Mystery Blocks Tutorial: Sewing Up Part 3

Bonjour mes amis!

Happy Tuesday to you all :)

Today, we had lovely weather in SA (at least here where I live :) ), and although there is a definite chill in the air come early evening, the day was sunny and warm for what is already Autumn here... yup!, time certainly flies...I can't believe that we are already in April!!! The little red-headed finches living in our porch light are growing up (I know because their loud, insistent food-demanding is much more grown-up than before), the roses are fading and losing their leaves, and the mornings are darker when I get up to start the day...I am not a winter person, but this year I am determined to try and find something positive instead of negative about winter...I may have to drink hot chocolate every day, make fires every night, and maybe knit a gorgeous cashmere scarf...

I have been so taken by so many projects in the last couple of posts that I have neglected the poor Mystery Toy ! Shame on me...it's been lonely :)

I hope that, (if you are making this project), that it has been clear to you, and that you are managing to follow along...

The next installment, mes amis... :)

Mystery Blocks Tutorial: Sewing Up Part 3

If you look back here, you'll see that the next step is to sew up the orange (or your equivalent colour) rectangles. I have tried to show which seams are joined together, by adding coloured stripes to the edges (just as before)...

Sew up the seams indicated by the red stripe to the seams indicated by the green stripes. This translates to sewing together the edges of the green squares to the edge of the orange rectangle.

Repeat on the other side.

A close-up...

This is what your works should look like now.

Next, sew up the edges shown above, ie the outer orange rectangle edge to the short edges of the yellow rectangles. Repeat on the other side...your toy is slowly but surely coming together :)

Here's how things look now...

Time to add the red squares. These are sewn onto the orange squares (the edges of the orange squares that are farthest away from the blue...)

I have flipped over the red square so that you can see more clearly how it should be placed...remember to sew up with both "right" or "knit" sides together...

All red squares are sewn on...I love how it's beginning to take shape.... :)

Allow the red squares to flop back, purl sides up. This will show you more easily what seams come next. Sew up the edge of the red square indicated by the blue stripe, to the yellow rectangle (you are only using half the yellow rectangles edge...) Repeat on all sides.

All done!

The next step, for today's post.... place the red rectangles over the work as shown above. Sew up the outer edge of the red rectangle (indicated by the blue stripe), to the yellow rectangle (indicated by the red stripe)... Repeat on the other side.

Done! Can you see how it is taking shape? :)

Now turn your work, so that you are looking at it from the short side. Place the light green rectangle into the space between the red squares as shown above. The light green rectangle will be folded in half, with half of the edge being sewn to the orange seams (indicated by the blue stripe), on either side. Repeat for the other end of the toy.

Now sew up the seams as shown above (red squares edge to the edge of the green rectangle). Repeat on the other side of the toy. Well done, you are getting there...

Word of the Day

desideratum

a noun, meaning: something considered necessary or desirable

A couple of interesting links...I enjoyed reading this (my field...and as I say "knowledge is power"...in fact that has been challeged recently by a lawyer friend of mine..."the application of knowledge is power", is a far better way of phrasing it...), and thoroughly enjoyed this latest post's photographs ( I have always been drawn to these isolated icy places, and their undisturbed beauty...)

See you all tomorrow,

Sleep well,

Lots of Love,
Heidi :)

iPod Cosy Tutorial

Hello :) all in Blogland...

I hope you have all managed to follow the Magic Loop knitting tutorial... I am so addicted to this method of knitting, I think I will have to design lots of patterns for you to see how great it is... :)

I decided to start with something pretty easy and quick to make...something that you can whip up in no time, and will make a lovely gift for someone...

So enter the iPod cosy! In reality, the cosy is a small version of a little bag, so if you don't have an iPod, make the "cosy" a bit bigger and voila!, you have a work in progress bag, a little girlsboys library bag (my girls weren't allowed to take a book out of the library without their "library bag"...)... the applications are endless :) Just use your imagination friends...

I made one of these little iPod cosy's for my swap partner... hope she likes it...I know she loves the colour purple...

Speaking of the swap...we have had a lot of people wanting to join...thank you folks! We are so happy to have you... Linda and I have sent out partner details via email...please contact your swap partner, find out what they like, dislike, enjoy as hobbies etc, that way you also meet new people (hopefully friends :) ). And another small thing...we want you all to have a good experience with this swap...your way to add a little love and appreciation to someone else's life...please don't be worried or anxious about your swap gift...do what comes from your heart, and I know it will be appreciated :)

Well...onto the cosy...

iPod Cosy

Heidi Bears©

We are living in the iPod era, and young and old are using these wonderful devices for listening to music, audiobooks, podcasts etc...I love listening to audiobooks while pottering about the house, but didn't like holding the iPod in one hand while doing other things with the free hand...so I designed an iPod cosy, that hangs around your neck, and keeps both hands free! It can be made from fabric, knitting, crochet and the embellishments that you can add are endless.

