Trash to Treasure

Hi Everyone!! Hope you are all well!! Happy Bank Holiday Monday!! I was at work today looking out at the rain and the chilly weather. Did I neglect to mention the fact that it is June? Ridiculous. I hope it is nice where ever you are. Where my mum is, it is 26 degrees and sunny. At a risk of being labelled repetitive- Ridicuous.

This post is all about our new Garden. Now we have lived in our house for 5 years this year, and slowly but surely we have been sorting it out. In this last year, a lot has been sorted. We have painted the study, the hallway, redone our living room and we have really been neglecting the garden. We have needed a new shed for quite a while, in fact it was very much leaning and the roof most definitely had a bit of a sag in it. We wanted a new plastic shed that was smaller and less spider infested!! So we found one, at a really great price, and set about sorting it out during the sun last weekend.

Here we go, here is the Blattman doing something he has been talking about for ages, demolishing said shed. It actually came down really easily and it took two trips to the wood skip at the tip to get rid of it.

This is the shed after it had been "Blatt-ed" I am so glad to get rid of it, and replace it.

He moaned about it, but actually really enjoyed doing it. I'm not sure he is going to be a shed demolisher full time but he loves the end result.

Now I am actually no good at demolishing. I am it turns out, pretty good at building them!! Hence no more pictures of construction!! This is what I was doing whilst he pulled the last one down. This is my muppet ba that I carry all my current projects in, and I was out on our patio knitting socks. Here are the socks, knit flat using a wrap technique for the heel, and the pattern is from Lets Knit Magazine Issue 28. I really enjoyed these socks, and they are knit in Patons Trentino.

Now this last photo is what the garden looks like now, from the inside, so it looks smaller than it is. I am inside because it was raining. A lot. The patio is not included. The Blattman has his new BBQ hot plate made from recycled bricks from our old heaters, and our fantastic new garden storage is in place. Now all we need is some lovely weather so we can  entertain!! Oh and please don't mention the word BBQ to my husband at any point unless you wish for an in-depth discussion about the new BBQ he wants. Bless him!! He can't wait for a new one, but he will have to wait just a little longer!!

Have a great day all!!

Book of the Week: Jean Greenhowe JiffyKnits

Happy Friday everyone!!! Shock Horror it is actually sunny out. Wow! And I'm at work. Oh well, never mind, the sun might bring the customers in. So how are we all today? I am still knitting my feather and fan blanket, but the end is nigh everyone, and I am most definitely heaving a great sigh of relief. Don't get me wrong, I do love knitting, but a 2 row lace pattern repeat for nearly a metre is somewhat tedious after the 60cm I've done so far. I am hoping to get it finished today and then I can share the great yarn I am using to knit it tomorrow. Keep your fingers crossed for me.

Today was then the perfect time to introduce a new section of the blog, Book of the Week. I use Ravelry all the time for my patterns. I love its search feature and the ability to block out all the stuff I don't want and look up patterns for the exact yarn I have in front of me. But I do rely on a few books I have bought, been given and donated, and get at the library when I can. So these reviews are for these, the books I couldn't do without.

Today I am starting with a very cute toy book from a designer that has been in my life a lot longer than when I was just knitting. These pattern books have been around long before me, and I remember them being around when I was a child, and my granny, great aunt and mum knitting from them. I remember looking at the pictures in the Knitted Toys book for hours, espoecially the detailed dinosaur set-up in there. But enough about that book. JiffyKnits is the one that I am reviewing today. So why JiffyKnits? Well, Jiffyknits is probably the best one for beginner knitters young and old, and everything in it is made from garter stitch strips

This book is the best one for beginners as it is perfect for learning to knit garter stitch strips and then learning to sew them up, and shape the finished objects into the toys in the book. You need very small pieces of yarn to knit most of these, and there are patterns for every season of the year. Patterns include Christmas snowmen, penguins and father christmas, Easter Bunnies, a whole halloween scene of characters which is where my cute little frogs come from, a whole range of play food and even a tin of beans-which is the cutest thing, and when I can find the perfect shade of Heinz blue, my mum will be getting one as she has been hankering after a tin for ages!!!

So what have I mostly knit from this one? Frogs. And lots of them. Over 50 in fact.

 
Every one has its own character and I love them so much.
This particular book has 45 different patterns and costs around £5.30 for the book. Good Old Deramores have it on offer at the moment for £4.76.

Have a great day all, and have a lovely weekend too. Keep your fingers crossed for my lace!

