Attic24

Granny Bunting for Yarndale

Isn't this knitted bunting completely, absolutely amazingly lovely? The photo was taken at the 2011 knit and stitch show at Alexandra Palace and was part of the Woman's Weekly Centenary year celebrations attempt to break the world record for the longest line of bunting ever made (8,982ft!).

 This fantastic image has stuck in my mind since I came across it at the start of the year, and I knew without doubt that I would love to help create lots of woolly bunting for Yarndale.

As one of the members of the Yarndale team, I immediately put my hand up and volunteered myself for the Bunting Cause. Yes I can make bunting! Yes I would LOVE to hook up a colourful bunting storm! And that is precisely what I have been doing during the past four days. I have been a Bunting-making Machine. Well, kind of. I am quite a speedy hooker, and I have been doing my very best to get this creative endeavour off the starting blocks.

I sampled various methods of triangle making which mainly involved rows of double crochet with either increase or decrease rows to create the tapering triangle shape. But it was all quite time consuming, and damn it, it involved counting. I kind of got a bit peeved about counting rows, and so began to search for another way....and that's when I remembered the granny bunting I made a few years ago. Yes of course! Granny bunting! So easy to work in rounds instead of rows and there is no pesky counting to be done.

These triangles are super easy to make, and ridiculously speedy and addictive. I have worked them up in seven rounds of random colours using leftover odds and ends of Stylecraft Special DK (100% acrylic yarn that I've used for various blankets, see here, here and here).

I also had a play with some variations which used one, two, three and four colours. Even easier and quicker than the seven-colour-change triangles, but perhaps not as much fun for a colour addict like me.

I also whipped up a quick flower to add a little extra flourish.....

....it was simply stitched in place on top of the plain one-colour triangle. Cute eh?

I've made this many triangles during the past four days, working on them whenever I could. My bowl of yarn has been sitting permanently on the table with my hook, scissors and darning needle, ready to to picked up in an instant. It's been fun and I've loved seeing such great results come off my hook so quickly.

Now then, I'd like to use this opportunity to chat a little about steam blocking. Oh I know, how riveting and thrilling, how can we stand the excitement?! Seriously, if you have Stylecraft yarn in your possession (and I know many, many of you do), then you will love this info. Follow carefully. See the above picture? This shows you what we are dealing with :: the before (crumpled and curly and a weeny bit down-and-out looking) and after (so perfectly flat, with beautifully pointy corners!)

This is the method :: you need an ironing board, tape measure and pins. Turn the triangle over so that the right side faces downwards. Stretch out the top edge and put a pin in both corners, making sure this edge measures 18 cm/ 7 inches. You are pinning directly into your ironing board cover, putting the pins at an angle so's they don't ping out.

Pull the bottom corner downwards until the triangle looks straight and even, and put a pin in the bottom corner.

Now set your iron to the LOWEST heat setting, and make sure you have STEAM.

Now HoVeR!!!! This is VErY ImPorTaNt....The Iron Does Not Touch The Crochet. You hover it very, very close, about a centimetre above the surface of the yarn, and you simply allow the steam to do the work. No contact, no pressure. Just the pfffffffffffffffff of the steam. Concentrate on the corners. It does not take long, maybe ten seconds is all. And the results are absolutely miraculous.

Take out your pins, and hey presto, the crochet stays exactly as if it were still pinned!

It remains all flat and neat and beautifully shaped, with the most marvellously perky-pointy corners.



Ahhhhhh. I love to see a sweet little pile of Grannies. So satisfying.

Now then...........I have something to ask you, a Big Request. As you can no doubt tell, I am having heaps of fun making these triangles, but I also have a serious amount of other things going on with Yarndale (see my Yarn bombing post on the Yarndale website). So I have decided to put out a call to all the wonderful hookers of the world and ask if you would consider working up some Granny Bunting triangles for me, for Yarndale? Do you think you might like to join in with me? I would SO love it if you would. I would be hugely ever so grateful.

I'm thinking you could use up your own odds and ends of yarn to make up some Granny Triangles, and send them to me here in Yorkshire. Use whatever yarn you have, in any colours. Use loads of colours or just single colours, with or without flowers. It doesn't matter. All I would ask is that you consider the size :: I've used a DK weight yarn on a 4mm hook, and have worked up 7 rounds, but the important thing is that when stretched/blocked, the sides measure approx 18cm / 7 inches.

