Welcome new followers! And introducing my latest project..

Hello! Things have been hectic, to put it mildly, here at the Mad Knitters Tea Party, but I felt I must post a new post in honour of some new followers! Thank you so much – welcome and I hope you enjoy my blog!

 

It’s wonderful to see that in the last month I’ve had visitors from Denmark, France, South Korea, USA, South Africa,  Australia (and the UK where I live).  I’m all the more excited as I don’t get out all that much at present so it’s truly amazing to think that people so far away are saying hello!

 

Things have been hectic due to the arrival of two characters in the summer of 2016 – to give you a clue, here is one of the only projects I have completed in the past year:

The scarves, not the monkeys!

I expect you’ve worked it out, so here are the two additions, my main projects for the foreseeable future, who are clearly utterly angelic…..

This is them just over a year ago – the blankets were another rare project completed in snatched moments, often when I had visitors and one baby was asleep.

 

My boys are amazing and I do know how lucky I am.  But…. they have transformed and bulldozed into our lives so completely it’s easy to feel that i have no identity apart from being ‘just’ a – somewhat deranged -mum.  I used to be a wife, friend, daughter, etc as well as a crafter.  Despite their butter-wouldn’t-melt appearance they have taken over to the extent that crafting hasn’t so much taken a back seat as been left behind on the road looking for a lift.  But the ideas keep coming and I am slowly getting back into making things.  So I plan to steal a couple of hours when I could be sleeping every so often, to share with you both the things I’m making now, and the many many things I made before the twins’ arrival, which I didn’t post about due to writer’s block!  I hope all are of interest.

 

Next post – woolly weddings – sneak preview below!  Happy Crafting!

 

Exif_JPEG_PICTURE

 

 

 

Shell Scarf – free pattern!

This crochet shell scarf is an excellent first project.  If you’re more experienced it’s good to have a simple project such as this to turn to when you just need something easy and automatic to make.  It’s quite narrow and grows quickly.  I love it so much, I’ve already made four!

The shells provide a lovely texture which is fun both to make and to wear!

I’m getting a lot more into crochet.   It seems to be good for the hands to be able to alternate between knitting and crochet as they put different strains on the hands, fingers and wrists – I like to have a bit of both on the go.

This scarf is my version of a pattern to be found in many books and internet sites.   Please use and enjoy it!

Materials:  I used Bergere de France Ideal yarn (x3 50g balls) and a 3.5mm hook.   I love Ideal but find it ever so slightly thin for dk – most dk yarns will suit size 4mm hooks, or you could use Aran yarn and a 5 or 5.5mm hook.  The possibilities are endless!  I used 130g of yarn,  the finished scarf is approximately 160cm long and 10.5cm wide.

These instructions are in UK terms.  To convert to US, dc = sc,  tr = dc.

Method:  Make 26 chain.  Dc in 2nd ch, dc in each ch to end. 25 sts.

Row 1:  3 ch  2 tr in 1st st, skip 2 sts, dc in 3rd st, (skip 2 sts, 5 tr in next st, skip 2, dc  in 3rd st) repeat until 3 sts remain, skip 2, 3 tr in last st. Turn.

Row 2:  1 ch, dc  in 1st st, (skip 2, 5 tr in 3rd st, skip 2, dc in 3rd st) repeat until 5 sts remain (not counting 3 ch from previous row).  Skip 2, 5 tr in 3rd st, skip 2, dc in 3rd ch made at start of previous row.  Turn.

Repeat rows 1 and 2 until scarf is desired length,  finishing with row 2. To make the finished end match the other scalloped end,  add shell edging as follows:

Edging:

At the straight edge you will have 25 small loops,  as shown in photo – the hook is pointing to the first loop.

Rejoin yarn at 1st loop.  1 ch 1 dc in that loop.

Miss 2 loops, 5 tr in next loop.  Miss 2 loops, 1 dc in next loop.  Repeat until you have made 4 shells, mirroring other scarf edge,  (ending with a dc and fastening off).  The edge should look like this:

Sew in the ends and your scarf is complete!

This scarf is thin but warm, and reversible which I do like a scarf to be! I hope you enjoy making it.

Happy Crafting!

Spring Relaunch!

The Mad Knitter’s Tea Party is back!  I am delighted to resume my blog once more!

