Jiaxi Li

I wonder  if this sculpture is a candidate for Silly Saturday.

Is it silly, clever, fun, crazy?

Knitted Sculpture by Jiaxi Li

One of the exhibits at the Harrogate Knitting and Stitching Show.

I love the idea and the colours and can only imagine how much experimentation went into working out how to create a self-supporting knitted sculpture of the fireplace. I hope it finds the right home.

I am certainly interested in seeing more work by this artist.

You can see more of her work here and on Instagram.

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Dragon Balaclava

My Grandson, Little Bro, became 8 yesterday. He had asked me to make him a dragon mask some months ago and was so sure that is what he would be getting. I heard him telling his Mum and he was so excited!  At first I had no idea how to begin to make a dragon but he seemed so confident in my abilites that I felt I must take up the challenge.

I found this pattern on Ravelry: Dracoclava

I can’t say I can recommend it. It is a genius design with absolutely terrible written instructions for the pattern. If it were not for the notes of other intrepid knitters who had paved the way, I would have given up. The notes that helped me the most were these by a member of Ravelry from Chicago.

The pattern asks for Aran weight yarn. I didn’t have any in dragon colours so I used two threads of Stylecraft Special DK and an 4mm needle.

The colours: Claret for the main part, Burgundy for the i-cord and a scrap of Tomato to sew round the nostrils.

The neck part is made in the round in the pattern, but if I were to make it again (eek! I really don’t think I could face it!), I would make the front and back as two pieces.

I don’t enjoy knitting in the round, all that fiddling around with the loop of the wire in between, I would rather sew some seams.

However I did discover The Magic Loop, which helped a lot.

Another useful new skill I learned was to make an attached i-cord. There are several You Tube clips for this, this clip has a few other tips and tricks in it.

I did not make holes for the horns, but marked where they were to go.

The i-cord for the brow is an 8 stitch icord, and I stuffed this with crocheted chain of 3 chunky yarn threads together with a 6.5mm hook. I attached a big safety pin to one end and threaded it through.

The ears are knitted separately and will form part of the side of the head.

Following the notes of other knitters, I made the bridge of the nose just 5 sts wide.

The pattern suggests that you knit the bridge of the nose together with the brow when doing the i-cord. By this time the pattern was giving me headaches enough, so to keep it simple I left them separate so that I could sew together later.

Luckily I have a polystyrene head the I can pin things to. This helped enormously in getting the placements right.

at this stage I had a FaceTime meeting with Little Bro to ask if he would like the ears sewn flat to the head/neck as in the pattern, or with the bottom curling out. I wish I could share with you his face beaming with awe and joy. It made all the days of trial, error and headaches worth while!

He wanted the ears flying free at the bottom and so that is how I have made them. I always like the children to have some say in the design, but with lockdown in progress it has been a bit trickier.

I did not get it to him for his birthday but at least he was able to see it complete and he absolutely LOVES it.

 

Joining in with Ginny’s Yarn Along.

 

Beach Bunting: adding beads and shells

Inspired by Attic24’s Dune Blanket.

I used:

Beading Needle

Silamide waxed nylon beadstring

Seed beads: here is a link to some similar to the ones I used.

Swarovski crystals:  I used 3mm bicone clear AB crystals, although I’m not sure where you can get them from nowadays

Semi-precious gem stones

and some shells with holes in them – gathered from the beach.

Put a knot in the end of the beadstring and attach to the bottom of the triangle at the back, sew a knot by taking the needle through a loop and exit at the very tip.

Add a crystal, a bead or semi-precious stone, a crystal and a seed bead, then take the thread through the hole in the shell

and back up through the beads and crystals and into the point of the bunting triangle.

Fasten off at the back

And there you have it! Some seaside bunting

Inspired by Attic24’s Dune Blanket

Find the pattern for the Triangles here.

and

The photo tutorial for making the triangles into bunting here.

Let me know if you have a go at making some Beachy Bunting, I’d love to know how you get on.

Beach Baby Bunting

This post follows on from the previous post: Knitted Bunting where you will find the free pattern for the triangles.

It is inspired by the Attic24 Dune Blanket colours. Wouldn’t this bunting go SO well with a baby blanket in the Dune design. AND how about making a little jacket (see my free Baby Jacket pattern here)  in Dune colours too – ooooo – mouthwateringly delicious!

I have used Stylecraft Special DK: Spearmint, Cloud Blue, Pale Rose, Parma Violet, Powder Pink, Duck Egg and Spearmint.

Joining the triangles and making them into Bunting

Line up all the triangles on a 4mm needle in the order you want them to be, with Right Sides facing.

DO NOT CUT THE YARN OF THE LAST TRIANGLE

Working on the last triangle: Cast off purlwise.

until the last stitch

* Turn your work so that you have the Wrong Side facing you.

Knit one stitch

Put the stitch just knitted onto the left hand needle and knit one. Repeat 8 more times to create a joining chain of 10 stitches altogether.

(Add more chains if you want your triangles further apart)Turn your work so that you have the RS facing.

Bring the yarn to the front and cast off the next triangle purlwise

Repeat from * across all the triangles.

