MRS MOON BLOG

It's the time of year when everyone seems to be cutting something out or acting slightly more responsibly, so not to be left out I have decided not to diet, get fit or only each raw vegetables, but to try and use up some of my yarn leftovers rather than start something new!  I know, those raw people think they've got it tough?!!

All my leftovers are really rather lovely though, so it's not so bad.... don't be too in awe! And there is something rather lovely about shuffling around all the different colours.  My project is as old as the hills and as simple as they come.  I'm rustling up a granny squares blanket as a gift and am having great fun mixing the colours from different projects that might not necessarily be the colours you would automatically put together...!  That's what granny squares are all about isn't it?!  As you can imagine, I have quite a lot of leftovers from running a shop and am slightly embarrassed to declare that I had 12 different Spud & Chloe Sweater colours to choose from!  

I decided to ditch the cream and white... there is something rather lovely about the clash of other bright colours and the neutral tones seemed to make it a bit too sophisticated!    I'm trying to make the colour combos totally random, but random as always is incredibly hard to achieve, so I've got to the point now where I'm have a little spreadsheet by ny side tallying which colours I've used where to make sure that I don't have too may yellow outsides or blue middles...!  It's coming along nicely though... just dreading the sewing up (and more to the point, the sewing in ends!)

Now where are the carrots??

If you want to learn how to crochet granny squares check out our 'how to' section here

We've been busy creating gift kits ready for Christmas (and beyond) this week.  All the kits come with the yarn and needles or hooks needed for our favourite projects, plus a Mrs Moon project bag and the pattern, all wrapped up in a lovely buff box tied with ribbon.

As you can imagine, with the various colour combinations, that's quite a bit of photographing and I was just updating our dropbox folder with some of the latest pics and this is what I saw!  Doesn't it beautiful... ?  The kits pictured include our beginners knitting and crochet kits, Strawberry Hill, Riverdale and Godstone, but I think it's the overall effect of the thumbnails that looks so cool!

If you've been wanting to splash out on a special project, this is a great way of making sure you get exactly what you want ... send your loved ones our way!

My husband is always hoping that the next thing on my needles is for him..... and is generally disappointed.  So desperate is he for a hat, that when I started casting on a beret in yellow, he still thought that there was a possibility....  really??

The thing about men's knits is that they take so long and let's face it, are generally fairly boring... (insert  'always' for 'generally').  Also, don't get me onto the colours!!!  Lordy, it gets me down!

Anyway, if you are thinking that the man in your life does deserve a handknit, here is the solution....  something small, quick and gorgeous.

You've probably realised we're slightly fanatical about Worsted Hand Dyes, but it really is an incredibly luxurious yarn and also wears unbelievably well.  My Strawberry Hill cowl was rarely off my person last winter and looks as good as new.  It's even (don't tell anyone) gone in the washing machine and still looks great!

So, here is my solution for your manly scarf.....

2 skeins Worsted Hand Dyes (shown here in olive, but charcoal, midnight, cranberry, chocolate, mulberry...(I could go on)... would all be great)

8mm needles

Cast on 36 stitches

Row 1: * K2, P2, repeat from * to end

Row 2: *K2, P2, repeat from * to end

Carry on repeating these rows until you've used up all your beautiful yarn and cast off in pattern.

I'd really recommend slipping the first stitch of every row to ensure you get a lovely smooth edge.

So quick, you could probably start it on 23rd Dec and have it under the tree on 24th....

If you would like a kit for this, click here.

Part one of our 'meet the new faces at Mrs Moon' and welcome Jodie!

Can you guess what Jodie used to do??  Yes, very excitingly for my daughter Tilly (and me) Jodie is a dancer by trade and has promised to give us a few hints and tips on grace and elegance (I think I might be a bit past it with anything else dance related!) 

Before you know where you are, we will be wandering around in handknitted legwarmers and wraps, stretching at every opportunity!  Probably not surprisingly, Jodie seems to have a slightly healthier diet than Susan and me and so far hasn't felt the need for coffee or cake from Grounded next door... she is absolutley lovely though so we'll let her off.  She has relocated to Mrs Moon from New York, but doesn't seem too fazed by the frenetic atmosphere in St Margarets and we're sure she'll keep up with the pace!

Hopefully you'll meet her soon!