Time to knit for Christmas AGAIN!

I've been busy designing yet more patterns for that pesky little elf who sits on a shelf in the run up to Christmas.  Lots more outfits to give your elf some scenarios to work with!
My first pattern includes designs for a Ballerina Outfit, a Swimsuit and Bag, a Skirt, a One-piece Sleeping Suit, and a Toy Doll.

Easy to knit out of scraps of DK yarn, finished in no time. 

This collection of patterns can be bought from www.ravelry.com, and is also available from www.loveknitting .com

The name of the pattern is Outfits for Santa's Elf Helper (Collection 1)



My second selection of patterns includes a Football outfit, an Argyll sweater, Shorts and Trousers, and a Teddy.

  

The name of the pattern is Outfits for Santa's Elf Helper (Collection 2)



This collection of patterns can be bought from www.ravelry.com, and is also available from www.loveknitting .com


These designs are in addition to the previous collection of sweaters - See Below.

Enjoy your Christmas knitting and keep your elf up to his antics!

Christmas is coming! Time to start knitting for your shelf elf.

Time to start planning your Christmas knitting.  Do you have one of those little elves that sits on the shelf in the run up to Christmas?  This easy to knit pattern gives three designs of sweater that can be used to change his outfits each day. 

For each design you will need scraps of DK yarn, and a pair of 3.25 needles.

 

The pattern costs $6 (Approximately £4.80) and can be ordered for instant download from Ravelry with payment by Paypal from the link below. 

 

 

Knitting pattern errata and layout rant

OK, so I have got a bit frustrated with a couple of patterns lately so I thought I would have a rant and get it off my chest.

First:  Errata

Two of the patterns I have bought in the past year, at a cost of about £5 each, have several errors, one of them numerous errors.  I have read the comments on the well-known site where I bought them, and errors have been pointed out to the designers, sometimes years previously, but neither pattern has been corrected and they have been sent out unchanged.  There are no errata lists.  I even found one error not noted elsewhere, and sent a note to the designer.  She replied that most knitters would have seen it as an obvious mistake and not bothered to tell her.  Designers please check your patterns more carefully and do not sell them until mistakes have been rectified.

Second:  Layout and difficult to follow instructions

Both patterns are laid out in a peculiar, none-intuitive way, with a first couple of pages full of vague instructions, such as "you will be doing this, this and this at the same time and don't forget to increase here and decrease there according to your size" and so on.  I know of one designer who handles this in a perfect way, by producing a table, with consecutive row instructions downwards on the left hand side, and different sizes across the top.  Just highlight the right column for your size, and off you go! 
With both patterns, I had to sit down with paper and pencil and rewrite them row by row to be sure I had got it right.  This is what I was paying the designer for!  In fact I could have reverse engineered both patterns myself from the pictures, but I thought I was saving myself the bother.
Also one of these patterns (they were both top down) used the same instructions for the front and back, with no neck shaping.  Hence the front would  not dip, and not fit well, or at least would not fit me.  I can't help feeling that this was laziness.  I rewrote it to shape the neck at the front.  When knitting I also modified the pattern to take lace motifs to the edge of increases and decreases as the original pattern dealt with this by having acres of ss down the raglans and sides.

If you are expecting knitters to pay for your patterns, designers please take the time to write them well and easy to follow even for less experienced knitters, have them test knitted and take notice of what your knitters say!

OK rant over, as you were.

Totally Templates

I've just come across a new crafty site

http://www.totallytemplates.co.uk/

It has only been running for 4 weeks but is very professionally set up and has lots of downloadable products such as craft templates and patterns.  Not many knitting patterns there yet but it seems to be taking off and I will be keeping an eye on it.

I have listed a few patterns there including my Santa's Elf Helper sweaters and child mittens, with more to come....

 

This pattern includes three sweaters for that famous elf that comes out and sits on a shelf in the run up to Christmas.

More Mitten knitting patterns!

I don't seem to have timed these for the right time of year, but I've been on a bit of a mitten knitting pattern fest just lately.

Here are some more character mittens, doll and clown this time:

Doll and Clown Puppet Mittens

I couldn't resist making some frilly and sparkly mittens for a little princess:

Princess Mittens

The designs are available in three sizes, to fit children from two to seven years of age.

The patterns are available from Ravely Or Love Knitting.

New fun knitting pattern for Child Animal Puppet Mittens

Here is a pattern I have been working on this winter:

 

These mittens are available in three animal designs, and each one is in three sizes to fit children aged 2 to 7 years.

