Elf on the Shelf

Oh I have just not had the time or energy to update my Blog but I have loads to show you :)

I really, really wanted to make Jackson and Isabella an Elf for this Christmas and sourced the patterns knowing I could alter them a little if I tried. The male elf did look a bit scary haha!! and then I saw the current edition of Simply Crochet and on the front was a lovely looking elf!! and what seemed to be a fabulous looking Poncho!! That means surely if there are Two items on the cover I like I get to buy it...right?? Ha ha any excuse... Well it seemed everyone wanted to buy this issue. I couldn't get hold of one and the Month was coming to an end rather quickly.So I purchased the online addition. I really do like to have my magazines in my hand to scroll through. Or just to look at. I really do have a terrible Craft Magazine addiction and have to pick them up in the supermarket and have a little row with myself over whether I should be allowed it or not. I often win but just lately I have been trying to be really good and not buy. However this one I needed for my Grandchildren he he and so now have on my laptop. This is great for when Crocheting at home but is not ideal if you have a Hospital appointment and want to take some Crochet for the Car Journey or the waiting room. Plus you don't get a free gift!! So I will be cancelling this subscription and buying off the shelf when I need my next Magazine fix. The plus of this online buying is that I got 30 days free. So didn't pay for this mag. I just have to remember to cancel :)

So as I said the time was getting on.... I actually picked up my Crochet hook and started on Saturday the 29th November (oops) Leaving me not much time for this quite fiddly project. Here is my first days work and poor little elfy looking a bit like E.T

The pattern was quite easy to follow and although I didn't use the yarn suggested and just what I had in my stash came together quite well :)

I went onto the Hat next. This was not so easy. Once I had finished it was way too big and couldn't decide whether to sew it on and try to loose the excess all around or unpick and try again. I hate unpicking but as the elf was looking so good I went for this option. I didn't do the last round of increasing. It was still a little too big but much better.

 It was a nightmare to sew to the head though and get it looking neat like the photo in the magazine but I did my best. I enjoyed making his Hair and the little extra's like the frill round the neck were such good finishing touches. Unfortunately due to time my Elf is missing his Cuff's, Booties and Bell but is still adorable. Here he is with his Belt but no legs. 

I made a Box for him to have escaped out of ha ha and tied it up all lovely for Jackson to open. Isabella is a little young. So I will hopefully get round to making her, her own Elf next year when she knows what is going on.

 I wrote them a letter from Santa. You can see that on my Facebook Page Wendy's Crafts and inside I wrote a note from the Elf who had escaped. "Ha ha, He he I have escaped, Come find me. Do you need a WEE?? and then set him up in the toilet. It was so good.

Jackson wasn't too sure with what was going on but he did realise the Elf was being naughty and you could see he liked that. Hopefully I will get time to finish the elf properly once Advent is over and he returns to Santa :)

I so enjoyed making him but wish I had left myself more time to fully enjoy without rushing. 

 Keep an eye out on my Facebook page for Elf updates :)
Just one last quick photo I have now of him with legs :)

Ripple Blanket and Jackson

Motivation around the House has been slow of late. I have had no want or need to do much except rest and pin things on my Pinterest boards :-)
The last few days however I have had a bit of something going on in my head. Possible Blog posts have been floating around, Finishing of Crochet items, a little bit of Cake making and so here I am with a Blog ha ha
I remembered a few Posts ago here, That I gave a sneaky peek of a Ripple Blanket I was making for my Grandson. He was not born when I started it and I was worried I wouldn't get it finished as I do have a tendency to have an awful lot of unfinished projects lying around :-S
Anyway I forgot to show the finished Blanket, So here it is :-)

It has had quite a bit of use :-) Here is Jackson just a few minutes old with his Blanket 

and one day old :-)

It has since got a little warm for this Blanket as it was made from Aran Yarn. So I have started making him a new, lighter weight Blanket :-) This time I decided to do a Granny Square as we have noticed that Jackson likes to hold things close to his head whilst going to sleep and also like me he has a need to put his Fingers and Toes through holey Blankets. I found this out a few Months ago. Whilst I was looking after him he was getting tired and it was getting a little chilly so I sorted through the airing cupboard and found Catherine's Baby Blanket that my Nan had knitted her. I was so chuffed as my Nan is no longer with us it gave Jackson a little bit of her. Look at these beautiful Pictures I got of him.

This was taken the end of June, Jackson is nearly 5 Months old here.

So gorgeous

I so love this photo.

Isn't this just adorable 

It is so canny. It is just what I do even now as an adult.

And so the "yet another Crochet Project" has begun although hopefully it will not take too long as it is for my very special boy :-)