The falling leaves

we may have been momentarily thrust back into high summer over here but the leaves are still falling thick and fast like snowflakes -  be inspired perhaps and go forth toward your stash and knit these this weekend - your thinking perhaps an individual one as a brooch or adornment, however you'll get un-stop-ably addicted 'cos they are quick and fun and made all in one... and after your frenzy you'll end up with a positively autumnal splendid garland of many oak leaves to be proud of... i'm off to make more and finish my squirreling t cozy which i'll show you next week! have a great, fun weekend!
oak leaves pattern

Using 31⁄2mm (US size 4) needles and any spare 4-ply, sock or sport yarn cast on 6 sts onto one needle, using simple sock toe cast on cont as follows:
1. Hold needle with cast on stitches in left hand. 
2. Hold 2 empty dpns parallel in right hand.  
3. Slip 1st cast on st p-wise onto the dpn closest to you and off the needle in the right hand, then slip the next cast on st onto the dpn furthest away and off the RH needle. 
Repeat step 3 until all 6 stitches are divided onto the 2 parallel dpns, 3 sts on the front dpn and 3 sts on the back. Slide sts to the other ends of the dpns, working yarn at back.
RS facing, cont working in the rnd, beginning by knitting the sts on the back dpn - working stitches over two dpns, using a 3rd dpn to knit with, as follows:
Rnd 1 K6.
Rnd 2 (inc) Kfb, k1, kfb, kfb, k1, kfb. 10sts (therefore 5sts on each dpn)
Rnd 3 K10.
Rnd 4 (inc) Kfb, k3, kfb, kfb, k3, kfb. 14sts
Rnd 5 (inc) Kfb, k5, kfb, kfb, k5, kfb. 18sts
Rnd 6 K18.
Rnd 7 (dec) Skpo, k5, k2 tog, skpo, k5, k2 tog. 14sts
Rnd 8 (dec) Skpo, k3, k2 tog, skpo k3, k2 tog. 10sts
Rnd 9 K10.

Continue to increase as before, on each rnd, (increasing 2sts onto each dpn - one at beg and one at the end of each needle - 4sts in total) until there are 26sts (13 sts on each dpn).
Rnd 14 K26.
Continue to decrease as before, on each rnd (decreasing 2sts from each dpn - one at beg and one at the end of each needle - 4sts in total) until there are 10sts (5 sts on each dpn).
Rnd 19 K10.
Continue to increase as before until there are 18sts (9 sts on each dpn).
Rnd 22 K18.
Continue to decrease as before until there are 6sts (3 sts on each dpn).
Rnd 26 K6.
Rep last rnd once.
Rnd 28 (dec) K2 tog, k1, k2 tog, k1 4sts
Rnd 29 K4.
Rep last rnd once.
Leaving a longish tail end, cut yarn, thread up a yarn sewing needle.
Graft 2 sts on front dpn with 2 sts from back dpn working kitchener st:
1. Insert the threaded needle purl-wise into the first stitch on the dpn closest to you, pull the yarn through, leave the st on the needle.
2. Insert the threaded needle into the first stitch on the back dpn, as if to knit, pull yarn through, leave that stitch on the dpn.
3. Insert the threaded needle into the same front stitch, this time knit-wise, then slip that stitch off the dpn then bring threaded needle through the next front stitch as if to purl it – leave this stitch on the dpn.
4. Pass the threaded needle through the same stitch on back dpn – this time purl-wise, slip that stitch off the dpn*, then bring threaded needle through the next back stitch as if to knit it – leave this stitch on the needle.
Repeat steps 3 and 4 once more to *. Weave in the end.
Thread leaves onto a length of yarn if you would like to make the garland.


a newbee

coming soon, i've been busy getting a new doll pattern together which i'll post up before christmas, hope you like her - she's a little bit larger than the babies and i want her to have knitted, sewn and crocheted clothes which will be fun to designt... more later... hope you like her!?

Mollie Makes to the rescue...

again and again - such a great mag especially for birthday present ideas - this time, one for a 10 year old and one for a 40 year old (40 buttons in the purse)


New in blue and berry red

two new baby outfits
one boyish blue hooded coat 
with grey mittens and kitty cat hat
and....
for her, a very smart indeed berry red coat 
with stripy beret and matching mitts
buy from ravelry or etsy


Signs of Autumn #3

this is a sorry little tale... last friday we rescued two baby pigeons (we think they must have fallen from the nest, also the mother was nowhere in site), we took them home to look after them and all was well, although one was considerably smaller than the other, until yesterday when the smaller one died we think he/she couldn't digest the food properly - perhaps an internal injury after falling from the nest? we buried the dear little creature and i must admit the whole household was rather sad that sunday, it's quite curious how you get so attached to something like this - & a reminder how fragile life is... however the other chap is very much alive, growing well, starting to stretch his/her wings and preen and peck and is also learning to hop onto low things so we hope that there will be a happy tale to tell there - i'll keep you informed... i'd love any advise if you have any?


Signs of Autumn #2

.. a new batch of lovely autumny colours cozy yarn for a new project

Signs of Autumn #1

beech nuts...

It's getting a bit chillier...

so get out your mitts, yes indeed - i've knitted some for the babies, i'll put the pattern onto Etsy and Ravelry soon...


cute for a Tuesday...

isn't it! it's made by nechepurenka, check out the blog. and the shop.

Windy and wonderful

man it's windy today! with a bounty of quince windfalls as a consequence- i'm thinking quince brandy this year as the quince jelly of last year, after all it's tediously disagreeable process off drip drip jelly bag and all that straining, turned out to be a little bit of a disappointment - by that i mean inedible and rather too stickily set, stuck fast in the jar actually! - it looked prettily glowing and gleaming on the window sill though, if i remember rightly, in fact i'll get it out from the back of the cupboard and place it back onto the window sill to make me feel virtuous again - (who'll know?)... a good weekend though, especially saturday's post - i received my order from faded plains, a vintage glass lamp base, so, so beautifully packaged, which i have to share with you, and two fat quarters from m is for make which i was equally overjoyed with, again packaged so specially i felt they were special presents just for me 'ah!'- thanks guys, made my day x !