Miss Aine

I started knitting this little jumper a few weeks ago. I couldn't find any free patterns I liked for a raglan for a toddler so I did the maths and started knitting. I got bored of it though so the sleeves are left short. It should come in handy over the summer though when its a bit warmer. The pattern will be available (for free!) once I eventually get around to typing it up!!

The Sunshine Award is awarded to bloggers whose positivity and creativity inspires others in the blog world. I was lucky enough to be nominated by Julia at Hand Knitted Things . She knits some really pretty stuff (scarves and gloves, etc) and always has some cool learn-y bits for cables, cast-ons, etc. The rules for accepting the Sunshine award - Put the logo on your blog or within your post - Pass the award onto 12 bloggers - Link the nominees within your post - Let the nominees know they have received this award by commenting on their blog. - Share the love and link to the person from whom you received this award. I would like to nominate the following blogs for this award (in no particular order). Cuteable Kate's Quilting Ariel's Knitting Mochimochi Blog The Long Thread Liesl Made Wee Wonderfuls Little Cotton Rabbits Bugs and Fishes Vlijtig British Cream Tea My Weblog There are so many great blogs out there, this just highlights a few that I like.

I also have another pattern (bobble, sqeek and pierre) in the HeartsforHaiti shop which was formed by Etsy sellers. Again, its full of some really cool stuff so check it out.

My knitting pattern for the Irish Dancing Doll is now up for sale in the CraftHope for Haiti Etsy shop. There has been an overwhelming response from crafters worldwide to help out and lots of people have donated some really wonderful stuff. Definitely check it out. All proceeds (bar Etsy fees) go to Doctors Without Borders

Another guest post for CraftyIreland today. This time is Fab 5 on Friday. Some lovely pieces, check them out!

I'm doing a guest post on CraftyIreland today - a new hat pattern. Check it out and check out all the lovely stuff for sale from other Irish Etsy sellers - there is some cool stuff!

I knit this doll before Christmas. It didn't turn out quite the way I planned in my head (and her apron is horrible!). Instead she looks like the Jean Greenhowe pattern Jemima-Jane . I'll have to rethink this pattern. The construction is different to the JG pattern so that's okay, but I need to redo her so that she doesn't look like the same doll. There's no point in making a pattern that already exists!

For DH for his birthday. I started knitting them when the forecast for this week was still to be very snowy and I didn't think I'd be able to get out to get him a present. As it turns out the weather was okay this week, but he'll get the gloves as well as the other (bigger!) present I got him. The pattern is Urban Necessity , a pattern I found on Ravelry. Easy to knit, considering I'd never knit gloves where I had to divide for the fingers. Kinda fudged the mitten part as there was a stitch pattern that I didn't want to do. Hopefully they fit!

Comment No. 5 which was by Kelly. Congratulations Kelly. I'll send you a message today to let you know you won. Thanks to everyone who entered and for all the lovely comments.

Up for grabs is this little Irish Dancing Doll. Leave a comment with some sort of contact details (or blogger info, etc.) A winner will be chosen on Friday 15th. Good Luck!

The thaw has finally set in here in Celbridge. Not until after I'd fallen for a third time! It means I may be able to get back to my pattern writing. I ran out of polyester stuffing over Christmas, as did the LYS and I haven't been able to drive somewhere to get a new supply. As this post is no.299, the next post will be a giveaway. Not sure what the prize will be yet ;)

A project from over the Christmas period. I bought the pattern on Ravelry - Eibhlin Mor by Caroline Murphy. I wanted to make something for myself as I don't tend to make things for me and I had gotten some bulky wool in Lidl the last time they had wool for sale. It was an easy pattern to follow and very quick to knit. Its not blocked yet and it needs some buttons but I'm not sure about it now that its finished. I think it may be a bit big, but I haven't tried it on in front of the mirror so I don't know for sure. On other notes, nearly at 300 posts (doesn't seem that long since 200) so I plan to have a little giveaway, so sometime towards the end of the week.

Up to yesterday lunch-time it had not snowed again since New Year's Eve, but that snow had not melted and the footpaths were like ice rinks the snow was so compacted. I did manage to get out in the car to do some food shopping as the roads weren't too bad. Yesterday at lunch-time though the snow came down quite heavy (for Ireland anyway!) for about 2 hours. DH was down the village with one of his friends for lunch and the prognosis when he came back was not good, so I think we are properly snowed in now :( Which is a pain as I've run out of polyester stuffing and also need to get some more colours of dk yarn for my patterns. Boo!

Snow in Ireland around Christmas time. That hardly ever happens. Pretty cool though. We looked out the window last night around 10:30 to see all this snow on the ground. Beautiful! Snowball fights and snowman building ensued. It does mean Ireland is in shut-down though - we can't cope with snow! Might have to go out tomorrow though to buy food. But I digress, Happy New Year to one and all. I don't normally make resolutions but I suppose this year I intend to try to be more positive and learn to live within the constraints of my life and not try to fit them all the time. (That means to not get annoyed when I don't get any crafting or new knitting patterns worked on during the day because Smem is taking up all my time!) And the knitting is going well. I've started on a series of patterns for an e-booklet to come out in the next few months - sooner rather than later, hopefully!