Baby booties, yet again.

I'm not the best of knitters and I've attempted some years ago simple booties in moss stitch. The free pattern is available here.

 

Moss stitch is not difficult, it is very regular and has a great finish.

The only issue is that I'm really bad at reading my knitting. It is a bit like Braille to me as a fully-sighted person.

 

However thank to great friends setting up a knitting evening, I picked it up and finished it!

The finished size is big enough for my 8 month-old nephew who is now the proud owner of moss-stitch booties with Mexican buttons. He doesn't really care but his mum founds them very cute.

 

The pattern is great up until the putting together phase. These are my two additional tips:
1. Do remember the corners you've formed are to be stitched on top of each other. The rounded part of the corners should be facing downwards.
2. Remember to do a left and a right foot.

Tutorial: Snuggly apples

I love sewing. It is creative, fabrics provide an unlimited play-field and one can make a whole outfit in a matter of hours.
However, I've always been very impressed by knitters. The agility and dexterity it takes to knit is amazing.
Next to this comes crochet. My mum is an avid "crochet-ress" and finds it very easy.

I stumble upon pictures of apples snuggled into crocheted cozies. One might thought "why would you do that?" or "what is it for?" I'd answer because I can and because it is fun.

The aim is not to make thousands of cosies, even if a late night discussion with a friend when onto hypothesising making cosies for bananas, which really need protection, with pon-pons.

This apple cosy project is very easy and can uses up yarn left-overs. It

• chain 6
• close the loop
• do a single crochet until you've covered up your loop. The place where you end your loop and where the tail of the start of your work can be seen is the mark for the start of each row.
• Let's start increasing the width of your spiral: do two single crochet into each space created by the previous row
• do a row of single crochet
• Now depending on the curvature of your apple, you might only want to only increase 1 out of 3 single crochets
• do a row of single crochet
• to create the opening, instead of keeping the spiral going, stop at the marker of the start of the next row and turnaround
• to create the button hole, chain to cover the width of the button you'd like to use
• secure the yarn
• stitch the button

Enjoy!

Wooly ball pattern (Tutorial)

I started to knit about 6 months ago. I thought I would behave and follow patterns for a while. Oops I did it again...

The ball is made up of 12 knitted triangles, knitted two by two. I also used leftover fabric to fill the ball. I used scraps of wool. 

The pattern is übber simple:

1. Cast on 10 stiches
2. **Stitch 10
3. Cast off 2, stitch 6, cast off 2
4. Stitch 6
5. Cast off 2, stitch 3, cast off 2
6. Stitch 3
7. Cast off 2, stitch 1
8. Stitch 2
9. Cast off 2 and finish off the last stitch**
10. Pick up 10 stitches from the bottom of the triangle and repeat steps ** to **.

10. Pick up 10 stitches at the bottom of the triangle

Once the two triangles are done, repeat 10 times. 

Once all the pannels are ready, stitch them together with a wool needle. I used a crochet to hide the ends on the inside of the ball.

Before closing off the ball, stuff it.

Pannel stitch on

 To start with I made this ball for the cat. He agreed to pose for the picture but refuses to play or even look at it. He goes crazy for paper balls, I have a eco-friendly cat!

Uninterested mamal

...Yet another pair of booties, serious attack of cuteness...

In a couple of weeks I will visit family members I see far too little.

 Guess what: one of them is 8-month pregnant. With few days spares during Easter, a fantastic sun and with the short-term burial of some other projects, I made these little booties with merino wool, 4 buttons from my latest bought batch and some spare ribbon.

The pattern is from the British Hand Knitting Confederation Limited (bit of a mouthful), code BHKC 48. What I haven't mentioned is that the booties are the smallest item on that pattern - and cutest, there is also a cardigan and a shawl/blanket.

I guess that will be the last pair with that lovely ball of merino deluxe DK (Col 12) 50g from Patons, machine washable at 30°C. Merino is an awesome yarn, keeps you warm when you need it and stay cool in the heat. One ball does about 5 booties, not the most practical I know, it would be great if it did 6.

The ribbon is re-used from the annoying ties you find on lights jumpers to suspend them on hangers, you know the ones that inevitably show when you wear it. They look great on booties! I simply stitch them at a needle-length and made 7 petals. 6 petals left too many gaps and made it difficult to arrange.

I can now knit and watch TV, I seldom watch TV. I am ashamed to say I calculate how long it takes me to knit one baby shoe in episodes (about 2.5 if your really want to know).

I feel knitting has fulfilled my fight against boredom and inactivity when I watch TV and also has made me more sociable since I can now talk about what was on last night.

Baby booties with pink ribbons

Button Galore

I was trapped in my favourite fabric shop...queuing...faced with a box full of discounted buttons...too late now, they came back in my bag (I did pay for them, by the way).

Bootie buttons, shirt buttons...

It's a boy!

Ain't they cute?

Same model than the previous baby booties with a mixed 2-ply wool on 3.5mm needles. I initially bought this wool to make a scarf, however I ended not having enough wool and this type was discontinued... I now know how to make a very neat wool ball.

Since the second row is essentially made up of yarn forward, purl 2 together, there is a nice little space for a thin ribbon (3mm). Thank you mum for the idea.

The Mad Knitter

I managed to finish the baby booties after an expermented knitter gave me a very needed helpful hand. They are not that difficult to do, the pattern is not easy for beginners.

I have 4 pregnant friends. I'm starting a proper production line.

I've used Youtube a lot since many knitters and crochetereds (is this a word ?) have posted very helpful step by step videos of stiches and projects.

Chanel Booties 

And guess what, those are for a girl!

Warm iphone for the tought winter ahead

My first iPhone died in the snow (minute of silence..... taking a deep breath in.....over now). I needed to protect my second iPhone.

Mum taught me to knit during Christmas, I needed to use these newly acquired skills before loosing them (I did use Youtube too to remember how to cast off).

For those who would like to start knitting, I used size 3 mm needles and a "furry" wool (I don't really sound like I know what I'm talking about, do I?) . I've cast on 20 stitches, then ended with 19...I've lost one along the way. 4 knit, 4 purl to make a nice ribbing.

I haven't counted the rows, since I was using the iPhone to judge the length. 

Since I don't know how to do circular knitting, I've stitched by hand the two sides together with a big needle. I'll recommend this stitch to avoid unnecessary stretching the finished project. 

It doesn't look like anything at the start, always.

The Winter Sock!

Little knitted jumper

When I glew back after Christmas sales were well under way.
I went ahead, I quite like going after the initial rush. Choice is limited and there is not queue at the tills, it makes a more pleasant trip.

I bought this:

It will be very cute with cropped trousers and a long-sleeved turtle neck, or in a more casual fashion with jeans.

I liked it so much that I would like to duplicate it. I don't think I can find the same type of knitted fabric and i do not knot, maybe with fleece.

I'll let you know.