free knitting pattern (Debbie Bliss blackberry stitch beanie)

I was asked to write a small interesting piece on a topic of my choice for this month’s Iwade Observer. Normally I would have chosen gardening but at this time of year there isn’t much going on especially if we have snow/ice on the ground. The ground is too frozen to work on and you don’t feel like being outside in the cold unless it’s to build a snowman! I did buy some garlic but that's as far as I got and its not planted out yet. For now I am just jotting down what to grow in my veg patch and choosing seeds from catalogues in the warmth of my kitchen with a hot cup of tea.

In the winter months I switch to my other passion, knitting and more recently crochet. Most gardeners split their time between gardening in the warmer months with knitting, sewing and crochet during the winter months. I tend to combine both all year round, but concentrate on knitting and crochet during the winter months.

I’m not sure where it all started but my earliest memories are off my grandmother and my granddads cigar box full of odd buttons and helping her wind oddments of wool into neat little balls. My first real jumper was made for my son now 21 and I guess that’s when it took over. Sewing and knitting was also something taught in my junior school and the revival is about to start in the UK again this year. These skills follow you in your life and are handy when you need to sew button back on, sew a scout badge on your child’s kits or knit a quick scarf for a friend’s birthday.

There are a lot of talented crafters in Iwade where I| live, some with old skills and some who have mastered new skills more recently with the help of a friend or neighbour. It’s not just for your grandma; many of us new to knitting/crochet are using this pastime as the antidote to our stressful workaholic lives making it great for your health too! Most evenings I am putting another row onto my new granny stripe blanket but last night I did start a new project, just a quick one! It is a slouchy hat using Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran in sage colour. The stitch is new to me, Blackberry but once you've knitted 4 rows of the pattern you see the pattern emerge and its quite exiting. Hopefully by the end od this week it will be finished. Here is the link to the pattern

Comments

Denim Daisy Granny Square construction

And here it is all finished last Friday, just in time for a heat wave! Seriously I do love this jumper and it fits so well with a white t shirt underneath, jeans and flip flops. Just waiting for the cold spell so that I can wear it out (rather than around the garden when its cooled down in the evenings!). I haven't written a pattern as such just some helpful notes from my pad. If people want to know how to construct one have added some notes below. As you know the Daisy Granny Square is the design of Sue Pinner from her book Granny Squares published 2013. I do love Sue's book, its packed with so many projects and ideas and the photos are beautiful. The daisy granny square pattern is quite addictive and you soon have a small pile of them in no time! I have an idea to make another one for the autumn in the same Debbie Bliss Rialto DK yarn but all edged in shade 90 honey, I have enough in my stash. Construction Notes: You need to make 18 granny squa

cables without the cables (Birch Trees scarf)

Earlier this year I came across this lovely Birch Trees Scarf knitting pattern over at Hand Knitted Things . Its one of those patterns that you just have to try because its so pretty and very practical and looks far more intricate and complicated than the 4 row pattern suggests. I like to call it cables without the cables, such a clever pattern thank you Julia Marsh. I'm knitting mine on vintage no. 7 needles (kindly given to me by my mother-in-law) and using Debbie Bliss Cashmerino charcoal out of my yarn stash that was meant to be for Ian's scarf! shh don't tell him! I use DB yarn all the time, picking up bargains in John Lewis and eBay but its the first time I've knitted with Cashmerino, and it isn't going to be the last. It gives you great stitch definition and the softest yarn ever, I love it. So here is my scarf in progress. It has been sitting in my car waiting to be loved again after I accidentally knitted the moss stitch border wrong. I know ho

traffic jam (crochet simple granny triangle shawl)

I got stuck in the office on Monday night, not the best of situations but this estate I work on does get congested frequently and not helped by lorries breaking down blocking one lane of two. Anyway all was not lost because I'd had a new yarn delivery that morning and I needed an excuse to stop and crochet. And this is how this granny shawl got its name. Isn't it gorgeous? It's crochet in the new Sirdar Colourwheel DK yarn. On first inspection I wasn't that taken with it, but now I love it. No more colour changes, yipee. If you'd like to know how to make this here is the Simple Granny Triangle pattern I'm using or this link . Happy crocheting!

Eight-by-Six

Search This Blog