Aviatrix

And another hat! This one called 'Aviatrix' for obvious reasons was designed by Justine Turner, a fabulous New Zealand designer. (You'll see a lot more of her designs starting to appear on my blog too)

It comes in a wide range of sizes: newborn, 3 months, 6 months, 12 months, 18 months, 2-4 years and 4 years plus (I have the measurements for these if you'd like to check which is the right size for your child). It looks great on both boys and girls, awesome for kids that pull off hats. I've added 2 buttons to this one so that there's room for growth.

For anyone interested, I can also knit another of Justine's fabulous patterns which is similar in design, but without the chin strap. I'll be adding it to my list soon, but haven't had the opportunity to knit one yet.

Contact me via email if you are interested in finding out more information or would like to place an order. Prices start around the $20 mark (depending upon on the type/quality of yarn and size)

Propeller Hat

Thinking about winter hats yet?

The Propeller is a gorgeous little unisex hat, with a beret-like style

This is just 1 in a series of 8 beautifully designed hats by Woolly Wormhead that I am able to knit for little ones.

These hats are available in 4 sizes:
XS - Premmie (12"/30.5 cm)
S - Newborn to 3 months (14"/35.5cm)
M - 3-6 months (16"/41cm)
L - 6-12 months (18"/46cm)

In saying that, I found this quite a relaxed fit, the largest size fitted both my 12 month old and my little almost 3 year old (at a push)

I am planning on knitting all the other ones in the series to pop on here, but if you are interested in seeing the others then email me and I'll show you the designers pictures. There is a wide range of styles, including some that tie under the chin like earflap hats - they're all fabulous, of course!

Contact me via email if you are interested in finding out more information or would like to place in order. Prices are around the $20 mark (depending upon on the type/quality of yarn and size)

Tubey Hat

Another custom knit available for this winter!

The Tubey is a great little woollen hat, easy to pop on and looks stylish

Oh how we love raisins when trying to get a photo!

This is just 1 in a series of 8 beautifully designed hats by Woolly Wormhead that I am able to knit for little ones.

These hats are available in 4 sizes:
XS - Premmie (12"/30.5 cm)
S - Newborn to 3 months (14"/35.5cm)
M - 3-6 months (16"/41cm)
L - 6-12 months (18"/46cm)

In saying that, I found the Tubey was quite a relaxed fit, the largest size fitted both my 12 month old and my little almost 3 year old.

I am planning on knitting all the other ones in the series to pop on here, but if you are interested in seeing the others then email me and I'll show you the designers pictures. There is a wide range of styles, including some that tie under the chin like earflap hats - they're all fabulous, of course!

Contact me via email if you are interested in finding out more information or would like to place in order. Prices are around the $20 mark (depending upon on the type/quality of yarn and size)

Selfish Knitting

Phew for a moment of peace - the kids are off at a birthday party with their Dad and I am home alone! What a feeling (and how guilty do I feel that I am sitting at the computer instead of folding washing or mopping floors)!

But, after a week of really sick and miserable (and cooped up) kids, a moment to breathe is just what the doctor ordered.

Speaking of me - a selfish knit came off the needles about a week ago - my Woodland Jewels Scarf. It was knit in Brooklynne's custom dyed yarn that I won about a month ago using the Woodland Shawl pattern. It took 9 days to knit and the transformation that came about after being blocked was amazing! I thought the leaf pattern looked neat as I was knitting it, but it opened up beautifully on blocking.

And it's for me.

I'm trying to think of the last thing I actually knit for myself...hmmmm. Can't.

I love the colour, and I know it'll get a lot of wear this winter with all the black I wear.

On a completely different note, don't forget the little snakes competition I have going. The prizes listed are just SOME of the prize that will be included - hey, you gotta be in to win.

Ok, I'll even beg - oh please won't someone have a go knitting some? My wee pattern/project is lonely.

Oh how I love a good K.A.L

I love knit-a-longs (well, if it's something I want to KAL with, but sometimes it can encourage me to have a go knitting something that I otherwise wouldn't cast on)

Over on Rav in the Budding Designers Downunder group there is a monthly KAL. Last month it was for a little leafy shrug designed by Katherine

Originally I was simply watching this knit a long, I had a lot of little birthday presents to make and some custom knits to complete and so wasn't sure if participating was something I could do. But with merely days to go until the end of January I decided that I really wanted to knit this for Penny.

