Free gift with all website orders in June of ready knitted jacket

I missed offering a free gift last month so here is a special offer for June.

With all website orders this month I will be including a FREE lovely ready knitted jacket with mohair edging.

The jacket is in 12th scale and will fit a tiny 5 to 6 inch doll such as Heidi Ott or similar.  It will also fit small ball jointed dolls such as Pukifee, Lati Yellow or Hoojoo Baby, or other small dolls such as Pippa, Dawn, or Strawberry Shortcake.  The mohair edging will vary slightly due to the random nature of the yarn.

Check out the website and take advantage of this free gift:
www.bitstobuy.co.uk

Wonderful craft shop

Just got back from a week away so busy catching up with the washing.

Just wanted to mention this lovely craft shop I found recently, for all those crafters in West Sussex

http://www.angmeringframing.com

It has so many lovely things!  Well worth a visit for all sorts of fabric, bead, embroidery, scrapbooking etc supplies.  They have a huge stock of items which are difficult to find on the high street these days.  There is a little bit of knitting yarn but not enough to merit a visit.

I hope they manage to thrive as much of this business is online now, but it is nice to go and actually buy something you can see.

Free patterns for crafters

I just had to share this site I found recently.  It has links  to lots of free patterns for all kinds of crafty things: patchwork, fabrics, knitting, crochet etc.  Lots to keep all us crafters happy for hours.

Free knitting pattern for 'Ugg' boots for tiny bjd

Wot no website free gift this month????     Sorry folks, May is going to be so busy and I just haven't had time to think of a give-away with website orders this month.  But I am knitting, knitting, knitting and I promise a super free gift of a ready knitted item for June, so keep watching this space!

But here is a free pattern instead.  This was designed for bjd (ball jointed dolls) tiny size, so will fit Lati Yellow, Pukifee and similar dolls:

Knitted 'Ugg' boots for a 6 - 7 inch tiny bjd

Materials needed:  Small balls of yarn in brown and white.  A pair of 2mm knitting needles.

Measurements:  To fit a doll of up to 7” tall, with a foot length of about one inch.

Abbreviations:  st = stitch;  sts = stitches;  k = knit;   p = purl;  ss =  stocking stitch (one row knit, one row purl);   turn = turn knitting round and work back along sts just knitted;  k2tog = knit 2 sts together; p2tog = purl 2 sts together;  m1 =  make one by picking up and knitting between the sts;  tbl = through back of loops;  [ ]  = repeat instructions in brackets.

Make two the same.

Starting with sole cast on 10 sts with brown yarn and k one row.

Next row:  k1, m1, k3, m1, k2, m1, k3, m1, k1 (14 sts)

Next row:  k2, m1, k3, m1, [k2, m1] twice, k3, m1, k2 (19 sts)

Next row:  [k3, m1] twice, k7, [m1, k3] twice (23 sts)

Next row:  k4, m1, k3, m1, k5, m1, k4, m1, k3, m1, k4 (28 sts)

Change to white and k two rows.

Next row:  k6 brown, k1 white, k14 brown, k1 white, k6 brown

Starting with a p row, ss 7 rows, at same time keeping continuity of pattern with brown and white yarns the same (there will be 2 sts of white on each row).

Shape top of foot: 

Keeping continuity of pattern with brown and white yarn continue as follows:

Row 1:  k16, k2tog tbl, turn

Row 2:  slip one, p4, p2tog, turn

Row 3:  slip one, k4, k2tog tbl, turn

Row 4:  slip one, p4, p2tog, turn

Rows 5 to 6: repeat rows 3 to 4 (22 sts)

Row 7:  slip one, k to end of row

Row 8:  p

Row 9:  k6 brown, k10 white, k6 brown

Row 10:  p6 brown, p1 white, p8 brown, p1 white, p6 brown

Starting with a k row, ss 4 rows, at same time keeping continuity of pattern with brown and white yarns.

Change to white yarn and k two rows.

Cast off.

 

To make up:  Fold with right sides together and join back and sole seam.  Turn right side out.  Do not press.

