Thursday 28 February 2013

The Cat Cushion

I realised last weekend that February was quickly coming to an end and it is one of my good friend's birthday on the 1st March. I have promised the fella that I will not buy any more wool until the big pile of oddments in the wool box has gone down so I went looking for a pattern that would be cool for my friend and use up some of my wool.

I have loads of very nice pattern books (thanks to many birthday and Christmas presents from people I know) and decided to knit her a cat cushion from my Pet Heaven book by Sally Muir and Joanne Osborne as she has a couple of cats. This was one of the first pattern books that I got and it has loads of great patterns in it.



The cushion was much bigger than I expected so it is lucky that I had Monday to Wednesday off work and I think I knitted about 6-8 hours for all 3 days to get it done- but I think it's worth it. The back of the cushion should have been just black, but I didn't have any black wool left so made it stripey, I think it looks nice and retro.

I sent it to her today- really hope she likes it! My next task is to finish the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles scarf I have started and then whip up a couple of wise men.

Saturday 16 February 2013

One Wise Man.



Last year my friend asked me if I can knit her a Nativity Scene. For Christmas I knitted her Mary, Joseph and Baby Jesus. For her birthday in April I decided to knit her the Wise Men, so I can do the rest for Christmas 2013 and she can have the whole scene.



I have a few Nativity knitting patterns but I have been using Jean Greenhowe's Christmas Special Book. I got the book from Ebay like most of my patterns.



 

I have until April to do the other two wise men so I think I may do a bit more on my snooker jumper before I get cracking on the next one.
 
I hope you like him!!
 

Saturday 9 February 2013

Sexy Beard and Muff

This is my sister modelling the muff I made her last week and the beard I knitted for Christmas. Sexy?
 
 
 

Friday 8 February 2013

Retro

 I have been getting a bit excited on EBay recently. Originally a snooker jumper pattern book caught my eye and I have started the 147 one (with green instead of grey background) as my first ever jumper. I have done the back and just started the pattern on the front. I am doing it in it's smallest size (for about a 2 year old) so a friend's child will get the pleasure of it when done (if wearable).

I have also bought a Forever Friends jumper pattern and an amazing Postman Pat knitting book. The Postman Pat is great. Has 4 jumper patterns, hat, scarf and mittens and a couple of soft toys. Lots of Christmas presents for the small people I know will come from this book.

There is a Thomas the Tank Engine pattern book I am desperate for, but waiting to grab it on EBay cheaper. I know some little boys who love Thomas at the moment. Can't wait to post some pictures of the finished products.

Sunday 3 February 2013

The Muff

I have been thinking about starting a knitting blog for some time, I like knitting and I wanted somewhere to share my masterpieces! Most of my works of art are a bit wonky and I am sure most of my friends and family are getting fed up of receiving my little knitted presents, but I enjoy it so they will have to get used to it.

On Thursday my sister asked me on Facebook if I can knit her a muff?!? Well, after questioning what kind of muff she wanted it seems that she wanted a hand warmer and not a knitted version of some lady parts (If you know my sister you'd realise that she could have been asking for the lady bits- she asked for a knitted beard for Christmas). I had a little look for patterns on the Internet but couldn't find anything of interest so decided it was easy enough to do without a pattern. I chose a dark green chunky wool and a greeny yellow eyelash yarn that I have been trying to use up for months. I used 7mm needles and cast on 26 stitches. I didn't measure how long I made it- just enough to fit hands in. I didn't know if she wanted straps or not so I decided to make them detachable with little buttons. I used a thin waxed yarn with 4 cast on stitches. Once again I didn't measure it, just used my own neck as a gauge.

I'm really chuffed with the results. I need to send it to my sister so I will let you know what she thinks.
My next project is the front of a jumper I have started to make. I have found some amazing retro jumper patterns and want to do them all, if I get cracking they'll make some great Christmas presents.