Hats and Mittens for Europe!

I knitted my finers to the bone and knitted these beanies and mittens for our trip to the USA and Europe in 2012. Believe or not, I knit all these in just one week. all i did was eat, sleep and knit!!!

The kids look so cute and I was really happy with my Hermione hat too.

Swannies Hat

This hat was made using this pattern : Stocking cap

It is knit in the round, and I pretty much followed the pattern exactly.

I used an acrylic yarn which isn't that exciting, but it works! I made mum and dad matching hats, and they look so funny wearing them! This photo is mum at the game on Saturday where we flogged Port Adelaide.

It was fun making the pompom, I haven't done that since I was a little kid!

Happy with the result!

Corn Biss and Corn Glamour Dress

I have knit two dresses for a craft swap on birth.com.au.

The first dress is a bright as bright can be royal blue. The edging at the bottom is a picot edge. So I did StSt for about 5 rows, then K2tog, YO, to make the egde. Folded it over and sewed it down. There is three rows of a little eyelet lace above the picot edging. The skirt part is all stst. Then the bodice is a simple cable pattern made of a multiple of 9 stitches. The pattern is:

Row 1 - ktbl, p2,k4,p2

Row 2 - same as 1st

Row 3 - ktbl, p2,CB4,p2.

Row 4 - same as first.

Cast on 128 st on a circular needle - so knit in one piece (no sewing!), then decreased to 72 st for the bodice (the cable part). The straps are two longinsh straps that you tie together. I thought this was best since I don't know the actual measurements of the recipient, so it can kinda be loosened or tightened if needed.

The yarn is Amaizing (corn fiber). Still have no idea how they make yarn from corn!!! It is 5ply and I held it double making it approx 10ply. While knitting with it, my hands turned blue!! So I have told me swapee to wash it separately or else i'm afraid all her clothes will turn blue!

I'm really happy with how it turned out, Really cute and elegant. If you made it cream or white I reckon it would be a lovely little flower girl dress.

Next is the pink dress made larger, about a size 3. It is also made with Amaizing. The pink didn't stain my hands nearly as much!! I held the yarn double for this as well, making it approx 10ply.

Cast on 144 stitches on a circular needle (4.0mm) so no seaming. Yay! The feather and fan lace pattern was easy as.

Row 1 and 2 - Knit

Row 3 - (K2tog) twice, (YO, k1) 4 times. (k2tog) twice.

Row 4 - Purl

HOWEVER! I didn't do the purl row, I did a knit row. So it isn't quite as textured as it should be. Still nice though, I think.

Decreased at the bodice, and worked plain old garter stitch there. Nice though. Made the straps like the blue dress so they tie up, can be loosened or tightened. Next time would make the straps a little thinner and longer, so its easier to tie up.

Both dresses could be worn in summer as a summer dress, or over a long sleeve shirt in winter. Also could be worn as a top once they are too short to be worn as dresses.

I'm really happy with how they turned out! It was hard to wrap them up and send them off actually, kinda wanted to keep them! I do hope my swappee likes them and uses them!

Chemo Hat

I made a hat for my Aunty as she is going through Chemo. I haven't sent it off yet, but its all ready to go! I do hope she like sit and will be able to wear it. It must be cold in winter with no hair to keep your head warm!

The pattern is Odessa from Ravelry, a very popular pattern. The yarn is 50% Merino, 50% Acrylic. Its quite nice and soft. Its 8ply and navy in colour.

Its started from the bottom and worked up .I worked it in the round on circular needles so no need to seam (yay). I switched to DPNs at the end.

Super easy peasy pattern that looks kinda cool too :)

Cuddle Bunnies

I made these bunnies for the Love Lawson festival last year. everyone they were the vutest and well they are!!! I made them with Vicki Howell Craft - Organic Cotton and Milk fibre blend. So they are eco friendly toys! And they are really soft. Its not that hard scratchy cotton at all - perfect for babies to cuddle and suck on! :)

I embroidered the faces with some black Amaizing (corn fibre) i had left over. the face was a little tricky but i survived! the head is really cool - you do it like double knitting, (K1, s1), it knits flat but then when you finish it opens up into a round head. Its hard to explain LOL!!

