crafts & knitting

autumn attire

Julie (little Cotton Rabbits)

Hello again. It's been too long, how are things with you?

Here life has been meandering along full of the usual stuff,
infact it has been a bit more full than usual owing to the half term
school break last week, which accounts for my absence. Amy was in a play
at the local theatre which kept her busy for most of the week and I
kept Toby occupied with lots of walks in the woods. I took my camera
each time because the trees are at their most beautifully autumnal right now
but Toby doesn't like to stand still when out on a walk so I just ended
up carrying it and not actually taking any pictures.

There was even some knitting, but there is no point in attempting complicated stitch patterns or fiddly shaping because all of that needs more concentration than Toby allows me and I end up making lots of mistakes, so when he's around it has to be simple knitting. Over the half term break I mostly worked on the shalom jumper, which is a lovely straightforward project.

 

Shalom4

Although I truly dislike knitting in the round on small items like gloves etc I do quite like it on something as big as a jumper and because of the thick weight wool and 6mm needles this jumper grew at a pleasing rate. Finishing it off has come at the right time too because the temperature has now dropped and it's definitely jumper wearing weather! 

 

Shalom6

Now the children are back at school so I can concentrate on more complicated knitterly things. I'm sewing faces today and putting the finishing touches to the batch of autumn inspired animals. I'm also sticking pins in my little hedgehog pincushions and have made some autumn leaf toppers from shrinkle sheets to finish them off.

 

Leaves3

 

Hedgies

I'll be back soon with some pictures of the animals and hopefully a picture of the finished misty afghan because I'm working on the final round of the border now – there's lots of woolly play going on here! Thanks for stopping by x

 

42 thoughts on “autumn attire”

  3. Lots of yarny goodness going on over here Julie!!! 🙂
    Love the sweater it looks so cosy and the little leaves on your hanger are gorgeous! As for those hedgehogs, they are off the scale on the cuteness factor. Your little leaves are so sweet, I bought some shrinkle sheets to have a go the last time you showed us them but never got around to it. Not sure my leaves would look as pretty as yours though!!!
    Have a great week,
    Vivienne x

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  5. Oh Julie,
    Whenever I am feeling a little low I know I can rely on your lovely photo’s to cheer me up. The hedgies are lovely. My pin cushion is a little sheep I knitted who I call Barley and sits next to me every evening.

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  6. Nice to see you back again Julie! Your sweater has turned out beautifully & will definitely be of use at the moment! Nice to see your cute little hedgies making a re-appearance for the autumn too. I will have to try out the shrinkle sheets at some point, I have seen you talk about them before and they sound like fun! Hope that you have a lovely relaxing day now that the schools are back x

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  7. Shalom is very, very lovely. I wonder if I dare to attempt an Actual Knitted Garment? I have made one Welted glove though, so I’ve not been idle ; )
    I really do need to get out and stretch my legs and see what autumn has to offer … perhaps I’ll rake up the fallen leaves this afternoon.
    Glad you had a good half term – I escaped The Smoke and stayed with my BF in Warwickshire as No2 was away.
    T x

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  8. Those hedgehogs are so darling! They have really captured how I feel today with all the leaves and the coolness of Autumn – thank you for sharing them! Maggie

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  9. I love that saying – knitterly things – and your jumper is just beautiful. A perfect colour and weight for these chiller days….it definitely is jumper wearing days – again.
    Nina x

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  15. I just love the hedgehogs I think they are the cutest things ever I think the jumper looks good as well . i am working on yet another cardigan for my youngest grandaughter.

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  17. Shalom was was one of the few things I’ve made for me that turned out too small… usually I make things too big! I still haven’t got around to unpicking it. Love those little leaf toppers.