POTD: Seamless Yoked Baby Cardigan

Happy Thursday! Well it is blooming miserable here that's for sure!! Today was one of those mornings where you get up and check your shed (and rather rickety fence panel) is still there. It is still raining and blowing a gale out there and who would have thought it was nearly May? Oh well, this is most definitely knitting weather, and that has got to be a good thing!!! So what have I been up to? Well at the moment I am knitting a feather and fan blanket I started last year and I figured I better actually get that finished. Doing these YOTDs are definitely making me fish through all the UFOs in my cupboard (no nothing flying, UFO means UnFinished Object).

So here is pattern of the day. I have featured this cardigan pattern on the last couple of YOTD and I have really loved it. It has made a really sweet little cardigan, which is different to the normal basic cardigans with a patterned yoke. The designer, Carol Barenys, has designed a lot of different baby knits including preemie knits, and also has a variety of different designs on her website, Carol's Baby Knits. This particular pattern is for the Seamless Yoked Baby Cardigan. Here are my two versions of the cardigan, minus buttons. I'm still trying to find the perfect ones, so please excuse their clear non-existence!!

This first one is knit using Sirdar Snuggly DK in white. It is a very soft, very cute little cardigan. I don't really have any babies to size this up against, well we do but he was a preemie and his sizing is a little bit misleading!!! The pattern states it is probably a newborn to 3 month size, and the pattern also makes a 3-6 month size.

This is my second one in Sublime Baby Silk and Bamboo DK in Juicy, or a subtle lime green. The pattern is knit on circular needles like all the other raglan increase cardigans I have been featuring and includes a cute little pattern on the yoke, bottom of the cardigan, and around the wrists on the sleeves. The pattern states you can leave the ones of the bottom if you are making for a little boy. The pattern is quite a girly one, but it is really cute that's for sure. It is well written and if you just follow the pattern row by row, which is how it is written, it is really simple.

Have a lovely day everyone, and I do hope your weather is better than ours!!

POTD: Baby Eyelet Cardigan

Happy Tuesday everyone!! I'm playing nurse today because the Blattman has hurt his knee- doing something silly no doubt, but he is on the sofa with his knee up and an ice pack, moaning and generally feeling sorry for himself. I'm giving him zero sympathy outwardly, but do feel a bit sorry for him- Bless!!

POTD today is the very first Raglan cardigan I knit, and is a great pattern for newbies for Raglan, and circular needles too, and is all knit flat. It has a really cute eyelet pattern, and it is very simple, so great for lace newbies too. It is only 8 pattern repeats too so it is over before you know it, and so very easy. Here is the link for the Baby Eyelet Cardigan. 

Both of these cute little cardigans took one ball of yarn, Peter Pan DK (above in brown) and Peter Pan Sweetheart (below in blue). They are lovely little knits, and also use up one of your leftover cute buttons. The pattern is easy, and worth a go. It is a small one, uses basic increases, and basic lace.

This was the first cardigan I knit all in one go, and I have now knit 16 different cardigans using the raglan increases. I love them and I am hooked completely. I actually turn down patterns that are made up of fronts and back and sleeves. I love doing it all in one go.
Just had a look at the pattern page, and there is now a new link to a crew neck version of this little cardy and I may just have to cast on one of those today- here's the link for the Crew Neck Instructions.

Have a great day everyone, and Happy Knitting!!!

POTD: Paxton Cardigan

Happy Sunday Everyone!! We are off up to my In-Laws today to celebrate a birthday, my Sister in Law is 24 on Tuesday so we will be having a nice Roast Dinner to celebrate. Hope you are all going to have a nice relaxing day or if you are at work, then I hope you have a good day too, not too stressful and all that.

Today is another of my new little cardigans, and today's pattern is, unlike most, created for little people as well as newborns. This Paxton Cardigan has an offset front and two buttons. It can be made for preemies, small babies and newborns. Mine I must admit is a bit bigger than newborn, but lets be honest, babies grow so someone is going to wear it.

I really like this cute little cardy, and I've only knit one of these so far. I'm not sure why, but I just havent gone back to this pattern like I have with the eyelet cardys and the Puerperium. I still like it. It is another of the stitch marker jumpers, and makes use of the raglan increases like the hooded cardigans I showed you on Friday. These are great to learn new skills like the raglan increases and using circulars. This is simple too, you can follow the lines on the pattern and it comes out great. I love the fact too you can knit it in three sizes, and it goes down to little babies as well as newborns. You can also knit short sleeves and long sleeves, and it is very customisable. You can make more buttonholes if you want.

