Knitted pictures.....

I seem to horde picture frames the same way I do yarn, I have large collection of both. As much as I like filling my picture frames with pictures of family and friends sometimes it's nice to just do something different, so I decided to combine my two collections.

I'm extremely happy how those pictures come out, lovely lace and cable stitched just set off the frames and look stunning.....if I may say so myself.

The patterns are very quick to do and you can make them as wide and long as you like. If you never tried lace and cable knitting  those little projects are perfect to have a go. Below are the patterns, they will fit your standard picture frames.

I have used 3.75mm (US 5) needles, cable needle and Erika Knight's British Blue Wool in four colours: pretty, milk, fawn and milk chocolate. When yo finish the squares please block, as it will show the pattern a lot better.

Lattice lace in fawn (37)wool shade.
Finished size measures approximately 4 x 4 inches.
Cast on 25 stitches
Row 1 (RS): K1, *yfrn, p1, p3tog, p1, yon, k1; rep from * to end
Row 2 and every alt row: Purl to end.
Row 3: K2, yo, sl 1, k2tog, psso, yo *k3, yo, sl 1, k2tog, psso, yo; rep from * to last 2 sts, k2.
Row 5: P2tog, p1, yon, k1, yfrn, p1 *p3tog, p1, yon, k1, yfrn, p1; rep from * to lat 2 sts, p2tog.
Row 7: K2tog, yo, k3, yo * sl 1, k2tog, psso, yo, k3, yo; rep from * to last 2 sts, sl 1, k1, psso.
Row 8: Purl to end.
Rep these 8 rows patter repeat until work measures 4 inches.

Horseshoe Lace in pretty (42) wool shade.
Finished size measures approximately 3.5 x 5.5 inches.
Cast on 22 stitches.
Row 1 (WS): Purl to end.
Row 2: K1, *yo, k3, l 1, k2tog, psso, k3, yo, k1; rep from * to end.
Row 3: Purl to end.
Row 4: P1, * k1, yo, k2, sl 1, k2tog, psso, k2, yo, k1, p1; rep from * to end.
Row 5: K1, *p9, k1; rep from * to end .
Row 6: P1, * k2, yo, k1, sl 1, k2tog, psso, k1, yo, k2, p1; rep from * to end.
Row 7: As row 5.
Row 8: P1, *k3, yo, sl 1, k2tog, psso, yo, k3, p1; rep from * to end
Rep last 8 rows until work measures 5.5 inches.
Cast off.

Firefly Cables in milk chocolate (44) shade.
Special abbreviations: C4B - sl 2 sts to cable needle and hold at the back of work, k2, then k2 from cable needle.
Finished size measures approximately 4 x 7 inches.
Cast on 25 stitches.
Row 1(RS): *P1, k4; rep from * to last st, p1.
Row 2: K1, *p4, k1; rep from * to end.
Row 3: P1, C4B, p1, k4; rep from * to last st, p1.
Row 4: K1, *p4, k1; rep from * to end.
Row 5: *P1, k4; rep from * to last st, p1.
Row 6: K1, *p4, k1; rep from * to end.
Row 7: *P1, k4; rep from * to last st, p1.
Row 8: K1, *p4, k1; rep from * to end.
Row 9: *P1, k4; rep from * to last st, p1.
Row 10: K1, *p4, k1; rep from * to end.
Row 11: *P1, k4, p1, C4B; rep from* to last st, p1.
Rows 12, 14 and 16: As row 10.
Row 13 and 15: As row 9.
Those 16 rows for the pattern, rep the pattern 3 times more.
Cast off

