Creative Clutter Cross Stitch

CREATIVE CLUTTER IS BETTER THAN IDLE NEATNESS

New edition of Mollie Makes this month (Issue 20) had an apt cross stitch pattern for our house, which no matter how hard I try is always covered in the remnants of different projects in various stages of production. If there aren't scraps of wool, thread, fabric, card etc. then it just wouldn't be our house!

I particularly enjoy the crazy curly letters!

Back isn't too messy!

Easy pattern to follow and will eventually hang somewhere in our living room when we get round the mammoth framing project that awaits us after Christmas!

Favourite craft magazine :)

Love Ali

xx

Cowl-tastic!

Hi all, 

This weekend saw me ill and alone. Not a good combination, the boy was away on a stag do and I had picked up a virus from work which left me with a terrible headache and fever. After spending all of Friday, and a good part of Saturday sleeping I was feeling much better on Sunday and with time to spend whilst watching the entire first season of Downton Abbey!

A few weeks ago I bought myself a big chunky ball of wool from Hobbycraft, with a cowl pattern. They had one knitted up which was amazeballs and was just what I was looking for, so off I merrily skipped and payed my £5.

The brand I used

Sad times came when I got home and realised I don't really know how to knit. Yes, I've made scarves, long rectangles, generally full of holes, using the knit stitch and none of this new fangled 'purl' business. So, after a few very frustrating attempts to remember to k1, p1 and pick up a loop and drop a loop between each stitch (!) I gave up and made my own pattern instead!

I forgot to take any 'making of' photos - this was me checking that my phone was working, or something like that

Ta da! Last night, in one grey jumper...

And today, in another grey jumper!

From behind. Oh er missus.

Here it is:

200g of Fab Big #02350 delphinium - a lovely teal blue
10mm  knitting needles

Cast on 24 stitches
Knit 20 rows plain knit stitch
Next is slightly more complicated - knit a 'twisted drop stitch' pattern. This is really simple and even I managed to do it.

Insert needle in to back of stitch, wrap around 2 loops, not 1! pull through as in a normal knit stitch. Carry on all along the row. 
Next row, ONLY do the same, but only knit in to the first loop you made, and let the other stitch drop off your hook.

Keep going until you run out of wool, for the last two or three rows use normal knit stitch.

Crochet ends together using a basic slip stitch. I used a contrasting wool as I only had a much thinner hook than the chunky wool - a 5mm hook.

And that is it! Don't wear it to bed, your partner will laugh at you. Or if you're single, go nuts, make a giant one as a sleeping bag and live in it (now I want boy to go away for the weekend again...)

Love Ali

xx