knitting

 

I knitted this cowl for Carli for Christmas and she is already requesting another one in a different colour. Time to teach her to knit I think!

 Carli is my big sister – by 1 year and 5 days! I still can’t quite get my head around how Mum actually managed to have two babies so close together – and she worked shift work as a nurse. Back in the day, policies weren’t as strict and she would take her babies to work with her on night shift and we would sleep the night away tucked in a linen cupboard, getting cuddled by her fellow friend nurses when we woke for a feed!

 Happy birthday sister dear – I hope I look as good as you when I’m 32!

Honey Cowl knitted with Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece in Robin Egg Blue colour.
Free Honey Cowl knitting pattern.
Previous Honey Cowls here, here, here and here. (I have a problem, I know.) 

After knitting my first little version of the Honey Cowl for Lil, I was so happy with the finished product that I wanted to use up the rest of the yarn that I had unpicked from my crocheted bag. Not sure that unpicking and reusing a yarn is technically the best thing to do, but for a cowl that is wrapped and losely worn you can’t really tell that the yarn has been previously used.

 

This first one was for my sister-in-law, Ashleigh. She is stunner and it was so nice to have someone to take photos of, rather than having to be in front of the camera myself!

 

I used the free Honey Cowl pattern here. The yarn is Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece in Cotton Ball colour – a slightly off-white. I still love this yarn, it is extremely soft and silky and lovely to knit with.

I feel like I should be extending my knitting repertoire, but this pattern is so easy to put down and pick up and is really mindless knitting, so perfect for when I want to veg out on the couch in the evening. Just warning you…there are plenty more to come!

Well, after knitting my Honey Cowl I had Lil asking me for one for her.  How could I say no?  I had actually been planning on knitting her a scarf sometime, but when she suggested a cowl it made more sense. If I get frustrated with the loose ends of a scarf, then I knew that it wouldn’t last long on her but a cowl would be perfect. Easy for her to wrap and wear and nice and warm to keep her all cosy.

Last year I had actually crocheted a bag using Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece from Tangled Yarns. I finished the bag, but there was something not quite right about it (I suspect due to not following the pattern correctly!) so I’ve never used it. So I unpicked the whole thing and used the yellow yarn for Lil’s cowl. I skein was the perfect amount so you can bet that there will be four more little cowls for little girls in the future! I feel much better about putting the yarn to good use now after the failure of the bag!!

I changed the pattern so that I cast on 150 stitches and continued knitting until the cowl was about 6″ wide.

I think Lil looks super cute in it and she has worn it a lot so we are both happy 🙂  Although you wouldn’t think it from these photos – she was feeling a bit grumpy to start with but I soon pulled a smile out of her!!

 

It was super easy.  I actually knitted it a few months ago, and finished it over one weekend.  My first times using circular needles (sold!), knitting a seamless garment (love!) and knitting a cable (soooo cool and easy!)

I remembered to take chest measurements this time, and knitted Tommy a size 2 with size 3 length.  I didn’t have him near me when I finished it so was unsure of the length.  It turned out much too long though, so I’ve tucked the bottom under for now.

My only negative thought is that I’m not too sure it
looks “boyish” enough in this yarn?  I’m also thinking that next time
I’ll decrease the stockinette stitches under the arm and start the cable
a little higher up, I think that will look nicer and a bit more boyish.
Also, next time I want to knit one for Tommy or an older boy, I think
going with a yarn with a fleck or variegation through it will look
better.
The yarn was lovely to work with, from Bendigo Woollen Mills – Luxury in Blue Denim.

I’ve since knitted one for Lil too, but it’s been sitting on my sewing table for weeks waiting to be blocked and have the ends woven in…I’ll get to it soon!!