tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18523209058070827642024-03-13T07:20:09.474-07:00mutton's adventures in knittingmuttonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16239871491704986316noreply@blogger.comBlogger47125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1852320905807082764.post-30373331520669504442012-07-15T02:22:00.000-07:002012-07-15T02:22:51.342-07:00I made lace!I like a challenge, and I love a project where I learn a new technique or two. And I've been drooling over other people's lace project pics on Ravelry. So pretty! So delicate! So impressive!<br />
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I got a set of Knitpro interchangeable needles for my birthday this year, so I had suitable tools. Found a massive cone of lace weight merino on Ebay, so I had plenty yarn to use up (seriously, I could probably knit a shawl for my house and have enough left over for the shed). Spent weeks checking out other peoples' projects on Ravelry, and settled on the Haruni shawl as it had been tackled by lots of beginners and no-one seemed to have given up and burned the pathetic results. And it was free.<br />
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Started the shawl on a Sunday afternoon after a big roast dinner, and within a few minutes I was considering quitting- this garter stitch tab thing, how does it work? I think it took five attempts and even then it looked like a child's first project. Still, I persevered. And continued to feel like a small child learning to use crayons. Or a cat trying to open a box of Whiskas treats. My hands were clumsy and i kept dropping the knitting.<br />
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Finally got comfortable with the skinny yarn, but following the pattern felt like doing differential equations (my Maths nemesis). I couldn't watch TV while knitting, couldn't even pay attention to music. My brain only had enough room for trying to follow the instructions, and then trying to figure out why the stitch count bore no relation to the pattern, ripping back to the lifeline and starting again.<br />
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Eventually I decided that this would be a practice shawl, and that I wouldn't feel bad about if it was a mess of mistakes (after all the cats had already decided that this soft yarn was destined to be a cat blanket). That did the trick. Instead of ripping out knitting, I just tried to fix the stitch count on the purl rows, making sure I had the same number of stitches on each pattern repeat by adding a YO or K2tog where it looked about right.<br />
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I finished it yesterday, and it just looked like a smooshed tangle of yarn. Then I looked up 'blocking', and here is the result.<br />
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Yes, you can see the uneven bits where I tried to fix the mistakes I'd made in the previous row. It's very far from perfect, but I am still ridiculously proud of it. I have now got the 'muscle memory' I think I'll need to make another, better, one. I also have an understanding go how charts work and how to 'read' my knitting and know more quickly when and how I've gone wrong.<br />
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I think I need to go and knit a couple of toys to get over the stress of Hard Knitting. Watch this space.muttonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16239871491704986316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1852320905807082764.post-84603805139274589982012-03-18T04:50:00.006-07:002012-03-18T05:15:50.572-07:00not knitting toys<div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>I have been getting distracted my non toy knitting projects since about October. I think it's a combination of selling my car and so needing cosy hats and gloves for waiting at the bus stop, and the joy of learning new techniques. Here are a few of my winter projects.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-skmQcxO1j2c/T2XOMOuHH-I/AAAAAAAAAPc/6OAr6lDqaok/s1600/DSC02795.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-skmQcxO1j2c/T2XOMOuHH-I/AAAAAAAAAPc/6OAr6lDqaok/s320/DSC02795.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5721205611149336546" /></a><br />some fingerless gloves for knitting al fresco<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oB4x7oAM47M/T2XNckM0KhI/AAAAAAAAAPQ/s3Y4cRWQMso/s1600/DSC02880.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oB4x7oAM47M/T2XNckM0KhI/AAAAAAAAAPQ/s3Y4cRWQMso/s320/DSC02880.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5721204792281541138" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4OvmyZ_ls_8/T2XNb-ow74I/AAAAAAAAAPE/QJEP8tNzKPo/s1600/DSC02892.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4OvmyZ_ls_8/T2XNb-ow74I/AAAAAAAAAPE/QJEP8tNzKPo/s320/DSC02892.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5721204782198222722" /></a><br /><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>a cosy pair of wellie socks for my little brother with the big feet<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HrM486CNakk/T2XNbpLC_9I/AAAAAAAAAO4/pK2bugQ6_C4/s1600/DSC02900.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HrM486CNakk/T2XNbpLC_9I/AAAAAAAAAO4/pK2bugQ6_C4/s320/DSC02900.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5721204776436432850" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ojq0-YZ386s/T2XNbJwF6NI/AAAAAAAAAOs/0BDKOSB_Q34/s1600/DSC02916.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ojq0-YZ386s/T2XNbJwF6NI/AAAAAAAAAOs/0BDKOSB_Q34/s320/DSC02916.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5721204768001878226" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lSVUw1qC1aU/T2XNaVl3N-I/AAAAAAAAAOg/1FCphHfTbho/s1600/DSC02940.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lSVUw1qC1aU/T2XNaVl3N-I/AAAAAAAAAOg/1FCphHfTbho/s320/DSC02940.