'Snuff' was a present, am just over half way through. It is very good, I know he is a talented writer and my daughter is a big fan.  Cannot wait to start read Chris Hadfield's book, bought out of some Christmas money. Listened to some of it on Radio 4.

 Recently came accross the term UFOs as unfinished objects, something crafters usually have. Not a very good picture. This is a black Llama wool bag, I am lining. Nearly finished it!

Knitting Pattern for Double Rib Bag. Scroll down for pattern.

10th of January already and of course want I want to do in my head and what actually gets done are two different things!

Have done some art and have been doing yet another bag to add to the ones that I really must get around to finishing the linings etc.

 Casting on 140sts on a 4mm circular needle with DK yarn. From needle tip to needle tip this circular needle measure approx. 24in (61cm)

 To join for first row I have wrapped both the yarn end from casting on and the yarn to be knitted round needle to knit first stitch. If you use the same method remember this when you have knitted the first row so you knit the stitch as one otherwise you will end up with an extra stitch!

Start by knitting like so (see pattern below) K2, P2 to how long you want your bag to be.  If you have a few balls of yarn left from another project or there are few balls left in the shop at a reduced price this might be a good way to use it.  I would say you need at least 3 50g balls of yarn.  Its great to sit and knit this while watching TV as you do not have to concentrate to much.

 Project gradually growing!

 On to the first part of strap.

 A simple pattern and I still make mistakes! Must have been a good bit in a film.

 Would probably have been easier just to undo it down to wrong stitch and knit again but I persevered with crochet hook.

 Finally sort and knitting continued.

 As it seems such a long time to me since I have been on blog , wanted to get this pattern on so here is one I did earlier in slightly darker yarn. You will see I still have a couple of end to weave in on this one. In my mind when I finally get the sewing machine out I can line a few bags in one go.

Knitting Pattern for Double Rib Bag.

4mm Circular Needle Double Knitting Yarn.

A pair of 4mm Knitting Needles.

Cast on 140 stitches on 4mm Circular Needle. Join in Circle. I knitted the first st of the first row with yarn end from cast on as well as yarn from ball.

First Row. K2, P2 to end.

Continue double rib on round until 78 rows (or however long you want your bag to be) completed.

Next row, cast of 52 stitches in rib. (I used a 4.5 mm knitting needle to do this so I did not cast off to tightly). K2, P2, 4 times, K2 leave on circular needle for later or a stitch holder. Cast of 50 st. K2, P2, 4 times K2. Cast off 2 st. Break yarn.

Join yarn to 18 stitches left on needle. Knit as follows K1, P1, [K2,P2] 4 times P1,K1. Next row K2, P2, 4 times K2. Repeat these two rows until required length for just over half of shoulder strap is reached (You can knit two equal halves of the strap on the two lots of 18 stitches, or have the join slightly over to one side.)

If you want to just sew the two halves of the strap together then cast off in rib. Alternatively save stitches on a stitch holder and graft the two halves together.

When knitted turn inside out and sew bottom of bag together with strap at either end.

Lining the bag will make it stronger.

A mini Painting  had fun doing. (2.5in by 3.5in).

Weather been very wet here in Shropshire, parts of country had much worse weather, floods etc. I know. Was going to cycle to town today but looks like have left it to late, will get there tomorrow hopefully.  Feel for the  Americans with the weather they have had to tolerate these last few weeks.

KNITTING PATTERN FOR TEENAGE (BARBIE SINDY ) DOLL DRESS

Have been having fun working out a pattern for Barbie, Sindy , teenage doll ,Dresses.

 I am not a professional knitter so hope these patterns are readable! Knitted the first dress but it came out a bit larger than I wanted so knitted a smaller version as well.

 TWO COLOUR BARBIE DRESS (THE DARKER COLOUR IS A VERY DARK BURGANDY)
BLACK WOULD LOOK GOOD WITH MOST COLOURS.

Using 3mm needles and 4 ply (in main shade) cast on 26 sts (I used cable cast on), and work 14 rows in stocking stitch st st (starting with a knit row).

Next row. – K13 in main shade, join contrast, K13 in contrast.

Next row. – P13 in contrast, P13 in main shade.

Continue in this way for a further 22 rows. Break contrast.

Work 6 rows st st in main shade.

Next row. – (RS Facing) Join contrast, K13 turn.

Next row. – K2 , P11 in contrast. Continue in this way for a further 8 rows.

Next row. – knit.

Next row. K2, P9 to last 2 sts, K.2 . Continue in this way for a further 8 rows.

Break contrast.

Next row. – Join main shade, K.

Next row. – K2, P9 to last 2 sts, K2

Repeat the last 2 rows once more. Cast off.

Rejoin main shade to rem. 13 sts. Cast on 4 sts. For underwrap and working these 4 sts. In g st., complete to match first side.

THE FRONT

Using 3mm needles needles and 4 ply (in main shade) cast on 26sts and work 14 in rows in st st starting with a knit row.

Next row. – K13 in main shade, join contrast, K13.

Next row. – P13 in contrast, P13 in Main Shade

Continue in this way for a further 22 rows. Break contrast

Work 6 rows st st in main shade Break yarn.

