Friday 1 March 2013

I loves a wrist warmer, I do

(said in a broad Somerset accent)


Two years ago, when I was new to Knit Club at The Wool Sanctuary (though truly I do not remember a time when Suzie wasn't my dear friend, I feel I have known her for a very long time) I met a pair of wrist warmers that captured my heart and ramped up my desire to learn to knit properly.

"Suzie" I said, "Soooooooooooooozie! Are these for very advanced knitters, when do you think I might be able to have a bash at making these Alice Caterpillar's?"
"Can you do the knit stitch?" she questioned,
"Yes"
"Can you do the purl stitch?"
"Yes"
"Can you cast on and off?
"Yes"
"Can you increase and pick up stitches?"
"No" I said in a small dismayed voice.
"Sit here, I will show you how and you can start them in about five minutes"

I will admit I didn't really believe her, I couldn't see how such fabulous wrist warmers could be knitted by someone who was a knitting novice. She was dead right though. 




Even now, as I write this blog post and look at the photographs I cannot get my head to understand how easy they were to knit, even though I, me (V proud), knitted them with no help at all. The last bit surprises me the most.



No I would like to draw your attention to my nice nails here. I'd had them shellac'd. I vowed I would have them done regularly as I loved how sprightly they looked. It's so nice having pretty nails as one can see one's hands all day long. Since these photo's were taken I have had my nails done a whopping, big fat zero times. Hopeless. I used to be so groomed, now I feel presentable after cleaning my teeth. Standards have slipped (just like my chest, ha ha haaaa!).


I could have twirled my knickers around my head in delight once I had finished them. I was delighted and very proud (even though they are not hard to do, they just look it as they are cleverly designed, still proud).



 Next up are another design of Suzie's. This pair of warmers are also super simple to make yet totally fancy looking. If you can knit, purl, make a stitch and knit two together then you can make these. They are called Edwin Creams.  No no idea why. Suzie has funny names for everything. It's part of her charm. Though one day she will name something after me. WON'T YOU SOOOOOOOOOZIE???! Yes, she will. Or I'll chop her in the wind pipe and kick her in the shins.



I think the pattern calls for a bigger needle than the 2.75 I used, but I prefer a tight warmer. I also made the cuff longer because I like my forearms covered when I am pushing the buggy. Other than that I did exactly what the pattern said to do. 

Ah, smashing, I wear these almost every day. I must make more. Many, many more. In lots of different colours.


Oh look at that lovely red polishy stuff.




Those jeans are too tight for me now. I must get a grip. I put on a stone and three pounds over Christmas. Granted my Christmas started in mid November and ended in mid January, and I've been skiing, but that is quite a lot of weight to gain. A personal best, in fact. I feel someone ought to give me a trophy.

Ninja Knitta

Now for a gratuitous sock pic. I found this pic when I was looking for photo's for this post. I forgot to point out in my last post that I made my Mr two pairs of socks for his 40th. Now don't say I'm not generous ;o)


Give away coming up in my next post. A gorgeous Greengate tea towel. Click here to have a sneaky peek. I've not had a giveaway before. I feel a bit bubbly about it!

xxx

33 comments:

  1. You're so preeeeetty <3

    I have gained a rather alarming amount of NON BABY weight which I am about to tackle. Oh my it's bad.

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  2. Nice knitting Cuckoo, just like mine! Love you lots,
    Lavenderlace Lady xx

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  3. So pretty, especially the first pair.

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  4. Gorgeous wrist warmers - love them both! The socks look great too, I'm really daunted by the idea of knitting socks - they seem like they'd be really difficult to get right, but yours look perfect!
    Maria x

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  5. love the wrist warmers & stripey socks ♥ i've knit & crocheted lots of wrist warmers (love them) but never socks ~ love the colours you've chosen for yours!

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  6. Fab wrist warmers...even fabber nails, I would love to have painted nails, but I'm far to slovenly to pull it off!

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  7. Fab mittens, the second ones are my faves :) Loving the socks too but I don't have the skill or the patients for them :)

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  8. Ah your wrist warmers are lovely! I want to get back to knitting now that I have got the hang of crochet - just need to finish that blanket, and then that scarf that I've started and then oh yeah that other blanket! Too many WIPs but you have inspired me to try to FINISH something!! Thanks lovely xxx

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  9. Oh serious knitting envy going on here! Those stripies are just my think. "Oh b***er, why I can't knit?" I'm saying to myself for the umteenth time. I've no idea how quickly you knock them up but if you ever fancy a swapsie let me know!!
    Ellie
    x

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  10. Great post, made me laugh out loud!! I really wish I could knit but I look like I am in pain when I do! I'll just admire them instead. Chel

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  11. They look so good, you did a great job. I can't knit a stitch.

