It's been a while....

Hi all,

yes, it certainly has been a while since I last blogged, sorry. As I logged in for the first time, in a VERY long time I discovered a post I had started in October of last year (posted, incomplete, below). 

Being poorly really can get in the way of my making and blogging :( As far as my health is concerned, I am back and forth to the hospital as usual but now have a new gastro team in Manchester. Yes, a bit of a trek for me (minimum of 2 1/2 hour each way) but I am hopeful that they can help.

On the crafting front - I've continued to make and design things since I last spoke to you all. I managed to keep my promise to make all of the birthday gifts for my nieces and nephews last year and am continuing to make gifts for my youngest nieces and nephews this year.

Here's a pic of just a couple of things I've made: 

In other news...

Say hello to Buster 

Here is a picture of my lovely puppy, Buster, on the day we brought him home. He was just 9 weeks old when we got him from the rescue shelter. He has filled my life with so much happiness and fun over the past 6 months. I cannot begin to tell you how much I love this little man. 

You'll notice that he has grown some what since we got him.................

Buster and I posing in the sun 

'It's very tiring being this cute' 

Be prepared for lots more news on Buster and his adventures :)

For now I shall head back to my knitting bag and continue with a baby blanket I'm currently making (see below). My husband is in bed at the moment after a night shift so I'm going to take Buster for a little walk soon and then make myself a well earned brew. 

Speak to you all very soon xx

Post from last October.........

Hello from me 

Hi everyone!

Yes, I know I've not been very chatty recently, but I have good reason..... as you will all be aware, I've been a poorly sick lady and, unfortunately, this has prevented me from keeping up to date with my blog. All of that aside, I wanted to stop by and say hello and let you know what I've been up to recently.....

Crafty projects.......

At the beginning of the year I made a promise to myself that I would make all of this year's presents for my nephews and nieces. I have six in total, with one niece (Nancy) being born just a few months ago. Their ages vary from newborn to 11 so I've had to plan gifts that suit their age range and, for a soon to be teenager, their lifestyle.

The younger ones were pretty easy to plan for - soft toys, clothes, bunting, etc. My eldest nephew, George, will be 12 at the end of the month. I want to make him something that he'll not only like but be proud to wear in front of his friends. This year's must have accessory for the teenage boy appears to be the slouchy hat. I found a great pattern online (cocoknits) and have just made a start on it. 

Here's a sneaky peek......

A blog milestone and a new knitting project.

A bit of a milestone....

As I logged into my blogger page I realised that I'm almost at 5000 blog views.....yes, 5000! I'm so pleased that people are reading my little blog and I hope you're enjoying it. I often wonder who reads my blog? I'd love to hear from you and get some feedback. What do you like most about my blog? Is there anything else you would encourage me to add?

Come on, don't be shy :)

What I've been up to....

Over the last few weeks I've continued to wait for my next hospital appointment to come through and have been trying to find ways of distracting myself from ill health and treatment (or lack thereof). I'm really lucky to have some fab people around me who are constantly introducing me to new things and trying to keep my spirits up. I've been introduced to some interesting alternative therapies and have even tried a few of them out. One of my most favourite ways to relax though is by listening to music and, if I have the energy, with a bit of knitting.

My latest knitting project is one especially for me. I love to knit for others but thought I would treat myself to something new for the summer. I was lucky enough to be sent some complimentary knitting goodies from the awesome people over at Kollabora. With the grey cotton yarn and 5mm circular needles I had everything I needed to make this gorgeous vest - perfect for warm, sunny days or even layered over a t-shirt/long sleeved top when it gets a bit chilly.


Here's a sneak peek of where I'm up to...........

Not the best picture but gives you an idea of where I'm at so far :)

This evening, I shall mostly be spending some quality time with my knitting whilst my husband enjoys an evening out with his work colleagues.

I'm off to pop the kettle on, put my feet up and watch exactly what I want on the TV.......bliss!

