Sweetie Pie hats

How could a hat given that name be anything but sweet....

 This is Purl Soho's Sweetie Pie hat, a lovely pattern which can be found for free here. If it wasn't for the fact that I read today that winter is over, I would urge everyone to knit one of these delights. I may still be tempted to knit myself another. I have wool waiting.  I knitted this first hat (for there are more) in the larger size, somehow reading that as more of the adult size rather than mansize. I do not feel that my head is super large, and yes the hat is a little roomy but not oh my so. The wool used is a mix... Yum is Rowan pure wool aran in banana. It is one of the least banana like yellows I have seen, more of a mustard. Though banana sounds more yum. I have been looking for a lovely mustard shade for a while, found this and was oh so pleased with myself, only to find that Rowan declare it banana. The grey is Rico design fashion nature DK in light grey, knitted in double thickness. I haven't used Rico wool much but they seem to be a lot lighter weight than other makes. Even knitted double thickness this grey was still thinner than the Rowan...

Obviously I added a pom pom.

And then knitted another. Can you tell I like the pattern

This time using Debbie Bliss cashmerino aran in denim blue and mulberry. I followed the smaller size this time and this one fitted to, probably more the fit the pattern intended as it was more well, fitted.  I saw this one looking snug on the birthday girl's head in Brighton last week and it did look delightful! 

Happy birthday George and Maisie Mae!

Happy birthday (of sorts) Miss Ethel

Though it isn't her birthday at all, rather a happy you have been with us for a year day! Celebrated with a new toy chosen by Patch and a play in a plastic bag

This is a treat indeed for a sweet kit who just loves plastic bags... usually they are whisked away as Miss Ethel loves to eat them as much as hide inside them, a habit that disagrees strongly with her insides...

On a gloomy day it has been oh so nice to be snug at home, munching a freshly made biscuit

A lovely day! And glad that it is still the weather for yet another winter woolly hat. This time the classic beret from Jenny Lord's Purls of Wisdom

The red rib is an unknown from the basket with a Rowan aran in charcoal for the main. I did enjoy knitting this, and just love the lines on top, though I slightly prefer the hat off than on. Hoping this is a result of me having an odd shaped head rather than the hat itself, as this is a present! Do hope you had a happy birthday, Sarah... and that you like your hat!

Quite nice actually to knit something that I don't immediately think oh I need one of those too, and add it to the must one day knit this pile...

More wintry pom-pom hats...

Still having far too much fun with the pom-pom maker. So thought I should make hats to go with the pom-poms

Ooo, and matching cowls too to keep those little wintry necks snug. 

The pattern for the hats is the Chili Pepper hat from Spud & Chloe with added pom-pom. Of course.  The navy hat is knitted in the oh-so-soft Millamia dreamy wool, using midnight and claret. The grey was from the wool basket, left over from making these Minion goggles, a still surprise to me snug James C Brett DK. The blue hat used up the rest of the grey, and also the leftovers from making  Minion dungarees, and yet more lovely Millamia in scarlet.

The pattern for the cowls is the Uno Cowl from Millamia's Bright Young Things. With some stretchy blocking they happily fit two nine year olds,  not just the toddler mentioned in the pattern. Hope your Auntie knits are keeping you snug this winter, Reuben and Casper!

And causing great excitement yesterday was the loss of Patch's first tooth. Swallowed along with his brioche. Patch was a little concerned about lack of tooth so wrote a covering note to place in the little pot for the tooth fairy, and we gave him Mater because until we get used to these adult teeth he reminds us just a little of his favourite tow truck... So thank you for the sweet pot Goodmums Linda and Ems - finally put to use!

Some winter makes

... some of which may have been Christmas presents, but as it is almost the end of January it seems a little late to be mentioning festive makes. So winter knits they are!

This though was made before Christmas and was an excuse to use my newly purchased larger size pom-pom maker

A new hat for Patch. As this was a must knit now hat it was a search through the basket to see what I can use... the green was leftover from the lining of a tea cosy knitted for Mum and Dad, and the white and red wool are unknowns I was given. I know I followed a pattern but cannot remember what. Oh my, this was only November. Maybe the hats for everyone from purl bee? I think the pattern was in the round but as I only had appropriate needles for flat knitting I did it that way. Gosh, I know I did knit this hat. But not much else. And had fun making a large pom-pom. I was oh so tempted to buy the extra large size pom-pom maker but Mr R wondered if it may be too much of a statement pom-pom. And this is quite large, and uses a lot of wool...

A lovely snug hat, which doesn't really help as I couldn't knit again as I know neither the pattern nor wool. Hopefully I shall remember more for the next make!

Our merry little Christmas... hope yours was too

Some festive bits dotted around our house, before it gets too late to share!

Another pair of quick change trousers... and it's beginning to look a bit like Christmas

Talking to a friend about the oh so dreamy quick change trouser pattern reminded me that I had made another pair

The quick change trouser pattern is in Anna Maria Horner's handmade beginnings, and this pair were even quicker as I limited my fabric choice this time! See Jude's cheery pair here.

The main fabric is a soft denim, with an even softer blue gingham flannel for lining. All the fabrics were from the pile so no longer sure where they came from... And the sweetest bit about this pattern is the  view from the back

I made these up in the 12-18 months for a soon to be one year old (who is now most certainly a one year old, and has been for a few months, it has just taken me an age to add these photographs). That is just to say that the sizing seems just right with this pattern. Hope you had a fun first birthday, Albie!

And the Christmas part? Well, after the excitement of opening the advent calendar started on Sunday, followed by a trip to London to see the lights and Christmas displays and Patch's first visit to the magic of Hamley's, and arriving at school on Monday morn to find the classroom transformed... Patch is now oh so keen to make our home all Christmassy. I do feel rather festive after wrapping up Patch's twenty four Christmas books for his advent book pile this weekend, and possibly a Starbuck's red cup helped! Maybe we shall go and choose our Christmas tree soon...

And finally, this year's Halloween make...

Hmmm... not sure this can really be called a make. It most certainly can be called a success though as   Patch chooses to wear it all the time

Apart from the stripey t, I wanted to use bits I already had hence the pirate-y Batman. I straight stitched the edges rather than zig zag as I like the thought of a little fraying. I am trying to embrace Patch's newfound fondness of superheroes! 

And now on to Christmas making. I feel as if I should be listening to some festive crooners as I stitch and knit, curled up with a blanket and kit, to imbue some festive cheer into each make - but maybe too much for November?