Busy Hands

03 November 2015

Now that November has started it feels like Christmas is only round the corner, apologies if you didn't want to be reminded.  In years past I have been in the middle of a frantic period of making gifts from a list which seemed to grow as fast as I could complete anything.  Knitting everything meant that I had to start back in August but spending five months of the year making Christmas presents was not something I wanted to do every year.   So far, this years list doesn't contain much knitting what is included is not cast on as yet, so I currently on the needles is several projects for myself which seems rather indulgent........a cardigan using the blue yarn, it was one huge skein that I bought really cheaply from a friend of a friend I have guesstimated the length.  I have been creating fairisle swatches for the yoke as I don't want to play yardage chicken* with the blue yarn, I think I need a creamy coloured yarn as well which means a trip to the yarn shop........


......in the meantime a sock for me, my knitting is very colour co-ordinated at the moment!








Other projects include some wee presents for friends, a story sack in planning, quilt squares and a birthday bag for Alice's friend, she wants one now, of course!  I am trying to find that all important balance of making some gifts and ensuring that I have time to do so within family life.  I always buy a few too as some of my family are difficult enough to choose gifts for as it is, without spending the time making something that I am not quite sure they will like or want.   It is of course early days and come this time next month I may be feeling slightly overwhelmed by my own planning.........

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*when you are not quite sure if you have enough yarn to complete a project.

Joining Nicole

48 comments:

  1. Gorgeous projects. You are right about the cream for the fair isle and I love the purple Celtic knot(?) running up the leg of the sock.

    San x

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    1. It is a Celtic knot :). This pattern requires a lot of concentration on my part so I can see it growing very slowly......

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  2. Oh wow, so much handmade goodness in this post. Love the sock pattern, and the yarn and colour look so delicious :) The little stars are adorable, and that birthday bag is awesome. I'm with Alice, I want one too :)

    Happy creating!

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    1. Thank you Kim! The bag was fun to make, I made one for myself over the summer perhaps I should share that too?

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  3. I love the sound of all your project plans. I think I may have been a bit too ambitious with my own holiday making intentions, but we'll see what happens. :)

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    1. It is so easy to be over ambitious isn't it, when we want to make gifts for everyone!

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  4. Great projects. the bag is my favorite! I don't think I completely realized it was November until I read this. We have birthdays to get through first, so I'm in a bit of denial about the holidays still. :) Have a good week. :)

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    1. We have a birthday next week. The quilt was meant to be for that but illness put paid to that being finished in time. I know it will be well received whenever it is finished........

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  5. Beautiful projects, I'm totally impressed! I struggle with knitting... I do cross-stitch and am trying to learn crochet. It's just finding the time for everything! x

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    1. It is about finding the time for everything, I agree! I have not been able to master crochet, hope you can :)

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  6. All your yarn colours are wonderfull. Love that sock pattern, I need to move out of my sock comfort zone and try something different like cables.
    Can't wait to see the finished quilt - is a a log cabin design?

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    1. I think the quilt design is based on the log cabin I am au fait with all the different quilt designs I am sort of following instructions from a book! The cable pattern is beautiful but not one I can knit without consentrating I can see progress with be slow ;)

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  7. You are so right, it feels like Christmas round the corner - and it is!
    We are totally in the mood for baking and making presents and will savour the next weeks!
    Your socks are beautiful - and all that lovely yarn! And I really like those little red stars too!

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    1. Thank you, Christmas always seem to arrive quickly once November has started!

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  8. You have lots of nice projects going on! The sock pattern is really pretty!!

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    1. Thank you, Anke. The sock pattern is just what I was looking for but it is not one I can knit without concentrating hard, progress will be slow.......

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  9. You've got some wonderful projects on the go and I'm looking forward to hearing more about the story sack, you've made some fabulous ones in the past, I think they're such a good idea. Love that house fabric too.

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    1. I am looking forward to getting started on the storysack, I do love making them!