I'm just in the process of writing up a tutorial for the triangles, it's a super easy, fun pattern. What I'm going to do right now (Tuesday 9pm) is to give you the basic pattern without pictures, for those of you who are happy to follow written patterns. Then when time allows (tomorrow, hopefully) I'll add the picture tutorial for those of you that might appreciate the extra help.

I've not managed to sort out a mailing address yet, but will let you know in the next week where you can send them. I am SOooooooo excited about this project, and am more than happy to put in the considerable work to join all the triangles together. It's going to be spectacular. Thank you in advance (and excited anticipation) for your help, especially to those of you who have already offered your hooky services for the Bunting Cause.

You can find the written pattern HERE.

 

Green Greenery

Ohhhhhhhhh how I love love love love L♥O♥V♥e this time of year when there is an abundance of green greenery!

I took my Dad and Lady B to walk in our local patch of woodland yesterday afternoon, and as you can see, it was absolutely glorious. Fresh and vibrant, full of dappled sunlight and stunning colour. I felt my heart swell and my soul lift up to the treetops to sing and dance.

Life is good when the sun shines xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

 

 

 

 

Moments

:: enjoying the sunlight after some heavy rain. Our weather here has been  very changeable with lots of short sharp rain and and hail showers interspersed with golden sunshine ::

:: trying to appreciate the rain as our landscape is looking incredibly lush and green as a result. But still. Rain mostly sucks in May ::

:: during a rare spell of blue sky this week, I went up the road to walk beneath the blossom trees. It was/is glorious. I'll share more pictures of it in a separate post I think, as pink blossom definitely deserves its own moment of glory ::

:: coming through a very tricksy spell of challenging behaviour with our Little B at the moment. Pushing the boundaries and asserting his own quite forceful personality, well I'm sure all you Mums out there remember this stage. Crikey, it's been tough ::

:: lots of coffee moments in my week. Coffee is always good ::

:: grabbing up my basket of Rico Essential merino to go off to the pub on Monday night ::

:: drinking strawberry beer and crocheting with friends at the pub, I love Monday nights. I'm working up some double crochet stripes which will eventually become part of a yarnbomb style covering for an old Ikea lamp ::

:: enjoying a quiet soak in a hot bubble bath ::

:: love love loving the origami phase that the Little People are into at the moment. Every morning before breakfast, the table becomes a hotbed of concentrated creasing and folding. Here you can see Little B doing his own version of origami which involves folding combined with copious amounts of sellotape, glue and creative scissor work ::

:: my flopsy tulips have made me smile this week. I do do that pin-through-the-stem thing, and I do keep the water topped right up, but tulips still have such a way of contorting themselves! In the bowl, lots of little balls of leftover Stylecraft which I'm using to make granny bunting for Yarndale. More on the bunting very soon ::

:: love gazing into these amazing blooms, I spend many delightful moments loving my flowers ::

:: iced buns made with Little B. They didn't rise very well for some strange reason (I usually pride myself on my light and fluffy well risen buns), but they still tasted delish ::

♥

Moments from my busy, rather stressy week. Moments of calm, love, happiness, beauty and peace which I have been searching for amongst the chaos of a busy life.

Lots going on here. Lots of strong parenting, seeing my Little People through a week of tests and trying hard to keep Little B on the straight and narrow.

Working at the studio (shelves are up!) as we have now set a date for our first Open Studio event, I'll chat to you about that a bit later in the week.

Working on Yarndale projects which has been really exciting. Starting to make bunting triangles and planning some thrilling yarnbombing for the event. I wrote a blog post for Yarndale with lots of inspiring yarnbomb pics, do go have a look.

And finally, I've been trying to drag number 24 into some sort of order as I have my Dad and Lady B staying in the Attic for a week.

Hoping you are all well and happy, wherever you are and whatever you're up to. I'll be back soon with 1. blossom celebrations (pretty pictures) 2. bunting triangles (a pattern and a request) 3. studio news (I've got shelves!)