 

Will keep little fingers warm or can just be used to put on a puppet show!

 

The pattern is available from Ravelry or LoveKnitting, and is quick and easy to knit with scraps of DK yarn.

 

 

 

 

New knitting pattern for a comfy slouchy style tunic in James C Brett cotton/acrylic

I have spent many months designing and refining this design, and I am really pleased with the result.


It is knit in James C Brett Cotton On DK, which is a lovely soft cotton/acrylic blend, and is machine washable.


The soft yarn and positive ease make it a joy to wear and it looks great with trousers.  It is a sweater that I shall wear and wear!






           Here are the details:

The sweater is knitted from the bottom up in pieces and seamed. It is patterned with slip stitches and bobbles, and edged with brick stitch; all instructions are written out fully and are easy to follow. The slightly dropped arm and positive ease makes it comfortable to wear.

The model is wearing size 36”, which has 2” of positive ease.

For experienced knitters.

Measurements are:
Size: 36, 42.5, 48.5”
Chest size of finished garment: 38, 45, 51”
Length of sleeve from underarm: 16.5, 16.5, 16.5”
Length from underarm to hem: 16.5, 17, 19”
Length from centre back of neck to hem: 24, 26, 29”
Number of balls of yarn needed: 9, 11, 13

The pattern is available for just $5 from:

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/castles-in-the-air

Flowerpot scarecrow

Today I helped to make a flowerpot scarecrow.  It took 3 hours but was great fun to do!

 

UPDATE:  We won first prize in the group category.  All the hard work was worth it!

Free knitting pattern for easy to knit chunky scarf

I bought two balls of this chunky yarn from Hobbycraft and designed and made this scarf within a day.  Most of it was knit on the Bedford to Brighton train.

 

EASY PEASY CHUNKY SCARF

© Helen Cox 2014

 

 

A long bulky scarf which is easy and quick to knit

 

 

Materials:  2 balls of Sirdar Denim Ultra or any other super bulky yarn (150m in total).

A pair of 9mm knitting needles and a large size crochet hook for fringing.

 

Gauge:  Approximately 8 stitches and 11 rows to 4” (10 cm) but not critical.

 

Abbreviations:  k = knit; p = purl;  sts = stitches;  [  ]  = repeat instructions in brackets.

 

 

 

Instructions

Cut 26 lengths of yarn approximately 14” (35 cm) long and reserve for fringing.

 

Cast on 15 sts.

 

Next row:  Slip one stitch knitwise, k to end

Repeat last row 3 times more.

 

Next row:  Slip one stitch knitwise, [k1, p1] to end

Repeat last row until work measures approximately 63” (160 cm) or to desired length.

 

Next row:  Slip one stitch knitwise, k to end

Repeat last row 3 times more.

 

Cast off and run in ends.

 

To add fringe

Fold a 14” (35 cm) length of yarn in half.  Insert crochet hook into edge of scarf and pull central loop through, then take the two ends through the loop and pull tight.  Repeat along edge of scarf, spacing out 13 lengths evenly along each end.

 

Plenty of time to knit this one for the winter!

Sweet Lemon dress knitting pattern for an antique vintage doll

I have published a new knitting pattern design for a long lacy Victorian style dress to fit a doll of approximately 18” tall. It is trimmed with matching ribbon and bows, and sweeps from a lacy yoke to a full gathered skirt.

Measurements: To fit a doll approximately 18” tall with 11” chest. The length can be adjusted to size.
Materials: approx 40g (400m) 2 ply (laceweight) cotton or acrylic yarn.
A pair of size 2.75mm needles, and a circular needle or a set of 4 double pointed needles size 2.75mm.
Five 4mm buttons.
One metre of matching ribbon 4mm wide.
Long lengths of waste yarn to use as stitch holders.

The pattern can be found on www.ravelry.com by searching the patterns tab for Sweet Lemon. It costs $5.

Free knitting pattern for a tiny gift bag

bitstobuy

www.bitstobuy.co.uk

 

TINY LACY GIFT BAG

A quick to knit little bag to enclose a gift of your choice   Materials:  Small ball of DK yarn (about 8g).  A pair of 4mm knitting needles.  Length of narrow ribbon.   Size:  Approximately 4 x 6.5 inches.   Gauge:  Not important.   Abbreviations:  k = knit;  p = purl;  st = stitch;  sts = stitches;  ss = stocking (stockinette) stitch;  yon = yarn over needle by bringing yarn to front of work then over needle to make a st;  k2tog = knit two together;  psso = pass slipped st over;  m1 = lift bar in front of next st and k into it to make a st;  [  ] = repeat instructions in brackets

With 4mm needles cast on 20 sts (for a bigger bag cast on more sts in multiples of 4).

