tea cosy competition

Yesterday was St Georges Annual Tea Cosy Competition. It has been on going for three years now. 
This years charity was N.I. Children's Hospice and after the judging the cosies are auctioned off.
Here's a photo showing about half of the cosies, some real amazing ones.

One of my favourites was this felted one, I think it was needlefelted and was a work of art.

Loved this one, maybe as it reminded me of myself sitting on the knitting chair.

Suppose you are wondering who won, well my cosy did, thanks to "the peoples choice", so thanks to all the folk who voted for it.
This year I did an Autumn theme....

I didn't have time to futter about designing, so I used some other people's patterns. .....
The tea cosy was a variation of Pamela Henderson's Broken Rib Tea Cosy, available free, click here.
The oak leaves were a great pattern by Frankie Brown, also free, click here.
The hedgehog was a lovely wee pattern by Little Cotton Rabbits, click here.
The squirrel was a dotpebbles pattern.
The flat leaves at the base of the cosy is one of my patterns, available on this blog click here.
The acorns is another of my patterns, which I'll be posting on the blog sometime soon.
Bye for now, Ali.

halloween pattern

It has just taken me a whole year to write up this pattern, but here it is at long last, my Witches Brew Tea Cosy. Pattern includes instruction for spider which dangles from the hat.

Many many thanks to curlyfro and knitlvr from Ravelry, for giving up their time and offering their expertise to test the pattern.
The pattern is for sale on my Ravelry shop (click here) and etsy shop (click here) and is half price, at £1.00, until Halloween.
Bye for now, Ali

giveaway winner

Just a quick post to let you know who won the book by Louise Walker - Faux Taxidermy Knits.

I'm afraid I haven't mastered the technique of computer random number generation, so I've had to rely on the old tried and trusted method....

and the winner is.......

Congratulations Lyndelou and I will contact you by email.

If you weren't successful have a look at Lapdog Creations blog as she is doing a similar giveaway click here.

All the best, Ali.

book review and giveaway

I was well chuffed to be asked to take part in the blog hop to launch Louise Walker's new book "Faux Taxidermy Knits".

 I have to admit the word "taxidermy" in the title, did put me off slightly, but all the 15 patterns in the book are adorable and so cute. As a child I was always fascinated by my Nannie's fox stole, but even then felt for the most unfortunate fox who gave up its life, for my Nannie to wear round her neck. Now I can wear that fox stole without the cruelty and the fox stole shown above is definitely on my knitting to do list
The book  also appeals to me as I'm not really a jumper making knitter and I am always on the look out for different and out of the ordinary, dare I say novelty patterns. The book does not disappoint ...it has a variety of patterns from "Wearables" such as the Polar Bear Paw Mittens, the Wolf Headdress and the Hedgehog Slippers to things for around the house (Habitat) such as the Owl Tea Cosy, the Badger Head and the Tiger Rug or what about a hanging pheasant? Now being a veggie I wouldn't consider a real one hanging in my kitchen, but maybe a knitted one.......

Patterns in the book range from beginner level to some for the more advanced knitter and some even contain instructions for dpns. There are lots of photos, diagrams and tips to help with projects. There is even a techniques part at the end of the book which explains basic knitting such as casting on, knit and purl and more advanced methods such as double pointed needles and intarsia.

I wanted to knit up at least one pattern  before writing the review so  I choose one of the more simpler patterns the Bear Coasters. Here's Louise's version.

 and here's my version.....

A quick fun knit and the suggested Drops Lima was the perfect yarn for the project.


The layout of the book is very appealing and the photos are just gorgeous, well thought out and include such lovely "props".

Louise's book can be bought here

or if you are feeling lucky please talk part in my give away. The publishers have a free book on offer....all you have to do is leave a comment at the end of this post. The giveaway will close at midnight (GMT) on 21st September 2014. I will announce the winner, the next day on the 22nd. If you dont want to check back, please leave your email address in the comment so I can get in touch if you win.

A variety of other knitting books are available from Stitch Craft Create, to have a look, click here

The blog hop has been going on for a while and to see past and future participants please click here.
I feel I'm in very good company!

Good luck if you're taking part in the giveaway, Ali.

felt competition

I entered a craft competition as part of the Ulster Folk Museum Craft and Skills Day. The category I entered was a wet felt panel, which had to depict a rural scene. Unfortunately there weren't too many entries in any of the categories, I don't think the museum advertised it very well.
Anyway it was nice to do a bit of wet felting again and my panel is supposed to be a scene showing the Mourne Mountains complete with yellow gorse bush. Some photos of it....

 

I won second place - 

 
Congratulations to the winner (sorry no photo) - there were only two entries in my category, so I guess I really came last! Not to worry it was a nice afternoon at the Folk Museum which incidentally had free entrance today.
Till next time, Ali