 

When you have cast off across the top of the last triangle make a chain as long as you want it to be, for hanging up your bunting.

I have done a chain of 30 stitches.

Join yarn to the first triangle and make a matching chain.

Sew in all the ends.

Here is the pre-blocked bunting

Now to block and add some beads and/or shells.

I have had these beads for years.  The supplier I bought them from no longer exists but I found these semi-precious gemstone chips online which are similar.

The shells have been collected over time, from lots of different far flung beaches.

The pattern is untested – please let me know how you get on.

Here is a post about attaching the beads and shells.

Knitted Bunting

There seems to be a bit of bunting fever on the net.

Lucy Attic is making some, Eleonora has made some new seaside themed bunting for Little Box of Crochet, and she has other patterns on Ravelry and Wendy of Red Brick Glass is busy making some for the upcoming Purbeck Arts Week.

No wonder then, that as I was making some more Pixie Points to start a new jacket like my Flower Fairy Baby Jacket  that I started to think of bunting.

Bunting in Lucy Attic’s latest Dune colours.

I’m thinking of attaching some shells to the bottom of each triangle.

This is work in progress, and I have not worked out how I’m going to attach the triangles together yet, but in case you would like to make some yourself here is the pattern for the triangles.

They measure 3.5 inches across the top and are 4.5 inches long.

Bunting Triangle

Cast on 1 st.

Row 1(WS) inc one st by knitting into this st twice. (2sts)

Row 2 K

Row 3 yon, K2 (3sts)

Row 4 yon, K1, yfwd, K2 (5st)

Row 5 yon, K2tog, P1, K2

Row 6 yon, K2tog, K to end

Row 7 yon, K2tog, P1, K2

Row 8 yon, K2tog, yfwd, K1, yfwd, K2 (7sts)

Row 9 yon, K2tog, K1, P1, K3

Row 10 yon, K2tog, K to end

Row 11 yon, K2tog, K1, P1, K3

Row 12 yon, K2tog, yfwd, K1, yfwd, K2tog, yfwd, K2 (9sts)

Row 13 yon, K2tog, K2, P1, K4

Row 14 yon, K2tog, K to end

Row 15 yon, K2tog, K2, P1, K4

Row 16 yon, K2tog, yfwd, K1, yfwd, K2tog, yfwd, K2tog tbl, yfwd, K2 (11sts)

Row 17 yon, K2tog, K2, P3, K4

Row 18 yon, K2tog, K to end

Row 19 yon, K2tog, K2, P3, K4

Row 20 yon, K2tog, yfwd, K1, yfwd, K2tog, K2, yfwd, K2tog tbl, yfwd, K2 (13sts)

Row 21 yon, K2tog, K2, P5, K4

Row 22 yon, K2tog, K to end

Row 23 yon, K2tog, K2, P5, K4

Row 24 yon, K2tog, yfwd, K2, yfwd, K2tog, K2, yfwd, K2tog tbl, K1, yfwd, K2 (15sts)

Row 25 yon, K2tog, K2, P2, K3, P2, K4

Row 26 yon, K2tog, K to end

Row 27 yon, K2tog, K2, P2, K3, P2, K4

Row 28 yon, K2tog, yfwd, K2, yfwd, K2tog, K4, yfwd, K2tog tbl, K1, yfwd, K2 (17sts)

Row 29 yon, K2tog, K2, P9, K4

Row 30 yon, K2tog, K to end

Row 31 yon, K2tog, K2, P9, K4

Row 32 yon, K2tog, yfwd, K2, yfwd, K2tog, K6, yfwd, K2tog tbl, K1, yfwd, K2 (19sts)

Row 33 yon, K2tog, K2, P2, K7, P2, K4

Row 34 yon, K2tog, K to end

Row 35 yon, K2tog, K2, P2, K7, P2, K4

Row 36 K

Row 37 P

Cut yarn and put onto a Size 8 needle, Right Side facing.

