You know you got value for money when....

When you get four garments out of your One Skein Wonder pattern. Now that is US$5 well spent.


And you get four items out of 2 skeins of 100purewool worsted merino. Now that is a lovely way to spend $30.

So proud of my big guy!

Bevan has been trying to learn to ride a minibike (at long last). We have had the peewee since he was born - just a little enthausiastic on my Dad's part. After a poor try at Grandma and Pa's resulting in grazes and a very sore Pa, Bevan was very hesitant to have another go, but we went out to a friend's property and he overcame his fears and had another go!

I can't tell you how proud I am of him for getting back on and having another dip after a failure. he is growing up so fast (insert soppy music here).

What best to do when it is stinking hot?

Sew of course! I have to say that I actually don't mind the heat. I rather like the change of seasons and the fact that here they are distinctly very different. Unfortunately my sewing room is upstairs so it was rather a lot warmer than downstairs but it was still nice to get some sewing in. Well it was nicer before my overlocker decided to have a fit (anyone want to tell me why my Janome keeps breaking the bottom looper) but I carried on and produced this......

It is a reversible tote bag with a cross tie top. I am quite in love with the design that was inspired by a tote a friend just bought. I also made a number of drawstring bags to go with it for the recipients many pairs of dance shoes.

My Camera Case

Tonight I had a little 100purewool left over from a OSW and decided that a little camera case for my new Canon might be in order.

Before I put down the pattern can I just indulge in a small explaination. I don't publish my patterns because I think they are the greatest patterns ever written or to feather my own ego. Mainly I started doing it because of Ravelry. I have to confess that I find it immensely frustrating to see an FO that I think looks really cool and when I look up the project it is listed as a "Personal Pattern, not found in Ravelry". If I like it I want to knit it! So given that this frustrated buggery out of me, when I started doing a few of my own things I decided that I would publish the patterns just in case someone wanted to know how they were done.

Thanks for that...

Materials

About 25g of yarn

DPNs of the appropriate size: DK yarn 4mm
Worsted 5mm
Bulky 6mm

Darning needle

Tape measure

Gauge is 22/16/12 sts / 10 cm for DK/Worsted/Bulky yarns.

Pattern

All the calculations here are for worsted weight yarn, for DK yarn, wherever it says to multiply by 16 instead multiply by 22. Similarly if you wanted to use bulky yarn multiply by 12. All measurements are in cm. The calculations for my case are for a Canon A550.

CO the circumference/10 x 16 + 4 sts. Make sure that this number is divisible by 3, round up if necessary. My case was a 36 st cast on.

Round 1: Knit

Round 2: Purl

Round 3: Knit

Round 4: Purl

Knit rounds until work measures 4 cm.

Eyelet round: *K1, YO, K2 tog* repeat from * to * for entire round.

Knit rounds until the work measures the Length of camera + depth of camera from the eyelet round. (12 cm in my case)

Calculate for Decreases.

Calculate Height / 10 x 16 sts (side a)

Calculate side b as (total stitches – (side a x 2) – 4) divided by 2

Example for my version side a = 6cm / 10 x 16 = 10 sts (rounded up)

Side b = (36 sts – 20 sts – 4 sts) = 12 stitches / 2 = 6 sts

Decreases:

Round 1: ssk, k side a -4 sts (6sts in my case), k2tog, k1, ssk, k side b – 4 sts (2sts in my case), k2tog, k1, ssk, k side a -4 sts (6sts in my case), k2tog, k1, ssk, k side b – 4 sts (2sts in my case), k2tog, k

Next Round: As above but with 2 less stitches between ssk and k2tog – in my case : ssk, k4, k2tog, k1, ssk, k2tog, k1, ssk, k4, k2tog, k1, ssk, k2tog, k1

Continue until there are only two stitches on the shortest side of your base. Graft remaining stitches across the bottom.

Weave in ends.

Thread i-cord, ribbon or just about anything through the eyelets.

