Friday, 28 July 2017

Progress Update Number 2

So Lily/bubs/Munchkin is now 6 1/2 months old. To me that is just insane. We are currently outgrowing our 6-9 months clothing in favour of 9-12 month (all the food appears to be powering her height increase). 
We that in mind, I thought now would be a good time for another progress update.

Dear a probably very tired me,
You’re now the mother of a nearly 1 year old bubs and you’re at the end of what was probably the most challenging and rewarding year of your life. Fingers crossed you managed to not lose bubs anywhere… in which case win! Honestly, if bubs is happy and healthy by this point then this has been successful year. Bubs should have also had most of the Harry Potter series read to bubs already ðŸ™‚
Bubs has still not been left or lost anywhere (happy days). Harry potter series not happening yet. We don’t have nearly enough patience unless it’s fluffly or textured.
Hopefully by next year the blog will have also grown. In 2016 we hit the 100 followers milestone, the plan is to double that by the end of 2017. If we can get there then that would be awesome. With the arrival of bubs I would like to start earning a little bit of money off the blog so that I can start funding advertising and get the blog it’s own URL. With bubs there is unlikely to be any money to self fund much. The hope is that I can do some guest blogging and potentially get some paid gigs out of it. If I am funding my own craft habit by the end of 2017 then the other half will reward with serious brownie points ðŸ™‚
So we’re up to 129 followers, which is pretty stead on with the progress. Hopefully this should go hand in hand with me posting more. It’s also great writing practice for me if I can blog 6 days a week. 
So on the job front: the plan is to start back at work around the end of March/ beginning of April time line. By then bubs will be about 3 months old and should hopefully be sleeping through the night (fingers crossed). The plan is then to start hunting out a promotion at work by about the middle of the year. My plan is to have a career, being a working mum is going to be really hard, but I know it’ll be worth it in the long run.
Attempted for a promotion, got an interview but not the role. Disappointing, but the feedback will be really useful for the future and my current role means I can spend more time with Lily, which I’m really enjoying as she gets bigger. 
By the time you’re reading this, that book will be finished and actually published on Amazon. Because this is getting seriously ridiculously stupid if not as if this is still not done by now you have definitely need to take a long hard look at yourself in the mirror. This has now been in editing for half a decade and it needs to be published.
This is something I’m starting from August. It’ll be posted in chapters on here and wattpad in a bid to get feedback. Hopefully we’ll get proper release early December. 
I don’t have any massive hopes for my knitting this year (I’m pretty sure that in my sleep induced haze I’ll be struggling to count rows and stitches). But if I can get in a few cute knits for bubs then all will be well. The plan is also to really improve my sock knitting – I’m thinking by now I’ll have knitted at least 12 pairs (1 a month on average). They’ll have been good sized travelling companions this year and I will hopefully have a few cute pairs of pretty socks. Recently I heard of a woman who donated a load of blankets she’s knitting to the Salvation Army, so that would be cool if I could have some spare knits by now to donate.
The knitting (and now crochet) is actually going a lot better than expected. This has definitely been my sanity saver! 
#Edit to knitting plan (Caused by my addiction to buying yarn!)
– Finish the Red/Blue Pram Blanket Done
– Finish the knitted patchwork blanket Done
– 12 pairs of socks The plan with this one is to do a little set between balls of wool on the shawl. 
– This jumper for bubs. It’s mainly ribbing and stocking stitch – so not a massive stretch of the imagination to get this finished! Need to get this knitted as it won’t be long until it fits her!)
– Get started on this pattern for bubs This ones for when she’s a bit bigger. But she’s growing a lot faster than I predicted.
By now you should have actually completed your first 10K race. After having to put the first one off from April 2016 (turns out that exhaustion was due to bubs!) you should now have got your fitness up enough to be able to run 10K again. If not then I am very disappointed as I feel like the exercise will help keep the stress levels to a minimum and keep some sort of sanity together. You’ll also be going climbing at least twice a month in an attempt to tone up some core muscles again – and climbing is super fun.
#Edited Run Plan:
June/July = 5K Race – Completed.
The rest of the races may get pushed until next year. I don’t have the time or the energy to do much running. However, now we’ve got Lily moved into the cot we might see. 
August = 10K race – Need to book.
End Sept = Half Marathon – Need to book, but would like to do the New Forest one
Nov/Dec Time = Marathon – Need to book
Financially I would really like to reduce how much I spend. If I could do that then we could save a lot more. So hopefully by the time I’m reading this I will have some savings and reduced how much I’ve been spending. But fingers crossed… I might have even be able to siphon some off for yarn…
We have a new budget in place. We’ll have to see how that works, but I do now have a set amount of money for me stuff. Need to get used to learning to budget with that. Hoping I can use it to help with the blogging. 
So future me, I hope you’ve managed to at least meet most some of the above. With bubs keeping you busy I imagine you’ve had some sort of serious adjusting to do. But fingers crossed you’ve managed to stay on top of most of it!
Bye me and I hope you’ve had an exciting 2017!
MrsKirstyHoll
So that’s my half year touch base. Starting to think that I might have bitten more than I can chew this year. But it’s so hard for me not to have things to do. Need to work on that.
Need to prioritise knitting goals, blog and writing in terms of me stuff. 
Love to you all have happy knitting
x

