Christmas is Coming

Well, Christmas seems to have come around very quickly this year. I haven’t even started my shopping yet and am constantly being informed by some rather smug friends that they have purchased and wrapped all their presents. Still, I’m sure I can fit in a few handcrafted items in the month we have left!

It’ll be my first Christmas in my new house and it’ll be the first year I’m decorating my very own tree! Unfortunately, I have no decorations. I have been collecting a few every time I go shopping but still don’t seem to have many. I’m hoping to put a few handmade decorations on their too, so I shall be searching Ravelry for some good, quick and easy patterns. Has anyone else knitted any decorations?

the knitted cupcake x

#Ravelry day on Twitter

Ravelry has become a trending topic on Twitter today – just use #ravelry in your posts! How cool is this- knitters and crocheters find fame! You can also join the Ravelry twibe.

Happy Easter

Hi Everyone,

I hope everyone enjoyed Easter Day (if you celebrate it!). I just thought I’d share these cute little Easter egg chick cosies with everyone. They’re from one of Laylock’s beautiful patterns. I’m afraid I didn’t really do the pattern justice though, I was a little impatient and probably didn’t make them as ’round’ as they should be. I also didn’t give them eyes, as I ran out of time, but I’m not sure whether to leave them eye-less or not!

It’s a very simple pattern, with excellent instructions in pdf format. They were quick to make, I made six in just a few hours. They look lovely on the table at Easter, or just in the egg basket in the kitchen the rest of the year!

Eggs and Duck

Knitted Chick Cosies

the knitted cupcake x

Heart Motif in Laceweight

I’ve just finished another heart motif (I’ve made a few now -really useful for cards with a more personal touch) but this one is in Rowan Kidsilk Haze, which is approximately laceweight.

A Little Knitted Heart Motif in Kidsilk Haze

I bought this yarn to make a floaty scarfy thing which I haven’t started yet and couldn’t resist trying it out making a little heart. I really love how it’s fluffy and hairy! So soft too!

theknittedcupcake x

10,000 Hits!!!

Hi Everyone,

I’d just like to announce that we’ve had over 10,000 hits on the knitted cupcake blog, since it launched in November 2008.

Wahoo- I feel like we should have a party. I hope you like this site – keep reading (we’re only just getting started!)

theknittedcupcake x

Free “A Little Knitted Heart Motif” Pattern

Recently, I wanted to send a friend a card for her wedding but couldn’t find anything I liked in the shops that didn’t cost the Earth. So, I thought I’d knit a little heart motif.

I searched for a pattern, but couldn’t really find what I was after so I thought I’d have a go at creating my own.

This is a pattern for a little heart motif, which measures approximately 4 x 4cm depending on your gauge. You can make it in all colours. The idea is that the motif is used to decorate a card but it probably can be used for whatever catches your imagination – decorated jeans, t-shirts, bags etc. The idea was originally for a wedding card, but can also be used for christenings, birthdays, anniversaries, births and anything else you can think of!

Have fun, and let me see your pictures! Feel free to knit this for personal use or for charity, but as with any of the patterns we’re posting on this site please don’t use the pattern for personal profit or reproduce without permission.

The Ravelry pattern link is here. You can see my one knitted up on Ravelry here.

A Little Knitted Heart Motif

A Little Knitted Heart Motif

Equipment:

Small amounts of DK wool in chosen colour

2.75mm knitting needles (UK12, US2)

Stitch holder

Needles

Cotton (in matching colour)

Beads or other decoration

Method

Cast on 1 stitch in chosen wool

Rows 1-19:

Row 1 and all odd-number rows: purl to end

Row 2: Make a stitch by knitting into the front and back of the stitch (kfb) (2 stitches)

Row 4: kfb, k1 (3 stitches)

Row 6: kfb, k1, kfb (5 stitches)

Row 8: kfb, k3, kfb (7 stitches)

Row 10: kfb, k5, kfb (9 stitches)

Row 12: kfb, k7, kfb (11 stitches)

Row 14: kfb, k9, kfb (13 stitches)

Row 16: knit

Row 18: knit

Rows 20-end:

Row 20: k1, k2tog, k2tog, k1 (4 stitches on the right needle. Put the remaining stitches on the stitch holder and continue knitting with the stitches on the right needle only)

Row 21: purl to end

Row 22: k1, k2tog, k1 (3 stitches)

Row 23: purl to end

Row 24: knit to end (3 stitches)

Thread yarn through remaining stitches and bind off, taking care not to distort the shape.

