I had a birthday

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It happens to all of us. Every year, we have a birthday, and notch up one more year . . . I’m a February baby, and this month I turned 62. Not something I made a song or dance about, but I did receive a few surprises through the post, and I also treated myself to a few things.

I received a couple of birthday cards.  The “bananas” from the Tattoo family, and the cross stitched Husky dog (a design by Hélène & Mahélia) from Claudine.  Plus 4 very cute (and fake) succulent plants from my daughter, Lindashee.

Lindashee also sent me a puzzle.

I’m looking forward to doing that, it has such gorgeous colours.

treats to myself

Treats to myself were . . . the (fake) bamboo plant in the wicker basket because I am really enjoying my fake greenery around the living room, and (yes, even aged 62) I treated myself to a cuddly teddy bear for no reason other than that I’d seen him in the shop since way before xmas, and on a recent shopping spree he begged to come home with me. I’ve named him Hubert, a fairly old-fashioned, French name, but which is pronounced U-bear lol.

And, last but not least . . . some gorgeous colour for the yarn stash.

couldn’t resist

That’s two packs of 5 x 100g of cotton, taking advantage of special 50% off price on-line. When I ordered, I was convinced it was DK but label has it at more “sports/baby” weight, so it’s not going to be easy finding knitting patterns to make something. I don’t want to make scarves. My plan is to knit a couple of pretty summer tops.

SAL “Girl with Lion” #5

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Slowly but surely on this design. Not because I’m not enjoying it, but because I’m still concentrating on knitting most evenings.

Three weeks ago, I was here.

Since then, the cross stitch on the girl/woman is complete.

before backstitch

There will be some backstitch detail to add, notably to give her glasses and add the details for the leash she’s holding in her left hand. But for next time, I’ll be moving across and beginning work on the lion.

For info, the design I’m stitching is by Hanna, a Ukrainian designer who runs a shop on etsy: MyBraveStitch.

Linking with other members of the SAL.

Avis, Claire, Kathy, Margaret,

Sunny, Megan, Deborah, Sharon, Daisy, Cathie,

Linda, MaryMargaret, Cindy, Helen

 

Maisie sweater (#3) happy dancing

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Pattern “Maisie” by Rico Design is free to download.  And this is the third time I’ve used it.

After the version with lilac for the cuffs and yoke, which I knit in age 10 years for Miss Viking, I’ve just finished the version in purple for cuffs & yoke, size 4-5 years, for Miss Tattoo.

The striping part was knit alternating an off white and a colour-changing yarn (Meg Multico).

which gives for nice random colours in the stripes.

For the purple version, I used 175g of yarn.

Maisie sweater (#2) happy dancing

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On 6th January, I posted this photo

and the start of a new Maisie jumper – knitting in age 10 years for Miss Viking. Using 3 different brands of yarn. DMC Knitty4 in lilac for the ribbing and tops of sweater; and a Celia’s in “off white” combined with a Multi-Meg for the striping part. They’re all DK and tension appears to be the same.

I’m already having a happy dance with this knit.

collar done

That was the ribbing of collar knitted, and sweater still needing sewing up at the sides.

and one finished sweater. It took 260g of yarn to make. I hope Miss Viking finds it colourful enough.

I had two of the 50g balls of Meg Multico left and plenty of the off white, so I cast on again . . .

using a purple for the contrast, and knitting age 4 years, with slightly longer body & arms, for Miss Tattoo.

SAL “Girl with Lion” #4

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I’m having a hard time getting back to cross stitch.  Not that I don’t enjoy stitching anymore, but I seem to have become more of a knitter recently. Anyway, thank goodness the SAL reminders from Avis keep coming, and giving me a nudge to put a few stitches in.

last time

this time

For those of you waiting impatiently for the lion . . . you’ll have to wait a bit longer I’m afraid. The plan is to finish stitching the young lady before moving on to the lion.

If you have have a few minutes to spare, why don’t you join me in a blog-hop . . . links below to other SAL members.

Avis, Claire, Kathy, Margaret,  

Sunny, Megan, Deborah, Sharon, Daisy, Cathie, 

Linda, MaryMargaret, Cindy, Helen

Maisie sweater progress and more greenery

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I treated myself to a little something the other day.

mini bamboo

If I tell you it’s fake . . . did it fool you? I think it looks ever so realistic and it adds a little splash of green to the living room without me having to worry about watering plants.  It’s even got one leaf that’s yellowing slightly on the tip, which I think is a lovely touch of realism.

More colour to share with you today, as the “Maisie” pattern, I’m knitting for Miss Viking, grows.

pattern and choice of yarns

Above is the photo I shared with you previously. I did knit this pattern last year, in the smallest size, for Little Miss Tattoo (the Tattoo family live in France, only a few miles down the road), and I used practically the same colours as the pattern.  Which resulted in this, for those of you who don’t remember.

