Well I finally finished.

Well, I finally finished something for Hector. 

Unfortunately it wasn’t the original basket-weave jumper that I started. I found that trying to decrease the pattern for the arms was just too much for my sleep-deprived brain. So, I started another cable jumper for him that knitted up way too small. Frustrated and downhearted I thought I had lost all my knitting skills. But then I found a great pattern called Emmett by Kimberly Voisin. She has a really lovely website and some great patterns.This particular pattern is a waistcoat so it took just half the time. Hector looks great in it. I’ve done a 12-18 month; although he is only 8 months, he’s quite tall and I thought this would be great for the warmer months. I find doing colour work far easier. Time for self-improvement and setting challenges will come, but for now I think I’ll play to my strengths.

We had a great Open Day at the Sewing School for Bergére de France. I have put in a little order for their new spring/summer range. They have some amazing new yarns. I’ve ordered some linen/cotton yarn called Bigarelle to knit some light pieces for summer. I’ve never really used a cotton yarn so I’m looking forward to giving it a try.

With the daffodils blooming in the garden and spring on its way, I feel newly inspired with loads of my own patterns in the making. So keep checking in – the next blog should have a new pattern for you.

Also, in a departure from knitting, I’ve been back at my day job making jewellery.

And I’ve written a piece for the Association of Midland Artists (AMA) newsletter about what I’ve been up to, so I thought I would share it with you.

 On My Work Bench Today:

For those not familiar with my work, I take old china fragments that have been dug up from gardens or from family tea sets that can’t be glued together any longer, and turn them into jewellery by setting the pieces in silver. It reflects my highly sentimental personality, and this week on my bench I’m helping to fulfil other people’s. 

I’ve been working on a necklace made from a Victorian, silver, four-pence coin that a lady found on her farm. It’s a little piece of her home that she can carry with her and pass on to future generations even after the farm has gone. 

I’m also starting a commission for a lady in rehabilitation from a stroke. She was sent my card form her Buddhist healer who sends her inspirational messages to help her though this hard time. So I’m making her a version of the necklace on the card, which I hope she can wear as a medal of her recovery. 

Did I mention that I was sentimental? 

Happy Knitting!

Click, click.

As well as teaching knitting I've also begun to write the blog for the Carolyn Rose Sewing School. I've been writing about the different classes available and this week I got to my knitting classes so I thought I would share it with you.

Click, click.

We don’t immediately associate knitting with sound. However, when I’m teaching a beginner to knit, it’s the ‘Click, Click’ of the needles that brings back the strongest memories. It evokes memories of our grandmother or mother knitting when we were children. It’s one reason why I love teaching knitting, as it brings out of people much more than a simple desire to knit a scarf. It’s a hobby that people want to share with others, whether creating gifts or joining ‘Knit and Natter’ groups, and it gives a great sense of accomplishment.

If you have never knitted before, the Knitting Circle class aims to give you enough skills to go off and try a project for yourself. This means looking at how to interpret patterns, as well as learning the skills to actually knit them. But also, if you already can knit but just need some guidance, it’s a fun place to learn.

See the ‘Classes’ page for details.

If you are a knitting enthusiast already or are curious about picking it up, please come to our Bergere De France Open Day on Friday 21^st Feb from 11am- 3pm.

The rep is coming to show us lots of great yarns and accessories and you will get 10% off Bergere products on the day.

And if you are looking for something to fill the last days of half term, Bergere do really lovely kids’ wool and needles.

We hope you can join us.

For a link to this blog and the website click.

Happy knitting!

Spread the word…. The Knitting Circle started this week!

My knitting class at the Carolyn Rose School of sewing started up again this week. It’s for beginners or those that need their knitting memories jogging. There  are daytime class on Tuesday mornings 10-12 or an evening class on Thursdays 7-9.  For details and bookings visit the Classes page www.schoolofsewingcarolynrose.co.uk/classes/

I Still have places available this week and on Thursday the 27^th. 

A variation on my cowl that I teach in my class.