A kit giving everything needed to make the boots, a duffle coat, and leggings is available from the website.

www.bitstobuy.co.uk

Upcycle, reuse and recycle packaging materials

I have a small business which uses quite a lot of packaging materials for posting parcels.  When I am busy I am posting several packages a day, perhaps up to eight a day in the run up to Christmas.  Add in ebay sales and I use a lot of packaging/envelopes/Jiffy bags etc.
For the business I tend to use new materials, and find ebay is a good source for plastic bags, and I scour the internet for good deals on Jiffy bags.  Ebay is a bit more flexible as it is quite usual to reuse and recycle good quality packaging materials, and as you know I am always trying to reuse as much as I can, both to save resources and to save money.  This is even more important now that I try to offer my ebay items with free P&P, and postage rates are due to increase hugely at the end of the month.
This is a list of materials that I save for recycling:

Plastic bags for immediate packaging
The plastic envelopes that greetings cards come in
Tiny plastic bags that hold spare buttons on new garments
My son is an IT technician and saves me lots of plastic bags that electrical components come in
The outer bags used for catalogues that come through the post
The air cushioning plastic strip that comes eg with Amazon parcels which I cut into bags

Outer packaging
Thank you Amazon for using lots of that brown paper strip to cushion inside boxes.  This is invaluable.  It can be used as brown paper to make parcels.  I cut it into smaller pieces, double layer, and run some seams down the side with my sewing machine to make envelopes.

(Incidentally, although off topic I can't resist adding this link on how to make storage baskets with it).
Corrugated card which is cut to sandwich items eg knitting needles
Most Jiffy bags can be reused
Plastic sacs received in the post are turned inside out and reused

Postage
I am brilliant at sandwiching stuff tightly so that it can be posted as Large not Packet - this saves a lot of money
Superdrug sometimes sell stamps at a discount - it is worth stocking up
And although too late for this year it is worth stocking up on 1st class/2nd class stamps at the old rate

I promise that this is the end of my recycling blogging, I will get back to knitting next time.

www.bitstobuy.co.uk

Re-use, re-cycle, up-cycle or just save the world

I was brought up in the years of austerity just after the war, in a family without a lot of spare cash.  It was drummed into us at an early age that nothing was to be wasted, and to some extent this is ingrained into me still.  I hate to see waste in any form, and really dislike throwing anything away that can be reused.  Then it was to do with saving money, although now it would be called saving the world.  I strongly believe that the earth's resources are finite, and that we should all be thinking about reusing as much as we can.

Some things I remember from my childhood:

Never leave a light on when out of a room
Be sparing with hot water - we were allowed one pint jug full to rinse when washing hair
Reuse waxed paper from cereal boxes to wrap packed lunches
Wear jumpers to bed in winter
Unwrap Christmas presents carefully and fold paper to use next year
Burn as much rubbish as possible on the open fire
Shut doors to keep in heat in winter (hands up if you can remember huddling next to the open fire and getting blotchy marks on your legs and a frozen back!)
Hand down clothes (I was the youngest girl of three so certainly knew what that meant!)
Hand knit and sew as many clothes as possible
Re-use fabric from old clothes to make new garments, and unravel jumpers to reknit the yarn
Shop at jumble sales

I am sure there are many more.  We never actually used newspaper in the loo but I remember going to play with friends nearby who did!

We re-use and re-cycle as much as we can now without especially thinking about it.  Although we are not fanatical about it here are a few of the things we do:

Used stamps are taken to Oxfam
Plastic milk bottle caps go to the playgroup
Unwanted DVDs and CDs are hung up to deter birds on the allotment
Old video tape is used to tie up plants on the allotment
Shredded paper is composted
Fizzy drinks bottles are cut down and used as mini greenhouses on new plants
Small plastic bottles like Yakult size are used to top canes
Old spectacles go to Specsavers for renovation and passing on
I collect buttons from old clothes
Junk mail/letters or paper printed on one side goes through the printer again for non important printing
I refill printer cartridges with ink (tip, unless you want black fingernails for weeks use plastic gloves)
Yoghurt pots are used for mixing filler/paint etc when decorating
Old carpet goes onto the allotment for paths or on areas to clear weeds
Old hand knit jumpers are unravelled and the yarn reused (I wind it round plastic bottles, dunk in water with a bit of detergent in and dry, to take out the kinks)
Plastic plant pots are saved for plant sales
Broken terracota pots are used for crocks in pots
Plastic carrier bags (we get them occasionally even when using our own bags!) are used to hold rubbish for the dustbin
Clothes go into clothes banks (whatever happened to jumble sales, they don't seem to exist in our area any more?)
A couple of old bikes have gone to a chap nearby who renovates them and they are sent to Africa (he doesn't seem to have a weblink but I see there are several similar schemes online)
Old pallets have been used to make a compost bin
Screws, nuts and bolts are saved for reuse
Margarine containers are cut into strips to make plant labels
Many many things such as packing materials can be used in craft activities with children