I cast on in some lovely soft undyed silver merino that has been neglected in my stash and within a couple of days I had cast off and blocked this wee beauty.

This months KAL is for a little vanilla soaker designed by Kelly. I've yet to cast it on as I've something cute on the needles already, but I've got my yarn picked out and a recipient and embellishment in mind.

Snakes & Adders - Competition Time

So, I've posted my little Snakes and Adders pattern - now I'd love to see what other people come up with (I'm a pretty standard just follow a pattern kind of knitter)

So, the competition is simply to get knitting!


Try making some snakes and enter them with some pics on Ravelry (let me know here if you can) and you'll go into the draw. I'll be picking 2 winners - 1 will be the best snake/collection of snakes, and the other will be a completely random snake (so that those who are not necessarily the best knitters and are pretty new to it all still have a chance to win)

We'll be drawing the winners on the Saturday the 13th of March, so final entries need to be in by the end of the evening of the 12th of March.

The prizes...


As well as some still undecided goodies, as a winner you could choose from any of the 3 prizes below

1) 2 sock blockers made to your choice of sizes

OR

2) Your choice of something knit from my custom knitting selection to the maximum value of $25 (I've got more not pictured yet too so if you like this option we can talk about the more extensive list I actually have permission to knit)

OR

3) A 'Coco Kids' voucher (specifying me as the knitter) to the value of $25. You can use this yourself on anything I can make or sell (a nice discount off a swift) or this could be gifted to someone else if you don't like either of the options above for yourself.

This competition is open to anyone anywhere - I'd be prepared to post to where-ever the winners are from :)

I also notice that 6 people commented that they liked Blair's name and that was the name we ran with in the end - so I've still got my thinking hat on for what to do about the comp that had no official winner. I haven't forgotten

Snakes & Adders

Snakes and Adders it is! Thanks for all the name ideas and feedback! There's a new competition coming and details about the last one.

This pattern came about when I needed some little extras to pop into some birthday pressies. We've got lot of birthdays on at the moment and all the presents I've purchased felt like they needed something a little more personal.

These are easy and quick to make as well as a good way to use lovely remnants that you just don't know what to do with - variegated look great with little stripes as do semi solid and plain colours. I actually haven't checked their useage, but I'd say about 5gms? (I'd be interested in any feedback including that)

(click to enlarge)

Requirements
Approx 3.25mm needle to magic loop with (DPN’s the same size would be handy later on if you have them) – gauge isn’t particularly important
DK or worsted weight yarn (4 ply can be used double stranded)
Pipecleaner
Darning needle
Buttons, felt, embroidery thread – whatever you’d like to use to decorate and embellish

Method

• Cast on 8 stitches, split 4 onto each end of the needle and join to knit in the round – no need to worry about stitch markers

• Knit approximately 5 rounds.

This is when I add my eyes so I can hide the ends in the inside of my snake. I have been using duplicate stitch in either yarn or embroidery thread – though buttons or googly eyes would also be great if you could ensure they were safe for the recipient.

If you used a long tail cast-on, you could pull your cast on tail through the little circle/hole from the initial cast on row using a crochet hook. This will be used to sew up the little hole later.

•  You are now going to reduce the 8 stitches to 6 for the snakes body, so on the next round knit 2, k2tog, k2, k2tog

• Then knit your 6 stitches in the round for the length of your pipecleaner (mine were 15cms long)

If you have DPN’s the right size, you could do this as an i-cord

Bend up a teeny bit of both ends of the pipecleaner so that no sharp edges poke out. This makes it easier to feed into your snake, as well as safer for the recipient.

• Feed pipecleaner into the centre tube of your snake

• You have 6 stitches that you've been working - you're going to reduce them so that you get a tapered snake tail by k1, k2tog, k1, k2tog

• Next round K2tog, k2tog

• Cast off
  

Finishing off
Add a little tongue – you could insert a little felt one into the circular hole at the head
Or
Using some embroidery thread on a needle, sew in and out of the snake at a position where the mouth would be and then knot together a couple of times, cut to the right length for a forked tongue. Sew up the little circular hole at the head with the cast on tail

Sew in the tail end

(click to enlarge)