free pattern

When I made my bib necklaces (free pattern)  I incorporated fabric yo-yo puffs (Suffolk puffs) into the design, decorating and embellishing them with embroidery.

First make a pattern, to do this measure the height and around your book plus an amount for inside flaps. Add a seam allowance of 1cm (3/8th") all round plus an extra 0.5cm (3/16th") to the top and bottom of your pattern.

Cut out two pieces from the pattern.

Place the 2 pieces right sides together, and pin them.

Using a straight stitch, sew them together along the edges (seam allowance of 1cm (3/8th"). Leave a 5cm (2") gap, along one of the short edges, and use it to turn the cover right side out.

Using my basic Free Pattern for Knitted Easter Chicks (containing creme egg)  I made some additions. To make the chicks I used Fancy Yarn (Fur), instead of the DK yarn and a pair of 3.75mm (9 UK, 5 US) size needles, you may need larger or smaller size needles depending on your knitting tension. I'm very pleased with the resulting fluffy chicks, they just look so comical. For the hatchlings eyes I used beads.

I think this is a lovely idea, it would make the perfect, unusual, present for a new baby. The full instructions can be found on Knitty the pattern is called Flock. Meg said "You can use any combination of colors you like for your birds.

Utilising the tube property of i-cord I thought I would cover a hair band with it. I used hair bands made of metal, you could use plastic but metal is more durable.

On two dpns size 2.25 mm (size 13 UK, size 1 US) and Double Knitting yarn cast on four stitches, leaving a 15 cm (6") length of yarn at the beggining. 

Knit a length of i-cord long enough to cover the hair band.

If you liked my flip-flop greeting card idea, you may like these ideas I came across to transform mundane flip-flops into unique footwear. I like the idea of taking a basic object and with a little bit of imagination and skill turning it into something individual. Linda Permann on craftstylish shows you how to embellish flip-flops.

I think I am finally happy with my pattern, I hope I have explained it clearly enough for anyone to try! 

This is what I used for my necklace but you could use any oddments of yarn and size of needle, it would be nice in a cotton yarn too

Needles: one set of four double pointed needles (DPNs) size 2.0mm (14 UK / 0 US)

I've just finished this crocheted necklace. Rachel, a knitter at knit night at the Hare and Hounds, was wearing a necklace she had made. I said how much I liked it, she directed me to creativeyarn where the free pattern for the necklace can be found. 

This egg cosy is a bit of nostalgia, a smaller version of a 1950's tea cosy.

For this project you will need Double Knitting wool in two colours. A pair of 4.5 mm (UK 7, US7) needles

Cast on 64 sts with Main Shade (MS). Join in Contrast (C) colour and work as follows:-

1st row *K8 MS, draw C across back of work to 2 cm (3/4 in) and K8 in C, draw MS across back of work in same manner and rep from * to end.Twist MS over C before starting next row

Base of basket

With basket colour DK, cast on 6 sts on 4 UK No. 9 (3.75mm, US 5) dpns.

Row 1 (and all odd-numbered rows): k all sts

Row 2: kfb into each st (12 sts)

Row 4: [kfb, k1] across (18 sts)

Row 6: [kfb, k1] across (27 sts)

Row 8: [kfb, k2] across (36 sts)

Row 9: k all sts (36 sts)

Rows 10: p (36 sts)

Body of basket (knitted in basket stitch)