They are only small cuddle bunnies, maybe one day I will make a bigger version, like a big blankey type thing. Maybe....!

Glitter Scarf

I knitted this scarf while watching marathon episodes of ER. It was great!!!!!!

Yet another pattern from Ravelry. If you haven't noticed already, alot of my items are knitted from Ravelry patterns! If you're not on there yet, join up! There is a link in my links on the right hand side of this page. Go for it! Its free and its wonderful!

Anyway, this particular scarf is the one row scarf and it was super easy!! The pattern is simply



K4, (YO, K2tog, K2) rep () to end.



You do this in every row and makes a very simple lace pattern.



The yarn is 4ply, 49% cotton, 48% Acrylic, and 3% metal. The metal is the glitter!! It is light blue with silver flecks. It is very thin and light, so the scarf is long and narrow and elegant, rather than big and thick and chunky.



I made this for Belinda at my work. She seems to like it and has been wearing it so YAY! I did give it a try myself as you can see in the photo..... I could make one for myself!!



Now I am still working on a cardi for myself... so the ER marathon continues.... Mark has discovered a brain tumour, and Elizabeth is pregnant! so much drama!!!!!

Better Be a One Day Hat

Well here is a beanie I knit for Kimberly. The pattern is from ravelry, its called 'Emergency One Day Hat". Well it took me about 6 hours to knit I think, which is pretty quick.

I used circular needles so no need to seam, starting from the bottom, casting on 96 stitches. Could have made a size smaller actually, but it fits ok. When I started the decreases I had to eventually switch to DPNs (double pointed needles). Then it was just a matter of threading the yarn through the last few stitches and pulling it. Weave in the ends and I was done!

Its starts off with a rolled edge, then some rib. Then its just stocking stitch, and a few rows of purl to make the ridges. More stocking stitch then you do the decreases.

It is actually a really cute little hat, as you see my model isn't bad either :)

The yarn is an acrylic/nylon blend, something I don't use often! But the yarn is very soft, and an unusual green colour.

Organic Cotton Hand Towels

Here are two hand towels that I made using Peruvian Organic Cotton. the first is called a 'Mock Woven hand towel" and the other is called a "Ripple Hand towel". Both patterns from Ravelry.

Very easy to make and they both look really effective.

Michelle's Scarf

This was a really quick fun knit! Well, it is kinda boring all the stocking stitch, but then the unravedlling is the funnest thing ever!!!!

It is the Sunday Market Shawl, taken from Ravelry, here is the pattern.

What you do is this:

Cast on 30 stitches LOOSELY - I used needles 2mm bigger than recommended and really could have gone looser. Row 1 : K2, YO, rep to end, K2. Then you work in stockinette stich for the rest, till its nice and long. On the last row you K2, drop a stitch, rep to end, K2. Bind off LOOSELY.

Well now comes the fun part!!! You now get to rip all the stitches from where you dropped them!!! Its like a mistake but on purpose - so wrong yet so right - and so satisfying!!! :)

It looks really effective. Once you block it, it is nice and big as well. It stretches ALOT.

I made this as a gift for Michelle and I see her wear it all the time so YAY!!!!

Bath Mitt and Billie Goat Soap

Here are some Christmas gifts I have made (oooooh i hope they don't come on here and see them before Xmas! Oh well!)

I got the pattern from Ravelry - Bath Mitt - only I used 8 ply yarn and 4mm/4.5mm needles.

Since I used 8ply yarn a few adjustments had to be made.

• 4 extra rows before thumb shaping
• 2 extra rows on thumb
• 6 extra rows on fingers before decreases.

Also did 2x2 ribbing around the wrist.

The yarn is Vicki Howell Craft - Organic cotton/milk fibre. Yes they can make yarn from milk now!!! It is very soft for a cotton.