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5721204754000328674" /></a><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>a teapot cosy for lazy sunday mornings</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>my first socks for me! (sadly now deceased thanks to a washing machine incident)</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>My Ice Queen cowl in glorious kidsilk haze, and finally, a pair of legwarmers! no, I will not be wearing these in public. I wore legwarmers when they were trendy in the 80s, so by definition I can't wear them now.</div><div><br /></div><div>I am now fully kitted out for a cold winter, just in time for the daffodils to make an appearance. Ah well, it should help me have more toy knitting time next year....</div>muttonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16239871491704986316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1852320905807082764.post-15934592807604321362012-02-05T01:08:00.000-08:002012-02-05T01:25:12.113-08:00Puppets!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ys5WCikw96U/Ty5HR9g5hBI/AAAAAAAAAOI/3MEEnrgsWCg/s1600/DSC02857.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ys5WCikw96U/Ty5HR9g5hBI/AAAAAAAAAOI/3MEEnrgsWCg/s320/DSC02857.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705576151820895250" /></a><br /><br />My other half is in a band, and one of my current works-in-progress is hand puppets of all 4 of them. The project has stalled a little thanks to some giant wellie-socks which were a birthday request for my 'little' brother- they killed my hands and left me unable to knit for a week. But here's Matt the singer's head.<br /><br />One and a half more heads completed, and they're looking pleasingly Muppet-y. I really need to finish them up.<br /><br />And here are the mega-socks that killed my hands. Look at the SIZE of them!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vhe1y7kfqVI/Ty5J9cq7v4I/AAAAAAAAAOU/Ka1qlavclnA/s1600/DSC02880.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vhe1y7kfqVI/Ty5J9cq7v4I/AAAAAAAAAOU/Ka1qlavclnA/s320/DSC02880.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705579097942114178" /></a>muttonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16239871491704986316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1852320905807082764.post-70351213571326870932011-11-27T00:13:00.001-08:002011-11-27T00:17:15.612-08:00Some more monsters<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-o89tqc4PBME/TtHxkSb2QfI/AAAAAAAAAOA/mZ3p-w1ZHW0/s1600/DSC02762.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-o89tqc4PBME/TtHxkSb2QfI/AAAAAAAAAOA/mZ3p-w1ZHW0/s320/DSC02762.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679586210817130994" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ryOP_RGr_jg/TtHxkKk4pRI/AAAAAAAAANw/-Zu2OHrw8GQ/s1600/DSC02757.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ryOP_RGr_jg/TtHxkKk4pRI/AAAAAAAAANw/-Zu2OHrw8GQ/s320/DSC02757.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679586208707552530" /></a><br />This year I'm not doing much Christmas Knitting, it's better for my sanity that way, and having just started a new job I'm saving my spoons by only knitting what I want to- so here, have a couple more monster pics. These are more Rebecca Danger monsters, two from her book and one from a US magazine which was sent to me by a generous fellow Raveller.<br /><br />I love these monsters, they knit up so quickly and have oodles of personality.muttonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16239871491704986316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1852320905807082764.post-58412553164929675602011-11-04T01:32:00.000-07:002011-11-04T01:40:32.350-07:00Giant KnittingI've not been on here for a while, mostly thanks to the Beekeepers Quilt which seems to be stealing all my knitting time. But I had to come and post about the fun I'm having with some broom handles...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CpTXUFRxZW4/TrOjdgt-AeI/AAAAAAAAANY/0qTp36bRhiA/s1600/DSC02733.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CpTXUFRxZW4/TrOjdgt-AeI/AAAAAAAAANY/0qTp36bRhiA/s320/DSC02733.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5671056083183862242" /></a><br /><br />Yes, those are broom handles with the end whittled to points by my obliging brother. 3 strands of aran weight yarn is making a lovely soft drapey fabric. I'm adding in some cables because it's not challenging enough knitting with 25mm+ needles that are over 1m long :) It's wide enough at 60 stitches to make a blanket for a single bed.<br /><br />Hard work on the shoulders, so I only managed 12 rows but it knits up so fast I could have a blanket in a week. I started doing this because I found out on Tuesday that I have a new job, and company policy at my old job is to pay you a week's wages in lieu of notice, and kick you out of the office- so surprise time off FTW!<br /><br />Kitties are happy about this.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9DD-Q_Drlsc/TrOkrSPVMhI/AAAAAAAAANk/Kp22Ebnf8oM/s1600/DSC02724.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9DD-Q_Drlsc/TrOkrSPVMhI/AAAAAAAAANk/Kp22Ebnf8oM/s320/DSC02724.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5671057419327058450" /></a><br /><br />Please to be ignoring the state of my house. Surprise time off is NOT an opportunity to do housework.muttonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16239871491704986316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1852320905807082764.post-16142793524503175702011-09-05T11:01:00.000-07:002011-09-05T11:11:23.192-07:00Beekeeper's quiltI've been remiss in updating my blog again. And this is why.<br /><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/the-beekeepers-quilt"></a><br /><br />It's a knitted quilt made of tiny stuffed hexagons, or 'hexipuffs', and is a great way to use leftover wool. The hexipuffs are positively addictive, so satisfyingly squishy. I am on Puff 93 as of now, and expect to knit about 500 in total.<br /><br />here is my puffy stash, a few puffs ago. Since taking this picture I have decided I need more neutral coloured puffs, for the sake of my retinas.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oFuaf3R3HjA/TmUP1U8I5vI/AAAAAAAAANQ/bOsDWTqwNa0/s1600/DSC02704.