quick update

I have been a fan of Julia Marsh from Hand Knitted Things ever since I used her pattern to knit up a house for Age UK, Warm House. A few weeks ago she had a giveaway on her blog, which I was lucky enough to win.
When it arrived it was beautifully wrapped....

and inside were Stylecraft vouchers and some Stylecraft goodies....

 Julia also put one of her knitted brooch houses in the parcel.....so I was well chuffed!

As regards my own knitting I have just finished a shawlette as part of a knit a long with Helen and Lola from Instagram. The pattern is Hitchiker by Martina Behm for more details click here. I used Rico Design Las Vegas yarn, which has a wee bit of a sparkle.... I do like a bit of bling.

I'm also still working on my latest food pattern and a project for a blog hop. The blog hop is to review the book, My Knitted Doll by Louise Crowther or rather Boo-Biloo. So call back next Thursday for that.

All the best, Ali

new pattern in the making

I can't believe I havent blogged since the end of July....tempus fugit!.....and that's about the only school Latin I can remember. I have a lot of catching up to do as well, reading other blog posts. I am enjoying posting photos on Instagram and looking at other peoples photos too. Look me up if you get a minute, under crazydazyknits.

At present I'm working on a new food pattern. The pattern consists of a hamburger, complete with trimmings, a hot dog and chips. I feel hungry at the thought of it.

Just going through the pattern at the moment, have to take some photos and then will be looking for test knitters. 

In an attempt to be more organised I have been using yarn pegs to decide colours. I have so many Stylecraft Special dk balls and unfortunately its easy to loose the labels.

One more thing if you live in the vicinity of Belfast and haven't been to the David Hockney exhibition, I Draw, I Do at the Mac, you should go along. It's on until mid October. There is a great range of his work from the fifties until present day. 
I suppose he is best known for his swimming pool paintings and there is one of those on display....

And then more recent ones, which have been drawn on an ipad....

Well better catch up with a few of my favourite blogs now, Till next time, Ali.

suffolk puffs

In my last post I was using a gadget for making Suffolk Puffs. Since them I have been googling....I spend way to much time on the internet, but I was looking for projects where I could use my Suffolk Puffs. Here's a collection of what i found.
Lots of ideas for jewellery, including necklaces, corsages and bracelets. I was inspired to make a bracelet, simply made, by sewing six puffs edge to edge and then adding a clasp.........

Thought this piggy brooch looked cute, from Sarah's Little Snippets (click on the following photos for the links)

  

Puffs could be used for garlands (I can thank Helen for this idea) or wreaths. Here's an Easter garland by Sunshine Creations.

A good technique for textile art, as shown by Michelle Mischkulnig.

More inspiration found googling, was to use netting, tulle or even net curtains for yoyos as seen on the Blue Mountain Daisy blog.

 

I have just mentioned a few ideas but the possibilities are endless......I do like a Suffolk Puff! 
Till next time, Ali.

yo-yo gadget

I'm a big fan of Suffolk puffs, some people think they are a bit twee, but I love them. I also collect gadgets and when I saw the yo-yo makers, by Clover, I just had to give them a go.

I tried the simple circular one first and after wading through the instructions, it worked well for me. The flower shape yo-yo maker was a bit harder. Here's a few photos of the process of making the flower one.

I got a bit confused by the central stitching part, but after sussing that out and on my second attempt, I did make something which resembled a five petaled flower.

 Now, will I use the gadgets again or will they languish in the cupboard? The circular makers were good and quick, once I got the hang of them. They would only be viable if you were making a large number, though. Not so sure about the flower one as it was a bit fiddly.

 

Till next time, Ali.

wildlife nests

I was on facebook recently, and noticed a call for knitters and crocheters to make nests for rescued birds and small mammals. So I thought I would knit up a few. You have to register to access patterns and for more details click here. They knit up quickly using two strands of double knit, as the nests need to made without holes or gaps. Crochet patterns are also available, if you prefer this. There is also a facebook page with information, click here.
Here are two of my attempts, looking a bit empty at the moment.......

All is needed is a few furry or feathery friends.

