Miss Aine

Unfortunately I've not been so good at blogging over the last few years. Having small kids at home has taken most of my focus. And over the last year or so I have not been designing many new patterns - I just haven't been inspired. But two things have happened to get me back on track. 1 - both children are now in primary school five days a week for 5 and 6 hours each. 2 - I was contact by UK magazine Let's Get Crafting - Knitting and Crochet to join their design team. Having to come up with a new design every month has gotten my mind more focused and the ideas are starting to flow again. Woo hoo! At the moment I'm working on re-designing the mermaid I made for Creative Knitting magazine back in 2011. I've re-done her tail and am now working on a pattern to knit hair instead of sewing strands of yarn on. (Knitting hair is kinda' my thing at the moment!) I also have another project in the pipeline based on the old Crolly dolls that were made in Donegal in Ireland ...

A birthday present for an 8 year old girl who loves pandas. The pattern is by Hilary Lang of Wee Womderfuls fame, and was well written and easy to follow. I gave her a little panda teddy as well (pattern by Jean Greenhowe).

I tried a Moderne Baby Blanket a few months ago, after not knitting one for a few years. It turned out a hot mess! But I decided to give it another go because I like the design so much. On starting this new blanket I realised my previous mistake: 18 garter ridges means 36 rows, not 18. I've chosen pale ice-cream colours for this version. Hopefully it turns out nice!

Emily was invited to a birthday party at Build-A-Bear Workshop so, like the last party there, I made teddy bear clothes for the birthday girl. Luckily Tiger stores had mini suitcases in stock so I got one to put the clothes in - it just finishes off the gift nicely. This ski sweater was a pattern I had never used before. I found it on Ravelry and it's by Linda May. It was quick and easy to knit and could be customised to any outfit. I will definitely be knitting this one again. A hat and scarf. I love the neon pink Pom-poms. It gives a real modern feel to these. Miri-coloured top with neon heart - why not!!! I hope the birthday girl likes them!

I'm working on a cabled onesie for some bunnies this morning. It's a good thing I liked maths in school!

A Pickles pattern I found on Ravelry. It got quite heavy towards the end, and it's only a small blanket! The cable pattern was easy to remember and helped the knitting to work up quickly. I will definitely remember this pattern for future baby gifts.

Emily is going to a party at Build-A-Bear Workshop so I thought some build-a-bear sized clothes would be a good present. I picked up a little cardboard suitcase in Tiger and searched Google, Pinterest and Ravelry for a few patterns. The final touch is some wings, with elastic straps, so the bear can play dress-up. Now Emily wants all the same clothes for her bear!

I just added this lot to my Etsy shop. www.missaine.etsy.com All complete and ready to ship. I've also been working on these dolls to replenish the Artists Gift Gallery in on Dawson Street in Dublin City.

So I'm still a bit quiet with the blog, and I'm still in a bit of a creative funk, but I've been quietly knitting away. Up in the corner is a variation to my 'Anna-Beth' pattern. I will put the pattern up - eventually!

I feel like I just lost a few weeks of my life! First I got the flu. Then a very chesty cough. And then a tummy bug. And in the middle of that DH was abroad for a few days so I was looking after the kids alone, and very sick. It's one of those times when it would be nice to live closer to my family.  So all the crafting I'd done since Christmas ground to a halt. There were days I was too tired to even hold knitting needles. That doesn't happen too often! Now I'm back to the dolly dresses.  And I'm working on a variation to my Anna-Beth knitted doll pattern. I'm not sure yet if I'll make a pattern of it. Or maybe offer the variation as a freebie. It depends if it looks nice once done I suppose!

Its been so long since I added a new pattern to Ravelry, that I had kinda' forgotten how.  It took quite a while, but its up now!! The BFF's on Ravelry

It's photo shoot time this morning. These lovely ladies will be heading off to the Artists Gift Gallery in Dublin City on Saturday so I had to get a few photos before they went. And hopefully I'll get time to type out the pattern this weekend. 

We're back into the swing of things here after the holidays. The kids are back to school and after I'm getting the energy back to get stuck into my knitting and sewing. A bad set of markets in November really knocked the wind out of my sails but I feel ready to get back into it properly now. After Christmas I knit a cowl for myself. I found this one on Ravelry. It's a Lion Brand pattern and was supposed to be knit on larger needles and then felted. I only acrylic yarn so I just knit with smaller needles.  I've wanted to knit a cowl for myself for ages as I wear scarves all the time and I'm happy with this one. I have a brooch in it at the moment to pull it in a bit tighter as the wind has been bitter here the last few weeks. Next up is a teddy I was commissioned to make. My cousins husband contacted me to make a personalised teddy for my cousin from her 5 month old daughter. It was such a lovely, personal idea and I enjoyed making it. Now I'm busy knitting dolls...

My mother was describing the last wreath I made to a friend, and that friend said she'd like 3 for presents for people for Christmas. Here they are without any embellishments. And with all the bells and whistles! I love the style of these. Traditional but not fuddy-duddy.

My mother wanted a handmade gift to bring to a friend in the UK. This wreath is from 'Twas the Knits Before Christmas' by Fiona Goble. It was a fun knit, and great for using up oddments.

A friend asked me to make cake toppers for their wedding last weekend. While I was at it I made a knitted Mr. & Mrs.  Probably the most complicated thing I've knitted! It was fun though, and a good challenge.

Winding up a hank of Kilcarra Donegal Tweed this morning. No fancy winders in this house!

Crap!

I'm knitting a top-down jumper for Oliver (Tama by Kelly Brooker). Running kinda' low on wool now for the last sleeve. Just hope I have enough left!