I finally spent a day organising my yarn collection which was in desperate need of doing because I have a habit of spotting pretty yarn and giving in to the urge to buy it all… whoops… I really need to learn to restrain myself, especially as most of the time I don’t even have a pattern in mind, which means I may or may not end up buying enough yarn for potential future projects.
So in an attempt to be more aware of what yarn I am actually currently in possession of, I spent some time sorting my office and having a re-jig of pf my shelves to create a proper yarn corner. Without much further ado, here are the before and after photos of my office rearrange.
The past few months had seen my desk become a bit of a dumping ground. So it feels great to finally have an organised space again. My yarn had also been stuffed into big boxes which although great for storage, meant I couldn’t see half the yarn in them and I’d forget what yarn I had.
Now with everything on display I can finally keep track of my yarn stash. I’ve got them all sorted and grouped into various yarn types and stacked up on my bookcase. It’s so satisfying to see all the pretty colours and know what yarn I have available. I’m so happy to have a corner dedicated to my crocheting and knitting and it’s inspiring me to keep creating!
I really enjoyed my first Floret Pop Pullover pattern test for Yarn by Beck and was eager to do more. When I saw Eli looking for testers for her Basic Beret pattern I thought it would be the perfect relaxing pattern test to apply to as it wasn’t as big a project as the last one.
I really loved the look of Eli’s Basic Beret and was excited to be chosen as a tester. I was keen to test making a light summery version of her pattern and thus decided to reuse the same multicoloured DK recycled cotton yarn from my previous project as I still had plenty left.
This was my first project working in the round and I definitely felt like I was getting lost sometimes with the stitch counting, but I manged to fumble my through. I also think I may be low key obsessed with this yarn! I just love the dye pattern and how nicely the warm colours blend together. Saying that I also really want to check out some other colours from this yarn in future!
Being a beginner to reading crochet patterns there were certain elements that initially confused me, but I soon figured out. With it being such a small project it also doesn’t feel quite as precious; meaning if I didn’t get it right the first time, I could always try again and make a second or third hat quite quickly. Although I made a few mistakes first time round, I would still say Eli’s pattern is definitely beginner friendly.
Eli’s pattern is also easily customisable and it’s fab to see just how differently all testers approached it. I used a 5mm hook with a dk recycled cotton yarn and although I like the tension I was working with, my end product turned out just a tad too small/tight. So next time round I think I might try a 6mm hook or add an extra row or two, or both aha. I defiantly want to try making a cosier winter version with a thicker yarn.
So here’s the finished Basic Beret by Eli. I’m really pleased with how my first attempt turned out despite the odd mistake and miscounting. If you want a beginner friendly beret pattern, please make sure to check out her pattern here!
Those of you who have been following along on socials will have seen me mention that I was doing a fundraiser in July and thus I quickly wanted to give a little update now that I’ve completed it.
In July, dad and I took part in a fundraiser for Point North, which is one of our charity partners at work that supports our local communities at a grassroot level. The fundraiser was to complete 38.7 miles in July to help raise awareness and funds to support the 38.7% of children who are growing up in poverty in our wider area of County Durham and the Tees Valley.
Every mile completed helped to provide: food, uniforms, bedding, holiday clubs, lessons, and more. If you’d still like to make a donation, our fundraiser page is still open for a few days:
As proof that I did complete the 38.7 miles, I made a little compilation of all the walks and gym trips I did in July, and so I thought I’d share it as a nice round up of the fundraiser challenge.
I’m so glad I signed up for the fundraiser, as not only did we mange to raise some funds for Point North, but it also forced me to get out more. I get so nervous venturing out on any journeys which are further than about a 20 minute car journey or walk (I might delve deeper into the why at some point), but to get my steps in I have had to push myself to overcome / deal with my fears. Although my anxiety spiked at times, I overall had really positive experiences and ended up enjoying some wonderful longer walks exploring new places. Now I just need to keep pushing myself to head out and not fall back into letting my nerves get the better of me!
Something a little different, but I wanted to talk about the fundraiser I signed myself and dad up for with work for two reasons. One, to raise awareness of what we’re fundraising for but also two, to talk about how it’s been helping my anxiety which is something I’m really proud of.