Till next time, Ali.

beatrice bear

After knitting up Julie's (Little Cotton Rabbit's) panda pattern, I knew I would have to follow it up by knitting him a girlfriend. The girl bear knitting pattern looked so cute with her chequered dress.
This time knitting was much quicker and there was less studying up the pattern as I had an idea how she was to be constructed. Again I used Drops Lima knitted along with Drops Kidsilk for the body and Debbie Bliss Rialto 4ply for the shoes and dress.
Here she is in her undies.....

And her she is in her dress, was loving the fact that most of the dress was knitted with dpns. I knitted her a bag to complete the outfit....

Here they both are together.....

For more details of Little Cotton Rabbit's patterns, click here. Till next time, Ali.

panda

When I saw Julie's (Little Cotton Rabbits) new pattern for the bear and panda, I just knew I had to knit them up. I started with the boy panda and used one strand of Drops Lima and one of Drops Kidsilk for the body. I knitted the clothes using Debbie Bliss Rialto 4ply. It is a great pattern as usual, with helpful tips and great instructions. And here he is.......

I haven't come up with a name for him yet, so would be grateful of any suggestions for what to call him. I thought the jumper would be a challenge as I'm not fond of this kind of knitting, but the pattern was most comprehensive and easy to follow and I was most pleased the way his fair isle jumper turned out.
I them went on to knit him a few accessories, a hat, scarf and schoolbag.....I had so much fun.

Now I think all is left is to knit him a girlfriend. For further details of Julies patterns and her work, click here.
Till next time, Ali.

extreme knitting

I was lucky enough to be able to attend the Knitting and Stitching show at Edinburgh about a month ago. I got lots of ideas and inspiration while I was there. One particular stand caught my attention and that was one which featured extreme knitting, hosted by Rachel John. Unfortunately I couldn't buy any of her wool due to limited space in my hand luggage, so I made some up when I got home....

I used four stands of double knit and one strand of aran, the teaspoon is to give some idea of scale. It would be a great stashbuster. I knitted a tube with 15mm dpns and made a simple shopping bag....

The mix of different coloured yarns gave a nice mottled effect when knitted up.
I used an over sized button as a fastening and due to the loose texture, I lined the inside of the bag, adding a few pockets for phone and keys etc.

It knit up super quick but was a bit tough on the wrists. So that's what I've been up to. Hope you're all having a good weekend.
Till next time, Ali.

daisy crochet world record

I do like small projects and this crocheted daisy one is for such a good cause...
It's in memory of Emma Welch, an avid fundraiser. Her friends are organising an attempt to break two world records, all in aid of Brain Tumour Research.
The first Guinness World Record is for the Most People Crocheting Simultaneously," which is currently 485. This will take place in Bath on the 4th June 2016.

If you don't live near Bath and can crochet you can still take part as the second world record to be broken is the Largest Display of Crocheted Items, which is currently held at 13,388.
Emma's middle name was "Daisy", so they are looking for crocheted daisies to break the record. Pattern below. It is a very easy and quick pattern. Daisies are to made in pink and yellow, BTR colours with some white to make them look more daisy like. Again the record attempt will take place 4th June 2016 and afterwards the flowers will be sold off for BTR funds

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DAISY PATTERN

ch: chain
dc: double crochet
dtr: double treble
sl st: slip stitch 

UK terminology
 

Note: use any combination of pink, yellow and white DK yarns for yarns A and B
Using a crochet hook (size 3.5mm to 4.5mm) and yarn A make 4ch, join with a sl st to first ch to form a ring
Rnd 1: 1ch, 18dc in ring, break off yarn A, join yarn B with a sl st to first dc
Rnd 2: (4ch, 1dtr, 4ch, one sl st in next st) 9 times (9 petals) until petals meet

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Send your finished crocheted daisies before Saturday 4th June to:
FAO Victoria Roberts 10M1, Norton Hill School, Charlton Road, Midsomer Norton, BA3 4AD

Thanks to Ali from Random Wooliness for bringing this to my notice, she knows I love a project like this and when I saw the pretty daisies I just had to hook up a few.  