Do not cut the yarn on the last triangle you make

Make sure all the triangles are lined up in the order you want with Right Sides facing.

~~~~~~

Photo Tutorial for joining the triangles can be found here.

And

Adding the shells and beads here.

Free Knitting Pattern:Flower Fairy Baby

This little jacket design has been inspired by a pattern in this book

The publishers have kindly given me permission to adapt the pattern with the proviso that I share the source.

The colours of this version of mine have been inspired by the Sweet Pea Cal colours designed by Lucy of Attic24.

I shared the Pixie Point Hat Pattern with you here.

Size: Newborn – 3 months old

There is a pattern for the Jacket for aged 1-2 years old in my Ravelry and Etsy Shops.

So here goes – the pattern for the

Sweet Pea Flower Fairy Jacket

(So far untested, so please let me know how you get on)

The pattern is entirely knitted. The pixie points and cuffs are knitted.

Materials:

Size 13 (2¼mm) (only needed if you are making knitted buttons)

10 (3¼mm), 9 (3¾ mm) and long Size 8 (4mm) Needles or a circular needle, 2 small stitch holders (or safety pins)

Gauge: 22st and 29 rows for a 10cm, 4 inch square using Size 8 or 4mm needles in stst.

Approx 150 gm Stylecraft Special DK yarn

This pattern can be made in all one colour.

The colours I used:

Cypress, Meadow, Pistachio, Clematis, Wisteria, Bluebell (Lucy uses Lavender) , Violet, Fuchsia Purple, Pomegranate, Blush, Candy Floss, Soft Peach, Cream.

Abbreviations:

St         stitch                           dec      decrease

WS      wrong side                  inc       increase                                  K          knit

RS       right side                     yon      yarn over needle                P          purl

Yfwd   yarn forward              K2tog   knit 2 together                  tbl          through back of loop

Stst      stocking stitch             SlP       slip one st purlwise                 rpt        repeat

Mk1      make one st by picking up loop between sts and k into back of st

 

The Hem is made up of 9 V-points

V Pattern.

With Size 9 needles in Cypress:

Cast on 1 st.

Row 1(WS) inc one st by knitting into this st twice. (2sts)

Row 2 K

Row 3 yon, K2 (3sts)

Row 4 yon, K1, yfwd, K2 (5st)

Row 5 yon, K2tog, P1, K2

Row 6 yon, K2tog, K to end

Row 7 yon, K2tog, P1, K2

Row 8 yon, K2tog, yfwd, K1, yfwd, K2 (7sts)

Row 9 yon, K2tog, K1, P1, K3

Row 10 yon, K2tog, K to end

Row 11 yon, K2tog, K1, P1, K3

Row 12 yon, K2tog, yfwd, K1, yfwd, K2tog, yfwd, K2 (9sts)

Row 13 yon, K2tog, K2, P1, K4

Row 14 yon, K2tog, K to end

Row 15 yon, K2tog, K2, P1, K4

Row 16 yon, K2tog, yfwd, K1, yfwd, K2tog, yfwd, K2tog tbl, yfwd, K2 (11sts)

Row 17 yon, K2tog, K2, P3, K4

Row 18 yon, K2tog, K to end

Row 19 yon, K2tog, K2, P3, K4

(stop here for the 2 smallest points)

Row 20 yon, K2tog, yfwd, K1, yfwd, K2tog, K2, yfwd, K2tog tbl, yfwd, K2 (13sts)

Row 21 yon, K2tog, K2, P5, K4

Row 22 yon, K2tog, K to end

Row 23 yon, K2tog, K2, P5, K4

(stop here for 2 of the points, 2^ndsize)

Row 24 yon, K2tog, yfwd, K2, yfwd, K2tog, K2, yfwd, K2tog tbl, K1, yfwd, K2 (15sts)

Row 25 yon, K2tog, K2, P2, K3, P2, K4

Row 26 yon, K2tog, K to end

Row 27 yon, K2tog, K2, P2, K3, P2, K4

(stop here for 2 of the points, 3^rdsize)

Row 28 yon, K2tog, yfwd, K2, yfwd, K2tog, K4, yfwd, K2tog tbl, K1, yfwd, K2 (17sts)

Row 29 yon, K2tog, K2, P9, K4

Row 30 yon, K2tog, K to end

Row 31 yon, K2tog, K2, P9, K4

(stop here for 2 points, 4^thsize)

Row 32 yon, K2tog, yfwd, K2, yfwd, K2tog, K6, yfwd, K2tog tbl, K1, yfwd, K2 (19sts)

Row 33 yon, K2tog, K2, P2, K7, P2, K4

Row 34 yon, K2tog, K to end

Row 35 yon, K2tog, K2, P2, K7, P2, K4

(make just one, largest size, for the centre back)

 

Arrange the V patterns, RS facing on to Size 8 (4mm) needle in the following order:

11st, 13st, 15st, 17st, 19st, 17st, 15st, 13st, 11st. = 131sts

Do not break the yarn of the last 11st V Point.

Make sure all the points are lined up in order with RSs facing.

(The first st of each row from now on is slipped purlwise to create a neat selvedge)

 

Keeping the tension firm, join the V-patterns:

Row 1: SlP, K to end.

Row 2: SlP, K3, P5 , K4, P9, K4, P11, K4, P13, K4, P15, K4, P13, K4, P11,K4, P9, K4, P5, K4 (131sts)

Row 3: SlP, K to end.

Row 4:SlP, K3, P6, K2, P11, K2, P13, K2, P15, K2, P17, K2, P15, K2, P13, K2, P11, K2, P6, K4.

131sts

Keeping the selvedge and garter st border on both sides, work 22 rows stst.

7 rows of Meadow, 5 rows of Pistachio, 4 rows of Clematis, 3 rows of Wisteria, 3 rows of Bluebell

(Start decreasing towards waistline:)

Next Row: RS in Violet.

SlP, K14, K2tog, K1, K2tog tbl, K9, K2tog, K1, K2tog tbl, K11, K2tog, K1, K2tog tbl, K13, K2tog, K1, K2tog tbl, K13, K2tog, K1, K2tog tbl, K11, K2tog, K1, K2tog tbl, K9, K2tog, K1, K2tog tbl, K to end.

(117sts)

Working the edges as before work 2 rows stst in Violet.

Change to Fuchsia Purple and work 3 rows stst

(5 rows st st. in all)

Change to Pomegranate

Next Row: RS

SlP, K13, K2tog, K1, K2tog tbl, K7, K2tog, K1, K2tog tbl, K9, K2tog, K1, K2tog tbl, K11, K2tog, K1, K2tog tbl, K11, K2tog, K1, K2tog tbl , K9, K2tog, K1, K2tog tbl, K7, K2tog, K1, K2tog tbl, K to end.

(103sts)