At Kaffeehaus Coffee Roasters giving back to our local community is very important to us and we’re proud to already be regular supporters of Point North, but we wanted to do more, and by participating are hoping raise more awareness for this amazing charity supporting our local communities!
So, dad and I are stepping it up and taking part in Point North‘s fundraiser completing 38.7 miles in July to help raise funds to support the 38.7% of children who are growing up in poverty in our wider area of County Durham and the Tees Valley.
“Thousands of children in our own communities are falling behind through no fault of their own. As the cost of living continues to rise, more families than ever are struggling to get by. The need is urgent and growing. This challenge gives all of us a way to do something about it,” – Michelle Cooper, Chief Executive at Point North.
Every mile helps to provide: food, uniforms, bedding, holiday clubs, lessons, and more. And any donation you can give, no matter how small, will help to make a difference To donate or follow our progress please follow the link below
By signing up to this fundraiser I have also ended up forcing myself to face my anxiety which has been an unforeseen bonus. Essentially, I get very nervous venturing further than a 20 minute car journey or 15 minute walk (I might delve deeper into the why at some point, but not today), but to get my steps in I have had to and still am pushing myself to overcome my fears. So far I have had some really positive outcomes and endend up enjoying some wonderful longer walks exploring new places. The repetition of positive outcomes and experiences, is slowly creating positive reinforcements to counter my anxieties which I’m really happy with.
Below was my first 4 mile walk. I pushed myself to drive up to the Pennines, about a 30 min drive to a place I’d never been to before, and go for a walk around a reservoir I’d previously known nothing about. It turned into such a wonderful morning. The Smiddy Shaw reservoir along the Waskerly Way ended up being such a wonderful expedition for me. It was a quiet path and we barely bumped into another soul which was fab and just how I like it. The path was well paved and easy to walk, and although a little overcast at first, the clouds soon cleared giving way to tow a warm and the sunny atmosphere and stunning views all around.
And yes, my anxiety did surface at times, but I was generally having a good day and feeling more positive and so I managed to keep it in check and ende up having a wonderful morning out. It may seems like nothing to those of you who don’t suffer for anxiety, but to me this was a pretty big feat and I felt very proud of my achievement. It made me want to go out more straight away.
So, a few days later I headed out for my second 4 mile walk through a more local Nature Reserve. I completed this walk before work one morning and there were a great number of paths to meander through and explore; although some ended up being quite overgrown and narrow this time of year resulting in a fair few nettle stings and bramble scratches haha!
All in all I have really been enjoying working towards completing this fundraiser and I’m generally feeling more hopeful for the future with every new step I take.
After finishing my granny sqaure cardigan I felt like I was on a crochet roll and decided to apply to be a pattern tester for this wonderful looking jumper by Yarn by Beck. She stated it was begginer friendly and I ended up being chosen to test her new Floret Pop Pullover pattern, which I was chuffed about.
As summer was approaching I thought I’d try and make a loose and lightweight version of the jumper and, after some deliberation, went for a lovely multicoloured recyled cotton yarn in wonderful warm shades.
The beginning was the hardest. After getting used to working in squares, it took a while to adjust to building up a pattern in a linear fashion. I also wasn’t quite sure how big to make it and continually worried I’d accidentally increase or decrease stitches. However as I got used to the pattern I slowly got comfortable and managed to retain a straight shape.
I spent many an hour listening to an audiobook and building my first jumper row by row. As I’m still a relative newbie this stich combination was not known to me but I absolutely love how the pattern comes together and the overall look of the Floret Pop Pullover.
At one point I was off to Sheffield to visit my best frind Emily from Peak Knits, and of course I had to take my crochet with me. We explored a beautiful local garden and spent some time sitting in the sun working on our projects. It’s also a great activity to keep you occupoied on the train whilst listening to an audibook.
I was really happy with how the front and back panels came together but I did feel somewhat stressed towards the end as I knew I wouldn’t have time to finish the sleeves before the deadline, and thus decided to make a t-shirt version by only adding short selves for the time being. They weren’t amazing as I winged the pattern, but I knew I’d be able to go back and add long sleeves later down the line.
And voila – my first finished pattern test! The Floret Pop Pullover by Yarn By Beck. If you want a beginner friendly pattern to make a jumper tailored to you, please make sure to check out the pattern here!
