Learn to knit a zombie workshop

Yesterday I ran a learn to knit workshop using my Zombie Charlie pattern. This workshop was funded by Leeds Inspired and was part of the Thought Bubble Festival events.

We had a mixture of guys and girls turn up and it all went very well. The concentration level were high!

Concentrating hard

Everyone made very good progress though. We had some complete beginners and some who had knit before.

Working hard

And at the end there were even some zombies!!

Zombie!!

Well done to everyone who came - you all did fantastically well. Please send me photos of any more completed zombies, I would love to see them ;)

Zombie Charlie & Cthulhu Amigurumi

These 2 little fellas have been designed as part of my learn to knit & crochet workshops that are being run during the Thought Bubble Festival. This is a week long festival that celebrates sequential art in all its forms. It finishes with a 2 day comic convention that I help to organise.

I am running a learn to knit course on tuesday next week, and then a learn to crochet course on the wednesday.

Zombie Charlie

Zombie Charlie is a very simple pattern that is suitable for people to learn to knit with. He is named after Charlie Adlard, one of the artists who regularly attends Thought Bubble and he draws the Walking Dead series - which I love (despite having zombie related nightmares). Zombie Charlie is small and quick to knit, has basic increases and decreases only, and yet looks very cute!

Cthulhu

Cthulhu is a simple crochet pattern that uses double crochet stitch only (single crochet if you are in the USA) with increases and decreases. Again it is suitable for complete beginners. I love the H.P. Lovecraft stories about the Mythos world and Cthulhu is my favourite character. I just love his tentacles :)

Both Zombie Charlie and Cthulhu proved very popular when I posted pictures on instagram so I decided to make some kits that include everything you need to make your own Zombie Charlie or Cthulhu. 

Both proved very popular! They make great christmas stocking fillers and gifts.

Zombie Charlie & Cthulhu fighting over who is the most popular

I am publishing the patterns for download now and these will be available on this site shortly, and the other sites through which I sell soon. The kits will be available  at the Thought Bubble festival next weekend. I then hope to have the kits for sale in my Etsy shop after this.

Ia Ia Cthulhu fhtagn!

Handmade Home

I like to think I am a little bit green. Well, not personally, although I do occasionally have hulk-like tantrums, but green as in environmentally friendly. I also think my house is much prettier with lots of handmade things in every room, such as the bed throw I finished recently. In the aim of creating less waste and making life prettier, I have been crafting a few things for the house. It has also been a great way to use up some scraps of cotton that have been sitting in my craft room for far too long.

First I crocheted this scrubby:

Spiral Scrubbie

This was a great little pattern by Judith Prindle called Spiral Scrubbie and it is free to download. I used some Debbie Bliss eco aran cotton which is probably a little bit expensive for this type of project, but it looks lovely and works well.

Next I crocheted some make-up remover pads in the shapes of flowers:

Flower Power Make up remover pads

There is no pattern page for this one so I shall give my instructions here. The instructions are in British crochet terms with the US equivalents given in brackets:

Row 1 - Magic loop, chain 2, tbl (US dc) x 12 into loop, sl st to close & pull tight. (12 st) Row 2 - chain 3, tbl (US dc) in first stitch, 2 tbl (US dc) in all st, sl st to close (24 st) Row 3 - *dc, 2 tbl (US sc, 2dc) in next st, 2tbl, dc (US 2dc, sc) in next st, sl st into next st, repeat from * to end, sl st to close

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Very quick and easy, I made all 10 in less than an hour. I used Twilleys of Stamford Freedom Sincere Organic Cotton DK which I really love. The pattern idea came from friends on Ravelry which I then modified to make the petals more pleasing.

So there we go, some pretty and useful new handmade home things in my bathroom.

I'm not sure what I'm going to do with this apple though..... a decoration for my underused fruit bowl?

An Apple a Day.....

Rocky and the Crochet Throw

Nearly 2 and a half years ago my Dad and his wife got a greyhound (called Rocky, the poor thing) from a greyhound rescue centre. Greyhounds seem to have a design flaw for living in the UK in that they struggle to keep warm in the winter. So, I decided to crochet a blanket for the poor little thing (he actually is very spoilt).

Baa Ram Ewe, my great local yarn store, had not long opened so I treated myself to a few hours browsing yarn and choosing something for the dog. I found some Wendy Mode Chunky in some bright colours and set about crocheting the blanket.

The blanket was taken to knit night and everyone commented on how lovely it was and were very surprised when they found out it was for a dog - it was far too nice!

Blanket in progress

When it reached about 15" it became apparent that this was not going to work for Rocky. It was very large and very heavy and would likely drown him as he is a rather fragile dog.

So I went out and purchased some Sirdar Supersoft Aran to make the dog blanket in which worked much better. The blanket was much lighter and the colours were far more manly for a dog that is really rather fussy.

Rocky with his blanket

Doesn't he look handsome?

Rocky posing with blanket

So what to do with the previous blanket? Well, it turned out to be just the right width for a throw for a  double bed, so I purchased more colours of the Wendy Mode Chunky and carried on crocheting. And then it got put away as my startitis casted on for new projects.

It remained in a cupboard for over a year......

Occasionally it came out, most often in winter when it was perfect for being able to snuggle under whilst crocheting along the top in my cold house. It felt like it would never end.

Snuggling under whilst crocheting

This week, I decided that I was very cold and got it out again, and I have finally finished it! It is now keeping my feet warm in bed and looks nice and bright and cheerful in my bedroom.

I might have to start another blanket now to keep me warm while I am crafting in front of the tv.....