Yes I brought more knitting patterns

….To be fair they were in a charity shop.
The story started with my husband needing a lift into work. Having to drive all the way into town and, needing to buy some shopping anyway, I thought I better make use of the journey.
While I was down there – not having had time for breakfast before we left the house – Lily and I thought it would be rude not to try out Delfino Lounge (a new cafe/bar that’s opened in town). So we ordered there veggie breakfast and a coffee for £7.95. The price was worth it when we started eating. The veggie sausages were so good and not the horrible cheap ones Weatherspoons has started serving. I am also in love with the mini bean mug and the spinach and red pepper side – not something I’ve seen anywhere before.
Lily was very good and sat in her highchair (that did need a clean before use) attempting to eat the menus, my phone, the table (I didn’t understand that either) and her face cloth.
While hunting through the charity shops I found this amazing King Cole collection of Catwalk knitting patterns for £1.99! I also picked up the needle toppers for £2.49. Thinking they will look adorable on my lace needles!
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So these are are a few of my favourite patterns in there…
King Cole Catwalk Collection
So, as usually, I have a few things to add to the knitting list… But the instructions look pretty simple and I’m looking forward to when I can get to choosing yarn for these!
That’s all from me tonight! I’ve not long got back from work and I could really do with catching some Z’s (or at least chilling with my needles before bed).
Love to you all and happy knitting!
Mrs Kirsty Holl
x

Baby Clothing Sizes

Motherhood is absolutely the most exhausting thing I have ever done. So with normal, everyday choices, I really need things to be simple. I’ve just spent an hour convincing a giggly 6 month old (in between yawns and suspiciously tired looking eye rubs) that she really needed to sleep.
Hope that really helps the point hit home.
What I need to be easily able to identify is, as now, when she has a growth spurt that all her long sleeve tops will not fit her any more.  This is actually not the case – because they are all different sizes. It was worth for 0-3 months in terms of differentiation, but I don’t currently have access to the data.
Let me give this some perspective. Babies clothing is usually found as: Newborn (we never fit in those), 0-3 months (we grew out of these really quickly), 3-6 months (way to many things with labels still on), 6-9 months (the stuff we’re just starting to box up), 9-12 month (what should have been winter stuff but will now need to be worn over the summer) 12-18 months and so on.
Within this are variations on what weight limit the shops classify as the average weights your babies will be. To give you some idea here is some data from my 6-9 month collection in my washing pile earlier:
Tesco F&F: 20ib (Height: 74cm)
Mini Mode: No weight (Height: 68-70cm)
JoJo Maman Bebe: 6-12 month. No height or weight measurements. (but its from a dungaree style dress so it will fit for a lot longer)
Disney baby and George (ASDA): 21ib (68-74cm)
Disney baby (Tesco): 20ib (Height 74cm)
Mantaray at Debenhams: 21ibs (Height 74cm)
Next: 21ibs (No height)
Pep&Co: 21ibs (No Height)
Mothercare: 20ibs (No height)
Which is a complete pain as you can end up with a couple of weeks growth use between one shirt and another. Which means you have to filter through your washing as they grow out of things.
Lily is at a point where she loves to wiggle. Trying on every shirt individually is just not usually an option. So I need to be able to do bulk removals of clothing into the loft. Currently I have to leave the pile growing in a box for 2-3 weeks while she grows out of the bigger stuff and starts to be able to fit into the smaller stuff of the next size up.
Why can’t shops just start to mirror up on their sizes?
I ask – why can’t shops use the weight limit as their sizing for babies? This would make my life so much easier. At least it would also be clear then when I purchased the clothing how long she might be in them for.
I’m not really asking for that much – am I?
What are your thoughts? Have you ever been annoyed at children’s clothing?
Love to you all and happy knitting
MrsKirstyHoll
x

Thursday, 27 July 2017

W.I.P Pikachu (Crochet)


So the above just got frogged because I forgot to count stitches and ended up with twice as many as I needed. That was about 6 hours work (don't judge :) I'm new to crochet). So it was a rather heartbreaking realisation.

