cultural heritage

This is the title of the Northern Ireland Patchwork Guild's latest exhibition. I was in town this morning so went to have a look, as the venue is in the City Hall.
Angela McCormick had the most amazing art quilt on display. Her piece is called "Rifleman 444" and in her poignant statement, she explains that the Rifleman was her great grandfather who died in the Battle of the Somme.

 

 

A very touching memorial to him and all the others who fell in that Battle. Angela writes a blog so you can follow her work at Pin Fiddle Quilts.
The theme of the exhibition has generated a great diversity of work. I particularly liked the colourful quilt called "Journey Through Belfast 2008" by Valerie McKeown.

 

Of course after perusing the exhibition, I had to visit the Bobbin café for a cappuccino and a traybake.

 

 

The exhibition runs until the 4th October and entrance is by the side door.

Have a great weekend, Ali.





 

LADDER RIBBON LONG SCARF

THIS PATTERN IS COPYRIGHT PROTECTED

 ONLY FOR PERSONAL OR CHARITABLE USE

ITEMS KNITTED FROM THIS PATTERN CANNOT BE SOLD FOR PROFIT

 DO NOT REPRODUCE OR USE FOR ANY COMMERCIAL PURPOSE

ABBREVIATIONS

k: knit

st(s): stitch(es)

kfb: increase by knitting into the front and back of the same st

sl: slip

psso: pass slip st over

tog: together 

rpt: repeat

MATERIALS

25 grams of a ribbon ladder yarn such as Sirdar Firefly or Zip by V and A Products Ltd

10mm needles (US 15)

two large pendant beads

beads with a large hole 

INSTRUCTIONS

Make a slip knot, leave a long yarn tail of aprox 15cms (6ins), this will be used to attach beads later.

ROW 1 : k.

ROW 2 : k1fb (2 sts).
Tug work down as you go.

ROW 3 : k.

ROW 4 : k1fb, k1fb (4 sts).

ROW 5 : k.

ROW 6 : k1fb, k1, k1fb, k1 (6 sts).

ROW 7 : k.

ROW 8 : k1fb, k3, k1fb, k1 (8 sts).

ROW 9 : k.

ROW 10 : k1fb, k5, k1fb, k1 (10 sts).

ROW 11 : k.

ROW 12 : k1fb, k7, k1fb, k1 (12 sts).

ROW 13 : k.

ROW 14 : k1fb, k9, k1fb, k1 (14 sts).

ROW 15 : k.

ROW 16 : k1fb, k11, k1fb, k1 (16 sts).

ROW 17 : sl1 knitwise, k to end of row.

At the beginning of each following row slip the first st knitwise

Continue with garter st (every row knit) until work measures 100cms (39.5ins)
or required length.

NEXT ROW : sl1, k1, psso, k to last two stitches, k2tog (14 sts).

NEXT ROW : k.

Rpt the last two rows until 2 sts remain ending on an all k row.

NEXT ROW : k2tog (1 st).

NEXT ROW : k

Fasten off leaving a long yarn tail of aprox 15cms (6 ins). 

TO ATTACH BEADS

• Thread the yarn onto a needle which will go through the hole in the beads.





• Then thread the yarn through the beads leaving the pendant bead until last.
• Thread through the pendant bead and then tie a knot at the top of the pendant bead.
• Then thread the yarn back through the beads until you reach the starting point.
  

  

  
  
• Knot the yarn, then weave the yarn tail up through the scarf.
• Repeat for the other end of the scarf.

  copyright Alison Hogg 2013

granny square blanket

'Fraid I haven't had much time for blogging or crafting this wee while. I've been busy getting things done before my son starts school tomorrow....new uniform, appointments etc. I finished the granny square blanket awhile ago and just getting to post photos now.

 

 

I think that's enough now with one "needle" I miss my two sticks, in fact I miss having an on going project, I feel a bit unsettled as I can't just sit and do nothing. So now that school is back, I'm planning to knit up some ribbon ladder yarn I bought at the market last week.

