The Nutty Knitter's blog

Voyager cap - the experiment

2012-01-26T15:13:00.000Z

So I set out to knit a voyager cap for my husband, following Wicked Woollen's pattern.
I used Rowan's dk tweed, which is 100% pure new wool, colour scheme Askrigg.

The hat started to look worryingly large, but I was reassured by Wicked Woollen's comfirmation that that was just as it should be!
I even dared going a bit bigger, because my husband has a big head. Haha!
The final measurements of the finished hat before felting was 66cm/26" long and 52cm/20.5" circumference.

Then the felting fun began!

I used an old large boiling bucket and a stick of soap, filled it with hot water (as hot as I could bear to touch) and got rubbing.
I found a wire mesh in the garden, which I found useful for rubbing against; but just stirring, rubbing and wringing the fabric in the water worked pretty well too.

Just as I started to panic, because if anything the hat seemed to get bigger, it started to get smaller.
The fabric feels lovely and thick and soft.

It fits my husband perfectly. Handsome, eh?!

Sunshine International Blankets of Love - SQUARES PROJECTS

2012-01-20T15:01:00.000Z

Don't know what to do with your left-over yarn and have some time to make some squares?

Sunshine International Blankets of Love is on the look-out for 6x6" squares for a number of projects.
There is the 'One Heart From Around the World Challenge' and the 'Olympics London 2012 Challenge' and the 'Irish Rose Challenge' and the 'Musical Challenge' and many more ...
Follow the link below to find out more.

SIBOL CHALLENGES 2011: SIBOL CHALLENGES (THREE NEW OPTIONAL CHALLENGES).2...: Hi Everyone! Welcome to 'SIBOL Challenges!' For your information 'SIBOL' (Main Blog) 'SIBOL-The Archi...

Voyager cap

2012-01-13T20:22:00.000Z

I am hoping to try knitting a voyager cap (also called sailor's cap or Machault Cap), based on a traditional 18th century pattern.I purchased this pattern from Wicked Woollens on Ravelry.The cap is knitted in a long egg-shape, felted and then doubled in on itself.My husband quite fancies the cap for himself, so it will be a surprise for him.

Mug cosies

2012-01-08T17:34:00.002Z

Here are my first attempts at Kristen TenDyke's mug cosies:

With Valentines Day in mind ...

2012-01-07T20:39:00.006Z

Here is my next project. (Trying to get ready for Valentines Day in time for once, rather than leaving it to the last minute!)

See the pattern for this pretty heart mug cozy on Kristen TenDyke's webpage here.

Hopefully pictures of my own cosies will follow soon ...

Using up stash

2011-12-30T13:07:00.011Z

Christmas is a good time to try to use up some of the yarn stash - especially those little bits of left-over yarn, which is never enough for anything much ...

I love knitting Elizabeth Zimmerman's surprise jacket and with its stripey pattern it is a great jacket for using up the odd bits of yarn!

With the first jacket I really did use up my bits of yarn as they appeared - although I tried to keep the stripes relatively even.

My second jacket is going to be a little bit more formal. I used beige as a background with even stripes, mostly in blues and greens.

Plenty more stash to use up ... but at least I have made a start!

Advent calendar

2011-12-28T20:19:00.004Z

I made this mittens Advent calendar just in time for our Christmas fair. just before the first Advent Sunday.
thank you to Sarah for buying it! :)

Baby shoes

2011-10-14T20:34:00.003+01:00

Thanks to Audrey Wilson on Ravelry I have made these adorable little baby shoes.

Made from scraps of yarn in DK on needles size 3 1/2, they fit a newborn. Two tiny buttons are also required.

I knitted them sitting in the car (as a passenger, of course!) on our family trip to North Wales. They took no time to make!

Cuddles

2011-05-17T14:12:00.005+01:00

At the moment I am knitting again for Cuddles, a UK based charity which knits tiny garments and small blankets for still-born babies and which supplies gowns, blankets and wraps to maternity units all over the UK.

Here my latest blanket (knitted in 4 ply), with another on the go.

Edit: The second blanket is now finished. It is larger in size with a pattern around the edge.

Baby set pattern

2011-03-19T15:18:00.005Z

My Baby Set pattern has been checked and proof-read and is now up for sale on my Ravelry page.

The pattern is for a hat/beanie, a pair of booties and a pair of mittens, designed to fit a 0-3 month old baby.

Newborn baby mittens

2011-03-12T14:22:00.005Z

Here is a free pattern for mittens in a newborn size:

Material: DK yarn, remnants

Needles: 3 ½ mm/ US 4/UK 9

Abbreviations:

K = knit

P = purl

stst = stocking stitch

k2tog = knit 2 together

sl1k1 = slip 1 stitch, knit 1 stitch

psso = pass slipped stitch over the knitted stitch

Mittens (Make 2)

Cast on 28 sts. Rib K1, P1 for 14 rows.

Then knit in stst for 16 rows.

Reduce for top:

17^th row: K2, sl1k1, psso, K7, k2tog, K2, sl1k1, psso, K7, k2tog, K2 (= 24 sts)

All reverse rows: purl

19^th row: K2, sl1k1, psso, K5, k2tog, K2, sl1k1, psso, K5, k2tog, K2 (= 20 sts)

21^st row: K2, sl1k1, psso, K3, k2tog, K2, sl1k1, psso, K3, k2tog, K2 (= 16 sts)

Cast of and close seam. Darn in all remaining ends.

The pattern of a full set of hat, bootees and mittens should be for sale on my ravelry page soon!

Teddies for Tragedies

2011-01-27T11:36:00.004Z

I knitted this little fellow from a amended pattern, which I found on the Teddies for Tragedies site. He stand 10" tall.

Here is the knitting pattern and the crochet pattern.

Christmas tree decorations

2010-12-21T18:50:00.004Z

Here are some Christmas tree decorations, which I knitted for the church Christmas fair.