Modifications thanks to Sam!

Sam used this pattern to make this camera case but did it slightly differently!

Sam used a provisional cast on and worked from the base up. To do this calculate the total number of stitches you would need to cast on if you were doing it the original way. Use the calculations for the decreases as per the original pattern. provisionally cast on the side a number of stitches, knit double the number of rows as stitches calculated for side b and then pick up the correct number of side b stitches as you carry on in the round. Hope that make sense. if it doesn't just do it top down!

This pattern (and modifications) are provided free for your own personal use. You may knit it for yourself, as a gift, a swap or for charity. This pattern is not intended for commercial use. Any intended commercial use requires permission in writing.

Handmade Christmas

Well another one has come and gone! There were dozens of amazing gifts but I thought I would share some of the handmade ones that we got this year.

There is something special about handmade gifts. It is about the time and love that goes into them and the fact that they are one-off things that will never be produced in just the same manner again. I have already shown you my beautiful socks from Sam, so here are a few other gems that graced our Christmas.

Mum "whipped" these hats up for the boys using these charts for the two Stars Wars ones. I am not sure where she got the chart for the Thomas hat but it was originally for a jumper and was modified for the hat. The boys loved them. Bevan wore his for hours even though it was fairly warm.

And just for interest sake, this is what the inside of Thomas looks like. I told Mum not to bother weaving in the ends and I am sure you can see why...

The last item of show and tell is the amazing Gingerbread house that my Brother's partner Patricia put together. She has done these before for us (she assures us that it is essential due to her German heritage) but had declared that she did not have time this year. The German side got the better of her and apparently she put this together Christmas Eve. She then carried it on the tram and train for two hours. Now that is dedication!

The gifts that I made went over well. Sam and Tania told me they loved their project bags and I must confess to being pretty happy myself with how they turned out.

The knitted things for the girls were well received as were the dresses. Tayla put her shrug on and refused to take it off! I have photos but forgot to ask their parents about publishing them. maybe another day. Unfortunately I made Patricia's OSW a little small but I will fix that and send it down to her. Brett and Ant seemed happy with their woollies and Ant was particularly pleased with my last minute ear warmer for Holly - apparently it was just what was needed. Gran seemed to think her washcloth was pretty but I am not sure she realised I made it.

Oh well.....

Quick as a flash Sundresses

I just whipped up these two little sundresses for our Goddaughters this afternoon. Notwithstanding the several rethreadings of the overlocker, they took me half an hour each to make. So quick and easy were they that I decided to do my first ever sewing tutorial (look at me go all crafty before Christmas).

Well here goes nothing!

Step 1: Measure your child! You need the measurement of their widest part (usually the hips), the distance from the top of their shoulder to their underarm, and the distance from their shoulder to where you would like the hem of the dress.

Step 2: Cut two rectangles of fabric that are the hip measurement plus 7 cm by the shoulder to hem measurement plus 6cm.


Step 3: Sew the side seams from the bottom to a spot that is the shoulder to underarm measurement plus 4cm from the top. You will note in the picture that I marked this point with a pin and stopped there.

Step 4: Press open the sides of the top opening level with the seam. Once you have done this, press under the cut edge to make a neat folded hem around the armhole.


Step 5: Sew the armhole hem going down one side, across the bottom of the opening and up the other side. I actually went back and forth a few times across the base of the opening for added strength.


Step 7: Repeat steps 5 and 6 for the other armhole. ;)

Step 8. Make a casing across the top front and top back of the dress by pressing over 2cm and then 2cm again and sewing close to the fold. I also like to snip my corners as shown in the photo to stop them showing.


Step 9: At this stage you might like to overlock, zigzag or french seam the side seams depending on the type of fabric you have used. Once you have done that press and sew the hem of the dress and the hard work is done! I like to do a rolled hem but you could as easily overlock the edge and hem.


