Well hello 2019!!! This new year seems to be here and is ready to rock and roll. It’s seems to be flying by!! Nearly the end of January already!!! I wonder what this year will bring? Ours seems to have gotten off to a good start. Back to school for my little lady, bless her. Think she was rather nervous to be going back, but she was fine once she got back into it. Her little brother has definitely missed her though. When she’s home from school, they definitely have a frantic hour of bonkersness zooming around the house!!
It’s hard going back to all the school/work/house stuff, after the Christmas holidays. It’s such an unusual holiday period isn’t it. Many of the days are filled with seeing friends and family, or franctic rushing around like a lunatic getting jobs done, in the build up before. But now it is back to normalness and the usual world of school runs and activities for us and work. The nights seem to come that bit quicker at the minute and it definitely feels darker and gloomier. I do enjoy those few moments in the evening, when everyone is quiet and you can just snuggle under your blanket and crochet. I think when u have little ones, you definitely appreciate those quiet evenings all the more!!
We’ve had a few fab weekends so far, consisting of bike rides, friends, baking, swimming, parties, family dinners and a bit of a telling off from a National Trust man! Whoops!! I don’t know how, but we managed to bike past the front of Shugborough Hall!! Ekk!! I think we we’re supposed to go around the side, but I followed my husband, who assured me it was the right way. We cycled through the estate and managed to get to the back gate! Whoops!! Better not do that again! Felt very naughty!! First telling off of 2019!! I wonder if there will be anymore?!
How are all your new projects coming along? My to do list seems to be getting big again and not quite sure how it’s happened. I seem to be frantically trying to finish bits off again for some reason. Heyho. Can’t beat a little bit of pressure to keep you on your toes!!! Think my new mug is definitely going to help me!!
So I am guessing you are wondering why this year for me is called the Using Up Year. Well, it’s pretty simple really, apparantly I have too much wool! It’s official, it’s pretty much in every nook and cranny in the house! I mean literally, you know you have a problem when you find a little bit of wool stuffed in a bookcase on the landing! I wonder how long it’s been there!! Very odd! Maybe I am crocheting in my sleep – I mean how did it get there?
So yeah, it’s Use Up Year. Hoping to bring you lots of different ways to use all your bits up and start next year a fresh!! Haha, you know it’ll be worth it, as think of how much fun it will be to replace it all!!! Yippeeeee!!!! So watch this space folks!
So onto the projects and the first few of the year…
My first main job of the year was to finish my husband’s hat!! He was after a beanie hat, with stripes around the bottom. So after a little bit of pattern tweaking and some trial and error, I managed to achieve the look he was after. So chuffed with that one. Will be publishing the new version of the hat soon. It’s ever such an easy alteration, so hope you like it.
I managed to whip up a pair of slipper socks for my dear friend. Bless her, she told me the other day she loved them so much, she even wore them to bed!! Haha – she’s now in the slipper sock family!! Once you wear them, you won’t turn back!! If you are fancying a new challenge this year, then give them a go. They are ever so easy. I always use the West Yorkshire Spinner wool, which is fab to use and the full range is pretty extensive. My slipper sock pattern uses the Aran weight wool, but I will be publishing a double knit and 4 ply pattern one day.
I’ve been rather unsuccessful with my Rainbow cabbage patch blanket so far. I haven’t had the chance to have a go with it yet, but hoping once I get a little time, I can share it with you. Think it’s going to be a lovely way to use up all those odds and ends. Using Up Year here I come!! (Still amazed that I seem to have an array of rainbow colours to hand.)
On the designing front, I have been making some delicate wings for Uni the Unicorn. This will turn her into an Alicorn (A winged unicorn.) I made this little one for my daughter as a bit of a prototype. This one I have attached the wings on, but I’ve also been given the idea from one of my daughter’s besties to make the wings detachable! So Uni could dress up in them! What a fab idea! My daughter then decided that they needed a tutu as well. So my to do list is definitely getting bigger.
Other projects have been a Unicorn for one of my daughter’s bestie’s birthday. So that one’s all ready and awaiting delivery.
Love how you can play with different colour ways with the mane and tail. Look at these two unicorns!
Can’t wait to get designing the little tutu! Could be fun!!
This week has been a little on the busy side, but I did have a little moment to whip up a little snugglepod for friend’s daughter’s Fingerling. Hope she will like it. Love how they come with little babies now, so cute!!
I have also managed to sneak a little crocheting in for me finally. Realised that my neck was just getting that little bit too cold and I have been wanting to make an infinity scarf for ages, but kept putting it off. So decided to just go for it the other day and make a chunky one. As it’s the year of using up, I decided to do the Grannie Trick and crochet 4 balls of wool together – 2 double knits and 2 lace weights. Love putting colours together, it’s one of the reasons why I think I’d love to get into handdyeing. Think my daughter would love it too! Well in true PipsRainbow fashion I managed to whip this one up.
Lastly, my little man’s had to have a snode for his little chin and what better yarn to use, but my Õilsyarn Club yarn from this month’s subscription. It was a mix of Alpaca and wool and works up a treat. It’s 5ply weight, so I used a 4mm hook to give it that freedom and drape that a snode needs. Will definitely share the pattern with you all when I have a minute. He looked rather chuffed with it on the school run the other morning.
If anyone is wanting to join the wonderful Õilyarns Club by the incredible Abby Parkes at Luxury Yarns, then follow the link below to her website. Best club ever – you won’t regret it!
Each month there is some incredible handdyed yarn, little bottles of essential oils and a little something extra too. Abby also includes a knitted pattern too. I’m hoping to create crochet patterns for all the little yarny parcels that I get from her!!! Looking forward to all my little parcels landing on my door step this year!!! Yarny parcels are just the best, aren’t they!!
So on that wonderful note of yarny loveliness, I wish you an incredible 2019 and look forward to bringing you some rainbowy, yarny Patterns. Goodbye from this little fella!
Using Up Year…
Can’t wait…
Happy hooking everyone!!
🌈Xx