That was the smallest size, on a very slender 2 year old (hence the sleeves being way too long). Now that Miss Tattoo is almost 3, the sweater is a much better fit.  Anyway, Miss Viking, who’s 7 years old,(the Vikings live in England) asked for “rainbow” colours and for her sweater to be “oversized”. Hence the colour changing yarn I’ve chosen to use for the stripes, and the fact I’m following pattern instructions for a size 10 years.

front & back

first sleeve

This is how things look for now. I’m not attempting to colour match the stripes on different body parts. The yarn changes colour more slowly on the sleeves (being narrower than the body) and I like the randomness. Colours look a lot prettier in real life, and I think it’ll look much nicer once it’s sewn together and finished.

 

the first finish of 2026

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first happy dance

Only a few days into the new year, and I already have a happy dance! One of the advantages of being a grandma lol. It’s a cardigan for Little Miss Tattoo who isn’t 3 years old yet, but is growing like a weed.  I knit following stitch count for the smallest size of a basic King Cole pattern: KC3018, so that’s for a 24″ chest.

but . . .

I wanted to jazz it up a little, so used the cable pattern on the sleeves, from a free pattern by WYS “Lil Rascal”.

cable strip on sleeves only

I knitted the smallest size of the KC pattern, so I’m guessing it’s a 4-5 years size. I used approx 300g of yarn.

The next project is already on my needles . . . I’ll be knitting for Miss Viking next. Plan being to remake the “Maisie” sweater, by Rico Design (a free download) but probably altering the neckline slightly.

choice of yarns

Miss Viking (who is 7 years old) has asked me to knit the largest size, which is 10 years. Her wish is my command.

 

the last finish of 2025

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First of all, New Year wishes to everyone.

I had a quiet time over the festive season (by choice). Haven’t made myself a list of projects “to do” or any new year’s resolutions either . . . I’ll just take things as they come.

Knitting needles were flying in the run up to the end of 2025. And the sweater begun in October

Drops Design – Deep Sea Diamond

was finished. Sadly I can’t seem to get a decent photo of the true yarn colour. It’s somewhere between the two shades.

awaiting collar

I had no problem attaching the sleeves, which I’d chosen to knit flat but had to wait for a parcel to arrive before I could tackle the collar. I realised I didn’t have circular needle in the correct size/length, so I treated myself to a couple of cheap sets.

collar in progress

I don’t enjoy knitting on circular needles, but sometimes, it’s the best option.  For example, when knitting a collar, to give a completely seamless finish.

ta da!

And there’s me, wearing the new sweater on Christmas day. It’s very snuggly and warm.  Knit using  less than 500g of Alison & Mae acrylic yarn.  So less than 5€ of yarn and the pattern was free.

scarlet macaw (ara macao)- 1000 piece

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gift from my sister

I received a surprise parcel in the post the other week. From my sister. She said I didn’t have to wait until xmas to open it.

Inside, a 1000 piece puzzle of a scarlet macaw and (a first for me) I noticed the back of puzzle was printed with letters from A-F. I deduced this was to make it possible to puzzle in segments, so I thought I’d give it a try that way.

1/6 done

That was the first section . . . and I noticed a piece missing on the border, top left, but wasn’t terribly concerned. I figured I hadn’t sorted pieces correctly, and that I would find it sorted in a different pile.

2/6 or 1/3 done

4/6 or 2/3 done

By the time I’d got this far, I was getting more concerned about that missing piece. The puzzle is looking gorgeous. Colours are vibrant, and pieces are slotting nicely together. I did a bit of detective work, checking out feedback for this particular puzzle (and company) on @m@zon . . . disappointed to read some negative feedback and learn that other people had received puzzles with several pieces missing.

finished

And sadly, that missing piece never showed up. I checked everywhere. On hands & knees under the table with a little torch. Such a shame because the picture is lovely.  After a photo crop and I suppose I can consider myself lucky that the missing piece was on the border, not smack, bang in the middle.

 

puzzling – “Lola” – Misstigri

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I’ve been enjoying some more puzzling.  This one, a 500 piece.

I bought it secondhand because I fell in love with the artwork of French artist, Misstigri.  She has an etsy shop where she sells prints of her artwork: MisstigriBoutique. She has also done the illustrations for several children’s books (much more demure characters). And several of her designs are available in puzzle form.

“Lola” by Misstigri

I have several other puzzles with her artwork – the others are 1000 piece I think.  However, I have a growing collection of puzzles now, thanks to family who have been buying me a few.  I’m spoiled for choice as to which puzzle to do next.