Issue 4

Au

tum

n / W

inter 2

013

Knitting, spinning, food and good stuff

2 Fibre tasting- The battle of alpaca

3 Good stuff... What’s on the go?

4 Pattern- Falling leaves

6 Craftsy classes

8 Pattern- Bonfire night

11 Book review– The Fleece and Fibre Sourcebook

12 Technique time– Fit those feet

13 Get out there– Go walking

14 Pattern– Wild and Windy

17 Decoration Inspiration

18 Pattern– Stripy stocking

21 Yarndale 2013

23 Last minute gift knitting

24 Pattern picks

25 Baby its cowl-d outside

26 Cosy nosey

28 What’s cooking- Chocolate truffles

29 Try something new– Thrummed mittens

30 Gifts for crafters

31 Pattern abbreviations

This time of year is really all about the warm and cosy knitwear. Cold frosty days mean you can dig out warm accessories and snug sweaters to stay warm. It is also the season for gift knitting, we have a few tips to help if you have left it to the last minute!

If you have any questions about anything in this issue or would like to make suggestions or contributions to future issues, please contact us via contact@alittlebitsheepish.co.uk.

Welcome...

Contents

2

Pure alpaca typically comes in two varieties, Suri and Hucaya. Take a look at the differences and similarities.

Fibre tasting... The battle of alpaca

Hucaya

Much of the alpaca you find in top and yarn form will be of the hucaya variety, as these animals make up 90-93% of the animals in existence

1.

Compared to Suri, Hucaya has a shorter staple length, at 5-15cm

1. A

high amount of crimp can be seen in the individual fibres, making them easier to spin.

Suri

Suri is the rarer variety of alpaca. The animals are distinctive in appearance, with long locks which can be up to 28cm

1. Suri fibres have

no crimp, with a smooth texture.

The very long fibres can be difficult to spin, and the lack of crimp means a fairly high twist is required. Avoid ing overspinning whi le achieving enough twist to hold the yarn together is key here.

Typical properties of alpaca include good drape, high warmth and very soft handle. Alpaca has less bounce and fibre memory than most wool, this gives the good drape but makes it less suitable for projects where stretchiness is required. Consider alpaca for shawls and warm hats. Both varieties of alpaca have a tendency to felt, making projects such as super cosy felted mittens and slippers a good choice.

Of course, there are alpaca blends to consider too, where you can get the warmth and softness of alpaca, mixed with the shine of silk, or the bounce of wool. Both varieties of alpaca bring their own qualities to these blends, adding extra luxury to your spinning.

References:

1 Robson, D. & Ekarius, C, 2011. The Fleece and Fibre Source book. Storey Publishing: USA

Good stuff...

Knitting: Aestlight by Gudrun Johnson knit in Malabrigo sock. A fairly unusual shawl construction with a centre garter triangle, stitches picked up to work the lace border, then a lace edging worked sideways. The first two sections make great TV knitting, the final lace edging requires more concentration. The yarn is beautifully soft and works well with the garter stitch to make a lovely squashy shawl.

...what’s on the go

Reading: The Hunger Games trilogy; a bit behind with these as they have been out for a long time. Action and an interesting view of a possible future world. An excellent read, give them a go or re-read. The second movie was released in November, see how it differs from the book.

Spinning: A Shetland and silk blend in the Ink colourway from A little Bit Sheepish. The silk gives a lovely sheen to the finished yarn while the wool adds softness and bounce. Drop spindled to give a fine single for plying to a 4 ply weight.

Wheel spinning undyed Jacob top in three natural colours– white, dark brown and light brown to make a double knit striped three ply yarn.

Watching: Yonderland on Sky 1, Sunday at 6:30pm. Best described as a cross between Discworld and the Muppets. Family friendly viewing with an adventure style storyline.

Prefer historical drama? (or love both?) The latest series of Downton Abbey has recently finished on ITV in the UK. Meaning it will be soon on its way to America and available for catch up viewing. You can also catch up on the first three series (plus specials) on Netflix in the UK.

Cooking: All the warm and cosy

things! This time of year is perfect for casseroles, apple crumbles and all kinds of tasty stodgy goodness.

3

4

Cosy boot toppers to keep you

warm on chilly autumn walks. The

leaf motif is worked lengthways,

once the ends are joined stitches

are picked up then ribbing worked in

the round.

Yarn: 50g worsted weight yarn, shown in Knitpicks Wool of the Andes Worsted in Currant..