Happy weekend everyone,

KnittyNora xx

Making, baking and taking it easy

As I sit writing this post the rain is pouring outside. This is a day for hibernating at home with some crafty bits and bobs and tasty treats to accompany many cups of tea.

Baking some tasty treats

As many of you know, I've been a rather poorly chick over the past year and a bit. Whilst I wait for my next lots of tests at the hospital I'm keeping myself sane with my love of craft and, when I can, baking. Today, given that I had a large pot of natural yoghurt to use, I decided to make some gluten free scones - here's the recipe. I do love a good scone. Finding gluten free ones is impossible and I much prefer homemade than shop bought :)

I've also got a bowl of pears to use up soon. I'm sure my husband will be voting for a crumble when I come to use those :)

Making

I managed to find myself some new little crafty bits and bobs online during the week, including some iron on webbing and some double sided tape. May sound random but I have some ideas in my little head that require both. You'll have to wait and see what I use them for......... :)

I can reveal, however, one of my new projects - reusing old plastic bags to create new and usable items. I hate waste so why should plastic bags be any different? After finding inspiration in one of my knitting books I've decided to go crazy and just knit until I decide what I want to make. The original pattern is for a bag but I'm wondering whether I can make something a little more adventurous.

Here's what I've got so far .....................

..........and time to relax

After all the excitement of baking and blogging, I'm ready for a little rest. Time to settle down and catch up on some of the programmes I've missed recently. I discovered Inspector De Luca (BBC4) at the weekend and have to say I'm quite intrigued and MUST watch more to really decide whether I like it or not ;)

Happy crafting, people :)

KnittyNora xx

Hello Spring!

I'm very glad to say that the sun has actually been shining in my garden......yes, it occasionally makes an appearance up North :)  This has given me the perfect excuse to get out into the sunshine and to be inspired by the colours and scenic changes that happen as Spring arrives.

Not strictly 'my garden' but a view I am very lucky to enjoy :)

I really do love seeing the first Spring lambs and all the energy and life they have. It never fails to put a smile on my face. I'm very lucky to live in such a beautiful part of the country.

What have I been up to?

On the making front, I've been continuing with some baby makes for my sister's little one (due at the end of June). I know my sister loves vintage style clothing and is specifically researching 'old fashioned' baby names - Millicent, Ada, .....the list goes on :) I'm sure she'd be grateful if any of you fancied posting some names suggestions below. I've sent her a few. The chosen name will only be revealed on the day the baby is born.

Here's a little picture of the vintage inspired cardigan I'm making for the little one.

Almost finished!

Making mission

I made a plan this year to make all the gifts I give to my nieces and nephews and thought - why not extend this to everyone I give gifts to? With that in mind, I've been busy researching patterns and gift ideas for friends and family. It's a very special friend's birthday soon and I'm hoping I can make something equally as special for her....... she'll also be able to read this .......no pressure! :)


I'd love to hear what you lovely people have been up and to and if you have any projects in mind. It's so much easier to think about making and creating when the weather brightens up.

Until next blog, take care :)

Best wishes,

KnittyNora xx



*All pictures included on this blog are property of Allyouneediscraft and KnittyNora. Please seek permission if you wish to use any of them.

Here's what I've been up to.......

Hi all,

thought I'd check in with a quick update and let you know what I've been up to.

It's a girl!

So, after finding out that my sister's imminent arrival is going to be a girl I've been on a mission to find beautiful girlie wool and some lovely vintage inspired patterns. 

Here's what I've been making so far.........

I'm using a pattern that I used for the cardigan I made my best friend's baby a few months ago. I managed to find this peach wool which I think really suits the project. 

Making gifts for my little nephew

My youngest nephew is going to be two in just under two weeks. He loves his cuddly toys and I love making home made gifts for him. Thanks to the array of wonderful patterns to be found online, I came across a pattern for a Herdwick sheep. 

Here are all the parts knitted.....

Cable knit body, four legs, two part head, two ears and a cable knit tail

.....You'll be able to find pictures of the finished Herdy (once he's been filled with some toddler friendly toy stuffing) over on my Facebook page.

