When was the last time you made a pom pom? Have you ever made one? Homemade with Love magazine has an article which tickled my twirly girlyness and so I thought... why not?! The more I thought about it the more I loved the idea and so did one of my daughters. We gathered some scraps of wool and together we created this...
Word: Happy or
Tuttifruity?
It's mainly her work but when her fingers got tired, I took over and at the end when it was time to snipping around the edge and tieing it... the cardboard ripped and it nearly exploded on me. So by shear determination, inner swearing and a sweat on my brow I fudged it and managed to hold it together. I breathed a sigh of relief as it had taken allot of hard work to make. Tip: use strong card when making large pom poms. Word: Happy or Tuttifruity? I'm going to make some more... why? For a pom pom blossom festival of course! Yes, but why?... I hear you cry again. At the end of the project, all pom poms will be sold to raise money for charity. Read the blog on the previous link and you'll see why. On a more personal note, for me, it's about connecting with other pom pom people (smile), creating something larger than it's smaller parts and yet each small part is an important part of the whole. It's about sparking an idea with a 'word', what does the word mean to you? It's contemplation, creation for creation sakes (and not for vanity or to line our own pockets) with strangers and with loved ones if you so wish. Pom poms rock!
I must say, once I got thinking about the projects in the Homemade with Love mag, I wanted to make alsorts! Inspirational. I've just finished decorating my living room and am seriously thinking of using the 50's scientific stencil for my kitchen (maybe with blue walls). It would work perfectly. I'm also wanting to use felt for some sewing projects too as that would be a great start for a beginner hand sewer. I haven't got a sewing machine so the Flower Girl Hoop project is another possibility (though I may choose an illustration to suit my mood). I love the washi tape article... some other designs can be found here and here oh and here. Oh the possibilities! But I best get some of my other projects finished first.
I'm presently making a baby blanket to measure 18" x 24" for charity. I didn't know where to start. I searched and searched for alsorts of patterns and nothing really clicked with me (or was the right size) so whilst flicking through The Knitting Answer Book by Rita Taylor, I came across instructions on how to do Domino knitting. With this in mind and 2 donated balls of wool... one cream, one white I decided to alternate the colours for each square made. With a set of 3mm needles and the double knit yarn, I made a start...
I've calculated 5 squares across, 7 squares up will work and with a moss stitch edge to make it up to the correct size will complete the blanket nicely. It's definitely one for doing whilst telly watching or having a good natter to (craft groups are ideal). I will include full instructions in my next blog.
Another project under way is a pair of socks. I picked up some double knit yarn (£2.59 for 100g) which is self striping, found an excellent free beginners pattern at Canadian Living and I made my very first sock...
and the decreases in the toe
If knitting with dpn's are new, just make sure you divide the stitches as instructed, pull taught/close between each needle (comfortably not like you're strangling a cat... not that I would strangle anything but you know what I mean), and for the toe the following youtube clip will help you in the kitchener/grafting stitch (I was mighty impressed with how mine turned out). There is a little mistake in the instructions which states....
Rnd 1: First needle: Knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. 2nd needle: K1, sl1, k1, psso, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. 3rd needle: K1, sl1, k1, psso, knit to end of needle. Knit.
Rnd 2: Rep last 2 rnds 4(4,5,5) times more. 5 sts now on first needle, 10 sts now on 2nd needle, 5 sts now on 3rd needle. Knit sts from first needle onto 3rd needle. Break yarn approx 30 cm/11-3/4 ins from last st.
MY CORRECTION
TO SHAPE TOE:
Rnd 1: First needle: Knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. 2nd needle: K1, sl1, k1, psso, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. 3rd needle: K1, sl1, k1, psso, knit to end of needle.
Round 2: Knit.
Rep last 2 rnds 4(4,5,5) times more. 5 sts now on first needle, 10 sts now on 2nd needle, 5 sts now on 3rd needle. Knit sts from first needle onto 3rd needle. Break yarn approx 30 cm/11-3/4 ins from last st.
As you can see it's just a simple mis-type of where the 'knit' goes.
Just pick up a cheap ball of wool, some dpn's and give it a go!
My 3rd project is another pullover, slightly more complicated than my last and this is definitely for me! Another pattern from Simply Knitting which can be found on The Making Spot by Amanda Jones. I got a little bit scared about button holes but after placing a query on the Ravelry Simply Knitting group, Amanda Jones helped me out and from that I was able to figure out that I could make the jacket with 6 buttonholes instead of the 5. I've also chosen a much cheaper yarn... it cost me £10 for 800g... is that wrong? I don't know but it seems to be working out...
Oh my such allot to do. I've also enrolled in a Craftsy course on how to design jumpers. Looks fab. So when I can make the time, I will be creating my ideas onto paper and taking it from there. It was a birthday treat in February. My daughter made me an on-line voucher for me to spend how I pleased. Sweet!
I will now end with a story about a badge... or rather the story behind a badge. It has been made my Dean Bradshaw, who, with enthusiasm and a bundle of care about a boat called 'Framar London' hopes to raise some funds to maintain and make repairs to a 1930's boat.
Even if it's not your thing, I was moved by how much this means to Dean and how much he wants to share the skill, workmanship and care with others. Such allot is meant by a little badge which he has crafted himself. You can check out his blog on http://ourlittleship.blogspot.co.uk/ and if you need to check out the youtube clips, you can mute the music on the right side widget (though it suits the style of the boat).
I hope not to leave it so long until my next blog and maybe make more bitesize pieces rather than a large chunk like this. Catch ya later alligators.
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