Completing my first pattern test was a big learning curve for me and although it had it’s challenges I loved the experience. I’m not 100% sure on the colour of the yarn on me personally, and the neckline and jumper in general ended up a tad too big, however, the recycled cotton has created a very loose fitting and airy version of this jumper which is perfect for summer and exactly what I was after.
I do love this pattern and am hoping to make another Floret Pop Pullover with a thicker warmer yarn for winter. Do let me know if you decide to buy this pattern and have a go – I can highly recommend!
We hadn’t planned on updating the carpets straight away and were going to make do with the rather funky green carpet in the living room. However once we got the keys to the empty property we realised just how manky the bedroom carpets really were and decided to replace some of most of carpets straight away. We went to the local Franks Carpets round the corner from us and picked up a few samples. There wasn’t too much choice in line with our 0 budget and we ended up choosing 2 different styles, one for the living room and a different one for the bedrooms.
To save money we got rid of the old carpet ourselves, but due to time restraints we left the installation of the new carpets to the professionals.
Having removed the carpets and falling in love with the look of the wooden floor boards, we were a little sad that we did not have the time or finances at that point in time to restore the floor / put new wooden floors down. I suppose that’s a dream that can still be fulfilled in the future and for now the new carpets were a much needed and welcome improvement.
We had a good week overlap between getting our keys to the new house and having to hand back the keys to our old rental. Although it was nice to not have to move in 1 day and feel like we had a bit more time, it still ended up being an extremely stressful week especially when we decided we needed the carpets replacing and ideally before we moved all the furniture in.
But we ended up being really lucky, as Franks Carpets managed to squeeze us into their schedule on the Thursday, the day before we’d hired a van to move all the large furniture across. This was great as it meant the house was still pretty much empty allowing for a quick and easy carpet installation.
Here’s the after shots – such an improvement.
Living / Dining RoomMaster BedroomOffice / Art Studio
Let me introduce you to our 1970’s doer upper – our very first own home.
I love a good old house browse and could waste hours nosying at what was for sale / to rent in the local area and further afield, dreaming of finding my own perfect property one day. On one of these searches I came across 2 properties in my village and decided that, although we weren’t looking to buy yet (especially in my partners opinion who was still happy to rent for a couple of years), it would be good to at least start viewing houses to gain a better insight into the housing market and what to expect. Luis agreed and so we booked to view the two properties. On the day however one of the properties had already been sold and so we only had one house left to view.
We pulled into a quiet cul de sac and met the estate agent out front. The property in question was a semi detached house built in the 1970’s and with décor inside to match. It had a front and back garden as well as a detached garage. We didn’t know what to expect, but as soon as we entered, there was something about the house which immediately made us feel at home.
The downstairs was comprised of an open plan kitchen-dinning area which felt spacious and welcoming and a large living room with windows that stretched right across the room and let in soo much light, which was such a welcome feature compared to the lack of light in our current rental. The upstairs had two double bedrooms, a third single box room with a wall of built in cupboards and one decent sized family bathroom. Throughout the viewing there was no traffic noise to note and the peace and quiet gave a calming presence to the place; another plus for Luis and me who don’t deal well with lots of noise. The house also backed onto a big open field which was an absolute bonus in our minds as it would be perfect for walking Maya and letting her have a run around.
Ignoring the dated décor and slightly musty smell, we could see the potential and upon leaving I was surprised to find Luis saying he could actually envision us buying after all. I was giddy with excitement at his statement and I think he was just as surprised at himself as I was. Once we got home we just kinda looked at each other in incredulity – were we actually going to consider buying a house?
We hadn’t even hit our 2 year anniversary at this point and had so far only dreamt about buying a house together one day, so the fact that we were suddenly seriously considering it, somewhat outta the blue, was a big deal and a big decision for us to make. We spent the next couple of days working through all the details and letting the idea settle as well as also booking a second viewing to have another look around and show our parents, who also liked the house and could see the potential.
Our minds were made up pretty soon to be honest as we didn’t want to miss out on the property and so after a few months for the legal stuff to be sorted we finally picked up to keys to our very own 1970’s doer upper house in June 2023.