Needles: 4.0mm double pointed needles or circular for working in the round.

Notions: Tapestry needle, stitch markers.

Gauge: Exact gauge is not

important for this project.

Abbreviations used in this pattern can be found on page 31.

A pdf version of this pattern can be found here.

Cast on:

Cast on 8 sts.

Leaf edging:

Work falling leaves chart (see page

5) a total of 5(6, 7) times.

Cast off.

Sew cast on edge to the cast off

edging.

Ribbing:

Pick up 48(56, 64) stitches around

Falling leaves

top edge of leaf edging.

Rnd 1: *k2, p2; repeat from *

around.

Repeat round 1 until ribbed section

measures 10cm or is your desired

length.

Bind off using Jeny’s surprisingly

stretchy bind off.

Finishing:

Block boot toppers.

Weave in ends.

e ô ô ô ô ô h h h h 18

a h h h h h h h 17

l h h h h h h h h h 16

d s h h h h h h 15

l h h h h h h h h 14

d s h h h h h 13

l h h h h h h h 12

d s h h h h h 11

l h h h h h h h 10

d s h h h h 9

l h h h h h h 8

j j h h h 7

l h h h h h 6

j j h h 5

l h h h h 4

j j h 3

l h h h 2

j j 1

Knit on RS, purl on WS d Knit two together

h Purl on RS, knit on WS a Slip one, knit two together, psso

j Yarn over e Purl two together

l Knit into front and back of stitch ô Bind off

s Slip, slip, knit No stitch

Make it your way:

Using a finer yarn and appropriate needles will make a smaller sized boot topper.

Work the ribbing in a different colour to make two coloured toppers, a great way to use up leftovers.

To make the most of leftovers, divide

the yarn into two balls, work the

ribbing until you have just enough

leftfor the cast off.

Falling leaves chart:

5

Craftsy classes Fancy learning new skill? We take a look at the classes offered by Craftsy.

6

Learning new skills is one of the

great things about crafting. There

are many ways to do it– ask a

friend, books, online help, take a

class. However, it is not always easy

to find the information you need, and

many craft related skills are easier

to understand when they are

demonstrated rather than written

about.

Craftsy is an online website started

in 2012 offering a huge range of

craft classes in video format. The

advantages of being taught by a real

person, with the convenience of

being able to watch the videos when

it suits you, even in the middle of the

night. Classes also have help

forums where you can ask questions

and receive support from the

teacher and other participants.

There is something for most

interests and the range of topics

seems to keep increasing; currently

covering cake decorating, knitting,

sewing, crochet, spinning, painting,

drawing and photography.

In terms of price the classes vary.

There are some free short classes

you can try, which is brilliant to see if

you like the format. Compared to

paying for a class in a local venue

the prices are very reasonable, and

the best bit is once you have

purchased the class you can access

it forever, as many times as you like.

To explore the format I signed up

for the “Adventures in double

knitting” class by Alasdair Post-

Quinn.

I had only one previous brief

attempt at any kind of double

7

knitting, it was less than successful

so this seemed like an excellent

choice of class.

The pause button is possibly the

best part of these classes. In a real

life class you can’t keep interrupting

the class to ask questions or to have

another look. In digital format you

can hit pause to catch up and use

the thirty second replay if you need

another look at a technique. And no

one will mind (or even know) if you

do this over and over until the

technique clicks.

You should remember that the

presenters are fab at their craft and

many of them are teachers too, but

that they are not actors. In the

double knitting class Alasdair

seemed kind of nervous during the

introduction, there are a lot of ums,

which is ok and eases up as you get

into the classes. If that is likely to

annoy you this one might not be the

class for you, not all of them are the

same. There is a money back

guarantee, so if you really find the

class doesn’t work for you this is an

option, although so far I have not

had to use it!

The class was very informative,

good fun and definitely worth the

money. It was a good way to learn

the skills and far more flexible than a

real life class– want to watch the

videos in the middle of the night?

That’s fine.

As another bonus many of the

classes are taught by big names of

the crafting world, meaning you can

take a class with them even if you

live in a different country or can’t get

to the shows they teach at..

You do need to have a reasonable

quality of internet, with good

download limits as you will be

watching a lot of videos.

Find the classes, and a huge

p a t t e r n d a t a b a s e a t

www.craftsy.com. You will need to

sign up to the website to book

classes. Look out for special offers

on blogs and facebook, and via

emails you will be sent once you

sign up, You can often grab the

class you are after at a discount.

