Whatever Happens

I am doing quotes that I like as a personal project.  I don't want to over think the project.  I just want to do it.  I want to basically mess around with quotes and words that I like.  Some quotes mean more to me than others but I really don't want to discuss it all.  I just want to share the quotes without an explanation.

I sewed this pencil case last weekend.  Made one for my brother as well.  Don't expect him to use it but I just wanted to sew him something for part of his birthday present.  I tie dyed the fabric probably last year and still have a bit more to use.  I love dyeing fabric and yarn.  I found these pens when going through some old boxes belonging to me at my parents'.  Knew they needed a new home so I made a pencil case specially for them.

I am going to try to sew something today.  I'm a bit wrecked, it was a long week, but a good one.

P.S. Mustard turned out grand.  I am going to try messing around with the recipe and other recipes.

Made the courgette loaf by Nigel Slater again.  This time I skipped adding the apple and raisins.  Didn't have either.  I probably added more courgette because I had it and wanted to use it.  I didn't have just raisins.  I had a bag of mixed fruit for Christmas cake making.  I felt citrus peel would have spoiled the party so I skipped it and didn't feel like going to the shop.  I like using up what I have the most in cooking and baking.  I also like adding more of what I like, so I added more cinnamon.  I put in almost a teaspoon.  Happy enough with it.

Barley And Madeline

 The hat pattern is Barley by Tin Can Knits.  It is a great free pattern.  It is a bit slouchy and fits my head nicely which is what I love in a hat right now.  I highly recommend the pattern and I see myself knitting a few more of these.

The yarn I purchased a couple of years back!  2011!  haha!  A yarn has a time and a pattern, some take longer to figure out.  The yarn is Madeline Tosh 80/10/10 MCN Worsted, colourway Toulouse- Lautrec.  It is a stunning yarn and I completely understand, Madeline Tosh's popularity.

Actually, after I made this hat, I stuck it in my bag and it fell out.  I couldn't find it anywhere.  I went out for a walk with Lexi (the regal part beagle above) and she stopped and I couldn't budge her.  I noticed what she was sniffing, it was my hat!  I dropped it on my road on the way to the supermarket.  It must of smelt like me.  I was delighted.  Even the story of its recovery makes the hat more adored.

I made another hat, Cocoon, I had a look for it today.  Hopefully, I will find it.  I guess due to Ireland's changeable weather has me in a habit of taking hats off and tossing it wherever.  It's another free pattern that I love.  I didn't even get a photo of the Cocoon hat.  I knitted the Cocoon hat with leftovers of my grey and yellow Drops Nepal sweater.
I have another one casted on in blue.  I like to order slightly too much yarn then use the leftovers to make hats and mittens.  I like having a good collection because in Ireland, you can get rained on each time and nothing is nicer than a warm, dry hat!

Knitting Sweaters for the Sun

The weather here in Ireland has been lovely.  One must always make time and appreciate the good weather whilst we have it.  (It can rain a lot here in Ireland, in case you never heard.)  Also one should make hay while the sun shines, so I killed two birds with one stone and sat outside in the sun and drew in my notebook.

Last summer was lovely and not typical Irish weather.  It was funny because I was too warm for most of my sweaters.  When the evenings got cooler, I was too warm for my mostly worsted/Aran weight wardrobe of sweaters/jumpers.  I am now trying to knit more 4 ply/sock yarn weight sweaters and cardigans to wear when the evenings get cooler. 

As per usual, I have many sweaters on the go.

This is my mon-petit-gilet-raye.  I already have another one on the go and have a few other colour combinations planned for the next one(s).  I want to make the neckline a bit smaller.  I didn't bother with the waist shaping because I don't like fitted things around my waist. 

 I'm putting more prints in my Ellie and Ada Etsy shop.  I am also working on new prints. This is Majorie Blue.  It is available in the shop!

Keiko

Just got informed that Society6 selected this print Keiko to be in the Society6 shop.  Delighted, so I am.

Going to Netflix it up now and finish a cardigan!  Can't wait for it to be finished, so I can dedicate more time to the new cardigan that I started.  Also want to get the last set of increases done on the new cardigan, so I can go to the Stitch and Bitch in the library tomorrow.  Haven't gone since December.

Off The Needles - Socks

Off the Needles!  I just finished these.  It's as dull as dish water outside.  It's a bit gloomy and grey.  I like how these are bright and cheery.  Reminds me of Easter colours.  Makes me want to eat jelly beans.

The weather is pretty dismal. It's just one of those days.  I'd love to drink a litre of coffee but it'd do me no good.

Preppy School Uniform

Almost finished my other stripey cardigan.  This is the next one.  I am using yarns that I had for (too) many years.  Love the colours.  Reminds me of a school uniform.  Unfortunately, any uniform that I had in a school was pretty hideous.  Bottle green and gone off custard was one particular colourway, that I can recall.

