Tardis Washcloth

Design: Tardis Washcloth 

Designer: Lorenia - freebie available here 

Yarn: Patons Cotton, DK weight 

Fibre: 100% cotton

Colour: Denim 2697

Needles: 3.75mm

 

An online friend saw my previous finish, and asked if she could pay me to make one for her - I was happy to agree, but I asked for a donation to the MS Trust instead.

This knits up very quickly, and the yarn is lovely to work with - good twist, and a slight sheen.

 

 

Cable Hotwater Bottle Cosy

Design: Cable Hot Water Bottle Cover - free design available on Ravelry

Designer: Alexis Layton

Yarn: Stylecraft Life Chunky

Fibre: 75% acrylic, 25% wool

Colour: Denim, 2322

Needles: 6mm

I knitted this for The Hermit for Christmas. I only knit blue for other people ;o) The pattern was simple and easy to follow, although I was worried at one point that it would be too small for the hotwater bottle - I started it on my trip away with no access to a hottle, and it looked pretty small when I was working on it, as the cables pull it in a lot. In fact, it got called the Hotwater Bottle Condom because of the likelihood of a snug fit (thanks girls!).

Anyway, it's a perfect fit, it used less than a ball (100g/148m/162yds) of the yarn, and my sweetie really likes it. As he should, actually, as he was the one who picked out the pattern. Is the next step to get him to knit one of his own?

This was the first of three Hotwater Bottle Covers I knitted this Christmas. I think I'm going to make one for myself from all the leftover yarn!

Chunky Wristwarmers #3

Design: Chunky Wristwarmers

Designer: Me

Yarn: James C Brett Marble Chunky

Fibre: 100% acrylic

Colour: Mallard Mix (MC6)

Needles: 5mm

I rustled these up with the leftovers from the scarf - are you bored of seeing this design yet? LOL These are my least favourite of the three pairs I've made so far, I think they look a little too restrained! :o)

Waterfall Scarf #2

Design: Waterfall Scarf

Source: Yarn Stash Wonders

Yarn: James C Brett Marble Chunky

Fibre: 100% acrylic

Colour: Mallard Mix (MC6)

Needles: 6mm (I think, maybe 8mm...)

My partner in a craft swap liked strong colours, particularly turquoise, and said she would like a chunky scarf. I had leftover yarn in my stash, I knew this pattern was quick and effective and off I went :o)

It was hard to part with it, and I nearly lost it to another member of my knitting group too...

Chunky Beret

Design: Slouchy Beret, based on Esme - free pattern available here

Designer: Amy Pickard, modified by me

Yarn: King Cole Magnum Chunky

Fibre: 75% acrylic, 25% wool

Colour: Amber (317)

Needles: 5mm and 6mm

I knitted an Esme beret last year and loved it, so started this one when I went away on my knitting retreat in November. It worked up very quickly - I started it while waiting for lunch to arrive at the pub, and finished it before dinner that evening.

The original Esme has a cabled band, but I just did garter stitch. The band is a little wide, and the yarn with this needle size is a little firm, so it doesn't slouch as much as I'd hoped. However, it makes a great cloche, and I wear it with a brooch pinned to the band. With my bobbed hair, I feel very Thirties!

The hat took only 100g (110m) of yarn too!

Chunky Wristwarmers #2

 

Design: Chunky Wristwarmers

Designer: me, such as they are 'designed'

Yarn: King Cole Magnum Chunky

Fibre: 75% acrylic, 25% wool

Colour: Amber (317)

Needles: 6mm

I've decided I have a new 'go-to' pattern for fingerless mitts. It's basically knit a rectangle in garter stitch, seam where appropriate, darn in the ends and then flutter my hands and wait for the admiring comments...which I get in bucketfuls. And more than when I wear my nicely cabled mitts with a proper thumb ...ahem.

I'm lucky that in the UK, it rarely gets cold enough to need more than these. If the daytime temperature here goes below -2 deg. C, it's about as cold as it gets in an English city - I've been on the hills and been colder, a lot colder, but then I wear the proper gear, 'k?

Another bargainous yarn from The Wool Baa - something like £2.00 a ball, and I used less than 2 balls to make these and the beret in the next post. The wool in the blend makes them feel great, lightweight and warm and the acrylic means they'll go in the washing machine. What's not to like? If any of you say 'the colour' I'll be over to try and convert you to the joys of orange !