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Today's Out-and-About

:: wild garlic just starting to flower ::

:: bracken leaves just starting to unfurl ::

:: gorgeous little wild violets in abundance ::

:: the most incredible tree roots ::

:: the river Wharfe at Bolton Abbey ::

:: walking into Strid Wood ::

:: climbing the high path up through the trees ::

:: breathing in the fresh, slightly damp leafy air ::

:: the bluebell bank, but sadly no blue yet :o( ::

:: due to the cold weather, the bluebells are late blooming this year ::

:: descending down through the trees, loving all the green greenery  ::

:: back down by the riverside, a still, reflective part of the river ::

:: playing about on the river beach ::

:: watching the Little People plop pebbles into the still water ::

:: happy family times ::

:: the pathway winding onwards through the trees, it's almost time for coffee ::

:: ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, a delicious Sunday morning cappuccino ::

 ♥ We enjoyed a really lovely few hours this morning walking at Bolton Abbey. I absolutely love the woodland at this time of year, being surrounded by all that bright green freshness is so good for the soul. I was hoping that the bluebells would have been blooming by now, but alas they are very late this year due to the cold weather (last year's bluebell walk was on May 6th). Will have to try and get back there again in a couple weeks time to drink in the blue. The Little People enjoyed the walk, it was peaceful, happy and fun. They played (even Little Man), they chatted, they ran around together. We had a lovely stop at the Cavendish Pavillion to refuel with milkshakes and coffee, and despite the damp, it was warm enough (just) to sit outside. I'm loving these regular Sunday outings of ours, I'm so glad that we are managing to make it happen each week. ♥

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Happy Weekend

Do you think of Fridays as the start of the weekend? I do. I love Fridays. I've just put a bottle of prosecco in the fridge ready for my 4pm Friday girly gathering with friends and neighbours.

I've also just baked a batch of blueberry cookies. I used this choc chip recipe, but left out the chocolate chips and popped three blueberries in the top of each cookie before they went into the oven.

They look a bit weird, but oh my, they are a taste sensation. Juicy sweet fruit bursting on the tongue with soft chewy cookie melting in afterwards.

Well our gorgeous Spring weather was short lived and we are back to wet, cold, autumnal conditions here. I lit the fire yesterday afternoon and despite my disgusting crossness at the weather (winter coat and boots back out grrrrrr), it was heavenly to sit by the fire for a while with my latest book (Winter Solstice).  I've just cleaned out the grate and laid the kindling and firelighters ready to go again when I get back from a good drenching on the school run.

I'm planning a weekend full of as much yarn and crochet as I can manage. I've got a gazillion ideas squeezed into my Creative Mind at the moment and I desperately need to release some of them before I start climbing the walls! Haha....was going to write a list of these ideas, but it is SO Bonkers that I have decided to keep it to myself. I'll give you some key words though.....

Balls. Lamp. Sheep. See, I told you. Bonkers!

By the way....can I ask for a little bit of help? The first picture at the top of this post, does anyone know the original source? I came across it on my travels in blogland (forget where exactly) and love it so much, but haven't been able to find out who created the image. Would love to know.

HaPpY wEeKeNd, have fun!

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Edit :: thank you SO much for the info, I always feel bad if I can't credit the original designer....in this case it is the beautifully talented Carolyn Gavin. I really love her style :o) pity the poster is only available in the US (Ecojot) x

 Another edit.....OHMYGOSH, check out Carolyn's PiNtErEsT boards, they are AweSoMe!

 

 

 

Waterside Wandering

On Monday morning, I went out for a walk up the hill and into the park.

Early pearly sunshine and long shadows, the grass still damp with dew.

At the bottom left of the park runs the canal and I was all set for some waterside wandering.

It was only seven ay-em and nobody else was about. I saw not one soul.

The day was sparkly and bright, the water perfectly clear and still.

The brightly painted boats were all still asleep, with cosy curtains drawn and a feeling of sleepy tranquility.

It has been a busy weekend on the canal as our town held it's annual Waterways festival.

Many, many boats had sailed in for the occasion and were moored two deep in some places.

I love the colourful details. Of course I do, I am a true colour junkie :o)

I had a bIg smile for this bicycling parrot with his basket of flowers and his rainbow wheels (which spin in the breeze).

I love the floral accents too, and it was lovely to see so many beautiful rooftop planters full of spring flowers.

Rooftop flowers of a different kind were equally charming.

Flowers and rainbows, balloons and bunting, it was very jolly along the waterside.

I think this has to be my all time favourite boat with it's beautiful front garden and stained glass doors. I wish I could have seen inside.

I love this picture. I love the way the clouds reflected in the water makes it look so dreamy and light.