 

 

 

 

 Hoping to make a long skinny scarf and I'll post the pattern next week sometime, if anyone has a ball of this languishing at the back of their stash cupboard and wants to make use of it.

Bye, Ali.

 

thursday night down town

Tonight the City Hall was illuminated in honour of the World Police and Fire Games, which are being held in Northern Ireland at the moment. The front of the building was illuminated with a flame effect.

 

 

 The dome was transformed into a flashing blue siren with red turrets.

 

 

The photos would have looked more stunning in the dark but unfortunately due to a heavy shower, I had to hurry home. I did take one last photo before I ran for cover.

 



 

Here's hoping for better weather tomorrow, Ali

fused plastic bag picture

Continuing the theme or recycling and reusing plastic bags, this post is about fusing plastic bags with a household iron, to make a "fabric". Once fused the plastic is flexible and strong and can be stitched on, either by hand or by machine.

HEALTH AND SAFETY

When fusing the plastic bags do so in a well ventilated area and use appropriate breathing apparatus

What you need
plastic bags (different weights and colours)
scissors
clothes iron
ironing board or heat resistant surface
baking parchment
angelina fibre fusible hot fix (optional)
photo or image
sewing machine (optional)

Method
1. Find a suitable photo or image for inspiration.
    My photo was of Shasta daisies taken at night time.

 

2. Cut a piece of baking parchment larger than the size the finished artwork will be and place on the ironing board.

 

3. Cut a piece of plastic for the background. Use a thick plastic bag or several layers of fine plastic bags.

 

4. Cut or tear pieces of different colours and weights of plastic bags and arrange on top of the background to form the picture. Place small amounts of Angelina fibre to add a bit of sparkle. For the flower and moon I used different weights of white plastic bag. It is possible to put a layer of clear plastic (such as a garment or dry cleaning bag) on top for added strength, but the final "fabric" will have a matte appearance.

 



5. Cut a second piece of baking parchment, also larger than the artwork and place on top, to form a sandwich.

6. Set the iron to synthetic or rayon and do not use the steam setting. If the iron is too hot the plastic will shrivel up and holes will develop.

7. Iron from the centre outwards, keep the iron moving for about 30 seconds.

8. Flip the whole thing over and repeat the ironing process.

9. Wait for the plastic to cool down before carefully removing the baking parchment.

DO NOT TOUCH PLASTIC WHILE IT IS STILL HOT

10. If the plastic is not totally fused repeat the ironing process.

The fine white plastic bags shrivelled up, but I quite liked the effect.

11. It is now possible to stitch, either by hand or machine to add definition to the picture. I stitched on top using free machine embroidery.

 

 

PLARN BOWL

 



 

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

DIMENSIONS : height of bowl aprox 4cms (1¾ ins)

                      width of bowl aprox 8cms (3¼ ins)

ABBREVIATIONS

rd(s): rounds(s)

st(s): stitch(es)

rpt : repeat

k: knit

sl: slip

psso: pass slip stitch over

tog: together 

MATERIALS

3 fine supermarket bags made into plarn (see PLARN TUTORIAL click here)

4 dpns size 6.50mm (US 10½)
tapestry needle

scissors 

NOTES ON KNITTING PLARN

Plarn takes a bit of getting used to, it is quite stiff to knit with, although there is a little stretch to it. It is slow to knit up.

You can either make up a lot and roll the plarn into a ball or just make up one bag and add to it as you go along adding more plarn to the end loop.

 

BOWL

Knitted from the rim to the base.

Cast on 36 sts (cable cast on is the best method as it produces a firm rim).

Divide sts – 12 on each of the three dpns.

Rds 1 - 6: k (right side will eventually be the inside of the bowl).

Tug work down as you go, by holding the needle in left hand and pulling at the cast on edge.

Rd 7: (k4, sl1, k1, psso) rpt to end of rd (30 sts).

Rd 8: k.

Rd 9: (k3, sl1, k1, psso) rpt to end of rd (24 sts).

Rd 10: k.

Rd 11: (k2, sl1, k1, psso) rpt to end of rd (18 sts).

