Friday 24 June 2011

Fingerless gloves.....

Those who follow my main blog may remember me making a gazillion pairs of these gloves last year for cold hands...they proved so quick and easy to make and so popular that I have to admit to getting pretty sick of making them after a bit.



BUT with an impending trip to Melbourne in the middle of winter coming up in a couple of weeks, Zak was dismayed to find he could not locate one of his custom made green gloves, so he asked me to whip him up another pair pronto! And I did, in one evening which was great! 



He chose the blue acrylic wool, so I am not sure how long they will last but as there is plenty more of it, I guess it does not matter. I much prefer to make gloves with pure wool as it is much warmer and tends to last a lot longer before pilling. Oh well, we have one happy customer and thats what counts! Zak! Do you think you could put the book down for a minute and show us your gloves?


Thanks lovely!
Now here's hoping he does not wear them out before our trip! They have not been off his hands much these past two days.

These gloves are so easy to make and are basically a square folded in half. As there is no thumb piece its a great project for  a beginner to try! 

I found that 36 stitches wide  will fit most pre-teens to small adult hands. Using 8 ply wool and 4mm (size 8) needles, I casted on 36 stitches and knit 2 purl 2 for a couple of inches or desired lenght for cuff. Then work in stocking stitch (knit one row, purl one row till it covers the hands just below the knuckles.  Then work another inch or so of knit 2, purl two for the rim. Sew the sides leaving a small gap for your thumb. Too easy!

Of course you can play around with different patterns and lengths according to what your recipient prefers. I have made these in many different patterns and lengths, but the standard ones seem to be the most popular. More practical I guess?

Today I am hoping to get stuck into another of my UFO projects, but not sure how that will pan out as I am itching to start a new one! LOL 

Happy crafting everyone! Wishing you,  a peaceful and joyful weekend! 

Hugs and smoochies xoxoxox

Wednesday 22 June 2011

Golden dayz.......complete...among others things...



Well I actually finished Golden Dayz a few weeks back but have only just got around to sewing on the buttons....it turned out very nice and snuggly. The cabling in the arms is actually made seperately and then sewn on which I was not too keen on but it did turn out nice in the end...



Getting a decent picture has proved a bit of a mission, could not seem to get the lighting right..oh well...these will have to do! 



Also of late, I have been working on a little crocheted jumper in 4ply pure wool,  which I finished today......



And some boottees....blue ones...awaiting some ribbon...



And yellow ones......


I still have several UFO's I need to get done but for now am looking at making some gloves for my son as he has lost one of his old ones, and a couple of hats for babies who are on the way. Hoping to get them finished quickly as I am leaving town soon! 

Hugs, hope you are all well xoxoxoxox

Tuesday 7 June 2011

What is this......


.....Creeping out of my new up-cycled basket, kindly gifted to me for my birthday by my lovely friend Kel?

Hmmm is it a square? A soft, warm, woolen square?



Well it could have been and orginally it started off as intending to be a pair of hand warmers BUT as the colour scheme was looking so lovely I just kept going until I ran out of my ball of scrummy yarn and decided it would make a most lovely, warm head band or head warmer so to speak.

Now for the photo shoot, some taken by Meagan and others by oneself! Could not settle on which weird or wonderful ones to share so here is one from each angle.....

The side view......(the intention is to cover the ears and keep ones head warm without having to squash all ones curls like a beanie does).....


And the back view.......


AND another side/front view.....


And the token goofy shot...just for good measure....


BUT WAIT theres more.......with an impending trip to Melbourne in the middle of winter on the cards. I have been looking at ways to downsize luggage but still keep warm! So this little baby is also going to double up as a neck warmer! It fits just lovely and is ooober warm so I think I like it!

These were both self portraits so please excuse the tacky pictures. LOL


And that is all! There isn't any more! Would you like to know the pattern? Its very easy!

I made 35 chains, then sc into the 2nd chain and all the way across, turn and do the next row in dc. Work in alternate rows until desired length (eg. to fit slightly stretched around your head). I worked the last two rows in sc only and joined by slipping through each stitch with a wool needles. It leaves a flatter seam.

Hope you are keeping warm where ever you are.

Hugs and smoochies xoxoxox