Monthly Makes - July and August: what's on my needles?

It's been a busy couple of months this July and August, but not all that busy with regards to crafting. I'm afraid I've only finished two projects this month - a rather low total by my own standards. But I've more than made up for my lack of knitting with the amount of knitting-related books and accessories I've bought. During these summery months, I have been able to travel to a few different places. The South Coast, Yorkshire, London... each place has had at least one quaint craft shop and plenty of second-hand shops for me to find lovely little buttons, vintage knitting books and unique yarns. However, travelling around so much has come at a price - I haven't had as much time to actually knit! Partnered with the fact that I moved out of my flat last month, I've not had much time to spend on actual crafting. Nevertheless, I'll tell you all about the two items I've managed to finish this month, as well as some of my upcoming projects. 

Monthly Makes - June: what's on my needles?

The last month or so, I've been caught in somewhat of a whirlwind. Since my last post, I have finished my teacher training course and become a fully qualified teacher, I have (finally) found a job for the next academic year at a wonderful school and, most importantly, I have found an endless amount of crafting inspiration. Despite being busier than ever, the last few weeks have been full of creative opportunities and knitting inspiration. Perhaps it's the return to pre-covid life that has brought along this abundance of ideas. I have, after all, been able to attend yarn festivals and travel to local yarn shops, something that I have not been able to do for a long time. Fear not, for I shall tell you all about the exciting places I have been and the things I've made this month (including my first original design)!

Monthly Makes - May: what's on my needles?

Time has certainly flown by this month. It feels like only yesterday that I was writing my last Monthly Makes post. I guess that's what happens when you don't take the time to stop and appreciate the here and now. It's been quite a productive month in terms of knitting, and I'm quite happy to have finished at least one project this May. I currently have two projects on my needles, both of which are my own designs. I've had to dive headfirst into the world of knitting mathematics to determine things like armholes, set-in sleeve caps and necklines. It's been a difficult process, but one that I've enjoyed. Nevertheless, I'm hoping that next month's knitting escapades will be a little more relaxed and mindful. 

Free Knitting Calculator for Evenly Spaced Decreases

As any experienced knitter or crocheter may know, working out the maths behind evenly spaced increases or decreases can be a challenging task. Not every crafter is numerically gifted, and such complex maths puzzles can leave us completely perplexed. I myself have struggled to work out how to increase evenly in knitting and crochet projects - there are just too many numbers to keep track of! It's for exactly that reason that I decided to sit down and work out the maths to make my very own knitting increase calculator. Naturally, it would be selfish to keep such a useful tool all to myself, so I thought I would share it with the rest of the knitting community. I do hope that you find the knitting calculator useful - it's certainly been a lifesaver for some of my own knitting projects!  

Monthly Makes - April: what's on my needles?

I think that April has to be one of my favourite times of the year. The grass is scattered with daffodils and daisies, tiny green leaves are beginning to sprout on the trees and there's a hint of summer in the air. Following on from a difficult winter in lockdown, spring is certainly a welcome arrival this year. It's even more welcome to knitters and crocheters, as our winter projects are left to hibernate and lighter, breezier garments are cast onto our needles. Despite the weather in the UK flitting between 20˚ and light snow, I have already started to look ahead to a warmer climate, and my needles are currently holding nothing but summery items. I've just got one project on the go at the moment, but I'll be casting on a few more throughout the month. 

The Beginner's Guide to Learning and Loving Knitting

 Knitting is one of those hobbies that can be quite daunting as a beginner. Similar to learning how to ski, the most difficult part of the learning process is at the very start. Although knitting is far less extreme than skiing, the steps we go through to learn aren't all that different. We are taught a specific set of physical movements that seem impossible to start with, but become easier with practice. Muscle memory starts to develop, mistakes become fewer, our confidence grows and we start to really enjoy, and even love, the process. The trouble lies within that first hurdle - taking the plunge and committing to learning. 

Learning to love knitting should come with experience. Once you get used to the feel of needles and yarn in your hand, you'll begin to feel more comfortable and competent as you learn to master the basic stitches. It's possible that this step will be preceded by some stressful moments, dropped stitches and broken needles, but once you've got the basics down it should be smooth sailing from there on out. It's unfortunate that the difficult beginner stage is almost inevitable, although there are several things that can help to make the process much smoother. Below, I'm going to talk about some things that might make loving knitting easier for a reluctant beginner. I'll go over some of the reasons why knitting is a fantastic hobby, as well as give some suggestions on how you can make the learning process more enjoyable and stress-free. 

Where to buy knitting and crochet stitch markers

Stitch markers are just one of several essential notions in any knitter or crocheter's toolkit. These colourful little markers come in all sorts of shapes and sizes and are used to mark a significant point in your work. It could be a specific row you want to count from, a stitch where you need to decrease or the midpoint of a neckline. Stitch markers are incredibly versatile, so it's always useful to have plenty of them to hand - it's all too easy to lose a few down the back of the sofa, after all. The most simple stitch markers consist of colourful rings and clips, but there are hundreds of bespoke and novelty ones available online. In this post, I will be looking at a variety of unique stitch markers that will be perfect for accessorizing your knitting and crochet. 

Monthly Makes - March: what's on my needles?

As any knitter or crocheter knows, it's hard to stay faithful to just one craft project at a time. I've been a rather monogamous knitter in recent months, working on one thing at a time and then moving onto the next project. I have to admit, it's much easier now that I no longer work for a craft company, as the temptation to buy more yarn or to cast on another project can be ignored more easily. I used to be surrounded by yarn at work and it was all too easy to buy more and start another project. For now, I've come to terms with the fact that I'm a bit of a yarn hoarder and I desperately need to cut down my stash. Hence my semi-monogamous streak - no more non-essential yarn purchases and no unnecessary cast ons. I only have time for pre-planned, stash-busting knitting and crochet from here on out. 

I guess this naturally brings me onto the topic of what I'm making at the moment. I have three works in progress at the moment which, admittedly, is more than I'd like. It's excusable, however, as I have one project for each craft (knitting and crochet), and an older winter-worthy knitting project that I've taken out of hibernation. 

FO - Jessica Cardigan

I recently finished knitting my first baby project. My second cousin (the closest relation my age to have a baby) recently gave birth to a little girl, and so I decided to make a little something for her newborn girl. I chose a free pattern, the Jessica Cardigan by Rowan, and used Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino 4-ply yarn in the colour Mallard. I'd originally bought the yarn to make into a vintage 1940s-style top, but I've decided to shelve that project idea for the time being - the Baby Cashmerino was the only baby yarn I had in the house. The project took a little over 2 weeks and was, overall, a moderate success.