 

The last couple of years have been hectic, with work, ill health and life events leading to a kind of blog-writer’s block.  I didn’t stop crafting, and I photographed all my crafty adventures, but I just couldn’t put words to pictures.  For some reason the fog has finally lifted, and I can’t wait to start! The fact that spring is in the air is probably helping.

 

My plan over the next year is to combine posts about ‘live’ projects with posts on projects completed in the last couple of years.  I will include the occasional pattern too. I hope you enjoy sharing my journey with me!

 

Here is a sneak preview of some of the things I’ve been up to:

 

 

My next post will follow soon – until then, enjoy the spring – and happy crafting!

 

 

New blog! meet Troy the knitted dog

Stop press! My usual blog will return soon, but to cheer myself up as we wait and wait and wait for Spring, I am pleased to present a light-hearted addition to the Mad Knitter’s Tea Party – meet Troy, a small knitted dog who loves travel, and making new friends! Join his adventures here:

http://www.troythedog.wordpress.com

Printing, buttons, the latest sausage dog… and something different for the Jubilee!

Hello! It’s been a month of varied crafts…

My local craft group, the Craft Hub, runs crafting pub nights – recently I went to have a go at printing, pint in hand.

The lovely lady teaching us had brought a kind of mangle with her. We created a raised surface in a variety of ways, before colouring it, and then putting it through the press with a piece of paper – and hey presto, a print was made!

Raised surfaces can be created on polystyrene simply by pressing down with a biro or pencil – the results were most effective. But I chose the cut-out card method. Using a favourite design of mine, I drew the design on thin card, cut it out, stuck it to another piece of card, and applied paint with a roller:

Template ready, I headed for the press! I made 4 prints, this is my favourite:

This hare design is found in many medieval British churches, particularly in Devon. Some say it depicts the Trinity, but the design is very ancient and has been found as far afield as China.     Be that as it may, I love its feeling of movement. And it reminded one person of the animated film of ‘Watership Down’!

This month I also made another addition to my knitted sausage dog range. Meet Troy, knitted specially for a lovely Exeter City fan, here he is modelling the Exeter City colours:

Yesterday I visited my local bead shop, ‘Bunyip Beads’, and spent a happy half hour lost to the world. I couldn’t resist some striking oversized buttons, and had my first attempt at button jewellery:

On my way home I was drawn to the window display of the tea shop, ‘Whittards’. I love their new range of china, particularly the yellow and pink mug:

These are also delightful – I do like a nice teapot!

In this shop I also discovered an unusual Jubilee gift – and not the Union Jack-decked china!  Here is her Majesty as never seen before… these teabags are unique, I think, in being of equal appeal to both my Royalist and Republican friends :

And on a similar note, the ‘Democratea’ range (I kid you not):

Poor Angela Merkel! And sadly these items are already out of date, with M. Sarkozy…

Whatever your plans – or indeed, your politics! – have a lovely long weekend!!

Fun at the farm

What a fantastic day at the farm! I just had to share it with you…

Paula lives and works at Twig Farm, Chudleigh, on the edge of Dartmoor – ( her organic flowers are bought by clients including Darts Farm near Exeter). I’m currently designing a range of knitted and crocheted accessories for her, made from the wool of her organic sheep, and last week I went on a visit!

Here is Twig Farm, with Poppy the Jack Russell terrier amongst the ducks and hens:

The farm lies nestled by hills, with views towards the moors and Canonteign Falls.

Radish the other Jack Russell also gave me a warm welcome and was keen to be photographed! – (poor Nessie had been left at home, her attitude to sheep being mixed at best!)

After that, we began to explore the farm, accompanied by Poppy, and cats Tilly and Milly. All Paula’s pets are incredibly relaxed and at home with all the farm animals – not to mention the machinery…

I was keen to meet my colleagues, the sheep! A rare breed called Dartmoor Greyface, Paula’s family have bred them for generations. Here is my first view of them:

Introducing Twiglet, a show sheep who clearly has star quality – she really ‘made love to the camera’!

 

 

 

 

Then it was time to feed two hungry lambs – first of all their mother came to check I was competent:

She soon left me to it – her offspring were very pushy, and kept shoving each other out of the way!

These gorgeous lambs are only a few weeks old, but already their wool is surprisingly thick. Apparently Dartmoor Greyface are one of the few breeds that need to be shorn in their first summer – it’s strange to think that I’ll be knitting wool from these lambs in only a few months’ time!

