Knitting Naked

Would you?..........

Well these brave ladies from Bolton did just that for their 2010 Naked Knitting Calendar.

The ladies, also known as the Knitting Noras have been working on this calender from some time and the proceeds will go to Christies - mainly because two of their knitting noras were ill with cancer and received treatment there.

As well as raising money for charity, the calender will champion British wool, promoting British breeds and small local dyeing companies, to reduce knitting air miles. The knitting noras are definitely doing their bit for climate change. The portraits are being kept secret until the calender hits the shelves. Priced at a modest £10 (plus P&P), the calender will be available from the knitting noras website. Cleck here to order your copy.

Well done to all those involved. I'm sure you will all agree, this is a fantastic idea for a great and worthy cause.

Winning Streak

It seems as though we're on a winning streak in our house. This month my daughter is featured in Cheshire Life Magazine (page 43 if anyone has it). She is photographed in this beautiful red tutu hand made by Rossetti. Then my seven year old son received a certificate and letter in the post to say his poem had been accepted for printing in a children's book on poems. He was very nonchelant about it - whist I was very excited.

On to me - my crochet cupcakes pattern is being published in a new crochet mag which is out this month (although I haven't managed to get a copy yet). I think it's called lets get crafty crochet - if anyone sees it let me know where!! Then yesterday I received an email to say I had won £50 in vouchers for a competition that I entered on Earthwhile's website. They sell some really nice eco products, so I can't wait to spend the vouchers.

Now all I need is for something good to happen for my daughter who graduated last year with a first class degree in fine art. She has been trying to establish herself as an artist. She's doing well, but really needs a job just to earn some cash. She's had a few interviews recently so GOOD LUCK!! I hope things turn out well for her.

Hubby has also applied for a job, so hopefully the good luck streak will help him too...

So, I'm send you good luck vibes through this message - I hope something good happens for you too.

My first Etsy treasury of Cakes, Knits and Cosies

I've finally created my first etsy treasury. I've been waiting for ages for the list to get below 333 so that I can create one. The way the treasury works is that once the active treasury list falls below 333 you can create a treasury of your own.

Then, last night at about 10.50pm, I suddenly remembered that the list was due to get to 333 at about 11.30pm. I quickly took a look on etsy and it was a good job I did. I must have miscalculated my timings as the list was already down to 333. So I waited patiently and it happened - when the next treasury expired and the list was at 332, the magic box appeared for a title. I couldn't believe my luck - I was 'in' and off I went, creating my own treasury. How exciting. There are so many gorgeous listings on etsy that I really was spoilt for choice.

I kept my treasury close to home - choosing my CakesKnitsandCosies name as a prompt. I chose my favourite Cakes, Knits and Cosies (although I included some crocheted listings as well!!).

I am really pleased with my treasury - it looks pretty.... It's expired now , so thanks to eveyone who left a comments.

Free Knitting Pattern - SCATS and COWLS

As well as knitting and designing cakes I've also been frantically knitting bits and bobs for a stall at the Chorlton 'Green' Festival (Manchester) which was held last Saturday. My daughter had a stall for her arts and crafts and I had promised to share the stall with her and provide some knitted stuff. The problem was - I forgot - so I had to think of some really quick knits. I thought it would be the perfect place to sell my SCATS - what's that I hear you ask?? A SCAT is a knitted tube that you can wear around your neck like a scarf or on your head like a hat. Perfect for those with dreadlocks, as the dreads come out of the top of the tube. They look great.

I used Sirdar Bigga, which is megga chunky and knits up really quickly - just the ticket. Luck was on my side when I went into Oxfam and there was a bag of 10 balls of Bigga in a lovely greeny-brown, for just £5. What a bargain.....

I managed to make quite a few in the limited colours I had. They sold like hot cakes. Here's how I made them......

(Please note these patterns are my design and are published under copyright to me (CakesKnitsandCosies). Please do not reproduce the pattern or any part of the pattern without my permission. The pattern is for personal use only - many thanks)

Materials - 1 x 100g balls Sirdar Bigga/15mm circular needles/cable needle/button

Plain neck cosy - Cast on 28 sts. Knitting in the round, knit approx 16 rounds. Cast off. This cozy will fit a small-medium head/neck.

Cabled SCAT - Cast on 28 sts. Knitting in the round, knit 4 rounds. Round 5 - [place first two sts onto cable needle, put the cable needle to the back of the work, knit next 2 sts, knit 2 sts from cable needle, Knit 3]. Repeat 4 times. Round 6-8 - knit. Round 9 - as Round 5. Round 10-12- knit. Round 13 - as Round 5. Round 14-16 knit (If you think you have enough yarn you can knit another round). Cast off.

Buttoned Neck Cosy - Cast on 30 sts. Knit in rows (not in the round). Row 1 - Purl 4, Knit 22, Purl 4. Row 2 - Knit 4, Purl 22, Knit 4. Repeat Rows 1 and 2 [7] more times. Cast off. Sew a large button onto one end. It should slip through the knitting without the need for a button hole.

