Misha Knitted Cardigan

In May last year I started a cardigan called "misha" by Jane Ellison, it was a pattern in the Lets Knit magazine in March 2011 and I fell in love with it. I had never knitted a garment before but the pattern was simple and I decided to give it a go. Since then I have regretted the decision many times and nearly give up just as many times.

            I picked a cotton yarn called Sublime Yarns Cotton Kapok DK which gives it a lovely drop to the knitting. But I made a horrendous error when I to started knitting in the back loop of the yarn. I had been knitting like this for years and when knitting small toys it doesn’t matter and actually creates a lovely stitch, but on such a large project it was a nightmare! I only realised I was doing it wrong half way through and by then it was too late and I had to continue it. It was at this point the whole project got shelved and sat in my knitting bag for months and months. It’s was only when a friend pointed out that I had started knitting it nearly a year ago that I took matters in hand and decided to finish it. I pushed hard on it and finished in a week and with a little advice from my knitting group it is now all sewn up and completed.

The pictures don't do it justice, I am very pleased with the results and have even worn it out! 

Axelotal

A friend ask me to knit a Axelotal for her little girl some months ago and I have been feeling rather guilty that I didn't know what one was plus I have been so busy with the hexi-puff blanket that a lot of projects have gone on the back burner.

I have done some research into the little creature and it seems to be quite interesting, an Axelotal is a aquatic amphibian and is closely related to a salamander some other the information on them is quite heavy going on the scientific stuff

 I used Eddie Lizzard by cheezombie pattern and adjusted the tail and add gills, and I am very happy with the result I hope you enjoy her too. Just needs a name!

Little Bee

As I have reported previously I have started knitting the "Beekeeper's Quilt", and since starting I have discovered a whole world of hexipuff magic. So many people are knitting them and the raverly page states over 2700 different projects and counting. 

I decided to make my own little design on a hexipuff, I have seen other bumble bee patterns on the site but I couldn't really understand the pattern so I made my own and made it a lot more simple :)

Feel free to knit you own!

I recommend just knitting the pattern on one side. 

I hope to come up with lots more designs and share them all with you.

The beekeeper's quilt

In my mind for sometime I have been planning to make some sort of blanket, and have view lots of different ways of doing it. I saw a lovely blanket by a lady call Sophie on Ravelry, which was made using the Pom-pon yarn that I have last year knitted a scarf from.

This idea was very appealing nice results and I knew this will be a very quick knit with very great results also being super soft. This became the plan but it would cost about £8.00 a ball and needing two of each colour it could end up a costly matter and I don't think I could sneak that about of yarn past my husband without him noticing. But as a pondered this problem I came across this amazing a little pattern called the "Beekeeper's Quilt" it was made of hundreds of little hexagons in lots of different yarn of all different colours and is amazing.

  The quilt is designed by Stephanie Dosen of Tiny Owl Knits and this has become my new project!

It is of epic proportions, I have to knit hundreds of the little "Hexi-puffs" in a wide range of colours but I have taken on this challenge! Wish me luck!

Freddie the Pheasant

As I reported in my LAST post I was knitting two projects at the same time which was taking up quite a lot of time and I was a bit worried about completing before the Christmas. I am very proud to report that I have completed my second project and present. 

Freddie the Pheasant

He was a fantastic knit and took know time at all, I didn't knit the feet but placed a small fabric bag of rice inside Freddie so he would stand up. I would recommend this knit to anyone that likes something fun and quick with a good result. I would say it is a intermediate knit with a tiny amount of picking up stitches and requiring good grafting skills. As you knit it the shape will look very strange (more like road kill Pheasant) but when stuffed I understood the pattern and the lay out . the yarn which is Artesano Alpaca Hummingbird 'Pheasant' which is a really good yarn and I will be using again in a planned future project for the new year.
A great knit!

I haven't forgot to blog

I just thought I would let you all know that I haven't forgot my blog :)
I have been very busy knitting away but current have haven't finished any projects to show you.
I have a huge list of Christmas knits to get through and none of them seem to be moving very quickly which is a bit worrying.
I am currently knitting a Xiaopang Panda by Alan Dart for my husband, who has always moaned that I have never knitting him anything. He pick it out of Simple knitting July issue and I don't think either one of us realised how big it would be, I thought it would be quite a small quick knit just a bit bigger than my hamsters buy he is three times the size.

I am also going to knit a toy Freddie the Pheasant for my Grandad who loves pheasant s , but I haven't started him yet :/

 A lovely lady called Penny from oliverboliver.com sent me a knitting kit for him for only £8.00! So I hope to crack on with him soon.


So thats what I've been up too :)

First Home made pattern!

I recently attended the opening night of the Purls By the Sea exhibition at the Belfry Arts Centre, there was some fantastic work by some very talented artists. I was very fond of the work by Joanna Jack who sea creatures were beautiful, we had a long chat and she explained how she designs her creations and how the a completely knitted in the one piece!

My Dad was very taken by a small broach in the shape of a prawn by designer Angela Knipe and I was inspired to make one for him.

The only problem was that I couldn't find a pattern and so I decided to make my own from scratch which is the first time I have ever done anything like this before. 

I knitted a small tube in the round and slowly decreased very slowly into an I-Cord and then expanded it into a tail. I added french knots for eyes and threaded wool through the underside and the split it up to create the fringe of legs . Finally soaked a piece of wool in hair spray and threaded it on top of the head.and left to dry to make whiskers.

 

I am going to add the pattern to the blog, but I love him and so proud of managing to make my own item.