Tag Archives: 8 ply

Knitting project

A petite knitted pigeon

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Knitted pigeon

I made a knitted pigeon from a knitting book I picked up at a local book store. Its has all different knitting projects inspired from London.

The little pigeon was gifted towards my sister in law for her birthday. They have Pepper, the cat…

Knitted pigeon attacked by cat
Argggghhhhh!! Save me!

The book has lots of cool knitting projects in it. It has ones that I would never bother with, like a book cover and a bag bovver (yes, I was as confused as you).

But the queen and her corgis and all the little people and animals are very cool, and presumably very quick to knit up.

The book came with nearly everything needed to make the pigeon (minus the yellow thread for the beak).  It was smaller than I expected, but still cute and reasonably pigeon-like.

So for now, Ive hidden the book from my daughters who had taken up nagging me to make the queen and corgis.

I’ve snuck it out of hiding.. here it is…

Stitch London - Lauren O'Farrell

Crochet project

Crocheted crowns!

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Crocheted crown - white and pink

So here they are! The finished products from the one of the lovely hand-dyed balls of yarn.

I looked around ravelry, until I found this pattern, which can be found on the Hatting Madly Crochet website.

They were so quick to crochet up, and as far as I can tell, the pattern was brilliant. This is about the second written crocheting pattern I have followed, so Im not much of a judge! There was only one spot, where I pulled it out about 4 times before realising what it meant. This is clearly because Im a knitter and forget that you can crochet into holes, not just stitches!

They also dont take up much yarn. I was thinking that I might not be able to make 2 out of the 50g ball of yarn, so I did the first one with a cream coloured yarn as the band. Boy, was I wrong. I made it, and then 2 completely coloured ones, and I still have about enough left for another one.

The only change I made to the pattern, was for my 3 year old. I did one less pattern repeat, to make it smaller. I found that even though the pattern is for a toddler crown, it turned out to fit my 5 year old. But Im sure that it depends on tension, and the yarn. To adjust, the website says to adjust the foundation chain by 6 stitches.

The kids love them, and apparently so do the dogs (who just love to dress up, haha!).

Crocheted crown - hand-dyed yarn

So now, Im still not sure what to use the other yarn for! But Im sure something will come to mind.. 🙂

Fun musings, Knitting project

Hand-dyed yarn!

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Hand-dyed yarn

On the way back home after Mothers’ Day, I visited a fantastic handcraft shop. There is some gorgeous hand dyed, and handspun yarn there. And some delicious jam… amongst other things.

We are going away this week, and I need something to do in the car. Its decided that I will be using this gorgeous yarn. But what do I knit?? The pink yarn is an 8 ply (DK) and is 50g. The multicoloured yarn is 4 ply and also 50g.

Ive looked through some pattern books, but with the amount I have, its hard to know!

Any ideas??

 

 

Knitting project

Mothers Day!

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This year I got to see my Mum for Mothers Day! We live a while from my parents, so it usually doesn’t happen. It was very nice. And of course, I made my Mum something. She was gushing with happiness over them. My Mum, my biggest fan!

Here they are:

Nice and toasty...
Nice and toasty…

 

And matching!
And matching!

From this book:

Awesome book
Awesome book

With this yarn:

 

Awesome yarn
Awesome yarn

How was your Mothers Day? Any handmade gifts to show off?

Knitting project

Finished knitted squares for blanket!

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Knitted squares for a blanket

You might remember a few weeks ago, I started making some knitted squares. Well, I finished 4 and here they are drying last night after I handwashed them.

It was a nice relaxing little project. Good break to get the creative mind working again!

I got to see some photos of the blankets that are being put together (by some ladies at our church) from the squares today, for a local charity, and they look good!

Knitting project

Knitting blanket squares!

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Knitting purple squares

 

This week I thought it was time to start an easy knitting project I could do without thinking. Conveniently, our Womens Ministry at church is knitting a blanket together to give to a local charity.

The squares have to be 20 x 20 cm and are preferred to be in 8 ply yarn on 4mm needles, and in the colours purple, blue or pink. Having used so much of my 8 ply stash for the big blanket I knitted, I don’t have any of those colours left in 8 ply. So I have used two 4 ply strands together. Its turned out really nice and firm. Perfect for a cosy blanket!

The photo shows it as a blue-purple colour, but its really a rich purple that has a light purple spun through it. So pretty 🙂

Fun musings, Knitting project

A pram blanket?!

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Blue pram blanket ~ OTD

 

A few years ago, I was trying to get in some stashbusting, with speed! I saw this amazing pattern (at least I thought so at the time) for pram blankets that used multiple strands. It had different pattern repeats for different looks. I choose mine, along with 8 (!) strands of 8 ply (DK) and away I went. It turned out lovely. Except that I didnt actually want to use it with my babies. It is quite chunky and I could just see them pulling the strands with their fingers.

In retrospect, I wonder, did I make it more strands that the pattern said? Maybe I was too eager to see that yarn disappear!

So it has sat in the wardrobe and I have pulled it out to scratch my head a few times, and then it has returned. Ive decided it has to happen.. whatever ‘it’ may be. So far my kids’ ideas are as follows, “WE will have it as a blanket!”, said very matter-of-factly. One of my ideas is to back it with a fabric and use it as some kind of knee-warmer on the couch. Another is to back it with fabric, double it over, and use it as a cushion cover. And thats it. Help me!

What would you do with this strange creation??

Knitting project

Leftover balls of yarn project complete – a blanket!

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Leftover yarn blanket ~ OTD

So I did it. I have finished all but a few balls of yarn (and after being gifted some from my MIL), and made a beautiful stashbuster, leftover yarn blanket. This after my lamenting of having so much leftover yarn.

I was set on a blanket of sorts, and after having a look through raverly patterns, I came across one I loved, garter squish (I think you will need a ravelry account to access it, otherwise this is the creators website),  and so modified it. In the US, it seems the fallback yarn of choice is a 10-ply, but it Australia, it is definitely an 8-ply (DK). So with that in mind, I was using 8-ply. I used two strands of 8-ply on 8 mm needles, with 120 stitches across (making it 90 cm wide).

I continued the pattern for approx. 190cm, which makes it the perfect size of a single bed. That means it would also cover the pillow, but I think it will look great folded back.

My MIL loves knitting the odd blanket for the couch, and has a great one that is long and narrow. Perfect for having a snooze on the couch. I think this blanket would be great for that use as well. Too wide and it would become very heavy to knit.

Somewhere in the midst of making it, I promised it to my 3-yr old daughter. She is in love. I let her have a sleep with it yesterday, until I realised.. vintage yarn, that blanket needs a wash..

Heres some more photos…

Close up of the edge :)
Close up of the edge 🙂
All folded up!
All folded up!
So colourful!
So colourful!

Do you have a nice warm blanket you are knitting at the moment? Im ever so strongly resisting the urge to start another one!