Chunky Chicken by Sue Stratford

Just a quick update of all the new things since my last blog, I will put them up as indiviual posts so the google search will be easier. 

I knitted the Chunky Chicken pattern by Sue Stratford with I bought in kit form at the stitch and knit show, which I talked about in my last blog. 

I made some changes as I was not to impressed with some of the design. In the pattern in calls to make to wings in Stocking stitch but I continued with the moss stitch design to keep it all the same. I also did not add legs but put a bag of rice inside to make into a doorstop not the tea cosy version. 

In review of the item my Mum loved it as her Christmas present but I the design is a bit strange. 

The Knitting and Stitching Show 2012

In early October myself and a friend decided to go to the The Knitting and Stitching Show at Alexandra Palace, London. We booked on a coach trip and headed off with a whole bus load of knitters to a manic day of yarn and needles. 

I don't think I have ever seen such a busy place with so many knitter related things. I was very lucky and was given a rather large budget for the day out, so my main aim was to come away with as much stuff as I could carry (and I did). We spent quite a lot of time there but once spent out we went to the pub to survey our purchases. 

I got a  Alpaca knitted toy kit from Purl Alpaca Designs 

This looks rather complicated and I fear I may have bitten off more than I can chew. 

A ankylosaurus knitting kit by Patons 

This thing is big!! Looks amazing when finished as we saw it at the show and I fell in love with it! (note: husband does not know about this one due to the size of the finished item -lol)

I also acquired my first set of knit pro curricular needles and some Aracania Ulmo yarn

To finish my final item was a Chunky Chicken Kit by Sue Stratford.

This I have already knitted and will be my next blog.

Superhero's all round!

After completing my Ninja Knitting project, I went feverishly into a phase of making superhero related items.

It start with my husband who noticed a pattern for a Superhero in Simply Knitting 92, Spring 2012 by Alan Dart. 

I loved the pattern and set about make him his very own Superman by adjusting all the colours to match the famous superhero. There are always lot's of pieces when creating an Alan Dart creation but it's always worth it in the end. He is my Superman:

So after that a friend asked me to create some Golf Club covers so inspired by my recent creation and set about creating my own justice league golf clubs. I had seen someone else who had created them but I did make these up myself.

I created Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman. I was very please with the way they turned out and so was my friend. 

Finally after seeing my Superman a work friend also asked me if I could make a Spiderman for her little boy. I said yes without thinking about it, but the project was quite epic and lasted a lot longer than I thought it would! I had to do intarsia knitting and adjust again this time the shape of the head, but I completed last week!

 Front

Back

Shocking yarn bombing in Norwich

Oky, so I haven't blogged since March and this is totally shocking!

 I had almost forgot that I had created it! 

I apologise For my lack of commitment to the cause and will now over the next few days update you on the many knitted thing that have been completed since my last blog!  

I believe that I mainly got distracted by a very large project that reached it's completion in May, and other projects went on hold when I took this on. I believe now is the correct time to discuss this amazing feet that a small group of little knitter created. 

On 11th of May 2012  I became a Yarn Bomber!

Looking back my project did start at the beginning of April so this might be why it all went quite on the blog front. A small group of ladies so I knew and some I didn't came together through the power of social networking. We selected our target, the front of Norwich city hall and set about creating as much knitting and crochet that was possible in time to cover as much as possible. 

I decided to create a lamp post cover and using Entrelac in Norwich City Colours.

I had never done Entrelac before and what looks a really hard thing to do was really very easy, though I would have to consult the book again when I decided to do another piece. 

On May 11th we made our attack for the start of the Norwich Arts festival. It took many hours in the cold but it was completed we covered lamp posts, bins and even the main Norwich Lions. Here are some pictures!

It was the most exciting thing I think I have ever done! We even made the papers

Thank you to everyone who made it happen! 

Mother's Day gift

This Mother's Day we found ourselves very strapped for cash (like many people), so being a thrifty minded I decide to make something on the Saturday. It needed to be a small a quick project that was very cute and I have had my eye on a little knitted critter for sometime.

Toerag the Tube Mouse

by Whodunnknit from the Stitch London Book

I have been wanting to knit him for ages but haven't found a person to give him too or found the time to complete him. I got the stitch London book seen left from the library but you can download the Toerag pattern here for free so have a go and knit one yourself. When you complete him/her you can upload you pictures at Planet Whodunnknit and show off your mouse on the site. 

Here is my mouse, I sadly forgot to add front paws : / but he looks just as nice on two legs rather than four. Plus my mum really loved him !

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! 

Cushion Making

For Christmas I received a voucher to take a course in a local place called "Make Place" in Norwich where I live. It offers a range of different courses from making peg bags to cushions and crochet, they are quite well priced and all materials are included so you exit with a finished object to proudly show off. 

I selected to do an intermediate cushion making course and arrived on the day bright eyed and bushy tailed for the day's activities. 

I learnt lots of new things like how to use an overlocker and the sew machines were very hi-tec. I also learnt how to make buttonholes on the machine which I have never done before. I was under the impression that I was quite good at sewing so picked the course and I thought it would be at the right stage for me, but I can honestly say I was a bit lost by the whole thing, my stitching was wobbly and I was confused about how the pattern came together. Stupidly rather then asking important questions I kept quite and did as I was told. 

I did come out with a lovely object but don't think I would be able to make the same thing on my own  :(

YOU MUST NOT BE PUT OFF BY MY EXPERIENCE

I am sure if I had paid attention more and asked more questions I would feel more confident in doing the cushion again, but I have come out of it with a very nice object and the day was very enjoyable.