Tiny Knitted Gift Bags and Sparkly Sacks

These tiny bags are great for hiding treats on the tree

Image courtesy of Simply Knitting Magazine

I was luck enough to receive a pack of Lion Brand, Bonbons to try.  For those of you yet to come across these assorted packets of yarnie fun you can read some more about them in my previous blog post

I thought these Party Bonbon’s were just crying out to be Christmassy.  So the mini treat bags were born, not under a star and greeted by Three Wisemen, but here in my studio, greeted by cuppa and a digestive biscuit!

Disclaimer… I did not write the comment on the image that was the saucy sorts at Simply Knitting!

You can find the pattern inside the Hand Knit Christmas supplement which is free with issue 125 of Simply Knitting Magazine.  You can download your copy here.

 

As always I would love to see your finished projects on my Facebook page and on Ravelry.

Mr Not So Frosty – Knitted Doorstop

With his jaunty top hat and cosy scarf this festive chap will hold the door open for your guest. Classic cables add some interest to your knitting, while his simple features and accessories give him such a distinct personality he will soon be part of the family.

Mr Not So Frosty is worked in the round in chunky yarn, making him a super quick knit.  He would make a perfect gift (never say I don’t help you out with your Christmas planning).

You can find the pattern inside the Hand Knit Christmas supplement which is free with issue 125 of Simply Knitting Magazine.  You can download your copy here.

 

As always I would love to see your finished projects on my Facebook page and on Ravelry.

 

 

 

Elf Yourself Knitted Christmas Jumper

 

Of course I have designed a silly Christmas Jumper for the man in your life.  Introducing my Elf Yourself Sweater.

 

 

Elf Yourself

Image courtesy of Simply Knitting Magazine

 

This charming sweater is a traditional drop shoulder sweater with an Intarsia Elf motif.  To make this a little easier on yourself I highly recommend swiss darning the belt buckle and black outlining on rather than using Intarsia.

The pattern is written for chest sizes 55, 58.5 and 63.5cm which is approximately 3-5 years.

You can find the pattern inside the Hand Knit Christmas supplement which is free with issue 125 of Simply Knitting Magazine.  You can download your copy here.

 

As always I would love to see your finished projects on my Facebook page and on Ravelry.

 

Santa Baby Hat & Sweater

I know how you all secretly love a good Christmas jumper!  I have been a busy girl creating three such delights for your little people.

Today I would like to introduce you to…… drum roll please…

Santa Baby

Images courtesy of Simply Knitting

This is a traditional style drop shoulder sweater, worked from the bottom up.  It is a very straight forward knit and would suit a keen beginner.  If you would like to make life even easier for yourself,  I recommend that you swiss darn the buckle details on, rather than intarsia.

The pattern is written for chest sizes 43, 45.5, 48, 53 and 55cm.  Which is approximately ages six months to 3 years.

This little chap looks super cute in his matching Santa hat.  The hat is worked in the round from the bottom up with simple shaping.  The pattern is written for three sizes (35.5, 40.5 & 45.5cm circumference)

You can find the pattern inside the Hand Knit Christmas supplement which is free with issue 125 of Simply Knitting Magazine.  You can download your copy here.

 

As always I would love to see your finished projects on my Facebook page and on Ravelry.

Happy Knitting X

Halloween Knits, Monsters, Eyeball Cushions, Bats….

I love designing for Halloween,  I love the colours, I love the fun, I love getting to be as silly as my imagination will allow.  This is the third year running I have been asked by Simply Knitting Magazine to design a collection of projects for the Scary Season.  I have had the same model for each shoot and it has been lovely seeing her grow into a young lady.

 

Kitty Ears Hair Clips

Crochet Black Cats and Pumpkins

I Scream

 

This year I have four Halloween projects featured in issue 125 of Simply Knitting Magazine.

Eye See you Cushion

Images courtesy of Simply Knitting Magazine

This comedy cushion will get a giggle or two as you hide from the Fright Night Movie.  Knit in the round from the centre out in chunky yarn, this project works up super fast.

Monster Mash

With their furry yarn and big green eyes, Simply Knitting said these were possibly the best slippers they had ever seen! I was thrilled to read that *blushes*.

These cute critters are worked by holding a strand of aran yarn together with the furry yarn to give the slippers a nice sturdy feel and ensure you get plenty of monster miles out of them!

Go Batty

Go Batty for these charming knitted bats, with their Velcro fastenings these would look great just about anywhere!  I am looking forward to getting them back and putting them on Little Misses bike!