Sooo cute…

This year, Paula has bought a couple of Bluefaced Leicester sheep – their wool is softer and will be mixed in with the other yarn. But as she says, they just don’t have that special something in comparison to her local sheep, with their ringlets! However, the black lamb’s wool will come in very useful for my designs…

and I love the way their ears stick up!

Time for the feathery friends to get a mention! Here is a new cockerel, just arrived – he was given four companions on the first day, but two have already escaped his clutches back to their old coop…

The smallest  member of Paula’s family- a chick!

The perfect souvenir of my day – eggs, fresh from the henhouse!

  I left feeling truly inspired! I’m looking forward to telling you more   about my work with the wool from Paula’s beloved sheep in the following weeks and months!

Knitted daffodil pattern

A quick update – here is my pattern for an easy knitted daffodil:

Needles: 3.75mm or 4mm; crochet hook 4mm; DPNs 3.75mm x 2; wire; DK yarn in green, yellow and white or orange

Petals: (make 6)

Cast on 4 sts.

Rows 1-2: knit

3 – Inc (K into front and back of st), K2, Inc. 6 sts

4 – 15: k

16: Skpo, k2, k2tog. 4sts

17: k

18: Skpo, K2tog. 2 sts

19:K

20: Skpo. Fasten off.

Trumpet: (make one)

4mm crochet hook; DK yarn

Make 18 chain.

(first 2 chain count as dc) dc for 4 rows or until trumpet approx. 2.5 cm / 1″ deep

Sew in spiral to make the trumpet.

Sew petals together then attach trumpet.

Stem:

3.75mm double pointed needles x2, DK yarn in green

Make an i-chord using 3 sts, until desired length reached.

I-chord: Cast on 3. K3, slide sts to other end of needle, knit again without turning the work, repeat until chord made.

Thread wire or thin piece of dowelling into cord. Attach to flower head.

Woolly news, and book reviews!

Currently the mad knitter is busy designing a new range of accessories for the owner of an organic sheep farm, on Dartmoor. More news to follow! I’m looking forward to visiting Twig Farm in the next few weeks, but in the meantime, here is a sneak preview of the gorgeous Dartmoor Greyface sheep:

It being spring, and St David’s Day, last week I made a knitted daffodil for a Welsh friend:

Bookshops are currently bursting with all manner of inspiring craft books, so I thought I’d share with you some of those that have caught my eye:

The Secret Garden – a new hardback Puffin edition, with illustrations by Lauren Child. She turns out to be the perfect artist for this unsentimental book with it’s wonderfully grumpy heroine. (I can’t imagine her going on to create the pictures for Little Lord Fauntleroy, however! ) I adore the way she’s drawn the trees, as if cut-out from Liberty prints:

For those with unlimited funds, Child has also designed a limited edition version of this book, with pop-up trees in the front cover! Second-hand copies are fetching over £200, but enjoy a glimpse for free here: http://www.puffin.co.uk/static/ puffinminisites/puffindesignerclassics/index_secretgarden.html

What do you know? It turns out that Child designed some prints for Liberty, in 2009, with familiar-looking trees – stunning. I really must learn to use a sewing machine…
Inspired by her designs, I cut out a tree from origami paper and played with some beads…

During a recent trip to the Natural History Museum in London, I came across ‘Knitted Dinosaurs‘ – a seriously covetable collection, and who could resist the knitted pterodactyl?

On a different note, I was recently given ‘Naughty Needles‘ by a friend – a rather astonishing book, which the pre-watershed nature of this blog prevents me from describing too closely! Suffice it to say, there’s a pattern for a knitted nurse’s uniform. And a mermaid’s tail  – it seems the author runs her own burlesque show, with knitted costumes! I particularly love the design for a  knitted eye-patch, with it’s optional Nurse Elle (from the Kill Bill films) variation…

Returning to safer waters, ‘Everything Alice‘ seems an appropriate book to mention, containting as it does, all manner of craft projects inspired by ‘Alice in Wonderland’. The shadow puppets are especially appealing. A selection of projects from this book can also be found in the latest ‘Woman’s Weekly’ Craft Special magazine.

Happy crafting!

 

Summer review / Fibre Fest!

Now that sloe gin has been made, and blackberries picked, I must reluctantly concede that autumn is with us…

In Devon we did have at least 2 weeks of true summery weather, and Nessie and I made the most of it! Here is a quick review of what we got up to:

A few more pics from the fabulous Exeter Respect Festival in June:

Nessie and friends!

