Lazy Sunday Afternoon

Well my good intentions for the weekend included going to the gym at least once for a run, cleaning the bathroom, washing the kitchen floor, getting the weekly shop done and doing the laundry.  I have managed the shopping and the laundry (just) but thanks to the kettlebells class I did on Friday morning I am practically crippled.  Literally can't bend down.  Even sitting is uncomfortable.

What's worse is I am not allowed to take ibuprofen.  It belongs to a class of drugs called NSAIDS which are know to increase lithium levels in the blood and so are therefore extremely bad for me.  Which is extra bad because goddamn it my back hurts!!  I knew the class would be tough and I knew I would ache afterwards but blimey, I did not expect this level of ouch! 

So all of this has meant a lazy weekend and an extra lazy Sunday afternoon spent catching up on season 6 of Criminal Minds (<3 Penelope Garcia) and progressing with Sophie, the rabbit I am knitting for Little H's birthday next month.  So far she is going well:

Quite good for only a couple of hours' work.  Head and body done and first leg halfway complete so far.  I'm knitting her in Sirdar Snuggly Kisses which is a nylon/acrylic mix and is much nicer than the plain Sirdar Snuggly I made Elijah in.  She's fluffy soft just like a bunny should be.

And now, back to my psychopaths and lunatics in Criminal Minds...not sure it's the most fitting accompaniment to knitting a fluffy bunny, but hey, this is me after all!

One Elephant

And he's all done...what a productive day :)

The only thing is I hate giving away things that I have made.  I'm a very selfish crafter.  I want to keep all my projects for myself and continue to enjoy them after all the hard work I've put in!  I'm sure he'll be appreciated in his new home though.

Legs!

Elijah finally has legs:

As cute as he looks, I'm still not happy with the wool choice :(  I used Debbie Bliss Cashmerino DK last time I made him and it looked and felt so much nicer.  But I will persevere - can't come all this way and not finish him!

Once Elijah is done, I think I will make Sophie Rabbit for Little H, my niece.  The ears are incredibly fiddly to do but I think she's my favourite of the three patterns.

First!

I thought I'd start with my current knitting projects.

This is Elijah by Ysolda Teague (oh, how I love Ysolda!) http://ysolda.com/patterns/toys/elijah/.  I made an Elijah for some lovely friends of mine when they had their little boy last year. As a result the Other Half told a work colleague of his who was expecting and she requested an Elijah too.  I'm not normally a fan of repeating patterns once I have made them but Ysolda's patterns are so delightful to work and the results always look so good!

So far I have his head and body made:

I'm making him in Sirdar Snuggly (Bluebell Mix) but I have to admit I'm not overly happy with the choice of wool - despite being quite soft when it's in the ball, once you start to knit with it you can feel the plastic-squeakiness of acrylic in there.  But, I suppose for a toy that will be thrown around and grabbed by sticky little fingers, it is ideal as it is washable and hard-wearing!

This is Prairie Polo by Lisa Richardson, the other project I have on the go at the moment:

 I am making this for my youngest niece, Little H, in a gorgeous deep pink:

The wool is Blue-Faced Leicester pure wool and is a dream to work with, if a little fluffy!  I'm not a huge fan of baby pastels so most of the things I have made for my nieces have been bright and bold.

I get so inspired when I look at pics of what I've done so far and things I've made in the past.  There just aren't enough hours in the day for all the knitting I want to do!