Step 10: Thread ribbon or other ties through the top casing. I entertained doing some lovely ties from the same fabric but really couldn't be bothered. You could do this, use cord or really anything else you liked.

Step 11: Tie the ribbons at the shoulders and voila!This pattern is provided free for your own personal use. You may knit it for yourself, as a gift, a swap or for charity. This pattern is not intended for commercial use. Any intended commercial use requires permission in writing.

Hopefully the last of the Christmas Knitting

Toddler Ear Warmer

About 50g Worsted Weight Yarn

6mm DPNS

Darning Needle

Gauge: 16sts/10cm

Finished circumference: approximately 44cm

Co 72

Join in the round

Rounds 1 -4: 2x2 rib

Round 5: Knit all stitches

Round 6: Knit to 4 sts before the end of the last needle, turn

Round 7: Sl1 purl to 4 sts before end of first needle, turn

Round 8: Sl1, Knit to 2 sts before last turn, turn

Round 9: Sl1, purl to 2 sts before last turn, turn

Round 10: Sl1, Knit to 3 sts before the end of the last needle, turn

Round 11: Sl1 purl to 3 sts before end of first needle, turn

Round 12: Sl1, K to end of round, turn

Round 13: Sl1, P to end of round, turn

Rounds 14 – 15: Knit all stitches.

Rounds 16 - 19: 2x2 rib

BO loosely

Weave in ends

A wider ear warmer is easily achieved by adding more short rows in between rows 9 and 10. An adult warmer would require a larger number of cast on stitches (I would say about 100). having said that, this one fits me but is quite stretched and a little tight.

I knit this with leftover from Holly's Jacket and it took me less than 2 hours!

This pattern is provided free for your own personal use. You may knit it for yourself, as a gift, a swap or for charity. This pattern is not intended for commercial use. Any intended commercial use requires permission in writing.

Oh yeah! The joy of handknit socks.

I just had to blog these babies!

How beautiful are they? I confess that I was secretly hoping that Sam would give me handknit socks for Christmas (is that selfish given I know how much work goes into them) and she did! These are just divine. The pattern is waving lace and the yarn is Lorna's Laces "Vera". I feel so spoilt with yet another pair of hand knit socks. A girl could get addicted. Of course then Sam would never be lost for a gift.....

While we are showing Christmas knitting.

I also made these for my friend Antoinette (hopefully she isn't reading, if you are Anty, rest assured they are much better in the flesh).

There is an Unoriginal Hat from the lovely Yarn Harlot knit in Cleckheaton Vintage Hues. I had to add a few extra cables in to compensate for the lighter yarn and I also did an extra repeat of the whole pattern for the same reason. I have never used this yarn before and I have to say that I quite taken, I love the look that it has created. Here is a close up of the cables. I will probably be lynched by the yarn snobs for saying it, but the look of the yarn knit up puts me to mind of the Noro yarns.

The scarf is the Reversible Cable Scarf by Mary-Heather Cogar. Such a wonderfully clever pattern. Something I would never have thought of doing. Again I love the way that it has accented the colours in the yarn. I am very pleased.

Another close up if you can stand it....

The Quick Loop Scarf

Just a quicky that I whipped up for a friend for Christmas.

Materials:

2 lots of 50g DK (8ply) yarn. I used a solid black and a gradient dyed grey. You could as easily use two balls of the same yarn or some super bulky (16ply).
8mm circular
Darning needle
Waste yarn or second circular for provisional cast on.

Gauge:

Not really important (it's a scarf for goodness sake)

Pattern:

Using a provisional cast-on CO 22 stitches with the yarn double stranded (both balls at once).

Row 1: *K2, P2* repeat from * to * to end
Row 2: *P2, K2* repeat from * to * to end

Repeat rows 1 and 2 until the work is approximately 16 cm long (it should be about 3/4 of the width of your scarf when folded)

At this point, following the row 1, knit or purl together corresponding stitches from the provisional cast on and stitches from your working end to create the looped end of the scarf.

