To finish the year, I'm featuring some of the special projects that have sprung up for various patterns. It's so inspiring to see everyone's individual colour choices and creativity!
I always love to see different interpretations of the same pattern. Below are the test projects knit up for my Linen stitch gloves pattern by Elizek and steelelady, who kindly volunteered to help with the testing.
Elizek's variegated sample produced a particularly interesting result - with a regular honeycome-like pattern. The thumb gusset unfortunately broke up the pattern a little, but showed promise for more experimentation. Below you can see her sample up to the thumb, where she has finished the project with a less patterned stitch.
Test knit with variegated yarn by Elizek (wrist pattern only)
I previously made a Ceres Scarf out of bamboo handspun, and while that project didn't turn out quite as planned, this one is much closer to the intended pattern.
This project took about a year and half to complete, but felt much longer. It's a lovely pattern, but more and more I am requiring a high level of variety or complexity to keep interested in projects. I finish almost everything I start (and choose projects and yarn carefully), but this one was a very long haul!
The scarf was intended as a gift, but the finished product feels a bit scratchy :/ Knitting something yourself gives you a higher tolerance for its uncomfortable elements (scratchiness), so I will likely enjoy the scarf myself when the weather gets a little colder.
Experimenting with linen stitch has shown it to be quite useful for breaking up variegated yarn, but tricky for increasing and decreasing. Working with the stitch inspired my new linen stitch gloves pattern project, so all the time spent knitting this scarf has also resulted in something creative.
Hi all, today I wanted to show you these gloves made by Sarahj417 on Ravelry (login required). Aren't they lovely?
They are based on the Fezzes are cool pattern (.pdf), but I love the changes that have been made - adding the "cherry red" trim to match the bow tie, and removing the flip-top mitts for a different style.
Many thanks to all those who have taken the time to upload or email photos of their creations. It's a lovely way to finish Matt Smith's era, with an army of crocheted Doctors protecting the universe with woolly mops and fezzes. I've loved seeing all the other non-Eleventh Doctor characters people have created also.
A special creation for a very special friend - this baby jacket was perfect for my imagined gift.
To compensate for less thick yarn I knitted size 38, and started with 4 rows of garter stitch to prevent a rolling hem.
It was a little tricky to keep track of rows while knitting the two fronts.
There was also quite a lot of grafting and seaming, but I actually enjoyed the process now that I am more comfortable with invisible seams and grafting.
If I made this pattern again (and I think I will), I would make a couple of changes:
I chose to graft the sleeves as other projects had suggested - this worked fairly well but resulted in a ‘stepped’ look because of the gradual cast-off. I would probably avoid any sleeve shaping in future.
I would also cast off a little more loosely next time.
While I don't buy many non-digital patterns, I bought Cookie A's book after seeing some of westozcaat's (Ravelry login required) socks and wanting to try something a bit more complex. The book has 15 patterns, and I jumped to one of the last patterns because they looked most exciting.
These are definitely the best fitting socks I've made yet, and the most entertaining, but you wouldn't want to take these on if trying to use a cable needle, however, as they would take forever. I made them a little smaller by reducing the vertical lines on each side as recommended in the pattern.
The yarn is The Uncommon Thread Tough Sock in the Nimbostratus colourway, and I picked it up at Loop in London when I was there last year. With luck, I'll have enough left over for some fingerless gloves.
A great gift or swap idea for doctor who fans ^_^ lisagaetjens on Ravelry created some mobius mitts using red, yellow, dark purple, tan, and blue to evoke the sense of Tom Baker's scarf - this makes me happy ^_^
If you'd like to crochet your own set of mobius mitts, grab the free pattern here
Hi everyone,
A special post today - Kate has made these beautiful Sherlock and Watson plushies :)
I'm sure you're all looking forward to the new Sherlock episodes due in 2012 - I certainly am!
Kate has also started noting down the changes she made to the Big and Cuddly patterns to create these new characters, and she's offered to share her notes once she's finished in case others would like to make their own Sherlock plushies.
Pop over to Kate's tumblr to see more crocheted goodness ^_^
Has taken me far too long to blog about this one! Claire sent me these beautiful images of her mini Doctors ^_^ She did far better than I did and actually completed the whole set ^_^ I'm working on combining my mini doctors patterns into the one pattern file. Claire has helped me out with how Pat's tartan pants can be done - so finally I'll be able to complete him :) Thanks Claire!
I love to see new mobius mitts appear - particularly when they are made from interesting yarns.
Wrightales (view on Ravelry) used a wool/bamboo combination for this pair of mitts - the edging is Plymouth Yarn Royal Bamboo Italian Collection (100% bamboo). I think they're lovely :)
Some more lovely projects to feature this morning. A super cute pair - eleven and amy - adapted and crocheted by Kylie (yillup.etsy.com). Jump over and check out her shop for lots of crocheted cuteness. I love the tiny chair matt is sitting in too!
Kelly sent me this pic of her concord singer (see reference pic) based on my big and cuddly pattern. Check out her blog for lots of geeky crafty goodness and some more pics of the plushie.
Have seen a lot of awesome big and cuddly variations springing up lately and am loving seeing what people are creating ^_^
Wednesday is my usual day for posting other crafter's projects, but I've been netballing on Tuesday nights for the past few months so have got a bit behind.
Today we have PaxieAmor's Matt Smith ^_^ I love his little rolled sleeves :)
Check out Paxie's other drwho and other projects on Ravelry (login needed)
Ruth and Emma (who did his lovely hair) spent hours making this cute little guy. I love his costume and the transformation of his hairdo. See more of Ruth's projects on Ravelry
Eep ^_^ look at Emily's wonderful creations!
I have been chatting to Emily for a while now and she's made so many amazing plushies. Her dolls have been taken to many exciting locations and have even met some famous people! here and here . Thanks Emily for sending me stories of the plushies' adventures :)
Jack
Jack and David
Much love goes into each plushie, and the hair 'wig technique' is the most amazing taking up to 4 hours: "I wrap a bunch of yarn around my hand (for the DT dolls, for the Jack ones I just use three fingers since his hair is shorter) and snip it across the top to create a bunch of short (~ 8 1/2 inches/21 cm) strings. Then I weave one strand around one stitch, then secure it using a surgeons knot"
She's even made a kilted cudly of David Tennant:
My base David Tennant and John Barrowman patterns are free downloads on the Patterns Page and you may soon be able to download the pattern for the kilted cuddly as Emily is thinking of writing it up :)
Finally back on track for blogging. This week want to show you Zanooka's awesome creations. I can't claim much pattern creation here as she has added a whole heap of customisations (look at that cool hat!)
Eee ^_^ Kati sent me these pics of her creations yesterday morning and it really brightened up a stressful day. Scroll down to see all the wonderful little drwho and firefly characters she has made and their cute costumes ^_^
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