Swedish Style Crochet Heart

This sweet little crochet project was found on Penelope's lovely blog 'L is four Love' in her post here. You can find the link for the translated instructions from the Swedish via Penelope's post or click here to go to Yarn Around Hook. I used some left over Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino in shade # 700 with a size 4mm crochet hook. This was just a trial of the pattern so I was quite glad to use the larger hook, I couldn't quite make the picot edge work so there's some improvisation going on there. It's about 12 cm (5 inches) excluding the hanging loop. Will give this pattern a try with a smaller hook next time to make it less floppy, or wash with some starch, the heart wants to keep folding over when hung on the wall in it's current format.

Indie Circular Scarf Instructions

Indie Circular Scarf Instructions

To download free printable instructions click here PDF Instructions.

About
This chunky circular scarf is knitted in the round in ‘moss stitch’ giving a patterned woven texture. Very quick and easy to make with super bulky yarn and large circular needles. No loose ends to get tangled.

Size and gauge
Approximately 60 cm (24 inches long) x 17 cm (7 inches) wide . Gauge approx.8 stitches over 10 rows.

Skills required
Cast on, cast off, knit, purl stitches.

Materials
x3 50g balls Sirdar Indie #155 129m (141 yds)
10 mm (US 15) 60 cm long but no more than 100cm circular knitting needles
Blunt tapestry needle for weaving in ends, spare yarn for marker.

Instructions
o Cast on 95 stitches using size 10 mm (US 15) circular needles.

o Place maker, be sure to start with all stitches in line inside the ‘ring’ and not twisted –
see picture below.

o Knitting will be ‘joined in the round’ in ‘moss stitch’ (it is important to have the odd
number of stitches to make the moss stitch).

o Row 1: Knit 1, *purl 1, knit 1. Repeat from * to marker. Repeat this round 23 times.

o Cast off. Weave in all loose ends with blunt tapestry needle.

o TIP. Join new balls at or near the marker, this will be the centre back of the scarf and
will help keep all woven ends to this area.

http://www.handknittedthings.co.uk

Text and Graphics © Julia Marsh - Hand Knitted Things 2010
This pattern is for personal, non commercial use.
It may not be sold in full or in part, and products made using this pattern may not be sold.

Prairie Colour Mix

Prairie Colour Mix

I'm testing this super chunky yarn from Sirdar called Indie. It's very light and lofty with a thin thread wound around the loosely spun fibres. It's a 51% wool and 49 % acrylic mix and very soft. The colours in this shade Prairie #155 range from aqua blue, taupe, brown and green. The recommended needle size is 12mm (US17) but I'm using size 10 mm circulars for a tighter fabric.

I'm using moss stitch here which seems to work okay with the colour sequences. More pictures to come soon of the finished item...

Shades of Grey Finished

Shades of Grey Finished

Just finished this 'Shades of Grey' Holly Berry Shrug using Debbie Bliss's yarn 'Glen', mentioned in my previous post here. There are tonal changes throughout each ball of yarn from light to dark which, while attractive, needed some planning on the arm sections to avoid two different coloured sleeves.

Shades of Grey

Shades of Grey

Debbie Bliss's new yarn range 'Glen' is a blend of 30% fine alpaca, 30% merino wool and 40% acrylic. This chunky weight yarn in shades of grey from light to dark is very soft to the touch. The texture is light and lofty with a slight twist and has an appearance similar to hand spun. I'm using shades #02 and #01 with the later being the darker grey. The recommended needles size is 6.5mm (US10.5). I'm using size 9mm ( US 13) in the picture for a more open texture. This yarn comes in 50g balls and is 90 m in length. More pictures when the knitting is completed...

Pottage and Crumble

Pottage and Crumble...
are the interesting shade names for the green and red yarn from Louisa Harding's new range called 'Millais'. This cozy shrug is a new design from Hand Knitted Things - 'Holly Berry Shrug' knitting pattern details here.

Piano Gloves in Poppy Red

Piano Gloves in Poppy Red
A new addition to the colour range in these feminine fingerless gloves here. Also available as a pdf knitting pattern here.

