knitted baby hat with moss stitch bow

 This hat is the result of spending way too much time on Pinterest

I saw this lovely hat and then this lovely bow and decided to combine the two to make this using this guide to making any sized hat, based on the gauge of your knitting (it's an amazing website, the only thing I have changed is doing the rib on needles a size down from main hat)

 If you look closely there is a mistake in the rib beneath the bow, where I have two knit stitches together.
The bow is placed over the jog in the stripe, which is handy.

This is made in a bby size, but I'm thinking of making one to fit me.

Quick crochet gift :crochet flower brooch tutorial

 

I have been looking for the perfect knitted or crocheted flower to make quick crochet gifts for ages (my pinterest boards are full of them) but I've never quite find what I was looking for.

I wanted something not too small but not too large, that was very quick too make, that sat flat, and didn't use much yarn.

I came up with this pattern while experimenting with a dahlia pattern.

 This is a view of the back, with a safety pin attched. It would look better with a proper brooch back.

 And here are a couple, experimenting with different colours.

 To make this use a scrap of yarn. (the one pictured used just 3g of yarn!) a suitable hook, and a yarn sewing needle.

 make 4 chain and join with a slip stitch

 chain 1 (counts as a stitch)

 double crochet (british) 7 times into circle .......(americans use sc everywhere it says dc or double crochet)

 Join with a slip stitch (you should have 8 stitches)

 chain 1 (counts as a stitch)

2 dc into base of chain

3 dc into each stitch, then slip stitch into first chain (24 stitches in total)

chain 1, 4 dc into base of chain,

 5 dc into each stitch

 join with a slip stitch, knot and break yarn leaving a long tail (120 stitches)

N.B. if you don't end up with 120 stitches, don't panic, just take whatever you have and divide it by six and use this for the count in the next step instead of the 20 given.

 This leaves you with something quite flower like but messy, and with an obvious hole.

 thread needle with tail
count 20 stitches, and insert needle through 20th stitch and 21st stitch.

 continue this way, counting 21st stitch as stitch one, count 20 and repeat until join up with the starting postion, pushing flower into correct position as you go.

 pull up tight and then sew through the centre to the back

 making sure to catch the base ring.

 tie off ends, then use these ends to attach buttons and brooch back.

 here are a few of finished pictures (without buttons)

 of course if you don't want to use buttons or leave it plain, there are many other options including beads.

You my use this pattern to make items to gift or sell. Please do not sell the pattern, or reproduce the instructions on your own website. Please link back to this pattern, if you use it.

PaperArtsy blog - stencils and Paper flowers

 I'm back on the PaperArtsy blog again tonight. With a short tutorial to make these very easy flowers, and this card which uses lovely stencils.

Pop over and see it in full and don't forget to enter this week's challenge to win stamps.

Reversible Knitted Polka Dot Baby Blanket (double Knitting technique)

 This may just be my favourite thing that I have ever knitted. It was quite hard, but very rewarding.
It is quite large for a baby blanket, somewhere between stroller and cot size (I forgot to measure it before I gave it away).

I used two colour of Aran yarn and it used approximately 200g (200m) of each.

The technique is known as double knitting (not to be confused with double knitting yarn) and basically knits both sides of the fabric at the same time, creating two separate layers, the two layers become joined together where you cross the colours from front to back.

I used the following set of 3 excellent youtube videos to learn this beautiful technique

Harriet Hare

Meet Harriet Hare..

The lovely Laura Liddell from Flaxen Hare Designs asked me to have a play with her new kit, designed for teaching children to knit... and I fell in love with the lovely Harriet Hare.

The kit included Harriet, 5 balls of yarn (3 colour ways at the moment) needles and everything you need to get started, as well as some wonderful instructions. All of the pattern use just the knit stitch and then introduce basic shaping.

 

(photo from Flaxen Hare Designs)

The scarf, short dress and skirt all come from the kit, and are all easy to do. The skirt uses short row shaping, but beautifully explained so that it is so easy.

There are also instructions for a bag, pants, tshirt and boots.

Of course I couldn't resist making up my own pieces including this simple cable jumper,

and a crochet hat!