The Santas are by far my favourite!

The pattern is taken from Alan Dart's Advent Tree.

Ribbed beanie - FREE PATTERN

2010-11-19T19:52:00.002Z

This beanie - modelled by my lovely husband - is a new FREE pattern and can be found on my Ravelry page.

Please visit and see for yourself.

the big knit 2010

2010-08-29T15:54:00.003+01:00

The producers of innocent smoothies have organised another BIG KNIT this year.

The challenge is to knit 800,000 little hats (to be put on the smoothies bottles).

For every behatted bottle sold, 25p will be donated to Age UK.

There are some fabulous contributions. Patterns can be downloaded from the BIG KNIT website or own patterns can be used.

The deadline is the 5th of October - so it's not too late to get those knitting needles out!

Snail tea cosy

2010-08-26T11:51:00.005+01:00

I made this snail tea cosy for a competition for the Marie Curie Cancer charity

More information on my Ravelry site, and the pattern is now for sale here.

Another foodie project ...

2010-08-07T15:14:00.006+01:00

... this time a fruit and veg theme.

With little else to knit during the summer I am knitting a collection of fruit and vegetables for our harvest festival.

The patterns are picked from various patterns on ravelry, and so far I am very pleased with how realistic they look!

I am hoping to ask people to help themselves to a knitted piece of fruit or veg, with any donations given to charity.

Full English Breakfast

2010-06-01T18:57:00.004+01:00

My friend Gillian is the one who came up with the request to make her a knitted breakfast.

She, her husband and the rest of 'The Team' have produced a wonderful breakfast on a Saturday morning in St George's church in Wolverton for several years now - feeding up to 40 people each time. The breakfast is enjoyed by many people, and at the same time people can come and collect their Food Bank food parcels.

So it seemed a small thing to knit a Full English Breakfast. Enjoy, Gillian!

More Surprise Jackets ...

2010-05-25T20:42:00.014+01:00

... because I like them! Here is the one I made previously - now with buttons and edging.

I went to Germany for a week and took the Surprise Jacket pattern plus needles and some yarn.

Well, I did spend many, many hours on the overnight coach and I do like the pattern - so much that I ended up buying more yarn and finishing 4 more jackets!

I tried the suggested I-cord edging - my first time ever. On one jacket I did the I-cord edging all the way around the edge, on two others just around the neckline. It certainly makes for a neater finish.

That will be enough for now. Now, what shall be my next project ...??

Elizabeth Zimmermann's Surprise Jacket - the finished object!

2010-05-06T15:49:00.005+01:00

Three days later, and here it is - the finished surprise jacket.

I had a million ends to darn in, but it was worth it. All I need to do now is decide on the right buttons. The front edge has button holes worked in on both sides - so it can be used for a boy or a girl. Very versatile!

I enjoyed knitting this jacket.

It felt a little like 'knitting by faith alone' - because the shape of the piece as it grows makes no sense at all ... until you finish it and join the correct seams together!

However, the pattern isn't too difficult at all. It is one of those, which simply needs to be followed to the letter - without stopping to think how and why!

I am away for a week, and I will take enough yarn for another jacket (or two)

Elizabeth Zimmermann's Surprise Jacket

2010-05-03T14:36:00.004+01:00

I have joined this KAL (Knit-along) at Ravelry to try myself at the Baby Surprise Jacket by Elizabeth Zimmermann.

It is knitted in one piece and turns out to be the strangest of shapes ... but with just closing two seams it turns into a baby jacket. (Or so I have been assured - I am not quite there yet myself ...)

I am using my cotton stash. I love how the colours blend into each other.

Mother's Day posy

2010-04-22T14:54:00.004+01:00

I finished the posy brooch, which I have knitted for my mother on Mother's Day (which, in Germany, is celebrated on the second Sunday in May)

It is quite pretty, although it was a bit fiddly to make, and it took me ages to gather the energy and patience to finish it off!

The pattern is available free and can be found here.

April Stash Bust

2010-04-11T19:32:00.003+01:00

Thanks to Crafty Green Poet I have come across the April Stash Bust.

For somebody who has a whole wardrobe full of yarn stash, a stash bust sounds like a great idea!

Only last week did I send my sock yarn remnants (see above) to a fellow knitter in Ravelry's p/hop group.

Plumbum is going to make this blanket and pledges to donate money to Medecins Sans Fontieres (Doctors Without Borders) for every batch of sock remnants she receives for her project.

Read more about the April Stash Bust here.

Rabbitty comfort blankets

2010-04-11T19:27:00.002+01:00

I finished four of these comfort blankets. They are knitted from double strands of DK cotton mix.

Although I have made them in more unusual colours in the past I tend to prefer them in the traditional baby blue and pink. Call me old-fashioned ...

Colour Block blanket

2010-04-02T14:52:00.000+01:00

I finished Lion brand's Colour Block blanket last night, and I am quite pleased with the outcome.

It's already parceled up, ready to be sent off to Algerian Action tomorrow, together with three jumpers and some sweets for the Eid project 2010.

Needless to say, I have already started another project - but that's for another day ...

Ravelry!

2010-03-31T19:13:00.000+01:00

How did I ever manage without it??

Just recently I have joined Ravelry - a great community of knitters and crocheters, with as many patterns available (free or for sale) as I will ever need in my entire life!!

To see my own Ravelry page, look for madhat66 here.

My own designs can be found here.

Please come and visit me!

Tardis ipod cover

2010-03-21T19:17:00.000Z

My daughter loves everything to do with Dr Who and David Tennant. She is not easily motivated to pick up the knitting needles, but this weekend she was keen to knit a Tardis cover for her ipod Nano.

It is knitted in 4-ply and fits her ipod quite snugly.

The 'light' on top doubles as a button to close the top securely.

