Knitting

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.

I couldn't resist these little rubber ducks, but at this time of year I think they need jumpers. With Christmas on the horizon what could be better than to emulate their festive cousin, the robin. I devised a little pattern, very simple, and the red breast I achieved with Swiss darning.

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.

At last I've finished my 'Bunch of Flowers' Necklace. I am not the world's fastest knitter so I get frustrated at the length of time it takes me to knit something, it's just a means to an end. Sewing on the other hand gives me a quick fix, the results are more instant. I like both crafts I just wish I was a bit more speedy with knitting needles.

When I was making my knitted bead necklace I had thought, as I reach the midway point of a 'bead', it had the appearance of a flower. I had to experiment with this notion, the photographs show the outcome. I am quite pleased with it and with a few more tweaks in my pattern I might make a bunch!

I bought two Russian wind-up dolls yesterday. One of the dolls has '80 MOCKBA' printed on its head-dress, maybe its a souvenir from the Moscow Olympic games in 1980. I haven't got a key to wind them up but I guess they spin round and their heads bob about, I'll just have to imagine their gyrations for the moment!

Now I'm on a flip-flop roll!

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)

Update on necklace pattern. I am really enjoyed trying different colour combinations for the beads and hope to finalise my pattern for the basic necklace this week. I think my friend Amanda liked the one I gave her for her birthday (pictured above)