make your own strawberries

I eventually got round to typing up the pattern for the strawberries. It is available on a printable pdf document, click here. Be warned it is addictive, once you've made one you'll have to make enough to fill a large punnet full
Bye for now, Ali

new pattern release

I have just listed a new tart pattern on my etsy shop. It gives instructions to knit up three different types of tart.

* classic jam tart with pastry lattice on top.
* strawberry tart which has a swirl of cream topped with a strawberry.
* fruit tartlet which has a vanilla filling topped with pieces of kiwi, pineapple and blueberries.


Bye for now, Ali

etsy treasury

I love picking items for a Treasury on etsy, it is a bit like window shopping and there are so many great things to choose from. A Treasury is a hand picked gallery by members. This time mine has a definite summer taste to it and Ive called it PYO (Pick your own). Take a look and see what you think.

One of my most favourite things about the summer months has to be the fruit - raspberries, strawberries, red currants, nectarines, peaches ....mmmmmmhhhhh. So I made a few strawberries of my own. Ill be posting instructions as to how to make these delic strawberries soon.

Bye, Ali

wish you were here

I was ordering business cards from moo.com and decided to have some of my knitted bun photos printed onto the front of postcards. I am well chuffed with them ....I've just listed a pack of three pastel cupcake postcards on my etsy shop...have a wee look.
 

Postcards put me in mind of holidays, it's such a shame people text so much now!

That reminds me the school summer holidays start next Friday!!!!!!

bye for now, ali

tie - dye day

With the settled spell of weather I decided to have the annual dyeing frenzy. Dyeing for me is not an exact science - whatever happens happens - that's half the fun - the outcome is always unpredictable.

Here's a few notes about how I do it. If the fabric is new then it needs to be washed. I cut the fabric into manageable squares of aproximately 40cms x 40cms. Always follow the manufacturers directions regarding, dyeing time, amount of dye, fix and salt. I let the fabric dry in its folded form then rinse with cold water followed by a hand wash in warm soapy water after each dye.

My three favourite dyeing methods are :-

1. Scrunched method. Crumple the fabric into a ball. Push the scrunched fabric into a leg of a pair of tights. Knot tightly at both end. When dry remove from tights rinse, wash. To obtain exciting results repeat the process in a different coloured dye bath.
 

2. Dip dye method. Drape the fabric over the side of the basin so the fabric is partly immersed. When half the dye reaction time is up, lower the fabric further into the dye bath so that slightly more of the fabric is immersed. Repeat this process with a different colour of dye, dipping the fabric at a different angle, creates interesting results.

3. Pleat fold method. Fold fabric into concertina pleats of about 4cms. Iron so that fold creases are sharp. Tie or peg at intervals along the folded fabric. When dry untie and unfold the fabric, rinse and wash. Refold the fabric at 90 degrees from the original folds, which results in a plaid pattern. Diagonal folding is another option

tiny wee mouse

I was sitting in the garden yesterday evening, watching the garden grow, something caught me eye........a tiny field mouse staggered from under the lavender bush, I spose he was a bit dozy and just up out of bed. He was no more than 4cms long. I do fear for this wee creature, he needs to be more alert as my garden is the M2 for all the local cats.

I didn't get a photo of the wee mouse, but took one of the geraniums which have just popped into bloom...........

pink geraniums

and also my ladies mantle. I love the way the water droplets collect and sparkle in the upturned leaves........

water droplets

summer sun

I took advantage of the amazing weather last week, packed my bag and headed where most tourists head in Northern Ireland - North Antrim Coast. I always have to visit Whitepark Bay when I go up there, which I think is the best beach on the planet....well OK maybe I'm a bit biased. Its worth the walk down the windy lane, where you even meet the occasionally cow...........

reflections of Portbradden

I very nice afternoon was spent on the beach soaking up a few solar rays!

Whitepark Bay

When I was there I swapped the knitting needles for a paint brush - I'm too shy or more embarrassed to post my attempts. In Coleraine I visited the art shop G.E. Kees, to buy a few sketch books. Its so rare these days to find a specialist shop such as this and the building is so paintable itself........

Bridge Street

derelict beauty

Today when driving, a building site caught my eye....it was a blur of white and lavender phlox. Needless to say a few of these have found there way into my own garden.

phlox

Today I also felt motivated enough to start a new knitting pattern.............

