Twisted Love Sock Knitting Pattern FREE for a limited period

I mentioned a while back that I have been busy working on a mini collection of sock patterns, well it is nearly here.  You may have seen some of pictures of yarn and beads on my social media pages and the fun I have been having choosing which beads, for which yarn…..

 

In readiness for it’s release I have designed a FREE sock pattern to entice you try beading with a crochet hook for yourselves.  These beautiful cable and bead socks are simple to knit yet stunning to look at! New to beading with a cable needle? Fear not there are tutorials included in the pattern. (Be warned though, once you start you will be adding beads to all your projects!)

Not a fan of beads? Simply omit the beads and you will still have yourself a pair of very pretty socks.

 

For a limited period only you can download this pattern for FREE if you sign up to my newsletter here

To knit these socks, you will need to be familiar with top down socks construction with a heel flap.
Be able to;
sl 1 – slip next stitch purlwise
ktbl -knit next st through back loop, twisting stitch
ssk – slip 1, slip 1, knit these 2 slipped sts together
k2tog – knit next two stitches together to decrease one stitch
yo – yarn over
CDD – slip next two stitches together as if to knit, knit next stitch, pass slipped sts over
Bead (see ‘Knitting with beads’ instructions included in pattern)

Yarn:
Cascade Heritage Solids, shade 5649, Iris, (one 100g skein). 75% merino, 25% nylon. 100g/400m/436yds
Needles:
Double pointed 2.5mm (US 1.5) US or circular needles for working in the round
Crochet hook:
0.75mm (USA 13) for beading only
Also needed:
Size 6 seed beads, Debbie Abrahams, Colour 337 (approx. 72 beads)
Stitch markers
Cable needle
Tension:
32 sts x 46 rows = 10cm x 10cm (4 in x 4 in) using 2.5mm needles and stocking stitch (blocked)
To save time, take time to check gauge.
Pattern Notes:
The pattern uses the crochet hook method of apply beads. (Beads can easily be omitted from this design).
Sizing Notes:
The large cables make the sock a snug fit, if you are between sizes in the chart below, I suggest you opt for the larger size.
To choose the best fit, measure the foot around the widest point of the foot and knit the size closest to the ‘to fit foot circumference’ size.

Finished foot circumference: 18.5 cm / 7.25 in (20 cm / 8 in, 21.5 cm / 8.5 in, 23 cm / 9 in)
To fit foot circumference: 20 cm / 8 in (21.5 cm / 8.5 in, 23 cm / 9 in, 24.5 cm / 9.5 in)

Just in case you missed it, the link for the newsletter sign up is  here

I would love to see your finished projects on my Ravelry page…

 

A Plethora of Purple Scarves…

Well it has been a busy start to 2015 for me and I realise that I am somewhat behind with updating my blog (naughty knitting blogger!).  But I wanted to bring the blog upto date and share some of the designs that have been released during the past couple of months.

The December Issue of Simply Knitting features a plethora of my creations, all designed to keep you cosy during the chilly months.  See if you can guess my favourite colour?

There were not one, not two, but four scarves featured in this issue….

Luxurious, which is a chunky knit scarf worked in Stylecraft, Tibet yarn.  It is a quick knit and can be worn many ways as you simply use the lace eyelets as buttonholes.

 

Preppy Chic, this is another chunky knit with cables that run along the outside edge, to give this scarf some interesting shaping.  Worked in Stylecraft, Life Super Chunky, this really is a quick knit.

Rolling Waves, this little beauty is worked using Stylecraft, Senses Lace.  The yarn is so light and fluffy I can’t recommend trying this yarn out enough.  One ball of yarn is all that is needed for this cleverly crafted scarf, the yarn is available in some really pretty colours.  I am looking forward to seeing your finished versions of this project.

I am a big fan of self patterning yarn, it gives an instant look of complexity to your knitting with no extra effort.  I like to team the self patterning yarn with a solid coloured contrasting yarn for some extra wow.  So image my delight when West Yorkshire Spinners developed their Signature Birds range of sock yarn.  The self patterning yarn is available in Wood Pigeon, Blue Tit, Bull Finch, Owl, Pheasant and Mallard.  Each yarn has a coordinating solid coloured yarn.  These ‘Taking Wing’ mittens shown above are worked using Blue Tit and Cardamon.

