mm. I found this too loose and the edging of the image wasn't great.

So the next attempt was longways down in 5.5mm needles. This was just that little bit tighter and the edging looked a lot better. I've already sorted out some circular needles that will allow me to knit long ways and work downwards. This should be a relatively quick knit I think and the spare black yarn will be needed for my scrap yarn blanket!

So I'm off to get some more knitting done while Lily gets some more sleep!

Here's another big grin :)

Love to you all and happy knitting!

MrsKirstyHoll

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F.O - Baby Blanket

As promised - I have managed to finish the weave effect Baby Blanket. This pattern was from the Love Knitting for Baby magazine Dec Issue. 

I really did enjoy knitting this pattern - designed by the blogged Laura Strutt. It was really easy to follow and had enough aspects of the pattern that you could really personalise it. The design was also really quick to knit up when you get into the rhythm. 

In addition, I also feel a lot more comfortable with picking up stitches than I was before I started. It's really helped me understand how this technique can affect the structure of a garment. 

Those of you with a keen eye may notice that the border does not match the colours used in the body of the blanket. That would be because I didn't have enough wool left of the 2 balls of each colour for the border. I could have done with having 3 of each. So I found a ball of wool in John Lewis that I could order in next day collection. I was in such a rush to order the yarn (I really wanted to get the blanket finished) that I ended up ordering the slightly off red instead of the red. 

Although, I'm actually really pleased with the overall effect and to make the colour look less like a mistake, I knitting the border with 5 rows rather than the advised 3. Personally, I think it gives the colour more of a pop.

Lily tested the blanket out this morning. We went on a walk while the sun was out. Although it was a bit chilly (hence the pick ASDA hat).

What have you lovely lot finished recently? 

I'm off to focus on getting the patchwork finished (and giving Lily lots of cuddles)!

Mummy brain signing off

MrsKirstyHoll

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7 Week Update

So Lily is now 7 weeks old today. It's been a weird 7 weeks to be honest. A strange point between wakefulness and sleeping. Even being awake hasn't been fully awake. 

Learning how to be a new mum has definitely been one of the best as well as one of the hardest things I have ever done. But it's so rewarding - especially now Lily is starting to smile. Both my husband and I have have been given a huge grin at least once this week. Her little personality is starting to eek through and it's so much fun watching it happen. 

The scary thing is that I only have a month left before I have to go back to work. I was honestly not expecting the time to go this quickly  - which was probably a bit naive to be honest. But due to necessity I need to go back to work, which will reduce any sparish time I have considerably.

So I need to get some serious speed knitting done over the next few weeks to get my WIPS finished. I'm also looking forward to watching Lily get more and more alert. There is a couple of local sensory groups  I want to start taking her to in about a month. She's completely in love with lights and shiny things at the moment and starting to stay awake for longer and longer periods.

Lily is also now managing to stay awake for most of the under one's group we go to on a Wednesday morning. This week was the first time she's started to pay attention to some of the other babies. I'm hoping she'll eventually figure out crawling by paying attention and copying the other babies. She's currently one of the youngest in the group so I'm hoping she'll get a lot out of it. 

I won't do a WIPS update this week. I've been focusing on Lily's blanket this week to try and get it finished. Only about 2.5 colour rows and the border need doing  - then it's all done! Lily is with her grandparents this afternoon. So once I've finished this speedy update then I will get on with some speedy knitting (along with a cheeky G&T! - while the mice/baby is away....)....

Love to you all, Mummy brain signing off

MrsKirstyHoll

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To make list – the beginning

Right… so I keep adding stuff to my make list. I really felt like I needed to get all the ideas together for planned projects in a list so I can focus on the projects I have yarn for before I buy more of it…. Although I can’t promise I won’t come back from the knitting and stitching show with more yarns and more patterns… 

I’ll confess those yarny sins when I get back… 

1. Firstly I want to get this blanket finished. Another 10 rows to go and then the border.

2. Then I want to get this blanket finished. 20 squares, then to sew them together before adding the border to go.

3. Then I want to finish a Star Wars scarf WIP I found in my wardrobe while tidying last weekend. Sample tension square done and needles / yarn purchased.

4. This freebie lace shawl pattern. This would be my first lace pattern. So pretty exciting. Yarn came free with mag and needles purchased.

