Friday, March 8, 2013
More Easter eggs ...
Here are my little chocolate egg cosies - 30 of them - ready to be taken to work next week to raise money for my daughter's trip with the Voluntary Services Overseas.
And I got an order to make another 40 for the children's group at our church. Just how many days until Easter??
Luckily I persuaded my daughter to help me with stitching on the eyes. That will make a huge difference!
Friday, February 15, 2013
Easter Bunny and the Googy-eggs
A great big Thank You to Kim Lapsey from Woolly Toons for her free pattern and for allowing me to sell my little crew to raise money for my daughter's volunteer project with the International Citizen Service.
I love making these little guys and hope to make a few more before Easter!
They can be purchased and/or ordered from my NuttyKnitter's Etsy shop.
Please come and browse.
Monday, January 21, 2013
Using up my stash - update
I have abandoned the mitered squares blanket for now and am knitting hats and gloves/mittens for the Winternight Shelter - the local homeless project. So far I have five hats and four pairs of gloves/mittens.
Plenty more yarn left ...
Friday, November 2, 2012
Remembrance Poppy
I have designed a pattern for this poppy just in time for Remembrance Sunday. You can find the pattern on my Ravelry page.
All proceeds from patterns sales will go to the Royal British Legion, a charity which supports serving members of the Armed Forces, ex-Service men and women (veterans), their families and dependants all year-round.
Please consider supporting this cause.
Monday, September 24, 2012
Big Knit 2012 update
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
The Big Knit is back!
What is the Big Knit?
For the Big Knit, Age UK and innocent (smoothies) ask knitters of all ages to get creative and come up with their own designs for mini-woolly hats to be placed on top of their smoothie bottles and sold in Boots and Sainsbury's stores throughout November. For each hatted bottle sold, 25p is donated to Age UK to help make winter warmer for older people across the UK.
So every year knitters all over the UK get knitting to produce thousands of these little bottle hats. And the creativity and diversity of the hats produced is never-ending.
Give it a go! The patterns can be found on the bottom of this innocent page.
Please send all knitted hats by 1st October to
Age UK Oxfordshire, St Edmund House, 39 West St Helen Street, Abingdon OX14 5BT.
Here are some fruity Big Knit hats I made a couple of years ago.
Friday, January 20, 2012
Sunshine International Blankets of Love - SQUARES PROJECTS
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...
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Cuddles


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.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Teddies for Tragedies

I knitted this little fellow from a amended pattern, which I found on the Teddies for Tragedies site. He stands 10" tall.
Here is the knitting pattern and the crochet pattern.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Jumpers for Algerian Action
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.
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Free pattern - child's jumper


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 4th 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 9th 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.
Friday, September 19, 2008
Kiva
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!Sunday, July 13, 2008
Save the Children baby hat appeal
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.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
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."
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Christian Aid week 11th - 17th May 2008
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."
Saturday, March 8, 2008
Etsy for Charity
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5202146
Monday, February 25, 2008
Fairtrade Fortnight 2008
"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!
Friday, February 22, 2008
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.
Friday, February 15, 2008
New baby blanket for Cuddles
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.

Saturday, February 9, 2008
My first post!
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/

http://www.feedthechildren.org.uk/pages/resources_knitting.shtml
My online Etsy knitting shop can be found here:
http://www.thenuttyknitter.etsy.com/













