Learn to crochet?

[Puddleduck]

You could easily add straps to the heart cushion. It is important to make the strap length adjustable though

 

[Puddleduck]

For anyone who is interested. Please note that the hats, socks etc go to front line soldiers and civilians.

Knitting for Ukraine​

Since the start of the conflict in Ukraine many knitters and crocheters have been wondering what they can do to help. Getting items in to the country is complicated and knowing where they would do most good is almost impossible for us as individuals.

UK Hand Knitting was contacted recently by St Andrews Motor company in Huddersfield with the perfect solution. The company set up ‘Huddersfield to Ukraine, Humanitarian Aid’ and have been fundraising, and accepting and distributing aid to the people of Ukraine since March 2022.

The team reached out to us because they are desperately short of socks and beanie hats for the soldiers at the front line and for civilians in need. They are asking crafters to help make these items.

The socks must be at least 75% wool because the soldiers put them on overnight to keep their feet dry and warm, this helps with trench foot. They don’t need heel shaping but can simply be a knitted tube with one end sewn closed to keep feet warm. Beanie hats can be made using any fibre, but they MUST ONLY be dark grey, navy, khaki, dark brown or black.

The UKHKA basic beanie pattern is a quick knit for a warm hat


The UK Hand Knitting website has free patterns for hats, a DK sock and a tube sock that you can use.

The address to send knitted or crocheted items to is:
St Andrews Motor Company
273, Leeds Road
Huddersfield
West Yorkshire
HD1 6NS

 

[Puddleduck]

I'd be tempted to send gloves in addition - with or without fingers - or mitten with fold back tops.

Here is a free pattern - but it might not be a simple one, I haven't checked.

The Utility Mitt pattern by Kea2

An extremely practical, deceptively simple flip-top mitten that will keep your hands warm while you text your friends and dig for small change in your wallet. Special construction for an invisible flip-top seam. Unisex. Available in 5 sizes from young teen to grown man.

www.ravelry.com

 

[snailtrailer]

Thank you for that information Helen. Puddleduck
Norfolk Knitters and Stitchers are working on this but have only been asked for dark green hats (which is a bit limiting). I have noted the socks that need to be at least 75% wool. I will pass that information on when we meet the large group on Tuesday. Also very useful to have an address as I'm not quite sure who is taking care of delivery here.

 

[Puddleduck]

More fundraising stuff

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Sus3v]

Crikey!
I see some lovely work and suggestions I have missed around Christmas.
been busy with restarting the Helen Shrimpton blanket for the van and a solar-system blanket for grandchild Thomas. I tried for Haley’s comet, but Ken says it’s an octopus. Also, the cow jumping over the moon is a tad static -
now doing cot blanket for new grandchild due May. It’s a zigzag thing, but all those trebles are tiresome. I shall have to find some other thing… inspired by The Thread, I shall investigate Maisie and Ruth

 

[Puddleduck]

Well we all love them!!!

I am ashamed to say I have done very little with being under the weather myself and all the back and fro to my Mum's I am always on catch up and never seem to have time to be creative. Under the sea still isn't finished, Harry Potter still needs his broom and to be sewn together, In Memory of Bagpuss is stalled BUT I have joined the Make and Bake in March that the Alzheimer's Society are running which is a commitment to do something creative every day in March hoping that will inspire me even if it is just a round / row of crochet a day. I have already reached my target for fundraising and it's not March yet so I will drip feed that into the fundraising account during the month.

What I have done is look at some paper engineering ideas as I used to make a lot of cards. I just want to make cards that people open and say "wow" as things move or pop up ....... there are so many mechanisms that range from very simple to extremely complex. I am sure that in the past people have looked at my cards and thought "home made" without valuing the time and thought.

 

[scotzsue]

Have finished another aran for John, Navy blue and a right 'mare till i got a craft lamp for christmas/birthday.
It's one of those patterns with several bits, cable, honeycomb 12stitch cable etc, the cable showed 4 rows to the pattern the 12 stitch showed 6 rows, so I did a 4 row cable and a 6 row cable, looking at the pattern more closely, when I was almost finished the front, having done the back, noticed -in small print- the cable and 12 stitch cable are only twisted every 8 rows. Carried on as i was doing though and did the sleeves to match.
Would be ok, but this is the 2nd 'Magee pattern' jumper i have done and both are wrong, the firs had the twists done on every 6th row
John has now seen some yarn he likes, dark green, and, once I have done something for myself, will hopefully get one right.

 

[Puddleduck]

When at work I had a client who loved to knit Aran (as do I). She had an issue with a pattern, finding she had cabled back instead of front after she'd completed quite a lot of the back - it looked fine so I suggested she continued the way she had started on all pieces and it would be unique.

 

[snailtrailer]

scotzsue Congratulations on a fine piece of work Sue. I am amazed at how well the cables show up on the navy. John must be really pleased with his new jumper.