5. Knitted baby sock. Yarn already purchased. This will be the first if 12 socks I want to knit this year.

6. Jumper for Lily. 

7. Cardigon for Lily.

8.  Scrap yarn blanket. I found this crochet pattern yonks ago. Now I have enough scrap yarn this I think I can make the background look really funky. Will probably end up giving this to Lily for a Christmas present or keeping it as a family blanket for the sofa. 

Original Source of Chart Image – Happy Hooker

So that should keep me busy for a while. But I really need to focus on 1 project at a time to ensure that they make some decent progress. I think that needs to be a resolution for the year!

Off to carry on knitting!

MrsKirstyHoll

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Progress on my to-do list

Thought you guys would like an update on my progress went with that to-do list:

• Edit and update a spreadsheet for a mate (I am a bit of a fan on Excel - so feel free to ping me any questions if you have any) - done!
• Make a start on my Daily Greatness Journal - new year, new me (and mini me) - managed to make a decent amount of progress through the planning stages 
• Start reading through the collection of blogging books I've brought to help grow this blog - not got very far with this one. Started the book from Problogger by Darren Rowse and Chris Garret. So far feels like a really easy read and it looks like its going to be really informative.
• Take down my Christmas decs - otherwise bubs will turn up and it just won't happen! - Christmas tree down and all of the decs packed away. Currently in boxes on the stairs ready to go into the loft!
• Catch up on clothes washing - again when bubs appears there will be a lot! - all done and hung up :) 
• Tidy up my lounge - it looks like it's been attacked after a week of both of us being in the house. - looking significantly better then it did this morning! 
• Knitting - Complete the last Diagonal Stripe Square. - completed! So that's another pattern down :) really enjoyed knitting this one actually! 
• Knitting - work 2 colour rows of the baby blanket - worked one so far. So making some progress on this :) 

• Schedule/draft blog articles - with the theory that with bubs I am not going to have a lot of time! - so not really made any progress on this. Going to get started this evening once I've posted this one.

There was also a massive energy crash which saw me half dozing on the sofa for a couple of hours. My hips have also started hurting again. So I think the plan is to jump into another hot bath later on in the hope my muscles feel less achy!

I also managed to capture this really cool bit of footage of bubs having a good of wiggle around. Head over to my Instagram @mrskirstyholl if you want to take a look!

Happy new year all

Baby brain signing off

MrsKirstyHoll

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WIP Progress Report

Hay to all my lovely followers!

So this week has actually been super productive on the knitting front. I’ve had lots of lovely friends and family come to visit me this week and so I’ve managed to get a lot of knitting done!

This week we are totaling 6 squares (so catching up on my 2 square shortfall from last week) and 2 colour rows of the blanket.

The reason for my massive square catch up is I had a batch of 5 moss stitch squares to complete. Over the course of the week I have become – if I do say so myself – a pretty speedy moss stitch knitter. The first square took me about 6 hours to knit, while the 5th one took about half the time. I still think the stitch is seriously boring to do for any length of time, but the final affect is nice.

So I only have 21 squares to knit (according to my spreadsheet which was definitely a Godsend to the speedy completion of this project). Which means we are definitely on the final countdown to this first stage of my knitting journey. After we’ve sewn that together I can find something else to knit… (AKA start my aim of finishing 12 socks this year)

I’m hoping to get some serious blanket rows knitting done this afternoon and during this week. It’s really starting to gain some length now! It’s becoming a seriously awesome blanket and I am looking forward to seeing the final finished piece. Of course, I am especially looking forward to seeing Lily actually using the final finished piece!

Lily, on the other hand, is growing every day – can you believe she’s 6 weeks today? She’s now weighing in at a healthy 12ib (about 5.4kg). The health visitor came on Friday and was really pleased with her development. Lily can now hold her head up and almost has enough strength to sit up – we also have an ’emerging smile’ (so not just wind and this was witnessed by the Health Visitor). She’s also starting to pay attention to rattles and turning her head to see the direction of the sound. So it shouldn’t be long until she starts properly reacting to her toys (she has a lot).

Yarn Addict Signing off – I have a lot to get done this afternoon!

MrsKirstyHoll

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