Bonfire night

8

A combination of Catherine wheel and flickering flame lace stitches creates an autumnal cowl, just right for wrapping up warm while you watch the fireworks.

Yarn: 50g 4 ply yarn, shown in Babylonglegs Semi-precious in Cinner.

Needles: 3.5mm 62cm (24”) circular for working in the round.

Notions: Tapestry needle, stitch markers.

Skills: Longtail cast on, knit, purl, knitting in the round, increasing, decreasing, yarn overs, weaving in ends.

Gauge: Exact gauge is not important for this project, use a larger needle than recommended for the yarn to give a good drape.

Abbreviations used can be found on page 31.

A pdf version of this pattern can be found here.

Flame and firework lace pattern:

Row 1: k1, YO, k3, sl1, k2tog, psso, k3, YO, k14

Row 2: k16, sl3, yf, pass ss back to LH needle, yb, k8

Row 3: k1, YO, k3, sl1, k2tog, psso, k3, YO, k14

Row 4: k14, k3tog, YO, kfbf, YO, k3tog tbl, k1

Row 5: k1, YO, k3, sl1, k2tog, psso, k3, YO, k14

Row 6: k14, k3tog, YO, k2tog, YO, kfbf, YO, k2tog tbl, YO, k3tog tbl, k1

Row 7: k1, YO, k3, sl1, k2tog, psso, k3, YO, k14

Row 8: k11, (k2tog, YO)x 3, k1 tbl, (YO, k2tog tbl)x 3

Row 9: k2tog, k3, YO, k1, YO, k3, k2tog tbl, k13

Row 10: k14, (YO, k2tog)x 2, YO, sl1, k2tog, psso, (YO, k2tog tbl)x 2, YO, k1

Row 11: k2tog, k3, YO, k1, YO, k3, k2tog tbl, k13

Row 12: K11, (k2tog tbl)x 3, k1 tbl, (YO, k2tog)x 3

Row 13: k2tog, k3, YO, k1, YO, k3, k2tog tbl, k13

Row 14: k12, kfb, YO, k2tog tbl, YO, work 5 tog, YO, k2tog, YO, kfb, k1

Row 15: k2tog, k3, YO, k1, YO, k3, k2tog tbl, k13

Row 16: k14, kfb, YO, work 5 tog, YO, kfb, k3

Lace stitches adapted from “Field

Guide to Knitting” by Jackie

Pawlowski.

See page 10 for charted version.

Cast on:

Cast on 120 sts. The long tail cast

on is recommended; placing a stitch

marker every 24 stitches will help

you to keep track of the lace pattern.

Join for knitting in the round, being

careful not to twist.

Edging:

Rnd 1: Purl all stitches

Rnd 2: Knit all stitches

Repeat rounds 1 and 2, once more.

Repeat round 1 once more.

Body of cowl:

Work lace chart five times around

the work.

Repeat until all rows of the chart

have been worked a total of three

times.

Edging:

Rnd 1: Purl all stitches

Rnd 2: Knit all stitches

Repeat rounds 1 and 2, twice more.

Bind off all stitches.

9

Finishing:

Block cowl.

Weave in ends.

6

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5

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16

s

j

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d

15

6

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13

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7

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I

II

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2

j

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Make it your way:

Cast on more stitches, in multiples of 24 to make a longer, looser cowl.

j

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arn

over

s

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nit

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10

Book review... The Fleece and Fibre source book

by Deborah Robson and Carol Ekarius

Probably the best source of

information on breeds of sheep and

other fibre producing animals. Each

one is covered in great detail, with

information on the animal itself, the

f i b r e a n d y a r n a n d t h e

characteristics of each. Beautiful

photos are given showing each

stage of the process.

Invaluable if you are ordering fleece

or tops online where you can’t get

your hands on them, this gives an

idea if a breed will be fine or coarse

and what you might be able to do

with the fibre.

A must for any spinner with an

interest in different breeds of sheep

and fibre sources; which to be

honest is most of us, it is one of the

reasons why we spin! Also great for

11

knitters who like to have an

understanding of the characteristics

of yarn from different sources, and

generally interesting for anyone.

The book contains lots of

information about spinning the

breeds, but no “how to spin”

information. Not unexpected, that is

not what this one is for, but just so

you know what you are getting.