I am working on a mainly stocking stitch pullover for Derek with just a couple of cables up the front and back and along the sleeves. Stocking stitch - never again - it shows up all the faults. I'll choose Aran any day. It is working up quickly though - back and sleeve done (just to check I have enough yarn).

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[scotzsue]

snailtrailer have started a chunky knit jacket for me, agree that ss shows up imperfections, using an ancient pattern changing the sleeves and adding a bit of cable to the front, ss is so boring and seems to take longer than a pattern. I also do all P if it is meant to be all P i can p faster

 

[Ingwe]

Help! I’m a beginner!

 

[scotzsue]

Update on my jacket, didn't bother with the cable but doing bands in a multicoloured yarn, almost finished, one front band and about 4/5 rows of the other to do. Have developed a terrible cramp/spasm in my little and next 2 fingers in my left hand, it made me cry out ouch. Have never in all my years of knitting had this happen. Hope it eases up John's bottle green yarn arrives on Friday. Will post photo of jacket when it is finished.

 

[Janine]

Update on my jacket, didn't bother with the cable but doing bands in a multicoloured yarn, almost finished, one front band and about 4/5 rows of the other to do. Have developed a terrible cramp/spasm in my little and next 2 fingers in my left hand, it made me cry out ouch. Have never in all my years of knitting had this happen. Hope it eases up John's bottle green yarn arrives on Friday. Will post photo of jacket when it is finished.

Ouch!
I use compression gloves if my hands are painful. (Sometimes it hurts more putting them on though)

 

[Puddleduck]

Pop-up bouquet card finished and ready to send to Lizzie who is about to start treatment for secondary cancerwhen the card is fully open there is apop up bouquet

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[davanne]

My mum loved knitting Aran sweaters and cardigans and she was so good at it. She tried to teach me but it was a disaster so I learned to crochet instead.
I was amazed how quickly she could knit even when watching television.

 

[Puddleduck]

After a disaster yesterday when I messed up and several hours of work ended up as crumpled paper today was much better!!! Leaves to add, probably butterflies and the front to do.

Next will be a card for my lovely daughter ( birthday 1 April) and it will be a pop up landscape with Mount Fuji and as she is having a holiday there later in the year.

Sorry, for some reason I can't attach photos but will try later.

 

[Puddleduck]

 

[scotzsue]

Those cards are lovely Puddleduck
Cramp seemed to be a one off
cardi finished, couldn't find buttons, but a search through the button boxes at craft club provided 2 of 1 design and 4 of another. Am happy with that, and John's jumper is cast on and first couple of rib rows done, I am not fond of knitting ribs
patch pockets are meant to be asymmetrical

 

[Puddleduck]

YouTube is my friend as I try not to make either my back or ankle injuries worse.

OT was here today, they work so hard and I am so very grateful. New walker and she is going to try to get me a spinal support chair and cushion. No physio until treatment for ankle has been decided / completed in case they make things worse.

The OT also had the full report on my back injury, worse than I thought and she was amazed I was sent home from A&E and not admitted. When she realised that had happened twice and no OT or physio referral she said she would follow that up.

Still once the ankle is sorted I won't have the twist in my knee / hip / spine so hoping that will straighten me out and help release the "nipped nerve root endings".

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Puddleduck]

2 cards finished!!!! The Japanese one is for my daughter and the bouquet for Mum.

Next cards are for daughter's partner and then a card each for eldest and youngest grandson.

 

[Puddleduck]

Just been told Martin's youngest niece is engaged!!!! Another card to make but this one will be simple - and I hope elegant.

 

[Puddleduck]

Engagement card!!!

It's another pop up although that doesn't show up too well on the photos

 

[Puddleduck]

The next three cards are for daughter's partner, the eldest and youngest grandsons. Then we are in May with another 2 cards to make, one for Martin and one for our son.

 

[Puddleduck]

Grandson's solar system card.
Sorry for the duplicate images - not sure what happened

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Puddleduck]

He'll probably inform me it isn't to scale ....

His brother's card will be of rockets taking off using pull tabs. I'll have to make it robust enough for a 3 year old!!!!

 

[Puddleduck]

Latest card for Daughter-in-law.

 

[snailtrailer]

They are pocket works of art Helen. I love the card you made for your Mum.

I keep all my cards but did attempt a sort out recently. The result? I now have two bags of cards because I 'accidently' put the keep and destroy bags away.

 

[Puddleduck]

The next one (i hope) will be a rocket with a pull tab that allows it to take off!!!!!

 

[scotzsue]

Asking for help, again, can't believe how difficult it is to find a double knit, basic round/crew neck jumper pattern with set in, not dropped shoulder sleeves. I do have 2 from the 80s but you could go camping in the sleeves. Does anyone have one they could let me have either posting will pay fo pattern and postage, or sending one as a pdf for me to print out.
Have spent ages looking on the knitting sites and am partly through checking the thousands on ebay.
Not finished john's green aran but like to have my next project sorted.
Thanks in advance.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}