Ups and Downs

Or should I say downs and ups?

Why I am down - it's a long story, but a lady once asked me how I had knitted a cupcake tea cosy that I had listed on ebay for charity fund raising. I thought she was a fellow knitter, so I shared my pattern with her in an email. I explained that I was in the process of writing it up for publishing. How shocked was I to see then see my cupcake tea cosy in Let's Knit magazine (issue 2) along with a write up about the 'designer'!!! How cheeky. I wrote to the editor and explained that I was in fact the designer - she was very apologetic. The cupcake tea cosy is very popular on etsy and on the lady's own web shop.

Although I was extremely annoyed, I left it be, as I had lots of other designs to write up.

However, the same lady has now copied my distinctive butterfly cake pattern. I'm not sure what to do - should I contact her and question her about it? or just leave it be and get on with writing up my next batch of designs and just hope that her pattern isn't as popular as mine (it's twice as expensive too, which may put people off buying it). I'm still unsure, so haven't taken any action as yet.

On the Up side I have just found two sellers on Misi selling cakes knitted from two of my patterns that have been published in Let's Knit magazine and Lets Get Crafting Crochet. It pleases me that the end product looks great when knitted by others - something I often worry about when designing -(will people be able to follow my pattern and achieve the same results). The answer is clearly yes -

Plump Pudding has knitted some beautiful cupcakes from my Sprinkles pattern, published in Let's Knit (May 2008). I love the one in the pretty little box

Natty Needles Creations has crocheted some cute cupcakes from my crochet pattern that was featured in Let's Get Crafting Croc het (June 2009). These are fab and I love the colour combinations....

Needles Aside

I put down the needles and hooks for a week or so, as we had our family holiday to Menorca. Yarn and sun creams don't mix well, so I put the needles aside and concentrated on relaxing and enjoying my family. We had a fantastic holiday and the weather was sunny and hot. The hotel was brilliant (our fourth visit to the Barcelo Pueblo in Menorca). It was spotless as usual and the food was great. I didn't starve, despite my various food intolerances and allergies. On the contrary - I ate more than I do at home, yum.


I read two fab books - The Other Boleyn Girl, which is about Anne's sister Mary. Very interesting and captivating - I couldn't put it down and would recommend it to anyone who loves historical novels.

I then read 'The Island' by Victoria Hislop. A sad, but again captivating read. I would definitely recommend both books for a great holiday read.

We're back at home now, and the kids off school, so not much crafting or designing to be done. I'm knitting and crocheting some lovely preemie stuff - blankets, gowns and hats. I've been promising myself I would do some for a while, so I'm taking some time out to finish them off for preemies UK.

I finished another pattern too just before we went away. It's a cute pattern for baby bootees. I'm really pleased with the way they turned out and can't wait to give this pair to a friend's baby at the weekend. The pattern is for three styles of baby shoes and is available in my etsy, folksy and misi shops.

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 (sm/med/large) - Cast on 28/32/36 sts. Knitting in the round, knit approx 16 rounds. Cast off. This cozy will fit a small-medium head/neck.

Cabled SCAT (sm/med/large) - Cast on 28/32/36 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 3/4/5]. 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. Cast off.

Buttoned Neck Cosy (sm/med-large) - Cast on 30/36 sts. Knit in rows (not in the round). Row 1 - Purl 4, Knit 22/28, Purl 4. Row 2 - Knit 4, Purl 22/28, 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....