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oFuaf3R3HjA/TmUP1U8I5vI/AAAAAAAAANQ/bOsDWTqwNa0/s320/DSC02704.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5648938716434589426" /></a><br /><br />Kudos to the creator of this pattern, <a href="http://tinyowlknits.wordpress.com/patterns/"></a> and I hope she earns enough from this to devote all of her time to creating more amazing patterns. 2462 Ravellers (so far) can't be wrong...muttonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16239871491704986316noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1852320905807082764.post-13971516022600287412011-07-21T06:22:00.000-07:002011-07-21T06:59:49.694-07:00Monster Knits!Thanks to a wonderfully generous Random Act of Kindness by a fellow Raveller, I am now the proud owner of Rebecca Danger's Big Book of Knitted Monsters. I may be addicted, these are the most satisfying knitted toy patterns I have ever knitted. Here, have some photos:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VscjGBr3rZk/Tigqnu4CVXI/AAAAAAAAANA/s6gARt0_YG0/s1600/DSC02544.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VscjGBr3rZk/Tigqnu4CVXI/AAAAAAAAANA/s6gARt0_YG0/s320/DSC02544.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631798196113134962" /></a><br />This is Colin the Canal Monster, who sits in the window and checks the canal for interesting floating rubbish<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5hVL_4RhdsI/TigpYI-uY7I/AAAAAAAAAMo/K54J8xoQ6VA/s1600/DSC02588.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5hVL_4RhdsI/TigpYI-uY7I/AAAAAAAAAMo/K54J8xoQ6VA/s320/DSC02588.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631796828730975154" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LYpuDOXLgiY/TigpXgFCNzI/AAAAAAAAAMg/2wqreAgEHrc/s1600/DSC02599.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LYpuDOXLgiY/TigpXgFCNzI/AAAAAAAAAMg/2wqreAgEHrc/s320/DSC02599.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631796817751586610" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u0u3YCa5_Q8/TigpXWrvPPI/AAAAAAAAAMY/Og7n4cITJog/s1600/DSC02621.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u0u3YCa5_Q8/TigpXWrvPPI/AAAAAAAAAMY/Og7n4cITJog/s320/DSC02621.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631796815229566194" /></a><br />and these are mother and baby monsters, Leonard the Litterbox Monster (don't ask), and Mandy the Mardy Monstermuttonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16239871491704986316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1852320905807082764.post-89388219901118187682011-05-30T02:53:00.000-07:002011-05-30T02:57:13.834-07:00George Clinton, funkfather<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CXi5CcBkvl4/TeNpXCMzpMI/AAAAAAAAAME/yxOyHVPdT00/s1600/DSC02448.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CXi5CcBkvl4/TeNpXCMzpMI/AAAAAAAAAME/yxOyHVPdT00/s320/DSC02448.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612445405082264770" /></a><br />So this is the latest in a series of musical icons (Prince, Frank Zappa, Dolly Parton...) that's becoming a tradition in this house. The only yarn I had which was the right colour for his head was a bit, well, Muppet-y. Then my boyfriend pointed out that if you were going to make a Muppet of any musician, it would be George Clinton. So instead of being a stuffed toy, he became a hand puppet. I am now planning a whole series of hand puppets because George is awesome.muttonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16239871491704986316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1852320905807082764.post-41871666897213773692011-05-25T10:44:00.001-07:002011-05-25T10:49:28.286-07:00Fairies and dragons and pebbles oh my!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NjpajihT7j0/Td1Au0oZMQI/AAAAAAAAAL8/9isz64BFLGI/s1600/DSC02416.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NjpajihT7j0/Td1Au0oZMQI/AAAAAAAAAL8/9isz64BFLGI/s320/DSC02416.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610711883919732994" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UWBXvuzryRo/Td1AuceRSFI/AAAAAAAAAL0/1L-Ix_Ues80/s1600/DSC02418.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UWBXvuzryRo/Td1AuceRSFI/AAAAAAAAAL0/1L-Ix_Ues80/s320/DSC02418.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610711877434820690" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iUftVYCY6V0/Td1AuMH0CEI/AAAAAAAAALs/etxBRybQr9U/s1600/DSC02430.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iUftVYCY6V0/Td1AuMH0CEI/AAAAAAAAALs/etxBRybQr9U/s320/DSC02430.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610711873045661762" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_fY_F0ZfKzM/Td1Atz4iqzI/AAAAAAAAALk/RHftFa3-mlw/s1600/DSC02438.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_fY_F0ZfKzM/Td1Atz4iqzI/AAAAAAAAALk/RHftFa3-mlw/s320/DSC02438.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610711866539158322" /></a><br />I have been busy since I finished the wedding blanket- the dragon is from a pattern by my Ravelry friend Phoeny, the fairy is for my dancing, fairy-loving, lovely friend Jess (or her daughter more likely) and was improvised. <br /><br />The pebbles were inspired by (and some made from) Harris Tweed wool (leftovers from weaving). the wool is scratchy in the extreme and very fine, but the colours are beautifully subtle and reminded me of the colours of the pebbles on the beach where I grew up.muttonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16239871491704986316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1852320905807082764.post-550672360435598782011-05-16T11:31:00.001-07:002011-05-16T11:33:20.964-07:00BIKE!<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35202162@N08/5726917087/" title="knitted motorbike by altuxyjunior, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5268/5726917087_cd7a35689a.