How to pick up stitches on a cast-off edge

You will use this technique when you knit a neck bank or a button band etc.


1. Right side facing you, hold you piece of beautiful knitting in your left hand. Insert the point of the needle through the first loop of the cast off stitch, wrap the yarn around the needle and pull the yarn through (just like a knit stitch)

2. Pick up the required number of stitches (usually one stitch for each cast on stitch, Now turn the knitting and continue in pattern.


I hope this helps and you find it useful.



Clare

Crochet Baby Jacket

Hello

As promised the reveal of the little jacket I have made.  Details of this came from a blog which is by a lady named Kelly.  pattern details  bellabambinaknits which is a lovely blog with lots of patterns.

I kept to the pattern, the only differences are I used an Aran yarn and embroidered a pig from a children's programme on the bottom.  My little bambino is 7 months and it is slightly too large, which is good as it will be just right when the colder months approach.

Saying that we did go to the shop this morning and it is a bit windy and rainy so I put it on him and it looked great.

As requested by  Sandi I will put up some instructions for picking up knitted stitches!

Have a wonderful day everyone.

Clare x

Little Blue Knitted Jumper

I can't tell you how proud I was when I finished this little blue knitted jumper.  It did take me an age to get round to sewing it up.  But Ta-Da - Job Done !!!!

Then I can't tell you how gutted I was when it didn't fit - yes that's right a 9-12 months pattern doesn't fit my 7 month old baby with a giant head!  The neck won't fit over his head. "What is wrong with my baby's head?" - panic - measuring tape out - PHEW nothing wrong with his perfectly normal size head.

STUPID STUPID Pattern.  Now this was a free pattern from a reputable company who I have contact and informed them of my motherly panic. 

Now as I am newish to knitting this was the first time I had picked up stitches.  I used a circular needle and found this really quiet awkward - but managed it and to good effect.  I have since discovered after flicking through an old issue of knit toady that I did this totally wrong.  However, this was not why the jumper didn't fit.  All is now clear and I am looking forward to trying my newly learnt skill. 

Now what to do with the silly little neck on said jumper.  Well, scissors and needle in hand.  I witnessed all animals and adults retreat to the shed for some pottering.  I snipped and sewed and made a button hole.  Selected a contrasting button and here we have one cute little jumper that now fastens at the back of the neck and fits over all giant baby heads.

I am most pleased to say it fits and he looks snugly and adorable- one happy Mum.

Have a great day and I will be back soon to post about the crochet cardigan.

Clare x

Knitted Toys Part I

Meet Monster Chunks and Chubby Chirps

These are free patterns from Rebecca Danger she has just launched her new website - go and take a look.

Clare x x x

What a long time it has been.  I can hardly believe it.  Firstly, thank you to all that still pop by.  I have been keeping up with your blogs, just about.  Life has been very hectic.  Hospital visits with our lovely baby boy, well not so much of a baby 7 months now.  He is teething at the moment and not sleeping at all well. 


I am running the business on my own at the moment along with being Mum and housewife.  It is very very busy and a bit of a juggling act but we are getting there.  Mr is helping out a company with a 2 million pound contract for a top company in London.  He is a cabinet maker by trade and ran his own successful business for 13 years.  So they needed a pro and he certainly is that.  So he is back doing what he really loves for the next few months at least.


I have managed some crochet and some knitting which I will blog about over the next few days.  I have started to knit some toys for the boys at the request of my 3 year old who wanted a knitted Fireman Sam, Monster, and an alien.  So this is testing my skills and I am learning loads.


Happy Monday


Clare x

Knitted Rose Pattern

Knitted Rose Pattern


I used 5mm needles and a dk acrylic yarn, but I would imagine you could use whatever yarn and relevant needles you like.

Cast on 20 sts (I used the thumb method)

Row 1 Knit

Row 2 (RS) K1 *yf, k1 rep from * to end.

Row 3 and every following alt row Purl

Row 4 Knit

Row 6 K1, *yf, k1 * to end (this creates a little eyelet in the work – very pretty)

Row 8 K1, *yf, k1* rep to end

Cast off 20 sts at the beginning of the next 6 rows, then cast off remaining stitches. I knitted all 6 rows.


At this point the work looks a little strange, but it soon takes shape. I worked a row of running stitch along the cast on edge of the rose and pulled tight to make the flower.