Working edges as before, work 2 rows stst in Pomegranate,

4rows stst in Blush, one row in Candy Floss

(7 rows stst in all)

Change to size 10 needles.

[To Make the buttonholes:

on the right hand side of the Jacket with RS facing: SlP, K1, yfwd, K2tog, K to end.

Work 7 rows.

In the next Row, make another buttonhole.

Work 7 rows.

In the next Row, make another buttonhole.

3 buttonholes in total.

[I hope this means one buttonhole in the Candyfloss stripe, one in the Soft Peach stripe and one in the Cream, I have not made one with buttonholes yet, I will make button loops for mine]

Work 4 more rows stst in Candy Floss, and 4 rows in Soft Peach

(8 rows stst worked on Size10 needles in all)

Change to size 8 needles

Work 3 rows more st st. in Soft Peach. (7 rows in all in Soft Peach)

Change to Cream and work in Cream from now on.

Work one row.

Bodice:

Next Row: RS

SlP, K23, cast off 4 sts, K46, (there will be 47 sts on the needle in this section)

Cast off 4 sts, K to end.

Left Bodice: SlP, K3, P to end.

Wind off 14gm of wool from another ball and join wool to the set of 47sts and cont in st.st.

Join yarn to Right Front and P to last 4 sts, K to end.

Work across all three sections in st st for 5 rows, keeping selvedges and garter st borders.

Shaping the fronts:

Row A:

Right Front (RF): SlP, K3, K2togtbl, K to end.

Back (B): K

Left Front (LF): K to the last 6 sts, K2tog, K4.

 

Row B:

LF: SlP, K3, P to end.                           B: P                              RF: P to last 4 sts, K.

Row C:

RF: SlP, K to end                                 B: K                             LF: K

Row D:

LF: SlP, K3, P to end.                         B: P                              RF: P to last 4 sts, K.

 

Repeat the last 4 rows once

RF: 22sts                B: 47sts              LF:22sts

 

Keeping garter st and selvedges repeat Rows A and B until RF and LF have 17 sts.

Next Row: Right Side facing,

RF: SlP, K3, K2togtbl, K to end

B:   K16, K2togtbl, K1, K2tog, K5, K2togtbl, K1, K2tog, K to end.

LF: K to the last 6sts, K2tog, K4.

Next Row: as Row B

Next Row: as Row A.

(Armholes measures about 10cm)

Next Row:

LF: Slp, K3, P to end.

Fold LF back so that the RS is next to the RS of the back and with a 3 needle cast off, cast off 6 sts. Put remaining 8sts of LF on to a stitch holder (or safety pin).

B: P

RF: Fold RF so that the RS faces the RS of the Back and with a 3 needle cast off, cast off 6 sts. Put remaining 8 sts of RF on a stitch holder.

 

K across the Back, and then working across the 8 sts from the LF stitch holder, K2, K2tog, K2.

Next Row: SlP, K3, P to end of the Back, and work across the 8 sts from the stitch holder: P4, K4.

46 sts

Collar

Change to number 10 needles and SlP and K to the end of the row.

Starting with a P row, work 8 rows of stst. (without the garter st edge)

Sleeves

Size 10 needles.

Cuff edging: Picot Point Chain:

If doing the Sweet Pea Colourway, Start with Candy Floss

Cast on 6sts using cable method.

* Cast off 4 sts, slip the st. on RH needle onto LH needle, cast on 5 sts* rpt from * to * until you have 28sts on needle.

Next row: K

Sweet Pea: change to Clematis and work one row P, one row K

Change to Cypress

Work 1 row P

Moss st for 8 rows.

Change to size 9 needles and continue in st st.

Sweet Pea: Work next 4 rows in Meadow, 2 rows Pistachio, 3 rows Wisteria,

Next row: K

Next Row: P

MK1 st each end of the next and following alt K rows.

After 10 rows using No 9 needles, change to size 8 and cont in st st and continue increasing at beg and end of every alternate knit row.

For a straight sleeve: Continue in this way in stst and increasing on alt K rows until there are 44 sts.

Increase each end of every K row until there are 48 sts.

Next Row: P

Next row: Cast off

Sleeve measures approx. 16cm (6¼”)

Buttons (optional)

Make 3 buttons.

With size 13 needles cast on 3 sts

Knit into front and back of each st. 6sts.

K 2 rows.

Next row K into front and back of first st., K3, K into front and back of next st., K1. 8sts.

Next row K

Next row: K2tog, K4, K2tog. 6sts

K 2 rows

Next row: (K2tog) 3 times.

Cast off.

Thread the end of the yarn around the edge of the work and pull thread tight to form a ‘ball’ and fasten off. Leave long thread for securing onto the jacket.

Making Up

I sew in the ends diagonally at the back, they are less obvious that way.

Sew the sleeve seams together, making sure the colour stripes match. I like to sew them with the same colour using mattress stitch from the Right Side.

Pin the sleeves into the armholes, Right sides together, with the sleeve seam slightly to the back, so that it does not show at the front. Pin and sew using a back stitch.

Sew on the buttons opposite the button holes.

 

Ta Dah!

The Cocheted flower on the Bluebell hat is a pattern Flora Flower designed by Lucy.

I do hope you have enjoyed this pattern.

Please let me know if you have any difficulties.

You can buy a patten for a toddler size here.

A Bunch of Sweet Peas

What a happy bunch we were!

The picture is missing Jenny, who joined us later.

Sladers Yard (in West Bay, Dorset, UK) were very accommodating and welcoming. We had a board of yummy cakes garnished with strawberries and cherries – I wish I had taken a photo! And they had set aside two tables at the back of the room for us.