TIP for starting to knit in the round - before you start to knit in the round I find it best to swap the first and last cast on stitches (the stitches at the tip of each needle). Pass the first stitch at the tip of the left needle to the right needle knitwise. Then pass the first stitch at the tip of the right needle over the stitch that you have passed across. Leave it on the left needle and knit into the front of it. Continue knitting in the round.

TIP for casting off - when you get to the end of your cast off round you will have one stitch left on the needle. Cut yarn and thread through it under first cast off stitch from back of work to front, then pass the yarn through the last stitch and pull tight to finish off.

Cakes, Cakes and more Cakes

It's been ages since my last blog - oops. Times really flies when you're knitting. I've been busy knitting cakes for baby ballet. My daughter's dance teacher asked me to knit 12 cakes for her baby ballet class. They 'pretend' with them - buy them, carry them, place them nicely on a plate and pretend to eat them. It helps them with presentation and posture. They absolutely loved them and had loads of fun. I knitted them from my latest knitting pattern for butterfly cakes, fairy cakes and currant buns.

I also crocheted some cakes from my new crochet pattern and knitted a few doughnuts too. A nice selection for baby ballet.

My latest crochet pattern was a bit of a whirlwind really. I was contact by the Editor of a new crochet magazine. She asked me if I was interested in designing a crochet cupcake pattern - how exciting. The deadline was really tight so I only had a couple of weeks to come up with something good. The Editor sent me the yarns that will be free with the first edition, and this is what I came up with. I was really pleased with the result. I have sent the pattern and the cakes through to the mag and the response was really positive, so fingers crossed, they will be featured in the first edition.

These patterns are listed in my Etsy, MISI and Folksy online shops, if you would like to make some for yourself....

Knitted Cakes

I love to knit and crochet cakes - they really make me smile. I don't know what it is that's so appealing to me, but it's great to create the perfect cake - with no sugar, no calories and no dreaded wheat or gluten. With my wheat and gluten allergy I suppose it's a case of - 'If I can't eat them, I'll knit them instead'.

People at work think I'm crazy with my knitting, I often knit them little 'treats', and actually they've been quite impressed, despite their cynicism. 'Why would anyone want a knitted cake' they laugh - but when they see one, they generally accept that they are quite appealing....

I am just on the point of finishing another knitted cake pattern. In fact I've revamped a previous pattern that sold well, but I felt it needed upgrading a little, due to the fact that I designed it a couple of years ago, when there were very few knitted cake patterns around. There are now so many other cake patterns on the market that my patterns need a bit of a make-over to give them the wow factor. Any day now the pattern will be ready - so keep looking for a sneak preview.

I thought I'd take this opportunity to show you a few of my favourite things on MISI - my top 5 cake related yummies......

Number one is this pretty Cupcake card from Dots and Spots - This would definitely make me smile...





Number two is this nostalgic print from SaintKitten - who also has some gorgeous vintage button brooches too. This cute little deer and french fancies take me back to my childhood. My favourites were the chocolate ones.

Number three was a difficult one to choose, because the Karen at the pink fairy cake has so many gorgeous things in her MISI shop. I decided on her felt cake, just because I love felt food and it looks so pretty.

Now I've got a dilemma as I just logged onto MISI and there's a new seller selling more felt cakes. These are so sweet that I must include them too. Daisy Daydreams has more handcrafted goodies for sale - so take a look in her MISI shop

Last but definitely not least is this yummy felt bunting from Nickynackynoo. What a great way to feel in the tea party mood all the time.

That all for now - I hope you've enjoyed my delicious delights from MISI.

Scrub-a-dub-dub

I've finally finished writing up my new crochet pattern - it's take ages but I'm really happy with it. I used Microsoft Publisher this time which is much easier that word, and I created a pdf so that it is in a fixed format and can be sent by email. As usual, this pattern is for sale in my etsy shop and in my folksy shop.

The pattern is for four different scrubbie patterns, four matching wash cloths and a strap to keep the scrubbies tidy. I've been happily testing the pattern for a while and now have loads of scrubbies in little stacks everywhere.

The great thing about cotton scrubbies is that you don't have to buy stuff that you simply throw away - cotton wool balls are a great example and they're often not even made of cotton anyway!! They can be washed over and over - there's always room in the washing machine for a little scrubbie. I've been using them in the kitchen for ages - I have three or four that I cycle round, so I always have one handy when another one's in the wash. They should last for years too - so they're great for the environment.

The housework has taken a bit of a hit whilst I've been writing up and testing this pattern - so now it's time to catch up with washing and ironing, cleaning and vacuuming.

I have an idea for another crochet pattern already developing in my head, so I'll soon be back to the drawing board.

I'd love to hear your comments - I'll be giving away some freebies soon - so keep watching this space........