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="knitted motorbike"></a><br /><br />My first toy since the afghan. Designed by my Other Half (well, he managed to work out what shape the pieces would need to be) and knitted up in about a week.muttonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16239871491704986316noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1852320905807082764.post-82625896680388962512011-05-14T04:03:00.001-07:002011-05-14T04:04:52.607-07:00Wedding presents and why I haven't been making many toys this year<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F46KY388Tz0/Tc5hx06YuuI/AAAAAAAAALc/3cb0LpHI2R8/s1600/DSC02389.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F46KY388Tz0/Tc5hx06YuuI/AAAAAAAAALc/3cb0LpHI2R8/s320/DSC02389.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5606526094767864546" /></a><br /><br />that is all.muttonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16239871491704986316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1852320905807082764.post-83596246416435843402011-04-17T02:47:00.000-07:002011-04-17T02:49:30.106-07:00Terrance and... Lewis<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-csKakkUM1dU/Taq3ieSJDCI/AAAAAAAAALU/XCvWjAeXQVA/s1600/DSC02382.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-csKakkUM1dU/Taq3ieSJDCI/AAAAAAAAALU/XCvWjAeXQVA/s320/DSC02382.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596487289833851938" /></a><br />Meet Terrance and Lewis. Why anyone wanted to be immortalised as knitted versions of South Park characters I'm not sure, but hey, they turned out pretty cute.muttonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16239871491704986316noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1852320905807082764.post-17973307553738893882011-03-26T08:39:00.001-07:002011-03-26T08:42:52.282-07:00not knittingSo it's not knitting, but I've had these chairs in the house for a year, and the fabric to cover them for about 8 months- finally got around to covering the first one.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NycpJWn_fv8/TY4JFZdw0hI/AAAAAAAAALE/CdwOGm4C0vY/s1600/DSC02362.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NycpJWn_fv8/TY4JFZdw0hI/AAAAAAAAALE/CdwOGm4C0vY/s320/DSC02362.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588414175953080850" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KmaPPETnedI/TY4JFrzdCxI/AAAAAAAAALM/X7-iLCycG4w/s1600/DSC02378.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KmaPPETnedI/TY4JFrzdCxI/AAAAAAAAALM/X7-iLCycG4w/s320/DSC02378.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588414180875897618" /></a><br />Second one should be easier, the pieces are all cut out and ready to go once my hands have recovered.... *collapses*muttonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16239871491704986316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1852320905807082764.post-52313189560913395412011-03-25T01:31:00.000-07:002011-03-25T01:34:32.037-07:00Danger Cat<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-V-9A2B97Ftg/TYxTWVDbTxI/AAAAAAAAAK8/3SqP0-jepc0/s1600/DSC02372.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-V-9A2B97Ftg/TYxTWVDbTxI/AAAAAAAAAK8/3SqP0-jepc0/s320/DSC02372.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5587932880733687570" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tOsBHTyGsU8/TYxTWNGU3ZI/AAAAAAAAAK0/CHUn-UWxSf4/s1600/DSC02369.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tOsBHTyGsU8/TYxTWNGU3ZI/AAAAAAAAAK0/CHUn-UWxSf4/s320/DSC02369.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5587932878598364562" /></a><br />Meet Danger Cat. Wandering without fear in the Garden of Weird Creatures.muttonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16239871491704986316noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1852320905807082764.post-27502215616182993092011-03-20T02:10:00.000-07:002011-03-20T02:36:15.404-07:00Just finished the most boring project- all garter stitch and very little in the way of interesting shapes, but I have had a lot of enjoyment thinking how much the recipient is going to love hiding it around the office. Harry Hill's Knitted Character (the original of which is actually crocheted)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x_CbmtVvGos/TYXFLLFVXKI/AAAAAAAAAJs/kL8QtXVo38I/s1600/DSC02358.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x_CbmtVvGos/TYXFLLFVXKI/AAAAAAAAAJs/kL8QtXVo38I/s320/DSC02358.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586087708567362722" /></a><br /><br /><br />Now I think I might have to knit something brain-strainingly complicated. With short rows, kitchener stitch, cables and knitted on 17 DPNs.<br /><br />And since I haven't posted since January and it's nearly April, have some more project pics.<br /><br />No 1 Crazy Aunt of a Bag of Crazy Aunts. This has been sent to my Mum to give her advice and support.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U9upeWYKDTI/TYXKU3MXdXI/AAAAAAAAAKs/xwCgzUhLkTs/s1600/DSC02323.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U9upeWYKDTI/TYXKU3MXdXI/AAAAAAAAAKs/xwCgzUhLkTs/s320/DSC02323.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586093372584981874" /></a><br /><br /><br />And No 2 Crazy Aunt.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-utjvGYFs6xA/TYXGgKYNhJI/AAAAAAAAAJ0/k-mQXuJGdkY/s1600/DSC02357.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-utjvGYFs6xA/TYXGgKYNhJI/AAAAAAAAAJ0/k-mQXuJGdkY/s320/DSC02357.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586089168666985618" /></a><br /><br />A frog in a Man U shirt.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Gr4kyL5exYc/TYXJ5cJA_XI/AAAAAAAAAKk/0smSy5HvlmU/s1600/DSC02342.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Gr4kyL5exYc/TYXJ5cJA_XI/AAAAAAAAAKk/0smSy5HvlmU/s320/DSC02342.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586092901466701170" /></a><br /><br />Bagpuss.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d-SMr-10PYU/TYXGgobiDRI/AAAAAAAAAKE/dgJN1o10o84/s1600/DSC02279.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d-SMr-10PYU/TYXGgobiDRI/AAAAAAAAAKE/dgJN1o10o84/s320/DSC02279.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586089176733977874" /></a><br /><br />And De-Li from Waybuloo<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4Pslw_9tlXE/TYXGgejjp0I/AAAAAAAAAJ8/DL38djYKlnA/s1600/DSC02338.