There were nine adult crocheters altogether and a delightful junior knitter.

There is something so deeply comforting about being with a group of women coming together and making things together – it is timeless – a connection with our ancestors reaching back over the centuries.

It is great to share ideas and talk about our current a future projects, equipment and how we store our stash.

And don’t you just LOVE Helen’s craft bag!

I admit to a bit of Craft Bag envy!

We felt we had to get at least some pictures on the beach, to show us firmly placed in West Bay, especially to send to Lucy, the designer of the blanket that had brought us all together. Lucy comes from these parts and often returns here for holidays and family visits.

Some of our group had other places they had to be for lunch, so there were fond farewells and talks of meeting again, before a few of us went to the beach where as you can see – it was a bit windy.

I’m hopeless at selfies!

Just right for paragliders

And then there were 3, we had a wander around the harbour

Time for a few more photos

I love this one of Kay and Sandra

And then back to Sladers Yard for a lunch.

A huge thank you to everyone who came and made our Gathering such an enjoyable one – and thank you to all those who have said they would like to come to another one – yes there will be another meeting, not sure when yet.

Any one of the group might arrange a meeting in their area and I will do my best to get there. I will be arranging one in early Summer and will give plenty of notice here on my blog and on Facebook and Instagram.

Thanks also to Stylecraft Yarns for sending such amazing goody bags – everyone was thrilled! We all have plans for our Batik Elements Yarn. The colours on the website do not do it justice, they are much lighter and lovelier! The youngest member of our group used hers as a friendship bracelet for her cuddly toy – just the right fit!

And I have some goody bags left for anyone new who comes to the next meeting.

Thank you to Sladers Yard for their wonderful hospitality, and to some of the other customers who came to chat about crochet.

One guy told me that he had learnt to knit when he was 8 and loved it but his Grandad had ridiculed him for ‘being a girl’ and he’d stopped. I told him about all the many examples of men knititng and crocheting online and he said he might take it up again in his impending retirement. He said we should exhibit our work in a gallery as it was so good! Now there’s a thought …….. !

Of course the biggest thank you has to go to Lucy for creating such a friendly and fabulous crochet community with her heart-warming blog posts and wonderfully colourful designs. This is the fourth Lucy Crochet Along I have done and each one has brought a wonderful sense of community but there seems to be something about these colours that have inspired many of us to gathering in groups all over the world, to share the Sweet Pea journey.

A picture of the Sweet Pea set in the snow.

Pattern for the jacket is in this post.

 

Free Pattern: Pixie Hat

This is for a newborn – 3 month old baby

The pattern has been tested by Tialys, pop across to see her beautifully stylish version made especially for her new great-nephew. Thank you Tialys!

Hat

Materials:

Stylecraft Special DK, Needles: Size 9 (3.75mm) and Size 8 (4mm)

Abbreviations:

yrn           yarn round needle

stst           stocking stitch

K2tog      knit two together

 

Starting at the rim of the hat, using Size 9 (3.75mm) needles and Lavender

Cast on 73sts

Next Row: K

Next Row: P1, (yrn, P2 tog) to the end.

Starting with a K row, work 6 rows of stst.

Change to no 8 needles and Cypress

Next Row: K

9 rows moss st.

Change to Meadow

Starting with a K row, work in stst

After two rows change to Pistachio

Continue in stst until work measures 9.5 cm (straighten out st st border to measure) ending with a P row.

Next Row: (K8, K2tog) to the last 3 sts, K3

Stst 3 rows

Next Row: (K7, K2tog) to last 3 sts, K3.

Stst 3 rows

Next Row: (K6, K2tog) to last 3 sts, K3.

Next row: P

Next Row: (K5, K2tog) to last 3 sts, K3.

Next Row: P

Next Row: (K4, K2tog) to last 3 sts, K3.

Next Row: P

Next Row: (K3, K2tog) to last 3 sts, K3.

Next Row: P

Next Row: (K2, K2tog) to last 3sts, K3.                                  24 sts

Next Row: P

Next row (K1, K2tog) to last 3 sts, K3

Next Row: P

Shape Point

Next row: K5, K2tog, K3, K2tog, K5

Next Row: P

Next row: K3, (K2tog, K2) x3

Next Row: P

Next row K1, (K2 tog, K2) x2,  K2tog, K1.         9sts

Next Row: P

Next row (K1, K2tog) x3

Next Row: P

Next row K2tog x 3

Next Row: P

Next row K3 tog

Break yarn and pull through leaving at least 30cm for sewing up.

 

To Make Up

1. Sew from the point to the rim in mattress stitch, working on the reverse side for the stst of the curled rim.

Copyright: Sandra Dorey

 

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I am happy for you to sell anything you make using my patterns. It would be great if you could credit me as the designer.

I’d love to see photos of what you make. You can tag them on Instagram.          #wilddaffodilpixie

