Friday 29 June 2012

Christmas in July Pattern Giveaway

What!! Christmas stuff already!! I hear you say!
When I used to write projects for craft magazines, I was totally immersed in Christmas by July, so I'm celebrating the fact that I DON'T have to think about it by giving away one of these patterns every Friday throughout July!

I designed these 7 ornaments at the beginning of November last year. It was a bit late for most knitters to get started on, if I'm honest, which is why I've re-listed the pattern now, to give everyone time to make them for this years festivities.



There is a santa with his sack, a snowman, an angel in flight, a stocking, a bauble, a star and Rudolf!
You get the instructions for all 7 in the pattern.

So, the details of the giveaway competition are as follows:
For one entry into the competition, you need to publicly follow my blog, if you don't already do so, and leave a message in the comments box below telling me which is your favourite ornament. Make sure you also leave an email address if its not on your profile, so i can send the pattern to it if you win!
For a second entry into the competition, just "like" my Facebook Page and leave another message below saying you are a fan.
For a third entry post a link to this giveaway on your blog, and again leave a message below to say that you've done so.
I need a separate message for each giveaway entry.

All of your entries will stay in the draw for each Friday throughout July, so the sooner you enter, the more chances you have of winning!
The draws will take place on Friday 6th July, Friday 13th July, Friday 20th July and Friday 27th July and I will announce the winners on this blog and on Facebook on each of those days.

Finally, this is the first time I've done one of these, so if you are a veteran at entering giveaways and can see I've made a fatal error somewhere, please let me know!!!

Wednesday 27 June 2012

Customer Photos

I have to tell you I have some really wonderful, friendly and generous customers!

I  often tell people I would love to see a photo of what they have made using my pattern. It is great to see someone else's colour choices and adaptations of the original pattern, and now I have a Facebook Page it is really easy for customers to post a picture of their finished (or even half finished or just started!) projects.
One of my most popular patterns is the Jaden Boots
I was thrilled to receive this photo that a customer had taken showing a cute little newborn sporting the pair that she had made! The baby whose name is Avery is just a few hours old in this photo!
Jessica from River City Knits who made these chose to knit the sole edging in a dark brown. It works so well! I love these.
Another dear customer, Debbie, chose to crochet an edging to her version of the Jaden Boot with a boucle type yarn, and used some really cute wooden buttons.

When I designed the Splish Splash Splosh Boots I chose to use bright colours - the colours you would find on rubber rain boots
But see how sweet they look when knitted up in pastel pink! (Thanks go to Louise Retter for this photo)
And finally I have a bonnet photo to show you.
My original design was knitted in pink with a cream flower and ties

Christy Harris recently posted this photo on my Facebook Page, showing us her lilac and white version. It looks so soft and feminine. I love it!

These customer photos provide a wonderful resource for other knitters who may be looking for inspiration. Thank you all so much for taking the time to post them. It is very much appreciated!


Monday 25 June 2012

Baby Mittens Knitting Pattern

Hi everyone, Here is another free knitting pattern for you!
You can tell we have been having really rubbish weather here in the UK as I'm still in winter mode with baby mittens! However, I've had a few customers like the idea of knitting something to go with a baby hat, so I thought the mittens would be ideal for this. Even in summer some babies need to wear scratch mittens, and these would do the job perfectly if knitted in cotton.
                                
They are knit on two needles and seamed. They are not knit in the round.
They are designed to go with my double knit weight hat patterns which are for sale on  etsy and craftsy
The first two sizes (0-6 months and 6-12 months) are thumbless mittens. The third size (1 – 2 years) has thumbs.
Instructions for the larger thumbless size are in brackets ( )

Materials needed:
25 g double knit /light worsted/8 ply yarn. (11wpi) for one pair of thumbless mittens
35g double knit /light worsted/8 ply yarn. (11wpi) for one pair of mittens with thumbs
Pair of 3.25mm (US size 3) knitting needles
Pair of 4mm (US size 6) knitting needles (main needles)

Gauge/Tension
22sts and 30 rows to 10x10cm (4x4”) square in stocking (stockinette) stitch on 4mm
(US Size 6) needles
Please take a little time to knit a tension square. If your square is too small, try knitting again using a bigger pair of needles. If your square is too big, try knitting again on smaller sized needles.

