Lacy Fingerless Gloves pattern

Hello!!! Thanks for visiting!

A while ago now I made these (see blog post here).

I used a pattern that I had in my knitting pattern file (aka My Knitting Bible) for ages so I have no idea where it came from! It's handwritten so I can only assume that I copied it from somewhere at some stage. Quite a few people have asked me for the pattern so I'm going to post it now but PLEASE note that this is NOT my own pattern and that it must belong to somebody, somewhere! I apologise for not being able to give credit where credit is so obviously due but if anyone recognises this pattern and has a link to it, please please please let me know and I will most definitely publish it.

Having hopefully covered myself against any allegations of pattern theft (I wipe my brow dramatically here),  here's the pattern.....

Lacy Fingerless Gloves

Directions are for size Small/Medium; changes for size Large/XLarge, are in parentheses.

Knitting Needles: 4.5mm [US 7]. 
Place markers (2), small stitch holder, yarn needle.

GAUGE 19 sts = 4"; 26 Rows = 4" in St st. CHECK YOUR GAUGE. Use any size needle to obtain the gauge.

Abbreviations: Inc = increase; k = knit; mm = millimeters; p = purl; psso = pass slipped stitch over and off needle; st(s) = stitch(es); St st = Stockinette st; tbl = work st as instructed through the back loop; tog = together; yo = yarn over; * or ** = repeat whatever follows the * or ** as indicated; [] = work directions in brackets the number of times specified.

Special Abbreviations
M1 (make one stitch) = Lift running thread before next stitch onto left needle and knit into the back loop.

K1, p1 Rib (worked over an odd number of sts)
Row 1 (Right Side): K1, * p1, k1; repeat from * across row.
Row 2: P1, * k1, p1; repeat from * across row.
Repeat Rows 1 and 2 for K1, p1 rib.

RIGHT ARM
Cast on 41 (45) sts.
Cuff
Begin with Row 1, work in K1, p1 rib until piece measures 1½", end by working a wrong side row.

Begin Pattern
Row 1: P3 (4), k13, p7 (8), k1, p17 (19).
Row 2: K17 (19), p1, k7 (8), p13, k3 (4).
Row 3: P3 (4), k4tog, [yo, k1] 5 times, yo, k4tog-tbl, p7 (8), k1, p17 (19).
Row 4: Repeat Row 2.
Repeat Rows 1 - 4 until piece measures 8½" from beginning or length required, then work Rows 1 and 2 once more.

Shape Thumb
Row 3: P3 (4), k4tog, [yo, k1] 5 times, yo, k4tog-tbl, p7 (8), place marker, M1, k1, M1, place marker, p17 (19)– 43 (47) sts.
Row 4: K17 (19), p3, k7 (8), p13, k3 (4).

Keeping continuity of pattern, continue to inc 1 st after first marker and before second marker every right side row 5 (6) times more, working extra sts into pattern–53 (59) sts; 13 (15) sts between markers.

Next Row (Wrong Side): Work across row to within 1 st of first marker, slip st to right needle, remove marker and place next 13 (15) sts on holder for thumb, remove second marker, k1, psso, work to end of row–39 (43) sts.
Keeping in pattern, work even for 1½", end by working a wrong side row.

Top Opening
Work 2 rows in K1, p1 rib . Bind off in pattern.

Shape Thumb Opening
Slip 13 (15) sts from holder to needle.
Join yarn to wrong side, and work 2 rows in K1, p1 rib inc 1 st at beginning of each row–15 (17) sts.
Bind off loosely in pattern.

LEFT ARM
Cast on and work cuff same as for Right Arm.

Begin Pattern
Row 1: P17 (19), k1, p7 (8), k13, p3 (4).
Row 2: K3 (4), p13, k7 (8), p1, k17 (19).
Row 3: P17 (19), k1, p7 (8), k4tog, [yo, k1] 5 times, yo, k4tog-tbl, p3 (4).
Row 4: Repeat Row 2.
Repeat Rows 1 - 4 until piece measures 8½" from beginning or length required, then work Rows 1 and 2 once more.

Shape Thumb
Row 3: P17 (19), place marker, M1, k1, M1, place marker, p7 (8), k4tog, [yo, k1] 5 times, yo, k4tog-tbl, p3 (4)–43 (47) sts.
Row 4: K3 (4), p13, k7 (8), p3, k17 (19).

Keeping continuity of pattern, continue to inc 1 st after first marker and before second marker every right side row 5 (6) times more–53 (59) sts; 13 (15) sts between markers.

Complete same as for Right Arm.

FINISHING
Sew thumb and side seams. Weave in yarn ends.

I really hope you enjoy making these. They're quite easy if you have moderate to advanced knitting skills and I've worn my ALOT so they're well worth the effort!!! 

Til soon.

xxx

Jacqui's Bag

A friend of mine has spent the last couple of months drooling over my Lucy Bag so what better present to make her for her birthday ....

Is it not gorgeous??? Believe me, it was VERY hard to give this one away but when she opened it and let out a shriek of delight it was all worth it!

