Oliver Boliver

Meet Tabitha - a free kitty pattern!

I hate throwing things away. I just can't bear it. There's always a chance that It could be useful at some point in the future and I will be Very Glad that I didn't get rid of it. Knitting just makes my hoarder nature worse. I have never used up the entire skein or ball for a project and so there's always half a hank here or 15g of sock yarn there. I look at the tiny insignificant ball of yarn and see a rose tinted promise of projects to come. However, I can, hand on heart, say that I Have Never Used Up Those Tiny Bits of Yarn.

That is, until now.

This was the premise that I began to design Tabitha. I had a sacred tiny ball of sock yarn left over from my recent Knit Love club socks and had the desire to use up every last precious scrap. (Of course I no longer have any spare yarn for fixing any holes but I'll deal with that crisis another day!). So far I've knitted her in 4ply, DK and Aran/Worsted weights and I can't decide which I like the most. I've noted a list of approximate yarnages and sizings below as it's too dull to pop in the middle of a blog post. ;)

She's knitted in the round and her ears are knitted directly to her head. In fact the only sewing you need to do is to attach her paws and tail in place. Simple! And, best of all, because you're only using tiny amounts of left over yarn, not only will you finish her in the space of an evening or two, you're going to start wading through all those tiny tangled balls of forgotten stash, putting them to good use.

Your knitting bag will never be the same again.

You can download her for free at Ravelry. Just click here for the link to the pattern. Please also join the Oliver Boliver group on Ravelry and show us your finished Tabithas (or Tom Cats). If you add Tabitha to you projects page we can build up a list of all the different yarns used for her. I can't wait to see her in lots of different yarn weights and colourways.

She's already in the Hot Right Now patterns on Ravelry at number 13 and considering Knitty's spring and summer collection was only released a few days ago that's Very Exciting! 

I am a very happy little birthday bunny!

Enjoy! xx

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4ply Tabitha 

- Sokkusu Original in Thunder & Blazes approx 12g/44m

- 2.25mm needles

- 10 cm high

 

DK Tabitha

- Manos Del Uruguay Silk Blend in Orion - approx 15g/41m

- 3.25mm needles

- 14cm high

 

Aran/Worsted Tabitha (pic to follow)

- Artesano Aran in Deep Teal - approx 50g/66m

- 4.5mm needles

- 20cm high

 

Please do allow a few extra grams/metres in case your tension is a little looser than mine

 

Sock Fest (No Spoilers)

I joined Socktopus' Knit Love Club as a little Christmas treat to myself and I am such a happy knitter having done so! I've knitted lots and lots of things over the years and I love the challenges that knitting presents even after years of doing, principally, the same thing. I realise I can knit without joining a club but I wanted a 'look forward to' and element of surprise that being a member of a club brings. I was also excited about the challenge of learning some new techniques. Every day's a school day, or so they say.

Essentially, the club involves 6 hanks/skeins of hand dyed Sokkusu O in surprise colours and 2 patterns per hank delivered at about the same time, every 2 months across 2012. It's very cloak and dagger for the first few weeks of receiving the yarn and pattern and spoiler shields must be used on your Ravelry projects page to keep the yarn colour and pattern a secret. It's ok to post pictures of your yarn and WIPs behind the shield though. Phew!

Spoiler Shield for Knit Love Club Projects

I was so excited to find my silvery packet of yarn delivered at the beginning of February and even put the kettle on and made a ceremonious cup of tea before I opened it. It was like being a child at Christmas I can tell you! The pattern was delivered a few hours later through Ravelry and I couldn't wait to cast on! I had a serious case of startisus and immediately shelved my Mr Tumble socks which I'd been knitting for Alex. (He understands. He has the same approach to girlfriends! Teenagers, eh?!)

Mr Tumble socks, shelved for the moment...

The Club yarn is so lovely although I would say not quite my colours of choice. If you haven't knitted with Sokkusu O before it's really worth trying. It's feels really slick to knit with and has a lovely sheen and fantastic stitch definition. The knitted fabric created is lovely and soft although I'm thinking durable enough to handle the hardwearing punishment that socks require. The proof of the pudding will be in the wearing, of course.

I'm just finishing the second sock now and have been hooked with the pattern from the start. It's tricky enough to keep you on your toes but sufficiently repeats itself so you can fall into a rhythm even watching tv. And to boot I've learned to make a different style cuff to my usual 2 x 2 rib and a new stitch, perfect for variegated yarns.