Some links if you want more info....
Book your FREE ticket for the world crocheting world record event at Event Brite by clicking here.
Learn more about Brain Tumour Research at braintumourresearch.org
Befriend Daisy Bear at facebook.com/daisy.bear.750
Till next time, Ali.

woollen woods

Tomorrow opens the only "Woollen Wood" in Northern Ireland, at the Diamond Jubilee Wood at Whitehead. The Woollen Woods, part of Voluntary Arts Week, is an outdoor art installation, which is bringing art and nature together. On display will be all sorts of knitted, crocheted or felted woodland themed items.

My contribution to the flora and fauna which will be on display is an owl.....

He is based on the pattern, Obligatory Owl designed by Sara Elizabeth Kellner. This pattern is available as a free Ravelry download, for more details click here. 

I had great fun knitting him up. He is knitted in the round and the "Obligatory Owl" is a nice clear pattern to follow.

  

Woollen Woods is happening in eleven sites across the country, during May, to find one near you, click here.

Have a great weekend, Ali.

teddy bear puppet appeal

OCC Barton on Humber are having a teddy bear puppet appeal.....

 
They are hoping to break the world record of teddies in a line. To break the record they need more than 15534 teddy puppets and the deadline to return knitted puppets is the 18th September. The puppets will then find there way into shoe boxes, as OCC stands for Operation Christmas Child, a charity which sends filled shoe boxes to needy children round the world.
For more details visit their Facebook page Occ Barton on Humber, click here
If you are interested in knitting up a few teddies, here is the pattern, a nice easy knit.

 

My pattern notes
I knitted the front and back in one piece.

I started and ended the puppet with two by two rib.
I embroidered the face before turning inside out and sewing the side seams as I thought it was easier.

My scarves were I-cord.

For the crochet pattern, click here.
Thanks to Linda's Crafty Corner for bringing the teddy appeal to my notice and I'm hoping to spread the word as well.

 Till next time, Ali.

cup of tea

The latest novelty knitting pattern Ive tried is one by Clare Scope-Farrell, entitled Time for Tea.
Usually when I'm commenting on other designers patterns, I'm off the opinion "if you cant say anything nice, don't say anything at all", as I know how hard it is to actually write a pattern.
However, my gripe was not with the actual pattern, which was a fun knit, it was that it was only available as a Kindle edition e-book. Now I don't own a Kindle but was able to download the Kindle app on my phone....

Call me old fashioned, but I did struggle with this. I like a hard copy so I can scribble my own notes on it and mark the rows off as I go along. Anyway, I persevered as I quite liked the look of the finished item. I did change the pattern "translating" it so that i knitted most of the pieces I could in the round. I don't know why the designer has chosen this way to distribute some of her patterns, maybe it is here way of dealing with copyright issues.
I did finish it with a few technical hiccups on the way....

 

The buns are real, by the way. For more details of this and other Clare Scope-Farrell patterns, click here
Till next time, Ali.

happy easter

I had great fun knitting this cute little chap as one of my Easter knits. The pattern is called "Dutch Rabbits" from the Yarnigans and the designer is Rachel Borello Carrol. It's a great pattern, everything including the making up is well explained. Also nice to have a pattern written for dpns. Pattern can be found on Ravelry, click here. I used a strand of Drops Karisma with a strand of Drops Kids Silk and it worked well, making the knitting tight so that stuffing didn't show through.

All that's left to say is have a lovely Easter everyone.
Till next time, Ali

knitted feast

I do like a competition .....and when I saw that there was to be one at the Knit and Stitch Show this Spring, I just had to enter. Especially since the title of the competition was Knitted Feast and the requirement was to knit or crochet an item for the banqueting table.
I wanted to do something colourful and after perusing the internet I took my inspiration from a photo found on the Not From a Packet Mix Blog of a fruit tarte.
I started with a pastry base and custard filling and a row of strawberries and blueberries.....

Then added some tinned peach slices and kiwi fruit.....

 

and of course every pastry deserves a pretty cake stand......

and a few flowers and pieces of fruit for a bit of decoration......

And my final entry....

If you are lucky enough to be going along to the Spring Knit and Stitch Show at Olympia in London this weekend have a look out for my fruit tarte and all the other entries.
Unfortunately mine was not in the winning three!
Till next time, Ali.