Friday, March 12, 2010

Colour Blocks Baby Blanket - free pattern


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.




Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Fingerless gloves


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:


Sunday, February 28, 2010

Tea Time

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:





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.

Thursday, February 25, 2010

The K Factor

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:




Sunday, February 14, 2010

Unicorn

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

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):