April Knit-A-Long

With the weather getting cooler and daylight savings coming to an end here in New Zealand this weekend it's the perfect time to start making sure that your little (and not so little!) ones have some lovely woollen clothes for winter.

It's funny, at my lovely knitting night tonight, 3 people were knitting my pattern (ok, well that was including me but my baby David was happier with me rocking him than working those needles). But I SO love seeing people knitting my patterns and so I thought I'd organise a knit-a-long of any of my garment patterns for the month of April.

For those unfamiliar with my patterns, I've got my 'Little Rascal's e-book' which comprises of the Little Hoodlum (the jersey), Young Einstein (the cardigan or jacket) and the Hotshot (the short sleeved vestee).

The e-book patterns have a range of options:

- a hood or collar
- moss/seed or garter stitch edge
- the option of knitting a contrast band around the edge
- wide sleeves or tapered

Sizings range from newborn up to 10 years (15-28 inch chest)

The patterns can be knit in either 8ply/DK or 10ply/worsted weight

   

I've also designed a girls dress pattern called 'Teacher's Pet' which has a number of options too:

- 3 different skirt options, a full skirt, a box pleat and a petal style pleat
- an optional hood
- belt and belt loops
- eyelet holes for a ribbon or i-cord
- a variety of hem options
- garter or moss stitch edges
- instructions for knitting a contrast edge

 

Sizings range from a 17” chest (3-6 months) up to a 23” chest (4 years) though instructions for a 25” chest (size 6) and 27” chest (size 8) are included, but not tested thoroughly.

The patterns can be knit in either DK (8ply) or worsted weight (10ply) as long as a 20 sts gauge is used.

And for my Teacher's Pet patterns all the money from the sale of this pattern during March and April will be donated to the Red Cross for Christchurch NZ following the devastating earthquake on 22nd Feb


So the knit-a-long details:

- Knit or finish one of my patterns during the month of April

- Load the details and photos into Ravelry, at the top of the notes section add  'This is an entry into the April Knit-A-Long' or something along those lines

- You can enter as many times as you like as long as the garments have been knitted in April 2011

The prize:

I was thinking of buying some delicious yarn and bits and pieces for the prize, but I know some people love 4ply, others worsted weight, some covet books, others - needles. And so I've decided the prize will be for a $75NZD voucher from your choice of either Knitsch or Holland Road Yarn Company (both owned and operated by the fabulous Tash, and she's just adding some deliciously smooshy hand-dyed worsted weight yarns at the moment). So this is open to anyone anywhere, I'm pretty sure Tash ships internationally!

On top of that I'll have 2 runners up who'll be credited the purchase price for whichever pattern they've won with. I'm just going to choose the projects I love the most - as simple as that!

STOP PRESS - Come and join us over at the Budding Designers Downunder group over on Ravelry to take part in the KAL! It's not just for designers, it's for all those that knit/like the downunder designs too :)

So, go choose your yarn and measure your kidlet! You can even cast on today - just as long as your item is knit and entered into Ravelry by Sunday the 8th of May (I figure that gives 1 month for knitting and a week to take photos and weigh yarn etc) If you need to purchase the pattern you'll find more info here or you can purchase via Ravelry here

One last thing - I've more plans for these patterns and I'd love any feedback or thoughts you may have, more than just 'I like it' or whatever. If you have some constructive feedback I'd love you to email it to me.

In search of a scarf knitter...

Glassons are running a 'getting knitting NZ' promotion - you knit a scarf, take it to them, they add a badge and tag it ready for sale and sell them for $25 in their stores - with all the money going to the Christchurch appeal.

That font's probably a bit small, so the link to see it full size is here

Anywho, I have some lovely soft yarn that's screaming out to be made into a scarf - it's even red in honour of Christchurch's red and black colours (and seeing as so many people wear black in winter it'll be perfect ;) )

But with the arrival of my preciously delicious but needy baby, I just can't find the time to knit at the moment, much as it pains me! So, if you think you'd seriously be able to knit my yarn into a scarf to pass onto Glassons to be sold for Chch - then leave a comment.

And if there happens to be a huge number of people, I may even find some more yarn in my stash that would be lovely for another scarf or two to be knitted for Christchurch too (though I can't promise it'll be red - some green in my stash springs to mind as well tee hee)

For Christchurch

On the 22nd of February 2011 at 12:51pm the Christchurch that we know was changed forever, as were the lives of many many Cantabrians when the earthquake caused the ground to shake so violently.

So to generate some funds to help support Christchurch I'll be donating 100% of pattern sales from my Teacher's Pet pattern to the Red Cross for Christchurch till the end of April 2011.

You can purchase it for $5.50USD through Ravelry here or through my 'patterns' tab here.

Teacher’s Pet is a simple and seamless (top-down) pattern for a gorgeous yet practical wee dress.

The Teacher’s Pet pattern contains a number of options -
- 3 different skirt options, a full skirt, a box pleat and a petal style pleat
- an optional hood
- belt and belt loops
- eyelet holes for a ribbon or i-cord
- a variety of hem options
- garter or moss stitch edges
- instructions for knitting a contrast edge


Sizings range from a 17” chest (3-6 months) up to a 23” chest (4 years) with instructions for a 25” chest (size 6) and 27” chest (size 8) to follow


The patterns can be knit in either DK (8ply) or worsted weight (10ply) as long as a 20 sts gauge is used.


The pattern also includes a printer friendly version at the end - so it’s possible to download the full pdf with all the info and pretty pictures, but if you prefer to save paper and ink simply print the last few pages of the pdf. You'll be sent a pdf of the pattern.

For those without a credit card and living in NZ, flick me an email and we can organise for a bank deposit and I can email you the PDF.