Free Pattern: Cashmere Neck Warmer

I'm happy to add an old favorite to the Happy Living Patterns. Already published in a previous Blog post, I'm glad to announce the PDF download of the Cashmere Neck Warmer. This cowl is made from Debbie Bliss Pure Cashmere and it's soooo soft.


A very simple pattern with stunning results

Pure Cashmere is a luxury that for centuries was only for the very rich. Now it’s still pricy but available for anyone. This small project only requires 3 skeins of 25g. You can even make it with 2 skeins. It will be a bit shorter, but still functional and beautifull. This makes it a very affordable luxury indeed.


Super soft Cashmere...

The pattern is very easy. It consists of 3 knit rows and 1 row with purl 2 together and yarn overs. So it knits up very quick making it prefect for last minute (Christmas) gift knitting. And who wouldn’t want a cowl as soft as this. The only problem might be that you would want to keep it yourself. Happy Knitting!!



To download the Cashmere Neck Warmer simply right click the link and select 'save source as' OR click the link, let the page load and click the 'save' icon on the top left.

Free Pattern: Leafy (Winter Head Band)

Today I would like to announce the completion of my First downloadable knitting pattern: Leafy, a wintery head band (PDF). I designed this in September 2007 and made several in the last year for various friends and colleagues. My dear friend Louisa also tested the pattern. Now I finally had the time to make a proper PDF file for downloading and today it is finished. Just in time for everyone to make several as Christmas presents (just a suggestion).


Leafy keeps ears warm in winter

The pattern was born out of a desire for warm ears without the messy hair that hats give. I'm a big big fan of hats, but needed another addition to my collection. And so the idea for a winter head band was born. I had scored a ball of Debbie Bliss Alpaca Silk Aran for half price and decided to use this.



Make the band wide enough to cover your ears

As I'm fond of leaves I looked for a pattern that incorporated some sort of leaf design. The name was not difficult to imagine, knitting friends and I soon started calling it the Leafy. :-D hehe. This together with the colour of the yarn worked really well. I have also made Leafy in Bordeaux red and off white, both work really well, but my favorite is still a grey green.


The finished head band... super soft

To download Leafy simply right click the link and select 'save source as' or click the link, let the page load and click the 'save' icon on the top left.

Wintery Hat

Finally I got a picture to show you all. This nice and thick wintery hat I made for my boyfriend for Christmas. I knitted it in less then 4 hours, so it's a perfect quick knit. the 2x2 pattern makes it stretchy so it will fit most heads. Which if you are like me, and want to keep it a surpise, is a good thing. I think he would have guessed if I had suddenly tried to measure his head.

He really was not expecting it. He'd asked if I could knit him a hat and we went to look at yarn twice. But as his interest in yarn is minimal it turned out rather pointless. So I just picked up a colour I thought would match his coat and scarf and knitted it in secret. In the mean time he had purchased a Nike wooly hat, that now lies descarted in a corner somewhere wishing it was hand knit (hehehehe).


It took a while but I finaly got him to pose

Project details

One skein of Rowan RYC Cashsoft Chunky, colour: 702
5.0 mm needles (us 8)

I used the Tubular Cast on I learned to use when making the Gretel Beret from Ysolda. This means you cast on half the number of stitches needed, in this case 38.

After you finish the Tubular cast on you should have 76 stitches on your needles. Place marker, join and start knitting in the round in a 2x2 rib (k2, p2, k2, etc). Do this for 15 cm (6 inches).

Decreases
*k2tog, p2tog*, repeat till end (38 stitches on needles).
k1,p1 for 5 rounds
k2tog for one round (19 stitches)
k1 round
k1, k2tog till end. (10 stitches left)
cut yarn
tread end through last 10 stitches and pull tight.
work in ends

Give the hat to a guy you love and hope he enjoys this man's hat. Nice and chunky!


When not on a head it looks a bit odd

Chunky Fingerless Gloves

During the Christmas holiday's I was a little bored and so I took the most cheerful yarn I could find and started knitting. I always wanted to make fingerless gloves, but never completed a set (or even got halfway). So I decided to give it another go. The result is fabulous if I say so myself. These Voodoo For Me Fingerless Gloves are a dream. They give a hint of colour and happiness when I wear my black coat and are practical to. I always (and I do mean ALWAYS) listen to my iPod when I go to work. If you wear gloves you can't operate the bloody thing. The wheal is touch sensitive, so the fingerless gloves are a dream for that too!