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4Pslw_9tlXE/TYXGgejjp0I/AAAAAAAAAJ8/DL38djYKlnA/s320/DSC02338.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586089174083282754" /></a><br />Loved making this one!<br /><br /><br />Now off to decide what the next project is (in between endlessly knitting squares for a wedding present blanket/afghan)muttonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16239871491704986316noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1852320905807082764.post-5679595465600816022011-01-17T12:49:00.000-08:002011-01-17T12:53:36.810-08:00Knitting notes for Frank Zappa!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_9u1pWxI9Aws/TTSsDdD5jqI/AAAAAAAAAJg/JdSZa6lmMp8/s1600/DSC02246.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_9u1pWxI9Aws/TTSsDdD5jqI/AAAAAAAAAJg/JdSZa6lmMp8/s320/DSC02246.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563260615049973410" /></a><br />Well I typed these up for a fellow Raveller (you know who you are) so thought I should post them here too.<br /><br />Please note this is far from being a finished 'pattern' but if you can knit on DPNs and have made a toy before I think you should be able to make sense of it. First, here's Frank again:<br /><br /><br />and here are the notes.<br /><br /><br />For legs, cast on 4 sts in shoe colour. <br />inc 1 in every st (8sts) <br />K1 row <br />Repeat last 2 rows until 32 sts on needles, dividing between 3 DPNs at whatever stage is easiest for you.<br /><br />P 1 row for ridge<br /><br />Continue to knit rounds, decreasing 1 stitch at the same point every 2nd round until 20 sts remain. This forms the flare which end roughly at the knee. Continue to knit for 18 rows.<br /><br />This completes leg one. Keep these sts on a spare needle and repeat for second leg.<br /><br />Join both legs with the decreases facing ‘forward’. I really need to read up about how to join two things in the round to make one thing in the round- can’t offer much help there but I managed it first go!<br /><br />You should now have 40 sts on the needles. K 8 rounds. <br />Next row K2tog, K9 to end (36 sts) <br />K 3 rows. <br />Repeat last 2 rows another 2 times (28 sts).<br /><br />Change to t-shirt colour and K 2 rows<br /><br />Worth stuffing the legs at this point, then continuing to stuff as you go. <br />next shape the ‘chest’ bit. Increase 1 at each side of body for next 4 rounds (36 sts) <br />K 10 rounds.<br /><br />Shape shoulders- you need to place the decreases at the sides of the body again, so if your round starts at the centre back, K6, K3tog twice, K12, K3tog twice, K6 (28 sts) <br />and again- K4, K3tog twice, K8, K3tog twice, K4 (20 sts)<br /><br />Switch to white and K2 tog all round (10 sts) <br />Purl 1 row for t-shirt collar <br />Switch to flesh tone and K 2 rows.<br /><br />Shape head <br />next round Inc 1 in every st (20) <br />next round K1, inc 1 to end (30) <br />Next round K2, inc1 to end (40 sts)<br /><br />K 15 rounds. Next 3 rounds finish off the head. <br />K2, K2tog to end <br />K1, K2tog to end <br />K2 tog to end <br />Break yarn, and using a darning needle run yarn through remaining sts on needle, pull tight and fasten off.<br /><br />Arms- cast on 8 sts in flesh colour<br /><br />inc 1 in every st (16 sts) <br />Divide across 3 DPNs and knit 32 rounds, stuffing as you go. <br />Switch to t-shirt sleeve colour and K 5 rows. <br />K2tog to end <br />fasten off as for head.<br /><br />Attach arms to shoulders and your doll is done!<br /><br />I made the hair by cutting short lengths of black yarn and using a crochet hook to attach individual strands.<br /><br />Nose is a few vertical straight stitches followed by a couple of horizontal ones to make a lovely big nose.<br /><br />Face was the first one i ever managed to embroider right first time. I will never be able to do it again :(muttonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16239871491704986316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1852320905807082764.post-84854477448788470342011-01-07T01:22:00.000-08:002011-01-07T01:33:14.548-08:00Frank Zappa<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_9u1pWxI9Aws/TSbb8W1ShKI/AAAAAAAAAJY/Q4c9Y1Pt8d8/s1600/DSC02250.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_9u1pWxI9Aws/TSbb8W1ShKI/AAAAAAAAAJY/Q4c9Y1Pt8d8/s320/DSC02250.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559372620003181730" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_9u1pWxI9Aws/TSbb8IDNuLI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/GAnnL9Nvm98/s1600/DSC02245.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_9u1pWxI9Aws/TSbb8IDNuLI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/GAnnL9Nvm98/s320/DSC02245.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559372616035055794" /></a><br />Meet Frank! This was my Xmas present to my other half, who loves Frank Zappa. I was trying to knit him at work at lunchtime so he wouldn't see it, but things got so busy that I only had his awesome flares done by Xmas Eve. So I had to knit a bit in front of him while he guessed (he totally knew it was for him) - he thought it might be a BeeGee from the flares. <br /><br />Got up 6am Xmas Day to finish his face and hair. He's minimal and needs a guitar but hey...muttonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16239871491704986316noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1852320905807082764.post-73618969952373757212010-12-05T02:40:00.000-08:002010-12-05T02:44:34.684-08:00SPIDERRRRRR!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_9u1pWxI9Aws/TPtshI5QYgI/AAAAAAAAAJE/0XSHJdfAh0I/s1600/DSC02148.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_9u1pWxI9Aws/TPtshI5QYgI/AAAAAAAAAJE/0XSHJdfAh0I/s320/DSC02148.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547146682616013314" /></a><br />OK, I lost my password and couldn't be bothered faffing about to get it back so I haven't been on here for ages. Prepare for several posts in quick succession...