Continue working the pattern until the scarf reaches the desired length (about 60cm from the join in my case) and bind off.

Add a fringe if desired and sew in ends.

Done! This should only take you a few hours as the yarn is chunky and the pattern is basic!

This pattern is provided free for your own personal use. You may knit it for yourself, as a gift, a swap or for charity. This pattern is not intended for commercial use. Any intended commercial use requires permission in writing

Great, Quick Gift!

All hail the Mason-Dixon Gals!

They have come through again with their delightful little washcloth. I have just finished my second one of these in as many days. They have just been so simple to do and as you can see, I am placing a little soap in them and tying them up with a ribbon like the blue one.


The green one will get the same treatment and is for my eldest son's teacher. I will make another over the weekend for the middle boy's pedagog. Not bad for about 3 hours and $1 worth of cotton reduced at Spotlight!

Absolute Spam!

There are a number of Semi-custom gift vouchers for knitiing or nappy bags available now at The Complete Fabrication!

Click here!

Holly's Jacket

It is finished and it is even cuter with the button than I could have imagined! Gee that sound immodest didn't it? I didn't mean it too, I am just so excited that it has turned out just as I envisaged it and that is always just a smidgen surprising.

The Pattern

300g worsted weight yarn for a generous size 1 jacket (I used Cleckheaton Merino Supreme for the prototype which is now out of production, chose any of the gorgeous worsted weights around)

4 stitch markers

5mm 80cm circular

5mm DPNs

5mm crochet hook

Waste yarn

Button

Darning needle

Gauge: 16 sts / 10cm

Glossary

pm – place marker

kfb – knit front and back

slm – slip marker

yo – yarn over

Finished Size

Length minus ruffle - 26cm
Chest - 30cm
Underarm - 10cm

Body

CO 36 stitches using the circular needle.

Row 1: kfb, kfb, pm, kfb, k4, kfb, pm, kfb, k18, kfb, pm, kfb, k4, kfb, pm, kfb, kfb

You have now created the right front, right sleeve, back, left sleeve and left front between the markers.

Row 2: knit across

Row 3: kfb, k2, kfb, slm, kfb, k6, kfb, slm, kfb, k20, kfb, slm, kfb, k6, kfb, slm, kfb, k2, kfb

Row 4: knit across

Row 5: kfb, knit to stitch before next marker, kfb, slm , kfb, knit to stitch before next marker, kfb, slm, , kfb, knit to stitch before next marker, kfb, slm, , kfb, knit to stitch before next marker, kfb, slm, kfb, knit to last stitch, kfb.

Row 6: k4, purl to 4 stitches before end, k4

Continue repeating rows 5 and 6 until the two front sections each have 18 stitches

Row 7: knit to stitch before next marker, kfb, slm , kfb, knit to stitch before next marker, kfb, slm, , kfb, knit to stitch before next marker, kfb, slm, , kfb, knit to stitch before next marker, kfb, slm, kfb, knit to end

Row 8: k4, purl to 4 stitches before end, k4

Repeat rows 7 and 8 until there are 52 stitches between the middle two markers (the back of the jacket).

Create the sleeves: k to first marker, place the sleeve stitches onto waste yarn, knit back stitches, place the other sleeve stitches onto waste yarn, knit to end

Next row: k4, purl to 4 stitches before end, k4

The body:

Row 1: knit all stitches

Row 2: k4, purl to 4 stitches before end, k4

Continue repeating rows 1 and 2 until you have reached your desired length (12cm from underarm or so).

Bottom Ruffle:

Ruffle increase row: kfb on every stitch

Purl next row

Repeat ruffle increase row

Purl next row

BO loosely

Sleeves

Evenly space the sleeve stitches on 3 DPNs.