Abbreviations
K= Knit
K2tog = knit two stitches together
m1 = make one stitch – pick up the loop between the last and the next stitch and work into the back of this loop
P= Purl
tbl= through back loops
st(s) = stitch (es)
stocking st (stockinette)= 1 row knit, 1 row purl (knit row is the front of the work)
[ ] = work the instructions in the brackets by the number of time indicated

Instructions for thumbless mittens (0-6 months and 6-12 months)  (make 2)
Using 3.25mm (US size 3) needles, cast on 30(30) sts
1st Row: K2, [P2, K2] to end
2nd Row: P2, [K2, P2] to end
These two rows form the 2x2 rib pattern for the cuff. Repeat these two rows 10 times
Repeat the first row once more
Next Row: Rib to end, decreasing 1 st evenly across row for 1st size and increasing 1st  evenly across row for 2nd size    29(31sts)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
                               
Change to 4mm (US Size 6) needles and starting with a knit row work in stocking stitch for 16(20) rows.
Shape top
Next Row: K2tog tbl, K10(11), K2tog, K1, K2tog tbl, K10(11), K2tog    25(27)sts
Next Row: Purl
Next Row: K2tog tbl, K8(9), K2tog, K1, K2tog tbl, K8(9), K2tog            21(23)sts
Next Row: Purl
Next Row: K2tog tbl, K6(7), K2tog, K1, K2tog tbl, K6(7), K2tog            17(19)sts
Next Row: Purl
Cast off
                              
Sew up top and side seam. Fold back cuff.
                              
nstructions for Mittens with Thumb – Size 1 – 2 years
Right Mitten
**Using 3.25mm (US size 3) needles, cast on 30 sts.
1st Row: K2, [P2, K2] to end
2nd Row: P2, [K2, P2] to end
These two rows form the 2x2 rib pattern for the cuff. Repeat these two rows 11 times (24 rows in total)
                              
Change to 4mm needles (US Size 6) and starting with a knit row, work 2 rows stocking st.**
Shape thumb
Next Row: Knit 16, m1, K1, m1, knit 13                                       32 sts
Next Row: Purl
Next Row: Knit 16, m1, K3, m1, knit13                                         34sts
Next Row: Purl
Next Row: Knit 16, m1, k5, m1, Knit 13                                        36sts
Next Row: Purl
Next Row: Knit 16, m1, k7, m1, knit 13                                        38 sts
Next Row: Purl
Thumb
Next Row: K25, turn
Next Row: P9, turn
Working just on these 9 sts, work 6 rows in stocking st
Next Row: K2tog 4 times, K1                                                            5sts
Cut yarn, draw up through remaining sts and secure.
                             
With RS facing, rejoin yarn to the base of the thumb. Pick up and knit 2 sts (one either side of the base of the thumb), knit to end.                                                        31sts
                             
Starting with a purl row, work 9 rows stocking st.
Shape top
Next Row: K1, K2tog tbl, K10, K2tog, K1, K2tog tbl, K10, K2tog, K1   27sts
Next Row: Purl
Next Row: K1, K2tog tbl, K8, K2tog, K1, K2tog tbl, K8, K2tog, K1       23sts
Next Row: Purl
Next Row: K1, K2tog tbl, K6, K2tog, K1, K2tog tbl, K6, K2tog, K1       19sts
Next Row: Purl
Cast off
                                