Available in hardback (£16.25) and

kindle (£14.62) from Amazon. If you

have the shelf space this one is well

worth having in hardback is it is

enjoyable just to flick through,

reading at random as well as using

as a reference when you need

information on a specific fibre.

Technique time... Fit those feet

The first step to fitting socks is to check your gauge. If you are making a patterned sock follow the gauge instructions, if not, work a stockinette swatch in the round. Calculate your stitches and rows per centimetre/inch.

Once you know your gauge, check the measurements for your foot. Find the circumference you need around the ball of your foot using a tape measure. Divide this value by your stitch gauge to give you the number of stitches to cast on.

To find the length for your sock measure your foot length and use the row gauge to calculate how many rows to work. This will include the heel and toe.

Ease is a matter of personal preference, many socks are knit with negative ease around the foot for a nice snug fit. To achieve this, cast on slightly fewer than your calculated number of stitches.

For foot length, negative ease can result in socks that pull the heel

under the foot. Working the sock foot, including heel and toe, to the same length as your actual foot avoids this issue.

It can be helpful to try the socks on as you go, this is easiest if you are using circular needles, but can be done on dpns wi th care . Alternatively transfer your live stitches to waste yarn to test the sock fit.

Once you have knit a few pairs of socks you will get a feel for what fits best. Adjust your typical cast on up for a cabled sock, or down for a very lacy pattern.

Getting a good fit for your handknit socks is key to making them comfy. No one wants socks that bunch up or slip down. Take measurements and check gauge to make your perfect sock.

12

Crisp cold weather is perfect for pulling on

your boots and getting out for a walk in the

local countryside or park. It is a perfect

way to spend an afternoon, doesn’t have

to cost anything and all the exercise

means you can treat yourself to a slice of

cake of you find a cafe while you are out.

Check out libraries, council websites and

local parks for guided walks and routes.

Or go for an adventure and see where it

leads. Remember to stick to legal byways

and footpaths.

Keep your eyes open for foraging

opportunities while you are out, depending

on the season you might find blackberries,

nuts, sloes, mushrooms; just make sure

you are certain what you find is safe to eat

first.

Remember to wear plenty of knitwear to

keep warm as you are out and about, it is

an excellent opportunity to get out scarves

and mittens.

Go walking Get out there...

13

14

A hat and cowl set designed to keep out the chilly weather, which can get a bit wild and windy! Both can be made using 100g of aran yarn.

Abbreviations used can be found on page 31.

A pdf version of Wild can be found here, a pdf version of Windy can be found here.

Wild hat

Yarn: 50g aran weight yarn, shown in A Little Bit Sheepish Merino Aran in Go Go Green.

Needles: 4.5mm, 62cm (24”) circular for working in the round.

Notions: Tapestry needle, stitch markers.

Skills: Longtail cast on, knit, purl, knitting in the round, decreasing, weaving in ends.

Gauge: 15 sts and 22 rows worked in stockinette stitch.

Sizing: Small(medium, large) adult sizes.

Wild and Windy

15

Cast on:

Cast on 72(80, 88)sts. The long tail

cast on is recommended as it has a

good amount of stretch.

Join for knitting in the round, being

careful not to twist. Place a stitch

marker to mark the start of the

round.

Brim:

Rnd 1: K1, p1; repeat around

Repeat Round 1 a total of 8(10, 10)

times.

Body of hat:

Rnd 2: K3, p1; repeat around.

Rnd 3: Knit all stitches

Repeat rounds 1 and 2 a total of 8

(10, 12) times.

Repeat round 1 once more.

Decreases:

Paired decreases are worked at four

points around the hat. The following

rows are worked in the pattern as

set, maintaining the vertical seed

stitch columns until they are

removed by the decreases.

Rnd 4: K17(17, 21), pm, *k18(20,

22), pm; repeat from * twice more.

Knit to end of round.

Rnd 5: K3, p1; repeat around,

slipping markers as you pass them.

Rnd 6: *Knit to 1 stitch before

marker, sl1, remove marker, k2tog,

psso, replace marker before double

decrease; repeat from * three times

more. Knit to end of round (if

applicable).

Rnd 7: Work in seed stitch rib

pattern as established.

Repeat rounds 6 and 7 three times

more.

Rnd 8: *Work in pattern as

established to 1 stitch before

marker, sl1, remove marker, k2tog,

psso, replace marker before double

decrease; repeat from * three times

more. Work in pattern as

established to end of round (if

applicable).