 

Ill have to start knitting vegetables - it would greatly improve my diet and reduce my waistline!
Bye, ali

iPod Cosy

 

THIS PATTERN IS COPYRIGHT PROTECTED. DO NOT REPRODUCE PATTERN. DO NOT SELL ITEMS KNITTED FROM THIS PATTERN FOR PROFIT ONLY FOR PERSONAL OR CHARITABLE USE
 

 

Keep your iPod, iPhone, camera safe with this tightly knit, thick cover.

Cosy fits an iPod Touch - dimensions are 11.5 cms x 7 cms.

Gauge : 7 sts x 10 rows = 3 cms. Adjust measurements if required.

Materials

chunky wool for cosy - I used Sirdar Peru Naturals

scraps of double knit wool in a complementary colour for clasp

needle size UK 3.75mm / US 5mm

2 dpns needle size UK 2.75mm / US 2.75 or similar

button

 

COSY (3.75mm needles)

Cast on 16 sts, leaving a long yarn tail for sewing up.

Starting with a p row, continue with reverse stocking st, until work measures 24 cms , ending with a k row.

FLAP

NEXT 4 ROWS : stocking st, starting with a k row and ending with a p row.

NEXT ROW : sl1, k1, psso, k to last 2 sts, k(2tog) (14 sts).

NEXT ROW : p.

Rpt last two rows until 6 sts remain, ending with the p row.

Cast off.

CLASP (2.75mm dpns)

The clasp is a length of i cord. For instructions to knit this method see http://www.knittinghelp.com/videos/knitting-tips

Cast on 3 sts. leaving long yarn tail to sew up.

Knit until icord measures 18 cms.

To Assemble

1. Fold knitted cosy piece so that the cast on edge just touches the first row of the flap. 

2. Mattress stitch the two side seams.

3. Partly coil the icord to form a decorative clasp, leaving 8 cms uncoiled.

4. Using the yarn tail sew coil together on reverse side.

5. With the other end of the icord form a figure of "8". Sewing the other end of the icord to the back of the clasp.
 

reverse side
 

6. Attach clasp to flap and sew on button.
 

A wristlet, or strap can also be added using a longer tube of icord and then attached to the cosy.
 

copyright Alison Hogg 2009

piece of cake

A relative of mine......no names mentioned is 80 soon. A knitter in her day I thought she would appreciate a slice of knitted cake, topped with candle.

Happy Birthday to You

Took a run up to Ballymena this week and as usual visited the wool shops...I needed to replenish some of my coloured DK . They have a great selection of coloured yarns at The Silk Road, Mill Street and all only £1 per ball.

 

The Silk Road

 

At the moment I'm working on a knitted Ipod cosy, I'm in the process of writing it up but will post it soon,

Bye for Now, Ali

puddles in the park

After all the recent rain, the Ormeau Park has a new leisure facility - outdoor swimming pool....

Ormeau Park

I don't know what it is, but I love photos with reflections, perhaps its best not to psychoanalyse too much!!

There was a glint of sunlight this morning, so I rushed out to the garden. Most of my plants have been donated by other gardeners, or bought from church fetes, or have grown from "pinched" slips and cuttings. The bluebells are all flowering and I have a few different varieties including white and lavender ones.

 

Margaret's White Bluebells

Kym's Lavender Bluebells

 

I must plant some English Bluebells later in the year.

Back on soon with my latest knitting project.

Bye for Now, Ali

wee dolls

Sue makes amazing sculptures including her "wee dolls". Have a look at her website Kitty Cooper Designs. I was all chuffed when she asked me to knit dresses for her ladies. I haven't had so much fun, dressing them up ............since I was 6!

Many thanks, Sue, for letting me keep one of the ladies...

Lila

MUMS TAXI..... fast reliable not to mention - cheap taxi service. Theres a lot of waiting about for my pick up, so I always have my Knitting Nancy in the car to put the time in with a bit of French knitting. Producing endless colourful knitted tubes I came up with the idea of making them into brooch corsages. Instructions are listed below for the Crazy Daisy Brooch also a knitting pattern for a leaf, which can be added to the brooch for an extra flourish.

 CRAZY DAISY KNITTED BROOCH

THIS PATTERN IS COPYRIGHT PROTECTED.
 DO NOT REPRODUCE PATTERN.
 DO NOT SELL ITEMS KNITTED FROM THIS PATTERN FOR PROFIT - ONLY FOR PERSONAL OR CHARITABLE USE

DAISY INSTRUCTIONS

Use a knitting nancy and DK/8ply wool.

1. Leaving a long yarn for sewing up, knit a tube aprox 60cms long in a colour of your choice for the petals. Change to green yarn and knit a further 6cms.

2. Using a contrasting colour of yarn for the centre of the flower, knit a tube aprox 20 cm long, leaving a long piece of yarn at the start for sewing up.