 

Yes you spotted it, I said four scarves.  This linen stitch cowl was a free pattern for subscribers.  It only takes one ball of Stylecraft, Vision DK and is available to download from the Simply Knitting website here.

Happy Knitting everyone, as always I would love to see your finished projects on my Facebook page.

You can download a copy of issue 127 Simply Knitting here.

Say I love you mostest, with my Free Love Heart Knitting Pattern

When I was asked by Sarah at Let’s Knit to design a hanging heart for the magazine I jumped at the chance.  I am as some of you will know a hopeless romantic.  I wanted to make something a little bit special for Doug to say thank you for everything he does to support me in this crazy job I have.

Thank you Doug for….

• the endless cups of tea
• the blog posts when I am too busy or tired to write
• the tech support
• the school runs
• the sitting around in yarn shops
• your honest opinion

But really what I want to say is, Thank you so very much for being mine xxxxxxxxx

 

For those of you have not yet reached for the sick bowl,  here is the pattern.

‘I Love You Mostest’, Knitted Heart Pattern

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You will need:

• 25g of red DK weight yarn
• 10g of white DK weight yarn
• 10g of pink DK weight yarn
• 4mm needles
• Two 4mm DPN’s (for I-cord)
• Toy stuffing
• 40cm garden wire
• Black felt

 

Finished size:

12cm tall x 13 wide

 

Heart – make two pieces

Using red yarn and 4mm needles, cast on one st

Row 1: knit in to front, back and front [three sts]

Row 2: purl

Row 3: k1, m1, knit to last st, m1, k1 [five sts]

Row 4: purl

Repeat rows 3 & 4 until you have 27 sts ending after a WS row

Top shaping:

Row 1: knit

Row 2: purl

Row 3: knit

Row 4: p13 turn

Work on these sts only as follows:

Next row: sl 1, k1, psso, knit to last three sts, k2tog, k1. [11 sts]

Next row: purl

Rep last two rows until five sts rem, ending after a WS row

Cast off

With WS facing, rejoin red yarn to rem 14 sts, work on these sts only as follows:

Next row: cast off one st pwise, purl to end [13 sts]

Next row: k1, sl 1, k1, psso, knit to last three sts, k2tog, k1. [11 sts]

Next row: purl

Rep last two rows until five sts rem, ending after a WS row

Cast off

 

To make up:

With WS facing, sew edges of two heart pieces together, stuffing as you go. Make a hanging loop by plaiting together strands of yarn, or working a crochet chain.

Embroider initials using straight stitches and white yarn.

Using 4mm DPN’s and pink yarn make two i-cords, one 5cm long and one 3cm long. Stitch 5cm i-cord to bottom left of heart and 3cm i-cord to top right of heart. Using photo as a guide. Cut one triangle and two ‘V’ shapes out of black felt and stitch in place on i-cords to make an arrow. Double over garden wire and push through centre of bottom, i-cord through heart and centre of top i-cord. Trim wire as necessary.

 

Not one but two great offers just for Halloween

Well the spooky season is well upon us now, the world seems to have taken on a distinctly orange and green hue.  If like me you are a fan of skullies I have not one but two great offers for you, My Not Just for Halloween socks pattern is only £1.50!

 

Not Just for Halloween Socks

These cute socks are designed to be slightly slouchy for maximum comfort, the pattern is written for sizes:

Small – shoe size 1-4, ankle circumference 19cm
Medium – shoe size 4-7, ankle circumference 23cm
Large – shoe size 8-11, ankle circumference 28cm

The skully motif is applied using a crochet hook to knit the beads into the fabric as you go, no spending hours threading beads on to your yarn!! There is of course a link to a fantastic video tutorial on applying beads with a crochet hook included in the pattern. There is also a link to get you started knitting socks (just in case you need it).

You will need:
YARN: opal 4ply pullover and sock yarn in Orange, shade 5181
CROCHET HOOK: 0.75mm
DPN’s: 2.75mm
BEADS: Size 8 seed beads (I recommend, Debbie Abrahams, shade 605). One pack.

You can download the pattern here.

Please feel free to message me if you have any queries regarding this pattern.

