All the Pretty Things

Image via Flickr

Life has been somewhat of a whirlwind lately, so I'm taking a much-needed moment to slow down and contemplate the things that inspire me. Pretty patterned tiles and ceramics have been a feature in recent weeks so here are some of my favourites.

Image found on Pinterest

Image via Flickr

Image via Decor8

Pretty cups via Tumblr

I do hope you liked these pretties and wish you a happy Friday - enjoy your weekend!

All Quiet on the Blogging Front

...yes, there's been virtual tumbleweed blowing around here lately, I confess! Things have been a little crazy but I have lots of inspiring things to share with you in the coming weeks.

I recently started a new job which has got me walking down familiar paths but seeing things in a new light. I'm revisiting many things I used to be so involved with as a textile student - it's hard to believe it was almost a decade ago that I completed my degree in that field!

The wonderful thing is that I still find this area so inspiring even after all these years. I thought I'd give you a visual tour of what's got my creative juices flowing of late:

This is a gorgeous fabric I recently received in the post, as part of the Hillarys Blinds Country Craft Competition. The fabric is called Bird Parade and it's from their Country Retreat range. I have yet to make something with it, at this point I'm thinking my limited sewing skills might stretch to a bag but I love the idea of a skirt, should I have enough material! If you want to find out more about the comp, check out this post on the UK Craft Blog.

Image via Pinterest

The colours of spring emerging from the garden always have an impact on me at this time of year. I love that first sign of delicate snowdrops, heralding new life and fresh growth, which is soon followed by crocus, daffodils and tulips (one of my favourite flowers).

Image via Designers Guild

New Year, New Project

I got a bit of a shock when I realised about a fortnight ago that I hadn't actually done *any* knitting yet this year! (gasp!)

Not like me at all...but I have been enjoying reading "Knit the Season" - the third book in the Friday Night Knitting Club series by Kate Jacobs. Always nice to revisit favourite characters and it's a lovely seasonal tale of their continually intertwining lives. So this has acted as a kind of substitute in a way. I'm so glad someone finally got me it for Christmas (my other half, he rocks), as it's been on my wishlist for a while.

Anyway, it got to the point where enough was enough, I had gotten pretty far into the book and my fingers were itching to do some real-life knitting, instead of just reading about it! I decided to start a brand new project, one I've been thinking about for some time. It's a beautiful lace shawl (or wrap) design which I previously designed and created for a commission using a silvery-white yarn, Rowan's Kidsilk Night in Starlight [Ravelry link].

I am making this year's version based on my notes and pattern from this - it's been adapted from two different lace motifs I liked, a chevron one from a pattern library which forms the border of my design and one which borrows a section of the lacework from the beautiful Anice Shawl in Rowan Magazine 41, which was out around the time I was working as a Design Consultant for Rowan yarns. (Yes, I'm still a Rowan addict!)

I've made some progress on it so far and have named this incarnation the
Goddess of the Night Shawl. A fitting name for its inky plum purple darkness with a shimmering glint of silvery thread.

I don't have a particular recipient in mind, I simply decided to work on this piece for the sheer joy of having a nice cerebral lace project on the go, not to mention something visually stunning developing before my eyes as I continue to work on it.

No instant gratification here, I'm in this for the long haul. I've realised over the years that there is indeed merit in quick, simple projects, which can be easily completed in a short space of time but somethimes you need something a little deeper to get your teeth into. Did I mention it's a bit like therapy? (albeit generally* a lot cheaper!)

* depending on your yarn habit...

Hello 2014!

Welcome in, 2014! I wonder what adventures we'll have together...

I do hope you all had a lovely festive period and are feeling refreshed 

and rejuvenated, ready to start the new year with a smile :)

A new year brings new beginnings and mine is no exception. This year I have decided to design a year's worth of monthly calendars - which I will make available to download for free from my website!

It's taken me a little bit longer than I'd intended to get the project kick-started but here is my contribution for January 2014 - click here to view (then right-click on the image and select "save image as...").

Note, this desktop wallpaper is optimised for 1024 x 768 resolutions.
I hope to produce more options in the coming months!

The image is intended to be used as a desktop calendar, but you could always print it out onto cardstock, if you prefer.

Incidentally, the website is my new portfolio site featuring my web & graphic design work - feel free to have a browse! The address is www.catcodes.co.uk.

And the winner is...

Thanks to all who entered the WildKittens prize draw on my blog this month!

I have collated all the entries for each prize and used a random number generator to help me pick the winners.

