Tuesday, January 31, 2017

#uglyarn continues

Hello all,

My #uglyyarn-project is going quite well. I got projects number 2 and 3 done. Both are baby stuff, even though I'm not having kids in any near future. But I hope that my frineds get married and have kids. I had very old Novita Kotiväki yarn, I probably bought about ten years ago. Even before I had my blog.I found patterns from old sewing magazines, and did some modifications. All in all I'm quite happy. First project is a dress and I'm so happy with the result. I found the the dress chart in Ravelry.
Second project was some sort of a baby overall. The pattern was a disaster. First the instuctions were unclear and every measurement was totally wrong and that's way the bodice doesn't have a yellow stripe. I had to do so many adjustments. Well the result is pretty, but I guess very not-so-practical for a baby.

My next project is a laptop case from an old acrylic plum coloured yarn.



Sunday, January 22, 2017

Slow progress

Hello,

Last spring I knitted two dolls and they've been hidden in my knitting basket and waiting for clothes and accessories. This weekend I just had the motivation to finish one of them:
The pattern is my own (and I'm not completely satisfied with it yet) and mostly I came up with it while knitting. I think I need to make one more, just to make the doll body pattern perfect.
The doll is knitted flat, overalls in round and the hair was just a pain in the neck.
Took forever to finish, but I'm happy. She is still missing shoes and a few finishing touches, but all in all I'm happy. Next time I just need to make a bigger head, and a bit bigger body and insert eyes lower. And maybe I'll add pockets to the overalls and porbably she needs a garden of her own.

The other doll is still unfinished, my youngest brother wants him to be an ice hockey player, any ideas where I can find knitted skates or a knitted helmet?

My #uglyyarn is also doing fine, I finished the dress and began knitting a baby overall. I've almost used that lila and yellow yarn from the last posting :)

- Minttusuklaa


Wednesday, January 11, 2017

#uglyarn #stashbusting

Hello,
my studies began this week and we've had lectures about different mental disorders (is that politically correct?) and because I don't bother taking notes, (maybe I should, but I still don't) I have time to knit and concentrate to what the lecturer is saying.

I went through my stash few days ago and I realised that I HAVE A LOT of ugly yarn or yarn that I have absolutely no idea what to do about it. All thath fluffy and furry yarn, what was I thinking when I bought it? Those earthgreenlittlefurrythings I've received from my friends. Yup, they come to me with a bag and say: Hey, I have a lot of unused yarn, maybe you can make something out of it? And I just can't say no. And then yarn that I've received as gift, I just can't throw it away, can I?

So I decide to make #uglyarn projects during my boring lectures and here is my first project: a cardigan for a kid. The pattern is just a basic cardigan pattern, and just to use yarn I added pockets and  the hood.


I'm quite satisfied actually. It took a week to knit and finish and the yarn I got from my dad is about used.







My next project is a dress, made from 14ply cotton yarn. And the hem is about halfway done.
- Minttusuklaa

Tuesday, January 3, 2017

Gingerbear *Free pattern*


As promised yesterday, here is my next pattern. I haven't done a crochet pattern for about years, so I apologize for any stupid or unclear instructions. Hopefully the pattern is ok.
I had trouble with legs, the first one was okay, but for the 2nd one I had some troubles because I couldn't match the decreases, but all in all I guess I did okay.

I love gingerbreads, I really do, but last Christmas I just didn't have enough time to bake any, so I made on that lasts longer. But for my surprise I ran out of syrup (sorry, my gingerbread yarn), that's why her left leg is so white.



You need:
A hook ( I used 3mm) and yarn. I had worsted, but DK is fine also. Just match the hook with the yarn. 
Safety eyes
Filling

Head:
Ch 2, 6sc to the 2nd ch from the hook.
1) 2sc to the every sc (12sc)
2)(2 sc in first sc, sc in next sc) repeat around (18 sc)
3) (2sc in next sc, sc in next 2sc) repeat around (24 sc)
4) (2 sc in next sc, sc in next 3sc) repeat around (30 sc)
5) (2 sc in next sc, sc in next 4sc) repeat around (36sc)                                                                    
6) (2 sc in next sc, sc in next 5sc) repeat around (42 sc)
7-14) sc in every sc
15) (sc-dec, sc in next 5sc) repeat around.                                                                                           
16) (sc-dec, sc in next 4sc) repeat around.
17) (sc-dec, sc in next 3sc) repeat around
18) (sc-dec, sc in next 2sc) repeat around
19) (sc-dec, sc) repeat aruond
BO and stuff. If you want to use safety eyes, attach them before stuffing

