New pattern - Pompom Boot Toppers

Just released - my latest pattern which is for Pompom Boot Toppers!

This is an easy knitting pattern which uses a single 100gram skein of aran-weight Perran Yarn - shown in Merino Fleck Aran in shade 'Blackcurrant Sorbet' but any aran-weight yarn with the required yardage will work.

Which way do you prefer your pompoms - at the front, back or sides?!

Priced at just £2, the pattern is available in my Ravelry store, and you can also buy it here!

Back to the dye pot!

In the run-up to Christmas every spare moment was filled with craft fairs and preparation for them. My trusty dye pot sat forlornly on the shelf, and I was itching to get back to it!

Now that we're firmly in 2013, I have time to replenish my hand-dyed Perran Yarn stocks. Only a small amount of time, but regular. Here's the first lot for this year.

I've gone for more of the deliciously soft chunky baby alpaca. It soaks up the colour beautifully, so what better shade to go for than Teal Temptation!

The only downside that I've found is that this is an incredibly difficult shade to photograph accurately! 

I've learned quite a lot about GIMP from the last few hours spent playing around with hue, saturation, brightness, and contrast settings.

This yarn also looks fabulous when knitted or crocheted; for example just 1 skein of it makes my Tassel Stitch Button Cowl pattern. 

If you prefer something different but not sure what, take a look at the many options here on Ravelry!

A hairband bonanza!

Right - the crochet spiderweb hairband pattern is now in my Etsy shop as well as on Ravelry.

Now to write up my other 2 crochet hairband patterns - the Lattice Tie and the Trellis Button!

 
Then it's time for a multibuy offer on my patterns I think...

Pattern writing

I'm starting to write up more of my own patterns to sell in my Etsy shop and on Ravelry - it's a time-consuming process!

I have completed the first one this evening, for the crochet spiderweb hairband. I have made this so many times, with and without beads, and it looks great every time!

The pattern will soon be available on Etsy but for now you can purchase it (and instantly download it) on Ravelry.

Happy 2nd Birthday Sophie!

Today is my little niece Sophie's birthday - she's 2 years old!

I won't get to see her but we sent a parcel of goodies including

Sophie's present - a sweet little poncho as requested by her mum.

I first knitted one of these for her sister Sara two years ago - she's still wearing it and apparently the girls were arguing over it, with Sophie deciding that she wants it for herself!

Her mum asked for a pink and green combination so it's different to Sara's but still co-ordinates with the vast quantities of pink clothing that Sophie has.

I used a combination of Sirdar Summer Stripes and Stylecraft Special Twirl DK yarns knitted together for the bosy, with Sirdar New Fizz for the edging and the Summer Stripes yarn for the flowers around the neckline.

Full details can be found in Ravelry, but I'll include the pattern here too:

Use Summer Stripes and Special Twirl yarn together throughout on 7mm needles.

1. Cast on 3 sts
2. Inc 1, knit to end
3. Repeat 2 until 80 sts
4. Knit 27, cast off 26, knit 27
5. Knit 27, cast on 26, knit 27
6. K2tog, knit to end
7. Repeat 6 until 3sts remain
8. Cast off
9. Crochet around neck edge with double yarns
10. Crochet around outer edge with New Fizz yarn
11. Crochet flowers with Summer Stripes yarn and sew around neckline

All done!

Lining a bag - sewing for dummies!

I do have a sewing machine but I rarely use it. Most of the sewing I do is darning tears, re-sewing split seams, re-attaching buttons, etc.

But I have this crochet bag - worked from the pattern I have for sale in my Etsy shop.

I love the bag - the weight, size, colours, etc, but I don't use it. It flops about quite a lot and I always intended to line it. Well finally I got round to it! 

I had chosen some gorgeous patchwork cotton to use months ago. I had matching thread, so here's how I did it.

First I made a couple of very rough paper templates from a sheet of paper from the recycling. 

One template for the front/back, and one for the side/base. 

I used this to cut my fabric.

I pinned, tacked, then seamed the sides to the base. 

Then pinned, tacked & seamed the front to the sides & base, and repeated for the back. 

The corners were tricky, and are not the neatest things in the world, but they're never going to be seen, so I figure there are worse things in life. :)

I put the liner inside the bag so I knew how far down to pin the top hem. 

I sewed around the top, then hand-sewed the lining into the bag. 


Done - easily, since I could manage it! 

Hopefully I'll get to use the bag now.

Dizzy Mitts

I love coming up with new designs and making them into saleable patterns. I've promised myself that I would do it many times of the last few years, but rarely got round to doing it.

I am getting better at it though. Now when I tinker about with a new project, I make the odd scribble in my knitting notepad. 

If I like the finished item, I fill it out, print it, and then try making it again from my pattern. 

Usually after a couple of revisions we have a couple of finished items and a new pattern too - bonus!

Earlier this week I listed a new pair of Dizzy Twist fingerless mitts in my Etsy shop. I have knitted them using the fabulous Debbie Bliss Fez yarn - a wonderfully cosy and soft merino/camel blend yarn.

I have sensitive skin, prone to eczema, but this yarn gives me no problems at all - in fact it feels wonderful!

Now the Dizzy Mitts pattern pdf is available to buy in my shop too, so you can have the joy of knitting your own.

Alternative yarns you could use are Sirdar Click Aran, Cascade 220 Superwash, etc - any aran/worsted weight yarn with a minimum of 100 metres length.

I'd love to hear of any other good yarn alternatives - and see any pics of your finished Dizzy Mitts!