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Finished Colours

Meeting Erika Knight

On thursday I was lucky enough to go to the Baa Ram Ewe new season launch - something I always try to attend as not only do they have yarn on sale and a discount on the new season yarns, but they also always have a famous designer come and give a presentation. I have met so many of my designer heroes at these events, I always leave feeling like a groupy! This time it was Erika Knight who has been in the knitting & crochet industry for many years and is one of the all time greats. Her knits are very textural and often easy to knit. I love the crochet bag she is showing off here, and the fun furry waistcoat!

Erika Knight Designs

Erika was fantastic to meet. Her new range of yarns are beautiful and she gave a great history of her involvement in yarn and fashion, funny and very down to earth too. I would love to eventually end up as popular as she is, something to aim for!

Erika Knight

She was very inspiring to talk to. She wants crafting to become Crafting - something that should be recognised for the amount of work and skill involved. Something I also feel passionate about. It was a great evening.

Sorry about the terrible photos - it was rather dark inside!

In other news, I have decided to join the madness that is the Beekeepers Quilt. The hexipuff madness has begun! I don't know how many I will need to knit yet as I have not decided what I want to eventually make. They are really rather addictive though. Thursday I just had one....... today I have 5! I will probably need several hundred so this is a long term project. Who knows, maybe in 2020 I will have a hexipuff blanket for the bed!

Hexipuff

Olympics & Wool sack cushions

With a blog it is important to post regularly. As you can see I have not been doing too well at this as it has been several months since I put pen to paper (or typed) so this bank holiday is a good excuse (or really I have no excuse to not to) to write a few catch up posts. I love the olympics. I first fell in love in Barcelona 1992 when I watched someone shoot an arrow to light the olympic flame, so with the olympics coming to London I have been quite excited.

A great olympic proportioned project that has been going on for the past year is Woolsack. This aims to give Olympic (& Paralympic) athletes a cushion handmade from British wool and stuffed with British wool too. Hundreds and thousands of people have been making these cushions and donating them in the hope that they bring an athlete good luck. I helped on the Woolsack stall at Woolfest this year and met the wonderful Jane.

I got to admire all the lovely cushions and inspired by this I decided to make one myself.

I crocheted the front using 2 strands of yarn which changed each row.

The back was machine knit on a friends machine (because mine decided it did not want to play) using the same colours.

It was then finished off with an official Woolsack tab.

I hope it brings good luck to whoever receives it!

Jubilee special promotion

To join in the Jubilee celebrations I am running a promotion. All patterns purchased on my website or through Ravelry are 15% off until midnight Tuesday 5th June. Just use the code jubileespecial at the checkout. I hope the Queen and all of you have a fantastic weekend of celebration despite the weather. I shall be watching the jubilee Thames flotilla on the tv today and knitting a new baby pattern.

Albion Jubilee

This year is a fantastic year to celebrate all things British. Queen Liz is celebrating her Diamond Jubilee (60 years in one job is an amazing commitment. I hope my workplace does not get any ideas!), and the Olympics are being held in London.

Lots of places are having street fairs and village parties,  so I wanted something quirky to wear so I can join in the party.

Albion Jubilee is just that. Knitted with the Union Jack flag forming the intarsia pattern, it is fitted, summery (yes I am hoping for the good weather to last, ever the optimist!), cute & fun. It is knitted with intarsia for the body and is shaped to flare over the hips but be fitted over the bust and the under bust. The straps lie diagonally across the chest to match the pattern of the union jack flag.

I've knitted this one in Twilleys of Stamford freedom echo DK which is made from recycled denim and comes in beautiful muted colours. The cotton is cool for the summer and holds its shape well.

I hope you have a fantastic jubilee celebration and an amazing olympics :)

Caffe Latte Laptop Snug in Knit Now!

I am in issue 8 of Knit Now magazine! My caffe latte laptop snug pattern is perfect for this magazine that specialises in small portable projects that can be knit on the move (such as the train like I do - perfect for putting people off sitting next to you!) or at your local pub (be careful how much wine you drink - you don't want to have to frog it all the next day when you notice how many mistakes you have made under the influence).

I like Knit Now as a magazine. It has lots of designs in each issue - over 30 in this one I think. The designs vary from simple beginner pieces (such as my laptop snug) to much more intricate socks and shawls so there is something for everyone. It has interesting articles and interviews with designers, tells you about current trends and showcases lots of beautiful yarns and new publications so I can be sure not to miss anything new.

One of my favourite features is the little info box on each pattern that tells you whether it is for beginners, intermediates or advanced knitters, how much yarn is needed overall and whether it can be knitted in hours, days or weeks - fantastic for planning projects.

The reviews by knitting groups are really good for getting opinions on yarn too. Each issue a different knitting group is visited. They get chance to knit with different yarns and then fill in a comment sheet. I always like to have multiple points of view so this is a great feature.

Kate Heppell is a fantastic editor to work with too. Very helpful and quick with replies. I recommend giving Knit Now a look now!

Little Meeple Bag

Carcassone is one of my favourite games & I just love playing it. It is one of those games that is so easy to learn that you can play it with anyone (I have managed to teach my 90 year old Nan how to play) and yet is very strategic (just try beating my friend Catherine - I think I have managed it once!). And it has meeples. Little pieces of colourful wood shaped like little men that are used to mark tiles and keep the score. For some reason they are very satisfying. I'm always blue unless I'm playing against my Dad, and then he has to have the blue ones. You can stack them, make little meeple pyramids..... I digress.

 Meeple bag

This little bag has meeple all around it in different colours. It is knitted in the round from the bottom up:

It then has a stranded section before reaching the meeple who are knitted using an intarsia-in-the-round technique:

It is then finished off with a multicolour bind off that gathers the colours into a pretty star:

And has a crochet tie to keep all the little meeple inside:

Doesn't it look cute? A perfect present for any gamer or role player - this one has gone to a loving home. The game at the top of the post? Yellow won. :(