Making - An Update

I have been making, and no, I haven't been blogging, not here anyway! I've had many distractions this last few months, one major one being the business my husband and I are setting up called Cocooned.

After caring for our daughter in hospital, having had two open heart surgeries and numerous other surgeries, it became apparent that dressing your child under these circumstances is extremely difficult, and so, we designed clothing that will help families in this situation.

We're still working on the design and should be moving into manufacture soon (fingers crossed).

So as well as making things, designing clothing and doing 'business stuff' I've also been over at the Cocooned blog, blogging about support for families who are caring for their child in hospital.


Boy have I been making though! What have I been making? Well, I have recently knit my first pair of socks!! Oh my gosh, that was terribly exciting, so exciting I've since made a second pair and am chomping at the bit to make a third!

My First Ever Pair of Socks! - Three Colour Socks

2nd Pair of Socks! - Purl Soho Pom Pom Socklets 
(sans pom poms!)
Yarn from We Love Knitting

I've made a stack of little cup cosies to support Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC) research,  You may remember my post on Mel's Hats for Aleshia campaign. Well now Mel has a new campaign called Cup of Hope. Make sure you are following her on Instagram so you can get your hands on one of hers (or my) cup cosies. 

A fantastic stocking stuffer and a great cause to support. I've made my own pattern in 8ply (DK) yarn and when I get the opportunity, I will pop it up on the blog.

Stack of Cosies

Sweet!

Other makes... Baby blanket for an adorable new little man, an octopus, mittens for Lion and the Snail, a tea cosy, as well as a little (mini) faux taxidermy triceratops and a giant doughnut (really should have photographed them side by side)!

Baby Blanket - My own Pattern

Octopus - Pattern from Purl Soho
My design is a smaller version. 8ply on smaller needles.

My own baby mitten designs!
You can find them at Lion and the Snail

Skipping Girl Tea Cosy
This was my own design from an existing pattern

Mini mini Faux taxidermy Triceratops!
Pattern by Sincerely Louise. 
Made with 10 ply (Aran) on 4mm needles

Pattern from Donna Wilson's Book;
 35 knitted animals and other creatures
(or doughnuts I guess!)

Yipes, it's all very knitty, isn't it?! I do have some sewing projects I really want to get to, Mum and I did make some sewn fish together (to become Christmas decorations) that was fun.

Catch of the day!! Pattern from the book Tilda's Toy Box

I also managed a Hammered Leatherworks Whisk Luggage Tag. Which I haven't whisked away for any major holidaying as yet...

I did made a monkey 4th birthday cake too.

Monkey Cake!

Plus, thanks to the CWA, I got myself a new crafty skill. Japanese braiding or Kumihimo. 

So easy and so addictive! My 5 year old loved it too

So as far as my 2016 'challenge', make 12 items in 12 months, by my count, I've already done it! Not much of a challenge though is it?! I think I need to up my game for 2017...

Seriously, a big handmade challenge for 2017, any ideas?

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Oui Oui Henri - Mini Challenge Week 2

What a week it has been. I am still in disbelief that; a) Sophie finally had her surgery and; b) she is home already! She spent less than 24hrs in ICU and is home 5 days after surgery. We really weren't expecting this at all, first time around she was 10 days in ICU and 6 weeks in hospital all up. Crazy.

Henri - Made at the Royal Children's
Hospital Melbourne

It didn't take me long to make Henri for my Mini Challenge this week. Great pattern, easy to follow (especially when you get interrupted). It was good to have something else to focus on when Sophie was sleeping.

Sophie in ICU post op

On top of having open heart surgery, poor little Sophie has a virus, and so is a bit miserable. She may need another surgery in the future, we don't know at this stage, but it won't be anything like what she has already gone through and not for a while if she does.

Once she has fully recovered, we can get on with our lives! A holiday would be amazing... for now though, it's little steps while she mends, and on with the next thing to make!

Outfoxed

Another Birthday and another knitted gift ready to go! This fox scarf / kiddies neck warmer, was crazy easy to make. I found the instructions here, the English translation is at the bottom of the page (before the comments).

When I make another, I think I will make the middle section just a tiny bit longer to create a looser fit.

I would like to gift a book along with it, however I believe the recipient already has Fox in Socks and The Fantastic Mr Fox, any other foxy suggestions are welcome.