Ooops!!

Oh dear.  I honestly thought at most it had only been like a week or two since I last blogged. Looking back through my activity it appears my last post was almost two months ago!! Where on earth has all that time gone? I can only blame my lack of organisation and the black hole that is yarn, creativity and all things that go with it.

I know I know poor excuses really. I guess I should start this post with a look back over the past 8 weeks and try to justify my absence with a few makes.

Throughout February I have managed to knit 4 sets of newborn hat and mittens, one set was a design of my own. I need to explore the design some more and look at how to write it up but all going to plan I hope to release it as one of my first ever patterns. For the foreseeable future, until I have gotten the hang of pattern writing and my designs begin to require a little more thought and work, I plan to just write my patterns up here as a blog post and link to them on Ravelry. What do you all think?

I say one of my first ever designs because in the middle of February I was asked by Mr Lyvit himself if I could knit him a bed cap to use on stage during the local pantomime. You see he was playing the lead character in 'Scrooge's Phantomime', a panto written by a local director and his daughter.  I rose to the challenge and after careful selection of yarn from stash by the man himself I set to working out how to attempt this task.  For now I will keep the intricate details for a later post but if you cannot wait you will find most of the information on my project page on Ravelry, as well as our son modelling it for me.

February also saw me crochet another Joker, this time as a commission for the talented cartoonist, Kent Taylor. I also crocheted a panda baby hat for the future arrival and finished my first pair of socks for the year, the first pattern from the Wanderlust Collection designed by the talented Mina Philipp. I enjoyed knitting these and I am very happy to say they were selected as one of the first prize winners in Mina's knit along over on her Knitting Expat Podcast channel.

Here are the socks 

And here are my winnings! 

The bag is made by Whimzee Stitches over on Etsy and the gorgeous yarn is....you know I cannot remember who dyed it but I do know it is fingering weight and VERY sparkly. Also it is only in my most favourite shade of blue, so I feel that this will most definitely need to be in a beautiful shawl, not hidden away on my feet. Im tempted to join the Mystery KAL being run by Helen Stewart of Curious Handmade. What do you think?

March has been a busy month yarn wise too. I started and completed two pairs of socks, the first one from the Cosy Collection by Mina Philipp, and the other is the first in the Handmade Sock Society I also made another hat for the hamper, a hat for the middle child, one for myself, a spring bunny amigurumi for Mother's Day and a small red dragon for Father-in-law's birthday. All information is available over on my Ravelry page, including pictures and patterns used. I couldn't resist not showing you the cheeky antics I caught the little dragon up to before he went to his new home.

Both February and March also saw me dabbling a little with my sewing machine, making a few wheat bags and attempting my first ever project bag, with my first ever sewn in zip! 

I have lots of plans for the future in all three crafts, and also others I hope to start. I either need to clone myself or learn to prioritise them I guess. I need to start keeping a list of what I want to make and do so that I lose the nagging worry that I will forget or not have time for something. Hmmm another new are for me to explore....pretty notebooks, journalling, pens,......

Right I better head off to construct these lists to firstly help organise my time better. The pretty notebooks are just a happy bi-product.

Chat again soon

M

x

January Round up and February Plans

Evening all. How has the past week been for you?

Can you believe we are in February already? I started the month wondering where the time had gone and feeling a little deflated. I felt like I hadn't achieved much in January so decided to take a look back through my Ravelry projects page. Let's just say I was a little bit shocked!

Above is a photo collage of all that I have made last month, including some sewing, crochet and knitting. There are several crochet amigurumi characters, a hat made from the wonderful Betsy Makes Ectoplasm sock yarn, as well as a matching cowl, and a few baby items.

Firstly I want to rave about the Betsy Makes yarn! It is so soft and squishy, and boy doesn't it go a long way! It is on her Perfect Sock fingering weight base and is an amazing 425 metres per 100g! Even after making the hat and the brioche (first time knitting brioche!) Cowl I still have approximately 40g left! I'm not sure what I will use the remainder for but some is definitely going into my future cozy memories blanket, and maybe even a crochet granny stripe one too.  I know, I know jumping on the bandwagon but I love the idea of snuggling under lots of memories of happy knitting times.

The baby items are for a close family member's first baby, due around Easter time. I hope to make a fair few things for her, keeping most of them secret until she has received them. So I guess that's a future post there.

February looks to be the month of socks for me. I have signed up for not one, not two, not even three, but four sock clubs.