Left Mitten
Work as for right mitten from ** to **
Shape thumb
Next Row: Knit 13, m1, K1, m1, knit 16                                                 32sts
Next Row: Purl
Next Row: Knit 13, m1, K3, m1, knit 16                                                 34sts
Next Row: Purl
Next Row: Knit 13, m1, k5, m1, Knit 16                                                 36sts
Next Row: Purl
Next Row: Knit 13, m1, k7, m1, knit 16                                                  38sts
Next Row: Purl
Thumb
Next Row: K22, turn
Next Row: P9, turn
Working just on these 9 sts, work 6 rows in stocking st
Next Row: K2tog 4 times, K1                                                                   5sts
Cut yarn, draw through remaining sts and secure.
With RS facing, rejoin yarn to the base of the thumb. Pick up and knit 2 sts (one either side of the base of the thumb, knit to end.                                                                 31sts
Starting with a purl row, work 9 rows stocking st.
Shape top
Next Row: K1, K2tog tbl, K10, K2tog, K1, K2tog tbl, K10, K2tog, K1  27sts
Next Row: Purl
Next Row: K1, K2tog tbl, K8, K2tog, K1, K2tog tbl, K8, K2tog, K1      23sts
Next Row: Purl
Next Row: K1, K2tog tbl, K6, K2tog, K1, K2tog tbl, K6, K2tog, K1      19sts
Next Row: Purl
Cast off
Join top and side seams. Turn back cuffs.
                                
I haven't given instructions for knitting a cord to attach these to each other, as many people consider them dangerous. You can buy clips in many baby stores to attach the mittens to cardies and coats, which is much safer.
If you do want to make a cord however, I estimate it should be about 70 cms for 0-6months size, 80 cms for 6-12 months size and 90 cms for 1 – 2 year size.

If you want this as a pdf you can download it here
Happy knitting!

Tuesday 19 June 2012

A Knitted Vegetable Garden


A few days ago, I took myself off for a day out o a garden show at the NEC Birmingham. I admired the gardens, decided on the plants I wanted to buy .... and then I stimbled upon this!! Yes, another garden - but this one was knitted!! All of it!! The path, the plants.the grass - even that amazing cockerel. Now this isn't a miniature garden, this is lifesize!
It was created by a craft group called Creative Moments from Birmimgham. It took 70 knitters 8000 hours to make (that's over 100 hours per person!)


They don't have a website unfortunately, but I'm sure you'll agree they are one talented bunch of people.
Can you spot that snail trying to decide where to have dinner.
There are peas growing up the wigwam, with espalier pears in the background.
These sunflowers are a lot taller than mine. And, finally, I've left my favourite till last. Isn't this just the cutest blue tit you have ever seen.

Monday 18 June 2012

Colour Therapy


Here in the UK we have had, what seems like, weeks and weeks of rain. We've had torrential storms with high winds, we've had times where the rain has just set in for the day, and we've had days where the weather just plain teases you with 20 minutes of sunshine, making you believe you can get outside and enjoy it, only to drench you as soon as you've gone 5 minutes down the road!
Like most other people I'm totally fed up with it. For garden lovers it's a disaster - what isn't rotting in the ground is being eaten by slugs! So this weekend I decided that if I couldn't have sunshine, then at least  I would have colour - and lots and lots of it!!
I have started on another quilt pattern for MackandMabel on Etsy.
I have had my eye on this particular Jelly Roll for a while now.

It's called Trade Winds by Moda. Of course I should have known that if I liked it, then so did a lot of other people too, so by the time I came to buy it, a lot of online shops  had sold out. In the end I did manage to get one at my local quilt store, The Cotton Patch in Hall Green, Birmingham, and at the time of writing this, they still had them in stock on line.
These strips are just so lovely and bright and full of the sunshine that is missing from our part of the world at the moment...... and what is even better... you don't need to apply sunscreen to enjoy them!!