This is a perfect cardigan for a new raglan knitter. It is very simple, uses garter and stocking stitches, easy increases and creates a great piece. Give this little one a go, its a rewarding little knit.

Round and Round in Circles

Now, as many of you know, me and knitting in the round are not friends. We are not even aquaintances. Frankly if I saw it out on the streets, I'd go back indoors. However, some of the lovely patterns I see are knit in the round, especially when it comes to toys. Many adore the idea of not sewing up, but not me. My patterns are always designed flat for that purpose.
Now I am getting much better at converting patterns, Ive decided to make a list of rules to follow when converting, so lots of other fellow flat knitters can create fabulous knits. Now my rules are pretty much for toys and smaller things like accessories, rather than seamless jumpers and socks so follow these rules and you should be fine!

1. Remember that when you knit in the round, in order to create stocking stitch you knit all the rows, and to create garter stitch you knit and purl. So when converting to flat knitting, if the end result is stocking stitch, convert every other row to purl. Normally the purl line is the one without the pattern or increase/decrease. If you want to garter stitch then convert the purl rows in the pattern to knit rows.

2. If you want to, add an extra stitch to the beginning or end of the work to allow for seaming. Personally I dont do that but that is up to you. This is something you will learn as you go.

3. You may need to change striping. This is because when you knit in the round, you can do just one row of colour and then start another. With knitting flat, this is more difficult, you will be changing colour all over the place, and adding ends everywhere. Instead, you can change the pattern to even number stripes or use two DPNS as follows:

Yes I did use that awful abbreviation DPN. It means double pointed needle for those who are ignoring their presence (i dont blame you- but stay with me) Use two, and if you want to do one colour stripes, knit in one colour, then slide the work to the other end of the needle and use the other colour. Trust me this works. Remember to knit on the knit sides and purl on the purl sides, even if that means you purl two rows. Dont worry it will work out!!

Here is a practise bit for you to try the technique- in colour A and colour B on 2 dpns, use whatever you got, this is only for practise and can be unraveled later!!
Cast on in colour A
Knit one row in colour B
Slide the work to the other end of the needle, Knit one row in colour A
Purl one row in colour A
Slide the work to the other end of the needle, purl one row in colour B

You should get the idea from this practise here. I owe all this ability on DPNs to Julie at The Byrds Nest, who taught me this technique when I knit the rabbit, the inside of his ears were done this way

4. Do not be afraid of I-Cord. There are plenty of tutorials for I Cord and it makes brilliant legs and antennae!! 2 DPNs are used to create a seamless cord. However if you cant do it on DPNs then there are also tutorials for doing it with your hands too!! Look it up on YouTube or Google, plenty of people are out there to help!!

The only way you are going to learn to convert from round to flat is to do it. Try something little, follow the pattern and sew it up. Here are a few patterns you can give a go, they dont take up much wool and you can give it a go and see. Hamster Beans is one, Pocket Rabbits is a pattern knit in the round and flat so you can see the difference and why not give this little halloween spider a go?

Breakfast Set Pattern- Egg Cosy

Hope you are enjoying the tea cosy pattern, but if (like me and the blattman) you arent a tea drinker, fancy something a little bit smaller or just have chilly eggs, you might prefer an egg cosy. So here is the matching egg cosy pattern to go with the breakfast set

You will be needing-

Needles- 3.75mm
Yarn- 2 colours of DK yarn (use up your leftovers, you won't need a lot- in mine, yarn A is green and yarn B is pink)

Abbreviations
Gt st- garter stitch (knit every row)
st st- stocking stitch (knit one row, purl one row)

Cast on 30 sts using 3.75mm needles in yarn A
Gt st 4 rows in yarn A
St st 4 rows in yarn B
St st 4 rows in yarn A
St st 4 rows in yarn B
St st 4 rows in yarn A
Cast off in yarn A

Making up
Fold the knitted piece in half with the right sides facing. Sew up the side seam. Leave the top open. Turn piece the right way around. Gather around the first row in yarn B from the top.

Hope you like the patterns and enjoy knitting them. Let me know if there are any problems or errors in the pattern.