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  18. AHA!! I had a suspicion those leaves were shrinky things – I have never used the stuff to that advantage myself. But it fascinates me all the same. Maybe I’ll have to revisit. But I’d have to acquire some art skills, too. Are you sure you don’t want to move here to the mountains and live down the block from us? I’d only be over for lessons three times a day. I hate to admit this to you, because the jumper is very nice (in the US, a jumper is actually a sleeveless dress you wear over a tshirt or blouse), but my favborite part of the picture is the leaf dangle on the hanger. There isn’t a corner of life that can’t hold a tiny sliver of delight, is there? Even though children may disassemble things, there are always those secret things we do, then are able to come upon with surprise and a rush of memory later.
    Many kisses, my dear.

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  21. I love that sweater and have had it in my notebook for ages. But it was written for someone much smaller than me, and I’m not knitterly smart enough to re-write it.

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  22. I’ve just made one of your hedgehogs but,unlike yours, he’s not rustling about in the leaves along with his pals!
    I do love the pattern and think I’ll have to knit him a little friend as he looks a bit lonely. ♥

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  23. I’m not a petite girl – I’m a cuddly UK size 16 (40″ bust and larger hips) but the sweater I made fits me comfortably (a relaxed not a tight fit) you could try using the cast on and increases detailed on my ravelry page for the regular shalom. It’s such a sweet pattern so I hope you find a way to make it work – take a look on ravelry at the other finished shalom projects and you’ll see all sorts of sized ladies wearing it – you may find someone else has written up their adaptations that you can follow
    best of luck
    J x

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  24. Oh, I love the sweater and the hedgehogs! They are all beautifully made. The sweater looks so snuggly. My four-year-old daughter has bedding with a forest-animal theme, including hedgehogs. She loves them. She can’t say their name very well though, and she calls them “head-chops” which I find very funny. I wish I knew how to knit so I could make her one of yours. I’m a crocheter; I wonder if there’s any pattern out there for crochet.

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  25. Beautiful! Just beautiful!
    I can remember making those shrinky things when I was little. I remember loving making them. I need to show The Natives how to make those. What memories.
    So, I’ve this book that supposedly teaches people how to crochet. Yeahhhhh riiiiiight. I’ve been attempting a project and have ripped it apart several times. I’m hopeless. I am going to have to go and ask for help from our local yarn shop. I was hoping to be as clever as the ladies who told me crochet is simple and I could learn from this book. Not feeling very clever……..
    Our weather here has been just weird. 70’s during the day and me huddling around the wood stove at night. I can’t seem to get warm in the evenings!!
    This post makes my heart feel warm. Your posts always do…….
    Love you much my friend!! XX00

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  26. Oh this is awesome!! We are almost the same size. My bust isn’t exciting but apparently my back is really wide. Off to Ravelry now! Thank you so much for your comment!

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  27. How beautiful are those hedgehogs. Makes me homesick since there are none to be found here in FL. I hope you will post a pattern I so want to make a few

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  29. Awesome! That jumper is really best for the autumn season. I´m sure everyone will love knitting the same jumper especially those who are experiencing four seasons. This can also be used in winter season. Also, those little hedgehog pincushions are really cute in which people of all ages will surely love. They seem to look like a real pet. You’re really an inspiration and motivation to everybody. 🙂

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  30. This is really great! I can´t imagine how you made those little hedgehog pincushions out of yarns. They look cute and adorable like a real pet. Same as the jumper you made above, it’s very nice and can be used by everybody. Thanks for sharing! 🙂

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  33. Julie, Just a thought on taking pictures . . .
    maybe you could create a movie while you are walking. Then you may be able to get snapshot stills oout of the movie.
    I just love the trees colors in all their splendor.
    )

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  37. Oh my goodness, Julie those little autumn hedgehogs are aboslutely gorgeous! I loved the little bowl of leaves but they look even more special on the hoggies.
    Your shalom is beautiful too. You’ve inpsired me and I might have to knit me another one with some really nice yarn.
    xx

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  39. These hedgehogs are lovely: how on earth have you had time to make so many? Love them. The jumper looks great too – what a good pattern. I’d be scared to adapt it… but I’ve queued it on Ravelry . . . so you never know! x G

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  42. I’m really enjoying the design and layout of your site. It’s a very easy on the eyes which makes it much more pleasant for me to come here and visit more often. Did you hire out a designer to create your theme? Excellent work!

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