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  10. All the yarn looks so lovely! Happy crafting!

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  11. I am in the middle of that frantic period you describe, I'm never going to get it all done! I love that sock pattern, you are very talented with all this craftiness going on ;-)

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    1. Aw thanks Karen, hope you get all your gifts made in time!

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  12. wow, so many amazing projects going! love those stars. :)

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    1. So do I, I sat and sewed and stuffed three yesterday whilst the children were in a French class. They are a good portable project!

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  13. Your lilac sock yarn is beautiful and I happened to just have finished a hat using the same cable pattern! Ever since I completed the cardigan for my daughter that uses cables to make the owl pattern, I am hooked on cables!

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    1. Cables are great aren't they, they work with all yarns!

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  14. Such beautiful creations! I am in awe. Could you please show more of what look like red star decorations? I am just finishing off some knitted decorations for my tree and am after ideas for some which are reasonably toddler/cat proof. X

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    1. I will share them when they are finished off, they are red star decorations. They are basically two pieces of red felt cut into stars, one is embroidered with a snowflake then sewn together with a little wool stuffing to give them a bit of form. I am currently pondering what to attach to them to hang them up ;)

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  15. yarn chicken! haha, i like that.

    i always forget the xmas frenzy until someone mentions it. we don't do xmas at all, so the idea of spending 5 months making gifts is astonishing to me. whatever the reason, i love your dedication to making before buying.
    and adore the sock colour.

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    1. I have stopped the five months of making I too thought that was over the top! I started in the middle of October this year, making a list and am slowly working my way through it :). Tell me how do you manage not to do xmas? My little family would probably be ok with it but the extended family..........

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  16. What a lovely little bag! x

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  17. I am drooling over your projects :) so lovely and inspiring and inviting!. I knit all year round, sometime I knit something and then decide well this can be so and so's gift. And like now, I'm knitting specifically for certain people. Remember my kiddos are grown up!!

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    1. Thank you Karen. I always inspired by others do I am glad I can pass that on too :)

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  18. I admire your skill in stitching, and your wisdom in trying to pace yourself realistically...[my dreams are usually grander than my achievements :) ] I am glad you are giving yourself permission to enjoy making something for yourself!

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    1. I don't always get it right Gracie! I try and pace myself but am often to be found frantically trying to get it all done at the end!

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  19. You have got a lot on the go, I am impressed. Happy stitching, knitting etc. x

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    1. Thank you, I just hope I can keep up with it all.......

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  20. You've got some great projects on the go! Love the cable and the colour of your sock. I have yet to knit a sock and perhaps this will be the year I face my fears :)
    Wendy

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    1. Give them a go, they are not difficult if you pick the right pattern. There are loads of easy patterns on Ravelry :)

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  21. Wow, you are certainly very busy. Very impressive. I have visited here for the first time as I have come from thistlebear's blog . I do love the things you make. Have a lovely day

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    1. Thank you. I am busy and will be for a few more weeks I think!

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  22. Your handmade gifts and projects on the go are all so very lovely - you will have some lucky recipients! I love your colour palate as well - beautiful!

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    1. I do hope they will be liked, they are all carefully chosen but I am always apprehensive when I wrap them up and gift them........

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  23. All that beautiful handmade goodness... Like you, I get overwhlemed towards the end. Christmas always comes quicker than I would want it. But I've also come to peace with the fact that I simply cannot make everything. So we have equally split the list between store bought and homemade this year and my stress level has gone way down. :-) Your yarns aare beautiful... that gorgeous purple...

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    1. We have such similar views Yanic. I too put myself under pressure to make everything but realised it was too much. I try to balance with some bought and some homemade :)

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  24. Some cute projects there. *I call it yarn roulette! You learn who to make for and who to buy for and indeed who not to bother with at all come to that! Happy making. Jo x
    http://joeveryday19@blogspot.co.uk

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    1. Thank you, you are right that you learn who to make for. Some are much harder than others so I usually buy their presents!

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