Modelled by Louisa: the Voodoo Gloves

Details(link to Ravelry)
Project Name: Voodoo For Me
Pattern: Voodoo Wrist Warmers by Bonne Marie Burns Craft
Needles: 5.5 mm (US 9)
Yarn: Debbie Bliss SoHo
Amount: 1.2 skeins = 80 m (86.4 yards)


Voodoo For Me gloves...

I adjusted the pattern to include a thumb instead of just a hole.

Instructions:
work on circular needles CO: 32, work in k2, p2 for 13.5 cm (5.5 inch), put 8 sts on needle holder and knit back 1 row on the main section (so instead working in a circle this one row you work back the way you came). Join in the round again and follow the previous row. From now on you will work inside out. Work in pattern for 5.5 cm (2 inch) and cast off.

Put the 8 thumb stitches from stitch holder back on needles, pick up 4 stitches on the section above the thumb so you have twelve stitches on needles. Rejoin yarn and work in pattern (k2,p2) in the round for 2.5 cm (1 inch). Cast off 12 sts. Work in ends at voila: your wristwarmers with thumbs. Easy peasy.

I'll soon make another pair for Louisa, the poor Aussie freezing her b*tt off here in cold cold England...

Mr. Eend (Mr. Duck)

Time for showing off those Christmas presents that I made last year (so strange to say that!). Ofcourse some of my friends read my blog and therefor I didn't want to post about my projects before (as they could have guessed what was for whom). First in this series of posts is Mr. Eend (Mr. Duck in Dutch). Made for Mirte, a new little person, born on the 2nd of October 2007. She's a darling little girl and I started this project when she was still expected to make an appearance. I finished it off at the beginning of December, just before sending it off to the Netherlands.


Mr. Eend is one cuddly duck!

Project details (on Ravelry)
pattern: Daphne Duck by Martin Storey (from Rowan Classic Bambino book)
yarn: Rowan RYC Cashsoft DK Baby
colours: 1x imp 803 and 1x limone 802 (I used 2 skeins of limone, because I didn't pay attention to gauge and I didn't have enough left to sew up. So I had to buy a new skein only to sew up... typical!)
needles: 4mm (us 6)

Project notes:
I started this project a while ago when I was still a new knitter. It was quite a challange to follow the pattern. I misunderstood several instructions. Mostly on the second side piece. Which I ripped back again and again until I got it right. I think I did the feet wrong, but I made them all the same so it didn't matter in the end. They look fine!

It was quite tough. I would make it again, but my skills as a knitter have increased over the last months so I think I would find it easier now. Also the end result was fantastic. It was a lovely soft squishy toy that has that old-fashion cool vibe over it. The yarn is great as it can be washed at 30 degrees. Something that is of great importance when the object is for kids.



May he quack over her for years to come!

For luck

Santa has been very good to me this year. On my wishlist I had this necklace from my favorite jewelry store of the moment Pilgrim. Yes the one with Liv Tyler. My sweet sweet boyfriend was good enough to go out and get me this necklace (below) with pretty purple stones. It looks so nice! And what is more it's so meeeee. My nickname is Vier (which means four in Dutch) and vier is associated (by me) with a four leaf clover. Which in turn stands for luck. Soooo this is my new good luck necklace. It will remind me of taking oportunities and living life to the max. To luck!


My lucky necklace

See my older post on Pilgrim Jewelry...

Zakka Style: Crochet Grocery Bag

I had to wait until after Christmas to post this item, because my friend reads this blog every now and then. But now it's all unwrapped and reveiled so I can post away.


Quite pleased with the result.. hope Rig likes it!

I made the Zakka Style Crochet Grocery Bag from Frayed at the Edges again. This time I followed the pattern, but added four more increase rounds just before deceasing. I also added a round of tripples (see note below) in sc just before starting on the handles. The idea was to weave a ribbon through this so the bag would look cute. But when I tried it, it really did look cute, but wasn't something that would suit my friend. So I left it as a pretty border. The handles I made longer, 100 chain, and worked in the same manner as the finishing edge on the bag, with a row of tripples. Mmmm... maybe I shouldn't have said I followed the pattern, made a lot of changes. Although they are all additions, to the pattern so stricktly speaking I did follow it, just added to it too.
I'm really pleased with the result and wished I had finished my blue bag of in the same manner.


The blue bag in use, it can hold a lot!!

