A bit quiet around here

In blog land that is - not in my day to day life. There have been a number of things going on in the last fortnight which has meant there's been less time for blogging :)

1) There's the Knit-A-Long going on over on Rav for my series of patterns. Not long to go now if you were wanting to be in to win ;)

2) My beloved decided to download a game...great - except he's used up all our broadband for the next fortnight :{ It sure does waste a lot of time waiting for things to download, so I'm having to spend less time on the 'puter as I'm just getting frustrated with the amount of time everything takes

3) My brother became a Dad, and it's not as simple as it sounds.

4) Coco Kids has been accepted for a stall for the next Craft 2.0 on October the 30th - exciting!

5) Something pretty cool I was notified about today - I knit 2 of these jerseys last year in cream yarn (in 10 days too!) and they were dyed for this music video here for Luke Buda (again though, painful to watch with dial-up speed)

6) I've got testing for a new pattern underway - this one's a girly one called Teacher's Pet. This has almost had 2 waves, the first lot are almost finished but after a bit more tweaking I've roped a few more talented knitters in to give the next version a whirl. While I was hoping that it would be ready for release early in August, I'd rather put up a pattern that I'm 100% happy with so I'm going to just do a bit more checking first :)

Here are a few pics of it knit though - it has a variety of options within the pattern sized 3-6 months up to a size 8 (at the moment), 3 different skirts including 2 pleated versions and one full skirt, a hood option, and the instructions for adding a belt/belt loops or eyelet holes for a ribbon. I think that's about it?!

Full skirt version with picot style hem, hood and belt

Petal pleat version with hood, belt and contrast edging

Ali's gorgeous test knit (and model!), with the hood, petal pleat with ruffle and belt.

And I've got a lot more updating to do and some more lovely knitting to show off, but it will have to wait till after the 14th when our broadband speed returns

Introducing...

So, the release day is quickly approaching - let me introduce to you the project I've been working on.

The Little Rascals is a collection of 3 versions of unisex, easy to knit, seamless and versatile patterns - great for wearing out and about and for mucking around in the backyard.

From left to right - Hotshot, Hoodlum and Young Einstein (with short sleeves, the instructions include long sleeves)

 The patterns have a variety of options - hood, collar, contrast edge, moss stitch or garter stitch, wide sleeves or tapered - a ton of possibilities. They can also be knit from either 8 or 10ply yarn (dk or worsted weight) and it includes sizes newborn up to 10 years.

Little Hoodlum

The v-necked jersey

 

Hotshot

The v-necked vestee

Young Einstein

The cardigan/jacket.

The release day at the moment is set for the 20th of June. The pattern will be available for purchase via Ravelry and hopefully also via my blog.

As well as the pattern being available for sale, I'll be offering custom knitting of any of The Little Rascals.

   

From left to right - Young Einstein (with hood), Little Hoodlum (with hood) and Hotshot (with hood)

I've been just so lucky though in the knitting friends that I have and the knowledge and support they've given me.  I'm incredibly grateful to you all!

Thank you to all my fabulous testers – Rachel, Georgie, Christine, Alison, Ali, Amy, Nat, Kath, Nikki, Anna, Margaret, Katherine, Michaela, Krissie, Jax, Gen, Pipi, Sarah and Julie. There is no way I could’ve done this without you all. I really do appreciate your enthusiasm, your help, and your thorough and honest feedback with this. Mwah!

Prior to (and during) the final test – there were a number of designers and friends that offered solutions and support with the pattern development, including pointing out where to begin and where to find useful information as well as answering my many questions. Thanks so much to Georgie Hallam, Shannon Passmore, Kelly Brooker, Sheryl Greenfield, Rachel Evans, Katherine Oxlade Knack, Ali George, Alison Daines, Rachel Ferguson and Justine Turner

A huge thank you to Emma Frost for putting her creative touch on the final product and her help with the editing

If you're a knitter and thinking of purchasing it - I hope you'll be as excited about it as I am! I really do want it to be a pattern that people enjoy knitting and want to knit!

I do ask that purchasers of the pattern respect me and other designers out there by not making copies of it or emailing it to friends. My intention was always to make it affordable so that everyone could purchase their own copy rather than passing on rogue copies. I hope when you see the price, you’ll agree it’s fair and encourage your friends to buy it themselves rather than giving them a copy. Thanks!

The Lucky Dip Swap

I recently took part in a Lucky Dip Swap. It was during my weekend away (which was fab, and it won't be the last one seeing as we all had a great time)

We weren't quite sure how this was going to go, but we decided to each dye yarn (there was a separate 4 ply and an 8/10ply swap) in a colourway we liked, wrap it so that people knew the colour so that everyone could select a package they'd like.

Here's the colour I dyed - it's 10ply with the base as Chuckanut Bay Yarns which is soft and squishy

Also pictured are just a fat quarter I bought to match it to wrap it in and some stitch markers I had made. I did pop in some other goodies - promise!

It's funny, because I ended up receiving the swap package from the person who received mine!

Here is a pic of the yarn

This is dyed on a base of 8ply Utiku in lovely dark peacocky tones, I think it will be perfect to knit the boy something.

I also received a tin of green tea bags, a fabulous mug that I love, a block of fancy chocie and a healthy eating mag (which is just what I needed after the weekend of lazing around with friends and knitting and eating)

Helena Jackets

This is a lovely simple lace jacket, designed by Alison Green Will. I've knit this with both a more girly picot edge and a simpler garter stitch one as a matinee jacket for a baby boy.