Please respect my pattern, it is for your own use. Please do not pass it on to anyone else except by a link to this post – thank you.

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If you try the pattern I’d love to know how you get on. Feedback most welcome.

Would you like a Pixie Point Jacket to go with it?

Here is a link to the free pattern: Flower Fairy Jacket with Pixie Points

 

Hairy Fairy

In Nanacathy’s Knit and Natter on Friday she told us about a book that had grabbed her attention ‘Knitted Fairies’ by Fiona McDonald – I have this book and have made a Hairy Fairy. Cathy said she would like to see her – so here she is.

I made just one Fairy – but I was not pleased with the floppy limbs – they need pipe cleaners in them

and I couldn’t get the face to work

she looks a little sad, or bored, or fed up!

She probably needs a friend.

I haven’t tried any of the great characters from the other book yet,  but one of the jackets inspired my Fairy Jacket pattern

which you can find in my Etsy shop

Have you made any fairies, wizards or pirates? If so, I’d love to see them – it might spur me on to give my Hairy Fairy a playmate.

 

Rosslyn

My Wednesday Wip this week is one of Helen Shrimpton’s paid for Patterns – Rosslyn

Photo taken with my iPhone, it looks a bit harsh as if made of cotton, but it is in Stylecraft Special DK, made with a 4.5mm hook.

8 Colours chosen from the centre:

Buttermilk, Soft Peach, Pale Rose, Duck Egg, Cream, Lincoln, Raspberry …….. Storm.

This is a wonderful pattern to work with. A pattern I will be happy to make twice as I am making one for Twig and one for Twiglet, my 5 year old twin Granddaughters.

I’m loving the way the characters of each of my 8 grandchildren are reflected in the colours and patterns of their blankets. I have already made 4.

The first was Miss E’s daisies . To see the finished blanket go to the Throws Page and scroll down through links to other blankets and throws I have made.

I am joining Ginny in her magnificent YARN ALONG – she asks us to share a book we are reading and this is mine

Novels take up too much crafting time for me but I have been bingeing on watching Outlander on DVD whilst crocheting

I loved the books by Diana Gabaldon in the days when I did read fiction,  now I’m enjoying the emotional rollercoaster of the DVDs.

There is a mass of Outlander knitting pattern sites on Etsy .

Happy Yarning!

 

 

What on Earth have I made

 

You are my sunshine

melody of flowers

Whilst I was putting together yesterday’s enjoyable jaunt through the year’s galavanting, I skimmed past photos of all the things I have made.

When I started the blog it was mainly to keep a diary of creative adventures. As you can see I have a grasshopper approach to creativity, jumping hither and thither, following thoughts, ideas and inspirations. It is easy for me to forget what I did and how I did it.

Here I can store projects and methods, should I ever want to re-create them at a later stage. It is also particularly useful when I re-visit abandoned projects. I can remind myself of the tools I used and the links I followed.

Going through my photos, gathering together all my 2017 makes in one place, has been fun. Many are still works in progress, but I have finished four crocheted blankets one for my grandson, The Wizard; two of them for my nieces The Mermaid and The Country Girl; and one, of my own bold zig-zag designs for my daughter’s best friend who wanted a blanket in Mexican colours.

Nuts About Squares

Ripple

Moorland as Hedgerow

Wild Zig-Zag

Creative collaborations make my heart sing and working with others to create new colour palettes is such a joy. Well I say a joy – the Wizard caused me some struggles as you know – but we got there in the end.

I gain so much inspiration and knowledge from your blogs and Pinterest pages, it is thrilling to me if anything I share inspires you. Creative sharing has to be one of the BEST feelings ever! Please let me know if you think we could work together, that would be very exciting. Joining forces with Judy for our Silly Saturdays came about through a ‘Comment’ conversation and it has been such good fun inspiring each other in our shell art and poetry respectively.

I thoroughly enjoy joining in with Cathy’s ‘In a Vase on Monday’ when I can. Flowers from the garden not always ending up in a vase.

summer flower mandala

Lavender and Lychnis

I’m looking forward to a creative 2018 and feel so very grateful for all the wonderful support and inspiration that comes from this fabulous community.

A huge and heartfelt thank you to all the Wild Daffodil visitors and followers which makes this blogging journey such a joyful delight. I really do appreciate each and every comment and connection.

May 2018 bring you happiness, joy and fun in blogland and beyond.

Happy New Year!

Dark

The Kaffe Fassett exhibition, currently on at Mottisfont, Hampshire is beautifully staged.

Some of the rooms are light and bright and some are dimly lit with rich and cosy colours – so dark it was difficult to take photos of the wonderful quilting.

My entry in our One-a-week Photo Challenge.

Please leave a link to your entry in the comments.

Comfortable

Kaffe Fassett exhibition at Mottisfont.