Monday 11 June 2012

The Tale of the Rabbit's Trousers

It's funny how ideas evolve isn't it. They take their own time and develop in their own way. You never know where they are going to end up.
A few years ago I designed my own pattern for two knitted rabbits - identical apart from the ears. The pattern developed over many months. I hadn't designed a knitting patern before and it was a steep learning curve. The project got put away when it seemed impossible only to be brought out again a few weeks later. Finally I was happy with the result and I started to knit the rabbits to sell on Etsy.
I had boy rabbits and girl rabbits................
Some had upright ears, others floppy ears..............
I sold the rabbits along with baby hats and shoes and just as I do now with the patterns, a proportion of the profit went to Leukaemia Research. They sold well, but there is a big difference between knitting for pleasure and knitting to sell. I couldn't keep up, and arthritis and RSI started to develop in my hands and wrists. So, the obvious answer was to sell the pattern. I have since designed many knitting patterns, and I'm happy to say I've learned a lot and they don't all take me several months any more!
Then back at the start of this year a lovely lady called Abby asked me if I would knit her a rabbit and a hat for her baby that was due later in the spring. She wanted the rabbit to have dungarees and a hat that matched the baby's hat. I said I would. It was lovely to knit a rabbit again... especially knowing it was just one... I didn't have an order book full!
The rabbit's hat had a button just like the baby's
and was the same colour. It's the Harper Hat pattern in my Etsy store
A week ago Abby told me that she had had her baby and sent me a photo of him, all dressed up ready to leave hospital wearing the hat and with the rabbit by his side!
I love the fact that the rabbit is almost as big as he is!!!!!
It made me realise I ought to offer the pattern to everybody. Other people might want a rabbit and a baby hat to match!. It's written out in the post below this one.
Whilst I was typing it up, I had an idea. I enjoyed making this rabbit. I would enjoy making more - not too often, just as often as the hands allowed and so an idea was born. An idea which I think was actually instigated by my son's girlfriend Laura over at Louy Magroos (As I've just opened a second Etsy shop selling quilt and sewing patterns, we were discussing what I should do with all the quilts I will eventually accumulate, and she suggested I raffle them off via the blog, with donations going to my Justgiving page) - Sooooo, that is what I intend to do with rabbits! I shall make one every so often, and offer it as a giveaway, suggesting that the winner add a small donation to my Just Giving page
I LOVE my new idea! I hope you do too!

I'm sorry this was such a long post! If you've actually stayed the course and reached the end, I hope you were sitting comfortably with a cuppa in your hand!

Sunday 10 June 2012

Free Knitting Pattern for Rabbit Trousers


I've finally got this typed up as a free pattern for you !
It is just the instructions for the dungarees, hat and rucksack. To purchase the pattern for the rabbit go here or here

Edit: The dungarees pattern is now also available in Dutch, thanks to one of my readers Jeanette Kemp. If you would like the Dutch version the link here

As everyone stuffs their rabbit differently, the waistline for the trousers is quite generous. Test your knitting alongside your finished rabbit as you work – you may want to reduce the number of stitches in the trousers slightly.
The same goes for the hat – depending on how well you stuffed the head and where you placed the ears, you may have to adjust the number of stitches you cast on and the position of the ear slots.

The accessories are not suitable for a rabbit that is to be given to a very young child as the small parts could present a choking hazard.


Dungarees for Robert and Rosie Rabbit
Suggested yarns:
The pattern uses (US - light worsted weight) (UK - double knit) (Australia - 8ply) yarn

Materials needed
20 grams [65 yards] light worsted/double knit/8ply yarn for dungarees
Oddments of same weight yarn for contrast pockets, hat and rucksack. (As all makes of yarn vary, this is an estimate only)
Pair of 4mm (US size 6) knitting needles
Stitch holder
Three 1cm or 1½ cm (1/2”) buttons
Shirring elastic for the waist of the trousers
Abbreviations
cast off  = bind off in US
garter stitch = every row knit
K = knit
K1,P1 rib = knit the 1st stitch, purl the 2nd, repeat these two stitches to the end of the row
K2tog = knit two stitches together 
P2tog = purl two stitches together
st(s) = stitch(es)
stocking  st =  1 row knit, 1 row purl (this is stockinette in US)
yfwd = yarn forward (bring yarn to the front between your two needles, then take the yarn over the top of the needles so that a new stitch is formed)
[   ] = work the instructions in the brackets by the number of times indicated
Gauge (Tension)
Tension is not important for these items, but if you like to know, it should be about 22sts and 44 rows to 10x10cm (4x4”) square in stocking stitch on 4mm (US Size 6) needles
Dungarees
Starting at the right leg, cast on 28sts
Work 2 rows garter stitch
Work 14 rows stocking stitch*
Break yarn and leave these stitches on a spare needle/stitch holder
Repeat the above instructions to * for the left leg, but leave the stitches on your needle.
Next Row: K 28sts from the left leg, then continue across the 28sts from the right leg  56sts                                                                  
Starting with a purl row, continue in stocking stitch for 15 rows.
Work 2 rows in K1, P1 rib
Next Row: Cast off 22sts, K11sts (you will have 12sts on the needle), cast off 22sts
With wrong side facing, rejoin yarn to remaining 12sts
Next Row: K2, P8, K2
Next Row: Knit
Repeat the last two rows 3 times
Work 3 rows garter stitch
Cast off