The canal basin is at the heart of the town and was full to bursting with boaty activity. Even on this quiet early morning it felt exciting and festive.

Leaving the bustle behind now, this is a branch of the main canal which has a small beck running alongside it.

I stopped to gaze at these newly unfurled beech leaves, and thought to myself that I really must take the family to walk in the woods at Bolton Abbey very soon (remember the green greenery?)

I love this old bridge. We sailed underneath it a few weeks ago, Little B and I.

We took a completely impromptu ride on a small tourist boat one Saturday afternoon, passing right under this bridge on the way to the castle. It was magical hearing the journey narrated through the eyes and voice of Little B. He was more than a little excited.

This is a favourite spot of ours, beneath this weeping willow tree. It is very green, shady and cool in the height of summer, and is often a place that we stop to rest.

I just remembered that last year we sat on that very bench, Little B and I, and consumed two whole punnets of strawberries between us. Playgroup to home, via the market and the willow tree.

Ahhh, home again, walking up the cobbled street to arrive at my back gate. It was a lovely wander and amazingly I was only gone for half an hour. The Little People didn't even realise I was missing until I walked in the back door.

I love wandering around my neighbourhood. It's a pretty special kind of a place to live.

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Little Bits of Happy

:: I love that my beloved yarn bag (almost five years old) is currently full-to-bursting with colourful yarn (Paris cotton) ::

:: I love these cute little cotton circles that keep flying off my hook ::

:: I love that I can hook these cuties up during the smallest moments in my busy days ::

:: I love looking back at old photos. This heather moorland (September 2011) was the inspiration for a new blanket that a friend is making. She asked me for some help in selecting a palette of colours ::

:: I love creating with colour. This is the yarn (Drops Lima) that was inspired by the above photo. It's going to make a terrific blanket ::

:: I love (love love love) asparagus. Tossed lightly in olive oil and cooked on a hot griddle pan, seasoned liberally, then finished with a squeeze of lemon juice and some crumbled feta cheese. Devoured with finger licking mmmmmmm's ::

:: I love coming downstairs in the early morning to see golden shafts of sunlight illuminating the room ::

:: I love this time of year. I love the greening of the trees and the impossibly beautiful, clear light. I love taking impromptu, solitary walks too (this was 7am yesterday morning) ::

:: I love waiting for blossom time in my neighbourhood. Almost there! ::

:: I love my town in early May when the canal is in Festive Mode. I took lots of boaty pictures over the weekend which I'll share with you tomorrow ::

:: I love to feel sunkissed! We had amazing weather yesterday, with some true heat at long last ::

:: I love seeing my crochet blankets outside, it makes me extremely happy. It was unbelievably pleasurable to lounge about on these patchwork squares in the park yesterday ::

:: I love making daisy chains, such simple nostalgic pleasure ::

:: I love the "jibbitz" that my three Little People assembled for my crocs yesterday ::

♥ Thank you for sharing my lovely little bits of happy ♥

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Edit to add :: for those who asked, the circles are going to become a little window decoration for the studio x

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Around Malham

We continue our quest to create some Outdoor Family Time every weekend, usually a Sunday morning. With each week/outing it gets easier and the vocal complaints have now dwindled to very mild do-we-have-to's. Persistence pays off, as does chocolate bribery.
Yesterday the weather wasn't especially nice with a thin film of mizzle hanging low in the air, but we weren't put off in the slightest. We are heading out, we have flasks of coffee and chocolate, we care not if it is damp and grey!

We live very close to the Yorkshire Dales National Park, and there is stunning scenery to be found just a short drive from home. Yesterday we went to Malham, well more precisely a mile or two up the road to the magnificent Gordale Scar.

This is ancient limestone landscape, and the scale of it is quite mind blowing. It is huuuuuuge. The hillsides tower a good hundred metres above the footpath.

J and I know this area well, we have been here many times over the past twenty years yet we couldn't remember ever bringing the Little People here. They really enjoyed the drama of the scenery and couldn't wait to get around the corner and right into the gorge......

....as you can see it really is spectacular. Pretty wowsers eh?!

