Tuesday 19 February 2013

New Travelling Blog - Girl must eat...

Back in December when i posted my One Year Old post. I gave myself some vague New Years resolutions. One of them was to start posting about my travelling adventures. I really wanted to do this in a new blog, as i want this blog to be purely craft based. Well it did not happen.

However, one of my new house mates is so overly over the top and passionate in talking about restaurants, spas and hotels that she has visited. She is the sort of person, that will swerve to the wrong side of a road to get a better look at a restaurant that she has never seen before. We live in a very touristy area, so this is a problem. That at first it really put me off starting another blog. As i could noway be as passionate as her. 

I think if she could write as nearly as well as she talks about these things, then she should have a really successful blog. So to encourage her in this, we have started a blogging competition. She has started a blog called  Gone, Seen, Done (she has yet to start posting) and i have started a rival blog called Girl must eat.... Who ever has the most hits when we leave wins. I've got no idea what the prize might be.

So from now on i am blogging on two fronts, my crafty self and my traveller self. I really hope that this does not get in the way of my knitting, but this should be fun. There are so many places to visit, locally that i can write about. And i find that i am more focused and enjoy these things more, when i write about them. So this should be good for me too.

I have put a new tab up top, so if you would like to read it you can, but i wont bore you with the details of my travel life otherwise. Like wise we will see if i can not mention knitting, sewing or crochet on Girl must eat... But that might just be impossible.

Thursday 14 February 2013

Yarn Bombing a Ski Lift for Valentines

Meredith form One Sheepish Girl is hosting another yarn bombing day for Valentines. This one is heart themed, called Sheepish Heart Bomb! I knew i had to take part, and i knew just what i wanted to do as before i had finished reading the post. 

Yarn Bombing, Valentines, #SheepishHeartBomb

As i am living the dream life, in the land of ski. I knew that i had to yarn bomb a ski lift. I yarn bombed, the Le Crozat, ski lift in Chamonix/Les Houches.

Yarn Bombing, Valentines, #SheepishHeartBomb

This is my first time yarn bombing, and i was very nervous  I did not tell my friend (pictured in the red jacket) what i was planning, until just before. Being a none knitter and never hearing about yarn bombing, she did not understand. It came a bit of a shock to her when i whipped out my hearts and started tying them to the cross bar of the ski lift. She had a good laugh though, mostly at my expense. 

Yarn Bombing, Valentines, #SheepishHeartBomb

The hearts looked so good. I as today is valentines day, i now have a image in my head of a loved up couple getting on the Heart Chair, and holding hands as they ascend the side of Mont-Blanc. I really hope its appreciated.

Yarn Bombing, Valentines, #SheepishHeartBomb

We did a return run down a different piste to the same ski lift and i was luckily enough to spot my yarn bombed chair for a second time. 


Yarn Bombing, Valentines, #SheepishHeartBomb

I made 8 crochet hearts and joined them using chain stitch. Then i added yarn top and bottom of each heart, so i could quickly attach the string of hearts to the cross bar and take photos, before i had to jump off the ski lift. I also took the yarn clippers so i could quickly neaten my work.

Yarn Bombing, Valentines, #SheepishHeartBomb









Sunday 10 February 2013

Chamonix Head - Free Headband Pattern

I have been wanting to create my own patterns to share for some time. At last i have done it. The Chamonix Head headband is my first knitting pattern of my own, that is ready to share.

Chamonix, France, free pattern, handmade, hat, headband, knit, knitting, Ravelry, yarn

Living in the Chamonix valley there is knitting inspiration all around. There are masses of ski shops and one whole shop full of colourful knitted head wear. The only problem being a knitter is you see these things and think ' I could make that, only better'. It is nearly always cheaper it is to knit your own, as these hats are nearly all made of cheep fibres.

So almost from the instant i got here, my brain has been a hub of knitting activity. I have got several projects on the go, two of which i have actually created patterns for. Which is very exciting as i have had several false starts over the years.

The Chamonix Head is very warm, it has a double layer of knitting. On the inside there is plain stockinnete stitch, and on the outside a thatched cable pattern.To compensate for the cable pattern i have had to add increases and change up the needle side.

Chamonix, France, free pattern, handmade, hat, headband, knit, knitting, Ravelry, yarn

Here are the detains of the pattern.

You will need to know how to do
Knit, purl, increases and decreases, casting on and off and also basic cables.

Yarn
1 ball of DK or worsted yarn. I used Drops Lima (65% wool, 35% Alpaca)

Needles
4.5mm circular or set of DPNS.
7mm circular or set of DPNS.
(6mm circular or set of DPNS, if desired).
I used a 60 cm (24 inch) circular needle, so I could knit in the round. You could also use a longer one and use the magic loop method.

Gauge
19 stitches to 10cm (4inches).

The Chamonix Head can either down load this page or from my ravery page.

Chamonix, France, free pattern, handmade, hat, headband, knit, knitting, Ravelry, yarn

Chamonix, France, free pattern, handmade, hat, headband, knit, knitting, Ravelry, yarn

Chamonix, France, free pattern, handmade, hat, headband, knit, knitting, Ravelry, yarn