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  12. Oh my oh my those wristwarmers!!!!! Well done! They are both gorgeous and the navy ones are so stylish, but that first pair.....oh I love them. And there was me bimbling on with my crochet but now I want to get to grips with knitting just for those!
    X

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  13. They are the most gorgeous wrist warmers i have ever seen i must have a pair! Nails are fab too i was into the shellac last year but it ruined my nails they were so dry and brittle i gave up. P.s good to see your're blogging again Sarah x

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  14. Loves, loves, loves!!! These are so inspiring. I avoid knitting as it takes me so long but looking at these makes me drool. Might just have to.... Sox not been around for a bit. Life is super busy right now but in a good way. Xx

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  15. Fabulous knitting my woman and beautiful sparkly nails. I always love the look of nails and how grown-up they look. When I try them on me they just don't seem right. Colours for the socks are perfect, love the lime and purple mix.

    As for the weight thing mine keeps creeping up and up, but I've always been able to eat what I want and have no problems so I just ignore it best I can. Then I thought I must do something about this so I got a skinny latte to behave and then grabbed a big fat oozy pastry to go with it. Need a stomach bug that sorts it out for a few days. Weight drops off then.

    X

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  16. Gorgeous knitting,fabby nails ! Not sure where you are hiding the weight gain.....those jeans look fine to me :)
    Although I'm hooked on crochet you are seriously tempting me to go hunting for my long lost knitting needles.
    Have a lovely weekend x

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  17. Hello
    I'm new to your blog and have really enjoyed this post with your fabulous knits. Really inspiring and Suzie's patterns are gorgeous xox Penelope

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  18. Hi, stumbled on your blog today and just love the wrist warmers. Will definitely drop by again to see future projects!

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  19. Great wrist warmers. They really suit you: warm, fun & colourful :-)!

    Madelief x

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  20. Don't think I've ever been fonder of you than I am this minute ...

    Gorgeous mitts (that frill and those stripes kill me), gorgeous girl and gorgeous repartee.

    Perfect.

    Hxxx

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  21. 'do I need to learn to knit?'
    please discuss with me in three weeks time!!!!
    I am currently obsessed with these:
    http://sandra-cherryheart.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/stripy-mitts.html
    Love your work, love your photos, love that you are blogging again, LOVE YOU!
    fee x

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  22. I love the first pair of wrist warmers. Your right, they look so complicated but oh so pretty, they really are lovely. You takented thing you :) x x x x

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  23. Hi gorgeous girl. I am absolutely in love with your Edwin Creams! Don't they look just amazing with those flash fingernails!! I must get a wriggle on and make some of these as we're just getting prepared for the onset of winter in my neck of the woods.

    Have a fabulous week hon. Lovely to see your post - always a pleasure.

    Leah
    xxxx

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  24. Who takes your pics, is it on a timer? So great.
    Lovely nails.
    Lush wrist warmers. Both pairs are fab.
    That size of jeans would have fitted me when I was ten. Aged ten, that is.
    See you soon bird.
    xx

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  25. Gorgeous knitting. I love both pairs but maybe the second a tiny bit more!
    M xxxx

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  26. I am being very, very patient, as I know Suzie has lots happening at the moment, but I am busting to make my Alice Caterpillars, still trying to work out colors. I have wrist warmer envy you clever clogs, and your nails looks oh so pretty.
    xxoo Sandi

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  27. Wow! They're amazing!!! You shouldn't have said that they were easy - they look mightily impressive!!!
    Carly
    x

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  28. You're posting again (happy face)!

    I have loved your swirly wrist warmers ever since I first saw them!

    In fact I loves a wrist warmer too, I do, and I can manage the Somerset accent, I grew up there.

    Happy knitting :)

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  29. oooh, lovely warmers! I love the first ones bestest, they're so frilly. I used to get my nails gelled, gave it up though, too much of a commitment for me.

    a stone and three pounds in 2 months? That's crap! I've doubled that...

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  30. You see, now this is why I NEED to knit. Sadly we have no decent knitting groups around me. I'll do it one day. I'm coveting Suzie's Button moon and humbug wrist warmers. I think they might have to be my goal. Failing that, try and bribe my mum to make a pair of each. Can't see her being that willing though, she is the queen of half finished knitting projects. Totally useless me. sigh........xxx

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  31. Gorgeous knitting, too right to be very proud! Love the nails too, have never quite been able to carry them off, far too clumsy and usually manage to chip it within a day... Lovely funny post :-) xx

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  32. Oh Cuckoo, I have missed you so, you are a breath of fresh air and never fail to make me smile......I have alot of catching up to do.
    Gorgeous nails and those Caterpillar wrist warmers look so snuggly and warm, love the ruffly bits. I'm with you on keeping your forearms nice and warm too.
    Fab socks for your Mr. love, love, love the colours.....definitely a knitting Ninja.......

    Claire xx

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  33. How do you gain a stone?? Ahhh, I love the way you talk but it confuses me ever so much! ;0) I love, love, love the arm warmers. Good job!!!

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I L♡VE your comments. Thank you ever so for taking the time. I do try to get back to everyone but I am rather scatty and I have these 3 big distractions....(and I'm just generally a bit rubbish lately, so please don't feel obliged to leave a note) Sorry about the word verification too, too much spam.