Truly Hooked Sock Along

Wunderlust Sock Along

Cosy comforts sock along

Curious handmade sock along

There is also Sock Madness going on in Ravelry but I think that may be just one sock too much for me this year. Tempting though.

I have soooo many garments I would love to knit up too, so I hope to start one of them soon, if not just to justify to myself the large quantities of yarn I have.

To add to my crafting plans this month are my sewing plans. I really want to start making some clothes for myself. I have fallen in love with most of Tilly and the Buttons' patterns including the new Mila dungarees and the Cleo dress. I have a lovely pile of fabric now and hope my health allows me to sit at my machine soon.

What crafting plans do you have for the month? Are you part of any make a longs?  Any advice on climbing out of the 'Make it All' rabbit hole I seem to have fallen down? Or have you joined me here?

I'd love to hear your plans and see what you have made so far. Looking forward to chatting soon.

Mrs L
X

Monogamous or multiple?

Morning all! How's your week been?

This week I wanted to talk about work in progress or wip's as they are known in the yarn community. Particularly I want to talk about the number you have on the go.

You see up until I discovered podcasts and the HPKCHC (Harry Potter Knit and Crochet House Cup) over on Ravelry I was a total monogamous crafter, right down to only having either a crochet or knit project on the go....or so I thought.

When I first sat down to write this that was how I thought, but if I'm 100% honest with myself it's not true. You see stashed out of sight at the back of my cupboard is a mermaid tail I started for Thing 2 two years ago!! Also upstairs in my sewing area I have a patchwork quilt started. Since both of these have been hidden away for so long they are most definitely hibernating and forgotten about. Oops!! 

As for before the wonderful rabbit hole of Ravelry and podcasts. Pre discovery I would pick what I wanted to make and the whole process, planning right through to completion, would be solely about that one item. Now, post hole and 'casts, I have found myself 100% enabled, casting on multiple pairs of socks, whilst also following along with a crochet alongs (CAL), and starting a new technique (brioche) to make Mr Lyvit a cowl to keep him warm whilst he trains for the London Classics.

That is just the Wip's! I have several more I want to knit, crochet and sew!! I know I know, there's probably some of you out there saying "What! That's nothing at all!" But you see I love to be organised and work through things methodically, one at a time. The trouble is I make a list of things I want or need to do so I don't forget and then the brain goes into overdrive, panicking I don't have enough time, or enough stash (oh I do, let's just say I hoard and am addicted). I have a physical list in my scrappy notebook, one in my creative notebook and one in my HPKCHC notebook! Then there are the planning spreadsheets and my Ravelry queue!! Soon I will need a list for my lists. The worst of it is I find myself panicking so much I subconsciously start distracting myself by browsing Ravelry, organising my stash or even window shopping and dreaming on Etsy and Instagram!

Does anyone else get like this? Do you find yourself distracting yourself from what needs to be done now by adding to your lists and planning, buying and organising the next project(s)?

Let me know your thoughts and coping methods. 

Mrs L

X

Craft plans for 2018

Morning all! How are we doing?

I am a little late to the party but I wanted to leave my plans craft wise here as sort of an ownership/commitment to doing them. I have seen many blog and podcast posts doing the same thing and I like the idea. I don't like to make New Year Resolutions as such but I do like to spend the time review the past year and pencilling in the next.

My last post evaluated what I achieved last year on the crafting front so this one will focus on my dreams for the upcoming year.

Lets start with knitting shall we. This year I have already signed up to both of the Knitting Expat's sock alongs. They are all designed by Mina and look to be both interesting and a little challenging. Just after the New Year I sorted through and uploaded to Ravelry my entire stash of yarn, only to discover I have a rather large collection of gorgeous sock yarns, both commercial and indie dyed. Taking part in this Sock KAL will hopefully help to reduce that a little.

As well as Mina's KAL I have signed up to Kirstin of the Yarngasm Podcast's BoxOSoxKAL2018. Kirstin started this KAL two or three years ago and it has taken the sock knitting world by storm. The idea behind it is you get yourself a pretty storage box to keep all the socks in that you knit in the year. You need to knit a minimum of 12 pairs in the year to enter the prize giving thread on Ravelry in December, but just the thought of having a box filled with beautiful soft colours is enough of an inspiration to get me started.