Das Monster

2010-03-20T15:46:00.000Z

I found this amazing pair of toddler 'longies' on Ravelry.

How cool are they??!

I cannot wait to try knitting it myself.

The pattern is available free here and here.

Etsy

2010-03-19T12:35:00.000Z

After a long silent period I have relisted two patterns in my etsy shop.

Here is the pattern for socks with after-thought heel (sizes new-born to adult)

And here the pattern for egg cosies.

Both are sent via email as a pdf attachment, so there is no lengthy wait for the postman to arrive!

Squares

2010-03-17T20:18:00.000Z

I have started my next stash-clearing project - the colour block blanket. (See two posts below)

Here are the very first squares ...

Jumpers for Algerian Action

2010-03-17T06:55:00.000Z

I finished three jumpers for Algerian Action.

It has been a fun way of eating into my stash of yarn, especially because I have so many colours to choose from at the moment.

For the free pattern for these jumpers, please look here.

I must admit that it has hardly made a difference to my hoarded yarn stash, so I have started the Colour Block blanket (see previous post) as my next project.

Colour Blocks Baby Blanket - free pattern

2010-03-12T19:51:00.000Z

This free Lionbrand pattern has just gone on my list-of-things-to-do. I love the different-coloured squares!

Colour Blocks Baby Blanket

Lion Brand® Cotton-Ease® (new)

GAUGE:
18 sts + 34 rows = 4 in. (10 cm) in Garter st (k every row). BE SURE TO CHECK YOUR GAUGE. When you match the gauge in a pattern, your project will be the size specified in the pattern and the materials specified in the pattern will be sufficient. If it takes you fewer stitches and rows to make a 4 in. [10 cm] square, try using a smaller size hook or needles; if more stitches and rows, try a larger size hook or needles.

NOTES:
Blanket is made up of 30 individual Squares. All Squares are knit following instructions for Garter Square, with specific color(s) noted for each Square.

GARTER SQUARE
Increase Half
Cast on 5 sts.
Row 1: Knit.
Row 2: K2, yo, knit to end.
Rows 3 and 4: Rep Row 2.
Rep Row 2 until there are 37 sts on needle.
Decrease Half
Next Row: K2, yo, k2tog twice, knit to end.
Rep last row until 5 sts remain.
Bind off.

SQUARE 1 (half diagonal stripe/half solid square) With A, cast on and work Rows 1 and 2 of Increase Half of Garter Square. With B, work Rows 3 and 4. Continue to alternate 2 rows each of A and B to work Increase Half.
Change to A and work Decrease Half of Garter Square.

SQUARE 2 (solid color square)
With C, work Garter Square.

SQUARE 3 (diagonal stripe square)
With D, cast on and work Rows 1 and 2 of Increase Half of Garter Square. With E, work Rows 3 and 4. Continue to alternate 2 rows each of D and E to work Increase and Decrease Halves.

SQUARE 4 (2 color square)
With A, work Increase Half of Garter Square. Change to F and work Decrease Half of Garter Square.

SQUARE 5 (2 color square)
With D, work Increase Half of Garter Square. Change to E and work Decrease Half of Garter Square.

SQUARE 6 (diagonal stripe square)
With E, cast on and work Rows 1 and 2 of Increase Half of Garter Square. With G, work Rows 3 and 4. Continue to alternate 2 rows each of E and G to work Increase and Decrease Halves.

SQUARE 7 (2 color square)
With H, work Increase Half of Garter Square. Change to I and work Decrease Half of Garter Square.

SQUARE 8 (solid color square)
With F, work Garter Square.

SQUARE 9 (half diagonal stripe/half solid square)
With H, cast on and work Rows 1 and 2 of Increase Half of Garter Square. With J, work Rows 3 and 4. Continue to alternate 2 rows each of H and J to work Increase Half.
Change to J and work Decrease Half of Garter Square.

SQUARE 10 (solid color square)
With B, work Garter Square.

SQUARE 11 (2 color square)
With B, work Increase Half of Garter Square. Change to F and work Decrease Half of Garter Square.

SQUARE 12 (solid color square)
With J, work Garter Square.

SQUARE 13 (half diagonal stripe/half solid square)
With E, cast on and work Rows 1 and 2 of Increase Half of Garter Square. With F, work Rows 3 and 4. Continue to alternate 2 rows each of E and F to work Increase Half.
Change to E and work Decrease Half of Garter Square.

SQUARE 14 (solid color square)
With K, work Garter Square.

SQUARE 15 (half diagonal stripe/half solid square)
With A, cast on and work Rows 1 and 2 of Increase Half of Garter Square. With E, work Rows 3 and 4. Continue to alternate 2 rows each of A and E for Increase Half. Change to F and work Decrease Half of Garter Square.

SQUARE 16 (2 color square)
With C, work Increase Half of Garter Square. Change to E and work Decrease Half of Garter Square.

SQUARE 17 (half diagonal stripe/half solid square)
With H, cast on and work Rows 1 and 2 of Increase Half of Garter Square. With I, work Rows 3 and 4. Continue to alternate 2 rows each of H and I to work Increase Half.
Change to H and work Decrease Half of Garter Square.

SQUARE 18 (2 color square)
With C, work Increase Half of Garter Square. Change to J and work Decrease Half of Garter Square.

SQUARE 19 (half diagonal stripe/half solid square)
With A, cast on and work Rows 1 and 2 of Increase Half of Garter Square. With G, work Rows 3 and 4. Continue to alternate 2 rows each of A and G to work Increase Half.
Change to G and work Decrease Half of Garter Square.

SQUARE 20 (solid color square)
With I, work Garter Square.

SQUARE 21 (2 color square)
With A, work Increase Half of Garter Square. Change to J and work Decrease Half of Garter Square.

SQUARE 22 (solid color square)
With G, work Garter Square.

