Calm before the storm

This year started of busy and there is more busy to come very soon, but at the moment I'm in this little oasis of calm.

I have plenty of projects that I want to work on but as I'm not sure how long I have before the busy starts again. I haven't really wanted to take on anything too big.

I guess I've been pottering but there is still lots to share.

 First up I started working on some of my Groot dolls. These are available to buy in my Etsy shop for people who don't want to make their own. They sell slowly but steadily and its always good to have most of the bits made so I can make them up to ship quickly.

 I also played around with the pattern because I'll be releasing a teenage Groot pattern before Avengers infinity war comes out. No pics yet but he's looking great.

You can find the pattern for the original here. The new version will be out mid March.


I've also been watching a lot of knitting and crochet podcasts and decided to challenge myself to some new knitting projects.
First up was Brioche knitting. Not something I've ever attempted before and I'm not very comfortable with it. I did a bit of flat work, made a head band, then progressed to using cables. I'm just single colour at this stage.

 This is Cal being a very good holder for my cable needle. There was only minimal crying as I fiddled around with the first few rows of cables but I soon got into the swing of things.
I even started to enjoy it towards the end.

This is the finished cowl. I would have liked to continue and make this into something longer that I would wear but I stopped here. It'll still make a lovely gift for someone.

Next was an idea that turned into a project, that turned into a new pattern set.
Power Rangers. I get a lot of people saying I should make this or that. I love getting new ideas and most of the time they go on the long "maybe" list. When someone suggested power rangers, I didn't really think I'd be interested. However I have two little nephews who I thought would love them.

All in all, it was about a three day project to create the dolls and the pattern set.

 I think they are great fun. I loved working with such bright colours. My nephews love them.
You can find the pattern here

Next up I went on a little shopping trip to The York Makery where I bought the yarn for my brioche knitting. While I was there I was tempted by some beautiful Opal sock yarn.

For those who don't know knitting socks was my big addiction before I learned to crochet. I knit lots of single socks and bought far too much sock yarn, but I didn't ever finish an actual pair.

Part of my knitting challenge is I can't start a project without finishing it and that meant I had to get over the dreaded second sock syndrome.

 I cast on a pair of the Hermione every days socks (pattern free on ravelery). I wanted a sock with a bit of pattern but not too much, this would be my first sock knit in nearly 8 years.

There are cats in pretty much every one of these photos as the socks grow the cat on my knee changes every hour or so. See if you can spot the difference.

 These two picture are pretty much all I did one Sunday. It was a lovely relaxing Sunday :) This is also the second sock in this photo. There was a bit of mental resistance when I started the second and working the cuff was very slow but as I got near the heel they joy of having a finished pair of socks made the rest of the project fly by.

Look I did it. My first ever pair of finished hand knit socks. I love them. I will be making more.

 The next project is another crochet one. This started of when I saw a lady with a crochet cowl that was kind of a lace, but not. It gave me the idea to develop a pattern. I went for a design that reminded me of golf socks (I know, my addiction is creeping in, tell me to shut up if I just talk about sock from now on).

 You can see the pattern here. Its very simple but it has enough interest about it to keep you going to make a long scarf. The yarn is red with twist of black so I decided to add black tassels. Cal helped.

 This is the finished scarf. It needs a proper photo shoot and the pattern typing up but then I'll be releasing it to my etsy shop

 Last up I when to see the latest Marvel movie Black Panther. The film was amazing, love, love , love it.
Oh course I am going to do a doll pattern set for it.

 I have most of the dolls made. I'm a bit stuck on who to put in the set as there are lots of characters I love and I can only put eight of them in the set. To bypass this slightly I done a pack that is just the suited versions of Black Panther.

 Its so adorable. This set is already available and you can grab yours now here

The only other doll that is finished is Okoye. Isn't she prefect :)

I want these to be perfect so I'm not rushing them. The full set of Black panther pattern will be out by the 11th of March so there isn't that long to wait.

 I did get slightly distracted but another small knitting project. Another thing I want to master is lace knitting. This pattern doesn't have much lace work but it was enough to get me started.  Its a lovely pattern to knit and I've gone and wooshed through it and finished it in a weekend.

 The cats still aren't used to knitting needles they much prefer crochet hooks.

This is the finished project. Look at the amazing colours. Its just a joy. I have made this for me and I'm hoping I can keep it,
but if my Mum or Aunt does steal it I think I'd be quite happy to knit another one.

Finally I few post ago I talked about the infinity gauntlet. I have a few updates on this.

 The pattern can be used to make a right or left hand version. You can find the pattern here

 You can also buy a made version if you don't want to make your own. Also available in left or right handed versions find it here

If you do want to make your own but don't want to hunt around for the yarn and gemstones you can buy a kit. At the mo these are pretty limited in stock. Grab yours here
I will do my best to get these back as soon as possible when they sell out.

So thats all for this post. I know its been a bit of a mixed bag but I hope you enjoyed it.
Thank you to everyone who reads this blog and supports me buy buying and making my patterns.

Happy crocheting
love
Liz xxx