Off the Needles - Doggy Blanket

This is the first in what is going to be a long line of posts about items, of many different crafty natures, that I have finished.  I have borrowed the Knitmore Girls term 'off the needles' as I think it is fab!  I am aware that as late I have not been too 'on the ball' about updating my blog and so here I am remedying that.


The first item I want to share is my most recent completed project - the doggy blanket for Battersea Dogs and Cats Home.  I have been knitting this as park of the KAL hosted by Plutoniummuffin.  I finished it last week and hopefully it has arrived or will do in the next few days.  The pattern was very easy to follow and I just love the little raised paw prints you get - so cute.

This is the first 'non-scarf' project I have made and I really enjoyed the knitting part.  Sewing 25 squares together and weaving in the ends - not so much but I kept going because it was for the doggys!

If you want to know more about the blanket and how you can knit your own blanket for BDCH click here for the blogpost!

Doggy Blankets

On Sunday I answered a plea.  A plea for help.  A plea for support.  This plea came from the lovely Plutoniummuffin who wanted kind knitters to join her in knitting blankets for the abandoned and mis-treated dogs rescued by Battersea Cats and Dogs Home in London.  This was a plea that, as an animal lover and supporter of animal rescue charities, I had to answer.

Some of the dogs who arrive at BCDH find kennel life stressful, may be ill or need an operation and are taken in by foster carers whilst they recover. The blanket is part of a 'doggy bag' which they take to their foster home to comfort them and then, when they are rehomed, they take this with them to ease the transition - what an amazing idea. 

I have been meaning to do for a while, and I downloaded the pattern a few months ago, but never got round to starting it.  This was the kick up the bum I needed to get it done and so I replied and joined the Knit A-Long (KAL).

Plutoniummuffin was very excited and you can see her reaction here on her blog. 

I chose my yarn, DK acrylic, in purple, lilac, royal blue, turquoise and yellow and retrieved my funky purple 4mm needles and started knitting those squares. 

The pattern, written by the wonderful Deadly Knitshade of 'The Scarf of Doom' fame, is entertaining (as always) and very easy to follow.  I have completed 5 squares so far in royal blue and I love the patterns for the paw prints - so cute! 

There is still time to join the KAL and to show your support for the dogs at Battersea Cats and Dogs Home (they are always wanting blankets so even if you can't join us now, you could add it to your queue for a future date!)  Links to the pattern, Plutoniummuffin and the Ravelry group are below.  What are you waiting for?  Get knitting!

Plutoniummuffin Blog,
@plutoniummuffinTwitter
Battersea Cats and Dogs Home
Blanket pattern on BCDH website
Blanket Pattern on Ravelry
Ravelry Knit A-Long Group

A Crafty Birthday!

Last week I celebrated my birthday (hooray!) I spent a lovely day with Mr Bunny, which involved ice cram, and finished it nicely with a curry with my best friend Jo (aka Shinybees)
I received some fabulously crafty presents. A new sewing box from my friend at work and a Herdy Bank and quilting book from my Aunty. Mr Bunny bought me some hand carved crochet hooks and a voucher for Great British Yarns - yes, it has been spent! Shinybees bought me the most amazing yarn from South Africa which was especially dyed for me in pink and teal! It is so scrumptious and destined to become a shawl or a pair of mitts!

A Well Deserved Break!

Last week I had a well deserved break and headed off to the north of Scotland for my hols with Mr Bunny.  My aunty kindly called in on 'The Farm' to feed the creatures whilst we enjoyed a busy, but restful week away.

We chose to stay in Gardenstown near Banff, along the Moray Firth, an area of Scotland we haven't really explored before and we fell in love with it!  Gardenstown is a fishing village and you have to take some pretty steep roads to get down to the sea!  We were staying in an old fisherman's stores, The Wee Hoose, which has been converted into the perfect, cosy holiday cottage for 2 with spectacular sea views. 

Gardenstown

The village was full of quaint cottages, a pub and a local shop called Gamrie Larder which sold the cutest pottery houses of which we bought 3 and 1 for my aunt.  They now have pride of place on my fireplace!

This area of Scotland is a great place for walking and wildlife spotting.  We took a walk up to Troup Head, an RSPB nature reserve on the cliffs and spotted ganets, guillemots and puffins - they are super cute. 




Troup Head

We regularly called off to see the seals at Portgordon who bask on the rocks quite close to the land.  We also had a close encounter with a deer who ran straight infront of the car one night - luckily we stopped in time although a stiff drink in the pub was called for after that. 

The highlight of the entire holiday for me were the dolphins at Spey Bay.  We spent many hours there in the hope that we might spot them and eventually we did.  I got so excited when I saw them that I feel over in my rush to get closer.  We were very lucky as we watched them for around half an hour feeding and playing in the bay and it was awesome.  To see dolphins in the wild is so special and I will cherish those meories for the rest of my life!  The Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society have a vistors centre at Spey Bay where you can find more out about dolphins and the local wildlife, including osprey and otters, as well as a little shop.  The volunteers in the centre are full of information and are very passionate about the dolphins - they were very keen to chat to everyone.  I adopted a dolphin, Mischief, whilst I was there to.



Sunset at Spey Bay

Amongst other activities we went on a boat trip, to the Glenfiddich and Glen Grant distilleries and to the Speyside Cooperage as well as popping along to local villages and catching up with some of our friends. 
I took my crochet with me but only managed  a few rows on my shawl as it was all a bit non-stop.  I started a scrap book whilst away and will share it with you all when it is complete later on this week.

I hope you are all enjoying this extra long weekend and eat plenty of cake!