Some of the socks I hope to produce are from the wonderful Sock Drawer Book written by Verity Castledine of the Truly Hooked indie dyer company. Over on instagram two of her fans have start the THKAL encouraging followers to knit one of her patterns a month, starting last September. Sadly I haven't managed to complete any yet but they are all in my queue in the hope I motor through them to catch up.

Apart from the many socks I wish to knit this year I would love to knit a few garments for myself, including the Well Water Hoodie by Suvi Simola

and the A Floral Affair by Hanna Maciejewska.

Both will be a challenge as I have never knit a garment before but I look forward to learning new things. Pretty aren't they!

I haven't planned my crochet wish list yet but it includes a few shawls, patterns still to be chosen, and more toys, including some baby items. No I'm not expecting, one of our extended family members is expecting her first in April. I hope to knit and crochet several items up for her and the baby to give to her once the little bundle arrives. I love giving handmade items, especially to someone so worthy.

This year I would love to also start and learn to sew my own garments. I know very little about sewing so I have signed up to Tilly and the Buttons first two online workshops. I discovered Tilly whilst watching the wonderful Inside Number 23 podcasts. Katie, who hosts the podcasts, is an amazing seamstress, knitter and all round creative person, who has inspired me in many parts of my life. I hope to draw from her inspiration for a handmade wardrobe and make my first skirt soon. I usually live in jeans and t-shirts but I'm fed up of having no real style or  clothes not fitting properly. I hope that by making my own i can learn what I like and what looks good on me.

Wow reading back through that small selection of what I would like to achieve this year I realise i may have stretched myself. I'm sure though that with a little planning and taking it one step at a time I will get there, even if it's not by December 31st!

If you have read this far thank you. I realise this is an unusually link heavy post. Normal service should resume next week.

Until then I hope you week is kind to you and you have plenty of creative time, in whatever is your chosen craft.

MrsLyvit
x

End of Year Round Up

As I write this I realize I haven't written to you all in a few weeks. 

Things went really crazy there before Christmas and I took the week after to spend with my family, like a good mummy should. 

Once Mr Lyvit had returned to work I took some time with my morning coffee to upload most of my gift projects up to Ravelry, along with photos of those I remembered to take before wrapping. I quickly realised how much I had actually achieved last year. 

For those of you that like the statistics; In 2017 Yarn stash in through buying and acquisitions 19,855 metres Yarn stash out through making. 16,915 metres. 

I made a whopping 7 hats (including a design of my own, more soon!) 6 pairs of gloves, 23 stuffed toys, 4 Shawls, 2 blankets, 6 pairs of socks, and 10 other items including cloths, decorations and bookmarks. 

Round up of some of the makes

2018 should be just as fun and creative, but more on that in a future post.

Bye for now

Mrs L

X

Feeling spoilt

How are we all doing? Staying sane despite the hectic time of year? I hope you are all taking time out regularly to relax, breathe and recharge. My needles and hooks have been working in overdrive all week, but as is with this time of year, I cannot really show too much right now. I do plan on doing a photo heavy years round up after Xmas though, so watch this space.

Today I wanted to share with you my wonderful acquisitions of late. I'm feeling SO spoilt and blown away by how generous the yarning community is. You may remember in my previous post I mentioned the wonderful #getyouryarnwishesgranted2017. Well I have received two of my wishes so far and I'm so in love with what I have been given. First up the wonderful Lisa-lou of Made by Penguins sent me a tote bag, small notions bag and a few extra, granting my wish of a new project bag. Isn't it cute! And the little snowflake progress keeper! Perfect!!

Second wish was for a dpn or circular needle keeper. The lovely frootjoos over on Instagram has granted my wish and sent me this delightful festive needle cosy. I can't wait to fill it up and have it on show. I wonder if the hubster, I mean Santa will have understood my hints and bought me a new set?

I hope the two little parcels have arrived safely and have been loved as much I did making them. I'm sure they gave been. Im still in love with how generous you all are and can only hope I haven't let the side down. Do tell me if I have.

Right must get on. Gifts to make before final posting day and tea to be drunk. Please do share and comment away. Tell me how you feel about my little corner and what you would like to see. I appreciate every reader.

Til next time
Mrs L
X

Super heroes and family

Morning all!

How are we all feeling on this dark, cold, winter's morning (if you're in the northern hemisphere)? Are you ready for the festive season? I'm not seem! We have managed to space the extended family out nicely this year, giving me time between visits to craft like a mad woman. Every year I end up panic making, staying up late to finish items off and wishing I had started earlier. This year is no exception!