Breakfast Set Pattern- Tea Cosy

Here is my brand new pattern I have been working on for a couple of days, for a breakfast set. It consists of a tea cosy and egg cosy pattern. I am working on a different version of the tea cosy pattern too so there will probably be another pattern up soon for that one too. I am pretty sure there arent any problems with the pattern, but since I am only human after all there may be one or two. Let me know if there are and I can change them. Hope you all like it

Ok, so here goes. You will need approx 30 grams of two different colours in DK yarn. I used the free yarn that came with Lets Knit this month, but any DK will do. You may need more than 30g.
So I used a peppermint green and a candy pink for my set. First up the pattern for the tea cosy

Needles:3.25mm and 4mm
Yarn: 2 colours of DK yarn, yarn A and yarn B (for me green was A, and pink was B)
Gauge: 22 sts over 30 rows on 4mm needles, make a 10x10cm square

Abbrevations:
Gt st- Garter stitch, knit every row
St st- Stocking Stitch, knit 1 row, purl one row
K2tog- knit two stitches together
Rep- repeat

Cast On 44 sts using yarn A and 3.25mm needles
Gt St 4 rows
Change to 4mm needles and change to yarn B
Starting with a K row, st st 4 rows
Change to yarn A
Starting with a K row, st st 4 rows.
These 8 rows make up the stripe pattern. Continue throughout the instructions using this stripe pattern.
Continue this pattern for another 20 rows. (this is the part where you can add extra length to the cosy, make it match your tea pot)

Start decrease (continue in stripe pattern)
Next row: *K2, K2tog, K3, K2tog, K2 rep from * to end
St st 5 rows in stripe pattern
Next Row: *K4, K2tog, K3 rep from * to end
St st 5 rows in stripe pattern
Next row: *K3, K2tog, K3 rep from * to end
St st 5 rows in stripe pattern
Next Row: *K2, K2tog, K3 rep from * to end
St st 3 rows in stripe pattern
Next Row: *K2,K2tog, K2 rep from * to end
St st 3 rows in stripe pattern
Next Row: *K2, K2tog, K1 rep from * to end
Purl 1 row in stripe pattern
Cast Off

Making up
Place right sides together. Sew up the sides of the cosy, leaving sides where handle and spout will be. Use your own tea pot as a guide, or leave the sides as open as you want. Do not sew up the top of the cosy. Turn the cosy the right side out. It looks very much like a cone, but bear with it at this point, it gets prettier, I promise!!!! Put it on your teapot, and using the same colour as the row you are going to gather, gather the top part of the cosy tight to create the top.

Egg cosy pattern in next post!!

Fingerless Mitts

These are some brand new fingerless mitts, the pattern is for the mitts themselves, the paw pads are from a lions brand pattern, so you can search on Rav or lions brand for those. These have been knitted for my little sister, and inspired by their cat Monty Moonshine, who is a little grey kitten!!

Ok so here we go again, hope you love them!!

You will need:
3.25mm needles
3.75mm needles (if you need a bigger mitt for hands then go for 4mm needles instead)
DK yarn of your choice, (you will probably need about 50gish but to be honest I havent weighed these) I have used 3 colours here because I didnt have enough of the darkest grey so I used 2 shades of grey and one of pink- pick any colours you fancy)
Tapestry needle

Abbreviations
sts- stitches
K- knit
P- Purl
st st- Stocking stitch (knit one row, purl one row)
Rib- (K1,P1) across the row

Pattern (make 2 or how ever many hands you have!)
Using 3.25mm needles, cast on 42 stitches (if you want to go bigger, you can, use an even number of sts)
Rib pattern for 18 rows
Change to 3.75mm needles and a contrast colour
Knit 1 row
Change to other colour
St st for 26 rows, ending with a K (RS) row
Rib (k1,p1 across row) for 4 rows, ending on a P (WS) row
Cast off in pattern (K1,P1)

with the wrong side facing, sew up the seam using a tapestry needle, leaving a gap in the seam at the side for the thumb. Turn them the right way round and wear them and keep warm! Hope they brighten up your otherwise grey winter

Camera Cosy Pattern

So my mum is one lucky lady and won a new camera just before christmas, but as we all know in winter they can get all kinds of chilly, plus my mum's handbag is most definately one that may belong in Mary Poppins wardrobe so it had to be very bright so here is what I came up with.