Old rope for a new rug

Thanks to some inspiration from a fellow maker on Kollabora, I've got big plans for this old climbing rope. I don't like waste and I certainly don't like letting my climbing ropes end up in the bin. 

Stay tuned to see what I do to this little beauty :)

.........and last but not least - Shaker peg rails

Whilst I'm talking climbing rope I thought I'd tell you about my plans for creating a Shaker style peg rail for my other climbing ropes - my husband and I have many!

I love the shaker style pegs - simple and elegant. I'm planning to make one of my own, sourcing pegs the right size and weight to hold several heavy ropes. I'm also going to source a piece of wood for the rail that will add some character to the display. A friend of mine (who turns out to be a bit of an amateur carpenter) has offered me the use of his wood work tools. Along with my GCSE in Resistant materials (woodwork to me), I'm hoping to create something extra special for my much loved climbing gear. 

I'd love to hear what you're all up to this weekend and if you've got any crafty projects on the go. Feel free to leave your comments below.

Best wishes,

KnittyNora xx

Psst.......did you know that my psychedelic sweater was selected for a Kollabora collection. Find it here 

Looking on the bright side.

The last year has been a rather busy and testing time for me. Due to ill health, I am currently unable to go to work and have been making regular trips to see my GP and consultant at the hospital. Being a person who is normally running around in the mountains and climbing things, I've found this rather difficult. However, I'd like to think of myself as an optimistic person and therefore have pledged to use this time, whilst taking it easy at home, to consider those things that are most important to me and to look forward to the many new adventures this year has to offer.

Home improvements

After watching the Great Interior Design Challenge on BBC2 I have been inspired to start adding some personality to my home. I'm planning to start simple - cushions, throws, etc, but would love to do a bit of decorating and inject a bit of colour to the place (once I'm well enough). My home is jam packed with outdoor gear and I would love to make more of a feature of this rather than just trying to hide it away in cupboards. My husband and I are both musicians too. His guitars have finally made it onto the walls but now I want more :)

Babies, babies, babies........

This year my sister will have her second baby. Her next scan is due on Valentine's day. She's planning to find out the sex of the baby this time which means I will get the chance to go out and buy some girl or boy specific yarn. Last time round I opted for safe white and lemon. This little hat (above) was one of the first gifts I gave my new little nephew. He's now nearly two and has a lot of handmade gifts from his favourite auntie :)

My best friend will also be planning her baby's christening for this summer which means finding a lovely outfit for me.....I may even try and make one if I'm feeling really brave! And of course, I'll have to make the little one something special to mark the occasion.

Developing All you need is craft

Whilst I have this time on my hands, I'd like to develop the range of things I create. A few people have asked me whether I sell the things I make. The answer - no. I would love to but with a full-time job I've had little time to focus on creating my own little business. I would love to increase my audience and know that there are people out there wearing something I have made.

If any of you have any experience of making and selling/setting up a small business I would love to hear your thoughts. I'm sure my other readers would also enjoy some of your words of wisdom.

A treat for you

If you pop over to my Facebook page you'll find a great little offer, especially for my followers/likers, from Pepper Ink. They make a fabulous range of temporary tattoos, including some new, craft inspired ones. 

You can find the offer here: All you need is craft

Wishing you all a good week,

KnittyNora xx

A little hello from me

Hi all!

I've been a bit busy recently with returning to work and trying to adjust to new routines.
Fear not, I have managed to fit in a bit of crafting when I've been able to grab some me time.

I'm currently enjoying my lunch break and preparing myself for the pile of work I have to get through before home time........

....... in the meantime, here's a little sneak peek at what I've been up to.................


I've mostly been making:

• Cosy slippers as gifts for family
• A funky pompom adorned hat for a close friend's birthday
• Messing around with gardening wire and i-cord to create a project inspired by something I saw in Mollie Makes.

I'll be back later to show off some pics :)

Hope you're all having a good day.

KnittyNora xx