His colours and cosy chunky sweaters say ‘Comfortable’ to me.

To join in with our Photo Challenge just leave a link to your Comfortable photos in the comments.

Also joining the Daily Post: Knit

and

Cee’s FunFoto Challenge: Letter ‘O’

Must have the letter ‘O’ anywhere in the word.

 

Ready for Halloween?

Master R, a couple of years ago, getting ready for a halloween party.

 

 

 

 

The whole family went off with a knitted wig and various other bits and pieces I keep in the dressing up box

 

 

 

 

 

And on another occasion the green wig was teamed up with Big Bro’s incredible hulk mask

to terrify Uncle M

Wig sales always hot up at this time of year – there is still time to knit a wig to scare the demons away! You can find the patterns in my Etsy or Ravelry or Craftsy shops.

Favourite

dusty blue

Teddy’s favourite

keeps her warm

~

Miss E very sweetly asked me if I could mend the first dress I had made for Teddy as it is her FAVOURITE. 

Of course I could not resist this Boro-esque challenge.

First I needed to darn the holes and stabilise the edge with a running stitch

Then I carefully washed the dress and took it to Miss E for further instructions.

She asked for a daisy to cover the darn in the front and for me to neaten the edge. I hope she approves of the result as seen in the first photo.

~

“Work is love made visible”

Kahlil Gibran

~

Joining in with Ronovan’s weekly Haiku Challenge, prompt words: COLOUR and WARMTH

and

My entry for our One-a-Week Photo Challenge: FAVOURITE

Please leave a link to your FAVOURITE photo in the comments to be included in the monthly round-up.

Lost

Meet Teddy.

Teddy was given to Miss E as a baby and has hardly left her side since.

This photo was taken back in 2009 

Teddy has become one of the family. You can see that she has aged a bit since the 2009 photo was taken and eventually, her red gingham dress was beyond repair. I knitted her a new dress, which I made up as I went along and now looks like this

I had no idea Miss E had lovingly saved this relic.

Since then I have made a few garments for Teddy’s wardrobe.

Including this jacket from the book ‘Knitted Pirates, Princesses, Witches, Wizards and Fairies’ by Annette Hefford

which in turn inspired me to experiment with the pattern and scale it up for babies and toddlers (with permission from the publishers).

You can find the pattern here in my Etsy Shop, or here on Ravelry

~

One day about 4 years ago Teddy was LOST – Miss E was distraught, the whole family were traumatised, she was lost for over 24 hours, it was awful – we searched high and low thinking of anywhere and everywhere Teddy could have gone – what on earth were we going to do. …

At last Teddy was found amongst other toys, her colours so muted that we had not seen her, even though we had looked there before.

I decided that Teddy should have some bight clothes so that she would never be hidden from us like that again. I knitted these

But Teddy continues to favour more muted colours and only wears these dresses during the Strictly Come Dancing season. Thankfully she has never gone missing again.

Here she is with her friends and her collection of clothes minus a pale yellow cullotte outfit that is in the wash……. we hope….. we couldn’t find it ……. it might be ….

LOST

~

Do you have any photos that fit the ‘lost’ theme?

We’d love to see them, just leave a link in the Comments, to join our Photo Challenge.

17 for 2017: March and April

Life has been unpredictable and very busy since my return from a crazy fortnight holiday on 20th April. My attention is mostly away from the computer at the moment, but I just wanted to record my 17 for 2017 progress for March and April before May skids by.

A few targets for 2017 have been ticked off:

17 – walks longer than an hour

SIX

One in March : Badbury Rings

3 in January, 2 in February

16 – handmade greetings cards.

SIXTEEN – DONE!

You can see the Never-ending cards here.

15 – beachy things (split into 3 x 5s – 5 pieces of beach related art, 5 beach cleans on new beaches, 5 beach clean sculptures, assemblages or mandalas)

14 – items for my Etsy shop

FIVE

1 in Feb, 3 in March,

Three wigs that were in the WIP box were completed and put in my Etsy Shop in March

as well as 1 new pattern in April

I’m particularly excited about this one as I have been developing the pattern on and off for so long. I have loved making this jacket for Little Miss M and as presents for babies, but getting the pattern ready for general use is a whole other business. Gosh it takes such a lot of concentration!

13 – drawers, cupboards, shelves or boxes sorted out.

SEVEN

One in January and a shelf in February.

I cleared a Drawer in March, which led to clearing out the whole chest of drawers, 5 drawers in all. What a stash of yarn and abandoned UFOs I found

The UFOs have been unpicked and all yarn rolled and stashed in better order. I found things from over 10 years ago – so many projects abandoned for one reason or another – still, the yarn lives on to see another day. Chaotic life events have often interrupted the creative flow – it’s been an ongoing life-long theme. I’m sure I’m not alone.

12 – WIPs finished

SIX in March: see #14 above

and I managed to finish three blankets

