WWKIP 2009

World Wide Knitting in Public Day 2009

This year as with with last couple of years I joined The Stitch and Bitch London Knit Crawl, but this year due to the London tubes closing down lots of services I only managed to make it to the 3rd part of the crawl.
The Jubilee Gardens in front of the London eye
It was a wonderfully sunny day with a nice cool breeze, perfect for sitting outside knitting and crocheting with lots of like minded people.

I managed to knit a few petals (to much chatting to people) before we moved on to Trafalgar Square

The breeze across the fountains brought a much need mist of water.
And I meet a Hedgehog postman (wearing a moustache for the day) that was visiting London on his travels.

been looked after by Betty also with a knitted moustache (money for the knitting and crochet patterns to make the moustaches went to Prostate UK Charity) plus it was fun seeing lots of women with their knitted and crochet moustaches.

I managed to just about finish a flower before heading home.
A good relaxing fun day :)

World Wide Knitting in Public Day

As next Saturday is World Wide Knitting in Public Day I have added a knitted pattern for a change

Knitted Blue Flowers
Yarn DK or worsted weight
I used:
Patons Linen DK in blue and yellow

Tension/ Gauge 30sts X 22 rows = 10cm(4inches) X 10cm
Size 4mm(UK)/ size 6 (USA) needles

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

Pattern:
Using blue yarn (or colour of choice)
Cast on 1 st
Row 1 (RS): kfb (2sts)
Row 2 (WS): p2
Row 3: kfb 2 times (4sts)
Row 4: p4
Row 5: kfb, k2, kfb (6sts)
Row 6: p6
Row 7: kfb, k1, kfb 2 times, k1, kfb (10sts)
Row 8: p10
Row 9: k10
Row 10: p10
Row 11: k10
Row 12: p10
Row 13: k10
Row 14: p10 Break yarn leaving a length to sew in neatly do not cast off, leave on needle ( do not knit on until row 15)

Make 4 more petals (don't break yarn off last)

With all 5 petals finished and on same needle (50sts)

Row 15: k50
Row 16 k50 Change to yellow yarn (or colour of choice)
Row 17: k50
Row 18: k2tog 25 times (25sts)
Row 19: k2tog 12 times, k1 (13sts)
Row 20: p13
Row 21: k2tog 6 times, k1 (7 sts)
Row 22: p7 cut yarn leaving a long length to use for gathering and sewing up Thread the yarn onto a needle and insert through remaining 7 stitches. Pull yarn firmly Repeat going back through all 7 stitches again (as photos below) this will make a nice firm centre. Sew up sides.and weave in all ends

WWKIPD or World Wide Knitting in Public Day

Today as WWKIPD or World Wide Knitting in Public Day I enjoyed the The London Knit Crawl organised by Stitch and Bitch London last year so joined them again this year with the London Crochet meet-up group.

We started at Westminster Abbey which had Morris dancers a traditional English folk dance troop. They dance with sticks and handkerchiefs, it is the first time I also saw Morris women dancing too. I watched for a while and joined in with knitting and crochet (yes I brought both) on the grass. It was also the queen's official birthday (she has a real one in April and an official one on another day this year June, I am not sure why) so the Abbey bells were ringing as we knit.

From Westminster Abbey we walked to beautiful St James Park, it has wonderful flowers and ponds. There was a fly over again for the queen's birthday as we arrived. The weather was great (no rain) and the knitters/ crocheters numbers increased greatly. So many interesting things been made, lots of people had knit there own cushions to sit on, yes this year I brought a cushion with me I learned from last year.

Next stop was Trafalgar Square and the whole of it was taken over by the Thai Festival wonderful food, dancer, painting yes and more knitting :) and the knitters numbers had increased


I left after this to catch up with my lovey aunt Myra who had come to see us and for the day :)

WWKIPD or World Wide Knitting in Public Day

WWKIPD or World Wide Knitting in Public Day

Yesterday was WWKIPD, so with my friend and her daughter we set off for The London Knit Crawl organised by Stitch and Bitch London We arrived late (eek got on the wrong bus) but we did get there in time to take some pics, sit on the steps and locate other knitters.

Stop No.1 St Paul’s Cathedral 12.00am - 1pm

We than went onto the Tate Modern via the Millennium bridge and the weather was starting to get hot.

Stop No.2 The Tate Modern 1.30pm - 2.30pm

( Sorry got arty for this pic)

We Knitted on the steps of the slope leading into the main turbine hall, which was nice and cool and break from the heat outside. Lauren from Stitch and Bitch gave us some goodies and welcomed us. It was a really nice atmosphere in the Tate, very calming perfect for knitting.

Stop No.3 Knitting on the grass (Jubilee Gardens) in front of the London Eye 3.30pm - 4.30pm

We walked alone the Thames. It was so busy, just like a mini carnival with lots of different types of music, street acts, stone statue mimes, even a small carousel.

We sat on the grassy area beside the London Eye. Lots of knitting, some ice cream eating to cool off (glad I don't bring my coat the sun was so hot) and than we were onto our next and final stop.

Stop No.4 Trafalgar Square 5pm - 6pm

The home of the giant stone lions. This was noisy as there was a protest meeting going on, plus not only was it World Wide Knitting in Public Day it was also World naked bike riders day :O

By this stop we also wished we had remembered to bring some cushions to sit on, the paved floor was starting to feel very hard.

We sat near one of the lions and did a spot of knitting and felt happy with ourselves. We had also heard from other knitters (they had been yarn shopping pre-starting the knit crawl) about a new shop off Carnaby street All the Fun of the Fair , so decided we needed one more knitting related stop.

All the Fun of the fair - Unit 2.8 Kingly Court off Carnaby Street, London W1B 5PW

A little shop of treasures, they specialise in hand knitted cakes and quirky hand knitted items (prefect gifts) they have a good selection of yarns and haberdashery plus crafts and even old knitting patterns.

I purchased a couple of knitting dolly's (for the collection) and yes I did buy more yarn and as it was WWKIPD the very helpful lady (friendly and knowledgeable I will be shopping there again)who owned the store gave us 10% off and even guided us to a tasty selection of bargain yarns :)

A perfect ending to a knitting day :)