Stars & Stripes

I've had quite a few sales on Etsy to the USA so these are made for my American customers.

Candy stripes

Some new beads came in today so I made some markers that remind me of candy.

Candy Babies

Candy Allsorts

This scarf is a fusion of 2 of my favourite patterns. The main body is from travelling woman to give the lovely ewinged shape, and the lace is from holden shawlette as it's easy to knit and looks good. Picot bind off is time consuming but worth it.

Teardrops

New teardrop design made from miracle beads.

 The Happy frog!

 Ladybird

Tiny bees

Some designs I made up over the weekend. Maybe the bee was an omen as Indiana (one of the crafty cats) got stung on her chin...bless her, at least it wasn't inside her mouth.

And she is fully recovered and back to her normal self.

Had an urge to do some felting this weekend as still trying to rest wrist but needing to do something creative. You know the feeling when a design is inside and you have to try and get it out? So this is a picture of the base of my most recent project.

I started with a piece of felt and placed roving all over it to create the background. Then I cheated and used some collinette point 5 yarn to make the stems of the plants along with more roving. I gently needle felted it by hand to keep it in place before running it through the embellisher.

Finally I wetted it all down and sort of half felted it, mainly to get rid of the holes the embellisher left in the roving.

Now it's hanging on the line to dry before we start the next part which will be machine embroidery, hand embroidery and beads.

It's supposed to be a garden but Dave said it looks like a backing for a fish tank! So we will see whether it ends up being watery or a garden!

This is what it looked like after the inital machine embroidery.

I'm no longer an Etsy virgin! First sale this morning...very exciting and hope more follow in its wake!

Well the break from knitting has been broken...naughty but still! Well the fact that the Olympics are on and it rained at the weekend was the perfect excuse to start a bag I've been planning for a while.
First time I've tried to felt a 50/50 mix and the first round at 40 degrees didn't do much, so then I did a almost too hot hand wash and it's looking better.
I plan to needlefelt a design on the front so will do the last wash in the machine at 60 degrees and hopefully that will be it!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/CraftyCatKnittyBits

Had a creative urge at the weekend and made several new designs of markers. Love the miracle beads, it's a shame they don't show up well in photos with their 3D effect. Having to have a little break from knitting as I'm having problems with my right hand, wrist & elbow.....repetitive strain and have been told to leave it alone which is not going down well.

Have lots of ideas for new projects, choosing yarns for them and not being able to start..Grrrr! Hopefully it will all get better soon and the clickety clack of needles will soon be heard.

Had an email from Lets Get Crafting magazine who want to feature some of my markers in their Christmas edition....so fingers crossed that will happen...incredibly exciting news!!

Travelling woman for Charlotte



Trekking Hand Art Sock Yarn - Como (660) on 5mm needles.
Pattern is travelling woman by Liz Abinante on ravelery, loads of fun to knit and the design enables it to be worn in so many ways.

Crystal glass markers in a wonderful topaz shade, hard to capture just how they sparkle in the light.

Fruit shaped stitch markers..an easy way to your 5 a day!

New stitch markers on Etsy

https://www.etsy.com/listing/103444607/knitting-stitch-markers-x5-polymer-clay

Freya Shawl

Knitted in Jawoll magic shade amethyst on size 5.5mm needles as I wanted a huge wrap. Added 2000 beads on all the yarn overs and the cast off edge. Lovely pattern and beautiful finished result.

Set of 5 stitch markers

Made from tonal acrylic beads in purple and blue, with purple glass beads, gold plated beads and the amazing miracle bead with its 3D effect. Hung on a snag free coated wire so they will effortlessly slip from one needle to another...I know as I test all my markers on my own knitting.

Available on Etsy.

Vermont shawl by Hanna Breetz on Ravelery.

Knitted for my sisters birthday, went horribly wrong first attempt and managed to get the whole thing knitted and blocked in a week! Knitted in Lorna's laces 100% merino which was a joy to have on the needles and she was very pleased. Only the second Pi shawl I've knitted and I'll be doing more as they drape so beautifully when wearing.

Some new markers on Etsy.

This is my first blog so bear with me!

Just launched the newly named Crafty Cat Knits & Bits shop on Etsy     ..yay! Just can't get knitting out of my blood and getting into lace knitting has fueled my passion for making things with beads hence the stitch markers and it's to do with knitting too!

Needles were bare for a 2 whole days before I started on the traveling woman pattern by Liz Abinante as a gift in return for a union jack skirt that was made for me for the Chipping Sodbury classic car run 2012...and we won a prize for fancy dress.

Will post picture of shawl once it's finished.

Check out the shop at http://www.etsy.com/shop/CraftyCatKnittyBits