Also I'm really pleased as my Super Easy Mitts Pattern has been going well on Ravely. If you have had a go I'd love to see the results. 

Happy Knitting!

A very fitting New Year’s project.

I’ve never knitted so many socks as I did this Christmas, a few Christmas decorations and very little progress on Hector’s jumper.

My first task of 2014 is to finish the projects in my knitting basket. There are only a couple, Hector’s jumper being one.

And this amazing scrap yarn project that I started.

I saw a ball of this wool on Pinterest and had to give it a go. I keep all the loose ends from pieces and all the last little bits left of a ball of wool.

 My intention was to use them for stuffing, but this looks much more fun. I couldn’t quite wait to finish tying them together or think of a suitable project so knitted a sample. 

Oh the possibilities. I’m very excited. It’s also a lovely trip down my knitting memory road. As I tied each little thread together, some that will create a single stitch, I remembered presents I’d made, failed experiments and glorious Eureka moments. A very fitting New Year’s project and one that I urge you try.

And also down at the Carolyn Rose School of Sewing we have put in place some new classes. There are regular classes on Thursday nights and Tuesday mornings, so if you fancy learning to knit or have a project that you need help with, contact me for more details and to book a place.

Carolyn has also started to stock Bergere De France wool. It’s such a lovely brand and I’m looking forward to getting my hands on it. I have the lovely task this weekend of knitting up some samples.

All in all it’s feeling like a very exciting year ahead.

Happy Knitting!!

An urge for sequins.

So I didn’t finish Hector’s jumper. 

Trying to decrease for the raglan arms and keep the pattern going has tested my brain capacity, slowing the progress right down. But I’m really pleased with how it looks. Luckily the sizing is 6-12 months so I’ve got time, but it is looking rather small. This a picture of the back. I'm just hoping this is correct, as it is really stretchy. Fingers crossed.

Some projects have been completed though. It was my friend Louisa’s baby shower last weekend and as we both love the Purl Bee website I wanted to knit her something from that. I chose this little mushroom rattle. They are so sweet and it’s one of those pieces you want to make lots of.

Alison and Kate from my evening class.

I’ve also been busy teaching my ‘learn to knit’ class over the past few weeks. It’s been fantastic seeing the progress that the ladies have made and I have a nice mix of people who haven’t knitted before and others who need their knitting memory jogged. Alison went away and stormed ahead with my mitten pattern and pin cushion. And has already moved on to hats.

Alison's mittens and pin cushions

I thought I’d better have a little Christmas project on stand-by for the classes, and found these great birds in an old knitting magazine. I changed the pattern a little to make it a single bird. I haven’t used it in a class yet but I think they may end up as little Christmas presents. This time of year brings out an unquenchable urge for sequins and glitter.

Hanging birds by Tracey Todhunter from 'Knitting magazine', Autumn 2012

Happy Knitting! 

Back to Business.

I’m taking small steps but I’m back working after having Hector – both with my jewellery and my knitting classes.

I was back teaching knitting last week at the lovely Carolyn Rose School of Sewing. Two lovely ladies came to my 'learn to knit' class and we had a great time. It was more a case of bringing back forgotten skills than starting from scratch. One lady had a go at my mittens from my last blog. The other wanted to see if it would help with her RSI. We left undecided but we’re going to try again in a couple of weeks.

I love teaching and I get so much from it myself, whether it’s uncovering great patterns or devising them myself, and not to mention meeting some lovely people. There aren't many situations in my life where I sit with strangers and talk solidly for 2 to 3 hours, covering everything from our childhoods to politics, with a little knit/purl and ‘look how tiny my zebra is’.

I knitted some little swatches of basic stitches for last week's class.  Well I started with basics and then carried on creating some swatches for myself of stitches I’ve wanted to try.

Star Stitch

Basketweave cable

Dew drops.
I haven't got this quite correct yet.

  In doing this I realised how unadventurous I am with my textures; I tend to focus on the colour and patterns. So I’ve set myself a project of knitting Hector a little jumper and its main feature is its stitch.