Take the remaining stiches off the stitch holder and put back onto the needle.

Row 25: cast off one stitch, k2tog, k2tog, k1 (4 stitches)

Repeat rows 21-25.

Tie in loose ends, taking care to keep the shape of the heart. Cover with a damp cloth and lightly press with a warm iron. Do not press too hard, or the stitch detail will be lost.

Using the cotton and a needle, decorate with beads.

Your heart is now ready for use. I use a few dabs of a strong glue to stick it to a card.

theknittedcupcake x

Horst Schulz – African Adventure

Good Evening!

As I was browsing through Ravelry recently, I came across a very interestingly designed throw in someone’s project page. It was called An African Adventure and designed by a gentleman called Horst Schulz. I was very interested in this pattern, and came across a whole group on Ravelry, dedicated to his work. It is called the Horst Schulz Fans.

On their group page discussion board, I began to learn a little more about Horst Schulz. When he was a boy, he lived during World War 2 at a refugee camp in Denmark. An old lady there taught him to to knit with yarn from old sacks. He later worked as a decorator in Berlin and began to knit in patchwork style, putting little pieces of knitting together in any direction – modular knitting. He calls it Patchwork Knitting. He holds workshops in many different countries, and An African Adventure was created during a workshop in South Africa in 2000.

Many people are making this wonderful throw on Ravelry and it is amazing to see all the gorgeous colourways used. It is really more a work of art than a throw!

I am not planning to start making this at the moment (I already have a throw that needs finishing), but it looks really interesting and hopefully I’ll be able to create it in the future. Hopefully, this blogpost will inspire those of you that don’t already know about this pattern to give it a go. If you join the group on Ravelry, have a look at the notes page for useful tips and advice. There is no ‘pattern’ as such.

Here are some wonderful pictures that dolliewollie very kindly let me post on here:

theknittedcupcake x

Row Counter Bracelet

Happy Valentine’s Day!

A while ago I saw a thread in a forum on Ravelry about making a beaded row counter bracelet. It seemed a nice idea so I thought I’d make one for my friend Claire (and co-author of this blog). Claire, if you’re reading this – act surprised when you receive the bracelet! I’m never made an item of jewellery before, so it seemed a little daunting. However, the instructions given seemed relatively straightforward so I thought I’d give it a go.

I wasn’t sure where to go to buy the necessary things to make the bracelet, but on recommendation from a friend I made a trip to The Spellbound Bead Company in Lichfield. Upon entering the shop, I was quite overwhelmed. I’d never seen so many beads before in my life and the shop was packed full of people (including a fair few grumpy male counterparts). I had no idea where to start. I grabbed my shopping list and spent ages wandering around the shop, trying to find the right bits and bobs. Anyway, I think I have everything I need now.

I’m going to try and start making the bracelet tomorrow, so I will keep you posted on how it goes. I think I’m going to make one for myself too. I hope it turns out ok. I’m looking forward to showing you all the pictures!

Has anyone else tried to make one of these? I would love to see your pictures!

Love from
theknittedcupcake x

NEWSFLASH

15/02/2009

I have finished a row counter bracelet! I thought I’d make one for myself first, to try it out. It was very fiddly and I don’t think I have natural jewellery making ability! Still, I finished it. Haven’t ried it out yet though. Just got to make Claire’s now!

The bracelet reads 68… I think!

I hope you like it. I will post pictures of Claire’s one when I have given it to her (and when I have made it!)

theknittedcupcake x

Yarn Store Listings

Hi Guys,

We noticed that a lot of the threads in the Ravelry forums were about Local Yarn Stores. So we thought we’d make a page as a resource for people looking for wool shops. We’ve only got a few basic details on two small areas at the moment, but with your help we hope to make it bigger and more useful for fellow knitters/crocheters. It only intends to cover the UK, but if people from elsewhere want to list their LYS we don’t mind.

It covers a few shops in Staffordshire and North Wales/Chester, UK at present but there are lots missing at the moment. If you know details of any yarn stores in the areas we are covering, please comment and let us know and we’ll update the page. In addition, if you have compiled a list for your area and want to add it just let us know. wi

Hope you find this useful.

theknittedcupcake x

Accessory of the week: 3

I just love this little felt heart brooch, which is more of a handmade gift than an accessory but I liked it so thought I’d post about it! It’s £4 and available from Fragile Heart by Gill Pinkney on Folksy.

 

Felt Heart

theknittedcupcake x