 

Ss 4 rows.

 

Next row:  k2, [yon, k2tog, k1] to end

Next row:  p

 

Continue in pattern as follows:

Row 1:  [k3, p1] to end

Row 2:  [k1, p3] to end

Row 3:  [yon, slip 1 knitwise,  k2tog, psso, m1, p1] to end

Row 4:  [k1, p3] to end

 

Repeat these 4 rows until work measures 12 inches or desired length when folded in half.

 

Next row:  k2, [yon, k2tog, k1] to end

Ss 3 rows.

Bind off.

 

Lightly steam or damp block.

Fold in half with right sides facing and join side seams.

Turn right side out and thread ribbon through top holes.

 

Fill with a gift of your choice and give away!

 

©  Helen Cox 2014

My favourite dolls house miniature knitting pattern

I started designing knitting patterns for the dolls house in 12th scale many years ago.  I found patterns online but they were so intricate and took so long to make that I decided to come up with my own patterns that were easier to knit. 

This was my very first pattern:

Now nearly 10 years later strangely this is still my most popular pattern!  I have sold 2 copies through Ravelry in the last 2 days alone.

I have designed many many patterns since then, some are free ones on this blog, and some are available as kits.

The bedspread is my favourite design, although I love knitting tiny sweaters.

Back to craft fairs!

So beeptwo and I ventured into craft fairs again last weekend and displayed buttons, ribbons, card making goods and dolls house knitting.

We were really lucky that the weather was kind with no rain although it was very windy and we spent a lot of time holding onto things.  There was an initial tussle with a gazebo that I won't go in to but we got set up eventually.

 

It wasn't perhaps the best time of year or venue for our goods but there was enough of a profit to call it a success.  Will we be doing another one later in the year?  We will see.

 

Anna has a knitting pattern coming out in Knit Now at the end of August (on the cover this time), with another due for publication later in the year, so she is busy as always.

Classic Car Show and Craft Fair this Sunday in Flitwick

My goodness it's many years since I did a craft show, life got in the way.
When the kiddies were little I used to make salt dough pieces (anyone remember those???) and made some pin money selling them locally at craft shows, but my interests changed.

Now to pass the time I knit tiny little garments, dolls house 12th scale size, and my main selling platform is ebay.  I flirted a bit with etsy but it isn't a success, I think my customers know where to find me. 
Mostly I sell things like this:

 although recently I branched out for a change into bigger doll garments.  This one sold this week on ebay:

 

 

It's a long story, but this weekend beeptwo and I will be selling at a craft fair to be held in Flitwick, Bedfordshire. 

Anna (as beepbeepdesigns) will have loads of crafty items at bargain prices, including cardmaking stuff like stamps and card blanks, and also some lovely buttons and ribbon.  A selection of miniature knitting items for the dolls house like yarn, needles, patterns, kits and ready made items will also be there.

We are really looking forward to meeting everyone and just keeping everything crossed that the weather is kind to us!

If you are in the area please pop over and say hello.

 



Fibre East 2013

Beeptwo and I usually make an annual pilgrimage to the Knitting and Stitching Show in London in October, and the date for this October is on the calendar.  Anna spotted that Fibre East was to be held this weekend in Flitwick, literally a few minutes walk from where she lives, so as she pointed out 'it would be rude not to go!'.  So we wandered down on Saturday morning, and had a great time.
It was held in the local secondary school/college, in lots of different rooms, with marquees in the grounds, and if you came by car, lots of parking.  It was also a (doable) walk from the station, with direct trains to London, Brighton and Bedford, and just off the M1, so very easy to get to.
The admission cost was £6 for Anna and £3 for me as an OAP, so very reasonable, especially with no travel costs.
It was a hot day, and some of the rooms were quite stuffy, but we certainly should not complain about that, it was the poor stall holders who were struggling. The venue was fine if you could excuse that it was a school, and there was plenty of room.  Compared to the Knitting and Stitching Show there was certainly less there, with more emphasis on spinning and weaving than knitting, but enough for us to be able to buy yummy yarns and accessories and our three hours there went very quickly.  Of course it doesn't have the classes or the exhibitions of art works, but the big bonus point for us was that it was so wonderful and easy to wander around, you could easily get to all the stalls without the jam packed feeling of the London show.  We were able to see and buy lovely yarns which are difficult to get locally, and although they are available online, it is good to see before you buy.  The stall holders were all so very helpful and knowledgeable, and a pleasure to talk to.
Anna was able to introduce herself to the Editor of Knit Now (she is one of their designers with a new pattern coming out there next month but has never actually met them before).
We have almost decided to give the London show a miss this year, due to the travelling difficulty and the crowds, but will certainly go back to Fibre East if it is local next year.

