Puppets and Monsters

Last year Knit for Nowt sent out an appeal for therapy puppets and monsters which are desperately needed for children who have suffered physical and  psychological trauma.  These puppets are used by Social workers throughout the UK  to help a traumatised child to communicate through a puppet or monster.

I think it's heartbreaking to think that there is always a desperate need for these and supply can't meet demand, you can read all about Knit for Nowt here

I have never really enjoyed making fiddly things but this cause really tugged at my heart and I knew that I had to try to help in anyway that I could. 

Out came the sewing machine I had to dust off a few cobwebs I can tell you but I was determined to give this a go and this was the result....

I know they aren't great but I was quite proud that I had actually managed to produce something that could be used, the worst part for me was sewing the faces. 

I then approached my U3A Patchwork and embroidery group and asked them if they would like to make some too, I even made a couple more and do you know what, apart from the faces I really enjoyed making them, this is what we made between us....

As you know crochet is my forte and although I did enjoy sewing some I was itching to make some crocheted ones too, apparently although all types of puppets are needed and used a MOJO  monster is the most useful as several facial flaps are used one for each facial expression. I found a knitted and sewn pattern on the website but none for crochet so I fiddled about a bit and came up with a very simple pattern of my own, made a few puppets then sent photo's to Clare from Knit for nowt to see if they were acceptable......

Here they are all sat on the windowsill in my conservatory which I had just had built, my next door neighbour was having an extension built at the same time which meant that her workmen spent a great deal of time working from my garden. When I took a photo of these little guys I was actually in my pyjamas and kept moving them around darting back and forth and yes talking to myself too as I do😳 I then turned and looked out of the windows at the side only to find next doors workmen sat on the new extension roof watching me and looking very amused indeed.  To say I felt embarrassed is an understatement.😆 

Anyway I'm very pleased to say that Clare was delighted with the puppets and asked me if I would share the pattern with diagrams so that it could be added to the website.

I do hope that this will inspire some of you to make some puppets, I know that I will continue to make them whenever I can. There is loads of information on the website and patterns of all types for you to try. I have added some links below for easy access.

CROCHET MOJO WORRY MONSTER 

CROCHET TEDDY HAND PUPPET PATTERN

WORRY PUPPET AND MONSTER PATTERNS (WEBSITE)

HAND AND FINGER PUPPETS ( WEBSITE)

SEWN PUPPETS AND MONSTERS (WEBSITE)

Hats In The Round.

 Although life has been a little crazy I have continued with my knitting and crochet it was the only thing that has kept me sane I can tell you, what would we do without it, there's something so familiar and comforting about picking up a crochet hook or a pair of knitting needles and creating something new,  I have to be honest though it has had to be simple my poor overtired brain would not cope with anything complicated.  

I don't know how many hats I've made over the past few months but making each one has been a pleasure so easy and so quick. I have made hats for all age groups male and female and I have sourced and found some great hat patterns along the way, all free and available for us all to use and I want to show and share.

I loved this pattern because it makes a great hat, the possibilities are endless and it's a good way to use up scrap yarn, trying to work out the different stripe combinations is fun too.

It's knitted in the round and I used the magic loop which is still quite a new technique for me, here in the UK we tend to use straight needles for almost everything.  

Earlier in the year I joined an already established knitting group in my new town to be, I find joining new groups quite daunting especially when everyone knows each other almost from childhood and strong bonds of friendship have already been formed.  So there I sat amongst these women with my circulars, they were all without exception knitting with straight needles, I got some very curious glances I could see them staring at the needles wondering why I was using these strange contraptions, some of them made remarks like oh I couldn't be bothered with those give me straight needles any day while another started laughing and said all that tugging and pulling whats the point.  

It saddened me really I thought what a shame that these women aren't open to new idea's and maybe even learning a new technique, but when I offered to show them how to do the magic loop no one was interested.  Perhaps it was a case of who does she think she is the new girl trying to teach us new tricks 😄 who knows maybe once they get to know me better it will be different.

Knitting in the round still poses some challenges for me especially when changing colour and avoiding the step effect, I found some great tutorials online here is the one which I found most helpful.

This was my first effort

My second attempt was better

I will be using this pattern again and I can highly recommend it.  I made the second size and it took 35 grams of Dk yarn you can find the pattern here.

These hats will be going to Muddy Footprint.

See the great parties I will be linking up with over in my right side-bar

Have a great week. 😊

Rescued!

I do hope that everyone has had a great week, thank you for all your lovely comments and best wishes it was great to connect with you all again.  
I'm slowly improving but don't coughs take an age to get better! at least the dizziness has improved, I do seem to have an awful blinding headache which won't leave me until around noon time I suppose that must be with all the congestion.  I do feel a bit ashamed moaning on when I know that there are many of you suffering with far worse ailments than me, my heart goes out to you all and I hope that you are all feeling better very soon.