Believe it or not, this is actually a footpath. Uh-huh....can you see a couple of people beginning their climb up the side of the waterfall there? Well that's the footpath. We told the Little People the story of our own climb up there once, when we had been camping in a little tent nearby and decided to do this walk one morning. Our book described this part of the path as "a mild scramble", jeez, that author told a big fat lie there. It is a knee-knocking, heart lurching rock climb, made a hundred times worse by the fact that you have such an audience watching your every leg trembling move. I remember that I was wearing little flowery shorts, and some black mary jane style shoes to make that climb, so funny! I didn't even posses walking boots back then, I used to walk for miles across the countryside in those black shoes which I loved to bits.

We drank coffee and consumed chocolate in the gorge, then wandered back down the path in the mizzle to visit this other beautiful waterfall.

This is Janets Foss, a rather magical place with fairy stories attached to it.

We decided to leave the car parked here and walk the 1.5 miles along the stream to the village. The walk is lovely, starting out in this gorgeous woodland, then opening out through fields and pastures.

I loved the green greenery of moss and wild garlic, so lush looking with the delicious scent of garlic in the air as we walked.

It took about an hour for us to walk to the village, ambling along at Little B's pace. But eventually we arrived, crossing over the stream via this lovely old stone bridge.

We had booked a table at The Buck Inn and were very much ready for lunch. Which was rather delicious and enjoyable I have to say. This pub is very warm, cosy, relaxed and homely inside, and children are made very welcome.



After lunch, J and Little Man set out to walk the 1.5 miles back up stream to pick up the car, while I parked my ample backside on that lovely wooden bench there and supervised the other two. I know I've said before how much I love watching the Little Peeps at play, it really is one of the best things in life. They devised a game that was a combination of hide and seek and tig, so funny to watch. Then there was a game involving stick racing in the stream, followed by some general running, jumping and climbing.

And then the welcome comfort of our car arriving and the slow winding road home-wards through the glorious spring countryside. A good day. Very, very good.

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Happy Sunshine Days

I have to tell you I'm having a delicious week. Busy, but delicious.

It's been wonderful to finally feel a little smidge of warmth in the air. I have loved walking about town with Little B, allowing him to lead me the extra-extra long way home from toddler group via the old Corn Mill, the woodland (past the house that keeps chickens) and the canal side. Walking from A to B the long way round has been really enjoyable. Gosh, that boy has so much energy. It fizzes out of him from the minute he gets up (at 5.30am) and carries on fizz-popping throughout our fourteen hour days. Even total strangers comment on it, he just seems to radiate energy somehow.

Our sweet little piggies have been introduced to the joys of outdoor grazing this week. They are indoor dwelling pets, and it has simply been too cold and damp to put them outside before now. We purchased a run from the local pet shop and they are doing a stirling job of trimming my overgrown grass. Yipppeeeeeeeeeee, no more cutting the grass for me!

We decided on a walk this afternoon (up a stupendously long steep huff-puff hill) to spend an hour at a lovely peaceful rural field/park. It's known as The Rec, as it's not really a park as such, but there is a bit of play equipment for the Little People and a well placed picnic bench for Mums. The sun was warm! Yes, really it was! I removed my cardigan!! I even felt (shock horror) a little sweaty at one point. It's been a good half a year since I sat out under a truly warm sun (probably October when I was in Provence), and it made me feel super-happy today.

Even my flowers this week look as if they've been touched by warm sunshine. These tulips came from the supermarket and were a mere £1.80.

I just love the way the light shines through the petals making them look as if they are glowing.

The light in the studio is pretty awesome I have to say. Even on gloomy weather days it feels light and bright, and when the sun streams in through the windows, well it's pretty marvelous. As you can see, I was hard at work at my desk on Wednesday. Hard at it. Well you can tell can't you?

I'm in the process of trying out some new yarns for future crochet workshops,  getting used to the colours, getting a feel for the yarn and how it works up. I spent a while familiarising myself with the colour palette, which basically involves drinking coffee and having a bloomin' good play. Lining them up, arranging them in groups, making notes of the colour codes etc.

I need to catalogue the colours cos I like my yarn to be naked. The paper wrappers get in the way, so as soon as I've noted it all down in my notebook, I whip em off. This yarn is pretty fabby. It's Drops yarn, do you know it? Drops Design is a Norwegian company which produces all sorts of different types of yarn. The one I'm using here is called Paris, it's an aran weight (5mm hook) 100% cotton  and comes in 45 brilliant shades. I'm also trying out some different merino weights, I'll show you more of those very soon.

