coming soon for 2013...

POMPODOMS! - dolls to buy ready made but clothe/ dress yourself... oh.. and a new spruced up site...

... and that's all from me for this year folks - many, many thanks for all your support in 2012

                                   'have fun and happy times - shout hoorah!' & shake those pompoms!

... and you've still time to knit this...

free pattern here and on my ravelry page - here
- we used ours as an advent calendar -each bell representing the date...

peg up your stocking...

my daughter makes these a lot and I love her latest lords and ladies...

a Christmas bunny maybe?

believe it or not this is the same pattern as the donkey one yesterday - see below - but with these changes: - I used an aran yarn - pure wool one because I felted him - with 4.5mm (US 7) needles and when i sewed the arms and legs on I stitched them nearer the back than on the sides of the body (there are about 7 sts on the bunny back between the fore legs for example) and of course a pompom tail to replace the knitted one...

how about a little donkey...

free pattern here

maybe one or two of these...

... for a doll's house pottage - free pattern here...

or this one... for your Appley doll

free (for a limited time only) Appley Dapply sweater pattern below - the doll pattern is available to buy from Ravelry or Etsy

Make as one piece...
Beg at neck, using 2, 3mm (US size 2) needles and 4 ply yarn cast on 72 sts.
Divide sts over 3 dpns – 24 sts onto each needle.
Without twisting the yarn join for working in the rnd. Without turning work, cont as follows:
1st rnd (RS) [K1, p1] 36 times. Place marker to mark beg of rnd.
Next rnd Rep last rnd until ribbed collar measures 4.5 cm/ 1.75 in. from cast on edge.

Next rnd K72.

Rep last rnd until piece measures 6 cm/ 2.5 in. from cast on edge.
Divide for sleeves
Next rnd K16, place marker, knit into front and back of st to increase one stitch called - kfb, k2, m1, place marker (right arm), k34, place marker, m1, k2, kfb, place marker, (left arm), K16. 76sts

Next rnd K76.

Next rnd (inc) K16, slip marker, m1, k5, m1, slip marker (right arm), k34, slip marker, m1, k5, kfb, slip marker, (left arm), K16. 80sts

Next rnd K80.

Next rnd (inc) K16, slip marker, m1, k7, m1, slip marker (right arm), k34, slip marker, m1, k7, kfb, slip marker, (left arm), K16. 84sts

Next rnd K84.

Next rnd (inc) K16, slip marker, m1, k9, m1, slip marker (right arm), k34, slip marker, m1, k9, kfb, slip marker, (left arm), K16. 88sts

Next rnd K88.

Next rnd (dec) K16, k across 11 sts from Right Arm then slide them off needle and onto a length of spare yarn, k next 34sts, k across 11 sts from Left Arm then slide them off needle and onto a length of spare yarn, k16. 66sts
Next rnd (inc) K16, use Backloop Cast On (Bl) to cast on 4 sts under r. arm, k34, Bl cast on 4 sts under l. arm, k16. 74sts
Tighten your tension as you knit beneath the arms on the next couple of rnds to avoid gaps.
Next rnd (inc) K18, m1, k30, m1, k18. 76sts

Work lace patt. onto Front
Patt. Rnd 1 K21, K7, [P1, k6] four times, k20.

Patt. Rnd 2 K76.

Patt. Rnd 3 K21, k1, yo, k2, psso, k2, [p1, yo, k2, psso, k2] four times, k20.

Patt. Rnd 4 K76.

Patt. Rnd 5 K21, k2, yo, k2, psso, k1, [p1, k1, yo, k2, psso, k1] four times, k20.

Patt. Rnd 6 K76.

Patt. Rnd 7 K21, k3, yo, k2, psso, [p1, k2, yo, k2, psso] four times, k20.

Patt. Rnd 8 K76.

Patt. Rnd 9 K21, k7, [P1, k6] four times, k20.

Patt. Rnd 10 K76.

Patt. Rnd 11 K21, k3, k2 tog, k2, yo, [p1, k2, k2 tog, k2, yo] four times, k20.

Patt. Rnd 12 K76.

Patt. Rnd 13 K21, k2, k2 tog, k2, yo, k1, [p1, k1, k2 tog, k2, yo, k1] four times, k20.

Patt. Rnd 14 K76.