SQUARE 23 (half diagonal stripe/half solid square)
With D, cast on and work Rows 1 and 2 of Increase Half of Garter Square. With K, work Rows 3 and 4. Continue to alternate 2 rows each of D and K to work Increase Half.
Change to K and work Decrease Half of Garter Square.

SQUARE 24 (2 color square)
With C, cast on and work Increase Half of Garter Square. Change to F and work Decrease Half of Garter Square.

SQUARE 25 (half diagonal stripe/half solid square)
With C, cast on and work Rows 1 and 2 of Increase Half of Garter Square. With E, work Rows 3 and 4. Continue to alternate 2 rows each of C and E to work Increase Half.
Change to E and work Decrease Half of Garter Square.

SQUARE 26 (2 color square)
With D, work Increase Half of Garter Square. Change to E and work Decrease Half of Garter Square.

SQUARE 27 (diagonal stripe square)
With E, cast on and work Rows 1 and 2 of Increase Half of Garter Square. With K, work Rows 3 and 4. Continue to alternate 2 rows each of E and K to work Increase and Decrease Halves.

SQUARE 28 (2 color square)
With F, work Increase Half of Garter Square. Change to I and work Decrease Half of Garter Square.

SQUARE 29 (solid color square)
With A, work Garter Square.

SQUARE 30 (2 color square)
With G, work Increase Half of Garter Square. Change to J and work Decrease Half of Garter Square.

FINISHING
Following Assembly Diagram, sew Squares into 5 strips of 6 squares each. Sew strips together to make Blanket.
Weave in ends.

Fingerless gloves

2010-03-03T17:23:00.000Z

My friend Gabrielle lost one of her fingerless gloves on the train on the way to work.

Here is a new improved pair I made for her:

Tea Time

2010-02-28T13:28:00.000Z

Thanks to Sandra *Jill* and her blog I found this Tea Time competition:

"Bei der tollen Idee von Mias Mama & Casa di Falcone mache ich natürlich gerne mit.
Zeigt Ihnen Eure schönsten Tea Time/Tortenbilder und mit etwas Glück kann man ein “Tee-Glücklichmach-Überraschungspäckchen” gewinnen."

Here is my contribution - the cupcakes I knitted for Gillian back in March 2009

Hier ist mein Beitrag - die Törtchen, die ich im März 2009 für Gillian gestrickt habe:

Free pattern - child's jumper

2010-02-27T14:41:00.000Z

I have just started some charity knitting to use up some of last year's stash.

My present charity is Algerian Action.

Please help yourself to the pattern, print is, use it, share it ...!

Any queries or comments about the pattern, please just let me know

Child's Jumper

Needles:

3 ¼ and 4mm

Material required:

DK, approx:

150g; 180g; 200g; 230g; 250g

For sizes, approx:

18 ; 20 ; 22 ; 24 ; 26

For years, approx:

1 ; 2 ; 3-4 ; 5-6 ; 7

Abbreviations:

STST = stocking stitch

sts = stitches

Front:

Using 3 ¼mm needles cast on 60(66;72;78;80) sts; work in rib for 12(12;12;14;14) rows.

Change to 4mm needles and proceed in STST **until piece measures 55(61;70;80;84) rows** from beg. of STST.

Shape neck:

Knit 24(26;29;32;33) sts; turn and proceed as follows. Knit 1 row, then decrease 1 st at neck edge in next and every following alternate row to 20(22;25;27;28) sts; then continue without further shaping to 70(76;86;96;102) rows. Right side facing cast off.

Slip middle 12(14;14;14;14) sts onto stitch holder, rejoin yarn and work the other side accordingly.

Back:

As Front until **, then knit instead **until piece measures 60(66;75;85;89) rows**.

Then continue as for Front.

Sleeves (make 2):

Using 3 ¼ mm needles cast on 28(30;34;36;40) sts and rib for 12(12;12;14;14) sts. In next row change to needles 4, continue in STST and increase to 32(34;38;40;44) sts; then increase 1 st on each end in every 4^th row to 50(56;62;66;72) sts. Then continue without further shaping to 46(52;60;66;74) rows from beg. of STST.

Neckband:

Join right shoulder seam. With right side facing and 3 ¼mm needles pick up and knit as follows: 14(15;15;16;16) sts along left side of neck (front);

12(14;14;14;14) sts from stitch holder;

14(15;15;16;16) sts along right side of neck (front);

10(10;12;12;14) sts along right side of neck (back);

12(14;14;14;14) sts from stitch holder;

10(10;12;12;14) sts along left side of neck (back).

= 72(78;82;84;88) sts.

Work in rib for 8 rows. Purl 9^th row to make a fold ridge, then rib another 8 rows. Cast off in rib loosely, turn neckband in and loosely stitch to the inside.

Join left shoulder seam. Sew sleeves to the shoulders and join remaining side and sleeve seams. Darn in all ends.

The K Factor

2010-02-25T18:39:00.000Z

My family challenged me to enter the Harry Hill K Factor knitting competition.

So I decided to knit a Harry-Hill-look-a-like balaclava. Here it is:

For anybody who doesn't know what Harry Hill looks like:

Unicorn

2010-02-14T16:19:00.000Z

My sister asked me if I could knit a unicorn for my little niece Marie for Christmas.

I had the pattern for the donkey from the nativity set (see previous post), and managed to convert it to turn into this unicorn:

Nativity

2010-02-14T16:02:00.003Z

After a long time of not writing in my blog, here is an update on what I spent six months last year knitting: two nativity sets (following the Sirdar patter by Alan Dart) for two friends at church.

The characters were quite fiddly and took a long time to knit, but it was also a great joy to create them with my own hands!

Here are some pictures of one of the sets (taken on a sunny summer's day in our garden):

Gillian's cupcake

2009-03-20T14:55:00.000Z

Gillian, a friend from church, asked me to knit her some cupcakes.
After searching for some patterns on the internet I finally decided to design my own pattern.