I won't spoil the surprise by posting pics here but you can see the yarn and pattern on my projects page under Fanque's Circus Sock if you like. Even Mr C is coveting them. And we all know that the way to Mr C's heart is with a pair of hand knitted socks. Just not this pair.

xx

Layering Shrug

I managed to cast on Juju Vail's Layering Shrug last weekend and after a bit of false start, having misread the chart, I am nearly through the first sleeve!

 

Let me assure you that the false start was nothing to do with the pattern, which is very simply written, just my overeagerness to go as quickly as possible and misread a purl row for a knit row in the easy peasy chart. School boy error, I know and I could've gotten away with it but I know that I would've cursed it every time I wore it. So after 2 days of knitting, I ripped the whole thing back and started again.

Mr C watched me in disbelief, asking "Are you actually enjoying this project?".

Me:"Of course" (lying through gritted teeth)

The pattern is worked from side to side with no seams or grafting and the lace is fairly straightforward, even for a novice lace knitter. I love that I was quickly able to memorise the lace pattern after a few repeats which means it's very portable. The sleeves are worked in the round and it starts with a provisional cast on so you'll need to fight off any reluctance to air your crochet hook!  One size fits most, says the pattern and it looks from the gauge that the DK version will be a little looser and longer in the body than the laceweight version.

 
Image courtesy of Juju Vail

I'm knitting mine in BC Garn's Allino in a charcoal/green and beige colour. The yarn has a two coloured effect to it - which I'm sure has a technical name but it escapes me. It's a cotton/linen mix and is perfect for summer. I'm planning on teaming it with a vest and a pair of jeans or maybe even my long linen shorts (once I get back into them - ahem!).

I must confess that it's the first garment I've ever knitted for myself which isn't more than a pair of gloves or scarf so I'm a little nervous as to how it's going to look on me (especially as I'm no where near as skinny as the beautiful model in the picture). However, I'm sure it'll be perfect for chucking over my shoulders on a cool evening and the final fit shouldn't matter too much. If you fancy knitting it too or have knitted it already do please leave a comment below and together we can have a collective moan hopefully followed by a joyful ta-dah moment!

The pattern is available for free through Loop's blog. You must beware of all the beautiful yarns in Loop's online boutique yarn shop lying in wait to tempt you though! I just want to pet some of them!

Enjoy!

Pen x

On the needles...

It's a lovely long bank holiday coming up and I'd planned to do some 'me' knitting. (Me knitting = selfish knitting = happy wife and mother - you know how these things are!) I've been mulling over knitting myself a cardigan of some sort over the last few weeks and these were the hot favourites.....

Cropped Cardigan by Amy O'Neill Houck

 

 

Wispy Cardigan by Hannah Fettig

Both of which I love and the yarns suggested are scrumptious. However I'd probably need to add some length to both as I'm no where near as skinny as the models and I'm under no illusions that if I knit them as is I'd look like a fish on a bicycle! So, wanting some easy-peasy-just-follow-the-pattern knitting I came across this through my mis-spent time on Twitter....

 

Layering Shrug by Juju Vail

Isn't it gorgeous? The best thing is that it's knitted using a DK weight yarn and 4mm needles so it should whizz off the needles! I'd planned to make it in the same colours as I love the muted colours of charcoal and beige but unfortunately Loop have all sold out of these colours.

 
Image courtesy of Loop

However the beauty of the internet shone through yesterday and whilst googling the yarn, BC Garn's Allino I came across 2 German LYS's. The first, unfortunately, had sold out of the colours I wanted but the second Woll Werkstatt not only had it in stock but confirmed shipping today! Yippee!

The only problem is that because of the lovely long bank holiday weekend and there being nill post on Friday I'm not going to be able to start until next week! Oh well, at least I can knit my way through the flipping Royal Wedding!

Happy knitting and have a lovely bank holiday- whatever you're getting up to!

Pen x

Round Up

This week I've been mostly:

1. Starting a new blanket - this time in pinks..... I love crocheting blankets so much; I even wake up thinking about it. (Did I say that out loud?)

 

2. Wishing I could start my gaptastic cowl with this lovely soft thick yarn.

 

 

3. Received some Addi Click cables in the post following another bout of internet yarn and notion shopping but no Addi Click needles. Apparently they are to follow in another 2 or even 3 weeks which means I can't start knitting my cowl until they arrive. Arghhhhhhhhhhhhh!

4. Cursing about receiving part orders (see 2&3)!!

5. Finished my 2 Arthur the Aliens in Cascade 220. I got there in the end and I rather like the blue one.

 

6. Practicing for my piano lesson which resumes next week after a few weeks grace to get over the shock of having a baby. I must admit I've not even touched one key for weeks so I'm expecting a bit of an ear bashing from my lovely teacher! Or rather it will be her ears that get a bashing as I strangle her concert pitch Yamaha.