Repeat round 8 until 8 stitches

remain.

Rnd 9: *k2tog; repeat from * around

removing stitch markers as you

pass.

Cut yarn leaving a 15cm tail, use a

tapestry needle to thread the tail

through the remaining live stitches

and pull tight to close the hole.

Fasten off end of yarn.

Finishing:

Block hat then weave in ends.

16

Windy cowl

Yarn: 50g aran weight yarn, shown in A Little Bit Sheepish Merino Aran in Go Go Green.

Needles: 5.5mm, 62cm (24”) circular for working in the round.

Notions: Tapestry needle, stitch marker.

Skills: Longtail cast on, knit, purl, knitting in the round, increasing, decreasing, weaving in ends.

Gauge: Exact gauge is not

important for this project, use the

needle size suggested on the yarn

label or slightly larger to create a

fabric with good drape.

Cast on:

Cast on 80 sts. The long tail cast on

is recommended.

Join for knitting in the round, being

careful not to twist. Place a stitch

marker to mark the start of the

round.

Edging:

Rnd 1: Purl all stitches

Rnd 2: Knit all stitches

Repeat rounds 1 and 2, once more.

Body of cowl:

Rnd 1: YO, k2tog; repeat around.

Rnd 2: Knit all stitches

Repeat rounds 1 and 2 a total of

twelve times.

Edging:

Rnd 1: Purl all stitches

Rnd 2: Knit all stitches

Repeat rounds 1 and 2, twice more.

Bind off all stitches.

Finishing:

Block cowl then weave in ends.

Make it your way:

Cast on more stitches, in multiples of two to make a longer, looser cowl; or fewer stitches to make a tighter fitting cowl.

Don’t fancy making your decorations or after more ideas? Check out O NOODLES facebook, blog and etsy store.

Decoration inspiration Use your crafting skills to decorate your house for the festive season, take

some Christmas crafty inspiration from Jill O’Neill of ONOODLES

17

Yarn: 50g aran weight yarn in each of red and natural; shown in A Little Bit Sheepish aran in Straight off the sheep and Incredible.

Needles: 4.5mm either double pointed needles or circular(s) for working in the round.

Notions: Tapestry needle, stitch marker.

Skills: Cast on, knit, purl, knitting in the round, decreasing stitches, short rows, wrap and turn, grafting stitches, weaving in ends.

Gauge: 16 stitches and 24 rows over 10cm in stocking stitch.

18

Stripy stocking

Add some knitted goodness to your Christmas decorations. Thick aran weight yarn makes this one of the fastest socks you will ever knit, especially when you consider it is the equivalent of a knee high!

Hang your new stocking by the fireplace and wait to see if Santa fills it with goodies on Christmas Eve.

Choose muted colours for a traditional, vintage feel, or brighter colours for a more modern look.

Abbreviations used can be found

on page 31.

A pdf version of this pattern can be found here.

Techniques:

Wrap and turn (wt)

To wrap stitches:

Bring yarn to front of work

Slip next stitch to right needle

Wrap yarn around slipped stitch

Slip stitch back to left needle

To pick up wraps:

Slip wrapped stitch onto right needle.

Using left needle pick up the wrap.

Slip the stitch back from the right needle onto the left.

Work the stitch and wrap together to form one stitch.

Cast on:

Using CC cast on 50 stitches using any method. Divide the stitches across needles and join for knitting in the round, placing a stitch marker to indicate the start of the round. Be careful not to twist the stitches when you join.

Cuff:

Rnd 1: Purl all stitches.

Rnd 2: Knit all stitches.

Repeat Rounds 1 and 2 for a total of fifteen rounds.

Repeat Round 1 once more.

Leg:

Switch to MC.

Rnd 3: P8, p2tog; repeat around.

Rnd 4: Knit all stitches.

Repeat Round 4 for a total of seventy rounds in the following colour pattern:

4 Rounds MC 2 Rounds CC 2 Rounds MC 2 Rounds CC

Work two further rounds in MC.

Heel:

Work flat across the first 25 stitches of the sock only. A short row heel is used for this pattern.

Row 1: K25, wt.

Row 2: P24, wt.

Row 3: K to one stitch before the previous wrap, wt.

Row 4: P to one stitch before the previous wrap, wt.

Repeat Rows 3 and 4 until 10 stitches remain unwrapped (there will be 8 wrapped stitches on each side).

