Granny Square Scarf

I am still loving autumn at the moment and I don’t think the russet colours have even started in our part of the world. On the lucky day I spotted the gorgeous crochet mittens, I also got my paws on this wonderful Granny Square Scarf. This is a really easy make, designed my my friend Tracy. You can grab the pattern here. This little beauty will be going nowhere. It is made in fab Drops Nepal, which is really reasonable at £2.00 a ball. If you are looking for a ‘first’ fashion project this is ideal.

Also don’t forget to post your autumn projects on Celebrate Color. Have a happy Autumn Weekend x

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Clever Project Bag

I do like bags. I particularly like pockets in bags. Places to put specific things. I like posh bags, small purses, rucksacks, flowery bags, baskets, shoppers, buckets – you name it, I love a carry-all.

I have never quite cracked the ideal bag for knitting. If you don’t travel with your knitting then a basket is adequate. But if you snooped around my house in a very short time you would discover a number of disparate bags, baskets and tubs which hold a huge amount of wool. Many yarnsters will tell you that they have a number of WIP (works in progress – oh yes yarn jargon my friends). Ideally all these project should be separated out into different hold-alls.

A couple of weeks ago I was browsing the excellent crafty site Etsy, and found a really fantastic maker. That Clever Clementine makes a number of different bags and purses which are ideal for my project purposes. I spotted a bag in my favourite colour scheme and within a very short time it had winged its way across the pond.

I am delighted with it. It has many different handy pocket for notions (yarn translation – scissors, tape measure, pins). One little ingenious  addition is the lanyard which can be used to anchor cheeky ‘get away’ scissors. Fantastic. The quality of the making and finishing is a joy to behold and so lovely to have something handmade. One of the great joys of this virtual world is finding new lovely friends from far away places. I have been having great conversations with the creative Miss Vicki who made this lovely bag.

There is only one problem. I really need about another 3!

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Breakthrough Scarf – Crochet with Love

A little while ago, the Editor of IC asked me if I could think of a design to celebrate Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I just couldn’t get the rather funky target symbol out of my mind. So the scarf featured in Inside Crochet is my little interpretation.

I really do like shawls at the moment, particularly worn more as a neckerchief. I wanted a bright and cheery colourway and have always been a bit of a fan of fuchsia and scarlet together. The scarf uses two pinks and a red from the gorgeous Millamia range of yarns. The texture is very soft.

If this version is just a little too ‘pink’, go for hues of soft grey and cream.

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Granny Square – Catwalk Style

I love getting my copy of Inside Crochet through the post, mostly because I am a bit of a magazine addict, but also it is my first chance to see my little creations photographed on a glamourous model. This month is very exciting. The Autumn Winter Season is loving our craft at the moment. The designers have gone crazy for our favourite Granny Square.

So here is my jumper in progress before it winged its way to the magazine. I was waiting to introduce you to Lottie. She is the newest addition to the workspace. The great thing about Lottie is she is adjustable, and it means I can get a much better idea of fit and I don’t have to rely on my rather lumpy frame to see if a garment is working

The trouble is I really want to wear this jumper now. It just brings a huge smile to my face!

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Gorgeous Mittens

I first clapped eyes on the pattern for these mittens in the flesh (or even in the fibre) as opposed to on-line. I met up with my blogging friend Tracy, and she showed me her new creations. The funny thing is when presented with something tempting, British reserve is totally suppressed and I pounced on them like an obsessed maven.

These cutie mittens might join my top-ten of all patterns. So pretty but fiendishly simple. That, my friends is crochet genius. Tomorrow I hope to share with you the matching scarf which is so lovely that I think it might stay firmly in my accessory draw.

If you are similarly tempted then visit Tracy’s blog for the pattern. I will be adding this project to Celebrate Color collection of projects for October. If you want inspiration for autumn, do visit the Stitched in Colour blog. Although not a quilter I really enjoy looking at the amazing stitched projects.

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Join in: Snail Mail Holiday Swap

Don’t you just love getting parcels through the post? My friend Tracy and I do, so we thought we’d let you join in a little plan we have to share the handmade love this Christmas.

We are hosting a “Snail Mail Holiday Swap”.

The rules are simple. All you have to do is email us with the following information:
Your name and address, contact email and Ravelry / twitter name if you have one.
Tell us if you’re happy to post to UK /  Europe or worldwide
If you need to drop out for any reason, you must email us straight away so we can ensure no-one is disappointed.
By emailing us you agree to us sharing your address and email with your swap partner and post a hand made gift to your partner no later than 1st December (to give the recipient time to display it over the holidays and to ensure you don’t miss last posting dates.
Your “gift” should be hand made and fit into a regular A4 envelope. Nobody expects the expensive or the extravagant.

Think simple and remember the by words: re-use, re-craft, re-cycle. There’s nothing wrong with a bit of vintage or a bit of imaginative re-gifting!
I’ve already started making what I’ll put it my parcel (and I’ll be partnered with one of you lovely readers, so I won’t give away too much).
If you’re “in” leave a comment on this post and send us an email. We’ll add you to the swap list and post regular updates and reminders.
Entries will close on the 30th October, so everyone has time to plan and make their gifts.
Any questions? Just email us
And remember – everyone can take part, you need to have a blog or a website – just share our love for handmade gifting!

Email: lowcarbondiary@gmail.com

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In the presense of royalty – knitting royalty

I had the most fantastic day today! The sun was shining on another glorious balmy autumn day and I set off with a good friend to meet the wonderful Debbie Bliss. If you are not a yarnster then you might not get the significance of this, but Debbie Bliss is British Knitting Royalty.

She probably is one of the reasons why I returned to knitting about fifteen years ago. Her patterns always look fresh, comfortable and achievable. Her aesthetic is modern classic British, a hint of Cath Kidston, with a pinch of Toast, a dash of Muji – well actually 100% Debbie Bliss. If you knit a Debbie Bliss pattern then you  can bet your bottom dollar that people will remark on the hat/jumper/cushion. It is Debbie Bliss patterns which people secretly want you to knit for their new born baby.

I went to one of my local yarn stores and spotted her coming down the stairs, for a knitter it was a bit like Madonna brushing past you in Harvey Nicks. Anyway I glanced at the wonderful sales assistant and we did that knowing look of ‘THAT’S HER!’

Later I plucked up the courage to speak to her. My friends, this lady is the most kind, generous, self effacing person you could ever meet. She spent time talking to people, showing them tips and tricks on her needles and had endless patience we me asking her endless questions. Perhaps the most accessible and enthusiastic professional I have met for such a long time.

I bought a number of books and her magazine, which I will share with you in the next week. But I have to say that if you are thinking of picking up those needles again, then I would turn to one of her patterns to start with. I have knitted this cable beanie from her book Baby Cashmerino, about 7 or 8 times. I have sized it up several times for Little B. It is an enduring classic. Obviously there are more simple patterns to get your hands on, but the yarn choices are just glorious.

If you think I sound a bit gushingly star-struck – you’re right I am – and you know what sometimes we might fear to meet our heroes, but sometimes they surpass our expectation and encourage us to keep going – Thank you Debbie x

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