Patt. Rnd 15 K21, k1, k2 tog, k2, yo, k2, [p1, k2 tog, k2, yo, k2] four times, k20.
Rep rnds 1 – 10 once more.
Waist
Next rnd [K1, p1] 38 times.
Rep last rib rnd five times. Cast off in rib.
Sleeves
*Slide 11 sts held on spare thread for sleeve onto 2 mm (US size 0) dpns. Rejoin yarn, [k2, m1] 5 times, k1, pup&k 7 sts
across gap at Underarm. Join in rnd. 22sts

Next rnd K22.

Rep last rnd until sleeve measures 3 cm/ 1.25 in
Next rnd [K1, p1] 11 times.
Rep last rnd 3 times. Cast off **.
Repeat from * to ** for other sleeve. Weave in all ends.

stuck for stocking filler ideas?...

.... don't forget these... a free pattern over here...

goodbye Loli...

off to the States... lucky lady!

Happy Advent!

... with bells on!

dot's pebbles

... meet my new dolls - my jolly little 'pebbles'.
The girly with the dark hair is called Pipi and the blond little lady is called Loli and I've made them using clay (which is not brittle - they will only break when dropped from quite a height onto a stone floor - I've experimented on an arm!) and knitted then felted softest yarn.
They stand about 20cm/ 8 inches tall and have removable clothes - you could make your own for them too if you like. Their arms are jointed - half yarn and half clay as is their legs and the head and neck are also made of clay.
... Ooh I've loved making them so much and will make more before Christmas - these are my first two and I'm offering them to you  - (if you wondered their clothes are included with the dolls) - at a special seasonally Christmassy price of £50.00 each which includes free postage to anywhere... If you'd like one then please email me today or wait until tomorrow where they will be listed onto Etsy.
Let me know what you think of them too -
I love, love hearing from you!
P.S there are more close up pictures here...

my dears a deer for you...

to say thanks here is a free pattern - a fun trophy for your Christmas (or any other time for that matter) wall...

... print it from here or download for free from here... - or email me and I'll send you a pdf for free...

love November...

time to light the fire and snuggle up with some hearty soup and a board game...

pocket pumpkin...

something cute'n'spooky to make for your hallowe'en display... - the free knitting pattern is on my patterns blog - http://claire-garland.blogspot.co.uk

Little owl in a tree...

inspired by the autumn and the hooty owl that i can hear from my bedroom window, here is my 'homage to...' cosy... you can the get the pattern from here or direct from me for just £1.50 ... spread a little autumn warmth and share a cuppa!

Boo...

have a fun weekend  : )

ready made dolls for sale...

I launched these Winter Babes last year for Christmas and here are some more... on sale here (Etsy)  or via me @ claire.garland@btopenworld.com

Twit twoo for you...

twoo & twitt's owlish mitts ♥ 

pattern available in threes sizes:
Size 1 - younger child aged from 2 to 5 - to fit hand size: 8cm/ 3in wide x 17cm/ 6.75in long

Size 2 - child aged from 6 to 9 - to fit hand size: 9cm/ 3.5in wide x 19cm/ 7.5in long

Size 3 - older child aged from 10 to teens (would fit a small adult’s hand too) - to fit hand size: 10.5cm/ 4in wide x 21cm/ 8.25in long 
...and ready to buy from Etsy and Ravelry - or direct from me - just email me @: claire.garland@btopenworld.com for more information about that...Each mitten is knitted in the round, so hooray, there are no seams at all to sew, with a thumb and a little finger (hey?) which surprisingly makes for a really comfortable gloves! 
                                           
                                                                        ¨¨¨°º©©º°¨¨¨

new... for you

coming soon... dot pebbles' wearables for you, first up halloween influenced 'owlish mitts'

love October...

texture// colour// fruitfulness// fading light
images from instagram

Pixie bumper pattern for sale...

here - ravelry... & here - etsy... something to do in the dark months to follow - or, dare I say it? Get ahead for Christmas yay! (sorry!)...

New for Pixie...

a bumper pattern for pixie coming soon...

September hues...

i love these colours together...

inspired by the colours of the new season

a bracelet made for a friend simply by sewing easy to make disks onto a french chain (see the post a couple of weeks ago) or an i cord - each disk made by making 6 chain, slip stitch in first chain to form a ring, then working 18 single crochet (UK - dc) into the ring, working over the tail end and finishing with a slip stitch into the top of the first stitch. Pull the tail end to tighten the hole in the middle a little and secure it by threading it through some of the single crochet stitches, the other end is sewn onto the cord - use one of the disks to make a catch which will slip into a loop which you have tied at one end of the cord.