Prize A was this cute cotton patchwork baby blanket in pretty pastels, which I designed and knitted. The winner is Annamarie Magee, with comment number 4 (of the entries for prize A)!

...and prize B was this lovely WildKittens pattern for knitting some baby shoes. The winner is "TopHat" whose comment for prize B was selected by the random number generator.

I'll be getting in touch with the winners shortly :)

4KCBWDAY1 - Knitting & Crochet Blog Week 2013!

Welcome to Knitting & Crochet Blog Week, which I'm happy to say I'm taking part in again, for the fourth year running! (Hard to believe it's been going for four years already!)

Day 1 - The House Cup

Today, the topic is to discuss "your crafting outlook/style" and choose a "house" which represents this.

I've chosen the House of Bee:

The House of Bee: "Bees are busy and industrious, but can flit from one interesting project to the next as bright and shiny things capture their interest."

I feel this animal (out of the four house choices: bee, manatee, monkey and peacock) most closely fits my knitting "style" - I tend to have several projects on the go simultaneously and I definitely have a chronic case of serial startitis! The lure of fresh new patterns and colourful yarn is sooo hard to resist though...

As a knitter I like to have multiple creations, usually at various stages of completion, but the thing I enjoy most about my approach to this craft is that I generally have one or two more complex, 'cerebral,' patterns in progress (for example a tricky lace pattern or one with lots of fiddly colourwork), as well as having a few of a more simple design underway.

This means I can knit to suit my mood - sometimes I want to work on something which requires quite a bit of concentration...and other times I like to have a simple project I can just work on in a less focussed way - such as when sitting in front of the telly of an evening. It's a great way of winding down, I find!


For more info about this annual yarny extravaganza, check out Eskimimi's blog. (Thanks to Mimi for creating the fab blog week graphics too!)

April Giveaway!

I thought it would be fun to have a little giveaway frenzy on my blog this month. So to get the ball rolling, I've decided to do a WildKittens inspired giveaway!

Prize A

I'm giving away this cute Iced Gem Blanket which I designed after being approached by the charity Bliss to create an exclusive pattern for their Bliss Loves Crafts (craft club) members.

It's made from lovely soft cotton yarn in a patchwork of pretty pastel colours.
(Finished size is approx. 50 x 50 cm)

Prize B

I'm offering one of my PDF knitting patterns for Mary Jane baby shoes in your choice of the following sizes: 0-3 mths, 3-6 mths, 6-12 mths or 12-18 mths.

To find out more about the pattern I'm offering, check out the details in my WildKittens etsy shop.

How to Enter

Simply leave a comment on this blog post, letting me know which prize you'd prefer - don't forget to include an email address I can contact you on if you win!

[EDIT: Competition is now closed. Winners will be announced shortly.]

Closing date for entries is midnight GMT on Sunday 21st April 2013. One winner for each prize will be chosen at random.

(Please note that comments will not be published instantly, as they are moderated, so it may take a little time for them to appear.)

Curating Loveliness

I've been thinking about ways to present interesting, engaging content lately. Not just for my blog, but in general...including things I might share via various social media platforms and so on.

Source: epherielldesigns.com via Cat on Pinterest

The conclusion I have reached is to curate carefully - so in other words, looking out for lovely things, that which inspires, informs and pleases; to mindfully choose the best possible sources, references and artefacts.

I think William Morris put it best when he said,

"If you want a golden rule that will fit everything, this is it: 

Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful 

or believe to be beautiful."

Source: etsy.com via Cat on Pinterest

One way I love keeping track of inspiration and ideas, particularly in a visual way, is through Pinterest - if you're not familiar with it, I would describe it as a kind of interactive moodboard where you can keep track of interesting content from the web, with a direct link, or bookmark, back to it.

As someone who is excited about colours and pattern, I find it incredibly stimulating when looking for ideas, and a great way to keep track of the loveliness I come across whilst traversing the web. (You can find my Pinterest boards here)

Source: whatpossessedme.com via Cat on Pinterest

So...do you use Pinterest? Or do you have another favourite way of "curating" content?

My Sketchbook Project - Part 1

Good news - I did indeed manage to finish my sketchbook on time for the Sketchbook Project (but only just!). Now that it's done & dusted - and has safely arrived at its new home in the Brooklyn Art Library (yay!) - I thought I'd show you a little bit more of it.

I really enjoyed working on this project because I treated it as a kind of fun exploration of pattern and texture via drawing, painting and collage. It so was nice to do something that was about inspiration and an exploration of creativity (and not about making a product for sale, for a little change).

