Easter Chicks and other wooly friends…

It’s been a busy couple of months in the Sparkle Handknits house as I had a craft fair a couple of weeks ago and was frantically knitting stock! I’m always worried, when I’m preparing for a fair, that I’m not going to have enough stock and that I’ll run out of time to knit things.  What happens if I totally sell out or if nobody buys anything?! I think I was very lucky with my first fair as everything sold well and I took quite a few orders, it was Christmas time so I had a festive theme and the fair goers were looking for gifts.  In preparing for this fair I needed something to replace the Christmas elements of my stock…Egg Cosies!

The first draft!

These little cuties were easy and quick to rustle up. I approached them like I was making a very small hat, and after a few practice attempts and a couple of size adjustments the pattern was set. With the pattern in place all I needed to do was to come up with some designs…

Sizing the egg cosy pattern.

This was a really fun process, adding little details to the egg cosies and seeing their characters take shape. I was very happy with my final selection of Little Chick, Little Rooster and Boiled Egg and I hope you all like them too 🙂

“Cheep!”

Happy Easter Everyone!

 

Love Sparkle x

 

 

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New year, New goals and New inspiration

Well, we’re very much into the new year but, to me,  it still feels fresh and new. Christmas orders are all done and dusted and it’s time now to concentrate on new projects. I’ve got a great stash of yarn to be getting on with….

Now all I need to do is decide on what to knit first, there are so many ideas to choose from…knitted bracelets, necklace designs, headbands, hats, socks. There are so many ideas I want to try out!  I should really get to work so I can finally set up my Etsy shop that I have been meaning to do for months now.  This is my first goal that I want to achieve in 2013 and you will be the first to know as soon as it’s up and running! I’ll keep you posted and will post all my new projects when they are ready.

See you soon!

Love Sparkle xx

Seasons Greetings and 2012 round-up

Sparkle Handknits @ The Christmas Fair

Well I do admit that I’m a little late in writing this post but it has mainly been because I have had a very hectic December. The Christmas Craft Fair at The Out Of The Blue Drill Hall in Edinburgh was a great success and I am so pleased that my first ever craft fair went well.  I am definitely keen to do more in 2013 and my head is buzzing with all the wonderful things I want to knit 🙂 I had quite a few custom orders at the fair and have since been knitting frantically to get them all done, hence the lack of blog action. My Christmas orders are now complete so Sparkle Handknits HQ is now a little calmer and can start getting into the festive spirit! I had great fun knitting the Christmas baubles pictured above and they were a great focus point on my stall as they were displayed on a tree branch with fairy lights and other little baubles.  The patterns for these baubles were designed by Arne & Carlos in their brilliant book 55 Christmas Ball to Knit

2012 has been a great year and has seen my little hobby grow into something a little more.  A lot of thanks go to my wonderfully supportive husband and family and friends for cheering me on.  Roll on 2013, more craft fairs and even more knitting! Yay!

Anyway, I thought I would just take this little moment to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas! I hope all my wonderful readers have a lovely time.

 

Love Sparkle x

First order complete!

So, I’ve not written a post for a wee while even though I had promised myself that I would be posting loads! I’ve had a good reason though…I have been busy knitting 🙂 I’ve had loads to do for my upcoming craft fair (getting quietly nervous about this one) and I have had my very first order – yipeee! So I have been busily preparing it all and despite tired fingers and my own excruciating quality control the order is complete and on it’s way in time for Christmas.

Please excuse the quality of the photos, they were only taken on my phone.

Anyway, the craft fair is only a week away and I still have lots of finishing and some more knitting to do so I better get cracking. I really hope I have enough stock.  Can’t wait to share how I get on.

Love Sparkle x

Bow-Vember

This gallery contains 4 photos.

November has definitely been re-christened “Bow-vember” in the Sparkle Handknits house. I’ve been knitting lots and lots of bows for my upcoming craft fair and the house is starting to overflow with them!  I’m going to make the bows into hairclips and brooches which will hopefully be great little sellers at the Christmas Market, they […]

Creature from the couch lagoon.

Something monsteriffic went on at Spakle Handknits today……

 

Eeekkkkkkkkk!!!!!

Happy Halloween!!

A knitted bow can make anything look pretty!