<br /><br />Here is my spider, from Hansi Singh's Amigurumi Knits. I have been avoiding this book for months as the techniques scared me- but actually the instructions are pretty clear and easy to follow. The only problem was, as the spider came together it started to really creep me out and I had to keep putting it down and taking some deep breaths!muttonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16239871491704986316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1852320905807082764.post-2038323290036824392010-08-29T04:58:00.000-07:002010-08-29T05:01:29.252-07:00bob marleyI have had a cold for a week and didn't even feel like knitting, so this took a while!a <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35202162@N08/4937005873/" title="First attempt at a knitted Bob Marley by altuxyjunior, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4115/4937005873_50d3bb6152.jpg" width="333" height="500" alt="First attempt at a knitted Bob Marley" /></a>muttonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16239871491704986316noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1852320905807082764.post-21098297329262800632010-08-23T11:09:00.000-07:002010-08-23T11:14:51.133-07:00Hugging dolls- free (untested) pattern!Hugging dolls<br /><br />I made these for two of my lovely friends who had their civil partnership ceremony at the weekend.<br /> <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_9u1pWxI9Aws/THK6M3DFaSI/AAAAAAAAAIk/kKAqQgU1-qA/s1600/DSC02024.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_9u1pWxI9Aws/THK6M3DFaSI/AAAAAAAAAIk/kKAqQgU1-qA/s320/DSC02024.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508670024325622050" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />Finished size approx 5 inches from bum to head<br />You will need:<br />Small amounts of DK yarn (less than 50g each colour) of flesh colour, trouser and sweater colour, smaller amounts for shoes, hair anf facial features<br />3mm DPNs<br />crochet hook for attaching hair<br />Darning needle<br />2 press studs, needle and thread to attach them.<br />Body<br />Cast on 6 sts in trouser colour and divide across 3 DPNs. Join, taking care not to twist, and place a stitch marker at the beginning of the round.<br />Row 1: inc 1 in every st (12 sts)<br />Row 2: K<br />Row 3: Inc 1 in every st (24 sts)<br />Row 4: K<br />Row 5: (inc 1, K1) to end (36 sts)<br />K 3 rounds<br />Row 9: (inc 1. K2) to end (48 sts)<br />K 3 rounds<br />Switch to sweater colour and (K1, P1) to end.<br />Cont in rib for 3 rows<br />Start cable pattern:<br />Row 1 (K4, P4) to end<br />Repeat 3 times<br />Row 4 (C2F, P4) to end<br />Row 5&6 (k4,P4) to end.<br />Repeat these 6 rows twice<br />(K4, P2tog, P2) to end (40 sts)<br />(K4, P3)to end<br />(K4, P2tog, P1) to end (32 sts)<br />(K4, P2) to end <br />now is probably a good time to get some stuffing in…<br /><br />(K2tog, K2tog, P2tog) to end (16sts)<br />K<br />(k2tog) to end (8sts)<br />Draw up tightly and fasten off<br /><br />Head<br />Cast on 6 sts in flesh colour and divide across 3 DPNs. Join, taking care not to twist, and place a stitch marker at the beginning of the round.<br />Row 1: inc 1 in every st (12 sts)<br />Row 2: K<br />Row 3: Inc 1 in every st (24 sts)<br />Row 4: K<br />Row 5: (inc 1, K1) to end (36 sts)<br />K 7 rounds for a very round head, 9 for a longer one<br />(K2tog, K1) to end (24 sts)<br />K<br />K2 tog to end (12 sts)<br />K<br />K2tog to end (6 sts)<br />Draw up tightly and fasten off.<br /><br />Arms<br />Pick up 9 sts on 3 DPNs at shoulder- just above the last twist of cable for my version.<br />K 35 rounds, stuffing lightly as you go if you want more rigid arms- I left mine unstuffed.<br />Next 4 rows K1 P1 rib.<br />Switch to flesh colour and K 6 rounds, then draw up and fasten off.<br /><br />Legs<br />Pick up 9 sts as for arms, at the bottom of the sweater.<br />K 30 (ish) rounds, or until legs are as long as you want them. Stuff as you go for more rigid legs.<br /><br />Shoes<br /> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_9u1pWxI9Aws/THK6NcdOEzI/AAAAAAAAAIs/Qbc1fZa3gCs/s1600/DSC02027.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_9u1pWxI9Aws/THK6NcdOEzI/AAAAAAAAAIs/Qbc1fZa3gCs/s320/DSC02027.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508670034367353650" /></a><br />Using two needles, cast on 11 sts<br />Inc 1 in every st (22)<br />K 3rows for sole of shoe<br />Starting with a P row, ss 5 rows<br />K5, (K3tog) 4 times (14 sts)<br />P4, P3tog twice, P4 (10sts)<br />Cast off.<br />Fold in half and stitch together along cast-on edge then continue stitching up row ends, leaving top open.<br />Stuff firmly and attach to bottom of legs.<br /><br />Attach head to top of body, embroider eyes and mouth. Hair was attached in individual strands using a crochet hook.<br /><br />Sew press studs to hands so dolls can hug, hold hands, or swing from the light fittings!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_9u1pWxI9Aws/THK6N2xOOHI/AAAAAAAAAI0/9LYwVhX6sGM/s1600/DSC02021.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_9u1pWxI9Aws/THK6N2xOOHI/AAAAAAAAAI0/9LYwVhX6sGM/s320/DSC02021.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508670041430571122" /></a>muttonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16239871491704986316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1852320905807082764.post-3941624112442111712010-08-17T12:17:00.000-07:002010-08-17T12:22:27.166-07:00Zombie pattern notes<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_9u1pWxI9Aws/TGrg4afGu4I/AAAAAAAAAIc/wTpD1V_qsgQ/s1600/DSC02005.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_9u1pWxI9Aws/TGrg4afGu4I/AAAAAAAAAIc/wTpD1V_qsgQ/s320/DSC02005.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506460754200935298" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_9u1pWxI9Aws/TGrg35Z9WlI/AAAAAAAAAIU/rHn4FGzj1ws/s1600/DSC02013.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_9u1pWxI9Aws/TGrg35Z9WlI/AAAAAAAAAIU/rHn4FGzj1ws/s320/DSC02013.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506460745320979026" /></a><br />OK, had a few requests so I have very hastily put this together. I accept no responsibility for the quality of the finished product! <br /><br />Zombie pattern notes<br />Not the most complete instructions you’ll ever see, but who’s ever seen identical zombies?