Monday 16 May 2011

Knitted Hotwater Bottle Cover

This is a hottie cover I usually knit on circular needles but I broke the wire on my size 8mm and decided to try knitting it up on the flat. You'll end up with a side seam but because you use fluffy wool the seam isnt obvious AND you can always knit it on circular needles - the principle is the same. I absolutely love knitting these up because they grow so fast, I whip one of these up in about 3 hours. They are lovely and thick so you wont burn yourself and the fluffy yarn makes them snuggleable.

Ingredients:
2 x 50g balls of ostrich, eyelash, feathers or any of that lovely cheap fluffy yarn you can get these days
1 x 100gm ball of a matching 8 ply yarn
size 8mm needles and size 6mm needles

Method:

You are using one strand of the fluffy yarn and one strand of 8 ply knitted together as one strand.

On size 8mm needles cast on 52 stitches.
Knit in stocking stitch (knit 1 row, Purl 1 row) until your work measures 10 inches (25cm)
Shape the "shoulders"
Knit 2 tog, knit 24, knit 2 tog, knit 24
Purl 2 tog, Purl 23, Purl 2 tog, Purl 23
Knit 2 tog, knit 22, knit 2 tog, knit 22
Purl 2 tog, Purl 21, Purl 2 tog, purl 21
Knit 2 tog, *knit 6, knit 2 tog* to end of row
Change to size 6mm needles and using 2 strands of 8 ply knitted together as one knit 1, Purl 1 to end of row
Continue in rib until work measures 8 inches (20cm)
Cast off leaving a long tail to sew your side seam and bottom seam.

Turn right side out. "Squish" your empty hottie into it's cover, fill with hot water and ENJOY!

For circular knitting you just KNIT around and around and around until your work measures the required length. Do the "shoulder" shaping thus: Knit 2 tog, knit 24, knit 2 tog, knit 24, knit 2 tog, knit 23, knit 2 tog, knit 23, knit 2 tog, knit 22, knit 2 tog, knit 22, knit 2 tog, knit 21, knit 2 tog, knit 21. Work the extra decrease row: knit 2 tog, *knit 6, knit 2 tog* to end. Change to your size 6mm needles and work in rib for the required length. Cast off. Sew the bottom seam and turn right side out.

Thursday 5 May 2011

Still working on my Africa Flower Afghan

Just thought I'd post this so y'all know why I havent posted anything recently. I still have a few hexagons to make AND all those half hexagons but I decided to sew some together just to satisfy my curiousity about what the heck it would look like completed.
Not bad huh?

Knitting pattern: 8 ply "London" Beanie ... now known as Hamish's TeenieBeanie

My teenage son Hamish asked me to make him a beanie but "not one of those chunky hats with that stupid fold up" Hey, no problem! Actually it turned into a drama of googling and googling and resorting to an old 70's hat book my mother-in-law gave me years ago. I loved the LONDON beanie http://www.headhuggers.org/patterns/kpatt16.htm because it's exactly what Hamish wanted but it's knitted up on worsted weight (Aran weight) wool on size 4.5mm circular needles (which I have but wasnt in the mood to use). The first line said to cast on 72 stitches .... hmmm, that's not right I thought. I'd just finished making a beanie for myself with 12 ply on size 6.5mm needles and had cast on 70 stitches to get a fabulous result - there was no way 72 stitches on size 4.5mm needles would work.


Ugh! American knitting patterns drive me crazy!

Here is Hamish's TEENIE BEANIE


Recipe

Ingredients: 
               1 x 100gm ball of 8ply wool
                size 4mm needles


Method:

Cast on 92 stitches

1st row: *knit 2, purl 2*, Repeat ** to end

Repeat 1st row until work measures 6cm

Next row: knit to end
Next row: purl to end

Repeat last two rows until work measure 14cm


Next row: *knit 7, knit 2 tog,* repeat ** to end (NB: you WONT have 7 stitches at the end. Just knit whatever is left to complete the row. Don't fret - it looks great when it's finished and whoever gets close enough to count your decrease rows needs shot)
Next row: Purl to end
Next row: *knit 6, knit 2 tog*, Repeat ** to end 
Next row: Purl to end
Next row:  *knit 5, knit 2 tog*, Repeat ** to end
Next row: Purl to end
Next row:  *knit 4, knit 2 tog*, Repeat ** to end
Next row: Purl to end
Next row:  *knit 3, knit 2 tog*, Repeat ** to end
Next row: Purl to end
Next row: *knit 2, knit 2 tog*, Repeat ** to end
Next row: Purl to end
Next row:  *knit 1, knit 2 tog*, Repeat ** to end
Next row: Purl to end
Next row: *knit 2tog*, Repeat ** to end

Break wool leaving a long tail. Thread tail through the remaining 10 stiches on the needle and pull tight.
Sew your seam neatly.
                                                                                 Thanks Mum!