Reflections

It's been a good year for us all at Cakes Knits and Cosies. We re-branded during the year to two new shops:

Lynne's Pattern Parlour - for fun patterns to knit and crochet
and
Lynne's Knitted Notions - for fun knits and fab gifts

You can find both of these shops on etsy and folksy and I'm pleased to say they're both doing well. My aim next year is to build up more stock for Lynne's Knitted Notions. My neck cosies are really popular, as are my flower neck scarves and my little amigurumi creatures.

My daughter has been a great help too - she helps me to knit when I'm really busy and is a great model, being so beautiful. She has some great marketing and business ideas - remarkable, considering she's only 16.

Our Waldo scarves are becoming more popular - I'm working on a new design for a Waldo hat, so watch this space. If you haven't heard of Waldo the Worm - click here to buy his fab book. Great for kids and adults too - the artwork is amazing ......

I've designed for Let's Get Crafting magazines - I've been featured in every issue this year, which is amazing. I hope it continues. So what's next for Lynnes Pattern Parlour and Lynne's Knitted Notions? Well I have loads of design ideas to write up and I hope to secure more magazine commissions throughout the year. I'll be planning, designing and marketing much more in 2011. Fingers crossed for more success my handmade goods and patterns.  Hope you've all had a good year too, and may 2011 bring every success.

Destash #1 - Sirdar Spree Chunky

My first destash project uses Sirdar Spree Chunky, a cotton mix of candy colours (60% cotton 40% acrylic).  I have made a preemie baby blanket.

Here's my review of the yarn, after knitting with it for the first time:
Good points: Lovely and soft when knitted up. Colours look pretty too when knitted up, nicer than I expected, although he creamy white colour just looks a little like a dirty white.  Cheap (69p)
Bad points: Splits like crazy. It's a little heavy and loose when knitted up - I wouldn't like to make a jumper in it, I imagine it would hang pretty badly and fall out of shape. I'm dreading washing my little blanket in case it loses it's shape.

Initially, I wasn't sure what to make with this. I searched Ravelry for pattern ideas, but absolutely nothing grabbed me. So, I decided to knit a preemie blanket. 100g isn't quite enough I don't think, so I will have to edge it to make it bigger, maybe with some white yarn from my stash (two balls in one project can't be bad eh?).

First, I started to crochet the blanket, but it splits terribly and I got really frustrated. So I frogged it and started to knit instead. It still splits with knitting, but not as much. I decided to knit a blanket starting at one corner and increasing on every alternate row and until I'd used approx half the ball (I kept weighing it until there were 50g left). Then I decreased on every alternate row. Here's the instructions for anyone who wants to knit a really quick and simple preemie blanket. It took me about 3 hours, and because it using only garter st, I was able to watch TV too.

Using the needle size recommended on your ball band.Cast on 2 sts.

Row 1: kfb in each st

Row 2: sl 1, k to end

Row 3: sl 1, kfb, kfb, k1

Row 4: sl 1, k to end

Row 5: sl 1, kfb, k to last 2 sts, kfb, k1

Row 6: sl 1, k to end

Repeat Rows 5 and 6 until half the yarn has been used (use scales to weigh your ball of yarn) finishing on a Row 6

Next Row: sl 1, k2tog, k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1

Next Row: s1 1, k to end

Repeat last two Rows until 4 sts remain

Next Row: k2tog, k2tog, pass 1st st over 2nd st. Pull yarn end though the st and tie off.

With this 100g ball of chunky yarn, I made a square of approx 33cm, which isn't big enough for a preemie blanket. So in my next blog post I will show you how to crochet an edge around the blanket to make it bigger. Here's a photo of this first stage, with a crocheted double crochet border - to be explained in my next post.

Bunnies and Bootees

I've blogged about my latest crochet pattern already, but I've just made another cutie from the pattern and added a little bag and a carrot, so I thought I'd share the piccys with you.  I made the bunny for a creature shop, organised by  Giraffe Craft on Folksy. I hope the little bunny doesn't eat the creme egg en-route!!  I also hope my creature swap recipient likes my bunny.  The cute little chicken isn't my work - I'm recycling it from a previous swap.

I've also made a pretty little pair of bootees for my mum-in-law for a friend who is having a baby. I looked everywhere for a nice free pattern for bootees but wasn't over-excited by any of them, so I have created my own. This is another of my patterns that I'm just about to release - I'm just working on a matching beanie hat.

I really must get my patterns written up and published soon, but I just don't seem to be able to fit everything in these days. There's just so much to do all the time.

For example, today we simply bought 8 shallow bowls for our Denby collection (they were a real bargain at £3.99 each so we coudn't resist). However, when we got home, we had to sort the kitchen cupboard out to fit them in. This resulted in all cupboards being sorted. It's amazing how many cups and plates you can amass over time. We've had a massive clearout and now got a huge bag full of mugs, glasses and other bits and bobs to take to the charity shop. Now everything doesn't just fall out of cupboards all the time. I'm really pleased to have a nice clean and tidy kitchen again.

But I digress - here are my latest fibre works of art.

Short and curly - elegant ruffle scarf

I'm working through the lovely yarns in my stash. This ruffle scarf is crocheted in Rowan RYC - a mix of 64% Extra Fine Merino Wool, 10% Angora, 24% Nylon, 2% Metalic. It's really soft and non-itchy so makes a lovely soft and warm scarf.

It would make a great addition to and evening or daytime outfit, especially if you don't want a bulky scarf covering up your glamorous top.

This scarf is really easy to crochet - here's how:

Use a crochet hook slightly bigger than recommended for the yarn weight - I used a 6mm hook with aran weight yarn. For the short scarf I used 1 x 50g ball, but you will need 2 x 50g for the longer scarf.

Chain 101 for a short scarf or 151 for a longer scarf. Turn.

Working from 2nd. chain from the hook and double crochet (dc) into each chain (100 sts/150 sts). Chain 2, turn.

Two dc into each dc of previous round (200/300 sts). Chain 2, turn.

Two dc into each dc of previous round (400/600 sts). Chain 2, turn.

Two dc into each dc of previous round (800/1200 sts). Fasten off and weave in ends.

Et Voila! Your elegant ruffle scarf is ready to wear. If you need a last minute pressie for someone, you could whip this up in an evening. Good luck, I'd love to hear how you get on!! You can add a comment or email me (through 'My Profile').

P.S. This one's for sale in my etsy shop, for those who can't crochet - I love it, so I'm making myself one too as well as more in different colours.

Christmas Slippers

I knitted lots of lovely bits and bobs for christmas presents, but one of my favourites were these slipper socks, loosely based on a 1940's vintage pattern. I knitted them for my daughter who loves all things vintage. The green yarn is vintage and I thought the red and cream added that christmassy feel.

I am still working on this pattern. It still needs 'tweaking' on the heels as they are far too square and 'lumpy'. I also need to work out the knitting instructions for all adult sizes. I looked everywhere for a men's slipper sock pattern (size 12) but couldn't find a nice pattern anywhere. So I'll be creating these in XL size for my hubby and daughter's boyfriend.

The pattern and slippers will be for sale in my etsy shop soon, so don't forget to keep looking.

Hope you are all having a lovely christmas, and all the best for 2009!!