Most of this week has seen me crocheting away at lightening speed, bringing a large cow and superman into life amongst other things. When I first planned what I was making along with who for, I spent a great deal of time searching the wonderful Ravelry catalogue for suitable patterns. One of my sister-in-laws is absolutely mad about cows and very happy to receive anything remotely cow looking. There are some amazing patterns out there for amigurumi cows but I quickly fell in love with this beautiful one, partly because of its heart shaped patches. Despite having read through the pattern though, and ensuring I had everything I needed, I must have totally glazed over how big this beautiful creature would be. Usually the amigurumi I make take me 1-3 days to make, allowing for real life to interrupt me. I quickly realised though, after finishing the head and closing my 100th stitch, that this was no ordinary toy.

The beautiful Daisy

Beautiful isn't she! I thoroughly enjoyed making her and hope sil is as happy to receive (open) her in 21 days!

Whilst wrapping up the wonderful cow and other gifts for the family I quickly realised I had forgotten one small but very important gift. This saw me pulling an all nighter on Friday before our intended 100 mile round trip to visit and present swap. In fact I finished sewing him together and Things 2 & 3 wrapped him up in the car on the way!

Who is this super character, I hear you ask. Well...

 

Isn't he cute!!

Our youngest nephew is dotty about Super Heroes, and up until the summer it had to be Flash. Thankfully when I had seen him during the holidays we had been discussing the super heroes and how he felt Superman was better than Flash, mainly because Superman has more powers. The mind of a 7 year old! I was so grateful to find this pattern for him on Ravelry for free, and even more so when I realised how quick a make he was. Three hours in total!

Right, now that's swap one done I need to be getting on with the gifts for swap two, which is this Saturday. So on that note I will say tata for now. Take care everyone.

Till next time

Mrs L

X

Keeping Busy

How's everyone doing? Keeping busy and getting ready for the festive season? Started you shopping yet, or are you making most of your presents this year? Like I am.

There is lots going on in the Lyvit house, with school concerts and events to go to, normal daily routines, as well as creating wonderful gifts in the hope they will be loved by their recipients. Obviously I cannot show too much here of what I am making as I would like to keep it a surprise.  If you follow me over on Instagram though you may have had a sneak peak of a few.

Can you tell what they are? That's right they are three Dobby house elves from the wonderful world of Harry Potter. I found the pattern on Ravelry originally but it's available free here. I originally made one of these last July for my friends birthday, and a few people saw it and loved it so much they requested one for Christmas. I love making amigurumi for people, especially when I now it will be loved and enjoyed. The only trouble is no matter what I make someone in the house sees it and requests one for them too! Especially Mr Lyvit, his wish list is long enough to keep me busy for years. Oh well!

Again any followers on Instagram may have seen a Christmas wishes hashtag and repost happening. It started last year as a way of passing on some joy and happiness to those within the yarn community. #Getyouryarnwishesgranted is great fun to be part of and has seen me gift patterns on Ravelry, crochet some Christmas ornaments for someone's tree and sending sock yarn to someone in need.

 

Bauble pattern

Angel pattern

I have thoroughly enjoyed granting wishes and would have been quite happy with just that. However part of the 'game' is to repost the picture and ask for a wish or two of our own. I have been very lucky to be promised some Harry Potter stitch markers, a project bag, a DPN holder and several patterns from my wish list on Ravelry. I feel so lucky. Thank you. I must admit the kind, helpful, generous nature of the yarn community does amaze me every day. It's so wonderful to have places to chat, encourage and enable each other, and despite the miles we have become friends. Perfect medicine for a little bit of sanity in this crazy world. Right?

Let me know what you have been up to and how you are getting ready for the festivities.

Mrs L
X


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It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Hello all, how are you doing? I know, I know I have used the C word but in all honesty we should all be at least planning what to make or buy by now. I will probably rouse lots of what..no..far too earlies, but I actually started my planning in August. But then I do plan on making as many gifts this year as I can. Mad ain't I!

We have a rather large extended family between us and I like to give at least something small so they all know they are thought of, especially at this time of year. My list of planned projects spans a whopping 2 sides of A4 lined paper. I haven't counted them up, but let's just say it's a lot. Thankfully a fair few are amigurumi toys, which I love to make. The therapeutic spiralling and speed each part appears, combined with no two toys being the same and each with it's own character. It only takes a head to be sewn on slightly tilted or the eyes to be closer together and the appearance is changed.