Garter Rib Hotwater Bottle Cover - Free Pattern!

 

Design: Garter Rib Hotwater Bottle Cover

Designer: Me - free design below

Yarn: Stylecraft Life Chunky

Colour: Rose (2301)

Fibre: 75% acrylic, 25% wool

Needles: 4.50mm

My sister asked for a gift card for her favourite clothes store for Christmas, and I was more than happy to get that for her. But you can't have nothing to open on Christmas Day, and so I rustled up this little hotwater bottle cover, as my sister is one of the chilliest people I know - she has been known to wear flannel pyjamas in August! 

My niece, The Tot, is coveting this gift - she keeps asking my sister if she can have it! So it's certainly a hit with one member of the family!

 

Garter Rib Hotwater Bottle Cover

You will need:

100g of chunky yarn - I used Stylecraft Life Chunky, which is 162yds/148m

double pointed needles or short circulars - I used 4.50mm, but I knit slightly loosely, you may want tomove up to 5.00mm or 5.50mm

crochet hook - 4.50mm approx to make cord - or a length of ribbon

blunt ended needle for sewing up.

stitch marker

large hotwater bottle

Instructions:

Body:

Cast on 56 stitches, and join in a circle, being careful not to twist. Use stitch marker to indicate beginning of row.

Row 1: Knit

Row 2: *Knit 2, Purl 2, repeat from * to end of round

Rows 1-2 form pattern repeat.

Repeat pattern until you've reached the shoulder of the hotwater bottle - mine needed 64 rows. If you haven't finished on a knit row, then knit one row. This sets up the eyelet row and frill.

Eyelets and frill:

Row 1: *Knit 2, Yarn Over, Purl 2, Yarn Over, repeat from * to end of round

Row 2: *Knit 2, Knit 2 together, Knit 2 together, repeat from * to end of round

Row 3: *Knit 2, Purl 2, repeat from * to end of round

Row 4: Knit

Row 5: *Knit 2, Purl 2, repeat from * to end of round

Row 6: Knit

Row 7: *Knit 2, Purl 2, repeat from * to end of round

Row 8: Knit

Cast off - this can be done knitwise or in rib.

Darn in end at top. Sew bottom seam using a mattress stitch.

Make tie cord by crocheting a chain about 50cm (20 inches) in length. Weave through the eyelet holes. Insert hotwater bottle and tie cord to secure.

Cortina Socks

Design: Plain Stocking Stitch Socks

Designer: Based on Regia leaflet socks, with heel from Charlene Schurch's Sensational Knitted Socks

Yarn: Cortina (from Lidl Supermarket)

Fibre: 75% wool, 25% nylon

Needles: 2.5mm DPN

Last year, my second ever pair of socks was a Christmas gift for my dearest friend. This year from OCtober onwards she started dropping hints she'd like another pair ...

My friend requested 'dark, plainish socks - black, brown or grey' - and this yarn, snaffled at a bargain price from a discount supermarket chain seemed to fit the bill - it was plain enough for her, but not so plain I was going to be bored to death with it. There was no way I was going to knit plain black socks! The yarn is a little rougher than Regia et al, but it worked up quite nicely and I think it will get softer with washing.

I don't think they are going to be worn for a while yet - on Christmas Day my friend flew out to India for six weeks, but I know she's taken them with her for her arrival back in the UK, as February is always freezing!

Clapotis

Design: Clapotis

Designer: Kate Gilbert - in Knitty, free pattern can be found here

Yarn: Noro Cash Iroha

Fibre: 40% Silk, 30% Lambswool, 20% Cashmere, 10% Nylon

Colour: Garnet (22)
Needles: 5mm

This rather luxurious yarn would have normally been outside my budget, but The Wool Baa had it on sale. And the feel of it ... so lovely, and the colour was 'me' and I'd wanted to knit a Clapotis for ages and so I indulged - it wasn't terribly cheap, even on sale.

Jill, the lovely owner of The Wool Baa gave me some hints on working the Clapotis so that I didn't have to faff with stitch markers and twisted stitches - I basically just purled each stitch to drop - and this worked up pretty quickly.

