Projects of May

I'm not very good at remembering to update my blog, mostly because I feel like people may not want to see the slow growing process of my many wips - some who get a few rows done here and there, but not enough to really show off, while others sit in the corner until I can find interest in them again.

This month I've managed to finish four projects, so here they are!

I definitely need a better picture, although that likely won't happen until I can wear it this autumn.  This is Vixen, a quick knit with some lovely details.  I cast on May 2nd, and finished the 12th, but there was a lot of down time with this, I feel I could knit it again (and just might in another colour) and much quicker!

This Black Death was another quick knit, intended for my mum for Mother's Day, however I somehow forgot it when I went to visit her - perhaps I'll keep it for another occasion. Started May 4th and finished the 7th.

 Black Forest is an adorable hat that knits up in no time, looks great in numerous colours and is rather easy to knit.  Definitely a must for beginner knitters looking for a little extra flare without being too complicated. (May 16-17).

The man-beast's birthday is in October, so I figured I should knit a little something to make sure he'd have something.  Originally when he gave me a few balls of different yarns, he'd said he wouldn't mind a stst scarf in the same colour as the pictures below.  Well, I couldn't bring myself to knit something so boring, instead I knit him the Wombat scarf/shawl.  I never see him in scarves, so I figured this was a quick alternative, so he can throw it on during winter breaks and still be warm with minimal effort. A very quick knit, I did this on May 22nd.

Sock Madness Complete

As I mentioned in Sock Madness 9, I didn't get very far in the competition - I qualified for patterns, but not a team.
I showed you the first few patterns available, and now that the competition is over you can buy the patterns too!
Warm up patterns:
1. The stroop stroop socks - free
2. Choose Your own Adventure Socks - not released yet.

Both these and Alohomora were posted on my last sock madness post (see link above).

Competition Patterns:
1. (Qualifier) Alohohmora - not released yet
2. Cable Madness - $5 USD

Photo by Karen Buhr

3. Longing For Spring - free

Photo by CaouaCoffee

4. Mad About the Girls - $5 USD

Photo by BellybuttonKnits

5. For Whom the Bell Tolls - $7.50 USD

Photo by Meagheen

6. Tradescantia Zebrina - free

Photo by skeincharmer

7. Harlequino - €4.00 EUR

Photo by Margreet Vonkeman

Bonus Patterns: 
1. Duck Foot Ivy - not yet released

Photo by Hreow Beth

2. Heads Up Socks - not yet released

Photo by tiggerbee

3. Dance Hall - $5 USD

Photo by Kristen Brooks Photography

4. Y? - not yet available

Photo by Bridget Landry

So there you have it! Don't forget to join Sock Madness Forever if you plan on participating next year.

Summer Beach Top

A few days ago I cast on Villeneuve.
I finished today, however I definitely need some better pictures!

This is pre-blocking, after blocking to looked much better, and looks best on a person - it may be a while before I can get a proper picture!

Citrouillella

I finally got around to knitting a Patch!
I decided she was a girl, and with a face like this, how could you argue?

I think I may have to make my own pumpkin patch family soon!

Winner!

Back in March, I found out I won one of the Jan/Feb KAL prize for the Susan Claudino Designs group (She does a random number generator, so everyone has a fair chance).
Today my prize arrived, all the way from New Zealand!

The yarn is so soft, I want to pet it all day!

Happy World Rat Day!

Meet Tea and Biscuit!

These were a birthday present (about a week early!) from my lovely man-beast.  They're a bit on the older side, between 6 and 8 months, but I love them all the same. We picked them up on April Fool's day, and they seem to cuddle in quite nicely.

Biscuit on the left, Tea on the right

They're a very cuddly pair, they love nothing more than lounging on the couch snuggled up together... and eating.  I've only had them a couple of days, so they don't do much of anything else just yet, but we have a list of fun things to try and I'm looking forward to getting to know them better.

Some of you may know I have a cat, and wonder how they get along.  Demon is an observer type cat, so he gave them each a sniff, then backed up a few feet to watch.  He's been the same with our fish and mice, never bothering any of them.  He seems to enjoy watching them from on the chair near their cage as he falls asleep, I think he likes the sounds they make.

Once they've learned some tricks, I'll see if I can post a video of them being adorable.  Until then, I'm off for ratty snuggles and some knitting!

I hope everyone has ratastic day, and a happy Easter!

So many FOs, Not enough time...

I've knit a fair bit of projects I have yet to put on this blog... All in all, it comes down to not having a proper camera and time to do great shots.

I currently have the following finished, ready for photos:
- S Chuck in fuschia (Charlotte)

- XS Chuck in Thistle
- Lady February Sweater
- Hat for lady February sweater (my own design)
- A multitude of monsters and stuffies

Thankfully, the weather is starting to look nice and with the camera I have available to me I can tweak colours in photo apps to get the final result looking at least somewhat close to the real colours.

It seems I've caught the sweater bug...
I've knit 2 chuck sweaters, a February lady sweater, I'm nearly done a pinwheel sweater (just the arms to go), and I've recently cast on Hitofude (again after having it frogged, however this time around I haven't been spending much time on it, so there isn't much to see), and as of last night I have Agatha on my needles... All since October.

I recently purchased Henriette (with Agatha), and plan to cast on for that once my Agatha sweater is finished.

You may have noticed a few of these (Chuck, Agatha, Henriette) are all by the same designer.  Andi Satterlund over at Untangling Knots is an incredible and inspiring designer.  Read a bit of her blog, and you'll see for yourself!  I first purchased the Chuck pattern for the Selfish sweater knitalong and ended up knitting two in the time allotted,  I was hooked! Not to mention, I still have plans on knitting a full length Chuck
 in a cozy grey.  I love how simple the instructions were to create such a gorgeous sweater, I started looking at some of her other designs.  I have a long list of patterns in my queue, and a fair few are hers.  After casting on Agatha last night, I noticed the same ease of getting into the pattern, and knit to the body row one easily and fairly quickly.  If you want to test out her instructions, try out one of her free patterns, such as Miette - you won't be sorry!