Chatiryworld

The year in Chatiryworld

1. New hat, 2. Ellen's birthday beret, 3. Emily's 4th birthday cardigan, 4. Travelling Woman shawl, 5. My first quilt, 6. Mother's Day shawl, 7. Moor shawl, 8. Gooseberry hat, 9. Bressay hap shawl, 10. Strawberry tea cosy, 11. Baby's first blanket, 12. Bagl's first hat, 13. Bagl's first mittens, 14. Bagl's first booties, 15. Leaf hat, 16. Isabella's hat, 17. Baby's first cardigan, 18. Bunny blanket, 19. Baby Bunting, 20. Clothkits jacket, 21. Sleepy Monkey

Normally I do separate 'year in knitting', 'year in sewing' and 'year in Chatiryworld' posts but I'm feeling tired and lazy so going to combine them in one.  Also I barely blogged for the second half of the year!

In the first half of the year however, I blogged about Edinburgh's independent shops (already out of date...), the worth of libraries, a trip to the Black Isle, a quick trip to South Wales and the Forest of Dean, making my first proper quilt, seeing my brother perform with the National Youth Orchestra and visiting one of our favourite museums, moving to Fife and having a fabulous view, my craft spaces and the demise of Habitat.

Then I got pregnant and then I started being very sick and didn't really blog much. I've not found pregnancy very easy, in fact it's pretty much the hardest thing I've ever done. I know that sounds melodramatic and people pop babies out all the time but I can only go on my own experience. I cannot wait for our baby boy to arrive next year (due end of March) and to get my body back, even if it's battered and very tired!

I seem to have got plenty of knitting done this year, there was a dry patch in the early days of pregnancy when, to be blunt, I was worried about being sick on it so didn't do anything. I've made three gorgeous shawls but my favourite item is most definitely the monkey blanket I made to welcome baby Caius into the world. I didn't do as much sewing as I intended to, but loved the quilt course I went on in Glasgow.

It's been a funny old year, but we did manage to achieve our two big aims for the year, move house to Fife and get pregnant. Who knows what next year will bring, apart from a small person who will totally change our lives, exciting!

Knitting catch up

I've managed to get a load of knitting done in the last few weeks but hadn't blogged about it, so here we are:

This cardigan is Korrigan by Solenn DRN. I would have liked to have knit it all in green but didn't have enough, this whole set helped me use up some more of my Rowan 4ply Soft in my stash, not much left now. I did try and make it with some Shetland yarn to begin with but I think this was just a bit too fine.  The booties are Sartje's Booties, the mittens are Teensie Weensie Mittens and the hat is from Erika Knight's Natural Nursery Knits , which I had out from the library.

Next up was a leaf hat that I had someone at my knitting group make.  It's called Baby Hat with Leaf Edging by Lauren Eade. I'm afraid I don't know what the yarn is because I won it a couple of years ago and the lable gives no indication as to where it's come from, it's lovely and soft though.

This bunny blanket is going to be used as a playmat on the floor.  It's Hip Hop Blanket by Jennifer Lippman-Bruno from Stitch 'n Bitch Superstar and I knit it up in SIrdar Tweedie Chunky.

Here's Baby Bunting, or Sweet Bunting by Laura Chau. This is supposed to be for next winter as it's warm and cosy, hopefully he won't only fit into it in August or something! I used Rowan Pure Life Organic Wool DK (great shame that it's discontinued). I love the way the bunting string continues onto the ties.

Finally, a gift for a friend's new baby, this is Lacy Julian Hat by Raya Budrevich, knit in Rowan Milk Cotton. We've recently found out that several good friends of ours are expecting babies next year too so there should be some knitting for them as well as our own baby.

Saturday 24 December 2011

It's Christmas Eve, yay!  I wanted to take a better photo of the tree with presents round it and everything but the lower set of lights has decided to give up so no more tree photos this year.  Neither of us can face doing anything about it so we're just going to leave it and get another set next year.

We're having a quiet christmas together, watching films, eating and wondering what next year will be like.  Hope you have a wonderful festive season.