Swirl Cable in Milk (36) shade.
Special abbreviations: T8F - slip next 3 sts on cable needles and hold in front, k3, p2 the k3 from cable needle 
Finished size measures approximately 5 x 7 inches.
Cast on 36 sts.
Row 1 (RS):  P9, [k3, p2] 3 times, k3, p9.
Row 2: K9, p3, [k2, p3], 3 times, k9.
Row 3: P9, [k3,p2] 3 times, p9.
Row 4: K9, p3, [k2, p3] 3 times, k9.
Row 5: P9, k3, p2, T8F, p2, k3, p9.
Row 6: K9,p3, [k2, p3] 3 times, k9.
Row 7: P9, T8F, p2, T8F, p9.
Row 8: K9. p3, [k2, p3] 3 times, k9.
Row 9: P9, k3, p2, T8F, p2, k3, p9.
Row 10: K9, p3, [k2, p3], 3 times, k9.
Row 11: P9, T8F, p2, T8F, p9.
Row 12: K9,p3, [k2, p3] 3 times, k9.
Row 13: P9, k3, p2, T8F, p2, k3, p9.
Row 14: K9, p3, [k2, p3] 3 times, k9.
Row 15: P9, T8F, p2, T8F, p9.
Row 16: K9, p3, [k2, p3] 3 times k9.
Row 17: P9, k3, p2, T8F, p2, k3, p9.
Row 18: K9, p3 [k2, p3] 3 times, k9.
Row 19: P9,[k3, p2] 3 times, k3, p9.
Rep rows 18 and 19, 19 more times., ending with RS facing for next row.
Row 36: P9, T8F, p2, T8F, p9.
Row 37: K9. p3, [k2, p3] 3 times, k9.
Row 38: P9, k3, p2, T8F, p2, k3, p9.
Row 39: K9 p3, [k2, p3], 3 times, k9.
Row 40: P9, T8F, p2, T8F, p9.
Row 41: K9,p3, [k2, p3] 3 times, k9.
Row 42: P9, k3, p2, T8F, p2, k3, p9.
Row 43: K9, p3, [k2, p3] 3 times, k9.
Row 44: P9, T8F, p2, T8F, p9.
Row 45: K9, p3, [k2, p3] 3 times k9.
Row 46: P9, k3, p2, T8F, p2, k3, p9.
Row 47: K9, p3, [k2, p3], 3 times, k9.
Row 48: P9, [k3,p2] 3 times, p9.
Row 49: K9, p3, [k2, p3] 3 times, k9.
Cast off.

 

Enjoy :)

Erika Knight........

There are not many people that can do eccentricity like Erika Knight does.........and boy does it suite her! She was a guest speaker today at The Creative Sanctuary and I had the huge pleasure of being there and listen to her amazing story.

I was always a huge fan of Erika's work - the organic, simple lines of her designs always very enticing. Her new yarn collection is just yummy!, especially the lovely little blue wool in gorgeous chalky colours that just begs to be knitted, or the Maxi Wool in fab colours, Artisan stands out the most as its just such an interesting colour that will go with anything!! I love the story behind Marni colour in Maxi Wool collection - named after the film Marnie in which Tippi was petrified of red colour. Beautiful natural yarn with stunning pattern collection, that anyone can make.

It was marvelous to listen to her talk about her amazing carrier spanning so many years. The work she did for the most famous fashion houses from Vivian Westwood to Paul Smith., and the moment she new she made it when Boy George (still in his hey day) arrested in drug bust being escorted in hand cuffs but wearing a jumper designed by her!! Very empowering to hear how she fought for her individuality when trying to publish books, all publishers rejecting her as they wanted colours not natural, organic look  but she stuck to her guns and succeeded immensely! 

Erika Knight is fabulously eccentric, you get completely immersed in her, you hang on every word....just can't tear yourself away! Who can produce a scrunch up piece of tissue paper containing twig, bark, stone and some linen string and tell you they are the most amazing things.....and you know what?, they are the most amazing things! the smoothness of the stone, the way it feels against your skin, the stunning colour you just want to recreate it in knitting. Inspiration is everywhere!

I loved how she described  knitting and crocheting as creating stuff.....and that exactly what it is .....stuff, beautiful, personal and ours, we take a ball of yarn and create stuff! sometimes we don't finish our stuff and it becomes UFO-unfinished object and sometimes we make lots of  little stuff  and 'smooch' it together and create one big stuff.

But what she spoke the most about is British yarn and the importance of buying British and supporting sheep breeders and yarn spinners. She quoted Churchill's famous words 'we are a nation of little shopkeepers' for a while we have forgotten our quaint  little shops, our ability to hand make the most amazing creations, we have forgotten our roots! But we are back! We are returning to knitting, sewing and crocheting, we seek quality which disposable fashion shops do not offer, we want heirlooms, we want to be proud to say 'I made that' about what we wear! in Erika's words we are 'upgrading, upscaling, uplifting craft'.