It was all kind of surreal to be honest, but also felt amazing; what a feeling, being able to come home to our very own first home together!
Now enough rambling, I’m sure you’re curious to see what our blast from the past semi looked liked when we first moved in, so here are the photos from the listing:
Would love to know if any of you are also renovating a property and what you’ve been getting up to. I’ve got a lot more renovation content coming up, so make sure to be following along as we slowly bring this blast form the past into the 21st century and make it our home. If you’re curious for more up to date sneak peaks of our home, make sure to follow along on Instagram and Tiktok @simplycarinaxo .
After the success of my first crochet project I was eager to take on another, and once I came across the hexagon crochet cardigan I knew this would be it. I popped to my local Boyes to browse the yarns and decided for a chunky marble in a greeny blue shade.
This design still followed the basic granny square pattern I’d already learned, but instead of going round in a square, you add two extra sides, making a hexagon which will eventually folded in half to create one sleeve and side panel.
Once I had both sides made to the same size (which I almost managed, the tensions was slightly off), I went on to sew up the sleeve seams and decide how to connect the two at the back.
I decided to make a series of smaller granny squares in a lush deep blue for the joining back panel and then also went on to add a border on the sleeves and bottom of the cardigan. I’m so happy with how well the dark blue compliments the green / blue marble yarn.
To finish off the cardigan I made 2 larger granny squares with a mix of the deep blue and green / blue marble yarns. These two granny squares I then sewed on to be pockets at the front of the cardigan.
And voila – there you have it – my first ever hexagon granny square cardigan! I am so so pleased with how it turned out and it really is quite satisfying being able to say I made a cardigan from scratch! I love how it all came together, the pattern, the colours and the fit!
For now it’s a finished project. However, in future I might still experiment with making the cardigan a little longer. Generally speaking, I prefer my cardigans a bit longer, sitting below the bum, so I might still add a few rows to the bottom one day.
Finishing my second crochet project has been even more rewarding than my first. There’s something so satisfying about making your own clothing.
My next project is a jumper. I’ve been chosen as a pattern tester for the Floret Pop Pullover by Yarn by Beck and I’m super excited to get stuck into this new crochet project. I’ve already started and it’s such a lush stitch I can’t wait to see how it all comes together!
Have you been busy with any craft projects or learning new skills??? Do let me know in the comments below!
On a random day at the end of 2024 I decided to follow a crochet tutorial by one of my favourite YouTubers by Helen Anderson. Managing to pick it up pretty quickly, I instantly became hooked – it’s such an addictive hobby.
Early in January, after completing 3 large granny squares as practice, I decided to embark on my first full project. One of my oldest friends was coming to visit from France with her baby and as she had just moved house I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to make her a cosy blanket for a housewarming present.
I browsed the yarn section in my local Boyes for forever, trying to decide which colours to go for and how to combine them. Eventually I made my choice and got started as soon as I got home, eager to see my vision come to life. I had chosen a mustard yellow, a pinky red, a light blue and a white to create two different designs by inverting the order of colours used for the squares. I also went for a darker blue to border the squares and be the join colour.
As the pile of squares grew, so did my excitement – the squares were looking soo good. A little niggle of worry did cross my mind too though as the tension wasn’t always 100% equal. I just hoped they’d all join together nice and evenly. Working every evening after work, I managed to get all my squares completed in about 2 weeks.
The joining of the squares was another new learning curve as I’d never done it before. I had a look online at a few different methods before settling on one that seemed simple enough. It was a little confusing at times and I accidentally joined the wrong sides once or twice and had to back track, but seeing the squares gradually transform into a cohesive blanket was very rewarding.
Crocheting my first granny square blanket has been such an enjoyable and rewarding experience and I can’t wait to make more – who knows, perhaps I’ll make everyone a blanket for Christmas this year aha!? The success of my first project has spurred me on to learn more and also try some more challenging projects.
Next stop – a granny square cardigan!
I’d love to know if any of you also crochet or knit??? Do let me know in the comments below!
Happy (Belated) New Year, everyone! I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and New Year’s. We enjoyed a lovely, quiet Christmas followed by a wonderful week with Luis’s parents. While it was fantastic to have them visit, it left me little time for reflection and planning ahead for 2025. The lack of daylight and continued freezing temperatures at the roastery haven’t exactly boosted my motivation either since starting back at work!
