Christmas bits

Heart-shaped gift bag

Trying to get into a Christmas mood.  I didn't manage it at all last year and in fact I rather like Christmas.  So,  I'm going to work at it.  I've started making little bits and have at last started the shopping, although this consisted mostly of a couple of hours sitting at the computer ordering things on line.  Perhaps I should give in and go into town, but I loathe shopping.

Felt gift bags - colourful

I've done a little sewing for the first time in ages.  Rather enjoyed it.

More heart-shaped gift bags

Autumnal

Knitted Flower

It's getting very autumnal round here, but flowers are still my thing.  This is a knitted flower in chenille, dark green and rust colours with a green and gold bead.  If I can find the time to source some brooch pins I might make a few of these.  So many ideas, the fingers don't move fast enough to deliver them all.  I just flit from one to another - it seems my attention span is diminishing.

Rather pleased with this one

Pretty in Pink

Although it caused me some anguish and I was up until 10pm trying to get the lining to fit properly I am rather pleased with this one.  It is cable fabric embellished with pearls.  Now that I have actually completed a couple of my own designs my head is full of different ideas.

The next thing I must do is build a light box so that I can photograph them more effectively.

I have called it The 'Alicia' Bag

F is for Feather, next posting for An Accidental Knitter's ABC.

F is for Feather,

So simple, so fragile, such a feat of engineering, found after rain. 

This came from an adult, but right now the fledglings grow fat on the feeders, flutter out their demands on imperfect wings.

I filed this photo in my collection under 'E' for 'embellishment'.  How perverse.  I like the idea of raindrop beading on dove grey.

Pancake Day

It's pancake day. Pretty difficult to do anything meaningful with a knitted pancake, so I focused on the lemons. Who would have thought it would be so difficult to photograph a lemon?  I spent a lot of Sunday afternoon lying on my stomach on the landing where the light is best trying to photograph lemons.  It's only just occurred to me that I could have sliced some - it might have made it easier.  I used to have a lovely plate for setting out lemon slices, but a jackdaw came down the chimney and broke it.

Below is a pattern for the leaves. Knitted in perle cotton on 3.25mm needles.
Leaves

Cast on 3 sts.
Row 1: Knit
Row 2: K1, p1, k1
Row 3: K1, *yon, k1 rep from *. (5 sts)
Row 4: K1, p3, k1
Row 5: K2, yon, k1, yon, k2. (7sts)
Row 6: K1, p5, k1
Row 7: K3, yon, k1, yon, k3. (9sts)
Row 8: K1, p7, k1
Row 9: knit
Row 10: K1, p7, k1
Row 11: K2, sl1, k1, psso, k1, k2 tog, k2
Row 12: K1, p5, k1
Row 13: K1, sl1, k1, psso, k1, k2 tog, k1
Row 14: K1, p3, k1
Row 11: sl1, K1, psso, k1, k2tog
Row 12: K1, p1, k1
Row 13: Sl1, k2tog, psso.
Cut yarn and pull through final stitch.

If you knit through the front of yarn over from the row below, you get a more solid effect (like the one below). If you knit through the back, you get a bit more of an eyelet effect.

Simple flowers and leaves for beginners

Lots of sunshine today, making everyone chirpy.  I decided to knit some small flowers so that I have a collection by me ready for when I may want to decorate something.  Adding a simple flower (or lots) to a bag, or scarf can make all the difference.  Here is a very easy pattern for a flower that will be about 1" (2.5cm) across.  You can embroider the centre, or add a bead.  (The instructions for the bit of crochet will have to come another day as I can't remember how I did it).

Flower
Cast on 3 stitches
Knit a strip 6cm long and cast off
Secure a length of yarn to one corner
Sew a running stitch all along one edge and pull it tight into a circle
Sew the ends of the strip together.

Leaf
To make a very simple leaf which would go with this small flower, knit a small square.
Using DK and 3.75mm needles,  cast of 4 stitches and knit 5 rows. 
Cast off
Place it at an angle to the flower.