It’s this really cute Bell Rib Sweater by Vibe Ulrik Sondergaard from her Book, Lullaby Knits. But I got the pattern from November's Knitting Magazine.

I can’t say the pattern is coming naturally to my fingers like some do. It’s dead easy really; I think I should blame my brain rather than my fingers. I just started last night. I’ll post the finished article hopefully next week.

Happy Knitting!

For your chilly handed friends.

The problem with starting a knitting blog at this time of year is that some of the things I'm knitting I have to keep secret, or there wont be any christmas surprises.  I'm sure there are a few of my family and friends that may think there isn't a lot more I could knit for them, but thats where they would be wrong. From bookmarks to slippers, scarves to doorstops, there is always something. So I thought I would share my super easy Fingerless mittens pattern, they are a perfect christmas gift, and knit up so quick there is time to make lots of pairs for all of your chilly handed friends. 

I've used this really cosy Drops, Eskimo Tweed yarn which I bought in the summer and have been really looking forward to using, it's one of those wools that you can't stop holding it's so soft. It's quite chunky and using it with 4mm needles creates a really warm and dense fabric. 

I have knitted this exact same pattern with an 8 ply - Double knit yarn and a 10 ply - worsted weight yarn and it worked just as well.

You will need:

2 50g Skeins of Drops, Eskimo Tweed.

1 pair of 4mm needles

1 stitch marker / 1 wool or darning needle /  a set of pins

Method:

Cast on 38 stitches

We start by knitting a Rib stitch. This give a great stretchy edge that doesn’t curl up.

Row 1 to Row 10 - K1, P1; repeat these two stitches to the end of 
the row.

Knit Stocking stitch

Row 11- K all stitches

Row 12- P all stitches

Repeat these 2 rows for Rows 13- Row 16; the last row will be purled,

Increasing the number of stitches

I have put a picture tutorial of knitting a stitch Front and back  (K1 FB) at the bottom of the pattern.

Row 17 - K3, K1 FB, knit all stitches to the last 4, K1 FB,  K3

Row 18 - P all stitches

Row 19 - K4, K1 FB, knit all stitches to the last 5, K1 FB, K4

Row 20 - P all stitches

Row 21 - K all stitches

Row 22 - P all stitches

 

Making the Thumb

Row 23 -  Cast on 2 stitches.  Work these two new stitches as follows - K1, K1 FB, Place marker  K to  the end of the row.

Row 24 - P all stitches

Row 25  - K1, K1 FB, K1,   Knit to the end of row

Row 26 - P all stitches

Row 27 - K1, K1 FB, K1 FB, K1, Knit to the end of the row

Row 28 -  P all stitches

Row 29 - K1, K1 FB, K1, K1 FB, K1, K1 FB, Knit to the end of the row

Row 30 - P all stitches

Row 31 - K1, K1 FB, K1, K1 FB, K1, K1 FB, K1, K1 FB, K1, Knit to the end of the row. There should be 13 stitches in front of the marker.

Row 32 - P all stitches

Row 33 - cast off 13 stitches and remove the marker. Knit to the end of the row.

Row 34 - 38 continue in stocking stitch

You have created this little fan shape for the thumb.

Finish with Rib

Row 39 to Row 43 - K1, P1, repeat these two stitches to the end of the row.

Cast off all stitches leaving a long tail.

Creating the seam:

It’s a good idea to pin the seam so you leave enough room for the thumb hole.

With the long tail from casting off, sew up the mitten with a darning needle 

Tie in all loose ends

You’re Done!!

Knitting a stitch Front and back (K1 FB) 

This is an easy way to increase stitches without creating holes in the fabric.

Knit the stitch as usual 

 Do not remove the stitch off the left needle. 

knit into the back of the same stitch. 

You can now remove the stitch from the left needle. 

If you do have a go at these mittens it would be great if you could share it on my Ravelry pattern page: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/supper-easy-fingerless-mittens

Happy Knitting!