Friday 23 December 2011

Trees made out of books have been doing the rounds on a variety of sites, here's a stop motion animation that a couple have made as their virtual Christmas card this year.  Via Bookshelf Porn.

 

christmas tree from invisibly on Vimeo.

Thursday 22 December 2011

Need some inspiration for wrapping your presents? Holly at Decor8 has a round up of some lovely ideas from the blog The Sweetest Occasion.

Wednesday 21 December 2011

Time for my favourite festive song, especially poignant as one of my sisters was supposed to visit me today but can't because she's ill.  She lives in Cornwall so I don't get to see her very often.  Here's the fabulous Tim Minchin with White Wine in the Sun:

Tuesday 20 December 2011

We've started our annual watching of The Box of Delights today, to ensure that the last episode is on Christmas Eve, here's an extract from the second episode (someone has put the entire series up on YouTube):

I like to watch Father Christmas, The Snowman and The Bear. Here's the classic Walking in the Air from The Snowman:

I don't remember much about The Children of Green Knowe but I remember I really enjoyed it:

And don't forget The Muppet's Christmas Carol:

What were your childhood Christmas TV favourites?

Monday 19 December 2011

Jon found a lovely wee tune by a band called Golau Glau about the Yule Cat of Iceland, you can listen to it too.  And while you're doing that, you can read all about the Yule Cat here (watch out for a VERY busy web page!).

Sunday 18 December 2011

Finally found the Ultimate Advent Calendar of my childhood, I think I was about 4 or 5 when I had this one.  Isn't it sweet?  My mum always tried to find another just as nice, I remember lots of other lovely ones but I think this was the best.  Here's how this year's calendar is going:

Saturday 17 December 2011

I had totally forgotten about the Maeshowe web cam until my dad texted me about it earlier today.  Around this time of year the position of the sunset means that the passage of a chambered cairn in Orkney is lit up by the sun, and I usually try and include it in my advent calendar.  Thanks Dad for reminding me!  If you ever visit Orkney (and you should) it's a fascinating place to visit at any time of year, and is also near to the Ring of Brodgar and the Standing Stones of Stenness.

Friday 16 December 2011

Last year I knit a tiny stocking for the tree, here's some instructions on how to sew one. Via Craft.

Next year I shall be knitting a larger stocking for our son, but what will the initial be...?

Thursday 15 December 2011

Decided on what food you're going to be celebrating with?  Need some help?  Here are some links that have caught my eye.  What are you going to be eating on Christmas Day?

BBC: Vegetarian Christmas recipes

BBC: Christmas recipes and collections

Guardian: A very Heston Christmas

Observer Food Monthly: Nigel's Christmas dessert recipes

Observer Food Monthly: Nordic Christmas baking recipes (the honey hearts look good)

Waitrose: Christmas recipes

All About You: Christmas food ideas

River Cottage Christmas

Wednesday 14 December 2011

Last week we had the Moomin gingerbread house, here are some geeky/nerdy gingerbread creations for your enjoyment. I love the Weasley house. Via boingboing.

Tuesday 13 December 2011

Jon has just bought Kate Rusby's new Christmas album, While Mortals Sleep, it's full of carols with a Yorkshire twist and is making the flat seem very festive.  I thought it was about time we shared what music we like to play at this time of year.  I am quite fond of the more cheesy stuff that you'd find on whatever Now Christmas compilation album is currently out (think Greg Lake's I Believe in Father Christmas and Frankie Goes to Hollywood's Power of Love), Jon not so much.  I don't actually own one of these compilation albums as they usually come round on the radio and Jon's mum has brought hers up in the past.  I do have one of the Starbucks compilations with old classics and Mark Lamarr's Rhythm and Blues Christmas, an I'm also quite fond of Pearlfisher's A Sunflower at Christmas . Below the cut are some more tunes that Jon has selected for you.  What sort of Christmassy music do you listen to?

Monday 12 December

Emma at We Love Pandas has done a nice little round-up of free festive printables, I love the Wood Type kit.