Knitted Pumpkin

Knitted Pumpkin

Abbreviations:
k = knit
p = purl
kfb = Knit into the front and back of the stitch (this is an increase)
k2tog = Knit two stitches together as one stitch
sts = stitches
st = stitch

Materials:
Double knit/ worsted weight yarn used in orange & green
Knitting needles appropriate to yarn used (I used 4mm)
Polyester toy stuffing, Polyfil or scraps of yarn
Scraps of black felt

Pattern:
Using orange yarn cast on 6 sts
Row 1: [kfb] X 6 (12sts)
Row 2: p12
Row 3: [kfb, k1] X 6 (18sts)
Row 4: p18
Row 5: [kfb, k1, k1] X 6 (24sts)
Row 6: p24
Row 7: k24
Row 8: p24
Row 9: k24
Row 10: p24
Row 11: [k2tog, k1, k1] X6
Row 12: p18
Row 13: [k2tog, k1] X6
Row 14: p12
Row 15: [k2tog] X6
Change to green yarn (leave a length of orange yarn to use for sewing up)
Row 16: p6
Row 17: k6
Row 18: p6
Row 19: k6
Row 20: p6
Row 21: k6
Cast off leaving a length of yarn to sew up stalk

Sew up stalk using green yarn

Sew up pumpkin body using orange yarn leaving a small hole, stuff pumpkin body until fat and sew up hole

Cut 2 small triangles and 1 large triangle out of black felt (or embroider eyes & mouth) sew onto pumpkin

The Knitting and Stitch Show 2009

Last weekend I went to my annual visit to the Knitting and Stitch Show at Alexandra Palace.
I arrived late, both bus & tube problems. I was surprised at the entrance there were 100's of ladybirds flying around (I have been making crocheted ladybirds for a few weeks), of course I decided not to bring my camera with me so these photos are with the camera on my phone. The ladybirds were all different types, red with black spots, yellow with black spots and black with red spots. People were running in to escape them. The first photo is of the entrance wall the tiny spots are the ladybirds.

After buying my ticket (£12.00 this year the price is getting a bit pricey I think) I looked at this display of a knit covered boat including knitted sails.
I did not buy to much, this time I had bought yarn at the Iknit event only a few weeks ago. Texere had nice gimp yarn I have been looking for to make some evening bags, plus very nice linen.

I often see this brand Eucalan in American crochet & knitting magazines, the lady at the stand was very friendly and explained the product was eco-friendly, non-toxic, had natural lavender/ grapefruit/ eucatypus depending of type chosen. Could be used for handwashing or machine and did not need to be rinsed from the garment. I bought some and will try it and see, it does smell good.

I got some nice wire, beads & findings, the bead/ jewellery type stands were very popular and hard to get in to, to see or buy from. I liked the crazy wire company, totally beads and with love crafts

Casting on with Bobble Yarn

So many people have emailed me about how to cast on with bobble yarn (and Joanna posted could I explain with pictures) so here's the way I cast on with it.
This is for right handed cast on I will put this and a left handed example on NezumiWorld which is in the process of been updated very soon.

1. For the bobble yarn I used a knit cast on, normally to begin I use a slip knot but with the bobble yarn this looked untidy (and was a bit fiddly) so I made a simple knot.
Insert the right hand needle through the stitch (knot) on the left hand needle as you would to make a normal knit stitch.


2.Yarn over the right hand needle making sure you use the yarn between the bobbles.


3. Pull loop through the stitch, the bobble should not be pull through the stitch.


4. The stitch (knit stitch) you just made on the right hand needle is now transferred back onto the left hand needle.


5. Repeat making a knit stitch than transferring them back to the left hand needle until the required number of stitches are achieved