Indian Summer

1. Cabane, 2. Dandelions look good, 3. Take a Break from everyday Life in Nature ... Vineyard Fall Colors - Landscape in Germany, 4. Forest flames, 5. vestige, 6. Faked indian summer, 7. All the leaves are brown, 8. Fall Afternoon, 9. Indian(a) Summer

Indian Summer
The trees are loosing leaves and changing colour. The mornings are cool and misty, the sun is low in the sky. We have a weekend forecast of fine warm weather.

Birch Tree Inspiration

1. Endless Grove, 2. Birch Bark Squares in the Sky, 3. Birch, 4. birch trees in chocolate, 5. The Birch Tree, 6. Birch Tree With Yellow Bird - Eco Felt Pillow, 7. Marimekko Fabric Panel, 8. little forest organic blanket by GreenThreadShop, 9. birch trees barcode

A Closer Look at Tweed

1. Coin Purse, 2. Traditional Knitted Fish of the North Sea - Harris Tweed Fish, 3. Harris Tweediness, 4. Vest Swatch, 5. Tip of the Tweed Iceberg, 6. Hand loom warp sheet, 7. Harris Tweed, Isle of Harris, 8. Irish tweed, 9. Harris Tweediness

A Closer Look at Tweed
Have been knitting with lots of lovely vibrant colours of tweed yarn recently. Here's a selection of tweed in various forms from flickr favourites.

Plum and White Chocolate Tray Bake

Plum and White Chocolate Tray Bake

Any recipe with white chocolate in the list of ingredients usually catches my eye. I thought I'd give this one a try, it's in the September 2010 edition of Country Homes and Interiors magazine.

75g butter
200g white chocolate
125g light muscavado sugar
3 medium eggs
175g self raising flour
250g ricotta cheese
65g castor sugar
1 egg yolk
1 tsp vanilla extract
300g plums stoned and cut into wedges

1. Preheat the oven to 190 c/375 f/ gas 5. Grease and line the base and sides of a shallow baking tin measuring about 28cm x 20cm. Break the white chocolate into pieces and melt with the butter.

2. In a separate bowl, beat together the muscavado sugar, whole eggs and flour to make a paste. Stir in the melted chocolate mixture. Spread into the prepared tin.

3. Beat the ricotta with the castor sugar, egg yolk and vanilla extract and spoon over the top of the chocolate mixture . Use the end of a round bladed knife to lightly marble the two mixtures together. Bake for 20 minutes.

4. Scatter the plums over the top and bake for a further 25 minutes until set in the centre. Leave to cool in the tin before cutting cutting into squares and serving.

Weekend Gloves

Knitted flat on straight needles in chunky weight yarn, these gloves are a quick knit project which can be completed over a weekend. Make longer for arm warmers or keep short for hand warmers. 

The pattern includes instructions for knitting gloves all in one piece with a thumb and separate pattern instructions for knitting with a sewn inset thumb as follows: 

• hand warmers all in one piece
• arm warmers all in one piece
• hand warmers with sewn in thumb
• arm warmers with sewn in thumb
• cable instructions

Weekend Gloves Pattern

Knitting skills

For the sewn in thumb option: cast on, cast off, knit, purl, knit two stitches together, cable forward.

For the all in one piece option: cast on, cast off, knit, purl, make one stitch, cable forward.

Suggested yarns

Stylecraft Alpaca Tweed Chunky x1 100g ball (makes one pair of arm warmers or two pairs of hand warmers)

Stylecraft Special Chunky x1 100g ball

Paintbox Yarns Simple Chunky x1 100g ball

You will need

x1 pair 6.5 mm needles
x1 cable needle ( or spare double point needle)
Blunt tapestry needle for sewing

Sizes

Hand Warmers
Fits small to medium women's hand
Size - 7" x 3.5" (18cm x 9cm)

Arm Warmers
Fit small to medium women's hand/arm
Size - approx.13" (33cm) long
Will fit approx. 7.5" (19 cm) circumference around knuckles.

The pattern prints out over 6 pages including the instructions for the cable stitch. 

