Body parts!

I'm working on another knitted project. It's actually a vintage pattern from the late 60s. The problem with many of these old patterns is that there were mistakes in them. I remember in the early 70s buying a pattern for a jacket, and the pattern was completely different to the one in the picture. So I adapted the pattern and it turned out really nice. In fact I was wearing that navy jacket for years!! Anyway, this one is for a knitted geisha doll....

...the picture does it no justice does it! I've had this pattern for years and have always meant to knit it up to see if it turned out better that the picture. Well, here's my findings so far. Firstly, there are too many pieces to knit. I know these patterns were made as quick makes for fairs and fete stalls etc, but I can see this putting people off if they haven't been knitting very long.....

.....the picture looks really odd I doesn't it! As you can see, the head looks way too big, but I'm hoping that once the hair and features are in place it will be more in keeping with the body. The dress is also made up of too many pieces....

.....the purple panel is only pinned to the main piece at them moment, and the pattern gives instructions to crochet edges on sleeves, side and hem. Well, I shan't be doing that because I have something else in mind. But once this one is complete I shall remake this doll to my own pattern. There will be less pieces to begin with! ...... I've been sorting my collection of knitting patterns recently and I have far too many. I haven't even used some of them. Here are a selection. If you would like any or all of them please email me, I'll be happy to put them in the post to you, at no cost. I'm not selling them they are free to anyone who wants them.

.......

......

........

.......

........

.......

........

.........

....... Please contact me if you are interested. I have some birthday cards to make this week, so I'll be back to stamping and colouring. I'm also want to start on a project using some drinks cans , Sizzix dies and some home made alcohol inks. I have all my ingredients ready to make the inks, I'm just waiting on the arrival of the plastic dropper bottles. But I shan't be idle whilst I'm waiting for the postman to arrive, I may even be able to get out into the garden, once the showers have subsided!!

No sew tee shirt bag

Well, my tee shirt bag is now finished and I shall be using it quite a lot this summer. I made it using the methods which my mother taught me. So here goes. Once your old tee shirts have been gathered together, cut them as you want to. There are many methods, and the one I use is the continuous vertical cuts. First of all the needle size is up to you. For my bag I used needles which my dad made for my mum, and these measure 3/4" in diameter ( no metric then!)

...decide how big you want your bag to be. I just did mine by eye, no tape measure required. I worked on 25 stitches and continued to knit one piece, checking by folding every so often, if it was going to be long enough once it was folded. My piece measured 28" and then I cast off.

....The next step was to determine where the straps were going. For this I counted in five stitches from one edge, then using 6mm needles I picked up and knit 5 stitches. Working on these five stitches continue to knit until you have made the strap as long as you want it. The ones on my bag are 24" long. I used two colours on my straps because I wanted the random effect and didn't have any more of those coloured tee shirts left!

Once you have the desired length of strap, on the same side you have been knitting, at the other end, count in five stitches, pick them up and knit them with the 5 which you have on your needle. Be careful not to twist your knitting because you don't want a twisted strap. Cast them off and that's one side done. Line up the bag and knit the straps for the other side in the same way. Now to tackle the sides. Once again I used 6mm needles. Turning the bag inside out I lined up the sides and folded in half. I pinned and then to knit the two sides together I placed my needle through stitches on both edges of the fold, knitting two stitches and then casting one off ( as you would normally do) all the way along, until you come to the last stitch. Knit this off, leave a longer thread and weave this into the knitting. Matching the opposite side pick up and knit the same way. You could crochet the two edges together it would be just as easy. After much thought I decided that I wasn't going to make any flowers for this bag, and so I just decorated it with vintage buttons, ( of which I have thousands!). This is my finished bag...

.....I've already used it. The best thing about it is that it was made by me my way. My dad used to say that in any sort of craft there are no rules just guidelines. That is so true. So, if you are about to embark on a project just do it, and do it your way!

Knitting and stitching

These last few glorious days have (hopefully) been a taste of things to come but it seems that now ( for Easter) we're back to the cooler and overcast ones. Never mind, we can't do anything about it, so I have put my outside projects on hold for a few days. Over the last week I've been knitting these....

....and these......

...I've also been doing some jumbo knitting....

...this bag took no more than 90 minutes to knit, and it's a no sew bag. I just have to put the embellishments on. I shall post a picture of it, together with the instructions on how I made it shortly. I've two birthday cards to make today. these have to be posted tomorrow, but I know what theme I'm using for them so that should be a breeze. My sewing machine is up and ready for action,and the fabrics are all cut. If the weather is going to be dull and chilly for a few days, I shouldn't have any outside distractions. Although I am eager to get out into the garden. I'm not normally as organised as this, I do hope it lasts!!