<br /><br /><br />Materials<br />Small amounts of DK in suitable colours for flesh, blood, bone, and whatever clothes and hair you want. Tiny amount of grey or pink for brains.<br />Size 2.75mm needles<br />Pipe cleaner?chenille straw/wire for stiffening bone ends<br />Darning needle<br />Dark colouring pencil for shading in under eyes and making dirt smudges<br />Crochet hook for hair<br /><br />Gash<br />Insert these at random. <br />Use blood colour for 1 st of the row you want the gash to start. <br />Next row, when you get to the gash, inc 1 (2 red sts)<br />Repeat x2 (8 sts)<br />Continue for about 4 rows with no increases.<br />Next row, when you get to the gash, K2 4 times<br />Repeat until 1 red st left<br />Next row, continue in main colour<br /><br />Whole leg<br />Cast on 6 sts in flesh tone<br />Purl 1 row<br />Inc into every st (12 sts)<br />P 1 row<br />(inc 1, K1) to end (18 sts)<br />cont in SS for 45 rows, ending with a P row. Part way up the leg (depending on how long you want the trouser leg) introduce the trouser colour, alternating with leg colour to make a ragged shape. Add a gash if you feel like it. Keep these sts on needle.<br /><br />Leg with bone sticking out<br />Cast on 6 sts in white<br />Starting with a K row, ss 4 rows.<br />Switch to Blood and inc 1 in every st (12 sts)<br />P 1 row<br />(Inc 1, K1) to end (18 sts)<br />Switch to flesh and cont in SS for a total of 33 rows, changing to trouser colour as for whole leg, adding a gash if you feel like it, and finishing on a P row. If I’ve worked this out right, both legs should be on the same needle ready to join….<br /><br />Body<br />K across all 36 sts to join legs.<br />P 1 row<br />(K2, inc 1) to end (48 sts) (or just K for a skinnier zombie)<br />Cont in SS for about 35 rows, joining in shirt colour as for trouser colour on legs, adding a gash or two. For the gash across the ribs I just knitted a random shape bordered by flesh colour and with alternating stripes of Blood and Bone colours (ooh I enjoyed typing that). I could make a chart if anyone is really interested.<br />To decrease for shoulders, K9, K3tog 3 times, K20, K3tog 3 times, K9 (36 sts)<br />P 1 row<br />K6, K3tog twice, K12, K3tog twice, K6 (26 sts)<br />P1 row<br />K2tog to end (13 sts)<br />P 1 row<br />K1, K2tog to end (7 sts)<br />Draw up tightly and secure<br /><br />Head<br />Cast on 6 sts<br />Inc 1 in every st (12)<br />P1 row<br />Inc 1 in every st (24)<br />SS 3 rows<br />(K1, inc 1) to end (36)<br />SS 9 rows<br />(K1, K2tog) to end (24)<br />SS 3 rows<br />K2tog to end (12)<br />P1 row<br />K2tog to end (6)<br />Draw up tightly and secure.<br /><br />Whole arm<br />Cast on 4 sts in flesh tone<br />Purl 1 row<br />Inc into every st (8 sts)<br />P 1 row<br />(inc 1) to end (16 sts)<br />SS 5 rows<br />For wrist, K1, (K2tog, K1) to end <br />P 1 row<br />K1, (inc 1, K1) to end (16)<br />cont in SS for 27 or so rows, ending with a P row. Part way up the arm (depending on how long you want the sleeve) introduce the trouser colour, alternating with flesh colour to make a ragged shape. Add a gash if you feel like it. <br />K2tog to end (8)<br />P2 tog to end (4)<br />Draw up tightly and secure<br /><br />Arm with bone sticking out<br />Cast on 4 sts in white<br />Starting with a K row, ss 6 rows.<br />Switch to Blood and inc 1 in every st (8 sts)<br />P 1 row<br />(Inc 1, K1) to end (16 sts)<br />Switch to flesh and cont in SS for a total of about 19 rows, finishing as for whole arm.<br /><br />Shoe<br />Cast on 18 sts<br />Inc 1 in every st (36 sts)<br />P1 row<br />K 3 rows to form a ridge<br />Starting with a purl row, SS 3 rows<br />K10, K3tog 4 times, K10 (24 sts)<br />K1, P1 rib for next 4-5 rows for sock<br />Cast off<br /><br /><br />Making up<br />Body<br />Starting at foot end , mattress stitch edges of legs together up to join, stuffing as you go and inserting a length of pipe cleaner in the bone. Insert less stuffing where gashes are and push gashes in with your finger to gauge how much stuffing is needed.<br />Continue to mattress stitch up body, again stuffing as you go.<br /><br />Arms<br />Stuff as for legs and attach to shoulders<br /><br />Head <br />Starting at whichever end you feel like, mattress stitch edges of head together and stuff firmly. Attach to top of body<br /><br />Boot<br />Fold in half and stitch together round edge, leaving cast-off edge open. Stuff shoe and pull onto whole leg end. Stitch in place.<br /><br />Using Bone colour, make a long stitch in each gash to look like a bone, and to hold gash in place. On head, stitch on facial features before choosing where to put a patch of brain. Embroider a rough circle in grey, and edge with white then red. Liberally embroider blood spatters everywhere then add hair around the brain section (send me a message if you want any tips on doll hair).muttonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16239871491704986316noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1852320905807082764.post-70752003193911861942010-08-16T11:28:00.001-07:002010-08-16T11:36:06.380-07:00BRRRRAAAAAAIIIINNNNNSSSS<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_9u1pWxI9Aws/TGmE9Z9QgGI/AAAAAAAAAIM/aXne0O8iyF8/s1600/DSC01997.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_9u1pWxI9Aws/TGmE9Z9QgGI/AAAAAAAAAIM/aXne0O8iyF8/s320/DSC01997.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506078209911849058" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_9u1pWxI9Aws/TGmEbqQ8J2I/AAAAAAAAAIE/jJWZ0RZDvFM/s1600/DSC01993.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_9u1pWxI9Aws/TGmEbqQ8J2I/AAAAAAAAAIE/jJWZ0RZDvFM/s320/DSC01993.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506077630173816674" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_9u1pWxI9Aws/TGmEbO7bbYI/AAAAAAAAAH8/tUBGgQHw71g/s1600/DSC01994.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_9u1pWxI9Aws/TGmEbO7bbYI/AAAAAAAAAH8/tUBGgQHw71g/s320/DSC01994.