Here is what I made so far.

Preparing for Easter

2009-03-14T12:51:00.000Z

This year I am knitting Easter items for charity.
Here is a whole batch of freshly hatched chickens, rabbits and ducklings:

These little toys stand 7"/18cm tall (including ears).
I first made them as little gnomes when my nephews were little. This year I have decided to turn them into rabbits.
Here is just one of them. (More may follow ...)

Snow, snow, snow!

2009-02-06T15:13:00.000Z

Snow is something we don't often get ... and this week we have been blessed with more than we know what to do with!
The school was closed for most of the week - much to the children's excitement.

Now then ... who's for a snowball fight??

It's been a while ...

2009-01-10T14:22:00.000Z

I can't believe it's been 4 months since I last wrote on my blog!

I have spent the Christmas break using up some of my wool stash by making stripey jumpers for toddlers. They are knitted from sleeve to sleeve, creating vertical stripes.

I have found two new knitting charities for my jumpers:

Algerian Action
and
Project Peru

Forest walk

2008-09-21T17:40:00.000+01:00

Today we wanted to make the most of the beautiful autumn weather, so we took a walk in Salcey Forest.
The sun was just starting to rise through the trees.

We found some mushrooms too.

This the the treetop walk ...

... which takes you right above the tree canope.

New sleeping socks - rainbow version

2008-09-21T08:14:00.000+01:00

Do you remember my sleeping socks - made from a 1970's vintage pattern?
Well here is the latest version.
Knitted in navy in pure wool, with cheerful stripes in all the colours of the rainbow.

You can find them in my etsy shop here.

Etsy update

2008-09-19T19:33:00.001+01:00

Here is my latest etsy relisting.

This waistcoat is handknitted from handspun pure wool and alpaca in their natural colours - wool-white and black.
It is wonderfully soft and warm!
Closed with three wooden toggle buttons.
Edges with noughts-and-crosses pattern.

Being made of pure wool the waistcoat requires special love and care.
Please only hand-wash and dry flat. Do not tumble-dry.

Fits chest 26"/66 cm. Approx. 3-4 years.

Kiva

2008-09-19T19:33:00.000+01:00

Oh dear. It's a long time since I have written in my blog.

Kiva is a website I came across recently.
It presents a wonderful opportunity to lend money to entrepeneurs in developing countries, enabling them to setting up their enterprises and making a living.

Here is more information from the website:

Kiva's mission is to connect people through lending for the sake of alleviating poverty.

Kiva is the world's first person-to-person micro-lending website, empowering individuals to lend directly to unique entrepreneurs in the developing world.

The people you see on Kiva's site are real individuals in need of funding - not marketing material. When you browse entrepreneurs' profiles on the site, choose someone to lend to, and then make a loan, you are helping a real person make great strides towards economic independence and improve life for themselves, their family, and their community. Throughout the course of the loan (usually 6-12 months), you can receive email journal updates and track repayments. Then, when you get your loan money back, you can relend to someone else in need.

Interested? Then just follow this link!

Save the Children baby hat appeal

2008-07-13T22:21:00.000+01:00

Save the Children have launched a new appeal for people to knit baby hats for children in developing countries.

Knitting a hat for a newborn baby can help save its life. Telling politicians to do their bit could save the lives of millions of newborns each year.

A newborn baby can't regulate its own body temperature. It loses lots of vital body heat through its head which make it more prone to pneumonia - a disease which still kills around 2 million children each year.
We want 10 million people to take action by 2010 for the 10 million children. Be one of them. Make sure the very poorest children aren't left to die.

You can download the knit kit and a sample pattern here.

A visitor

2008-06-29T16:26:00.001+01:00

Today a resident frog moved into our pond.
We don't know where he came from, but this morning he was just there!

I hope he'll stay for a while ...

Pond update

2008-06-27T03:01:00.001+01:00

At the weekend we treated ourselves to a few pond plants, which have reformed our little pond.
There is now also a little water feature, which helps to airate the water.

As you can see the water - which had turned very green for a while - is starting to clear quite nicely.

Our two pond snails are helping in that process. Here is one of them in action
It is a Great Pond Snail (Lymnea Stagnalis), and it looks strangely like Yoda from Star Wars. Teehee!

Jam making

2008-06-13T18:10:00.001+01:00

Working only part-time may mean that we are not very rich in financial terms - but we are rich in time!

Today was my day off, and I made some rhubarb (or should that be roobarb) jam.
I life rhubarb jam, because it keeps its tart flavour very well.

Here is the preparation:

And here the finished result. Yum!
Jam sandwich, anybody?

Today we made ...

2008-06-08T16:54:00.000+01:00

... a pond!
So, it is only a very little pond, but we are hoping it will attract some wildlife into our garden.
Somewhere for the birds to drink.
And perhaps even a resident frog.

Slowing down

2008-06-05T13:01:00.000+01:00

Over the last week or two I have had trouble with my wrist, leading to weakness and shooting pain in my thumb.
As a result I haven't been able to spend much time at the computer or do any knitting or crocheting.

At the same time my right knee has been playing up, so I will have to give running a rest for a bit too.

It seems like I cannot do the things I most enjoy.
It's as if somebody is telling me to slow down and look around me! So I am trying to be a bit philosophical about it, and make the most of my enforced slowing down period.

Still, it does feel strange ...
Any ideas how I could be spending my time?

The bluetits have flown ...

2008-05-29T12:03:00.000+01:00

Following the departure of the bluetit babies I opened the nestbox.
It was packed with wonderful nesting material ... moss, grass, fleece and feathers.

I removed the contents to prevent parasites settling in.
Now I will leave it to dry out for a while ... with all the recent rain it was quite damp inside!

You get a better look at the nesting material here. Looks nice and snug, doesn't it?