I obviously cannot show in too much detail projects that have been made despite this being a new blog. There still is a small chance a family member will decide what I have to say is worth the time. For this reason I will have to do a round up post towards the end of the year, otherwise known as a pic heavy post.

But I have chosen to show you these cute little bees I made for Thing 3's teachers. She is currently in year 4 (she is 8) and in the Busy Bees class, hence choosing these beautiful creatures to crochet. I scoured the wonderful site of Ravelry and came across these two patterns, bee 1 and 2, both free patterns and beautifully written. Thing 3 decided four keyring bees were needed for the teaching assistants and 1 larger bee for the main teacher. What do you think?

The second finished item I wanted to show you isn't an actual festive gift, but rather a useful item made for fun. Sound intriguing? Go on admit it you want to know.

It's a washable dishcloth or washcloth, made using the wonderful Lily's Sugar 'n' Cream cotton yarn in the Peace colourway. I followed another beautiful pattern from Ravelry, and made it with a hidden 'nerdy' message. Can you spot it?

That's right! It's the Deathly Hallows symbol, from Harry Potter. I was inspired to make this firstly by being part of the Dishcloth patterns group on Ravelry. Each month every member can sign up for a swap with a partner, anywhere in the world. I was paired with a lovely lady in Kent so went searching through my previously favourited patterns. The second reason I was inspired to make this particular pattern was another group I'm a member of. The very active HPKCHC group or Harry Potter Knit Crochet House Cup. This group and four sister groups are run 100% by volunteers around the world and are filled by hundreds of like minded fans of the wonderful series of books and films. In short the idea behind the group is a game where you craft items of your choice, to fit prompts for each class. You are sorted into one of the houses and are rewarded points for your house, per submission. I have found being a part of this wonderful game a great motivator, for attacking that A4 list of projects that have a deadline. It's also opened up my world and hopefully made me a few friends. Well worth a trip over and an explore!

Right I think I have waffled on long enough. If you have made it this far and are still awake well done and thank you. I am truly grateful for every reader. Feel free to leave me a comment and tell me what you thought. Also if you do pop over to Ravelry and want to say hi I'm MrsLyvit over there.

Thank you again. Speak soon
Mrs L
X

Hello and Welcome!

Hello.

I have been inspired by a few bloggers, like Sandra at Cherry Heart, and Sam at Betty Makes to create my own little corner of sanity in the world. I'm guessing the best place to start in this first post is to tell you a little bit about myself.

My name is Mary, and I'm currently 34. I live in southern Cornwall, England with my wonderful hubby (Mr Lyvit), our three amazing children and our black and white Dutch rabbit. Mr Lyvit also blogs and writes books as a hobby, although I'm sure he would love to do it full time. His information can be found here. Thing 1 is currently a 15 year old boy (that is he is currently 15) who is studying hard and practicing his musical creative side in the hopes of pursuing a career in it. Thing 2 is currently an 11 year old girl who, amongst many other talents, is following in her Mum's footsteps into the world of yarn. She has even picked up some fleece and a spindle from Stitchfest SW 2017 to have a go at creating her own squishy to work with! Thing 3 is currently an 8 year old girl and is also very creative but is yet to find her niche.

I'm a self taught, with the help of the likes of YouTube, knitter and crocheter. I'm usually left handed but have found although I crochet using my left hand I can use my right if needed, as well as knitting right handed. I have found I have learnt this way out of necessity when following patterns and learning new techniques. Any one else ambidextrous when crafting?

I took up crochet originally as a way of helping me stay sane in this crazy crazy world. Due to health issues I often have several days if not weeks where I cannot do much other than sit on the sofa. Obviously there are the hundreds of channels and box sets to watch on TV but I have never been one for sitting still and doing nothing. I find my brain just needs to be active. Therefore I bought myself a hook and some cheap yarn to learn with. I think all those years ago my first ever project was a simple granny square I used as a coaster for a while. I was hooked (pun intended) and haven't looked back since. I enjoy all things yarn related, but I especially enjoy crochet blankets and amigurumi or stuffies as they can be known.



I'm hoping to use this blog to record regularly my works in progress, or WIPs, my finished items or FO, and any general information pertinent to yarn. It would be lovely to meet and chat with fellow crafters too, particularly those using yarn. What would you like to see? Anything you would like to know?

Mrs L
X