And then disappointment set in. It was very comfortable and the colour sings - but I felt it was a bit too plain for me. I think I had 'Post Project Slump Syndrome'. But I persevered and wore it all through the autumn. And the comments wouldn't stop coming, from a friend you'd spotted me across the Peace Gardens because I was wearing this to the young guy 'chugging' in the city centre who just thought it was amazing.

And now I love it. And I want another one, perhaps in purple or plum. And probably in a yarn which has some colour variation.

And if you're lucky, I might post a picture of me wearing that one, and not my kitchen door modelling it!

Feather and Fan Scarf

Design: Feather and Fan Scarf

Designer: unknown - from Ravelry though.

Yarn: Wendy Happy

Colour: Taurus (2507)

Fibre: 75% bamboo, 25% nylon

Needles: 5.00mm (I think)

This scarf was made to cover that tricky spring period where it can be quite chilly or draughty but not enough to need a woolly ... It took exactly 100g (420m) of yarn, so it was pretty economical too. And if I get bored with it, as I'm not sure about the colours, I will rip it back and make it into a pair of socks! It does drape beautifully and is wearing well.

I was knitting this one afternoon when I went to my parents for lunch. My mum - herself a knitter, she was the one who taught me after all - at first just thought I was knitting a plain scarf with this self striping yarn and then noticed the pattern. And she laughed. Not normally the reaction my knitting, I have to say - and then she explained. Her grannie (my great grannie) was also a knitter - which I knew. Apparently, she used to use this pattern to knit everybody stripy scarves - whether they wanted one or not - using up her odds and ends of yarn, and almost always alternated with beige! I was quite touched actually - and I think Ma was too - to think I'm carrying on a bit of family tradition!

Mini Cable Rib Hotwater Bottle Cover - Free Pattern!

Designer: Mini Cable Rib Hotwater Bottle Cover

Designer: me! - pattern below

Yarn: Stylecraft Life Chunky

Colour: Raspberry Marl (2347)

Fibre: 75% acrylic, 25% wool

Needles: UK7 (4.5mm)

I'm posting this out of order of making, as this was actually the third hotwater bottle cover I knitted for Christmas gifts. This was one I made for my mum, as a bit of a stocking filler. The yarn is nice and squooshy and very good value. The 25% wool makes it nice and soft and will insulate the hottle nicely, and the acrylic will make it durable and washable.

My mum used to knit hotwater bottle covers for us when we were children, it's nice to turn the tables!

Mini Cable Rib Hotwater Bottle Cover

You will need:

100g of chunky yarn - I used Stylecraft Life Chunky, which is 162yds/148m

double pointed needles or short circulars - I used 4.50mm, but I knit slightly loosely, you may want tomove up to 5.00mm or 5.50mm

crochet hook - 4.50mm approx to make cord - or a length of ribbon

blunt ended needle for sewing up.

stitch marker

large hotwater bottle

Instructions:

Body:

Cast on 56 stitches, and join in a circle, being careful not to twist. Use stitch marker to indicate beginning of row.

Row 1: Knit

Row 2: *Knit 2, Purl 2, repeat from * to end of round

Row 3: Knit

Row 4: *Knit 2 together, don't slip the stitches from the needle but insert needle between the stitches and knit 1, Purl 2, repeat from * to end of round

Rows 1-4 form pattern repeat.

Repeat pattern until you've reached the shoulder of the hotwater bottle - mine needed 64 rows. If you haven't finished on a knit row, then knit one row. This sets up the eyelet row and frill.

Eyelets and frill:

Row 1: *Knit 2, Yarn Over, Purl 2, Yarn Over, repeat from * to end of round

Row 2: *Knit 2, Knit 2 together, Knit 2 together, repeat from * to end of round

Row 3: *Knit 2, Purl 2, repeat from * to end of round

Row 4: Knit

Row 5: *Knit 2 together, don't slip the stitches from the needle but insert needle between the stitches and knit 1, Purl 2, repeat from * to end of round

Row 6: Knit

Row 7: *Knit 2, Purl 2, repeat from * to end of round

Row 8: Knit

Cast off - this can be done knitwise or in rib.

Darn in end at top. Sew bottom seam using a mattress stitch.

Make tie cord by crocheting a chain about 50cm (20 inches) in length. Weave through the eyelet holes. Insert hotwater bottle and tie cord to secure.