Cuddles

2008-05-13T18:07:00.000+01:00

I just finished another three blankets for Cuddles.

"We are a volunteer, non-profit organisation based in the UK. We attempt to support the families dealing with the loss of their baby through miscarriage or stillbirth. We supply gowns, blankets and wraps to maternity units all over the UK."

I always enjoy knitting those delicate little items in 3-ply or 4-ply, and only ever knit them when I have peace of mind and nothing else going on.
I particularly like to knit blankets, because I know that parents often take them home as keep-sakes ... and that there are one of the few things to remind them of the little time they had with their son or daughter.

Here are some comments which were made by parents who lost their baby. I am sure they speak for themselves:

"We would like to thank you for your donation of a
beautiful blanket which we were able to use to wrap
our baby who was stillborn. Our little Hero passed
away last 26th April 2007. He looked peaceful and warm
wrapped in your knitted blanket."

"The midwives were fantastic and supportive. This is an extremelyhard and sad time. Knowing that there are people like you that care, makes it that little bit bearable."

"We kept the clothes that S... was dressed in. We will keep themsafe and cherish them."

"Thank you so much."

Blue tits and the dreaded gooseberry sawfly ...

2008-05-12T11:19:00.000+01:00

The dreaded gooseberry sawfly, which took a liking to our gooseberry and white current bushes last year, has come back for more ...
Raising two ot three generations during the summer, they can defoliate the entire plant, leaving only the leaf veins and stalks. Although they look like small caterpillars, they develop into a non-stinging wasp-like fly.
So I have started checking daily and picking the green larvae off by hand.

Luckily our resident blue tits are now raising their chicks, and they have discovered this perfect food source so close to their home. So I have a couple of eager helpers!

Here are some pictures of the blue tit parents flying in and out of the nest box. They are taken from my son's bedroom widow. Not the best quality, but you get the idea ...
(I especially like the blurry shape of the bird flying off!)

Christian Aid week 11th - 17th May 2008

2008-05-11T10:07:00.000+01:00

This week is Christian Aid week.
If you get an envelope through the door, why not give generously?
Or donate through the official website?

Here is some information about the aims and activities of the organisation, taken from their website:

"We work in more than 50 countries, for example Afghanistan, the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Colombia, Nigeria, Kenya and Brazil. We are frequently not alone: Christian Aid often works with sister agencies, such as Action by Churches Together International, in disaster relief activities.
With our partners and allies, we uphold a commitment to honesty, professionalism, mutual respect, accountability and diversity. We are committed to the Red Cross and Red Crescent Code of Conduct, meaning we never link aid with evangelism.
Our staff share the diversity of nationality, faith and ethnicity yet are all committed to the essential purpose of Christian Aid and its role as a Christian relief, development and advocacy agency.
Christian Aid is a voice for the poor, not afraid of getting political. We believe that God does not want poverty, injustice, discrimination and unsustainable development in the world. So we campaign for change, challenging structures and systems that make and keep people poor. The values of justice, peace and love must challenge the world’s values and our own, prompting us to re-examine how our lifestyles and decisions affect others. That is our charitable purpose and part of our Christian vocation. It does not mean getting involved in party politics but it does mean confronting with the truth people who have the power to change things. Christian Aid does not try to hide its anger when poor people are exploited."

Running update

2008-05-10T17:30:00.000+01:00

Here is my latest running update:
This morning I went for another run. Luckily I made it back home before the sun decided to break through the hazy cloud cover.

I am now up to 60 minutes of solid running - covering approx. 9 km in the process.
Some improvement on the 6 km I managed when I started back in February ...

This morning my route took me past the Grand Union Canal and along an old disused canal arm, which once went to Buckingham.

Here are the locks at Cosgrove:

Garden update

2008-05-02T13:40:00.000+01:00

Now May is here and the weather forecast for the week is pretty good, the beans have moved out into the garden.
They are looking fine after their first night out.

The alpine strawberries caught my eye, so I took a picture of them too.
Spot the little ant!

Sock mania

2008-05-02T13:22:00.000+01:00

Here are my latest socks, UK size 5-7 (approximately 2-3 years).
I love the bright sunny colours, so I call them the 'Walking on Sunshine socks'.

They are knitted with a peasant heel (also called 'afterthought heel') - a pattern which I have been using for a few years now.
I wrote my own pattern which gives 8 different sizes, ranging from newborn to adult size. It is very versatile and can, with a little practice, be adapted to fit any foot size.

The pattern can be purchased in pdf format from my etsy shop. Full instructions and two pages of pictures included.

Baby booties

2008-04-25T07:16:00.001+01:00

Yesterday I finished a new pair of baby booties.

I love these, because of the rim running around the base of the bootie - making it look like a 'proper sole'.

These booties are make from 100% new wool, and they are beautifully soft and warm.

Things happening in the garden ...

2008-04-24T15:18:00.000+01:00

Hedgewitch has inspired me to post my own seedling pictures.

The last year was such a poor growing season, that we have been a little late with sowing our seeds.
But, finally, here they are!
From left to right: cucumbers, runner beans, sweetcorn, tomatoes:

And these dinky things are going to be our salad greens:

And while I was out in the garden, this array of colour by the old wooden stumps caught my eye:

Cotton basket

2008-04-18T11:52:00.000+01:00

This cotton basket took me ages to make ... after all, I am a nutty knitter and not a nutty crocheter!

I really like it though, and it is very versatile.
Made from from natural cotton string, it is strong and yet flexible.

Can be viewed in my etsy shop

Totoro

2008-04-12T16:18:00.000+01:00

My daughter wanted to crochet Totoro for her friend Poppie's birthday. Typically for her, she thought about it two days before the party - so we had a frantic couple of days!
Here are some pictures we took:

In our excitement and rush we forgot to take a picture of the finished item.
Here are a couple I found on the web:

Blue tits nesting

2008-04-10T14:54:00.000+01:00

We put up our nest box years ago, but it was only last year that a pair of blue tits chose it to raise their babies.
This year they are back (or, at least a pair looking just like them!)