Dungaree Straps (make 2)
Cast on 4 sts
Garter stitch 2 rows
Next row: K2, yfwd, K2tog
Garter stitch 40 rows
Cast off

Left Pocket
Using contrast yarn, cast on 8sts
Work 2 rows stocking stitch
Next Row: Cast off 2sts, K to end              6sts
Next Row: Purl
Next Row: K2tog, knit to end                     5sts
Next Row: Purl
Next Row: K2tog, knit to end                     4sts
Next Row: Purl
Next Row: Knit
Cast off
Right Pocket
Using contrast yarn, cast on 8sts
Work 3 rows stocking stitch
Cast off 2sts, purl to end                             6sts
Next Row: Knit to last 2 stitches, K2tog   5sts
Next Row: Purl
Next Row: Knit to last 2 stitches, K2tog   4sts
Next Row: Purl
Next Row: Knit
Cast off

Backpack
Cast on 12sts
Work 2 rows in garter st
Next Row: K6,yfwd,K2tog,K to end
Work 3 rows garter st
Work 16 rows stocking st
Work 4 rows garter st
Work 10 rows stocking st
Work 4 rows garter st
Cast off

Backpack Straps (make 2)
Cast on 40 sts
Cast off

Hat
Cast on 45sts
Knit 2 rows garter stitch
Next Row: K19, turn, purl to end
Working on just these 19sts work 4 rows stocking st.
Place stitches on a stitch holder and cut yarn
Rejoin yarn to remaining 26sts
Next Row: K7, turn, purl to end
Working on just these 7sts knit 4 rows stocking st.
Place stitches on a stitch holder and cut yarn
Rejoin yarn to remaining 19sts and knit to end. Turn, purl to end
Work 4 rows stocking st. Cut yarn.
Place  these stitches and the ones from the holder back onto one needle.
Rejoin yarn and knit across all 45sts.


Starting with a purl row, work 3 rows stocking stitch
Next Row: K1,[K2tog] to end 23sts
Purl 1 row
Next Row: K1,[K2tog] to end 12sts


Next Row: [P2tog] to end 6sts
Break yarn, thread through remaining stitches, draw up and secure.



To Make Up
Dungarees
With right side uppermost, fold the left and right hand sides in so that they meet in the middle




Sew together from the waist to the crotch. Next sew the inside leg seams, working from the base of one leg through the crotch, to the base of the other leg.
Turn right way out. Sew the straps to the back.
Run a row of shirring elastic through the ribbing at the waist and draw up a little. (Make sure they can still be taken on and off easily!)
Attach the two pockets to the front and two buttons to the top of the bib.
Backpack
With right sides together, sew the side seams.
Sew the two ends of each strap together to make two loops. Secure both loops to the back of the backpack.
Attach a button to the front.
Hat
Sew the back seam. Sew in loose ends. Make a pom-pom and attach.
To make such a small pom-pom, first cut the piece of yarn that secures all the strands and tape it to a marker pen. Wind yarn round and round the pen.
When you have wound enough yarn, un-tape the horizontal piece of yarn and tie in a tight knot around the wound on yarn.
Cut through the wound yarn, fluff up the pom-pom and trim to a nice shape.
I hope your rabbit loves his new clothes!
Why not share them by posting a photo on my Facebook page or tag me on Instagram @lovefibres.
Please use the hashtag #lovefibrespattern

If you prefer to have this pattern as a PDF download, it is available here

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