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506077622835834242" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_9u1pWxI9Aws/TGmEavTs7OI/AAAAAAAAAH0/AztATEWaPCQ/s1600/DSC02007.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_9u1pWxI9Aws/TGmEavTs7OI/AAAAAAAAAH0/AztATEWaPCQ/s320/DSC02007.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506077614347709666" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_9u1pWxI9Aws/TGmEafWFqbI/AAAAAAAAAHs/QeyjZ82tGGM/s1600/DSC02006.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_9u1pWxI9Aws/TGmEafWFqbI/AAAAAAAAAHs/QeyjZ82tGGM/s320/DSC02006.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506077610062752178" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_9u1pWxI9Aws/TGmEZ0QvGqI/AAAAAAAAAHk/FJ83XD9r3VU/s1600/DSC02005.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_9u1pWxI9Aws/TGmEZ0QvGqI/AAAAAAAAAHk/FJ83XD9r3VU/s320/DSC02005.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506077598497577634" /></a><br />Yes, I made a zombie.muttonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16239871491704986316noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1852320905807082764.post-65532522153194359572010-08-09T23:08:00.000-07:002010-08-09T23:47:31.730-07:00some recent projectsOk, once again I've been very very busy, on a deadline to finish about 3 different projects!! So here are a few photos. OK the top one isn't knitted, it's a quilt.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_9u1pWxI9Aws/TGD0UbLhnUI/AAAAAAAAAHc/RpouXBm4gNE/s1600/DSC01916.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_9u1pWxI9Aws/TGD0UbLhnUI/AAAAAAAAAHc/RpouXBm4gNE/s320/DSC01916.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503667376377404738" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_9u1pWxI9Aws/TGD0ToC_VgI/AAAAAAAAAHU/kATt_aJ6WFQ/s1600/DSC01852.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_9u1pWxI9Aws/TGD0ToC_VgI/AAAAAAAAAHU/kATt_aJ6WFQ/s320/DSC01852.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503667362651395586" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_9u1pWxI9Aws/TGD0TMHPpgI/AAAAAAAAAHM/7z0e3nhhBNI/s1600/DSC01887.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_9u1pWxI9Aws/TGD0TMHPpgI/AAAAAAAAAHM/7z0e3nhhBNI/s320/DSC01887.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503667355153049090" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_9u1pWxI9Aws/TGD0SbRcgPI/AAAAAAAAAHE/gfW33AR_UYc/s1600/DSC01905.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_9u1pWxI9Aws/TGD0SbRcgPI/AAAAAAAAAHE/gfW33AR_UYc/s320/DSC01905.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503667342042497266" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_9u1pWxI9Aws/TGD0RRk8MaI/AAAAAAAAAG8/fpkXyHA-C20/s1600/DSC01934.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_9u1pWxI9Aws/TGD0RRk8MaI/AAAAAAAAAG8/fpkXyHA-C20/s320/DSC01934.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503667322260042146" /></a>muttonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16239871491704986316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1852320905807082764.post-3898103760580037822010-07-12T23:30:00.000-07:002010-07-12T23:38:00.168-07:00phoenixknitsI am so lazy about keeping this blog up.... too busy knitting...<br /><br />Here are a couple of fab creations from Phoenixknits (phoeny on Ravelry). Need to sell a few things so I can afford to buy some more patterns!<br /><br />this is a Mandrake:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_9u1pWxI9Aws/TDwI9SUJJlI/AAAAAAAAAG0/ksh_7zdA4IM/s1600/DSC01792.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_9u1pWxI9Aws/TDwI9SUJJlI/AAAAAAAAAG0/ksh_7zdA4IM/s320/DSC01792.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493275494466528850" /></a><br /><br />and this one is a gargoyle. The background was made by a very talented work colleague (we're a crafty bunch in not-very-creative jobs!)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_9u1pWxI9Aws/TDwI87RU4nI/AAAAAAAAAGs/X0Au3rw34FA/s1600/DSC01832.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_9u1pWxI9Aws/TDwI87RU4nI/AAAAAAAAAGs/X0Au3rw34FA/s320/DSC01832.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493275488280699506" /></a><br /><br />Off to work again now, handing over my latest creation, Amy Pond from the newest series of Dr Who (photos will follow!)muttonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16239871491704986316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1852320905807082764.post-43714937385408434122010-06-23T23:07:00.000-07:002010-06-23T23:13:41.079-07:00Karl PilkingtonKarl Pilkington (born on 23 September 1972) is a Sony Award-winning English radio producer, poet, podcaster, raconteur and author, best known for producing and co-presenting The Ricky Gervais Show on London radio station Xfm from 2001 to 2005 and later in the form of podcasts and a television show on HBO.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karl_Pilkington"></a><br /><br />So we were watching the Ricky Gervais show last Friday evening and I was challenged to knit the cartoon version of Karl. Here he is:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_9u1pWxI9Aws/TCL28wFUeTI/AAAAAAAAAGk/0oYLcZssLFs/s1600/DSC01829.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_9u1pWxI9Aws/TCL28wFUeTI/AAAAAAAAAGk/0oYLcZssLFs/s320/DSC01829.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486218819650484530" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_9u1pWxI9Aws/TCL27jXyS9I/AAAAAAAAAGc/kPFUVYTZzNA/s1600/DSC01826.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_9u1pWxI9Aws/TCL27jXyS9I/AAAAAAAAAGc/kPFUVYTZzNA/s320/DSC01826.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486218799058406354" /></a><br /><br />His head is almost exactly spherical, with separately knitted nose, bottom lip and ears. Arms are poseable (pipe cleaners) and legs are unstuffed with weighted feet (some little glass pebbles I had lying around). He also has dried peas in his bum so he sits comfortably on a shelf. I am very pleased.muttonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16239871491704986316noreply@blogger.com13