My first attempt at this adorable Pikachu was using this cotton yarn. Fairly good price on Amazon - although I did find it frayed really easily. I'm definitely not recommending it for beginners.

Personally, apart from finishing off the stash yarn, I won't be using this again. DK weight but needs about 3.5mm hook to be even slightly usable. If anyone can suggest any recommended patterns for this I would welcome as I have a few balls of yellow, red and black to use up.
Now using this yarn:
Aran weight sugar n cream. Happy days. 3.00mm hook. It's the same brand as I used for the dog and I should have started with it really.

This is where we are so far. Much more shaping this time! Definite progress

And from above...

This project seems to be a pick up and randomly put down type of in progress work. If I'm honest, I do find this rather frustrating. But it's my own fault because I keep changing the bag it's in - I was only able to get these photos by tidying my lounge and finding the last bag I took this to work in.
So locating it means I can hopefully make some progress on it this weekend while I'm curled up on the sofa recovering from the flu. Today I took my first sick day for 2 and a half years. Not a brag, just a general observation that I hate being sick and that I usually have a pretty good immune system.
Immune system - you have let me down. What's really annoying is I'm going to miss my brother in laws stag do (a Total Wipeout style assault course).
Hopefully this might make some progress, we're both off this weekend so I might get a chance to recharge.
Love to you all and Happy Knitting!
MrsKirstyHoll
x

Christmas Knits - Inspiration Wanted

Hello all, I'm in need of some help!
So I'm after some Christmas knits inspiration as this is the first year I've actually got fast enough at knitting I might finish something!
I'm thinking along the lines of: Blankets/hats/scarfs/shawls etc. Ideally it's would be good if it didn't need sizing.
Or just suggestions of yarn I should knit with would also be fabulous. It would be fun to try something new :)
Thanks for any advice!
Love to you all and happy knitting!
MrsKirstyHoll
x

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Wednesday, 19 July 2017

WIP – Terribly Simple Shawl



So this is a super easy knit that I was inspired to do after seeing A Tangled Yarn’s blog post a few weeks ago. The pattern from Caitlin Ffrench got screen-shootted into my gallery and stored for a latter date.
I got bored and went rifling through my stash (mainly to see if I could justify buying more yarn – turn out that a no-go currently… damn). But what I did find was about 5 balls of cotton textured yarn which have little bobbles all the way through. Honestly, I only brought them because they were only 99p a ball…. Then I had no idea what to do with them…
…Until now.
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I’m going to be honest, I love the effect it’s making – the textured yarn seems to match up really well with the lack of any interesting knitting pattern – but its so uncomfortable to knit with. This is a knit that needs to be done, as apposed to one to fall in love with. This is the first me knit I’ve done for a long time. It’s going to be my first shawl and I will take it to work with me – the aircon is freezing and it’d be nice to have an additional layer to hand to wrap around my shoulders!
The plan is to increase the size of the circular needles every 10cm or so to see what happens. Should also mean the long rows knit up a bit quicker!
That’s all from me for tonight. It’s been a long couple of days and I need to get some sleep!
Love to you all and happy Knitting!
MrsKirstyHoll
x

F.O – Julia’s house donation knit

So.. drum roll please… this is now a finished object. For a number of reasons this ‘quick project’ has taken a lot longer then it should have.
But it’s finished on time to donate for a raffle to raise money for a charity for Julia’s house – it helps support families of disabled kids. So really hope it helps and it’s always feels so rewarding to donate knits.
This infinity scarf design is in ladder stitch pattern on 6mm straight needles – which always feels weird as I usually knit of circular where I can. But it looks so effective in the pattern with the single block colour. In all honesty, I have enough of this yarn to knit another scarf for myself… which is seriously tempting and will happen next time I need an easy project and I loved the yarn to.
That all from me for today (want to get some sleep in before Lily wakes up for a feed!).
Love to you all and happy knitting!

MrsKirstyHoll
x