Next row. – Join contrast K13 , Join Main shade K13.

Next row. – P13 in main shade, P13 in contrast.

Continue this way for a further 8 rows.

Next Row – K13 in contrast, K13 in main shade

Next Row – K2 in main shade P11, P11 in contrast K2.

Continue in this way for a further 8 rows. Break wool and rejoin main shade with right side facing.

Next Row – Knit.

Next Row – K2, P7, K8, P7, K2.

Repeat last 2 rows one more Cast off.

To Make Up.

Press lightly. Join side seams, (I used mattress stitch). Join shoulder seams ( I used backstitch). Stitch cast-on edge of underwrap at back of work. Fold up nearly four stitches and catch into place for hem. I used two small press studs to for back opening. (Not suitable to use for young children).

st st = stocking stitch, knit one row purl one row .

K = Knit

P=Purl

g st = garter stitch knit all rows

TWO COLOUR BARBIE DRESS  (Smaller Version worn by second doll).

Using 3mm needles and 4 ply (in main shade) cast on 22 sts (I used cable cast on), and work 12 rows in stocking stitch st st (starting with a knit row).

Next row. – K11 in main shade, join contrast, K11 in contrast.

Next row. – P11 in contrast, P11 in main shade.

Continue in this way for a further 22 rows. Break contrast.

Work 4 rows st st in main shade.

Next row. – (RS facing) Join contrast, K11 sts, turn.

Next row. – K2 , P9 in contrast. Continue in this way for a further 8 rows.

Next row. – knit.

Next row. K2, P7 to last 2 sts, K.2 . Continue in this way for a further 8 rows.

Break contrast.

Next row. – Join main shade, K.

Next row. – K.2, P to last 2 sts., K2 Repeat the last 2 rows once more. Cast off.

Rejoin main shade to rem. 11 sts. Right side facing. Cast on 4 sts. For underwrap and working these 4 sts. In g st., complete to match first side.

THE FRONT

Using 3mm needles needles and 4 ply (in main shade) cast on 22sts and work 12 in rows in st st starting with a knit row.

Next row. – K11 sts in main shade, join contrast, K11.

Next row. – P11 sts in contrast, P11 in Main Shade

Continue in this way for a further 22 rows. Break yarn

Work 4 rows st st in main shade break yarn.

Next row. – Join contrast, K11 , Join main shade K11.

Next row – P11 in main shade, P11 in contrast

Continue in this way for a further 8 rows

Next Row – K11 in contrast, K11 in main shade,

Next row. - K2 in main shade P9, P9 in contrast K2

Continue in this way for a further 8 rows. Break yarn and rejoin main shade with right side facing.

Next Row – knit

Next Row – K2, P5, K8, P5, K2.

Repeat last 2 rows once more cast off.

To Make Up.

Press lightly. Join side seams up to armholes, (I used mattress stitch). Join shoulder seams ( I used backstitch). Stitch cast-on edge of underwrap at back of work. Fold up nearly four stitches and catch into place for hem. I used two small press studs to for back opening. (Not suitable to use for young children).

st st = stocking stitch, knit one row purl one row .

K = Knit

P=Purl

g st = garter stitch, knit all rows

 This was one of the first attempts. As you can see I was not making a neat job of combining the colours.

This is better. This is the first dress which turned out slightly bigger than I wanted. The first doll in the picture is wearing the larger dress.

 Lots of end to weave in.

The back before press studs stitched on. Also before the hem has been turned up.

There are lots of ends to sew in. Work out which ends you can use to stitch the sides up before weaving the ends in.

Have shown the dresses at various stages of completion.

You can see the row of 4 garter stitches for the underwrap.

Stitched up ready to be turned inside out, this is the front of dress.

 The front (above) and the back (below of the second tighter fitting dress.

The hem has been turned up. When I sew the press studs on I use a matching colour dressmaking thread not the knitting yarn. You can sew on firmly without it showing to much on the outside.

 

Just a few photographs taken over the last few days. 

Could not resist taking pictures of this majestic Oak tree when  on an organized weekly walk yesterday. (The other walkers think I am bit odd taking pictures of trees! Fortunately I have a friend who manages to say just the right thing about my strange behaviour.) Hopefully I will be able to use the photos for inspiration to paint sometime soon.

 Mum gave me a couple of pretty Angels for the Christmas Tree.

 

Finished the lacy mitts pattern from Simply Knitting Magazine.

Have been wanting to do some painting, there are not enough hours in the day! Managed to do some sketches ready to work on later. Also a half finished painting. These are ACEO Miniature sizes

 

An ACEO oil painting I have done before, husband has 'pinched it' to give to someone who likes cats and helped look after his father.

Most of the leaves have been blown from the trees now.

 Cycled back from Telford Town Centre on Friday through the park. This is an Aerial Rope Course a very recent addition to the Town Park.

 Took these Cycling home, sunset through the trees. 

 Couldn't resist the moon again!

 Weekly walk with walking club today. Approx. three and half miles covered , we usually do about four but it was nice to finish a bit earlier. Took these couple of snaps. Bare trees now!