If you haven't come across the Sketchbook Project, it's an annual art project open to everyone worldwide which encourages people to get creative with a standard sketchbook.

The brief is really up to you (there are suggested themes, and my chosen one was "It's winter where you are" but I used it fairly loosely and really as more of a starting point!) and the final submissions go on tour, eventually being housed at the Brooklyn Art Library in New York.

For more information, and to see the dates of the 2012 Sketchbook Project world tour, visit the website.

New year, new ideas

Hello! I hope you've all had a great start to the new year. At the moment, I am having a phase of definite renewal and getting back into making things after a bit of a break.

I've been busily working on trying to finish my sketchbook for the Sketchbook Project - really hoping I'll complete it in time! Enjoying it thus far though, it's so refreshing to get back to drawing and painting, something I love but don't make the time for very often any more.

Today involved playing around with this damask pattern motif and gold ink. Fun! I've also been sprucing things up a little online - hope you like the new blog banner and buttons on the sidebar.

I realise Valentine's day is just around the corner (already?!), so if you're looking for some inspiration, check out this post from last year: DIY Valentine!

(Dis)organised Chaos

Day Three: Tidy mind, tidy stitches.

I have to say, in all honesty, Ravelry is one of the best things to happen to my knitting! I can actually use it to keep an eye on how my projects are progressing...
...and it has several useful tools to help you keep tabs. There's a virtual bookshelf/library which is quite fun and a nice reminder of the books you own...


...as well as a handy chart to record your knitting needles and/or crochet hooks. I quite like to keep track of my (ever-mounting) yarn stash and the Ravelry way is wonderfully visual, as you are able to upload photos of your fibrey finds.


Aside from the virtual world, I have so much yarn, it barely fits inside a (dedicated) wardrobe! Part of the problem is that not only do I hand knit, I also machine knit - I own two domestic, vintage mechanical Knitmaster machines - which means, yep, you guessed it - more yarn. In cones, and larger quantities...not to mention other equipment that goes with them. It's small wonder that I have a storage unit too!


I have a couple of knitting bags which I absolutely love - both for storage and as a way of carting my projects about with me when I'm on the go (or even just around the house!).


This was an absolute find - a super-cute vintage knitting bag! A great size for travelling too, as it fits inside my suitcase if need be:


For my pins, I have two pretty knitting needle rolls...


...and a little bag for notions that I made myself, like a giant purse or modified pencil case:


...but where's the yarn, you say? I have rather a lot, but some is kept in a unit with big plastic drawers. One of my favourite drawers is this one full of Rowan Kidsilk Haze (with a dash of Kidsilk Night thrown in for good measure!).


I generally like to keep similar fibre types or weights together. Here is my 4 ply bag:


I made the bag from one of my machine knitted fabrics, but I'm lazy and didn't line it! This is what the outside looks like:


Oh, and the kitten knitting bag is full of summery yarns too:


I have so much more yarn, in various bags and boxes but there simply aren't enough hours in the day! I think I might just have a *slight* yarn addiction, ha ha!

P.S. If you want to look me up, my Ravelry user name is catameringue :)

Crafty Roundup February 2011

I was just thinking it's high time I did another crafty roundup, there's a whole lotta craftiness going on at the moment!

Ghillie Dhu Maker's Market

Image via Ghillie Dhu Maker's Market

Saturday, 12th February will see the first Maker's Market at the Ghillie Dhu (Rutland Place) - it sounds like an amazing venue and the event, which will be on every month from February to November, is run by the folks who brought you the Morningside Maker's Market. Find out more on their website.

The Guardian Extra Gets Crafty

I recently stumbled across a feature called "Get Crafty" on the Guardian Extra. It includes two rather nice full (free!) knitting patterns: smocked gauntlets and a chunky cabled cowl.

Image via The Guardian

Looks like nice clear (illustrated) instructions too, so even if you've never done any cabling or smocking before, it should hopefully be easy enough to follow.

What's Wool got to do with Chemistry?

2011 is the UNESCO International Year of Chemistry and to mark it, the University of Edinburgh's School of Chemistry has put a rather unique piece on display: the first 3-Dimensional model of a molecular structure, and it's made from balls of wool and knitting needles!

Image via BBC News Scotland

It was created by a Scottish-born scientist, Professor Alexander Crum Brown in 1883, who (as you might have guessed) was a keen knitter himself. Find out more about the model here and to follow the IYC 2011 see here.