We have an excellent kerbside collection which takes all the usual things such as glass, paper etc.
In our area there is a thriving Freecycle scheme, and any unwanted item listed there is snapped up by someone who would like it.
This site tells you how to recycle anything!

I had intended to write a post about how I recycle packing materials, but got carried away.  That can be for next time.

www.bitstobuy.co.uk

Make do and mend

I always wanted one of those M&S Per Una jackets, you know, the one everyone of a certain age has.  The one with the stripes and big buttons down the front.    They seem to do the same one every season in slightly different colours, so they are obviously a big seller.
I finally bought my version in blues and greys, and although I was told it looked nice I was never completely happy with it, as it gaped at the neck and worse still the flappy opening at the bottom of the button band put inches on where I didn't need them. 
I was brought up in an age when you made do rather than chuck things out, so I decided to modify it.

First I took off the front two bands.  I forgot to take a 'before' photo but here it is with the band placed where it was.
I found some grey 2 ply yarn and picked up along one side, double crocheting to the end.  I carried on until I had a wide double crocheted band then slipped stitched it to the other side to fill the centre.  As the yarn is so fine the band is firm and the crochet stitches are so fine that it just looks like the same fabric as the main parts of the sweater.  Then I sewed the buttons in place.

I am much happier with it now.  I always prefer a sweater to a jacket anyway, it can just be pulled on without having to think about layers to put underneath.  Made do and mended for another day!

www.bitstobuy.co.uk

Don't forget, free gift with website orders in January

I am giving away a FREE sweater kit for the dolls house doll with all website orders received in April.  Last chance to buy!

www.bitstobuy.co.uk

How to make little balls of wool in dolls house scale

Easy peasy but very effective, this is a little tutorial in how to make balls of wool for the knitting basket in the dolls house.

You will need:  some fine 2ply yarn, a plastic drinking straw, a darning needle and some ball bands (I took an existing yarn band, scanned and amended to my own 'brand', reduced it in size, and printed it off), and some glue.

Cut the straw into small lengths of about 1cm (half an inch) or so.  Thread the needle with plenty of yarn and double it up.  Holding the end to start, thread it in and out of the straw until it won't take any more, making sure it is completely covered.  Cut off any loose ends.  Cut a yarn label and glue into place around the ball of yarn.

You can make lots in a very short time!

Pebble monsters

I just love these and couldn't resist re-blogging about them.  I am so taken with the idea of leaving them on the beach for others to find!

http://jenniferslittleworld.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/pebble-monsters.html?showComment=1334218729367

Talking of free knitting patterns...

Thisis an excellent source of knitting patterns, all free
http://www.knittingpatterncentral.com/


www.bitstobuy.co.uk

Free knitting patterns

Found this new site
http://stitchandunwind.com
Lots of hints and tips about knitting, techniques, give aways and free patterns.

www.bitstobuy.co.uk

Free knitting pattern for a garden gnome jacket

A little while back I told a garden gnome tale. 
The story ended by showing the jacket that I knitted for our garden gnome;  my own bit of garden yarn bombing.

I wrote up the pattern and listed it on Ravelry but thought I might as well put it on the blog too, so that it is there if anyone else feels inclined to cover their garden in knitting.  Here it is:

Materials:  A small ball of Double Knitting yarn, a pair of knitting needles size 3.75mm, and two buttons.

Measurements:  My gnome measures about 11 inches (28cm) tall and 12 inches (30cm) around the chest.  The jacket will of course also fit any small toy, teddy or doll of similar dimensions.