Rd 12: (sl1, k1, psso) rpt to end of rd (9 sts).

• Cut plarn leaving a tail of about 15cms (6ins) and thread onto tapestry needle.
• Pull threaded yarn through the 9 sts, removing them from the needles.
• Pull tight.
• Reinforce by running plarn again through the 9 sts. Make a few sts to secure, then loose plarn tail in work.
• Loose tail at cast on edge on right side.
• Turn reverse side outwards.
• Pull and stretch the bowl until it is a good shape.

 

copyright Alison Hogg 2013 



projects

I have several projects on the go at the moment. Firstly, are the dreaded curtains, I hate this sort of sewing!

Then, I am crocheting a granny square blanket. I followed Bunny Mummy's Tutorial for this - click here. I'm turning the work after each round to avoid the blanket twisting. I am not a great crocheter and progress is very slow, it grows ever so slightly everyday, but is a very relaxing TV project.

  

I have also been meaning to experiment with different materials for knitting such as plastic, fabric, cord etc. So I've started off with making my own plarn or plastic yarn (see tutorial below). Supermarket bags now cost 5p in Northern Ireland, so thought I better hurry experimenting with plarn, before the plastic bag becomes totally extinct.

 

 

To follow up the plarn tutorial, I'm in the process of writing up a knitting pattern using the plarn. There seems to be lot of crochet patterns on the net, but few knitting patterns especially using dpns. It will only be a small project, suitable   for anyone looking for an introduction to knitting with plarn. Hoping to post that next week sometime. 

 

 

Bye for now, Ali.

 



 

plarn tutorial

Use fine supermarket grocery bags.

1.Tuck in sides of bag and smooth plastic.

2. Fold bag lengthwise.

3. Fold bag lengthwise again.

4. Snip off handles and fused edge at the base of the bag. Discard these pieces.

5. Cut the bag into 1 inch (2.5cms) strips, just measure by eye.

6. Unravel strips to form loops.

7. To join loops place Loop B under Loop A.

8. To knot the two loops. Lift up the end of Loop B which has just been placed under Loop A. Insert the other end of Loop B through the lifted up end. Keep Loop A taut.

9. Gentle tug both loops to form knot. Do not pull too hard or the plastic strips will tear.

10. Make knot smaller by easing it towards the centre with fingernails.

11. Size of knot.

 

 

12. Plarn can be either rolled into a ball or can be added to, as you go along. Just add more loops to the end loop.

 



NOTES ON KNITTING PLARN

Plarn takes a bit of getting used to, it is quite stiff to knit with, although there is a little stretch to it. It is slow to knit up.

bertie bunny

I have now finished Julie's boy bunny pattern. Again he was a very enjoyable knit and the pattern was very detailed leaving nothing to guesswork
So here's Bertie the blue eyed bunny.......

 

 

 

 

was it something I said?

 

but

it's a happy ending for Roberta and Bertie
they were made for each other!

 

 

Patterns available from Little Cotton Rabbit, click here. There is also a new pattern with a wardrobe of different dresses.



All the best, Ali. 

roberta rabbit

I finished my rabbit and I'm very pleased as to how she turned out. The wee rabbit proved to be a fun, interesting knit. She assumed a definite personality as I was knitting her up and came alive when I sewed on her features.
Some photos of Roberta ......

 

 

 

 

 

 

She looks a wee bit lonely so I'm knitting a friend for her. Patterns are by the designer Little Cotton Rabbits - click here

Have a good weekend, Ali.

 

off the needles

After a marathon of a knit, I have eventually finished the Curve of Pursuit blanket. The short rows kept the knitting interesting but even so this is a definite one off project. For details of pattern, by Woolly Thoughts click here
Some photos of my finished blanket.

Now that the blanket is off the needles I've started a smaller project. On the needles is the girl bunny written by the extremely talented Julie from Little Cotton Rabbits. Hoping to do the boy bunny as well. For details of these patterns click here.

Now all I need is some nice summery weather so I can knit in the garden,
Bye for now, Ali.