From this point you start increasing the length of the short rows.

Row 5: K to first wrapped stitch, pick up wrap and k with stitch, wt.

Row 6: P to first wrapped stitch, pick up wrap and p with stitch, wt.

Row 7: K to next wrapped stitch,

19

20

pick up both wraps and k with stitch, wt.

Row 8: P to next wrapped stitch, pick up both wraps and p with stitch, wt.

Repeat Rows 7 and 8 until two double wrapped stitches remain, ending after a wrong side row.

Return to working in the round.

Knit two rounds in MC, picking up the wraps as you pass them on the first round.

Foot:

Rnd 5: Knit all stitches

Repeat Round 5 continuing the colour sequence above for a total of 28 foot rounds.

Toe:

Using MC

Rnd 6: Knit all stitches.

Rnd 7: Remove start of round marker, k4, pm for start of round, k22, pm, k to end of round.

Rnd 8: *k1, ssk, k to 3 sts before marker, k2tog, k1; repeat from * to end of round.

Rnd 9: Knit all stitches.

Repeat Rounds 8 and 9 a total of four times.

Repeat round 8 until 12 stitches remain.

Cut yarn leaving a 20cm tail, use yarn tail to graft stitches together.

Finishing:

Fold cuff section down over leg.

Using MC pick up 3 stitches at centre back of leg on first MC round.

Work i-cord for 12 rows.

Cast off stitches.

Use yarn tail to sew i-cord into a loop for hanging.

Weave in ends on inside of sock.

Make it your way:

Use different colours to fit your colour scheme or a different colour combination for each family member.

Alter the stripe sequence to make a unique stocking.

Use fun fur to make the cuff, knit all stitches for simplicity.

Add in some colourwork, motifs or letters can be added to the basic stocking shape to create a truly personalised stocking.

This pattern will fit a size 5 (UK) foot as a boot sock, make two for cosy feet!

A new for 2013 yarn festival in Yorkshire.

The event was well attended by sellers, with both indies and big names present selling beautiful wares. A large number of sellers meant seeing everything (at least once) was a whole day task.

Classes on a range of topics could be booked, a good opportunity to learn a new skill with expert tuition. There was also the option of a drop in colourwork bauble workshop.

The market and surrounding area were beautifully decorated with a

range of knitted and crocheted bunting. Inside there was an even more impressive display in one of the side rooms, probably more bunting than I have ever seen in one place!

Seating was provided in a central area which is always appreciated as a day at a yarn festival can be hard work!. It is good to take a break for a sit down, a cup of tea and the chance to compare finds.

The cattle market (Skipton Auction mart) used as a venue proved to be a good choice for the event, with each vendor allocated a “pen”. The weekend turned out to be warm and sunny, good as the site might have been rather chilly if not. An additional benefit was that alpacas and angora bunnies could be in attendance, always nice to see fibre animals up close and personal.

Visitors attending on the Saturday reported big queues, difficulty parking and being turned away. The show seems to have “suffered” from

21

Yarndale 2013

28-29th September, Skipton, N. Yorkshire

the excellent publicity drawing in larger than expected crowds. Sunday seemed quieter, with no similar problems. Hopefully these issues will be sorted for 2014.

Getting to the venue was easy,

with the option of the Yarndale bus if you had arrived by train, possibly a way to avoid the car parking issues for next year.

As an added bonus, on the Sunday a local brass band uses the market as a practise space, shopping for yarn to a range of brass band tunes was an enjoyable experience.

The 2013 website is still up here, hopefully it will be updated with details of the 2014 event, I am already looking forward to going.

www.alittlebitsheepish.co.uk

A Little Bit Sheepish

Hand dyed yarns and fibres, accessories for knitting,

spinning and crochet

New look website now online

Twisted–

The most delightfully

twisted pattern you can

imagine

Find the pattern on

Ravelry here

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Last minute gift knitting We’ve all been there, the intentions to start early have failed, or you have thought of an extra gift recipient that you just HAVE to knit for. Try these hints and tips to ease the festive gift knitting stress.

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Choose your patterns carefully. Accessories are a great choice as they tend to be small and therefore quick to knit. Think cowls, mitts or chunky bed socks. Check out the next couple of pages for some quick to knit patterns that make use of small amounts of yarn.

Yarn weight will also make a difference to what you can finish in time. A lace weight sweater maybe not, a cowl in aran or chunky yarn, knit on!