 

Abbreviations:  sts = stitches;  k = knit;  k2tog = knit 2 sts together;  tbl = through back of loops.

The jacket is made in one piece.  Make the pieces in the following order:

 

Left front:

Cast on 20 sts and knit 24 rows.  Break yarn and leave sts on needle.

Sleeve:

Cast 22 sts onto the needle holding the front and knit 24 rows.  Break yarn.

Back:  Cast 30 sts onto the needle holding the other pieces and knit 24 rows.  Break yarn.

Sleeve:

Cast 22 sts onto the needle holding the other pieces and knit 24 rows.  Break yarn.

Left front:

Cast 20 sts onto the needle holding the other pieces and knit 24 rows.  Do not break yarn.

Work the yoke across all the sts (114 sts).

Yoke:

Row 1:  k 17, k2tog tbl, k2, k2tog, k16, k2tog tbl, k2, k2tog, k24, k2tog tbl, k2, k2tog, k16, k2tog tbl, k2, k2tog, k13, cast off 2sts, k1 (104 sts)

Row 2:  k2, cast on 2 sts, k to end  (106 sts)

Row 3:  k 16, k2tog tbl, k2, k2tog, k14, k2tog tbl, k2, k2tog, k22, k2tog tbl, k2, k2tog, k14, k2tog tbl, k2, k2tog, k16 (98 sts)

Row 4:  k

Row 5:  k 15, k2tog tbl, k2, k2tog, k12, k2tog tbl, k2, k2tog, k20, k2tog tbl, k2, k2tog, k12, k2tog tbl, k2, k2tog, k15 (90 sts)

Row 6:  k

Row 7:  k 14, k2tog tbl, k2, k2tog, k10, k2tog tbl, k2, k2tog, k18, k2tog tbl, k2, k2tog, k10, k2tog tbl, k2, k2tog, k14 (82 sts)

Row 8:  k

Row 9:  k 13, k2tog tbl, k2, k2tog, k8, k2tog tbl, k2, k2tog, k16, k2tog tbl, k2, k2tog, k8, k2tog tbl, k2, k2tog, k13 (74 sts)

Row 10:  k

Row 11:  k 12, k2tog tbl, k2, k2tog, k6, k2tog tbl, k2, k2tog, k14, k2tog tbl, k2, k2tog, k6, k2tog tbl, k2, k2tog, k12 (66 sts)

Row 12:  k

Row 13:  k 11, k2tog tbl, k2, k2tog, k4, k2tog tbl, k2, k2tog, k12, k2tog tbl, k2, k2tog, k4, k2tog tbl, k2, k2tog, k7, cast off 2 sts, k1 (56 sts)

Row 14:  k2, cast on 2 sts, k to end (58 sts)

Row 15:  k 10, k2tog tbl, k2, k2tog, k2, k2tog tbl, k2, k2tog, k10, k2tog tbl, k2, k2tog, k2, k2tog tbl, k2, k2tog, k10 (50 sts)

Row 16:  k

Cast off.

To make up:  Turn inside out join side and sleeve seams.  Turn right side out and attach buttons to right front to match button holes.

www.bitstobuy.co.uk 

Free gift with website orders in April - cotton tweed polo sweater kit

Here is the free offer for April.   A kit giving instructions and yarn for you to knit this lovely soft cotton tweed sweater for a 5 to 6 inch doll, very easy to knit in just a couple of hours.  It will fit all dolls house dolls such as Heidi Ott and similar, also suitable for other similar sized dolls such as Pippa, Dawn, and (if you are able to remove head to fit) Strawberry Shortcake, and other tiny bjd such as Lati Yellow and Pukifee.  Will be oversized on Hujoo Baby and smaller dolls.  You will need a pair of 2mm knitting needles.

To obtain the free kit just send an order to the webpage www.bitsotbuy.co.uk during April.

Why not have a look at the kits and extras available from the site and start knitting soon!

