I’ve always preferred knitting novelties, items for fun as well as practicality, and items of clothes that are no more time-consuming than a scarf, a head band or some hand warmers.  And when the opportunity to knit something for baby came along, bootees were the obvious choice. Strictly speaking, I did once make a coat for a 4” doll from a pattern for a Christmas jumper tree decoration, a pair of Mary Jane shoes and a cardigan for an 18" doll; a jumper for a boy doll and a gorgeous pair of bootees…Read more …

How fashions change.  I am amazed by how a simple item is re-invented over and over by a tweak here, a tuck there, then hey presto it’s a must-have of the modern wardrobe.  Take cardigans. We’ve all worn a cardigan at some time in our lives, if only when at school.  It might have been shop-bought or if you were lucky, or unlucky, depends on where you stood in your family group, hand-knitted and handed-down.  Made unique by choice of buttons, a straight or picot edge or just by the tension of your…Read more …

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away…blah, blah, you know how it continues.  We all probably know at least one fan, and have bought or made a Star Wars-themed card present at some point.  Would I be able to find something to knit along those lines, I wondered?  Ha! Oh, ye of little faith.  Surely, by now I had realised that the knitting community has a pattern, a design or just an idea of absolutely ANYTHING I might want to represent in coloured yarn? Of course, I was not disappointed. …Read more …

I wanted something simple, seasonal and novel for my Christmas gifts this year, something quirky that would knit up quickly.  I found it with this very simple pattern for a Knitted Napkin Ring by Shellie Wilson.  All those paper napkins, used and abused at Christmas lunch and tea, could last well into Boxing Day if looked after properly.  A good linen serviette could last for days.  I had some appropriately coloured craft string, so got cracking.   Did I say simple?  I made the same mistake over and over until I got it right. …Read more …

What to give as a 50th birthday present to a party girl who talked of visiting the south of England from her home town in the south of France in October (apart from an umbrella)?  A lover of the wacky, the wild and the daft, and a mean foot on the accelerator… Why, a map, of course.  Not too detailed, just an outline, to show where we are in relation to where she is.  Maybe with a symbol or an arrow to indicate our actual towns, and a colour scheme to give a…Read more …

Now, you and I know that knitting is great, it’s fantastic, it’s relaxing, productive and over all GREAT.  What I love about it most of all is the fact that knitted gifts are unique.  People can buy and receive new baby cards or 25th wedding anniversary cards, and they might even keep one or two of them, the rest hitting the recycling box at some time in the future when it’s time to declutter.  However, a knitted memento is different – could be useful, certainly unique and, without doubt, special.      …Read more …

No matter what your sport, it’s probably true to say that if you don’t work up a sweat you’re not putting in enough effort, and not getting much out of that little effort either.  But no matter how hard I work, if my feet and legs are cold I can’t concentrate on isolating my muscles or getting in the zone.  Anyone else have that problem? Thick socks and long woolly socks made my feet slide and overheat;  then my friend’s husband’s 1980’s-themed birthday party prompted a vision of Jane Fonda complete with legwarmers. …Read more …