WIP Wednesday {Fetchings Improved}

So the hat from last week is now finished (and I love it!) but I still haven't had chance to take photos... a bit of a blogging fail I know but I'll blame an extra busy schedule and increasingly short dull days. Soon though I promise!

So of course I know have another small project on the needles, this time it's a stash busting project with some yarn I've had for ages and I'm actually revisiting a pattern I knitted some time ago, the incredibly popular Fetchings.

Please excuse the poor photo, but it's pitch black here, so good photos just aren't an option during the week anymore.

I've changed this pattern in several ways, it's longer both at the cuff and the top with an extra cable repeat and has a proper thumb gusset rather than an after thought thumb. The first one is finished and I'm half way through the second one and I definitely like them better with the modifications. I'll post full details when I've finished.

Now I'm off to try and catch up on my commenting and check out all the other What's On Your Work Desk Wednesday posts, and the new Work In Progress Wednesday; a spin off for knitters!

As I'm a little behind on my commenting and also short of time tonight, I promise to catch up on my commenting soon (tomorrow!) as I know there'll be so many fabulous posts I won't have time to check them all out tonight!

WIP Wednesday {Don't Slouch Stripey Hat}

A couple of weekends ago I made a trip for the first time to a new yarn shop that has opened in Manchester called Purl City. I've been excited about this yarn ever since I found out it was opening... it's the first yarn shop that is within easy driving distance that sells lots of beautiful harder to find yarns. The shop was lovely, definitely worth a trip with lots and lots of beautiful yarns. Unsurprisingly I didn't come home empty handed!

However what was surprising was that Mark took me (of his own back!) and treated me to my pick of yarn! Well I wasn't going to say no and after much debate got these two lovely skeins of Fyberspates Scrumptious Chunky, a yarn that really does live up to it's name as it's a scrumptious mix of 45% silk, 55% merino wool.

I couldn't make my mind up between these two colours... they were both beautiful and would both work as the hat I had in my mind that I wanted to make with them. Mark suggested I buy both and knit a stripey hat.... I wasn't going to say no!!!

So after some hunting on Ravelry I found a pattern I was happy with that was for a slouchy hat, and after some slight tweaks to the pattern it's knitting up just as I wanted it too!

Although, the hat is actually practically finished now (unlike the photo above that was taken at the weekend when I had some daylight to take the photo) and I love it. I just need some more daylight to take a finished photo, although sadly that will have to wait until the weekend.

And now I'm off to see what everyone else has been up to on this What's On Your Work Desk Wednesday (Or in my Case Work In Progress Wednesday - a new spin off that I've just discovered for knitters!).

Finished Object {Snowboarder Hat}

Despite the fact I've been knitting for over a year now, up until now I haven't knit anything for Mark. I think the reason for this is threefold... I value my knitting time as I don't have much of it and so only want to knit things that people will appreciate. I have lots and lots of things that I want to knit for myself (and again not enough time to knit them all). Mark is very particular about his clothing and up until now hadn't expressed any interest in me knitting something for him.

So when he hinted he might like a hat, I sat down with him and asked him to pick a pattern from Ravelry.

He picked a hat that is knitted entirely in 1x1 twisted rib. Now don't get me wrong it's not a difficult pattern... but any of you knitters out there will know what I mean when I say it takes forever and is incredibly boring. This must have taken more than twice the length of time it would have taken me in plain knit stitch. But Mark likes it, so I'm happy - you could call it a labour of love! If you're interested it's a free pattern available on Ravelry here.

Today we went for a walk round a local Nature Reserve... Mere Sands Wood in Rufford if you're local and it's a lovely trip out. If you're lucky you might spot both Kingfishers and Red Squirrels there. No Red Squirrels today, but we did get a fleeting glimpse of a Kingfisher (although sadly too fleeting for a photograph).

However it did give us the perfect chance for Mark to wear his new hat (and me to get some photos of him in it).

It was a lovely way to spend a Sunday morning as it was a beautiful sunny crisp Autumn day and it was nice to get out and about before we got on with the inevitable task of decorating (as always!). However on a positive note the room we are now starting will become my craft room... ok so Mark calls it the Study, I call it my craft room ha!

Finished Objects {Hooded Things}

It's that time of year again when there's no getting away from the fact that Summer is over. Don't get me wrong I actually really love Autumn, but I can't help but be a little bit sad that Summer is over for another year.

However, a definite positive for me is that it's the perfect excuse to get knitting! I've been knitting a lot recently on various different things, I just keep forgetting to take photos when there's actually daylight. However this weekend I finally got round to taking shots of two of my latest finished objects.

First up is this fab cowl, a quick knit that is really easy in super bulky wool. Great for instant satisfaction!

I test knit this for the lovely (Dawn) aka Yarn Sellar on Ravelry, and the pattern available for you to buy here for just $2.99.

Next up, one of my favourite knits so far. A cabled hood! Seriously I am in love with this... I'm a bit funny when it comes to hats. I have a fairly large head and lots of hair so me and hats as a general rule have a bit of strained relationship. When I first saw this "Through the Woods" hood I was in love straight away. The original knitted up by the designer was in a gorgeous deep red and immediately made me think of little red riding hood. However, to go with my snowboarding jacket I knew I wanted to make mine in purple.

So I ended up with the "Little Red Riding Hood Hood That's Purple Actually"...

Seriously, I adore this. It's so cute, and will be getting a lot of use when we go to the Alps (both in a few weeks time - (yay) and next year for our proper snowboarding trip).

It's actually a fairly quick knit as it's bulky wool, and not too complicated as the only real skills you need are cabling and picking up stitches. It's actually been finished for quite a while, but I got distracted with other projects and it took me ages to get round to blocking it and sewing the buttons on. If you do decide to make it I really do recommend following the designers instructions for blocking (including the bowl!) as it made so much difference to my finished hood.

If you want to knit one for yourself you can buy the pattern here from Ravelry for just $5.00. A bargain for such a fab knit if you ask me!