B-rilliance...

B for Bolt... B for Blake... amazing!
(knitted alphabet letters coming soon...)

go for gold...

...or any colour you like - we've had such fun so far this holiday not only watching the fantastic games coverage but also making these wrist bands - a free pattern from fabulous crafty mag 'craft sanity' available from here - truly easy enough for children to make (and there is also one of my doll patterns in there for free too and a how to make ice lollies from a pack of jelly)... so keep your cool & go for it!

looking book

my new patterns are now available from etsy & ravelry  - just click the linked words  -  I'm selling them as individual patterns - horse or bear or elephant or as all three together (you'll see what I mean when you pop to the shops) but do have a look first and see if you like them - there are some free patterns in this 'look book' too!

& a cornish sardine too

'though not a real one... can you imagine that?! whoofwhatawhiff

P.S...

...and i've made a crocheted covered pebble paper weight (try saying that fast, or after a glass or two of vino... or both?!!) for another teacher who is leaving to teach in spain - thought she may want to take a little bit of cornwall with her! - p.p.s i don't have a pattern for this but there are loads on the web...

hey teacher!

would you mind leaving the room whilst i show the others how to make you a stress ball for a leaving gift!
gone? ok -

1. knit a ball by following the simple and quick (& free) pattern found here.
2. get your kid to draw a picture of a person's face wrecked with angst (can be a picture of someone you know - i don't think James' resembles me though? I hope! Mmm!?) onto a piece of scrap fabric or felt (the ball i made, which uses aran yarn and 5mm/ US8 needles, measured 2.5inches diameter)
3. cut around the face (use pinking shears if you're using fabric - felt is fine as it doesn't fray)
4. sew the face to the ball taking care not to pierce the bag inside which contains whatever you like  to stuff it - i remember reading somewhere that cornflower was good for juggling balls so that's what i used.
... and that's it - one squishy superbly suitable stress ball (our teacher at the moment will have James again next year so he will use this for sure!)

knitted log cabin...

i'm in the process of making a puffed-up-like-a-pillow log cabin quilt for my new 'bear friends' patterns (last project - yay!) - however do i add the odd fabric log or not? (going to make one for myself too with large chunky yarn and big needles. hey - we can make one together when i post up the pattern (next week i hope before the kids break up for summer) watch this space...

❤ art...

looking through some old digital pics and found these artworks that my children have done... harry, may and james' gallery...

details, details...

small things are so not unassuming and insignificant they all add up to make the whole simply wonderful...

living in a suitcase...

i was searching for an item i had knitted for my knitted bears book to answer a reader's query the other day unzipped one of the suitcases in which i keep all my knitty bits and saw some old friends - friends who sadly never make it as they are my trials, see the way i work,  i knit things then adjust and adjust the design which means having quite a lot of abandoned... er - how can i put this without hurting their feelings ...'cast-offs' - quite a good pun considering we are talking about knitting here - sorry, i di-gress... however, dry your eyes - they have a moment of fame right here, right now... let's hear it for...

it's the little things that mean so much...

it's my birthday today and this has made my day - found in my cereal bowl this morning after she had gone to school...

taking time to smell the roses...

i've bought some in the house because there is no way of enjoying them outside at the moment - so wet, damp and gloomy - still they smell gorgeous and add that ray of sunshine that is so missed here in UK at the moment! Alfie is enjoying them too... question if the day - do elephants use their trunk to smell with too?

cakes, cakes, cakes...

why?... well it was my daughter's birthday last week and mine next week - we both love cakes... so - here are some pinteresting ones... have a very sweet and delicious day!

another peak...

still working on my new projects for you...

a little one - and pattern for free

simple to knit but you'll love her, she's a darling - I'd like to make more and place mine in pictures as kind of soft sculpture wall art pieces... we'll see, in the meantime here's the free pattern on how to make yours...http://claire-garland.blogspot.co.uk/

extremes...

sorry i haven't been here in blogland totally for a couple of weeks - the odd pin now and then perhaps - but i have been making a structure for my son's school for a street parade that occurs once a year here in  Cornwall - a massive 8 foot olympic torch no less and to the other extreme i'd like to share with you my tiniest doll yet (7 inches tall) - i just need to do her arms so (free) pattern up tomorrow...