Well, it's only been forever since I last created and published a design of my own - it was the Cabled Hot Water Bottle Cosy which I made for my MIL. Today I am proud to say that I wrestled with the Muse, and have survived - and a new, somewhat seasonal, design is the result. My BIL The Cornishman has serious photography skillz, and is taking some posh pictures for me, but I am impatient and couldn't wait to tell you guys all about it, even if only using my own dodgy snaps ....
Here is the Bat Tea Cosy !
I do kinda wish bats were in a more easily photographable color .... but I think he is super-cute: his eyes can be beads, or embroidered (as are his fangs). Made from black DK yarn, and scraps of red, grey and white DK yarn, he is knitted in pieces and sewn together: he consists of stocking stitch for his body, and garter stitch wings; his nose is a bobble. His head is knitted holding the yarn doubled, so that the toy stuffing does not show; his ears are also knitted double to make sure they have the wherewithal to stand up. A sweet button holds his wings closed across his tummy; when you undo it, look what is revealed ! Either an appropriately seasonal message:
Or, if you use Chart B instead:
Of course, you could embroider a message on his heart as well. My Eviller Twin kindly proof-read and turned my words into a PDF pattern, which is available not only from my Folksy shop, but through my Ravelry store - where for this weekend only there is a 10% to celebrate my baby Bat Tea Cosy's birth (applied automatically at checkout). And I do always heart the projects people make from my patterns ....
Well, it's kinda cheating ... but it is a sort of Work In Progress .... Titch and I have been married 12 years today .... according to Wikipedia, 12 years is silk and fine linen - so I guess that could translate to silk yarn and purty knickers, don't you ?
Well, Autumn arrived all in one day today - strong winds and heavy rain; but coming after the driest September on record, I found it quite refreshing, and enjoyed the opportunity to wear my new warm jacket which I bought in a sale way back in July ..... Anyway. The weather report is not what you're here for ... this week clue 4 of the SusannaIC MKAL was released, but for many (including me) it means a week of catching up on other projects as this clue is only for those making the Large size. But I can show you mine after I had completed Clue 3:
I love the glint of the gazillion beads ... whatever you're working on, Mystery or plain KAL or CAL,. pop your link in below ....
So as it's October, I feel justified in using a card from the charming Halloween Tarot .... and keeping it seasonal, let me show you two more tea cosies that I made to break up the dullness of recent beige:
That pumpkin is available in my Folksy shop right now. And then I made this one:
which sold within about 10 minutes of being listed .... do remember I am happy to work to commission. Pop FO Friday into Google and see lots more good stuff ....
At the weekend I went with Belo to visit my BIL The Cornishman, and my nieces. A drive of a couple of hours cannot be craft-free, especially when focussing on the craft somewhat quells the anxiety of being in a car: so, what to take ? Can't take the MKAL as I'm doing the allthebeadsintheworld version, and beads and bumpy roads are not ideal lovers. Working on Destructo Boy's blankey ... hmm ... might be all right; but then, so many ends to weave in as I go .... nah: too ittybitty. Checkerboard Mitts ? No love.
Which left the Madaket Cardigan that has been malingering in the WIP basket, as I didn't feel in the mood to decide on something new. I like the pattern, though it seems to be taking forever - doing borders, sides and back at the same time in one piece drags while you're actually doing it, but will totally be worth it in the end when there's hardly any seaming to do.
I like the yarn, Drops Lima - so soft - but I was clearly suffering some kind of color sense aberration when I ordered it; the Drops website calls it '0619 beige'. I call it taupe. Everyone else calls it 'boring'. Those who have seen it, including Titch, my kids, and my nieces, look at it, then look at me, and ask me 'Why ?' Cuz they're articulate and eloquent, see ? They do not fully appreciate my attempt at subtlety, even if it is accidental.
And because I was so beguiled by the conversational excellence of my family - or maybe it was the amazing BLT they forced me to eat - I made a rookie mistake. Let me show you, with arrows and letters using Paint as otherwise you might be blinded by my yarn color choice:
The letters 'A' show you buttonholes. The red letter 'B' and the stitchmarker show you where there should be a buttonhole. But there isn't.
I know ! And that was before I had any gin ! While I ponder how to fix it, pop over to Tami's Amis and see what happens .....
I'm about 4 rows into Clue 3 of the SusannaIC MKAL6, but let me show you what it looks like after Clue 2:
Definitely looking like Autumny colors to me - but outside after the fog has lifted we have bright blue skies and warm sunshine ....I do love an Indian Summer. Please pop your link in below to any MKAL, KAL, or CAL that you're blogging about ....
Just popping in on this gloriously sunny and warm late Summer day to show off a lil ole tea cosy I made - I do like to make them, but I don't use them: so I decided to revive my Folksy shop and hang them up in there with some shawls in case anyone wants to help me clear out some FOs and simultaneously fund my yarn junkie life-style further adventures in knitting ... I'll just remind you all that I'm happy to take commissions .... I thought Autumn was supposed to be here, and I ran across this really cute pattern - and WAH-LA:
Meanwhile, pop FO Friday into Google and see what turns up ....