Not inspired by the socks, then why not take a look at my Halloween eBook collections:

I said there were two offers….

I am running a BUY ONE GET ONE FREE OFFER, no coupon or voucher required, simply purchase Frightful Knits Volume Two and you will get Volume One for FREE. 

Frightful Knits Volume Two, a collection of six patterns, including one crochet bunting pattern.

Frightful Knits Vol 2

Black Cup Cosey

Trick or Treat

Spider Pin Cushion

Frankenstein Mittens

Pumpkin Purse

Cat and Pumpkin Bunting

Crochet Bunting

Available to download here for only £4.95

The link will provide you with full pattern information.

 

Frightful Knits Volume One, a collection of six knitting patterns.

Frightful Knits Vol one

Cats Ears Hair Clips

Pumpkin Trick or Treat Bowl

Knitted eye balls

Ghost Toy

Spider Headband

Striped wristbands

Ghost Toy

Eyes Out

Cats Ears

This collection is available to download here for only £4.50

The link will provide you with full pattern information.

I hope I have inspired you to pick up your needles, as always I would love to see what you have been making on my Facebook page.

Magic Knitted Cupcake Pattern, now available for free

To celebrate the new series of The Great British Bake Off, the lovely ladies at Let’s Knit Magazine are offering my Magic Cupcake pattern as a free download.

There is nothing we knitters love more than to relax with a WIP and a tasty treat.  Why not swap the sugar-soaked version for a calorie-free knitted cupcake? Cherry Blossom is a fab way of making your everyday notions look cute and tidy. Hidden beneath the knitted surface is a retractable tape measure, and while the frosted pink icing can be used as a handy pin cushion, the pastel cupcake case can also be removed and used to hold stitch markers and other notions.

Nifty, don’t you think? These would make fantastic gifts for your crafty friends.  Get your gift knitting underway now, no excuses!

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

Download my Knitted Remembrance Poppy Brooch pattern for free

Raise money for the Royal British Legion by knitting my Poppy Brooches and selling them.

Mark the centenary of the First World War by knitting this simple poppy pattern using DK yarn from your stash. The pattern is so easy, even beginner knitters will be able to master it in no time.  Download the pattern for free here

What to learn more about supporting the Royal British Legion here

Friday Freebie crochet pattern for your sneaker makeover – Violet

We have come to the last of our crochet flowers (well for now).  But what better way to end than with Violet.  Named after my wonderful Nan, my woolly inspiration, my how to be the nicest person you can be role model and bestest person ever!

 

Friday Freebie, meet Tiny Tina, crochet pattern for your sneaker makeover

How are you this fine Friday?

This weeks Friday treat is Tiny Tina,  she is super cute, but better still sooooooooo fast to make.  Tiny Tina also makes great hairclips.  Can you suggest anything else we could use Tiny Tina for?

Tiny Tina

Freebie Friday, the next crochet flower for your sneaker makeover – Viola

Hi my yarn loving friends, how are you?

What have you been making to keep you out of the sun and excuse you from the gardening?  Need another excuse to make pretty things?  Well……………… today is Friday and what better way to celebrate than with a new pair of shoes?  Almost!

Meet Viola, she is a little bolder than her little sister Vi, but not quite as loud as her big sis Violet!

My Wedding Mice knitting pattern freebie!

Looking for an unusual wedding gift?  Let’s Knit Magazine have posted my Wedding Mice knitting pattern for free on their website.  Why not personalise your wedding mice?  I would just love to see your finished mice on my Facebook page.

Just click the here and sign up to the Let’s Knit website and you will be able to download your copy of the pattern for free.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bear Necessities Crochet Pattern for Clip on Bear Ears

Katie came home from school last week and announced, “I NEED a bear costume,  not a full on proper bear costume, but STUFF!”  Those of you with knowledge of ten year olds will know that the word STUFF is inserted into every sentence regardless of the context.  Anyway, after much questioning I discovered what she actually required was some bear like features for the part she is playing in a performance this week.

So I sat down with my hook and yarn very late Monday night determined to create a pair of clip on bear ears and this is what I made….

The ears are actually very simple to make, you could change the colours and make polar bear ears etc.   I am sharing my pattern with you so that you too can produce animal ears at very short notice. (instructions are written in UK Crochet terms)