Knit in Denim Blue Bendigo Luxury

It can be knit with either buttons or ties and comes in six sizes - 3 months, 6 months, 12 months, 18 months, 2 years and 4 years

Knit in Stone Bendigo Luxury

Finished Measurements
Chest: 19.25[20, 21.5, 22.25, 24.5, 26] inches

I've knit 2 of these so far, both in Bendigo Luxury which happens to be a fabulously soft machine washable yarn that comes in a range of lovely colours.

Made with a matching Doodie Hat

Please contact me if you'd like more information or to order

eden's Been Released

You may have seen me blogging about test knitting 'Simplicity' for tikki recently here and here

Here's a couple of pics to refresh your memory

Well, the pattern was released yesterday with it's new name 'eden'. Eden comes as an e-book with 2 different patterns, eden's adam for the singlet/vest version, and eden's eve for a dress (watch out for an example of this one in the next couple of weeks hopefully)

From tikki's blog:
"Both share the same starting point in the pattern and are knit on 3.25mm needles and 4mm needles.

The pattern is primarily written for cotton or cotton blend yarns and the beauty of this pattern (I think) is that you can actually knit the garment in either 4ply, 5ply, 8ply or 10 ply yarn for the same sizing. It is also suitable for wool, but I would recommend the 4, 5 or 8ply for that for a suitable end fabric.

The pattern also comes with a palette of ideas at the end on how you can individualise your own eden, think stripe ideas, pockets, embellishment, hemlines"

Now for the exciting news - the lovely Georgie has gifted me a cottage license for the eden patterns as thanks for the test knitting which means I'll be knitting them for sale soon! Watch this space for more updates. Thanks Georgie!

Hey, and Georgie is also running yet another fabulous competition over on her blog for eden, pop over there and have a look

They Call Me The Testing Wench

And I love it - have I mentioned how much I like testing? Tee hee

I've been involved in 2 fabulous test knits in the last week or so. The first for a soon to be released dress and skirt pattern by Shannon Passmore (of Crafty Desires) called 'The Flapper Dress'

This fabulous design uses 10ply and results in a lovely full twirly skirt - perfect for little girls that love to dance and spin.

I knit this using Bendigo Luxury (one of my favourite yarns) and was going for a skirt that would go with a lot with the main colour being Denim Blue. Penny picked the pick contrast (of course).

I have yarn lined up to knit a couple more too, one for Penny for nice winter wear, and another for a fabulous warm layer for mucking around in at kindy (seeing as my madam often refuses to wear trousers, a warm dress at least keeps her chest/back warm and toasty)

The other pattern I've been lucky enough to test has been a new design by Georgie Hallam - otherwise known as tiKKi, called Olearia. This simple knit is knit with 8ply in a yarn that ensures good drape. I would've loved to have knit this in some Bella Baby Layette I have in my stash as I think this would've worked prefectly with the pattern, but I also wanted a little warm layer for Penny to wear over everything this autumn and so a 100% merino was selected.

This pattern is called Olearia after a native flower that grows in Aussie that must come in lots of different varieties. This pattern has 3 different versions - this shrug version and 2 cardigan versions.

This was cast off a couple of days ago, and since then we've worn it out heaps and received lots of compliments too. It's perfect for this time of the year but I know that it's a pattern that I'll definitely knit again.

Completely unrelated - notice anything different about my blog?

Stitch Marker Addict

Like I need something else to become obsessive about - but I like making stitch markers, and I wanted to anyway to send to people that had won my blog competitions and who I've been involved in swaps with so I thought I'd have another go making a few more

So, here's a few more pairs :)

(Incidentally I ended up keeping the paua pair, well, it was because I needed a few more stitch markers than I had to test knit Shannons flapper dress and I really liked these ones, so *whoosh*, into my stitch marker stash they went)

Poppy Hat

This delightful flapper-style hat is the perfect accessory to the Roaring Meg cardigan.

As it's design is similar to the Aviatrix Hat, it can be worn by both girls and boys (knit in a beanie style minus the flap and buttons)

Designed by New Zealand designer - Justine Turner (otherwise known as Just Jussi) and available for me to knit for you with her permission.

Available in sizes newborn to approximately 12 years

Please contact me if you'd like more information or to order one knit especially for you - they're available in a range of colours and yarns.

Roaring Meg

This is the perfect cardigan for spring, autumn and winter. Cute and cosy with short sleeves so your little girl can play without long sleeves hindering her movement. Designed by New Zealand designer - Justine Turner (otherwise known as Just Jussi) and available for me to knit for you with her permission.

Available in sizes newborn, 6mths, 12mths, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 years

Please contact me if you'd like more information or to order one knit especially for you - they're available in a range of colours and yarns.

The perfect accessory to match is the Poppy hat, which I can also knit for you

Cute Wee Model

Oooh, look! A different model this time!

This is just one of my gorgeous wee neices - Abi. I knit this for her before she was born in approx a 6 month size and my sister Anna emailed me through the pics yesterday. She's just too delicious not to share.

These photos really seem to match the name I gave the set 'Joyous'!

While I'm sharing - I popped to Spotlight on the weekend with my $10 off voucher to buy some stitch marker making supplies. I've wanted to have a go for ages but wasn't sure what I'd need, but after being inspired by some my little sister Sarah made, as well as some helpful advice from some friends I had a go.

(I'll have to learn how to take better stitch marker photos, they are actually all the same length)

Man, I can't believe how easy and quick these were to make! Ok, so they're not the prettiest ones ever, but I was just having a bit of a play for my first ones. Actually, one of these sets is off to Aussie soon with a set of sock blockers and some yummy Whittakers chocolate for a winner of the JDR auctions I mentioned here

Murphy's law, the tool set that I picked up is on special at Spotty this week if any else in NZ is interested in picking up a set

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)