Weekend Gloves Pattern

Handmade Autumn Mosaic

1. Dyed speilsau yarn, 2. Tea Towel Tour 5 for IamSusie, 3. Plaid Maple Leaf, 4. Autumn Leaves Pincushion, 5. Handmade Leaf Garland, 6. Autumn Scene - handmade punched oak leaves ~ 3 of 4 photos, 7. fall coasters, 8. Thanksgiving Cookies, 9. Closer

Knitting Wish List

Knitting Wish List
Here are some lovely knitting projects that I would like to make as gifts (or maybe just keep for myself)...I even have the yarn ready to go on this first one called...

...Little Cherry Blossoms Bag... by Lilibeth's Garden. A knitted and felted bag with embroidery detail. The pdf pattern is available to purchase here. The yarn I have is Cascade Yarns 220 Heathers colour # 9460 Dune Heather which is suggested in the pattern.

Next on the wish list to make are these...

French Press Felted Slippers by Melynda Bernardi. The pattern is available through her blog blogfrenchpressknits

And last but not least...
...Freyja by Ragga. A classic Icelandic woollen yoke sweater and is available to download free. The yarn kit is available to purchase from their site here.

Picot Edge Cast Off

Picot Edge Cast Off
This knitted edging makes a pretty finish for a feminine look.

1. To start - knit 2 stitches, pass first stitch over second stitch, as you would for a cast off stitch.
2. Pass the stitch from the right hand needle back over to the left hand needle.
3. Make two stitches onto the left hand needle by making backward loops.
4. Cast off four stitches.
Repeat instructions, 2, 3, 4 as required.

Ready to begin picot cast off edge.

1. Knit 2 stitches, pass first stitch over second stitch, as you would for a cast off stitch.

2. Pass the stitch from the right hand needle back over to the left hand needle.

3. Make two stitches onto the left hand needle by making backward loops.

Picture shows first stitch passed back onto left needle with the two new stitches made by backward loops.

4. Cast off four stitches

Continue instructions 2, 3, 4 as required.

Enjoy!

Red Around The Home

1. my country kitchen, 2. plates in display, 3. Olivier's big boy room, 4. corners of my home :: sitting room, 5. Clean playhouse, 6. vintage apron, 7. Constance Classic Caravan Interior, 8. Morning Sun on my Dresser, 9. Crocheted shelf edging

Cedar Leaf Shawlette

I managed to finish this knitting project last week on a very rainy in Scotland. Details about starting this pattern are here in an earlier blog post. 

This lovely pattern is from Never Not Knitting. The Cedar Leaf Shawlette is a crescent shaped little shawl which can be used as a wrap around scarf. I'm used DK Scrumptious from Fyberspates in colour VR 1280 - Green.

Olive and Latte Starburst

Recently completed colour combination in 'Starburst' crochet cover pattern. The green is in Sirdar Luxury Soft 100% Cotton shade 657 and the contrast is in Sirdar Juicy DK 80% bamboo ,20% cotton shade 423 - more details about the pattern here.

Autumn Leaves

This simple embroidery project came from a download pattern called Day Three Tree via the lovely website called Lollychops (and well worth a visit). The embroidery hoop I used is 18cm (7") diameter and the backing fabric is some preshrunk medium weight unbleached cotton. I used the tree template from the pattern but cut the leaves out free hand in wool felt, pinned everything into position, then used embroidery thread to sew on in running stitch. Where there was space I used some wool fibre to stuff the trunk and leaves to give some raised relief texture to the piece.

Vintage Inspired Crochet Cushion with Raspberry

I used a triangle motif shape from a book to design this cushion cover for myself. There are twelve individual pieces joined together with extra "flat " crochet around the circumference to give the required depth on this 18 inch diameter cushion. It's made in DK cotton with an improvised flower in the centre and button slip closure. Yes, the chair really is that bright pink raspberry colour. I have four of them! Not quite the colour I expected. The Dulux colour mixing card "Garnet Symphony 3" is a bit darker on the sample card. However, after four coats of paint ( 2 undercoat and 2 topcoat eggshell) and days of work, I'm keeping these re-purposed chairs as they are!