Garter Rib Socks

Design: Garter Rib Socks

Designer: Charlene Schurch (from Sensational Knitted Socks) 

Yarn: Wendy Happy

Fibre: 75% bamboo, 25% nylon

Colour: Gemini 2502

Needles: 2.5mm KnitPro DPNS

I've just realised I posted these as a WIP but never showed you the finished result! These have made a very comfortable pair of socks, and they are wearing well. The bamboo is lovely and soft. They do slouch a little more than my wool socks, but it's liveable with.

The yarn was quite splitty when I cast it on - I think it's my technique but the result was great. I've got some more of this yarn in my stash earmarked for socks, I can't wait because they are especially fab for summer wear. And of course bamboo is a renewable resource...

Chunky Wristwarmers

Design: Chunky Wristwarmers

Designers: Can't remember where I got the idea from - not that there's a design as such!

Yarn: Fontana (from Lidl Supermarket)

Fibre: 100% acrylic

Needles: 6mm

These match the scarf in the previous post. They are basically a rectangle of garter stitch, seamed so that the ridges run vertically and with a gap left in the seam for the thumb. They could not be simpler, and so I make a pair in about an hour. They don't look anything much when not worn, hence the rather odd hand modelling going on...

I was wearing them to class a couple of weeks ago, and my Literature tutor admired them. So did one of my classmates when she borrowed them as she couldn't get her hands warm - these did the trick and I nearly lost them! My tutor asked for the instructions and by the class the following week, she'd already made three pairs! My tutor for this class is great - she's pretty creative herself, she was showing me some needlefelted jewellry she'd made with combings from her Shih Tzu!

Waterfall Scarf

Design: Waterfall Scarf

Designer: Yarn Stash Wonders

Yarn: Fontana (from Lidl Supermarket)

Fibre: 100% acrylic

Needles: 8mm

This knitted up really quickly, and it looks pretty impressive. It's worked entirely in garter stitch, so couldn't be easier - the magic comes with the dropped stitches at the end!

I used just over three 50g balls for this, and it's slightly too long for me - but as I'm only 5 feet 2 inches, many things are :o)

This yarn was pretty good for the price (£2.99 for 200g) - better than some 'name' yarns in the way it has handled and is wearing.

Buddha should have been a garden ornament, but I have no garden ... he's a great model, very patient ;o)

Tardis Washcloth

 

Design: Tardis Washcloth

Designer: Lorenia - freebie available here

Yarn: Patons Cotton, DK weight

Fibre: 100% cotton

Colour: Denim 2697

Needles: 3.75mm

The Hermit is turning into a Doctor Who obsessive.  I've also got several friends who are somewhat more than fans, and they told me about this design. I had some blue cotton in my stash - snaffled very cheaply at a charity shop - and I was off. In less than an evening, I had a gift for my sweetie!

I made the border garter stitch rather than single rib, as garter stitch is speedier but other than that, I made no changes.

Ma's Christmas Socks

Design: 60 stitch socks, slip stitch heel

Designer: elements from the Regia leaflet and Charlene Schurch

Yarn: Schoeller Fortissima Socka Mexiko

Fibre: 75% wool, 25% nylon

Colour: lost theball band, but I know it's been discontinued

Needles: 2.5mm DPN

My usual 'go to' sock pattern, but one which shows of the yarn beautifully. I'm not normally a fan of blues, but I will make an exception for these! So it's a shame really that they are a Christmas present for my mum! By the time this is posted on my blog, they will hopefully be on her feet, keeping her warm and snug!

She specifically requested some hand knit socks for Christmas. My parents are going to Norway on holiday in June, and are crossing the Arctic Circle and going right up to North Cape - so Ma wants to make sure her feet are warm.

Ma likes blue, and the colours of this yarn spoke to me of deep fjords, pine forests and clear skies... I hope she likes them as much as I do, otherwise I'll have them back! :o)

Plain Striped Socks (Kaffe Fassett)

Design: 60 stitch socks, slip stitch heel

Designer: elements from the Regia leaflet and Charlene Schurch

Yarn: Regia Kaffe Fassett Design Line

Fibre: 75% wool, 25% nylon

Colour: 4259 Fire Landscape

Needles: 2.5mm KnitPro DPN

There's not really a lot I can say about plain stocking stitch socks, because they're just that - plain. They'd be quite boring to knit too, if they weren't in such great self striping yarn. Yes, it's Kaffe Fassett again - I just love the colour use, and the intensity of the shades. And with the weather we've been having, one can never have too many pairs of hand knit wooly socks!