3. Darn loose yarns away on the petal / stem piece except the yarn at the petal end. To make the flower and stem shape, staring after the green stem make two figure of "8" shapes one on top of the other. This forms four petals and the stem.

4. Using the end yarn, sew the centre together, bring the needle through all the layers, back and forward, several times.

5. With the tip of the iron, press the centre to flatten, making it less bulky.

6. Make a flat coil with the flower centre tube piece and stitch together with the end yarns.

7. Attach flower center to the front, leaf (see pattern below) to the reverse and then the brooch back.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 LEAF PATTERN

Abbreviations

k : knit

p : purl

inc : increase (k into front and back of stitch)

sl : slip

psso : pass slip stitch over

tog : together

st : stitch

NB: stitch count for the increase rows is based on the bars produced by the kfb increase, rather than the number of stitches on the needles.
 

LEAF

Using size UK 3.25 / US 3 needles and DK/8ply wool.

Cast on 3 sts.
If a stalk is required, i-cord four rows, then slide work to end of needle and continue to work flat.

ROW 1 : k.

ROW 2 : p.

ROW 3 : inc1, inc1, k1 (5 sts). (recommended inc - kfb)

ROW 4 : sl1 purlwise, p to end of row.

ROW 5 : sl1 knitwise, inc1, inc1, k2 (7 sts).

ROW 6 : sl1 p'wise, purl to end of row.

ROW 7 : sl1 k'wise, k1, inc1, inc1, k3 (9 sts).

ROW 8 : sl1 p'wise, p to end of row.

ROW 9 : sl1 k'wise, k2, inc1, inc1, k4 (11 sts).

ROW 10 : sl1 p'wise, p to end of row.

ROW 11 : sl1 k'wise, k3, inc1, inc1, k5 (13 sts).

ROW 12 : sl1 p'wise p to end of row.

ROW 13 : sl1 k'wise, k4, inc1, inc1, k6 (15 sts).

ROW 14 : sl1 p'wise, p to end of row.

ROW 15 : sl1 k'wise, k5, p1, k1, p1, k6.

ROW 16 : sl1 p'wise, p to end of row.

ROW 17 : sl1 k'wise, k1, psso, k4, p1, k1, p1, k4, k2tog (13 sts).

ROW 18 : sl1 p'wise, p to end of row.

ROW 19 : sl1 k'wise, k1, psso, k3, p1, k1, p1, k3, k2tog (11 sts).

ROW 20 : sl1 p'wise, p to end of row.

ROW 21 : sl1 k'wise, k1, psso, k2, p1, k1, p1, k2, k2tog (9 sts).

ROW 22 : sl1 p'wise p to end of row.

ROW 23 : sl1 k'wise, k1, psso, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, k2tog (7 sts).

ROW 24 : sl1 p'wise p to end of row.

ROW 25 : sl1, k'wise, k1, psso, p1, k1, p1, k2tog (5 sts).

ROW 26 : sl1 p'wise p to end of row.

ROW 27 : sl1 k'wise, k1, psso, k1, k2tog (3 sts).

ROW 28 : sl1 p'wise, p to end of row.

ROW 29 : sl1 k'wise, k1, psso, slip st on right needle back onto left needle and then pass last st of the row over this one.

Fasten off.

copyright Alison Hogg 2009

new knitting pattern

I eventually got round to finishing off my latest pattern I have been working on - the Fondant Fancy and Iced Diamond. It is available for sale on my etsy shop.

Belfast Landmark You couldn't have a blog from Belfast without having a photo of the famous Harland and Wolf crane, not to mention my father used to work in the shipyard. Here's one taken from Victoria Park.....

view from Vicky Park

 

Many years ago, I did a dissertation on graffiti and territoriality.....ample study material in Belfast!. Here's a new mural (and sculpture) recently painted to celebrate the life of D. Ervine. With its poignant message for all to read.

Mural and Sulpture East Belfast.

north coast

Last week I spent a few days up on the North Coast. I think the beaches there are the best that ever was...and no I don't work for the Northern Ireland Tourist Board.

Of course my camera came too........

East Strand, Portrush

 

By day, the pedestrian bridge over the River Bann, by night the hideaway for the baddy in a James Bond movie......

 

New Bridge,Coleraine

 

This being Easter, I made one of my Yolk Folk for my son, complete with a beanie hat in school colours. For the egg cozy beanie pattern and also a pattern for a ski hat or football supporters hat.... see below.