Despite feeling a bit lost and longing for spring, I am feeling pretty excited about the possibilities this year holds. To combat the winter blues and stay inspired, I’m continuing my annual tradition of creating a Bucket List for the new year. This isn’t about setting unattainable goals, but rather a gentle nudge towards a more fulfilling life – exploring more, embracing creativity, prioritizing my well-being and being more present in the day to day.
Looking back at my 2024 list, I’m proud of what I accomplished, even though plenty of items remain unchecked. It’s about enjoying the journey and not just ticking off goals for the sake of it. (You can find my 2024 reflections in my previous blog post here.)
As I’ve been pondering my 2025 goals, I realise many are similar to last year’s. Some are repeats as they are likely to become yearly wishes, while others are carry-overs from 2024 that I’ve yet to achieve. I’ll probably also continue to add to this list as new ideas emerge. Here’s what I have so far…
Finish My Patchwork Blanket: I’m slowly but surely knitting my way through a patchwork blanket. It’s my first big knit project but much less daunting than tackling something like a sweater as it’s just square by square.
Conquer a Patterned Hat: I want to develop my pattern-reading skills and have started with a supposedly easy enough hat project.
Knit a Sweater (the ultimate challenge): I want to step outside my comfort zone and eventually take on the challenge of knitting a sweater, although this will probably be done later on in the year once I’ve built up some confidence and practiced pattern reading some more.
Crochet A Blanket:I have just finished my first granny square blanket, and I’m so in love with it, I am eager to make more. I think I might like to make a few for Christmas Present this year.
Granny Square Cardigan: I keep coming across these beautiful granny square cardigan patterns and I can’t wait to give one a try.
Derwent Reservoir: Luis has wanted to take me for a walk there for ages. It’s only about a 35 minute drive, but I’ve always let my anxiety get the better of me as I know there’s no proper facilities there. However, it was his birthday the other week and I finally pushed myself to go.
High Force Waterfall Family Trip: Although I’ve been before, it was quite a while ago and we’ve not yet been as a family, so that’s one for this year.
Camping Getaways: We went camping near Holy Island last year and I loved it so much I’d like to make this another yearly tradition, starting with at least one family camping adventure.
Grow The Orchid Creative: I would like to be more organised this year, develop mu creative skills further and increase my Etsy offerings and sales.
Tattoo Time: I’ve been itching for some new ink for ages and would like to add some new finger tattoos to my collection this year.
Start A YouTube Channel: This has been something I’ve wanted to do for a very long time, but have always felt too overwhelmed to do. However, I want to let go of the nerves, finally learn some new creative skills, and just enjoy the process of video editing and documenting for fun.
A Holiday Abroad: I’d like to push myself again this year and overcome my travel anxiety to enjoy an overseas adventure.
Coastal Caravan Retreats: We’ve had a few lovely relaxing long weekends in a caravan in Cresswell up the Northumberland coast over the past year or so and love it so much that we want to make this another yearly goal.
Reading Goals: Although I only managed 17 books last year, I’m setting myself the same goal of 24 books this year.
Cultural Experiences: Attending at least 3 concerts, shows, or theatre performances.
Dance Lessons with Luis: This one’s been on my list for ages. I think learning to dance together will be a good laugh and a fun way to exercise together.
Learning Portuguese: I finally want to start learning Portuguese properly so that I can communicate better with Luis’s family.
A Holiday with my Bestie: Another yearly tradition and one I treasure – having a small getaway and some 1on1 time with my best friend!
National Trust Explorations: We’ve got our membership till May and I’d like to make the most of it. We’ve already visited Gibside and Crook Hall multiple times, but I’d still like to visit the places in the North East which we haven’t seen yet, namely: Cragside, Seaton Delaval, Washington Old Hall and Wallington.
4. Crochet a Blanket5. Visit Derwent Reservoir19. Visit Gibside
Have you also set yourself some goals for this year? What are your top 3 Bucketlist items? Do let me know in the comments down below – I’d love to know!
I’ll keep coming back to this post throughout the year ticking off what I’ve achieved, so if you see something stroked through , it’s been completed.
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