Hayley, of Mariposa Designs

These gorgeous capelets were made by Pippiknit, aka Pip Hynam, one of the ring-leaders of The Craft Hub – you can reach her via the Craft Hub website (see my links page) or go to her Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/

pages/Pippiknit/196296357052995

Nessie and I had lots of fun with family by the seaside; Nessie conquered her fear of the sea by retrieving sticks from the waves’ edge, what a brave dog!

Other adventures included a trip to some amazing ancient sites on Dartmoor:

Standing stones in circles and rows at Merivale: complete, when we visited, with a group of stone-hugging visitors who wandered the stones in a trance…

And the pre-Roman walled village of Grimspound; the little round houses were just the right size for a dog to explore!

Finally a special mention must go to Fibre Fest, a splendid festival of wool and all things woolly! A chance to meet sheep, goats, llamas and alpacas, and then buy the wool they produce. The festival (at Bicton College, Devon) included hundreds of stalls, talks and exhibitions, and a truly inspiring installation of knitting, created to raise money for the Royal National Lifeboat Institute.

Imagine, if you will, a tunnel encased in knitting, the outside designed to look like cliffs and the seashore, adorned with lifesize knitted seagulls, puffins, lighthouse, a sailor with his fishing net, and some dastardly pirates!

Inside the tunnel, you are transported underwater; surrounded by colourful fish, jellyfish, divers, and mermaids! This site can tell you more:

http://www.rnli.org.uk/who_we_are/press_centre/news_releases/news_release_detail?articleid=566851

These photos of the designer Alison Murray with her creation are well worth a look (click on the photo below to be taken to more pics):

I couldn’t resist buying a mermaid to take home as a souvenir of the festival – what an inspiring day!

A Sloe Business

Many people think that knitting requires patience, but for the sloe gin enthusiast, true patience is required!

A year ago I decided to make my first batch. Here is my novice’s guide to making sloe gin:

1. Pick lots of sloes!

2. Wash the sloes, and prick each one with a fork. No need to remove the stones. Music or radio recommended for this stage!

3. Sterilise 1 litre kilner jars with boiling water, and air dry. To each jar, add 1lb / 454g sloes, 4oz/112g sugar, and top up with gin (approx. 750ml). Seal and label.

4.Place in a dark place for at least 3 months.

5. After 3-12 months, strain the gin. I waited a year, and there was a slight mildew film on top of the liquid, which I skimmed off before straining. Next year I think I’ll strain it a few months earlier.

6. To strain, use a muslim cloth, or if you prefer like me to save your pennies for the gin, find some clean tights or pop socks, which will look like the oddest Christmas stockings imaginable, once full of sloes!

Strain into a jug, and give the cloth/tights a squeeze. Then using a funnel, pour into sterilised bottles; I used wine bottles with screw caps.  (To sterilise bottles, wash well, cover necks with foil, and heat in an oven at 160 C for 2 hours, then leave to cool in the oven.)

7. Hey presto, purple sloe gin! If kept in green bottles, it will keep its colour. If the bottles are clear, store in a cupboard.

The good news is that this is now ready to drink. But if you can bear to wait a year longer, it will taste like nectar…hmmm…

More good news: the gin-soaked sloes can be used one more time, to make sloe sherry! I will return to make this later this month (the sloes are being stored in boxes in the fridge).

Cheers!

By the sloe bushes

Review of Exeter Respect Festival – part 1

Well, what a fabulous weekend at the Exeter Respect Festival! This small park, usually inhabited by Nessie & I and the odd squirrel, is transformed for one weekend a year into a veritable Glastonbury, with tents, music and events galore!

I joined five fellow-members of Devon group The Craft Hub in a rose-covered gazebo, where we arranged an eclectic confection of woolly wonders, scented candles, elephant cushions, and other crafty delights:

It was wonderful to see so many friends, and Nessie made several appearances, attracting punters into our tent with her own particular doggy charm…

I succumbed to a capelet by Craft Hubber Pip Hyman – buying other people’s stock is an occupational hazard! I think it brought me luck though, I felt warm and glamorous. Especially after a trip to the beer tent…

In between sales and gossip we took it in turns to explore the Festival. It was a lovely, cosy occasion, which felt truly inclusive; all ages danced their socks off to the world music, and after a show-stopping finale from multi-ethnic ‘Kissmet’ we packed up and were home in time for the Archers. Looking forward to next year already!

More photos to follow! Happy crafting!

Respect, Peace and Love!

