I was taught this technique for joining two yarns together to form a very well hidden knot by my friend Mary last year.
I must admit I was very skeptical that it would work, I fully expected the knot to simply come undone, but they don't and I've been using it ever since as a quick and easy way to join yarn.
I've found that it does not work with the fancy yarns like tinsel or any that are very shiny, but otherwise it works well and it is lovely not having to sew in all those yarn ends into the back of work!
It is not easy to put into words how to do it so I've created a quick video tutorial which you can see here:
Well I've finally finished my knitted jacket, I started it in April 2015 and finished it October 2015, I have been working on other things in between as I found the pattern needed good concentration to begin with and it was hard to do unless all was quiet or I was on my own!
It got easier with time and by the end I could do it while watching TV but still made a few mistakes particularly with the shaping of the armholes - there are no pattern stitch instructions on how to incorporate increased or decreased stitches into the design, all it says is 'keep pattern correct', which I found a bit easier said than done.
I'm a little bit disappointed with the length, the pattern showed it as almost thigh length and although my tension was correct and I stuck to the measurements in the instructions it actually came out at around hip length.
Having said all that I am really pleased with it, the effect is fabulous with no side seams to stitch so the pattern goes all the way around with no breaks.
It did however mean that you have a very large piece of work to deal with.
I did it in Drops Love You 5 in 'Heather', it is an Aran weight yarn.
I've done a video review of the pattern and my experience of knitting it, along with a few tips and ideas which I hope will help if you try the pattern.
Just wanted to share some of the things I've done or in the process of making that you might like to have a go at.
Knitted Santa and Snowmen Toys
Last year I did these lovely little Santa and Snowmen dolls, they are so quick and easy to knit and you can use up oddments of yarn. They stand around 6" high and all my grandchildren loved them.
They are designed by Jean Greenhowe and available in her Christmas Special book, which also has lots of other patterns (including a nativity scene) and is currently on Amazon: Jean Greenhowe Knitting Pattern Book - Christmas Special
I also have a video tutorial of how I made my tiny quick and easy pompoms using just a fork, for the hats of the dolls:-
Crochet Snowflakes
I am currently making these little snowflakes which measure approx. 2" across.
I made them in 4ply cotton and did have to firm them using the PVA wash (see my video tutorial here if you want to know how to do a firming wash: https://youtu.be/Ci0br4YfnpE)
I am also going to try them in a pale ice blue as I think it could be quite an effective colour.
Whatever you are up to I hope you have great fun planning your Christmas makes!
In this video I show you how to cover rings
and hoops with crochet stitches to decorate them - I used old curtain hoops, plastic bangles
and key chain rings - they can be used for all sorts of decorative
effect, including Christmas tree decorations.
African flowers are a lovely hexagonal version of a granny square using simple crochet stitches - chain, double crochet and treble - to produce a really pretty effect.
They can be used for all sorts of things from blankets, mats and shawls to more elaborate things like toys and bags.
Below is a bag I made using 11 African Flower motifs which I crocheted together and added covered hoops and crochet handle. I was really pleased with the result.
A few people have asked for a tutorial on how to make the African Flowers so I've put together a video which I hope you enjoy. https://youtu.be/x66KXt_1h3w
This was a really easy pattern to knit, it is all done in stocking stitch and grew very quickly.
I actually started it on holiday and the first week sat on the beach in the sunshine knitting it, then the second week I got to wear it! It looks lovely with leggings or jeans.
It is worked in an aran yarn, which you might think would be too thick for summer, but because it contains cotton it is fine. You begin by making the front and back top part of the bodice separately, then you put them both onto circular needles where you knit in the round.
Increases at each side create lots of width which in turn gives the lovely dropped side point when it is worn.
The only problem I had was that the edge kept rolling up and as I was on holiday it wasn't possible to block it, which might have helped, so I added an extra row of crochet edging around the bottom edge and it seems to have cured it. I did one double crochet into each stitch.
I didn't use the recommended yarn as I had some Stylecraft 'Malabar' in my stash to use up. It was lovely to work with and is 78% cotton 22% silk, which gives it a lovely soft feel and a sheen to the surface.
I've finally finished writing the pattern for the crochet photo star.
This is an all year round pattern and can be used for wall art photo frames but is also ideal as Christmas decorations for tree or wall, or to give as gifts.
This is the first pattern I've ever written, even though I've been knitting and crocheting for over 50 years and wow was it hard! Creating the Photostar was easy, it took just an hour to design, but writing down the instructions so that a novice could understand proved to be quite a feat so I take my hat off to those who create patterns on a regular basis.
The pattern is free to download, however please do read the terms of use at the bottom of the pattern before you begin.
Happy crocheting!
Update October 2015:
I noticed an error in the pattern so have corrected the written pattern and added an error message to the video. If you downloaded the pattern prior to October please either download v3 above, or simply add 1 extra treble in the starting ring - there should be 18 sts not 17 as mentioned in first pattern - sorry about that, I said this pattern writing wasn't easy!
Having made quite a few now it suddenly came to me that you could perhaps add a chocolate coin instead of a photo, might be nice for the children at Christmas.