 

6. Trimming my step son's Chinese Elm bonsai since he thinks, like his dirty washing magically appearing in the wash basket, that he doesn't need to do anything to it.

7. In disbelief it's nearly the middle of February already and March is only 2 weeks away. I'll be knitting flipping Christmas ornaments in less than no time. At least my cowl should be finished by then......

Pen x

A little festive crafting

 
 
I started knitting these cute little stockings ages ago with the best intentions that I was going to string them up, fill them with chocolate M&S goodies and make the kids a homemade advent calendar. It's now the 10th and I've still got another 5 to go so I don't think it's going to make the grade this year. Thankfully Gran saved the day with her traditional non-chocolate nativity scene advent calendar and Ollie is too young to know all about the badness that is really the goodness of a daily chocolatey treat in the countdown to Christmas.

Alex and Sarah are old enough to know when to pick their battles and have been dropping heavy hints about the promises made earlier in the year to make them some alpaca knitted socks. So having been distracted by my recent Attic 24 granny stripe blanket in readiness for the baby I've decided to add a little crocheted hanging loop to each one and will pop them on the tree complete with chocolate goodies instead. At least that way I can steal some chocolate out of them without feeling too much like a slummy mummy! 

The stockings are by Julie Williams at Little Cotton Rabbits and they are absolutely delightful!  I knitted mine using Rowan Pure Wool in 4ply and used 2.5mm needles, primarily because I couldn't find my other 2.75mm needle (I really must have a tidy up before the baby arrives!). I even planned on doing a little reindeer motif too but alas I ran out of time which was a shame. I'll keep the graph paper scribbles and if I get a spare moment between now and the big day I might see if I can knit one up.

 
 
I also started making some Attic 24 crocheted snowflakes way back in October. I started going a bit bonkers (although Mr C would say bit bonkers is an understatement!) and was even making them in the car whilst waiting for Sarah after school. It felt like I'd made at least a hundred! Hmm - at my last count I think there are 11! Oh well! I can't decide whether I'm going to pop them on the tree or hang them in the kitchen windows.... Choices, choices... Maybe if I make a few more, then I can do both!

 
 
Sarah's crazy choice of sock wool (middle right) has finally made it on to the needles and I'm hoping that this project at least will make it onto Father Christmas' sleigh. She's asked for them to be long in the leg so she can wear them with her short Uggs so fingers crossed there will be enough wool in the 150g skein the Artesano Hummingbird comes in.

I've also promised Oliver a cute pair of dino gloves for Christmas. How cute are these? 

 

The wool has arrived and there's still 15 days left to Christmas and I suspect there will be tears if they don't make it on FC's sleigh.... No pressure eh?

Right - off to trim the tree; now, where did I put those snowflakes??!!!

Pen x

Free Knitting Pattern for Frog Hat for Innocent Smoothies Big Knit

As promised I've converted my crochet froggy hat pattern into a knitted version and have popped it onto a page so it's easier to find next time. He's pretty straightforward to make and should only use up scraps of yarn you have lurking in your stash. Enjoy!!

Now - what to make next......

Free Pattern - Frog Hat for Innocent Smoothie Big Knit 2010

I've just added a new page for a crochet frog hat. I'll be adding a knitted version soon so watch this space..! I hope you like him. As with the other patterns it is easily adapted to make an egg cosy just by adding a few extra rows.

Enjoy!

 

Free Crochet and Knitting Patterns for Big Knit 2010 - Innocent Smoothie Hats - Kiwi Hats

I've just added a page to my free pattern index containing a crochet and knitting pattern for a Kiwi Hat. I'm having a few problems in uploading pics but you can see them on Ravelry and hopefully I'll sort out my blog problems shortly! I hope you like them!

 

 

 

The Big Knit 2010 - Innocent Smoothies

I received an email from Innocent yesterday confirming that the Big Knit is on again this year!

 

The task is simple - knit or crochet as many cute hats as possible and send them by Friday 15th October to:

The Big Knit
Fruit Towers
1 The Goldhawk Estate
Brackenbury Road
London
W6 0BA

The hats will be displayed on small sized smoothie bottles which will be for sale in Boots and Sainsbury during November.

There is a selection of patterns on the homepage for the Big Knit or you could make up your own. There is a weekly competition for the best hat which is on their blog. I am hoping to get busy with my needles and thinking cap and will post some free original patterns here too and also on Ravelry. Watch this space!!

They are aiming for 800,000 hats which will raise £200,000 for Age UK (previously Age Concern) and it will take the total raised by the Big Knit, first started in 2003, to £1m!

So what are you waiting for!!

I'd love to hear how you get on!!!