Voila one knitted rose.


Let me know if you make any, and let me know if the pattern makes sense!

Clare x

I am very excited today to let you know about a little purchase I made yesterday. Well, it’s not often I buy myself anything and I really couldn’t wait till April. So I went shopping and bought myself a new camera.


I am now the very proud owner of a LUMIX FS10 Panasonic Camera. It’s lovely. I can’t wait to learn to use it properly. I have a little play last night and look what I did!

This is a little rose that I knitted. I have never knitted a flower before, so thought I would give this one a go. My Mum used to make these when I was little, so she showed me what to do.


I will write the pattern up so you can give it a try. It’s very easy and I learnt something new when making this. Which is always a good thing!

This is the crochet blanket I have been working on and off, more off for my friend’s 50th. I am hoping to finish this over the weekend and deliver it next week.

And this is the current work on the needles a beanie style hat to be embroidered with our DJS logo. A bit boring I know it’s for a member of the DJS Team to wear when he is working in France at a lake.



I took these pics last night so my little camera did well. I also took about 100 pics of the kids now I just have to learn to edit them with the software, so looking forward to trying that out.

Hopeyou all have a great weekend and I will try to post the kintted rose pattern over the next few days.

Clare x

Knitting

Hello!!!!  I'm a little excited about today's post.  I have finally after many many many attempts become a knitter!  Yes folks it's official.  My Mum has asked me to make something for her.  This from my Mum is something because she is the best knitter I know!

I have been busy making baby hats.  This all started when I came across a beautiful baby hat by crochet with raymond and as I have my very own little baby I thought I better make one.  Well I couldn't stop the whole family has them now and people keep asking me to make hats for them too!

Well Alice has posted many beautiful knitted and crochet tutorials so I had a go at her teapot cozy and that is what my Mum has asked me to make.  So her4e are a few pics to show you what I have been up to. 

My camera has really had it so I am using a really old one and well I just don't like it and I don't think it likes me very much. 

Perhaps I will get my own camera for my Birthday - but I have to wait for April for that!

Thanks for visiting

Clare x

Taxing times and a giveaway at Patchworkdelights !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hello my lovelies

Oh what a week last week and the start of this was about the same.

I have just filed the companies tax return - I think I used up every spare minute I had and even managed to feed and enter numbers at the same time!  

I attended my friends funeral yesterday - cancer and she was only 37.  Rest in Peace Sophie you will be greatly missed.

I have been busy knitting hats and am now enjoying crocheting some flowers pics will follow soon.

I am going to be very busy making birthday pressies and cards over the next few weeks - so watch this space.

News of a giveaway - just go and enter

Patchworkdelights giveaway

Well off to wash up grab a shower and then baby stuff till about 10.30 when he drifts off to sleep.

Night all

Clare x

Doilies

There are so many creative ideas buzzing away in my brain to the point where I can't wait to try new things and put little ideas together and make lovely things for my home.  I must stop stop stop and slow slow down or I might burst with excitement.

My mum has also knitted and crocheted, many years ago she had her own wool shop in London and her and another lady, her longest friend both made and designed crochet dresses for the London Palladium.  I love hearing their stories.  They both tell me know that with eyesight going and arthritis coming, they cannot do the intricate patterns and detail anymore.  Which is such a shame so my mum sticks to knitting for her grandchildren or crochet granny squares. 

However, my mum over the years has made some really beautiful doilies - not that I appreciated them until recently and wow, what can I say I have the bug.  I started last night and have made 5 already.  The last one I used two stands of fine cotton at once and dropped it in the leftover coffee this morning and hey presto have a vintage look doily.  I cannot tell you how chuffed I am with this!

Now I need to do something with them - I thought I might embellish some clothing I have a rather lovely denim vintage jacket which would look lovely with one.  My apron maybe?  The possibilities are endless.  My mum has a crochet doily cushion cover she made years ago so I may have to try one of those.  I cant cant cant wait.

All this and moving bedrooms around.  We are moving into the larger room which used to be my partner's dad's room.  He passed away just over a year ago and my little man will be moving into our present room which will in turn free up the littlest room for a nursery once again.  So my better half is going to be very busy over the next few weeks.  There will be painting to be done, curtains to be made - a bed cover to finish and I think a dressing table doily set will be in order.

Have a lovely Thursday everyone.

Clare x