If you have your heart set on a bigger project for someone, wrap the work in progress, or the yarn and pattern and gift it to them with a note promising to finish it. If they are really worth knitting for they will not mind that you ran out of time.

Short on budget as well as time? Shop the clearance section of online retailers to pick up some bargain yarns in bright colours and heavy weights. Kemps wool shop is great for bargains.

As an alternative, try to convert your

non-knitting gift recipients! Wrap up some big needles, a chunky yarn and offer to teach them to knit if you think they would like the idea. A long, thin rectangle can be turned into a cowl or two squares made into fingerless mitts with a bit of sewing up. It also gives you a great activity for Boxing day. This can be a great gift idea for kids too.

Finally relax. Remember both knitting and gifting are meant to be enjoyable. Take breaks and stretch, make sure you don't overdo it. Have some of your favourite Christmas treat (mulled wine, chocolate, cake?), sit back and enjoy what you are making.

Check out the rest of the Fiona Hamilton-MacLaren Designs pattern library on Ravelry for a range of free and purchasable patterns.

Pattern picks Great for gifting– quick knits from the Sheepish archives that make wonderful

presents and can be made with limited time and supplies.

“Soar” is a simple hat pattern that uses knit and purl to add texture. A great unisex hat, choose the colours that best suit your recipient

Handknit socks are often considered the ultimate knitted gift. Try “These socks are made for walking”, made in 6 ply yarn they are quick to knit up.

Try “Little leftovers” as a gift for the small people in your life. This pattern will help keep them warm in the win-ter weather and helps you to use up some sock yarn scraps.

Show some love wi th the “Sweetheart mittens”. Cabling and texture give you a chance to make use of your knitting skills, ribbing on the palm give a snug fit.

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Baby it’s cowl-d outside! Cowls can be the perfect last minute gift, faster than a scarf and they work well with small amounts of bright yarn. Add some funky buttons or embellishments if you have a little extra time.

Chunky Alpaca Cowl by Elizabeth Smith.

Takes two balls of chunky yarn and a couple of evenings. The seed stitch breaks up bright variegated yarns really well.

For the simplest of all, cast on a number of stitches divisible by four (try 60 for a chunky yarn). Join into the round. Work in K2,P2 ribbing un-til you are almost out of yarn. Bind off then weave in ends. Simple!

Floater cowl by Rilana Riley-Munson

Yarn floats carried across the front add interest to a very simple cowl knit in the round. Reduce the depth to make a cowl from one ball of yarn in a single evening.

Malabrigo Neck Thingy by Anne Sahakian.

Made using one 50g ball of aran yarn this takes a little longer to make up but was still done in a couple of evenings.

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Cosy nosey

A fun gift, with a practical nature, a little nose cosy to keep your nose warm on chilly days.

Yarn: 10g of DK weight yarn in two colours.

Needles: 3.0mm either double pointed needles or circular(s) for working in the round.

Notions: Tapestry needle, stitch markers.

Skills: Cast on, knit, knitting in the round, decreasing stitches, grafting stitches, weaving in ends, pompoms or tassels.

Gauge: Not important for this project. Go down a size or two from the recommended to make a warm nose cosy.

Abbreviations used can be found on page 31.

A pdf version of this pattern can be found here.

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Cast on:

Cast on 48 stitches. Any cast on will

be fine for this project.

Join for knitting in the round, being

careful not to twist. Place a stitch

marker to mark the start of the

round.

Edging:

Rnd 1: K24, pm, k24.

Rnd 2: Knit all stitches

Repeat round 2 a total of 5 times.

Decreases:

Decreases are worked at four

points, in two pairs. Much like

making a sock toe!

Rnd 3: K1, ssk, k to 3 sts before

marker, k2tog, k1; repeat once

more.

Rnd 4: Knit all stitches.

Repeat rounds 3 and 4 until eight

stitches remain.

Finishing:

Cut yarn leaving a 15cm tail.

Graft stitches together and weave in

ends.

Cut two one metre lengths of

contrasting yarn. Attach yarn to nose

cosy on either side where the

decreases were made. These form

the ties for holding the cosy on.

Using contrasting yarn make a

tassel or mini pompom (try the fork

method for making mini pompoms)

and sew onto the end of the cosy.

Gift the nose cosy and enjoy the

entertainment, or wear it yourself

and enjoy a warm nose.