Free gift of yarn with all webpage orders in March

Don't forget, two free skeins of 2 ply knitting yarn with all orders from the webpage in March.  Nearly last chance to claim them!
http://bitstobuy.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/two-free-skeins-of-knitting-yarn-with.html



www.bitstobuy.co.uk

Not just knitted baby ugg boots but tiny tiny doll Ugg boots

Some time ago I adapted a pattern to make some baby knitted Ugg type boots.  That set me thinking on making the pattern even smaller, to make some Ugg boots to fit a tiny doll.  This is the result;  these will fit a doll such as the tiny bjd, Lati Yellow, Pukifee etc, and similar 6 to 7 inch tall dolls.

The British penny is to show the size, which is very small!

I have developed a new pattern, with a duffle coat, leggings and boots, to fit the tiny bjd.  The pattern will be available very soon from the webpage shop, and comes in a brown version with pink leggings, or the black version with red leggings.

www.bitstobuy.co.uk



Fabulous new knitting patterns for bjd, Lati, Pukifee and all 5 to 6" tall dolls

Check out the lovely easy to knit knitting patterns in this new leaflet

Lots of pretty new designs, my favourite is the sweater dress which looks so sweet on a Pukifee.  It is available from
http://beepbeepdesigns.blogspot.com/2012/03/simply-sweaters-bjd-lati-yellow-pukifee.html

A garden gnome tale

A garden gnome lives in our garden.  He has been passed down through the family, and my husband knows his history, so we know he dates from the 1930s.  He is made from terracotta, but is in a poor way, he is quite badly frost damaged, his arm is hanging loose and is held on with a nail, and most of the back is missing.  At some stage he has been filled with concrete to hold him together.  Originally he held a little wooden hammer but my husband remembers trashing it as a child.  Poor gnome.  But we are very attached to him.  I scrubbed him up for his photo.

A little while ago the local paper did a feature about garden gnomes.  Garden gnomes were introduced to England by Sir Charles Isham in 1847. Isham wanted to liven up his rock garden with a little color and he decided that gnomes, as then made in Germany, were the best way to do so. The only surviving terracotta gnome from Isham's 1847 introduction is now valued at two million pounds and is featured in a museum on the Isham estate in New York.  He died in 1903.

Why are you blogging about garden gnomes? I hear you ask.  Well the interesting twist to the story is that Sir Charles Isham died nearby.  Our house is actually built on the site of the house and garden where he died.  So I like to think that our garden gnome has come home.

I have to add here, I have researched his value and he is not worth 2 million pounds.  If he fetched £5 on a good day I would be surprised.  So please no raids by all the villians in the area, he is not worth anything!

You might now be thinking, what has this to do with knitting?

Well I couldn't resist.

Free miniature knitting pattern - Dolls house family part 3

I designed this pattern for a dolls house family because I thought it would be fun! OK not one for miniature collectors this one, but ideal to knit for a first dolls house for a toddler or small child. The figures are in 1:12 scale, so all the usual 12th scale garments will fit.

Here is the final part of the pattern which gives instructions for the child dolls.

DOLLS HOUSE FAMILY MINIATURE KNITTING PATTERN - CHILD DOLLS

Copyright Helen Cox 2012

Materials required: A pair of 2mm (size 14) knitting needles. A small ball of 2ply flesh coloured or cream yarn and a small ball of 2ply white yarn or 20 crochet cotton for the underclothes. Two black beads for eyes for each doll and scraps of yarn for hair. Polyester stuffing.

Measurements: The child dolls are about 4 tall. All the 1:12 scale garments in the bitstobuy range will fit the dolls.

Abbreviations: st = stitch; sts = stitches; k = knit; p = purl; ss = stocking stitch (one row knit, one row purl); inc = increase by working twice into next stitch; dec = decrease by working next two sts together; turn = turn knitting round and work back along sts just knitted; k2tog = knit 2 sts together; p2tog = purl 2 sts together; [ ] = repeat instructions in brackets.

CHILD BODY AND HEAD

Cast on 12 sts.

Ss 12 rows.

Next row:  k2, inc in next st, k6, inc in next st, k2 (14 sts)

Starting with a p row, ss 3 rows

Next row:  [k2tog] 7 times (7 sts)

Starting with a p row ss 3 rows.

Next row:  inc once in every st (14 sts)

Starting with a p row, ss 9 rows.