To help with the nest building process, we have hung a piece of unspun wool outside. It didn't take them long to find it, and we can watch them pull at it with great enthusiam, taking small amounts into the nest box.

If I manage to take a picture of the blue tits in action, I will post it here.

Snow!

2008-04-06T17:54:00.001+01:00

Just when I thought spring was on its way!
This morning we woke up to the most snow we have had all winter.

Here are some pictures my daughter took first thing this morning, in her skimpy pyjamas:

Spring is here ...

2008-04-01T07:54:00.001+01:00

We haven't started growing anything in the garden yet, but my needles have been busy ...
This scarf reminds me of spring with it's gentle colour and the vibrant flowers.

May our garden look like this soon!

More illusion knitting ...

2008-03-30T21:06:00.000+01:00

Here is a little shoulder bag, lined with cotton, which is for sale in my etsy shop.

Illusion knitting

2008-03-16T09:51:00.000Z

Illusion knitting is something my husband brought to my attention recently, after he had stumbled across it on the internet.

It is knitted in stripes of two colours.
When looking down on it, it appears just like a stripey fabric, but when looking from an angle it reveals its secret:
A hidden image, created by ridges in stocking stitch!

So it was time to try it for myself! Here is the stripey cloth:

And here is the hidden image:

Feeling old-fashioned ...

2008-03-11T20:57:00.000Z

Rummaging through the local charity shops is one of my favourite things to do when I have spare time.
I found several great knitting patterns from the 50's, 60's and 70's.

Here are some 'sleeping socks' I made.
Rather than making a heel, the shape of the sock is created by using shorter rows in the front - thereby keeping the top of the sock shorter than the rest.

The socks are actually very comfy to wear.
They can be found in my etsy shop.

Etsy for Charity

2008-03-08T13:10:00.000Z

Here are some items from the Etsy for Charity shop. Please come and visit:
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5202146

The charity chosen for this month is SightSavers. http://www.sightsavers.org/default.asp

Tag alert!

2008-03-07T19:22:00.000Z

So I have received a double tag.

One from Moocow, who makes wonderful knitted items (including knitted shreddies): http://moocowhandknits.blogspot.com/

The other from Kooky, who makes great felted creatures: http://koolkookykreatures.typepad.com/

Rules are:
1. Link to your tagger and post these rules on your blog.
2. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.
3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs.
4. Let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

...so here we go!

1. I once 'stole' a bicycle in a desperate attempt to get its owner out of the telephone box. After waiting patiently to make my call for what seemed like ages, I took his bike, which he had leant against the wall and cycled around the block. By the time he had finished his call and run after me, I was in the phone box, and his bike was leaning against the same spot on the wall ...

2. I love to make my own wine. I'm probably the only one who can drink the stuff, but I do it anyway. With pride!

3. I'm a Christian of the born-again type, attending a very happy-clappy church, and being known to listen to loud worship music whilst driving in my car.

4. I have a secret passion for statistics!

5. I used to collect frog ornaments.

6. A couple of years ago I decided to combine my attempts to keep the snails out of my vegetable garden with my generally frugal nature ... by collecting the snails and eating them. Given the dark and damp spaces in our Victorian walled garden, a never-ending supply of free protein was guaranteed. Unfortunately the experiment failed, and I never made it as a snail gourmet ...

7. I am determined to go grey gracefully and without the aid of hair colouring!

It seems to be getting harder finding people that haven't been tagged already:
Numpty: http://numptynumpty.blogspot.com/
Marmalady: http://marmalady1.blogspot.com/
Bugsandfishes: http://bugsandfishes.blogspot.com/
Charlotte: http://charlotte-narunsky.blogspot.com/
Charliemotel: http://www.charliemotel.blogspot.com/
Clothcat: http://cloth-cat.blogspot.com/
Hedgewitch: http://earth-and-tree.blogspot.com/

Hope you guys don't mind. If you do, please just ignore me! :o)

And here is the finished hat ...

2008-03-06T20:35:00.000Z

...which I made from my rainbow-coloured cotton yarn.

Colours of the rainbow

2008-03-01T13:53:00.000Z

I have just received an order for a crocheted floppy summer hat, made from DK cotton yarn.

What a fine opportunity to get out my colours and arrange them in the right order. The top of the hat will start with the cream, then work its way down to yellow, green, blue, purple, pink and red ...

I love to look at and feel yarn. Makes me wish I had my own wool shop!!

Fingerpuppets (again) ...

2008-02-27T17:40:00.001Z

This is what I have been doing for the last five days or so - eight fingerpuppets for neuart.

Neuart is a knitter herself and makes very detailed dolls clothes for Blythe doll.

Fairtrade Fortnight 2008

2008-02-25T07:10:00.000Z

Buy fairtrade and help producers in developing countries to earn a fair income!

"What is Fairtrade?

Fairtrade is about better prices, decent working conditions, local sustainability, and fair terms of trade for farmers and workers in the developing world. By requiring companies to pay sustainable prices (which must never fall lower than the market price), Fairtrade addresses the injustices of conventional trade, which traditionally discriminates against the poorest, weakest producers. It enables them to improve their position and have more control over their lives. against the poorest, weakest producers. It enables them to improve their position and have more control over their lives. "
http://www.fairtrade.org.uk/

The fairtrade fortnight takes place from 25 February - 9 March 2008.
Look out for stalls on markets, in churches and in your local shops and supermarkets.

The Co-op is particularly good for selling fairtrade goods. Look out for those chocolates!!! Yum!

No sympathy ...

2008-02-24T20:35:00.000Z

Today I found out that my first run in 4 months yesterday was rather too much for my little legsies ... I have been hardly able to walk down the stairs.