So what is it with 'magic loop'?

I am knitting a sweater from a pattern I bought on Ravelry.  It is a standard pull-on sweater with a pretty lacy panel down the outside of the sleeve.  I am using a cotton yarn frogged from a cardigan so I am going to have to be a bit careful with how much I have, but I am hoping that with the low neckline and half a ball of the original left over I will have enough.

I am of the old school where garments were knitted flat, each piece separately, then seamed together.  I am not a big fan of knitting in the round, I hate using double pointed needles and struggle a bit with circulars, but hey ho, this pattern is completely in the round and seamless so I thought I would give it a go.

I started with the neckline, knitted downwards flat until joined at centre front, used a long length circular needle from then on, going OK if a bit fiddly pulling the loops of needle through, but fairly mindless knitting.  I carried on to about half way down the body, then as I am watching the amount of yarn, decided to do the sleeves so I could finish the body using what I had left.

So I started the sleeves using magic loop with my long length circular.  Not happy, taking ages doing all that moving the loops along, not enjoying this at all.  I moved onto a set of 4 dpn's, hate doing this, so slow and difficult trying to do the lace pattern.  So then moved onto a smaller length circular needle and continued with magic loop, and it is really awkward, slow and forming a definite ridge at the change over point.

I have nearly finished the first sleeve and I am just hoping that the stitches will even themselves out during block and wear.  I have scoured the internet and I seem to be doing it right, it must just be the way I hold the needle.  How I wish I had knit the sleeve flat before I joined the body, it would only have needed the one seam down the inside of the sleeve.  And I still have another sleeve to go....  I know what I will do next time and it won't be magic loop.

Update 5th May.  Got as far as the ribbing on the first sleeve and not happy with the result.  Pulled it undone and started the sleeve again knitting it flat.  Flying along now and much happier!  A lesson learned.

My granny square blanket

I have spotted a number of Pinterest boards lately with lovely designs of granny square blankets.  This reminded me that I made something similar in the early 1970's when for some reason I had lots of oddments of yarn around and just wanted something to fill the evenings in front of the TV (nothing changes!).
I rummaged around in my blanket box and there it was.

I remember trying to sort the colours so that I went light, medium, dark then repeat, well sort of  'ish. 
It did have some use but the trouble with knitted blankets is that they are very heavy, and not that comfortable to sleep under.  And of course impossible to wash. 
I remember visiting my dear old mum and the bed we were put in had several blankets made of knitted squares, and it was like sleeping under a plank, but that is another story.
In fact I made two much the same.  The other one was given to my mother-in-law and when we were sorting out her house it went to the charity shop!  I hope someone treasures it. This design was not so popular then as it is now, perhaps it is now 'retro'.
Of course I just crocheted round and round and today's designs are much more appealing, with lovely colour combinations and crochet patterns.  I expect it will go back into the blanket box for now.

I have opened an Etsy shop

As I am no longer running the bitstobuy business in the sense of selling kits and needles, yarn etc, I decided to concentrate on the knitting side.  I love making the tiny sweaters and accessories suitable for dolls house or tiny bjd but I also wanted more time for knitting for me!

My main selling is on ebay and I have several very loyal customers who snap up anything I list there.  But I wanted to do something different, and decided to dip my toes in the waters of Etsy to see what happened.

I am lucky enough to be the guardian of a couple of lovely antique dolls passed down through the family, so had a go at designing a dress pattern for the larger, 18" tall one.  I sweated blood a bit over the design but I got there eventually and this is the result.

It is a very fine lemon cotton-like yarn, and is trimmed with ribbon and flower buttons.  I really enjoyed the challenge of making it and was very pleased with the final result.  I have also knitted some lacy cotton socks for the same doll and depending on how popular this size is, have plans for lots of other designs.

These are currently for sale on Etsy in my bitstobuyknits shop.  I am not yet into all the ins-and-outs of Etsy but the dress has been favourited several times so someone has found it.

Meanwhile ever onwards and upwards with tiny sweaters.