Spring is on the way and that alone is enough to lift your spirits, look what I found hidden and buried underneath the lavender bushes.....

I rescued them and placed them indoors so that I could get a close up of their beauty I just love snowdrops don't you.  

My home is still upside down and my furniture is stacked in a pile in the middle of the room but it's going to be another two weeks before they lay the carpets so I have cleaned and dusted it all and claimed a sofa to sit on, I refuse to sit upstairs a moment longer so I'm camped out in the sitting room amidst the chaos. I've brought my TV back downstairs so I'm comfortable for the first time in weeks.  I know I will have to take it back upstairs when they lay the carpets but I don't care enough is enough.

Look what met me when I stepped outside the other morning aren't they pretty I planted stacks of bulbs last Autumn it's lovely to see some of them flowering already.

I was asked by Knit for nowt to make a jumper for a three year old boy last week..

As always I used stash yarn, this time I used James Brett Rio DK  I have had this stashed away for years and the label was still intact so for once I knew what I was knitting with although I think that this shade is now discontinued. This is a 20% wool/acrylic mix so it will be nice and warm, it took 180 grams.  The pattern I used was Stylecraft leaflet 8903 nice, easy and straight forward.  

Today is Shrove Tuesday so I hope that you all enjoy your pancakes, if you want to see how to make them see Amy's post here

Have a Great week!


See all the great parties I'll be linking to over on my right side bar.😊

It Took 17 days!

Honestly I thought that I was never going to finish it! this is my May boy sweater, it was started in May even though I finished it in June so I suppose it's ok to call it the May sweater...

 So why did it take so long? well it's worked in the round in fact it's the first sweater I have ever made this way, I'm a two needle tuck the needle under the arm sort of girl, that was how I was taught and it's very difficult to change your method after 55 years, but as you know I'm always up for a challenge, working in the round for me began when I made my sock making debut back here. I thought making a sweater in the round was a great idea, no sewing of seams I forgot to factor in just how slow I am using this technique..

and have you seen the stripes? so many! I wasn't sure if I should cut the yarn at each colour change or carry the yarn up the work, in the end I used a combination of both to see which worked best and I think cutting the yarn gave the best result but meant I had a zillion ends to weave in.

I'm not happy with the finish, I made so many mistakes and I hate how the colour changes are staggered..

I know that there is a way around this but it didn't work for me because there were just too many changes.

CONCLUSION..
Did I like the pattern? yes I did, I love the idea of working a sweater in one piece neck down.
Would I make it again? well, no at least not with all the stripes anyway, maybe a plain sweater or one with less stripes.
Even though it's not perfect it will still keep a little one warm.

STATS
I used 177 grams of DK yarn out of my stash.
worked on 3.5mm and 4mm circulars 
It will fit a 5-7 year old.
You can find the free pattern here

Making this sweater has really slowed me down  I still have to start my June boy sweater, make two June puppets finish a sock and decide on a doily pattern for my coffee table, will I do it? 

What are you all up too? I hope you are having a great week :) x

April Sweater.

I have challenged myself to make one boy sweater each month and I have succeeded so far, well okay it's usually a rush to get it finished in time and so far it's nearly almost been last minute but I get there in the end....

I like to use this as an opportunity to try out some of the many free crochet/knitting patterns that are available to all of us from so many sources..

This time I used a Red Heart pattern it can be found here.  One of the problems with stash-busting is you rarely have the same yarn that the pattern calls for and so have to compromise.  This pattern asked for sport weight yarn and I used DK, as a result the chest size is two inches less that the expected finished measurements.  I made the 24 inch chest size which is supposed to have a finished chest size of 28 inches that's a whole 4 inches more, mine measures 26 inches which I reckon is just right a two inch give I think is more than enough.

I don't like this type of crochet ribbing it has no stretch at all, you can't beat knitted rib for stretch, if I make a knitted ribbed crochet sweater I will  get the best of both worlds I think. 

So enough of the moaning I think for all my complaints it's still a lovely sweater and was very easy and quick to make, it's quite an open pattern so I will be supplying a little T shirt to go underneath.

STATS

It took 170 grams Marriner Yarn in shades..
Apple
Royal
Madonna
Oatmeal.

Now I just have time to make my two April Ted puppets for the Teddy Puppet Appeal before the end of the month. Click here for more details about this appeal.

Have a great week.

Linking with...