Fiona

Hamilton-MacLaren

Designs

Find the collection on

Ravelry here

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Chocolate truffles

What’s cooking?

Simple to make and delicious after a meal or for gifting in a pretty box.

Ingredients

Double cream

300g 70% cocoa

2tsp flavouring of your choice– try orange or peppermint extract or rum.

Optional– white chocolate

Put cream into a heat proof bowl.

Place in microwave and heat until just boiling.

Stir in 100g of chocolate until fully melted and well mixed.

Stir in flavouring.

Place in fridge to cool until firm.

Once cool scoop spoonfuls of the chocolate mixture and roll into balls

using your hands.

Place back in fridge on a lined baking tray to firm back up.

Melt remaining chocolate in a bowl over a pan of boiling water.

Using a fork, dip truffles into melted chocolate.

Allow excess to run off then place covered truffle on baking sheet.

Allow to cool slightly then sprinkle grated white chocolate over the

truffles.

Return to the fridge until fully set.

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Thrummed mittens

Try something new...

Thrumming makes for extra warm and cosy mittens (or slippers if that is your preference). Chunks of wool roving are working into the mitten as it is knitted, these felt together inside the mitten during wearing to add an extra layer of insulation.

You will need:

Wool roving, not superwash

Pattern– try Thrummed mittens, Stuffed mittens ...or Fluffies by Joan Janes

Yarn appropriate to pattern

Needles appropriate to pattern, yarn and your gauge

Technique

Make a pile of thrums– pull a 6cm length of roving from your supply, divide lengthwise to give a pile of soft fluffy chunks about 1cm across. Give each one a little twist to hold it together.

Knit to thrum placement as indicated by pattern.

Hold working yarn to back of work.

Insert needle into next stitch as if to knit

Wrap a thrum around the needle as if it was your yarn.

Knit the stitch, making a loop of roving on your needle.

Knit the next stitch using your working yarn, it will be carried across the back of the work, helping to hold the thrum in place.

On the next row knit the roving loop with your working yarn as if it was a normal stitch.

Give the thrum tails a gentle tug downwards to make sure they are firmly in place.

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Gifts for crafters Suggestions for the crafters in your life, or maybe a little something for

yourself.

Remember last posting dates for Christmas. Order from www.alittlebitsheepish.com by 5pm on Thursday 19th December to have your parcels sent first class, which should arrive by Christmas within the UK.

For your established knitter who wants to try more than basic knit pro-jects, opt for a basic sock kit which includes 100g sock yarn, needles, a pattern and stitch marker for £13.

A basic learn to spin kit is a great introduction to the craft. £10 gets you everything you need to get started– a drop spindle, 100g of Bluefaced Leicester top and instructions.

Knitters and crocheters love yarn, but it can be a tricky one to choose, you need to pick the right weight, fibre, amount colour..... Consider a gift certificate for a yarn store.

A handy tin containing all the notions your favourite knitter will need, right down to a mini bar of chocolate for when they have a frogging emergency. Notion tin- £10

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The following abbreviations are used in this issue.

dpn(s) Double pointed needle(s)

CC Contrast colour

k Knit

kfb Knit into front, then back of stitch

kfbf Knit into front, then back, then front of stitch

k2tog Knit two together

k3tog Knit three together

LH Left hand

MC Main colour

p Purl

pm Place marker

psso Pass slipped stitch over

p2tog Purl two stitches together

R Row

RH Right hand

Rnd Round

RS Right side

sl Slip the next stitch purlwise without knitting it

sm Slip marker

ss Slipped stitch

ssk Slip slip knit

st(s) Stitch(es)

tbl Work as instructed (knit/purl) through back loop

WS Wrong side

wt Wrap and turn

yb Yarn backwards (move to back of work)

yf Yarn forwards (bring to front of work)

YO Yarn over

Pattern abbreviations 31

Contact us

If you have any questions about anything in this issue or would like to make suggestions or contributions to future issues, please contact us via:

contact@alittlebitsheepish.co.uk

Or come and visit the “A Little Bit Sheepish” group on Ravelry

All work in this publication is copyright F. Hamilton-MacLaren 2013 unless otherwise stated.

All advice are suggestions only, please follow with caution at your own risk. Follow appropriate health and safety procedures at all times.

If you would like to support Sheepish magazine please visit advertisers and sponsors from the magazine- you support them and they support us! Or get in touch to discuss advertising or sponsorship opportunities.

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