This pattern is for a knitted iPod cosy.

Requirements:

Circular knitting needle sized 3.75mm with a cable at least 80cm long.
DK yarn in a colour of your choice.
Tapestry needle for sewing up ends
Embellishments of your choice to decorate your fabulous cosy!



Using Judy's magic cast-on (if you are not familiar with this cast-on method, please visit here, and here, for a step by step tutorial), cast-on 42 stitches (21 stitches on each needle).

Using the Magic Loop method of knitting, knit 44 rounds (rows) or until the cosy measures 11cm in length.

Place your iPod into the cosy to see if it fits comfortably.
Cast off all stitches. Cut a piece of fabric 24cm long by 9cm wide.
Cut a piece of iron-on interfacing 24cm by 9 cm.
Iron the interfacing onto the wrong side of the fabric.

Fold the fabric in half, right sides facing, and sew up on either side,
using a 0.5cm seam edge.

Fold over the top edge of the fabric pocket, by 1 cm, and iron flat.

Insert the fabric pocket into the knitted cosy.

Use a needle and sewing thread to sew the fabric and knitted edges together.

Cut a length of ribbon in colours you like. The best way to determine the right length is to drape the uncut ribbon around your neck, until both sides are long enough for your cosy to hang at a comfortable distance.

Apply a small amount of Fray Check to the ribbon ends to prevent them from fraying. Sew the ribbon ends to the sides of the top of the cosy. Then sew two pretty buttons over the ribbon attachment.

Your cosy is done! Now decorate and embellish it to your heart's content!

Hope you enjoy...

Have a great evening !

Lots of Love,

Heidi :)

Magic Loop Knitting: Tutorial 2

Hi everyone!

Today I am posting the second installement of the Magic Loop Knitting Tutorials. Yesterday, I introduced you to the amazing Judy's Magic Cast-on, and today you will actually be knitting in the round using the Magic Loop...

Magic Loop Knitting Tutorial

If you look back at yesterday's post, you will see that we ended where you've cast on using Judy's Magic cast-on. Next you need to turn your work around, so that you can knit from the right hand side...

Turn your work clock-wise as seen above, so that the metal needle is still at the top. This will also mean that you need to "flip"your needles so that the wooden needle is at the bottom again, and the "purl " side is facing you.

If you compare the pics above and below, you'll see how you need to "flip"your needles, so that the metal needle is at the top again...

See how clever this cast-on method is...you have already purled your first row... if you click on the pic above, it will enlarge and you can have a good close look at the first row...perfect purl!

It is a little difficult to explain a 3D process like Magic Loop knitting, using 2D pics and words to describe the process, so please send me an email if you are unclear about anything... :)

You are ready to start knitting Round 1. Hold your knitting in your left hand, and using your right hand, pull out the metal needle towards the right hand side. Remember, you always knit with the same needle, ie in this case the metal or "top"needle (see previous post).

Be careful that you don't pull the metal needle out too far, or the cable loop at the other end of your knitting will disappear...not what you want :)

Use your left hand (and in particular, your left thumb and index finger), to hold the cable and wooden knitting needle close together, as you start knitting with the metal needle.

Also make sure that the working yarn lies OVER the back cable...

Although the "purl" side was facing up before, slightly twist the work, so that you knit into the first stitch from the "knit" side. You may wonder why...as your work grows, a little pocket will form in the middle of the needles, growing down, and then it will be easy to see where to knit into from the knit side...but in Round 1, it can seem a bit strange to knit from "underneath"so to speak...

Knitting into the first stitch...

Keep knitting, exactly as you would on straight needles... in the pic above, I have knitted 6 stitches (all on my metal needle)...notice how close my metal needle and cable are at the beginning of the round...this prevents the "laddering" sometimes seen when this join area is too loosely knit...

You've completed HALF of Round 1. Each Row/Round of knitting , must include the stitches on both sides.

Turn your work, exactly as before...

Your wooden needle cable now needs to be threaded backwards through your knitting, so that you can pull the metal needle outwards to the right side again...

When the wooden needle tip is close to the knitting, pull the metal needle outwards to the right hand side, just as before, and start to knit again...

You are starting to knit the second half of the first Row/Round.

Knit to the end of the row...

Well done, you have completed the first round of your knitting... now turn your work, as before, and start knitting Row/Round 2.

I hope you will persevere in learning to do a Magic Loop, it will change the way you knit, my friends!

As it is Easter Sunday tomorrow, I won't be doing a post, but on Monday, I will post instructions for a project, using this technique... It's simple, cute and fairly quick to make, perfect for a gift for a special little someone...

Onto other things...

A few interesting links: this is a dream come true...I want one! No, that would be incorrect, I need to have one... ;) I am definitely going to see this (LOVED the books!), enjoyed this, and

had a good laugh at this (Please note: this is for adults...)

Hope you all have a special Easter...Bless you all!

Lots of Love,

Heidi :)