Body:
Ch 2, 6sc to the 2nd ch from the hook.
1) 2sc to the every sc (12sc)
2)(2 sc in first sc, sc in next sc) repeat around (18 sc)
3) (2sc in next sc, sc in next 2sc) repeat around (24 sc)
4) (2 sc in next sc, sc in next 3sc) repeat around (30 sc)
5) (2 sc in next sc, sc in next 4sc) repeat around (36 sc)                                                                       
6) (2 sc in next sc, sc in next 5sc) repeat around (42 sc)
7-9) sc in every sc
10) (sc-dec, sc in next 5sc) repeat around.                           
11-13) sc in every sc                                                               
 14) (sc-dec, sc in next 4sc) repeat around.
15-16) sc in every sc
17) (sc-dec, sc in next 3sc) repeat around                                     
 18-19) sc in every sc
20) (sc-dec, sc in next 2sc) repeat around                                
21) sc in every sc
22) (sc-dec, sc) repeat aruond                                                                                                
23) sc in every sc. Bind off and stuff the body. Sew head to the body securely.

Ears:
Ch 2, 7sc to the 2nd ch from the hook.
1) 2sc to the every sc (14sc)                                                                                                             
2-5) sc in every sc.
Bind off. Sew ears to

Ear and licourice

Hands and arms: Here I used a bobble stitch for the thumb (you can find the tutorial here)
Ch 2, 6sc to the 2nd ch from the hook.
1) 2sc to the every sc (12sc)
2)(2 sc in first sc, sc in next sc) repeat around (18 sc)                                                              
3-5) sc in every sc                                                                     
6) (sc-dec, sc) repeat aruond 
7)Bobble stitch with five loops in the end to the first sc, (sc-dec, sc) repeat (_) to end.            
 8-9) sc in every sc                                                                  
 10) 2sc in one sc, sc x 3, 2sc in one sc, sc x2 (11sc)                                                  
11-19)Sc in every sc
Bind of and stuff hands. Attach and sew hands to the body.
Legs:
1) Ch 12, sc to the 2nd sc from the hook, sc to every ch, turn hook to the other side of ch chain and make a sc to every ch again (22sc in total)

V= sc O= ch

2) 2sc x2, 1sc x6, 2sc x6, 1sc x6, 2sc x 2   (This is how I mark the decreases and increases, basically this means: 2sc to first and second sc/total 4sc, 1sc to next 6sc, 2sc in next 6sc/total 12sc, 1 sc to next 6sc, 2sc to second to last and last sc/4sc in total.)                                                    
3) 1sc x10, 2sc x3, 1sc x6, 2sc x3, 1sc x10                                                             
4-6) sc in every sc (38sc in total, if you don’t have 38 sc here, just increase one or decrease on sc)   
7) 1sc x 11, sc-dec, 1sc x2, sc-dec, 1sc x2, sc-dec x 3, 1sc x2, sc-dec, 1sc x 2, sc-dec, 5sc         
8) 1sc x9, sc-dec, 1sc x2, sc-dec, 1sc, sc-dec x3, 1sc, sc-dec, 1sc x2, sc-dec, 1scx2                        
9) 1scx8, sc-dec, 1sc, sc-dec, 1sc x2, sc-dec, 1sc x2, sc-dec, 1sc, sc-dec                                   
10) 1sc x7, sc-dec, 1sc x2, sc-dec x2, 1sc x2, sc-dec                                                                     
11) 1sc x7, sc-dec, 1sc, sc-dec, 1sc, sc-dec                                                                                    
 12-23) sc in every sc
BO and stuff. Attach legs securely to the bottom of the body.

Nose:
Ch5, sc to the 2nd ch from the hook. Next row: 2s, 2sc, sc, sc, 2sc, slip stitch. Cut off yarn. ATtach nose to the face and embroider a mouth also.


Decorations:
Heart:
Join green yarn to the bottom of the body, ch 30, join yarn to the body with and sc. Sew chain to a heart shape.
Frills:
Ch desired length, (1sc, 1dc, 1sc) to 2nd sc from the hook, one slip stitch. Repeat (_), slip stitch to the end.
Buttons
Ch2, 5sc to the second ch from the hook.

Allsorts:
Ch2, 4sc to the 2nd ch from the hook. 2sc in each sc. Cut off yarn and pull it through the remaining stitch.
The white and green straps (or whatever term is good to use) are just a desired length of chains stitches, that are sewn in place.

White stuff for legs:
I joined the yarn to the top part of the leg, did a chain of about 40ch and the sewed it to a swirl. I joinde yarn to the the foor, made a chian of about 20ch and sewed it into a swirl. 


And after finishing of all yarn endings and so... Your little gingerbear is ready.You can sell toys made from this pattern, but don't sell the pattern itself. The pattern isn't tested so please tell me if you find any errors, I'll try to fix them 😊

And of course I'd love to see pics, if you've made a gingerbear!! Blessed 2017!

- Minttusuklaa