Now then, do you like my new jug? Affectionately known as my "Ken", the arrival of it on my shelf has made me really rather ridiculously happy this week. I have lusted after a Ken of my very own for a long time. Years. Many years. And last week seemed to be the right time for a little personal, spontaneous splurge.

For those of you who don't recognise the Ken reference, I shall explain :: the jug was made by the very talented and successful ceramicist Ken Eardley. His style is very distinctive and easily recognisable, and I absolutely love the simple quirkiness of it. His work is highly collectible and in great demand, and there is often a lengthy waiting list if you should wish to buy one. My Ken came from the wonderful Janet Bell Gallery, and luckily for me and my spontaneous impulses, Janet always keeps a stock of Ken's in her shop. I told her "red flower" and she emailed me a picture, and that was that, I fell in love and nothing would have stopped me from getting my hands on this beauty.

This is a picture from Yellow House Art in Brighton, showing an amazing range of Ken's ceramics. they look fabulous en masse, I think I need to be careful that I'm not forming an expensive addiction here. Steaaaaady. One Ken will have to suffice for now. But oh I love the blue leafy jugs. Love 'em I do.

The lovely Julia Crossland has been unwittingly aiding and abetting my Wanties with images of her gorgeous paintings feauturing Ken jugs. This springtime one is especially sweet don't you think?

Talking of sweet, Little B made me this heart yesterday. We had an hour or so in the afternoon when we were trying (unsuccessfully) to rest a little before the school run. He got out the Hama beads and decided all by himself that this is what he would do. Each bead was carefully selected with tweezers and placed on the peg board with great ceremony. He loves tools of any kind I've noticed. He loves doing stuff with tools. Or sticks. Or bits of string. We have lots of things tied up with string in our house. Or wrapped in sellotape. Busy busy happy happy.

The blue blue sky this morning made my heart soar skywards. Same again tomorrow? Oh I very very very much hope so.

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Cosy Neck Warmer :: Ta-dah!

I bought this yarn quite a while ago but hadn't had chance to work with it until recently. It is a lovely, soft yarn and I  can highly recommend it. Details as follows ::

Cotton On by James C Brett.

50% cotton / 50% acrylic

DK weight, worked on a 4mm hook.

50g balls, very reasonably priced (I paid £1.85 a ball for mine), plenty of online retailers stock it, just google to find them.

I used 12 colours, although the two bright pinks are almost identical. It's a very pretty, fresh palette, even the neutrals are pretty.

Both my Little People have these Buff neck scarf thingies, they are very popular here in the UK. They are officially labelled as "multifunctional headwear" as you can do all sorts of things with them to go stylishly on your head, but my LP wear them round their necks. And up over their lower faces when it is very cold and blustery. They are simply long, stretchy tubes with no seams. Whilst on holiday in Dorset, I really, really wished that I had something like it myself as it was very cold and windy.

It was whilst on holiday that I started making my cosy neck warmer, just like that. I had the need for one, the vision of how I wanted it to look. I had a quick play with stitch ideas one afternoon, and it happened just like that.

This is such a simple stitch, so so so simple. A bit like the granny stripe with clusters of three stitches but worked using shorter double crochet instead of trebles. It creates a very neat looking sort of woven effect....



....but it is stretchy look. A bit like mesh (but far prettier).

Best of all, it is an absolute breeze to work up. Very easy, and very speedy. And lots of lovely colour play.

This is how it finished up.................ta-dah!!!!

Because I made it out of cotton, it isn't particularly fluid or drapey, but it is beautifully soft and warm. It feels wonderful next to my skin.

I've worn it pretty much continuously since I finished it. It's one of those things that gets put on when I go out in the mornings and ends up staying on all day.

I made it to fit quite snugly around my neck as I like this style better than the drapey sort of cowl designs that are out there. Yeah....I made it snug. It tugs my ears half off, but I'm hoping it'll stretch slightly with use.

I'm sorry about the rubbish photos, I just couldn't manage to get a decent image of it in use. Jeez, my hair needs cutting. But anyhoooooooo, you get the idea. It is a cosy, snug bit of warm prettiness and I am very, very happy wearing it. I actually prefer wearing it with the top rolled over, but you will just have to imagine what that looks like as I'm not doing any more mug shots.

The pattern? Easy peasy lemon squeezy.

The tutorial? Already done and dusted.

How's that for a surprise? No waiting around this time, go straight to your stash, select the softest, cosiest yarn you own and whip one up.

Whatcha waiting for?!

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