The little shops are returning and my beautiful friend Angela is doing just that. She had risked everything for a lovely, old dream which has turned into the most amazing reality. The Creative Sanctuary is everything and more!

Gorgeous display at The Creative Sanctuary of Erika Knight's yarns and patterns

The lush Marni colour in Maxi Wool

 The importance of buying British

The absolutely yummy Blue Wool

A basket of inspiration

Stunning Artisan colour Maxi Wool made by 'smooching' together little bits of stuff

Some more lovely yarn

The Lady herself

My beautiful friend Angela who makes it all happen

When I grow up I want to be Erika Knight :)

Rowan Fine Art......

It has been long anticipated and finally I had a chance to knit with brand new Rowan yarn. Although I do not knit sock nor am I a fan of stripy yarns, I much rather knit with one colour yarns and add effect with interesting patterns, however I'm slowly falling in love with Fine Art! Its beautifully hand dyed and the effect of the stripes as you knit are lovely and gentle. The content -marino wool, kid mohair, polyamide and silk- ensures that the yarn is luxuriously soft, durable with a subtle sheen, it basically glides of the needles.

Best of all it comes in hanks, which I love winding into a ball, it evokes fond memories of childhood when I used to help my grandma wind yarn.

Overall it's a beautiful and fun yarn and although I'm still not going to knit socks a lovely shawl would be just perfect........already started sketching.

Ive started knitting a little lacy swatch of a scarf designed by Lisa Richardson, the picture quality is not great so unfortunately you can't see clearly the effect of the stripes but trust me its quite yummy.

Bath Mat...........

 My bathroom requires some serious dose of colour, but we both don't really have time for painting and decorating at the moment, so instead I decided to add colour with accessories. One of them is this lovely bath mat that I just finished. It was the most economical item I have ever made!!

I have used just standard household cotton string, which you can buy in any DIY shops, medium weight which is around aran weight (around 500 meters), a 5mm (US H/8) crochet hook and fabric dye, if you want to change colour.
The pattern is just standard Afghan Square, which goes as follows:

Abbreviations
Ch - chain
Ch-sp - chain space
Dc (US sc) - double crochet (US single crochet)
Tr (US dc) - treble (US double crochet)
Ss - slip stitch

Foundation ring: with 5mm (US H/8) crochet hook make 8ch and join with ss to form a ring.
Round 1: 3ch ( counts as first tr), 1tr in ring, (7ch, ss in top of last tr, 5tr in ring) 3 times, 7ch, ss in top of last tr, 3tr in ring, ss in 3rd of first 3ch.
Round 2: Ss into first 7-ch space, 4 ch, 2tr into 7-ch space (3ch, 3tr) 3 times into same 7-ch space, * miss next 2 tr, ss into next tr, miss next 2 tr, [(3tr, 3ch) 3 times, 3tr] all in next 7-ch space; rep from * until all 7-ch sp have been worked, miss next 2 tr, ss into next tr, miss next 2 tr, ss in 4th of first 4ch.
Round 3: ss to first 2 tr and 3-ch space, *4ch, (1dc, 3ch, 1dc) all in the next 3-ch space, 4ch, 1 dc in next 3-ch space, 5ch, 1 dc in next 3-ch space; rep from * until all spaces have been worked, ending the last repeat with 5 ch, ss to first of 4ch.
Round 4: 3ch, *4tr in next 4-ch space, 1tr in next dc , (2tr, 2ch, 2tr) all in next 3-ch space, 1tr in next dc, 4tr in next 4-ch space, 1tr in next dc, 1ch, 1dc in next 5-ch space, 1ch, 1tr in next dc; rep from * ss in 3rd of first 3ch.
Fasten off.

 Each square measures approximately 16x16 cm, the finished mat measures around 85x50cm.
I have made 15 squares and joined with double crochet and worked one round of double crochet around the border.

The colour of the string is lovely and natural but my bathroom has far too much light colours so decided to dye the bath mat with nice chocolate brown, as you can see Ollie approves of the mat as well.

I've attached a lining, scrap of linen fabric I had lying around, no particular reason i just wanted slightly lighter colour showing through the spaces.

Huzzar!! Finished :) I absolutely love it!!

 
Enjoy

Anna x