Tripple*
I've mentioned this stitch in my post, and it's not the proper term. As I was crocheting I tried several stitches and decided on this one. I've got no clue as to the offical name of it, so please let me know if you do. I'm sure it's an exsisting stitch. Anyway here is how it goes:

start:1 loop on hook
wrap yarn over hook (2 loops on hook)
through next stitch, wrap yarn over hook, pull yarn back through (3 loops on hook)
wrap yarn over hook and pull the loop through 1 (3 loops on hook)
wrap yarn over hook and pull the loop through 2 (2 loops on hook)
wrap yarn over hook and pull the loop through 2 (1 loop on hook)
Next stitch.


My friend Louisa made a smaller version

Louisa made a mini version I also wanted to show off. It's sooooo cute. Not much use for grocheries I guess, but great for carring cute small things. (<-you are right I have no examples just imagine something small and cute :P).

Christmas time

Sorry I've not been updating my blog this last week, but I've been really busy getting all the Christmas pressies off to The Netherlands in time. So besides buying and wrapping I had to find boxes and jiffy bags (envelopes). But they are all on their merry way and I hope will make it in time.


The tree is up and sparkling... all it lacks is presents

Also I've been decorating the Christmas Tree. We get a real one as it's a fantastic excuse to get a bit of nature in the living room. The lights are in and twinkling away. All I have to do now is find some wrapping paper and put our pressies under it. I has some baubles left over so I put them on a newly purchased tray with some candles. All very romantic... all that is lacking is snow outside!!!


Candles make everything cosy in winter

A Martha week

If she'd known about my endevours this week I'm sure I would have made Martha Stewart Proud. I've been crafting, decorating christmas threes and been a hostess to a birthday celebration. Also I went to a party in the street to meet all the new neighbours. This was absolutely great. They where all very nice to us newcommers and there is a great community feel in the street. Still if you, over the next comming weeks are invited to a party that you really do not want to go to, think of me and the Happy Living Blog. Because I spotted this great little tool for you online: The Holiday Party Excuse Generator from Enlighten. Don't tell me I don't think of you!!


The buffet area needed decoration

For the birthday party I used a Martha Stewart idea for a Festive Garland. As you can see it looks very much like the original. As you can see I decorated the corners with tissue pom poms! Please read my old blog post on Pom poms about this great decoration craft.


Cheer up an empty fire place

And then I thought that this corner of the house could use some Christmas decoration. So I Martha'd again and made these cute little Paper Stockings for the (sealed up) fire place. Don't you think they're nice?

My only dissapointment is the fact that I couldn't find the ingredients to my mothers most famous and beloved Tiramisu. It's in Dutch (my mom is Dutch my father is Italian, they live in The Netherlands) so I will translate and then will post it on my blog for you to try out.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow...

I'm wishing for snow! As I might have mentioned before I'm very partial to the stuff.
Perhaps not as much as Lorelai, but then who is. I've been watching rather a lot of Gilmore Girls of late. Louisa lend me the first season on dvd and it's great. I'm as big a fan of snow as I am of Lorelai. I'm not exactly sure what it is exactly, probably a combo of her goofiness, her positive attitude, the clothes and the love for snow. I remeber the episode I saw where she goes out for a walk in the snow wearing a blue scarf. Nothing I wanted more in the next weeks than a blue scarf (and snow ofcourse). This was before my knitting days and I did find a very nice blue scarf that I still wear ocassionally. And when I see it I think of... snow.


Lorelai and blue scarf...

Ofcourse there is the normal way to get inspired by snow which has nothing to do with a make up character in an American tv-series: beautiful photography. I've spotted a new site, Morris Photographics, that has some great great pictures. Some people really know how to work a camera (jelous! I'm really crap.. seriously). Anyway here is a sample of the gorgeous artwork on Morris. Be sure to drop by and see the rest.


pictures from Morris Photographics

Another Slouchy beret

You may have seen my blog post on Le Slouch, a slouchy beret designed by Wendy Bernard. That one is free and quite simple as it's a moss stitch. The one I'm making at the moment is a £2 ($4) pattern from Ysolda. It's called Gretel and it has absolutly fantastic cabeling in it. I'm making the slouchy version, but the pattern also allows you to make a cap or normal beret version.


a slouchy beret in the making..

I'm using 3 skeins of Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran in creamy white (colour 300001)which I got on discount at John Lewis for £1.95 each. So this beret will cost me £6. Not bad and it's sooo nice and wintery thick. Last week when it was so cold I wished it was already done....

