» Knitting

Yarn covered earphones

birdface — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 23:55:11 +0000

My friend Holes showed me this ace thing that she had seen over on Pinterest. Yarn wrapped earphones. Genius.

Not only does this little project make your earphones look way awesome, but it also stops the little blighters from getting all knotted up – HURRAH!
It’s like a revolution in not-driving-precariously-whilst-untangling-small-wires all the time. You just tie the yarn in a series of knots around the wires like you’re doing a hair braid. I used some self-patterning sock yarn for these and they took approximately 2 episodes of Madmen to complete. Brills.

Before:

After:

Yarn Bombing for the Totterdown Arts Trail

birdface — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 19:37:14 +0000

Check out these pictures of the yarn bombing near my house that was done for this year’s Totterdown Arts Trail - YAY!
I may or may not have had something to do with this…

The arts trail was like some kind of knitting spectacular this year and there were bits of knitting popping up all over the place – lots of which is still there, which is lovely!

There is a whole knitted trail running through the Arnos Vale Cemetery nearby which is rather marvellous and is still there now if you fancy a wander round…
More info on that can be found here.

Holy moly, I LOVE living here!

Jet’s Advent calendar in Simply Knitting magazine!

birdface — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 18:31:27 +0000

The pattern for Jet’s advent calendar that I made last year (as can be seen here) has been featured in the ‘Festive Gifts’ supplement of November 2011′s Simply Knitting magazine!

BRILLO!

I felt like a minor knitting celebrity when I went to the wool shop over the weekend – but then I was a bit bummed to see that they didn’t actually have the magazine up on the shelves (probably all sold out, eh?). I am sure they sussed me out as being a rubbish amateur anyway when I ended up having to ask a variety of obvious yarn based questions - damnit!

Check out the photography on the magazine compared to the pics I took originally here. I guess they liked the style, but didn’t want to have to pay me for the photos – It took me ages to notice they weren’t the same ones!
(weird!)

Simple toddler leg warmers pattern

birdface — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 17:48:08 +0000

Brrrrrrrrrr, it’s been getting a bit chilly round here of late!
I knitted Jet these new leg warmers to go with her new winter cardi (which I didn’t even nearly knit and bought from John Lewis instead). They knitted up during three evening’s of loafing on the sofa watching Mad Men – what could be better?

I think knitting small people leg warmers might become addictive – it requires a good level of brainlessness for me and is quick enough for you to see the rewards before you get bored (my kind of knitting!).
Simple pattern below…

(Highly Basic) Pattern:

You will need:
4mm DPNS/circular needle or 4mm straight needles
Aran(ish) weight yarn in dark grey (MC), light grey (CC1) and pink (CC2)
Needle to weave in the ends.

Pattern fits someone small – maybe 18months-3years or something.

DPN/circular needle method:
CO 42 sts in MC and join to the round
Work in 1×1 rib for 10 rows
K 5 rows
Change to CC1 and K 2 rows
Change to MC and K 1 row
[K1 MC, K1 CC2] for 1 row
Change to MC and K 1 row
Change to CC1 and K 1 row
Change to MC and K 1 row
[K1 MC, K1 CC2] for 1 row
Change to MC and K 1 row
Change to CC1 and K 2 rows
Change to MC and work for a further 12cm
Work in 1×1 rib for 10 rows
BO
Make another, weave in ends and you’re done!

Straight needle method:
CO 42 sts in MC
Work in 1×1 rib for 10 rows
work in stocking stitch for 5 rows (and continue in St st until told otherwise!)
Change to CC1 and work 2 rows
Change to MC and work 1 row
[K1 MC, K1 CC2] for 1 row
Change to MC and P 1 row
Change to CC1 and K 1 row
Change to MC and P 1 row
[K1 MC, K1 CC2] for 1 row
Change to MC and P 1 row
Change to CC1 and work 2 rows
Change to MC and work for a further 12cm
Work in 1×1 rib for 10 rows
BO
Make another, sew up seams to make a tube, weave in ends and you’re done!

- Marvellous!

A Right Royal Knees Up!

birdface — Sun, 01 May 2011 12:32:16 +0000

Anyone who knows me will know that I loves them royals!
Cue much excitement chez Bird Face for Kate and the Prince of Willies’ wedding ♥

Check out the knitted Wills, Kate and Archbishop that my friends Katheryn, Alasdair and I made for Jet! They were ideal for instant reenactments of all the action…
Patterns by Fiona Goble from here.
Big thanks go to the happy couple for providing us all with a nation holiday on their wedding day. Next time you get married, please can you try and do it post-lunch though, so we don’t all end up being drunk on Pimms so soon after breakfast – ta!

Easter knitting

birdface — Sun, 24 Apr 2011 11:57:36 +0000

Pattern can be bought from Anna Hrachovec at Mochimochi Land here.
I didn’t bother with the felting bit as I didn’t have the right yarn and I am lazy like that. I worked out fine anyhoo – cute!

childHood cardigan

birdface — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 18:59:04 +0000

Here are some pics of Jet wearing a little cardigan I made for her
It was so lovely doing this and I am really pleased with it. I seem to have so little time to do anything these days, it is a rare treat to get a bit of time to sit down with some knitting…

-What a cutie-pants!

Pattern: ChildHood from Knitty
Yarn: Rico Design Essentials, soft merino aran in Navy (ref: 038) and Petrol (ref: 049)

Jet’s Advent Calendar

birdface — Thu, 23 Dec 2010 13:20:45 +0000

Hurrah and huzzah and Merry Christmas!!
Not that I am cutting things a bit fine here with it being the day before Christmas Eve and all, but I have JUST finished Jet’s advent calendar!
The good thing is that there is still one day left this year in which it can legitimately be used – but the best bit is that Jet doesn’t really know what an advent calendar is, so she doesn’t even know how ridiculously late it is – YAY!

This is my first ever knitting pattern, so I am quite pleased with myself for actually having pulled it off. The idea was adapted from something I found a while back through Google Images. Each of the lights makes a little pocket for you to put choccies or other little treats for each day of advent – CUTE!
It has been a complete mission getting it finished off as I don’t have so much time for luxuries such as knitting little whatnots these days. I am really chuffed with the results though and I am hoping that if it goes down well with the small person, it can be one of those things that can come out year after year as a family tradition (not that I am getting slightly ahead of myself here or anything!).

Here’s some pics anyhoo:

Merry Christmas one and all – I hope you have an über-cool yule!

Much love from, Bird Face x x x

Calla for Calla

birdface — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 10:51:02 +0000

Our friends have a little girl called Calla. It is her 1st birthday today and I knitted her this calla lily as a present.
It’s my first finished knitted item since Jet was born – that’s nearly a whole year ago. It feels so great to have something actually completed!
Pattern adapted from here.

Happy birthday Calla!! xo

Knitted bird mobile

birdface — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 13:45:37 +0000

Here is a mobile I made for our friends who have just had a little baby girl:

Pattern is from here.

Welcome to the world baby Calla – hurray for you!