Spring forward and back to Easter.

The latest Mollie Makes magazine dropped through my letterbox this morning and the cover filled me with thoughts of Easter past and present.
Easter means, for me, Spring and also birthdays (mine and Eldest Biscuit's to name two of half a dozen), renewal and the colour yellow.  Chocolate of course and weekends with my lovely wee family, holidays from school and work. I do like spring, even if it's usually always still baltic here in my wee bit of Scotland.  Yet the sun shines and that is always lovely don't you think?

So down I sat with my mag and my cappuccino.

Mollie Makes has egg cosies on it's cover that took me back a couple of years.  You may remember I knitted these for Teacher gifts way back in 2010.

Seems like such a long time ago now.

The pattern for these is there for all now in issue twelve and they are well worth the time to knit them up.  Although now I am looking at the photos I did change the pattern after I knitted up the blue one. I confess I hate hate hate garter stitch with a passion.  I think it shows up uneven tension and is quite ugly.  I'm also surprised when designers choose it over other stitches that look so much better.  Anyways I changed the cuff to 'rib' which I thinks looks loads better. I might have to make one for me as I frogged the blue one to make the phone cover you see in the first photo. They are cute and I remember the Teachers I made them for loved them too.

I do love Mollie Makes, such a lovely, inspiring magazine.

Take care, my lovelies.

X

(there is a correction for the crochet flower brooch pattern here if you need it)

Today...

I decided to print off some of the patterns accumulating on my laptop and boy now I'm feeling a wee bit....forget that negativity.  Let's just say rather than looking on it as lots to do, overwhelming and a long long list, I've decided that it means (poor, poor unfortunate me!) lots and lots of necessary sitting on my bottom watching box sets and films whilst sewing and knitting.  

It's important work I tells ya! 

*sigh*  

I loves a homemade Christmas!

I confess though the first thing on this printed out pile that will be made are for me... 

 Surely if I am to work so hard [??!!] for Christmas it is essential for me to be comfortable and cosied up in the feet department.  I found the wool recommended for a bargain price of 12.95 instead of 36.00 for a ten pack.  Shocking for 100% undyed virgin wool!  Not that I need ten balls but everywhere else would have sold only the four required for the same price.  Now I could knit another pair for someone else and have two balls left over for a pair of socks.  Not keen on the word 'smug' but if the feeling fits...

What is on your crafting 'to do' list?

X

p.s the pattern for the bunny slippers can be purchased from here.  If you'd like to see more of my knits, I am on Ravelry as cupcakeandbiscuit.  You do have to be a member or join to have a looksee  but it's easy to do so and is an amazingly helpful and fun site, lots of available patterns etc.

They've all got knits!

Knits in abundance!

Everywhere I look I see AMAZING knits I am simply chomping at the bit to have a go at.

An email from Loop had me smiling and drooling over these..

 deer with antlers hat

woodland hoodlet

(images from Loop)

The patterns are available here at Tiny Owl Knits and here at Loop.  Loop is a fantastic shop and used to sell the amazing Swallow coloured milk casein knitting needles that I love from Australia.  They've not had them in a long while which is such a shame.  I keep meaning to get my brother-in-law to send me some over.  There are many many 'salivating on chin' patterns available and gorgeous yarn, really gorgeous yarn.  It's also one of those mail order shops that wrap your purchases with such care that you almost don't want to open them.  Of course you do.  No amount of well wrapped tissue is going to keep from my new yummy yarn for a squeeze.  I love a squeeze of a ball of yarn.  One of the many reasons why I like a good quality yarn; acrylic doesn't lend itself to an enjoyable squeeze!  If you have never had a look at Loop, I urge you to do so.

The latest post from the purl bee is full of more temptation...

(images from the purl bee)

These images encompass warm tummy favourites of mine; socks, wrist warmers, blankets, stripes and rib stitch.  I love ribs in knitting, ribs and moss!  As the leaves start to turn I find myself day dreaming about yarn, Brittany crochet hooks and knitting needles.  Does anyone else?

If you have never visited the purl bee, please do.  It's very inspiring , full to the gunnels with crochet, knitting and sewing patterns.

 

Lastly, this blanket.  Again with the hexes!!  From Tiny Owl Knits:

The Beekeeper's Quilt...

  (images from Tiny Owl Knits)

Are they not gorgeous?  Is the blanket not gorgeous?  I am waiting to see if I am lucky enough to win the pattern from a competition at the mollie makes blog, if not I am so so so buying it here or here.

My heart lies on a hexagon blanket!  

So much temptation...

What knits have you spotted?

X

'Possibility' is positively my sort of word.

And why not when you can apply it to a glorious sight like this...

"fa la la la laaaaaaaaa!"

*sigh*

Almost more beautiful than what they can become; these colourful balls.

Part of our memories.

Part of our family story. 

They will transform like magic.

From, as Mr Biscuit says, me wrapping wool around a wee wooden stick really fast.

Possibility...

X

Haggis, 'fantastic' yarn and Dr Scooby!

It'll be a braw, bricht, moonlicht nicht the nicht!

Right I cannae guarantee the bright, moonlit night but it will definitely be braw because this is on the menu for dinner this evening...

Haggis, neeps and tatties!

(don't you like how my tartan material matches the packaging? I'm so anal!!)

I love haggis, no that is untrue, I love Macsween haggis. There are some minging ones (*cough* Halls) out there.  They even do an amazing vegetarian one well worth a taster.  I know some people are put off by it but I have been eating it since I was very wee, long before I knew what it was so it was therefore way past the point of stopping.  I was already hooked.  Growing up we always ate it on Burns Night and must now with my own family.  My Biscuits devour it and although we have it at other times in the year and in other ways, it's tradition to eat it tonight with neeps and tatties.  Cannot wait!

I also have this to show you, my new Mirasol Qina yarn, a gorgeous 80% baby alpaca/20% bamboo spun in Peru.  I have it in mind for a 'fantastic' animal project.  Can you guess which 'fantastic' animal it will be?

Have I said 'fantastic" enough for you to get the clue?

Hopefully I'll get knitting soon, so many projects so little time!

We also had a big drama this morning as Youngest Biscuit's bestest froggy friend Hardy had an accident.  Fell out of bed he did and broke his wee green arm.  First aider cub, Eldest Biscuit, set upon him with a Woody bandana and strapped him up while Youngest Biscuit sang him a lullaby to help him rest.  Poor Hardy!

His best friend Duff is keeping him company.

Unfortunately Eldest Biscuit started to annoy Youngest Biscuit with his, frankly lacking bedside manner, so a new doctor was requested. 

Dr Scooby!

One injection later and Hardy is off to the land of nod (I know his eyes are still open but trust me he is asleep) and a slight confused Scooby is waiting until he is paged again for his services.  I am on nursing duties of course.  I do not mind as Hardy once belonged to me.  I rescued [well bought] him from a pharmacist shelf twenty years ago and named him after the author Thomas Hardy, whose novels I buried my head in at seventeen feeling anguish over Tess and Jude.   Yikes!

I'm pretending to myself I didn't just write twenty years ago....

X