I came across one problem in the pattern so far. There is a round where they say pbf, without it being in the key and as I'm still a novice and not having done that before I didn't realise it was an increase. Two rounds on it didn't make sense the way the pattern worked and I discovered it. Then I went online and realised what pfb was. Purl in front (don't let the original stitch slip off, but hold it on the left needle) and then purl in back. You let the original stitch slip off and you have two stitches on your right needle. An nice increase. Anyway now I know and you might think it stupid I didn't look it up before, but I was on the train and wanted to knit. Now I know as I've learned from it :D hehe.

Am currently making the crown and hope to wear it sometimes next week and will post a nice finished pic then. Then I might do it all over again as it's a great project for a Christmas gift. My friend Marjolein wouldn't mind a beret, but I don't think a slouchy one would look on here, so I might try the normal version then.

The smell of snow!

What would make my Christmas? Or anyone’s Christmas I hope? That one thing we hardly ever get: Snow! A white Christmas is fantastic!! I love snow and everything about it. The way it looks.. the sound when you walk over it, the feel of it, etc, etc. And also the smell. Although come to think of it I can’t remember what that smell is. So I’m quite intrigued by this little find: A Snow Perfume.


Snow in April, Photo from Vanguardist.org

The description on the shops website says: The Library of Fragrance were able to capture the essence of Snow in a scent; chilling, cool, clean and fresh, with a touch of dust (necessary to form flakes) and earth (upon which to rest). Wow that is quite a feat! It’s from a line of perfumes with all sorts of odd scents. From Hot Fudge Sundae, Baby Powder, Clean Windows, Dirt and Earl Grey Tea to Gin & Tonic, Grass, Holy Water, Glue and Play-Doh, they’ve got it. I wouldn't mind trying Rain, Thunderstorm or Wet Garden. Althought the idea of perfume de Lettuce makes me wriggle my nose. Who would like to smell like that?? Dirt I understand if you got a 8 year old. They would love that smell. :D But I can't think of any situation when Lettuce appeals.

And all these weird smells are not that expensive either for 12 Pounds ($24) for 30 ml or 6 Pounds ($12) for 15 ml the smell of Snow can be yours to sniff at whenever you feel like it. I'm tempted to get some just to try. If I do I'll let you know what it's like to sniff snow.


Snow in a bottle... tempting

At the product description they mentioned the different words for snow the Inuit have. Here is the list mentioned:

• Anniu - Falling Snow
• Api - Ground Snow
• Siqoq - Smoky, Drifting Snow
• Upsik - Wind-Beaten Snow
• Kimoaqtruk - Snow Drift
• Salumaroaq - Smooth Snowy Surface of Fine Particles
• Natatgonaq - Rough Snowy Surface of Large Particles

See how inspired you can get from snow. Lets all hope we'll get a nice fair pack around Christmas :D

Mirte's Tree

As you might know from the Big Knit banner on the right, I'm a big fan of Innocent Smoothies. Today I bought a pack and it was a special Buy One Get One Tree action pack. Yes! You read that right. It's a Tree you get not one Free.

For all of you who don't know. Here in the UK there are a lot of supermarket promo's bordering on gluttony. They are Buy One Get One Free. Usually this is not fresh veggies or any healthy food, but burgers, processed meats and chocolat bars. I wouldn't mind if it was Leeks, real good quality chocolat or fair trade tea/coffee. But that it seems is impossible in this world of Greed. Anyway back to the tree!


Mirte's virtual Tree stands tall and proud until the real one gets planted!

So Innocent don't give away more smoothies, nooooo! They give away to a project to people less fortunte then us. So I drink my fruit and people in India get a tree... which make the smoothie a very happy drink.

However I gave mine away. The smoothie?? you ask! No, the tree. In honer of Mirte, Rigtje's new girl, this tree will be planted. They may not know it but in her name the people in rural India will be paid ten years to take care of the tree. So for the first Ten years of her life a few people will have a better life because Mirte exsists. Well, I hope that anyway because if I'm honest I think it's a beautiful idea. So all I can say is drink Innocent and get that Free Tree! Or find another way to celebrate your friends and family with gifts like that.

Afterthought:
This giving to charity or good project out of people's names I think is fantastic. Maybe also something we might consider this Christmas. We here in the West have a lot and ofcourse that is something to enjoy and not feel bad about. However Christmas, especially here in the UK (compared to NL) is quite a greedy business, so a bit of reality isn't a bad thing. Please consider this if you choose your gifts this year. Even if you suport one good project in the name of your family, it's probably the best gift.