Next row:  [k2tog] 7 times (7 sts)

Next row:  inc purlwise once in every st (14 sts)

Ss 9 rows.

Next row:  [p2tog] 7 times (7 sts)

Ss 3 rows.

Next row:  inc purlwise once in every st (14 sts)

Ss 3 rows.

Next row:  p2, p2tog, p6, p2tog, p2 (12 sts)

Ss 12 rows.

Cast off.

To make up body and head:

Do not press. With right sides together, fold in half and seam down each side. Turn right side out and insert a small amount of stuffing. Close bottom seam.

ARM (Make two )

Cast on 10 sts.

Ss 8 rows.

Next row:  k, decreasing one st at each end of row (8 sts).

Starting with a p row ss 5 rows.

Next row:  [k2tog] 4 times (4 sts)

Next row:  inc purlwise once in every st (8 sts)

Ss 4 rows.

Break yarn, leaving a long end, and gather through sts.  Fasten off.

To make up:

Do not press. With wrong sides together, fold in half and seam on right side with small stitches, inserting a small amount of stuffing at the same time. Leave top open. Sew into place on body.

LEG (Make two)

Cast on 3 sts.

Next row:  Inc once in every st (6 sts)

Next row:  p

Next row:  [k2, inc in next st] twice (8 sts)

Starting with a p row ss 3 rows.

To turn heel:

Next row: k1, turn

Next row: p

Next row: k2, turn

Next row: p

Next row: k3, turn

Next row: p

Next row: k to end

Next row: p1, turn

Next row: k

Next row: p2, turn

Next row: k

Next row: p3, turn

Next row:  k

Starting with a p row ss 7 rows.

Next row:  k, increasing one st at each end of row (10 sts).

Starting with a p row ss 11 rows.

Cast off.

To make up:

Do not press. With wrong sides together, fold in half and seam on right side with small stitches, inserting a small amount of stuffing at the same time. Leave top open. Sew into place on body.

Finishing:

Make hair as follows:

Girl  – cut lengths of yarn about 12 inches (30 cm) long and sew into place on head along parting.   Tie girls hair into bunches and secure at side of head, trim or make into plaits.  Tie red yarn around plaits as ribbon.

Boy – Cut lengths of yarn about 2 inches (5 cm) long and sew into place on parting.  Sew long loops at front of head for fringe.  Trim to length.

Sew tiny black beads to face for eyes.

KNICKERS

Cast on 14 sts. Work in k1, p1 rib for 2 rows.

Next row: Working in k, inc 1 st at each end of row (16 sts)

Beginning with a p row, ss 9 rows.

Continue in ss, dec one st at each end of the next 6 rows (4 sts).

Ss 4 rows.

Continue in ss, inc one st at each end of the next 6 rows (16 sts).

Ss 9 rows.

Next row: Working in p, dec 1 st at each end of row (14 sts)

Work in k1, p1 rib for 2 rows. Cast off in rib.

To make up:

With right sides together fold in half and join along the side seams. Turn right side out and press very gently with a cool iron.

 

BOXER SHORTS

Cast on 14 sts. Work in k1, p1 rib for 2 rows.

Next row:  Working in k, inc 1 st at each end of row (16 sts)

Beginning with a p row, ss 11 rows.

Next row:  Cast off 4 sts, k to end (12 sts)

Next row:  Cast off 4 sts purlwise, p to end (8 sts)

Continue in ss, dec one st at each end of the next 2 rows (4 sts).

Ss 4 rows.

Continue in ss, inc one st at each end of the next 2 rows (8 sts).

Next row:  Cast on 4 sts, k to end (12 sts)

Next row:  Cast on 4 sts, p to end (16 sts)

Ss 11 rows.

Next row:  Working in p, dec 1 st at each end of row (14 sts)

Work in k1, p1 rib for 2 rows.  Cast off in rib.

To make up:

With right sides together fold in half and join along the side seams.  Turn right side out and press very gently with a cool iron.

(My apologies for the formatting of the above pattern, I have problems copying and pasting successfully into Blogger!)

 

The pattern is also available as a kit from the website www.bitstobuy.co.uk, giving all the yarn etc needed to complete the whole family.

 

Has anyone tried the patterns?  What did you think?