Thursday 19 November 2009

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!!! :-)




Monday 16 November 2009

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

Saturday 14 November 2009

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!

Wednesday 11 November 2009

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!