Blue Moon quilt

Way, way back in 2010 I wrote a blog post bemoaning the hexagonal quilt I had started in 2007 and had never finished. This mother was the ultimate unfinished project for me. The knitted albatross around the crafters neck. I thought that had bitten off more than I could chew.

 Six months ago, I got this hexagonal monster out of my wardrobe, where it had been lurking, and pulled it, kicking and screaming out into the sunlight. It lay on my bedroom floor, taunting me everytime I looked in its direction. Day by day I forced myself to sew a little seam here, crochet a half-hexagon there.

A week ago, I realised that I was in the home straight and decided to finish this crocheted millstone for once and for all, before the Blue Moon on August 31st. I liked the idea of tying in this monumental craft effort with an appropriately rare astronomical phenomenon. It would be a Blue Moon before I would ever attempt to make anything as large again.

So, here it is. About half the size I had originally planned for, but it's finished - that's the main thing - and it looks really lovely draped over a chair or a bed.

It's very, very satisfying to put away the last oddments of brown yarn, crochet hook and needle and know that my ultimate unfinished project is now done. If you have a similar craft nightmare sitting in your wardrobe, take heart - it can be conquered.

Meat Is Murder

The perfect sampler for the vegetarian, or the Smiths fan in your life (and of course if you know a vegetarian Smiths fan then all your present-buying woes are truly over).

A hand-stitched sampler, plucked fresh from the boughs of my Etsy shop.

More lovely knitted stuff to come in September including some new doll designs which I am rather excited about...

Dr Who doll

I have just finished knitting Matt Smith as Doctor Who as a custom order. I love the way he turned out! He's about 10 inches tall and is preparing to launch off into space (well, OK, the USA) only he is going to have to travel by cardbox box, rather than TARDIS. Sorry, Doctor.

While I was knitting the Eleventh doctor I started thinking how great it would be to knit them all... I'd probably start with Tom Baker and Peter Davison as those are the Doctors I grew up with. Will definitely add this idea to the knit-list.

Bird Yarns

Here is my Arctic Tern, Erin, sitting on Worthing beach before heading off later today to Scotland to join a flock of other knitted Arctic Terns in the Bird Yarns Installation on Tobermory Pier. You can see Worthing's resident Herring Gulls keeping a safe distance from this rare visitor.

Bird Yarns "brings knitters from Mull and across the UK together with textile artist Deirdre Nelson in response to the changing migration patterns of seabirds across Scotland’s islands. Working with local wool from Ardalanish, Mull, and recycled materials, the knitters will create a flock of ‘lost’ arctic terns on Tobermory Pier and provide them with a Mull welcome of local food, music and poetry. Knitting kits will be developed in partnership with local producers to highlight the plight of migratory birds and celebrate local resources and resourcefulness."

The main body and head of the bird were designed by Deirdre Nelson, with each individual knitter designing their own beak and feet from whatever materials were to hand. My bird's beak was made from a stick reclaimed from a broken bamboo blind, wrapped around with yarn. Her feet are crocheted.

It was a pleasure to work with the beautifully soft Ardalanish Bluefaced Leicester wool. I decided to stuff her with some unspun fleece from Surrey, to keep with the natural and local theme of the installation.

I finally took her for a visit to Caroline at Worthing's spiritual home of knitting, The Wool Bar, before getting her ready to migrate North to join the other birds in Scotland.

You can see Erin and rest of her "lost" flock on Tobermory Pier 18th - 24th June 2012, and in the Dovecot Studios, Edinburgh, in August.

 

Eddie Izzard doll

Here is knitted Eddie Izzard! He was a special one-off custom order and he left for his new home in the USA this morning.

Knitted Eddie's outfit was based on this real-life Eddie ensemble of high-heeled boots, black sparkly skirt, basque and pink jacket.

There was a horrible mid-knitting moment when I was reminded of Dolores Umbridge's pink tweedy outfit in Harry Potter, but once the black accents were embroidered on, normality resumed. No-one wants to think of  Dolores Umbridge in a basque.

If you'd like a custom doll made, then you know where my Etsy shop is. Just take the second left then follow the internet until you can hear the sound of knitting needles. It's not far.

Custom cross stitch

Now you may know me best as a knitter, but I also take commissions for custom cross stitch samplers as well. I'm happy to stitch anything, no matter how big or small, or randomly daft. Recently I've been working on large pieces for a company's corporate meeting room, including their company logo, and also small framed private joke pieces which make no sense to me as an outsider, but which are providing a good deal of mirth somewhere in the world.

If you'd like something stitched, drop me a line to discuss prices, sizings and options. Everything I make is crafted from 100% cotton DMC threads and high quality aida fabric. Even the private jokes.

Happy children

Genuinely happy children! This is a rarity for a knitting pattern. Most knitting-pattern-children have nervous or forced smiles, usually because they are having to pretend that the man in the alarming 1970s pullover is actually their Dad.

These three, however, look genuinely amused at a private in-joke (no doubt a height-related one) and are clearly enjoying their day out at a badly-drawn fairground.

Lavenda Hand Knit boys and girls sweaters with crew or V neck, in Lister's Lavenda 4 Ply, Crisp Crepe or Golden Fleece. No date.