Knitting fans.

I am such a sucker for a beautifully styled 'how to' book. I don't care if it's a knitting, gardening, sewing, cooking or crochet book, if it has gorgeous photos and instructions, I am in.

I found this gorgeous book a few months ago in Melbourne. It was love at first sight. Gorgeous hard back, stunning photos, and perfect projects and patterns sized to fit two of my girlies. I pored over its pages for ages. Front to back, back to front. I tried to work out how many of the patterns I was likely to actually knit and for who and with what yarn.

And then I popped it back on the shelf between the other knitting books and walked away.

I really didn't need anther knitting book. I have hundreds of items in my ravelry queue and hundreds more in my head and in books I already own. And most importantly, I am not a fan of the seamed knit and that is what this book is full of.

But over the next few days I couldn't get that book and those patterns and that style out of my head. I longed for it.

And as luck would have it on the way home to Daylesford a few days later, we stopped in at a book shop/cafe for lunch and there it was, sitting on the shelf, patiently waiting for me. It was meant to be. And I promised myself I would knit from it often to justify my purchase, seams and all.

So the second I cast off what I was working on, I chose a pattern, some wool and cast on.

A much wanted and needed cardi for Miss Jazzy. Wool and pattern chosen herself.

And to be honest, the pattern was incredibly difficult for me to follow. There were not enough instructions and I found myself guessing and unravelling and re knitting a lot of the time. There may have been some swearing too.

But I persevered. I had a bee in my bonnet about that book. And that pattern. And the way my Jazzy would look wearing it.

And then finally one day after knitting the four bits and sewing them together. After crocheting all around the entire garment. And after blocking it lightly with a steam iron. Miss Jazzy tried it on...

And she couldn't move.

Even though I had knitted a size older than she usually measured, it was so tight across the back and under the arms that she struggled to even get it off.

All I can say is lucky Miss Pepper was more than happy to try it on.

Phew!

I think I'll stick to knitting in the round so we can actually try the garments on as I go in the future. And I think I'll knit Jazzy's next cardi from a pattern from a designer I know and have knitted before.

Fan Stitch cardi ravelled here.

Are you a sucker for a styled book?
Which type of book can you never resist?
Are you having a lovely day?
Are you being creative?
I hope so.

Later lovelies. x

My creative space.

Because you asked Kirst, my hot tip for staying creative is to create.

I am never so creative as when I am making. That's when I hatch my best crafty plans.

It's like using the making tools, unlocks the creative part of my brain. 

When I am lost for inspiration and don't know what to make next, I know my best trick is just to get on with it. Use those tools. Get my sewing machine out and mend something, knit a few rows, pull out an old unfinished project and give it new life, draw an idea for a pattern, or rearrange my wool stash into rainbow order. 

And as if by magic the creative comes. It's like the more I create - the more I create. It's infectious.

And my creative space this week is the pile above. It's like my creative to-do list. Another crochet collar dress plan, a carving plan, a dying plan and some baby making plans (ha! not mine!).

But before I get on with any of those crafty plans I am making myself finish the Feather and Fan cardi.

To be honest I am sooooooooooo over this project. I started it to justify the purchase of a book but the pattern itself is doing my head in. It's tedious. The numbers never add up and I have my doubts it will even fit Miss Jazzy in the end.

 But I am loving the Bendigo Tasman Blue.

And I only have a few more rows to knit until cast off.

Then there's only the blocking and stitching back together until I can tick it off my list and move on. I am SO looking forward to that part.

So that's me and my creative space.
What's going on in yours?
Are you hatching lots of crafty plans or are you being good and finishing off what you started?

Keep cozy.

xx