This yarn will be knitted into another Mon Petit Gilet Cardigan.

Just have to do the button band on the other one.

If you are on Ravelry, I am LHogan.

Nepal

I have so many projects on the go.  Decided that I am not allowed to buy anymore yarn until I finish 3 jumpers.  Let's see if it lasts at all.  I got a bunch of yarn yesterday from This is Knit -Studio Donegal, my favourite.

I also I have some projects I need to finish so my personal knitting time shall be limited for the time being (tears on my merino!)

I will show what I am doing with the Nepal sweater that I am knitting with my friend Rachel. She is leaps and bounds ahead of me in our knit along.  I decided I was really unhappy with my first go, so I decided to do something different.  The colours are such a strong contrast, I found it a bit difficult to decide what to do.  I am going figure things out as I go, yarn providing will help design what it will look like.  I am happy that I went with my gut feeling.  Rip it out even if your heart is breaking!  

I am ripping out the grey with the yellow stripes.  It is still on the needles, waiting to be ripped.  I purchased the Nepal Yarn from The Constant Knitter.

I am also on a ripping unwanted projects out phase.  If I don't wear something, I am ripping it out to reknit it into something I will wear.  It is not easy but I do feel it is worth it.  I don't want "dust collectors" lying around not being of any use.  I am really into practical things.  My favourite things are practical wares that keep me warm (that I made!).

Sweaters Always Make It Better

I am on sweater making buzz/roll.  Trying to finish projects and keep starting new ones.  I am a cold blooded gal, so I am preparing for fall/winter.  Keep Warm 2013 Project in full effect!

I knit socks while I drink coffee in the morning, after eating my breakfast as I read.  I was reading Les Miserables but at the moment I am taking a break, When it is finished and ready for the public, I hope to share where you can go so you can read it.    Really enjoying it.

I love reading and knitting socks, almost as much as I love knitting sweaters.

I am knitting a pair of socks for my sister at the moment.

I just started a project or a knit a long with my friend Rachel.  Can't wait to see our projects done just to see what we do with the yarn we choose.

First sweater- I dyed and spun the wool.  Superwash Merino
Second sweater- I dyed and spun the lighter blue yarn and knitted it up with Garnstudio Drops Andes Navy blue yarn. (Super warm sweater!)
Knitted socks- I dyed a 2 ply high twist merino and nylon yarn.
Socks to be knitted- Socks for my sister.  I don't think my sister reads my blog so I think my secret is safe.

Create your own visual style.  Let it be unique for yourself and yet identifiable for others.

-Orson Welles

New Sweaters For Autumn

I have a habit of starting new sweaters!  I started this sweater and can't wait to finish it so I can start wearing it.  This is wine/aubergine/eggplant colour is one of my favourite colours.  The handspun was spun from batts from a couple of years back.  I spun it up when I got it but was saving it, I guess.
I know I knit the same style sweater all the time but I find it so wearable and I like mindless knitting so I can read, watch tv or talk.  The wool sweaters is my personal insulation in my cold house and has become part of my daily uniform of t shirt, jeans (and wool sweater.)
Tomorrow, I will be knitting a sweater with my friend Rachel.  We will be knitting a Top Down Raglan.
The budgie with Lexi is called Grizzly because he reminds me of a little blue bear. 

Before and After Sweater

I knitted this sweater following a pattern of a seamless, top down sweater - one size fits all.  Something went wrong.  I finally ripped it out years later and just finished reknitting it the end of August.
The coloured yarn was from Hobbledehoy batts and the rest was Blue Faced Leicester.  I handspun the lot.
The new sweater used 5mm needles and was knitted top down raglan.  I am much happier with it and I am going to rip out anything that I am not happy with and reknit it.  Frog/Rip it, even though your heart is breaking!
I am posting up handmade sewn items onto etsy.  Check out http://www.etsy.com/ie/shop/EllieAndAda?ref=si_shop  Some items are hand dyed.  Perfect for organising your knitting and crafting supplies or items in your purse.  There are pencil cases as well.

Socks and More Socks

The purple socks with the black heel was finished ages ago but I just weaved in the ends today.  I dyed the yarn and called the colourway Priscilla Purple.
Brian's socks are the blue socks were knitted with another yarn that I dyed.
The other socks are Schoppel Wolle Crazy Zauberball, that I purchased about 3-4 years ago in The RDS Knit and Stitch Show.

Hopefully, I will get my sock knitting mojo back and finish presents for loved ones and getting cracking on other sock projects.

I went apple picking on Sunday.  I didn't take any pictures because it was lashing rain.  I might take a photo of my spoils tomorrow.