Merry Christmas.

I would like to wish everyone who has visited my website, bought my books and enjoyed knitting up the many designs that I have had published over the past year.   You all make my hard work worthwhile, so thankyou to each and every one.
      I hope that your Christmas season will be happy and blessed and that 2013 will be a year filled with much happiness and peace for you all and your families too.
   2013 will be an exiciting year for me with the prospect of a new home, and some new books pending. Much work ahead for me in working on designs too.
                    Take care, sharpen your needles and above all enjoy your knitting !!

Increase terminology

I am having quite a few emails regarding bootee patterns in some of my books. Each pattern states the way the increase should be made, either m1 or inc. It seems that some knitters are mixing up the two methods and getting into problems because of it !!   It isnt the pattern that is wrong , it just isnt being followed correctly.
 To Clarify ......
    M1 or m1 is worked by picking up the  horizontal strand of yarn that lies between the stitch you have just knitted and the next stitch on the needle,  and knitting into the back of it.

Inc or inc is worked by knitting into the back and front of the next stitch.

I am more than happy to accept and rectify any problems resulting from printing errors but it does seem a bit unfair to make scathing remarks about patterns that have not been followed correctly in the first place.  All part of lifes rich pattern I am sure : )

Just Rosy Mittens From Cutest Ever Baby Knits

 I am posting this ammended pattern for the Just Rosy mittens incase they havnt changed the text in the print run for the book. Hope it is hepful.

 

 

Mittens.

Using 3 ¼ mm ( Uk 10/ US 3 ) needles and pink yarn cast on 37 sts,

Commence pattern as follows

Work 3 rows garter stitch.

Break pink and join in white, Continue in pattern as follows :

Row 1: ( RS ) K1, * yfwd, sl1,K2tog,psso, yfwd, K5, repeat from * to * to last 4 sts, yfwd,sl1, K2tog, psso, yfwd, K1.

Row 2: And every following alternate row Purl.

Row 3: As Row 1.

Row 5: K4, * yfwd, sl1,K1,psso, K1, K2tog, yfwd, K3, repeat from * to * to last st , K1.

Row 7: K1, * yfwd, sl1, K2tog, psso,yfwd,K1, repeat from * to * to end.

Row 8: Purl.

These 8 rows form the pattern and are repeated throughout.

Repeat these rows once more, decreasing 3 sts evenly on the last purl row.

Change to st st, continue until you have worked 2 ¼ in ( 6cm) in st st, ending on a purl row.

Shape top.

Row 1 : K1, ( k2togtbl, K12, K2tog ) twice, k1.

Row 2 : and every following alt row, Purl.

Row 3 : K1, ( k2togtbl, K10, K2tog ) twice, k1.

Row 5 : K1, ( k2togtbl, K8, K2tog ) twice, k1.

Row 7 : K1, ( k2togtbl, K7, K2tog ) twice, k1.

Row 8: Purl. Cast off.

Make another mitten to match.

To make up, sew side seam and top of mitten. Thread ribbon through last row of holes on border pattern.

Another Busy Year

I just don't know where this year has gone ! Just 7 weeks until Christmas and I havn't even thought about it yet, Most of the year has been spent burried under a huge pile of wool ( sheer bliss ) designing new patterns and writing new books.  I love every second of it and it is made all the more special by the lovely letters I get from everyone who enjoys making some of the toys and projects from my designs. 
 It is a  shame though, from time to time that printing errors show up in patterns and books, although every effort is made to ensure this wont happen it inevitably does.   There are so many processes in the publishing and editing of books that even after a professional pattern checker has gone through all instructions, a nasty little gremlin STILL finds its way in somewhere : (   All printing errors are reported to the publishers who assure me that they will make sure that in the next print run they will be corrected. 
       My designs have been many and varied this year, ranging from Unicorns, London Buses and Dinosaur hand puppets to some very pretty new toddler designs for my book which is due out in March next year. My favourites being the sweetest fairisle angora puffed sleeved cardi for little girls, and a dear little bunny bag to keep special treasures in.
         I am busy working on bunny rabbits for another new book, they will all be  different sizes and characters and will range from  teeny tiny ones that sit in the palm of your hand to a lovely sleepytime bunny that is just right size to snuggle up in bed with.
       Thank you to everyone who enjoys making my designs and who buy my patterns and books, you make all my work worthwhile. Do send me pictures of your work, I love to see them.
             Wishing everyone hours of happy knitting in the months to come !!