Eric the Sheep

Eric came to life fairly quickly. I began making him in bobble stitch but my first attempt wasn't quite right and my second attempt was slow and still not what I wanted, so I decided to give loop stitch a go. Loop stitch is definitely one of the knitting techniques that you need to watch to be able to do. I read three different sets of written instructions and each was different, and got me more and more confused, so I YouTube-d it and found video instructions. The only difference I did was knitting the second half of each loop stitch TBL, I think it made the overall structure tighter!

Anyway, once I'd mastered loop stitch (which is still fiddly but worth the effort) I moved on to the dangly iCord arms and legs. I began with what I thought was the legs, but when they were done they were smaller than I'd hoped, so they became the arms and I knitted bigger for the legs. Just a head and some ears to go which, thankfully, worked first attempt. There's nothing more frustrating when you're so close to finishing a pattern than having to rip out a few hours worth of work because it isn't how you wanted.

And here he is, Eric the Sheep. Just in time for pre-Easter knitting .... maybe we'll try for a chick too!

Busy Little Knitting Fingers

I've well and truly jumped back on the knitting wagon. After a slow start to 2011 I've managed to get on with the projects I have to complete. Various people have put in their orders - and there are a few projects for home too. Charlotte's crochet blanket is still underway. 72/92 stripes done, so not much more to go, she's pleased about that needless to say.

When I was unwell over Christmas and then again last month I kept thinking to myself that it was silly we didn't own a hot water bottle. Surely every household should have at least one? A shopping trip to Asda provided me with one at a bargain price of £2 and not only did buying it get me a little excited but the thought of the cover I could knit gave me a huge smile. So home I came, and straight on to Ravelry which is my first port of call for any knitting pattern I want, but my searches didn't come up with the exact pattern I wanted. I already had some Patons Smoothie acrylic yarn (which is soooo soft, I prefer it to some scratchy wool blends, and its far cheaper at only £2.79 for 100g) in a gorgeous red wine colour and I decided to just design my own. I wanted cables galore, but with a ribbed neck (kind of like a chunky polo neck jumper) so off I went, figured out the measurements, did the maths and cast on. I love love love my finished cover. I'm going to write the pattern up and post it for free on here in the next few weeks, but give me some time to get it written!


Then I moved on to some bunny love. A friend had commissioned me to make one for her daughter. A grey rabbit with shoes and a pink jumper. The jumper had to have an A on the front and the number 7 on the back. I can almost knit these bunnies in my sleep now.




Sally, Aflie's keyworker at nursery had asked me to knit a bunny for her niece but before I got started she put a halt on it due to complications in labour. Miraculously though she has pulled through and is back at home so I made it as a surprise for her. Alfie loves her so much, she's the one reason that he's settled in so well (minus a month or so of upset, but that's not unusual) and I'm pleased I could give her something as a thank you.


Off I go now, there's a giraffe to knit, and an elephant in a ballet costume ....