With the right side facing, locate the centre bottom of the sleeve opening. Pick up two stitches from the left of the opening and continue knitting the round, picking up two additional stitches onto needle 3 (42 stitches total)

Knit 2 more rounds

Decrease Round: k1, k2tog, knit to last 3 stitches, ssk, k1

Decrease every 4^th round a further 5 times (30 sts)

Knit next round

Ruffle increase round: kfb on every stitch

Knit next round

If you want a fuller ruffle like the bottom of the jacket:

Repeat ruffle increase round

Knit 2 rounds

BO loosely

Finishing

Crochet a button loop on the right front of the jacket and attach a button to the left.

Sew in ends.

About the Stripes.....

The stripes are merely an artifact of not having enough of either coloured yarn. For the record they are 20 row repeats on this one.

This pattern is provided free for your own personal use. You may knit it for yourself, as a gift, a swap or for charity. This pattern is not intended for commercial use. Any intended commercial use requires permission in writing.

Just waiting for a button

Over the last few weeks I have been working on a little jacket for my nearly-one-year-old friend Holly. It is the kick arse time of the year isn't it? I could have had this finished weeks ago but for a poor choice of yarn first time round and a seemingly never-ending stream of social engagements and obligations. Not that I am complaining - it beats the hell out of having no one to socialise with and nothing to do - but it sure is eating into my crafting time!

Anyways, let me introduce Holly's Jacket, knit in worsted weight yarn (I am sure the Americans are excited and the Aussies are cursing me) in a size 1. Top down, no seams - all the things I like in a pattern. It is just waiting for a button then I will publish the final photos and the pattern for anyone who is interested.


The stripe is an artifact of having not enough of either colour to finish the project. Curse using a discontinued, even if delectable, yarn like Merino Supreme. In fact without the help of the lovely Tania we wouldn't have even gotten this far.

I love babies!

Okay I admit it, I love crafting for babies and ipso facto I love babies. I expecially love babies that you can cuddle for a minute and then give back. My desire-for-a-newborn days are well behind me. I loved all of my babies but I also love that now they are growing up and becoming more independent. Every phase has its charms when it comes to kids.

Back to the original purpose of this post.....

There seems to be a rash of pregnancy within my friends at the moment. If you recall I have been madly knitting kimonos for all of the impending births and now two of them are here! Two little boys one born on Friday and the other on Saturday. Everyone healthy and well even though on of the little guys was a few weeks early (still nearly as big as my smallest full termer though).

So here are the baby gifts, I sincerely doubt that either Mum reads my blog but if they do........sorry Tania and Lindy.......surprise spoilt!

For the freshly popped Ryan:


And for the high-anticipated Zachary:


I made Zachary's stuff first and there was no way that "Zachary" was going to fit on a bib, hence the giant "Z". After I had done his set I was so taken by the big "Z" that I chose to continue the trend and even though "Ryan" would have fit, he got a big "R" for his. Hopefully their Mum's like their little gifts from me.

I've said it once and I will say it again. I love crafting for babies!

The Joy of a Gift

Some time ago Sam tossed me a ball of sock yarn and said "Here make something out of this" (or words to that effect. It was 50g of Clekheaton Cocoon that she had dyed with a second ball and inexplicably both had come out different colourways (I say inexplicably because as far as I can tell Sam is flawless, just like Mary Poppins, practically perfect in every way). Anyways, I got one and Tania got the other.

Tania whipped up some socks for her gorgeous daughte Matilda but having no little girls here at testosterone central, I figured I had to make something for myself. Besides, the yarn was gifted to me and so it should be made into something for me in my eyes.

This is where having size 6 feet comes into it's own. I found this pattern on Ravelry and it seemed just perfect for my little ball of yarn. So now my feet are wrapped in the warmth of a gift that I had fun turning into something for me. That is the joy of a yarn gift!


Oh and the astute amongst you would see that my Ravelry t-shirt has arrived! Woohoo. And now just so you can see the side of my socks and I can embarass Jason....

SOLITARY CONFINEMENT!