The soap is Billi Goat Soap and WOW don't the colours match well!! Very happy with that. The soap looks and smells really luxurious, I hope the recipients enjoy using it!!

Bamboo/organic cotton bibs and fitted nappy

Here are some bits and pieces i have been sewing and some of them I have been selling.
I bought the bamboo toweling from Bubba Earth and it is DIVINE. So silky and even after you wash it it is so nice and soft.
The nappy has a sewn in booster and is a good size for Harry. It is pretty cute - for a plain old fitted.
The bibs are also fantastic! Harry is such a dribbler and with your normal thin cotton bibs his clothes just get saturated. This bib soaks it all up and his clothes are dry and clean! Yay!
I have made some bigger ones for bigger toddlers now as well, they are also great.
I can't help it. i will be getting more of this bamboo fabric and i'll be making bath towels for the whole family!!! :-)

Recycled Amaizing Bangle

This is a bangle that you make by sewing your knitted piece around the cardboard that the Amaizing yarn come on. Reduce, reuse, recycle... as they say!

Materials:
One finshed ball - you need the carboard the yarn is wrapped around.
SWTC Amaizing corn fiber
Size 6.oomm needles
Tapestry needle

Mathod.
Cast on 19 stitches holding 2 strands together.

row 1-Knit entire row
row 2 - Purl entire row
row 3 - knit entire row
row 4 - *k1,p1, rep from * to end, k1.

Continue working these 4 rows until work measures length of bangle. Wrap it around tjhe cardboard and sew around the edge.

You can use any pattern you want, be creative!
You could also just use one strand, just need to cast on more stitches.

I love finding a funky use for that cardboard! Thumbs up!

Copyright 2009 Nicole Thorson

Hornbag's Corn bag

Hornbag’s Corn Bag

This bag is named the Hornbag's Cornbag simply because I am a fan of Kath and Kim, and whenever I say"Corn bag" it makes me think "Hornbag" and giggle!
It is worked in Moss Stitch with Amaizing, holding two strands together. Front and back are worked in one peice, then you knit up stitches on the edge to knit the sides, then lastly you sew up the sides. It is a cute little bag that I get heaps of compliments about! And people can't believe its made of corn either! I hope you enjoy this pattern. Please let me know if you have any questions, it is hard to explain! I might make another and take photos to help.
Copyright 2009 Nicole Thorson.

Materials

2 balls Amaizing
5mm needles
Tapestry Needles
Fastener if you wish.

Front and Back (worked in one piece)

Holding two strands together, Cast on 45stitches
Work in moss stitch for 4 rows
Next row: Moss 8, cast off 29 knitwise, Moss 8
Then: Moss 8, cast on 29, Moss 8.

Work on these 45 stitches until work measures approximately 25cm. (or desired length)

Moss 8, cast off 29 knitwise, Moss 8.
Moss 8, cast on 29, Moss 8
Work 4 rows.
Cast off knitwise.

Sides:

Now with right side facing, knit up 7 stitches along the side, so that the 4th stitch is exactly half way along the side edge of the front/back piece.
Work in moss stitch on these 7 stitches until the side measures the same as the height of your bag. Cast off, leaving a long tail that you can use to sew up the sides.
Repeat on the other side.

Finishing:

Sew the sides of the purse onto the edges of the front/back piece.
Weave in ends.
Add a fastener if you wish.
Be a hornbag and go out on the town with this cute bag!

Toheadsies

A funky little headband made with Tofutsies sock yarn. You hold two strands together. This is a great project for using up leftover yarn! Isn't my 3 year old model just gorgeous?? I wish i had her blonde hair.

Copyright Nicole Thorson 2009.

Materials:
Tofustises sock yarn

Crochet hook (guage is not important, around 2.5-3.5mm would be suitable i think).

4.00mm needles

Method

Using a crochet hook and holding two strands of yarn together, chain for about 25cm. This is the part that you tie up at the back of your neck. (Alternatively you could knit an i-cord, but crochet is quicker!).