So this is pretty much a great stashbuster, as you knit only 4 rows in each colour, so you can use any colours you fancy. So if your little camera is a bit chilly, or for that matter any small gadget, (it also fits my husbands blackberry, and my blackberry style phone!) then this is a great little knit. So here goes

You will be needing:
4mm needles
3.75 crochet hook (for button hole, if you cant crochet then Gaugeplait some strands to make the button hole)
7 different colours of DK wool (you can use less and make a pattern instead, totally up to you)
Tapestry needle

Abbreviations
sts- stitches
st st- stocking stitch (knit one row, purl the next)


Cast On 28 sts on 4mm needles
St st 4 rows in each of the 7 colours ( this gives you a total of 28 rows)
Cast off in the last colour you used.

Making up
Fold in half with the wrong side facing out.
Sew up the main seam using the colours you have used (I leave quite a bit when I change colours and then use these ends to sew up)
Sew in the ends
Sew up the bottom seam with the long seam in the centre back
Turn the right side out

Button
Crochet a chain of 15 links with a 3.75mm hook (or make a plait with 3 strands of about 3 inches)
Sew to the inside seam at the back of the work
Sew a button ono the bottom of the second colour stripe from the top.
Put your camera in and do the button up

Hope you all have nice cosy cameras!

Traffic Cone

Happy New Year!!! To celebrate, the first pattern of the year is my little traffic cone.

Here's the pattern

Needles- 3mm
Yarn- DK scraps, orange and white (i had a remarkably bright orange in my stash for this project, but who says cones have to be orange) and a strand of black for his face
Gauge- not really important, but make sure that the needles you use are smaller than those recommended to make a tight fabric
Other- tapestry needle, stuffing,

Cone
With orange yarn, Cast on 30 stitches
Starting with a Knit row, stocking stitch 2 rows
Next row: *k2tog, K8* to end (27 sts)
St st 2 rows
Next row: *P2tog, P7* to end (24 sts)
St st 2 rows
Next row: *K2tog, K6* to end (21sts)
Change to white yarn, St st 2 rows
Next row: *P2 tog, P5* to end (18sts)
St st 2 rows
Next Row: *K2tog, K4* to end (15 sts)
St st 2 rows
Next Row: *P2tog, P3* to end (12 sts)
Change to orange yarn, st st 2 rows
Next Row: *k2tog, K2* to end (9 sts)
st st 2 rows
Next row: *p2tog, p1* to end (6 sts)
K 1 row
Cut, leaving a tail of yarn to sew up, thread through the remaining 6 sts on the needle and pull tight. Sew up the seam of the cone, leaving the bottom open.

Base 
With Orange, cast on 15 sts
Garter stitch 25 rows
Cast off

Stuff the cone lightly (he doesnt need a bulge) and sew the bottom of the cone onto the base. Embroider the face onto the cone and you have a little traffic stopper. Hope you like him.

Mini Pumpkin for Halloween

Mini Pumpkin Pattern (Just in time for Halloween)

This pattern is knit flat and seamed up the back and is about an inch and a half tall without the little Icord stem. Have included the pattern for the stalk knit flat too

Ok so heres what you need
2 x 3.75 mm straight needles
2 x 3.25 mm double pointed needles or straight depending on whether you are icording or not
Orange and Green DK (you dont need much at all especially the green so great for stash busting)
Small amount of stuffing
Sewing up needles

Abbreviations
kfb- knit into the front and back of the stitch to create one
st- Stitch
st st - stocking stitch (knit a row, purl a row)
K2tog - Knit two stitches together

Pumpkin

Cast on 9 stitches with orange DK and 3.75mm straight needles
Row 1: kfb in each st (18 sts)
Row 2: Purl
Row:3 kfb in all stitches (36 sts)
Starting with a P row, st st for 13 rows

Decrease as follows
Row 1: K2tog across row (18 sts)
Row 2: Purl
Row 3: Knit
Row 4: Purl
Row 5: K2tog across row (9 sts)
Row 6: Purl

Break yarn, thread through remaining stitches and pull tight. Turn purl side out (bumpy side) and sew up the seam, leaving a  gap at the bottom. Turn right side out and stuff. Sew up gap in bottom. Pull the yarn up through the centre of the pumpkin and back down through. This will create the depressions at the top and bottom giving the pumpkin shape.

Stem

Icord

Cast on 4 sts on 3.25 double pointed needles and green DK
I cord for 6 rows
Cast off

Sew to top of pumpkin

Straight needles

Cast on 8 sts on 3.25 straight needles and green DK
St st for 6 rows
Cast off

With the right side out, sew up the side and attach to the top of the pumpkin

Happy Halloween, Samhain and All Saints to all!