3 blankets, first the Mexican Wave. I hope to give details of this one when life calms down a bit.

Then

a ‘Blanket for a Mermaid’, which I started for my niece (S) when I went to Japan

Again, details to follow.

and

the Dorset Hedgerow Blanket for my other niece (L)

Go the my PAGE of Throws to see some more photos and some links to POSTs about them

11 – paintings/ art works

10 – house and garden tasks

9 – textile books worked on.

8 – hand written letters to grandchildren

7 – find 7 interesting objects

6 – items made for Pippin or improvements to Pippin.

5  – random acts of kindness

FIVE – done!

The Hedgerow Blanket, for my niece and the Mexican Wave blanket which was a present for my daughter’s best friend were both Random Acts of Crafty Kindness.

Whilst in the Caribbean I was crocheting seahorses in all sorts of odd places. I had some wonderful encounters with both children and adults taking an interest in the craft and the seahorse – I gave away 5 all together. I’m hoping to write a bit more about these encounters, but the way things are at the moment, that might be a long time coming.

4 – new National Trust properties visited

TWO visited in April.

A 3.5 hour drive to ad from Gatwick Airport took me past two National Trust properties. They provided a welcome stop each way.

Hinton Ampner

and Petworth House

3 – make three up-cycled items of clothing 

2 – meet two fellow bloggers

1 – car boot sale

0 – Buy zero new clothes

ZERO – even though I was tempted to buy new shorts to go on holiday – I resisted – well done me!

~

Still much to do!

A list of others I know to be taking the challenge:

Mrs Snail, Nanacathy, Gillyflower, Murtagh’s Meadow., Ouch My Back hurts, Ruth’s Arc,  Cherie Langlois, Erin’s Big World, Country Ways and Cottage Days, Mrs. Craft

I have no idea why the post has gone all thin and down the middle – I’m having trouble with WordPress at the moment. Click on any photo to see it larger.

Woodland Fairy Jacket

Little Miss M beautifully modelling my latest pattern to go live.

Oh my word I’m so excited to be publishing this pattern today! It has taken years for me to develop and test.

Special thanks go to Sheila at Sewchet for test-knitting it for me. And here it is!!!!  Hurray!

Ravelry:

http://www.ravelry.com/designers/wild-daffodil

and Etsy:

https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/WildDaffodil

The pattern is for a toddler Aged 1-2

But as you can see in the top photo it has lasted well. I always make the arms a generous length and all my grandchildren seem to get a few years wear out of their yarny  tops.

The inspiration came from this amazing book:

‘Knitted Pirates, Princesses, Witches, Wizards and Fairies’ by Annette Hefford

The publishers kindly gave their permission for me to develop and sell the pattern so long as I credited the book. There are so many fabulous patterns in the book – well worth a look.

I have set up a Facebook page for sharing progress, finished articles and other favourite faerie patterns

https://www.facebook.com/knittedfaerie/

I do hope you like it. I’m planning to publish the pattern in other sizes as soon as I have tested them.

Just published in time to put a link on Cathy’s  ‘Knit and Natter Friday’  post

and

Rachell’s Yarn Along.

 

Pond

Week 14 of our One-a-Week Photo Challenge: POND

click on any photo to see it larger

Back in the darker January days when frost dusted everything with magic, Miss E and I went walking with our cameras. Miss E was given a camera for Christmas and she was keen to get some frosty shots. We went to Thorncombe Woods and headed for the pond.

chagrin felt at school

healed with home education,

love, joy and freedom

Joining in with Ronovan’s weekly Haiku Challenge, prompt words:

CHAGRIN and JOY

~

Do you recognise the bobble hat? – I made one for each grandchild last year, but trying to get a decent photo of all of them was like herding cats

Cute though!

I’ll be away from the computer for a couple of weeks. Cathy will be holding the Photo fort over at Nanacathy, leave a link on her One-a-Week Photo Challenge posts and I will include them in the April Round-Up. Thank you Cathy and as Cathy says:

“Happy Snapping”

😀

Fence

caught my eye

in the fading light

treasure found

~

Our ‘One-a-Week’ Photo Challenge Prompt this week is FENCE

Ronovan’s Haiku Prompts are EYE and FADE

The mitten on the post must have been there a while as it was green with algae. Since starting to do beach cleans, I see all litter and dropped items in a new light. They are all potential art materials with a human back story. It did feel slightly weird taking it from it’s post, but I am pretty certain it’s owner is not likely to return for it. It will go with other found clothing I have and see what art work it might inspire.

The top of the fence post is a little world of its own

The photos were taken on a walk from Nine Wells towards Solva (Pembrokeshire) along the coastal path.

 

I was walking from the treehouse as the sun was going down.

There was no wind and I stood to watch the sunset before returning

to the cosiness of my nest in the trees.

What fences have you found this week?  Leave a link in the comments below, we’d love to see them.