Hello there,

The Mad Knitter is in the midst of last-minute crafting before going to the Respect Festival this weekend! Do come and say hello if you’re in the area! Belmont Park, Newtown, Exeter, from 12pm both days. I will be on the Craft Hub stall.

Happy Crafting!

Sausage dogs & tea cosies – new pictures!

By popular request, some more pics of my latest efforts….

Bored with the garden, I took the sausage dogs on a photoshoot in central Exeter, including an encounter with statues on the cathedral – to the amusement, and bafflement, of passersby and one stone angel…

Fair feedback – & Irish Moss Stitch

The Spring Fair was great fun, with my toy sausage dogs proving popular! I enjoyed designing the stall:

It felt good to have a stall amongst so many talented crafters. Here is a selection of work from neighbouring stalls, including paper bouquets, soap cupcakes, and a covetable liquorice allsort necklace:

Irish Moss Stitch

This is my stitch of the season! A number of visitors to my stall asked about the knitting stitch I’ve used on my new tea cosy and cushion designs.

It gives striking stitch definition on either side. Each is slightly different but equally effective.

I prefer the ‘bobbly’ side as a contrast to the crochet flowers on my  tea cosies.

If you haven’t tried it before, have a go! It’s very easy, in effect a double moss stitch:

Using an even number of stitches:

Row 1: K1, *P1, K1, repeat from * to end

Row 2: K1, *P1, K1, repeat from * to end

Row 3: P1, *K1, P1, repeat from * to end

Row 4: P1, *K1, P1, repeat from * to end

Continue rows 1-4

Happy crafting!

Going to the Fair!

The Mad Knitter is delighted to be back after a few weeks of illness. Not that that stopped her knitting like a demon, of course! She has been cheered over the last month by many things:    – the response to this blog;

– tea with friends;

 

 

 

 

– and her second spring in Devon, which is late but seems early after last year’s bizarre season…

Spring events to report: hearing, and after neck ache, seeing, larks in my favourite field; tulips, violets and tender leaves everywhere; and the glorious sight of blackthorn blossom:

also known as sloe – so called, I believe, due to the long wait before sloe gin is fit to drink once you’ve made it…

 

Preparations for the Craft Hub’s Spring Fair are frenetic. Tea cosies line up to be finished –  I am rather pleased with the first model:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The daisy cosy awaits buttons as a finishing touch. 

Nessie has been helping production by eating my cotton reels, and improving the bumble-bee tape measure I got for Christmas (she didn’t hold with the retract mechanism, but soon rectified the problem).

 

Having a great deal of fun designing a spring-like, Mad Tea Party-like stall! Ideally it would contain topiary, red and white rose trees, and a flamingo, in homage to Alice in Wonderland… I look forward to sharing the reality, made with a miniscule budget, in my next post!

 

Hoping to see some of mine and Nessie’s old, and new, friends at the fair! Happy crafting!

 

 

 

 

 

Happy St David’s Day! or, Dydd Gwyl Dewi Sant Hapus!

An update on my project to make an origami daffodil as a St David’s Day gift:

Regrettably my attempts were not successful – but I did not despair! I have made this rather fetching origami tulip instead. I am hopeful that this will be an acceptable substitute for my Welsh friend…

Dydd Gwl Dewi Sant Happus!

Spring has sprung!

Welcome to the first post from the Mad Knitter’s Tea Party!

I am a crafter from Devon, in the South West of the UK, with a particular passion for woolly crafts. With my enthusiastic helper Nessie (who has insisted on having her own page) I look forward to sharing ideas and inspirations!

I am particularly inspired by the natural world, and so the last day of February seems an appropriate time for my first post! The grey weeks after Christmas always seem to drag. I long for fresh, green leaves, and brightly-coloured petals, and become a flower version of a bird twitcher, eagerly looking for new sightings of the first flowers.

Flowers spotted so far include: snowdrops, daffodils, crocuses, irises, anemones de caen, winter aconite, flowering currant, and daisies! So I am happy to declare that in the world of the Mad Knitter’s Tea Party, at least, Spring has Sprung!

These crocuses are good enough to eat…

and the yellow of daffodils – as invigorating as a cup of coffee…

I am going to a St Davids Day meal tomorrow, and plan to make a paper daffodil for my hostess. If I can find a suitable origami pattern in time…If successful, I look forward to sharing the result with you!

Goodbye for now, and thank you for visiting!     Nessie and the Mad Knitter

Hello world!

Blog in production – watch this space…