Switch to 4.00mm needles,

Row 1: KFB (2 sts)

Row 2: KFB twice (4 sts)

Row 3: KFB, knit to end

Repeat row 3 until there are 11 stitches.

Begin pattern:

Row 1: k5, p1, k5

Row 2: k3, p1,k1,p1,k1,p1,k3

Repeat rows 1 and 2 until headband measures desired length, about a bit past your ear lobes.

Next row: K2tog, knit to end

Repeat until 4 sts remain

Next row: k2 tog twice (2 stitches)

Next row: k2 tog (1 st)

Use a crochet hook to chain for 25cm. Fasten off and weave in ends.

Enjoy!

Bamboo Soap Sweaters

I made these using SWTC Bamboo in white. You hold 2 strands together so its nice and thick.
Knit in the round on DPNs, and closed with a snap. Or you could make a buttonhole to close if you prefer. This soap sweater could be used more than once which is why I made it to be able to open/close, but you could sew it up at both ends if you prefer to only use a soap sweater once.

Bamboo is soooooo nice and soft and absorbs heaps of water so these are great to shower with. Copyright Nicole Thorson 2009.

Materials:
SWTC bamboo in white (or any colour you lke)
4.00mm (US 6) DPNS
Snap and Snapsetter (or a button if you prefer to make a button hole). A Plastic snap is better than metal as the metal may rust.

Method:
Holding 2 strands together, Cast on 30 stitches and join in the round.
Distribute stitches as follows:

Either
Needle 1 - 7 sts, needle 2 - 15 sts, needle 3 - 8 sts.
or
Needle 1 - 8 sts, needle 2 - 14 sts, needle 3 - 8 sts

(Depending on if your pattern requires an odd or even number of stitches on needle 2)
Needle 2 is where you put your pattern. You can do whatever you like here.
Always knit needles 1 and 3.


Firstly, Knit one round. Then start your pattern:


Cable Soap Sweater: (needle 2 14 sts)
Round 1 - K3, P1, K6, P1,K3
Round 2 - As round 1
Round 3 - As round 1
Round 4 - K3, P1, CB6, P1, K3.

Basketweave Soap sweater: (needle 2 15 sts)
Round 1- k3, p3,k3,p3,k3
Round 2 - as round 1
Round 3 - as round 1
Round 4 - p3,k3,p3,k3,p3
Round 5 - as round 4
Round 6 - as round 4.

Moss Stitch Soap Sweater (needle 2 15 sts)
Round 1 - k1,p1, k1,p1,k1,p1,k1,p1,k1,p1,k1,p1,k1,p1,k1
Round 2 - p1, k1,p1,k1,p1,k1,p1,k1,p1,k1,p1,k1,p1,k1,p1


Repeat the pattern until work measures as long as your soap. You can put the soap in to check.


Next round:
Needle 1 - knit
Needle 2 - cast off 14 (or 15) stitches
Needle 3 - knit.

Put remaining stitches onto one needle and continue working back and forth on these 16 (or15) stitches.

Work 4 rows stocking stitch

Next row -
Row one: SSK, knit to last 2 stitches, k2tog.
Row two - P2tog, purl to end, p2togtbl.

Repeat rows one and two until 4 (or 3) stitches remain, cast off or draw thread through stitches to bind.

Sew up the bottom, place a snap at the top to close.

Slip your soap in and go have a shower!


Alternatively:
Work a button hole in during the decreases., attatch a button to close instead of a snap.
Cast on using a provisional cast on and graft using kitchener stitch.
Stop before decreases and graft at the top if you don't want it to open and close.
Try other patterns on needle 2!


Enjoy!

Modern Cloth Nappies

Well I have finally finished these nappies! I cut the fabric ages ago and never got around to sewing them. Well now they are done! Yay!

They are made with 2 layers of super soft microfleece, with a hidden layer of PUL. The absorbent part is hemp fleece. Touch tape closure and elasticised legs and waist. There is a sewn in booster that is topped with suedecloth.

I basically used up remnants of hemp fleece and suedcloth to make this nappy. Very cool!!