It's been a while since my last On the Needles post, primarily because I've been busily knitting about 8 pairs of socks which will be gifts for various lucky recipients. I've still not had chance to take a picture of them yet but will try to do so asap. Soctober certainly lived up to it's moniker!
I've recently caved in to peer pressure and started a BeeKeepers Quilt. I think I may be the last one to join the crazy cult of hexipuffers. BUT If I'm not the last and all this makes absolutely no sense to you then here is a picture of the designer's Beekeeper which looks so cute...
Image courtesy of Tiny Owl Knits - Beekeeper's Quilt
It's made using a very simple hexagon pattern, knitted in the round using 4ply. You then stuff them with toy stuffing, chuck them in a large bag or box somewhere and wait until you have enough to make something useful. The brilliant bonus is that you don't even need to sew the little blighters together. Tiny Owl Knits shows you in her lovely pattern how to tie them together.
Image courtesy of Tiny Owl Knits
I've seen on Rav that some knitters are using DK and slightly larger needles which should yield a slightly heavier quilt but which will knit up faster (as you need less hexipuffs). There's a KAL (knit-a-long) on Rav if you want to join the party. But with my 1-a-day hexipuff prescription I think I'll be at this party for a very long time!
Seeing as I can't knit more than 2 hexipuffs in a row without getting the sinking feeling that "I'm-looking-at-another-blanket-project-that-I'll-never-get-round-to-finishing" I've decided that I need another project to keep my spirits lifted.
I thought about knitting the infamous French Press Slippers...
Image courtesy of Melynda Bernardi
But I'm a bit scared about felting. It's something that strikes the fear of god into me. The thought of purposely shrinking my handmade lovely just doesn't feel right. And not to mention that you don't have much control as to how much the flipping thing will shrink. I don't think I'm ready for that kind of disappointment.
So I carried on searching Ravelry for other slipper type patterns and out popped this lovely.....
Image courtesy of Cocoknits - Prairie Boots
These have got my name written all over them! The pattern is called Prairie Boots by Cocoknits and is downloadable from Cocoknits' website. I suspect that they'll be a relatively quick knit too. I'm thinking about using some worsted/aran yarn held double but I need to do the maths before I launch into knitting them.
Bring on the cold weather, I say!
Have a happy weekend and stay safe this Bonfire Night.
x