You may notice that I changed the pattern slightly and did two rows of single crochet in each colour instead of the original Lucy pattern of one row of trebles. I crochet fairly loosely and having already made two of these bags, I had found that the treble pattern made the bag too 'holy' if you know what I mean. I did the increases the same as the original but just changed the stitch and this one came up much firmer and solid. I think I'll do all future ones like this as well.

I used bulk standard cheap acrylic in jewel bright colours and then went for a seriously dotty lining!

Stripes and dots ....YUM!!!!

The flowers were also from Lucy but this time her Triple Layer Flower which are stunning!!! They're even better than her original Lucy Bag flower pattern so again, I'll be making these from now on for all future Lucy Bags!!!

Don't you love that dotty fabric? It truly makes my heart sing!!!!!!!!

Til soon.

xxx

Two more bags!!!

Hello !!!

After making three Starling Bags as Christmas pressies for my work colleagues and posting about them here, I was asked by a friend if I would take on a commission to make two for her. I have done so and here they are....

I used cotton yarn this time and they came up just as beautifully as the baby soft double knitting yarn I used before. Here are the linings.....

A lovely pinstripe for the indigo bag -

and a cute floral for the burgundy bag -

I really hope my friend likes them! 

Til soon.
xxx

Wreaths, rainbows and a little bit of sewing.....

Hello!!! Thanks for stopping by. Before I tell you what I've been up over the last few weeks I have to show you this -

Is it not fab? A Christmas wreath made of recycled pages from newspapers or magazines! I love it!!! I haven't made one yet but I want to, I really want to. I love recycled stuff. We chuck away so much stuff that with a bit of thought, time and energy can be transformed into something useful or at least usable (if not always beautiful!). Anyway, this (to me) IS beautiful and the true beauty of it is that you can send it for recycling after Christmas this year and then make another one for next year!!! Genius!

Anyway. A week or so ago I received a parcel in the mail (yes, the real mail with real stamps and stuff.....)

Said parcel was from Maryanne and Vicky at Woolhogs. I had won a prize!!!! Yes, can you believe it, me, moi and I had actually won something!!!!!!!! Yay! In all my 40 something years I have never (repeat N-E-V-E-R) won anything, so this was the hugest of huge things for me (can you tell?)! I had entered a little competition on Maryanne's blog and then the parcel came..... How's the cute button?

Want to see what was inside? Do you? Well, here it is ...............

A rainbow of seven skeins of the scrummiest cotton yarn you could ever imagine!!! It's a local product made by Elle and is their Premier Natural Cotton range. I cannot begin to tell you how beautifully this yarn works because yes indeed I've already started a project and it's fab-u-licious!!!! Can't wait to show you but not yet.....no sir, not yet............. 

On a completely different subject, I have been trying my hand at a little dressmaking. After seeing the uber talented Elizabeth over at Mrs Thomasina Tittlemouse make her stunning Edelweiss Skirt, I felt I had to give something a go! My Mom (also very talented with a sewing thread) had a pattern for a super easy dress which she helped me cut out one day last week. Then, last Saturday, I took the bull by the horns and after a little of this

a little of this

and a whole lot of this

I made this.

What do you think? I know it's no haute couture but it's all mine! It's the most stunning apple green colour and there are these little embroidered punch outs in the fabric. Here's a close up.

Aren't they pretty? I think so. I have to tell you that my sewing machine and I have never had what you might call a real relationship. It's always been more of a battle of wills with the sewing machine usually winning! This time, however, I kept repeating the mantra "I am not afraid" the entire time I was sewing and it seemed to work!!!! The machine behaved itself and within 4 hours I had a dress!!! Yay! 

For those of you that are interested the pattern is Simplicity 5628.

 I'm sure there is a technical name for this kind of dress but I call it a 'straight up and down dress'. It's great for summer, especially here in South Africa, where it can get blindingly hot in December/January so I know this little gem is going to get alot of use. Cute bag too.

That's me for now. What have you been up to?

Til soon.

♥

A Crochet Coat!

Oh my. Have you seen what Kristen has made over at Cozy Things. It's this.....

Is it not the most stunning garment you have EVER seen? I'm very jealous. Extremely jealous in fact. And to top it all Kristen made it up from a picture - yes you got it, SHE HAD NO PATTERN!!!!!

Go on over to Cozy Things and have a look and you'll see what I mean. The woman has too much talent! I'm so jealous. Extremely jealous in fact.......

xxx

Christmas pressies.....

I work with three fabulous ladies and this year I decided to make them each a bag for Christmas.

What do you think? I was so pleased with them and they're really easy to make. You can find the pattern here so please have a go because they are truly gorgeous!!! I used a baby double knitting yarn because I wanted them to be really soft and floppy and they were just perfect!

The flowers were Lucy's (of course) and you can find the pattern here and then the buttons I chose had tiny little white dots on them which reminded me of pollen inside a flower!

Then came the linings. Pink for the pink bag.....

Grey for the grey bag......

And a cute floral for the green bag......

They're not huge bags so not great for that massive supermarket shop but for a local garden party, tea with the in-laws or a Summer fete they're just perfect! Or if like me you're a complete craft monkey, then you can always use them as knitting/crochet bags for small projects.......!

I hope you like them.

I do.

Til soon.

xxx