Pink Sparkly Legwarmers

Design: Little Legwarmers

Designer: me - such as the design is!

Yarn: Creative Yarns Rainbow Multi Glitz Double Knitting 

Fibre: 97% acrylic, 3% metallic 

Colour: 1084

Needles: 3.75mm DPN and small circular

These are a Christmas gift, but I'm safe posting about this as the recipient is only three (and a half! most important...) and can't (quite) read my blog.

My niece, The Tot, has recently started ballet lessons - you can see her in her 'uniform' above - and is also in that 'pink princess' stage little girls seem to go through. We don't know where she gets it from, as none of the family have exactly been encouraging it, but you've got to make a little girl happy, haven't you? And how better to do that than combine her favourite colours with some sparkle in a pair of 'proper dancer's' accessories?

The photo doesn't show you the full horror effect. The pink is very lurid, not quite day-glo but nearly, and running all the way through the yarn is a strand of silver sparkle. The fair isle section is fuchsia and white. All I'm going to say is that whilst these would have made an ideal bus project, I wasn't going to be seen knitting this stuff in public...

It was quite fun to think I'd seen this yarn as a sample when we'd been to the Creative Yarn warehouse in the summer though!

The hardest part of knitting these was juggling with the metal DPNS, so I switched to a 16" circular and progress was quicker, although I had to keep shoving stitches around.

If you'd like to make your own budding ballerina a pair of legwarmers, you will need:

Little Legwarmers - for little legs

(age 3-4 approx) (pattern especially for Barb M!)

100g double knitting yarn - you won't use all the ball, but having extra will give you chance to lengthen the legs

4mm double pointed needles or small (16"/40cm) circular needle - I used 3.75mm because I knit slightly loosely. Tension isn't wildly important but you don't want too loose a fabric If you want to knit straight, then a pair of 4mm ordinary needles needed.

yarn needle

Cast on 36 stitches loosely - or use a 5mm needle

Divide stitches over  double pointed needles and join in the round, being careful not to twist stitches (or use a small circular needle)

Work knit 2, purl 2 rib for 16 rows

Knit 64 rows

Work knit 2, purl 2 rib for 6 row

Cast off loosely in rib

Darn in ends.

If you wanted to knit these in the flat and seam, then:

Cast on 38 stitches loosely - or use a 5mm needle

Row 1: knit 2, purl 2 to end, ending with knit 2

Row 2: purl 2, knit 2 to end, ending with purl 2

Repeat Rows 1 and 2 seven more times

Row 17: knit

Row 18: purl

Repeat Rows 17 and 18 31 more times

Row 81: knit 2, purl 2 to end, ending with knit 2

Row 82: purl 2, knit 2 to end, ending with purl 2

Repeat Rows 81 and 82 twice more

Cast off loosely in rib.

Seam using a mattress seam. There is a one stitch seam allowance.

Luna Moth Shawl

Design: Luna Moth Shawl

Designer: Elann

Yarn: Sirdar Blur

This is quite a sad little tale, really. This was my first ever shawl that I knit, back in January this year,  and I knitted it surprisingly quickly,with only a few mis-steps, and it was destined to be a gift for my BFF for her 40th birthday. And then the Royal Mail lost it.

I just hope that, wherever it it now, it is being loved and cherished, and wasn't just tossed in a bin ...

Mini Cable Socks

Design: Mini Cable Socks

Designer: Charlene Schurch from Sensational Knitted Socks

Yarn: Regia Design Line Kaffe Fassett (75% Wool and 25% Polyamide)

Colour: 4251 Landscape Storm

Needles: 2.5mm Knit Pro DPNS

 

Another pair of favourite socks - although I wish they weren't so blue ... The 'cable' effect is actually a twisted rib, very simple to do, but it looks very effective. The rib makes these socks very comfortable to wear, and because of the pattern row, not too tedious to do.

 

I again used a flap heel with a slip stitch pattern, which cushions them a little.