 

Schoolboy Yolk Folk

Happy Easter, Ali

YOLK FOLK PATTERN



THIS PATTERN IS COPYRIGHT PROTECTED. DO NOT REPRODUCE PATTERN. DO NOT SELL ITEMS KNITTED FROM THIS PATTERN FOR PROFIT ONLY FOR PERSONAL OR CHARITABLE USE

 

MATERIALS

2.75mm dpns

scraps of double knitting wool

tapestry needle

pompom maker or card for template

a marker can be used to indicate beg of round – I keep an eye on the cast on yarn to see when the round starts
 

BEANIE HAT

Cast on 44 sts (cable casting on)

Divide sts between three needles.

Rds 1 – 3 : Rib, (k1, p1) rpt to end of rd.

Change yarn to contrasting colour

Rd 4 : k.

Continue another 15 rds : k.

Rd 20 : k2tog, (k7, sl1, k1, psso, k2tog) rpt twice to last 9 sts – k7, sl1, k1, psso (36 sts).

Rd 21 : k.

Rd 22 : k2tog, (k5, sl1, k1, psso, k2tog) rpt twice to last 7 sts – k5, sl1, k1, psso. (28 sts).

Rd 23 : k.

Rd 24 : k2tog, (k3, sl1, k1, psso, k2tog) rpt twice to last 5 sts – k3, sl1, k1, psso. (20 sts).

Rd 25 : k.

Rd 26 : k2tog, (k1, sl1, k1, psso, k2tog) rpt twice to last 3 sts – k1, sl1, k1, psso. (12 sts).

Rd 27 : k.

Rd 28 : (k2tog) 6 times (6 sts).

pwt - pull wool through - break off yarn and thread onto tapestry needle. Then thread wool through stitches beginning at the start of the row, pull wool tightly and make a few stitches to complete circle.

SKI HAT

Cast on 42 sts (cable casting on).

Divide sts between three needles.

For yarn colours in the ski hat featured in the photo below : rib is knit in blue.

Knit rounds : yarn is changed every two rows to form stripe pattern.

Rds 1 – 6 : Rib, (k1, p1) rpt to end of rd.

Rd 7 : k.

Continue another 22 rds : k.

Rd 30 : (k4, k2tog) rpt to end of rd (35 sts).

Rd 31 : k.

Rd 32 : (k3, k2tog) rpt to end of rd (28 sts).

Rd 33 : k.

pwt - see above.

Make pompom – if using a card template the diameter of outer circle of pompom is 3cms, diameter of inner circle of pompom is 1 cm. Darn loose yarns on reverse side and attach pompom. Turn rib section upwards to form brim.

Knit in football team colours or school colours.

copyright Alison Hogg 2009

blushing blossoms

I love the flowers this time of the year brings.

Take a beautiful cherry blossom tree and a touch of photoshop......

cherry blossoms

I tried to recreate my own blousey blossoms, but they're not a patch on the real thing.

blousey blossoms

 

 

CRESCENT CRAFTS Yesterday I spent an enjoyable afternoon browsing the crafts and art at the Botanic Art Market. There were some lovely items.....I bought three wee unusual cartoon hand painted badges from Kitty Cooper Designs. The artist - Sue also designs jewellery, cards and sculptures.

 

shopping

As a dedicated bargain hunter I headed downtown to the M & S sale, but got distracted by the reflections of the escalators

.........and on a different shopping dimension, I have just listed a Treasury on etsy, which features local sellers, have a wee look.

wee buns

You saw the real thing, in the first entry of my blog....now here's the knitted version.

Knitted Iced Diamond

I like to give value for money in my patterns and this one is no different. As usual it will be two designs based on the one pattern - two buns for the price of one.
Speaking of bargains where would a shopping trip be without a skinny, decaf cappuccino.

bargain hunters brunch

treasures

All that glitters is not Grimwades.....



O.K. so its not Royal Winton but its still lovely. I think I'm turning into a magpie when I'm browsing these charity shops. Just what I need as a prop for my next bun knitting project.
Not doing much knitting these days. My son came home with an art homework to do a painting in the style of the Fauvists. This inspired me to get the brushes and paint out, which were languishing in the back of the cupboard. I painted some old fashioned dolly pegs...not in the style of the fauvists!!!!.... for myself and also a few sets for my etsy shop.



I recently discovered the work of Melanie Tomlinson. She makes the most amazing jewelled coloured pieces in tin. As a special birthday treat I choose this butterfly brooch, which came in such lovely packaging.


I had great difficulty choosing between an amazing array of butterflies, moths and birds.
Bye for now, Ali.