That's it. I have had ENOUGH! I am sick of my Jo Sharp Dessert Garden tangling and unravelling and then tangling some more and then unravelling some more. I have had it! The only answer is solitary confinement.

I have reballed the rampant little buggers and stuck them all in there own individual zip-lock bags. If that doesn't stop them there will be 500g of Jo Sharp DG free to good home.

Bulky Seamless Baby Kimono

I think this may have become obsessive. I cast this one on pretty much as soon as I finished the 8ply version. This one is knit in 12 ply bulky with a different sleeve profile inspired by the traditional shape of a Japanese kimono.

The Pattern

Size: approximately 6 - 9 months (size 00)

150g (approximately 170 m) 12 ply (bulky) yarn

4 stitch markers

6mm 80cm circular

6mm DPNs

Waste yarn

Stitch holder

Darning needle

A button

Gauge: 16sts / 10cm

Glossary

pm – place marker

kfb – knit front and back

slm – slip marker

yo – yarn over

m1 – make one stitch

Body

CO 28 stitches using the circular needle.

Row 1: kfb, pm, kfb, k3, kfb, pm, kfb, k14, kfb, pm, kfb, k3, kfb, pm, kfb

You have now created the right front, right sleeve, back, left sleeve and left front between the markers.

Row 2: purl across

Row 3: k1, yo, kfb, slm, kfb, k5, kfb, slm, kfb, k16, kfb, slm, kfb, k5, kfb, slm, kfb, yo, k1

Row 4: purl across

Row 5: k1, yo, knit to stitch before next marker, kfb, slm , kfb, knit to stitch before next marker, kfb, slm, , kfb, knit to stitch before next marker, kfb, slm, , kfb, knit to stitch before next marker, kfb, slm, kfb, knit to last stitch, yo, k1.

Row 6: purl across.

Continue repeating rows 5 and 6 until there are 40 stitches between the2nd and 3rd markers (across the back)

Create the sleeves: k1, yo, k to first marker, place the sleeve stitches onto waste yarn, pm, knit back stitches, place the other sleeve stitches onto waste yarn, pm, knit to last stitch, yo, k1

Next row: purl across

The lower body:

Row 1: k1, yo, knit to second last stitch, yo, k1

Row 2: purl across

Continue repeating rows 1 and 2 until there are 35 stitches on both front panels (the sections outside of the markers).

Next row: knit across

Make side tie:

Row 1: Knit

Row 2: Knit to first marker, slm, kfb, slip first stitch on right needle back to the left, place the next stitch on the right needle on a stitch holder placing the holder to the right side of the work, slip the first stitch back onto the right needle, knit to end

Row 3: Knit to stitch before second marker, kfb, slip first stitch on right needle back to the left, place the next stitch on the right needle on a stitch holder placing the holder to the right side of the work, slip the first stitch back onto the right needle, slm, knit to end

Row 4: Knit

BO loosely

Sleeves

Evenly space the sleeve stitches on 3 DPNs.

With the right side facing, locate the centre bottom of the sleeve opening. Pick up one stitch from the left of the opening and continue knitting the round, picking up one additional stitch onto needle 3 (31 stitches total)

Knit 12 rounds

Increase Round: k1, m1, knit to last stitch, m1, k1

Increase every 3rd round a further 3 times (39 sts)

Alternate purl one round, knit the next for next 4 rounds.

BO loosely

Ties

Side tie: Join yarn to the two stitches on the stitch holder.
*Knit 20cm of garter stitch.

Last row: k2tog, thread yarn through remaining stitch.*

Front tie: pick up 2 stitches from the edge of the garter stitch section of the right front section. Repeat from * to *

Finishing

Weave in ends. Sew the button on the inside of the right hand flap to use the bottom eyelet of the left flap as a button hole.

Want one in a lighter yarn? Click here for the 8ply version.

This pattern is provided free for your own personal use. You may knit it for yourself, as a gift, a swap or for charity. This pattern is not intended for commercial use. Any intended commercial use requires permission in writing.