Finally,

I scream

Can’t have your hands getting cold whilst you indulge in your favourite treat.  Worked in chunky yarn in the round you can easily make this in an evening.  It would make an excellent gift ;)

I hope you have enjoyed these as much as I did designing and making them.

You can get your hands on a copy of the magazine here

As always I would love to see your finished projects on my Facebook page and on Ravelry.

Happy Knitting X

 

 

 

Squishy Hat & Cowl in gorgeous Eden Cottage Yarn

The second design featured on the cover of Let’s Knit Magazine issue 84, was my snuggly hat and cowl set.  Knit using the most gorgeously squishy Langdale Superwash Aran, from Eden Cottage it is lovely to knit and luxurious to wear.

Keeping Cosy

Images Courtesy of Let’s Knit Magazine

 This is a clever little stitch, it uses a simple technique to create a stunning mock cable effect which is so on trend this season, (and no pesky cable needle needed).

This big cosy cowl can easily be adapted to any length desired.

You can get your hands on the pattern here….

As always I would love to see your finished projects on my Facebook page and on Ravelry.

Happy Knitting X

Jamiesons of Shetland Fingerless Mittens

Let’s start with a slap on the wrists for me,  first rule of blogging…. What happens in blog club, stays…. no that’s not it!  Post regularly, that’s it.  Well as I said last week it has been a mad blur of deadlines and now I am able to share some of the exciting projects I have been working on.  I will over the coming days be doing a good old-fashioned show and tell.

Where to begin….

I was an over excited mess when I first saw the cover of issue 84 of Let’s Knit Magazine, why?  Well, not one but two projects on the front cover.

The first were a pair of fingerless (not gingerless as my incompetent fingers just typed) mittens.  I loved knitting these, I must confess it was the first time I had worked with pure Shetland wool.  What an experience,  I can’t recommend using Jamiesons of Shetland enough.  The yarn made working stranded colourwork a total joy, each strand happily nesting down next to its neighbour and staying there, no slipping about.  Working with this yarn I could finally understand how people could be brave enough to cut into their knitting in the name of steeking.

Anyway I digress…..

Perfect Plaid Mittens

Image courtesy of Let’s Knit Magazine

Worked in a monochrome palette with a splash of vibrant blue, why not customise the colour splash to co-ordinate with your wardrobe?

You can get your hands on the pattern here….

As always I would love to see your finished projects on my Facebook page and on Ravelry.

Happy Knitting X

Thousands of crochet cuties for the Guinness World Record attempt

August was such a hectic month, school was out and I had planned some quality relaxation time, plenty of PJ days and long sleep ins. Reality was the tail end of the Christmas deadline rush. The magazines work many months in advance and I spend my life in two time zones, real time and magazine time.

There were plenty of pj days, knitting in pj days and even some crochet in pj days. Crochet is now accounting for a third of my commissions. So lovely to see this craft thriving along side knitting and the knit/crochet divide being eroded.

The remainder of the days were spent getting Little Miss ready for her first day at secondary school. It is amazing how much she as grown during the holidays! Many, many, many items of uniform to be named, oh now I love that! Little Miss has survived her first few days at her new school and loves it, particularly the meals, that’s my girl!

Amongst this hive of activity I was asked to attend the counting of the Guinness Book of World records attempt for the most crochet sculptures in one place. What an honour, the original record stood at  4,061! Girls at The Craft Club put a call out for crochet pieces with the theme of Enid Blytons Faraway Tree and the response was jaw dropping.

Hundreds of bunnies…………

Strawberries…..

Owls

Mushrooms…..

Apples……

Acorns….

And even this tiny wee duck!

Laid out in the field for counting before being assembled in the garden of Little Havens Childrens Hospice for the enjoyment of the children and their families.

The judges, including my friend Sarah Neal aka Incogknitter  and myself counted an earth shattering 13,388 crochet items!

Here is a link to a wonderful photo album of beautiful contributions.

Crochet Infinity Scarves

As I have mentioned before, it is always a challenge to keep things a secret from you. Early in the year I was desperate to tell you all about my next steps into book publishing.

Stitch Craft, Create approached me and asked if I would like to contribute to their Crochet Infinity Scarves book, I jumped at the chance! I designed three scarves for the collection…

Day Dream in Lace

Floaty and delicious

Perfectly Plaid

Just perfect for guys as well as gals!

Arch Window

Gothic Inspired piece in contemporary colours.

All three scarves can easily be adapted to which every length you prefer.

You can download this book from Stitch Craft Create or Amazon. If, like me, you prefer a physical copy, you can get your hands on one here from Amazon.

I would love to see your finished projects on my Facebook page.

Images courtesy of Stitch, Craft Create