I have also learned that I receive precious little sympathy from my husband for my running-related pain. According to him it is entirely self-inflicted (which is true) and just as pointless and avoidable as having a hang-over!
So I am left to suffer in silence ...

Fingerpuppets

2008-02-24T03:34:00.000Z

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=6961558

These little rabbits are crocheted to my own pattern.

I have just had a request for 8 of them - so I will be busy.

They are ideal for Easter (or any other time of year), and perfect for little hands as well as adult ones ...

They are operated by either using fingers to move arms and head, or to move the legs. They are also just the right size to hold a small chocolate egg.

First run this year ...

2008-02-23T21:44:00.000Z

Well, not so much a run, but a gentle jog ...

I have not run since November last year, and today it suddenly took my fancy to go out there.

I had forgotten how much I enjoy just getting out of the house, forgetting the daily grind and just get running!

Time to look, time to think, time to be with myself.

Not wanting to push myself too much, I alternated between running for 4 minutes and walking for one. That seemed to work out fine. I lasted for 45 minutes (although I was dragging my feet for the last 5 or 10 minutes), and I covered 6K.

Not bad for a first attempt ... although my legs are aching now, despite stretching.

My run took me along the river Great Ouse, one of my favourite places.
Hopefully I'll get my running shoes on again soon ...!

Lent

2008-02-22T15:57:00.000Z

We are now almost half-way into Lent.
People participate in Lent for different reasons. For some it is a way to test their willpower, for others an annual tradition, for others still a way to prepare mentally and spiritually for Easter.

This year I was particularly struck by the call of the Methodist Church of Great Britain to "Buy Less (and) Live More"
http://www.methodist.org.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=opentogod.content&cmid=1944

Carrying their card in my purse is certainly prompting me to put things into perspective, and to consider what I really need to buy vs what I just fancy ...
So far I have managed to stay clear of shop-bought lunches and snacks - and I am planning to give the money I have saved in doing so to charity.

I saw this charity in The Independent the other day, and it really touched me so much that I may make it my chosen charity for this Lent:
http://www.smiletrain.org/site/PageServer
100% of all donations go to repair cleft palates. Often cleft palates are not just a cosmetic issue, but are connected to other medical and health problems.

Just look at these two pictures of Angelica:

Before ...

And after ...

On the beach

2008-02-22T14:28:00.000Z

Although Butlins was great, one of the best times was a visit with my son to the deserted beach.

Not another soul in sight! Just a few seagulls in the distance.

Perhaps you can tell just by looking at the pictures, how cold and blowy it was!

We briefly considered having a dip in the water ... but neither of us really meant it.

Our Butlins experience

2008-02-22T14:11:00.000Z

We have just returned from our halfterm break in Butlins, Skegness.
Having never 'done' Butlins before, it was certainly a new experience - but we enjoyed the hussle and bussle, the ever-smiling Redcoats, the indoor swimming pool, the variety of food in the restaurant etc, etc.
The accommodation was clean and comfortable, and not having a TV at home we endulged in a little day-time TV!

Unfortunately we all came down with a bad cold, and I could have done with hedgewitch's Elderflower tea: http://earth-and-tree.blogspot.com/

New baby blanket for Cuddles

2008-02-15T17:34:00.000Z

This is my latest baby blanket for Cuddles .

I love knitting those delicate baby items, and I always keep them for times when I am relaxed enough to knit without hurry. These blankets are precious for those who have just lost their baby - often one of the very few items the parents have to take home and to remember their baby by. So I try to put much thought and prayer into it whilst I knit.

And here is a close-up of the horseshoe pattern.

Happy non-Valentines Day!

2008-02-14T06:39:00.000Z

This year, as every year, I am boycotting Valentines Day.
My husband and I have been together for 22 years (yay!), and have never exchanged Valentines gifts or cards ...

Relationships need to be worked on every day.
Of course we need to look out for each other's needs, spend time together, show our love for each other with words, with gifts and with actions ... but why do it because somebody somewhere has set a certain day aside for it?

Why buy into the hype and the consumerism that surrounds Valentines Day?

For us, today will just be another day. No rings, no champagne, no cards, not even chocolates!
As it happens we are both at home today, and the children are at school ... so the possibilities of how to spend the day are endless!

Signs of spring ...

2008-02-10T21:05:00.001Z

What a beautiful day it was today.

This afternoon, after I was back from church and the boys had returned from football, we went for a walk along the Great River Ouse.

The sun was quite warm, the sky lovely and blue, and the first signs of spring are truly out ...

The pictures were taken by my 13-year-old daughter, who is quite a photographer in the making ...

Egg cosy mania

2008-02-10T09:53:00.000Z

Just five weeks from Easter, now must be the right time to start knitting egg cosies.
I sat up until late last night doing just that ...

Meet duckling, chicken, rabbit and ladybird.

What else would invite itself to keep a breakfast egg warm, I wonder? Any suggestions are welcome!

I remember that I once made a goldfish egg cosy for my daughter, and an octopus one for my son - so clearly the possibilities are endless ...

My first post!

2008-02-09T12:26:00.000Z

So here I am, having created my very own blog! Now I am having to write ...

Welcome to the Nutty Knitter's blog! Please spend some time and take a look around.
As my blog title suggests, I am hoping to use this blog to record my knitting endeavours.

I knit for fun, for charity and for sale!
My knitting charities can be found here:

Cuddles - sends little blankets and tiny burial gowns to hospital for stillborn babies, who are too tiny to be dressed in anything.
http://cuddles-uk.org/

Feed the Children - sends jumpers to children in developing countries
http://www.feedthechildren.org.uk/pages/resources_knitting.shtml

My online Etsy knitting shop can be found here:
http://www.thenuttyknitter.etsy.com/

Now I am feeling quite proud to have made a start ... more later!