Snickerdoodle Sunday
Hookin on hump day
Cooking and crafting with J&J
Handmade Monday
Lunamon Design
Scrapability Saturday
Link and Share Wednesdays

Spring Has Sprung

Hello! it's seems ages since I did a blog post and I'm really missing you guys I'm hoping to visit you and catch up with all your news just as soon I can.

It's been pretty manic here in the Crafty Corner because I received an email from one of the charities I support asking me if  I would make something for five year old twin girls so as usual when I get a request like this everything else stops so that I can concentrate on making something as quickly as I can.

Because Spring has supposedly sprung I decided to make two little Spring sweaters....

one in pink

and one in green

I really enjoyed making these little tops but then I think that making little girl things is always pleasurable.

Along with the tops I have made these little hats to go with them...

one in pink 

and one in green

with a simple spring flower to finish them off and then of course a little button to finish the flower off, you could go on and on couldn't you. :)

Along with the sweaters and hats I thought a scarf would be a good idea for our chilly Spring days...

I hope they have fun mixing and matching :)

As always when you make something for a specific age group you worry that the things you have made won't fit, I'm hoping that they do but if they don't then they will be given to other children in need.

Stats
Sweaters
I used Hayfield bonus yarn in shades cupid and petrol
Each sweater took 220 grams

Hats
I used the same yarn and each hat took 40 grams
The cute and simple spring flower was made using this pattern.

I used this leaflet for the sweater and hat pattern which I found very easy to follow although as always I had some size issues with the tension because I used different yarn to that which is recommended.

Information for the scarves coming soon.

I hope you are all having a great week!

February Sweater

I have challenged myself to make a monthly sweater for the boys, this is what I have made this month...

 I was e-mailed by the charity concerned and asked if I could make a sweater for a five year old boy who was living in squalid living conditions here in England, it's hard to think that there are people living almost on your doorstep who can't even afford to cloth their children in warm clothing.

 I was told that he was small for his age because he was recovering from cancer bless him it breaks your heart.  I have never reached so quickly for hook and yarn and I had this little sweater made and sent off in a matter of days, I added a little T shirt for added warmth.

I hope that it will help to keep him just that little bit Warmer this winter.

STATS
Made with Dk yarn from my stash using a 4 mm sized hook.
It took 184 grams.
The pattern was easy to follow and worked up very quickly and can be found here

I hope that you are all having a great week so far, it's absolutely freezing here and snow is forecast it's a perfect day for staying cosy and warm inside and working on the border of my Cheerful Child Blanket.  What was that? did I hear you say something about the decorating, yes well I have washed the walls down and everything is ready I just need to buy the paint and I THINK I have decided on the colour too so soon very soon. :) 


Linking with...



Snickerdoodle Sunday
Hookin on hump day
Cooking and crafting with J&J
Handmade Monday
Lunamon Design
Scrapability Saturday
Link and Share Wednesdays

January Sweater.

As you all must know by now, I love a challenge and because it's the beginning of a New Year I feel the need to be challenged to motivate me to use up some of the mammoth proportions of stash yarn that is literally cluttering up my home. So when Pat one of the members of Loving Hands invited us to join her in her challenge to make boy jumpers I jumped right in there.

Although I do try to even things out with my charity makes it's usually the little girls that win, lets face it everyone likes to make sweet pink pretty little things that make your heart sing when you look at them. So I am challenging myself to make twelve jumpers for the boys this year not tiny baby boy clothes but larger sizes to fit older kids because they usually miss out.

January Sweater

I found the pattern for this sweater in this book which I borrowed from the library, there are some lovely projects in there and I couldn't wait to start.

However the making of this sweater was not without it's problems.  The pattern calls for Aran weight yarn and I happily began to use the variegated Aran I had bought from Aldi.  Of course silly me didn't do a gauge swatch and was about six inches into the sweater when I began to realise it was turning out very wide so I pulled it off the needles and started again, this time I knit the smallest size meant for a child age two, it was turning out at a 30 inch chest so I stuck with that and just adjusted the lengths to match.

Just to irritate me a little further look how the patterning worked up on the variegated yarn! how did it do that! this is the back of the sweater..

someone suggested embroidering a cats face onto it, hah I don't think so! anyway other than pull it all out I did the only thing I could think of....

some swiss darning to try and disguise it a little..

Of course I still know it there but I think it looks better at least better than before what do you think?

Anyway one boy sweater all complete to fit a child 8 - 10 years.

Lessons Learnt..

1. Always do a gauge swatch.
2. When using variegated yarn, watch how it's patterning and cut the yarn and start further along the ball if necessary.

It took 283 grams of yarn so deduct that from my total of 29,740 that means I have a mere 29,547 grams left to bust.

Linking with...

Snickerdoodle Sunday
Cooking and crafting with J&J
Handmade Monday
Lunamon Design
Link and Share Wednesdays