Knitting Pattern: Ipod Case

Here's a super easy, super quick little pattern I made up to create a knitted bag for my friend to store her iPod in.  It can also be used for most cameras, iPhones, mobiles or to give a small present in to make it a little bit special. 

Materials & Tension:

Any DK yarn - I used an acrylic that was varigated for a really fun looking bag that can also be chucked in the wash easly enough.  I knitted mine using 3.75mm needles; although the tension is not so important because the rib pattern allows for stretch.

Pattern:

CO 25 sts

Row 1: (RS) K3, P2, repeat to end

Row 2: P3, K2, repeat to end

Repeat these two rows until bag measures desired length.  I knitted mine for 15cm/6".

Cast off in rib.

Finishing:

Sew up side seam, using a darning needle and main yarn, preferably using mattress stitch.

Thread darning needle with matching coloured elastic and sew around top edge of bag; using running stitch is just fine.  Pull tight so that bag will hold phone etc inside but will happily stretch to allow objects in.  Knot tightly and weave in all yarn/elastic lose ends.

(Here's the bag with an iPhone inside it; first image shows it storing a Blackberry).

The nice thing about a simple pattern is not only the time it takes to complete; but the possibilities it gives to experiment with it.  You can alternate between yarns to create stripes, use a mulit coloured yarn as I did to create effect; sew a button/buttons onto the bag, replace the elasticated edge with a thin ribbon drawstring.... Whatever you feel like!

See it on Ravelry here

Grannies Inc Catwalks & Knitting Circle

As you may already be aware; I recently entered Grannies Inc 'Design a Vest' competition and have been lucky enough to be selected as one of the finalists! 

Last week they hosted a couple of catwalks to showcase the chosen designs and gain further opinions as to which vest should be crowned as winning knitting...

 Here is a photo I managed to snap of my vest on the runway in Brixton Village, Thursday evening.  What a treasure trove that place is - I can't wait to go back!  So many kool and adorable shops, places to eat (I had some tasty Japanese food) and local DJ's & bands filling the air.  Great atmosphere there and it was so good to see all the knitwear in real life!  There's some great finalist designs in the competion.

The second catwalk took place on Sunday in London Fields. 

 Not only was there the catwalk taking place, but a knitting circle stitching away throughout the day, which you can see in the background here:

 I actually designed this vest to be worn the other way round to how it is shown on the model; but think it looks good this way too! I guess it could be rotated depending on day / evening wear...

I really love the hand knitted sign Grannies Inc had made for the occassion:

 Not too mention all the free wool that they provided and their signature 'granny' on her rocking chair!

How lovely!

I took the opportunity to teach my good friend (and sewing extraordinaire) Nina how to knit:

She picked it up quick!

Here is some of the swatches we made that afternoon:

So all in all a great couple of days; I loved seeing the designs up close and especially to see how mine looked on another person.

I find it fascinating how differnet they all are; what all the different knitters came up with given the brief to knit a vest that was 'long and loose'.  Everyone has done well to get this far and I feel I've gotten so much out of becoming a finalist I couldn't have wished for more!

Many thanks to Grannies Inc for organising the competition & the catwalks and for giving me this opportunity to be involved in it all!  Also a thankyou to everyone who has voted for me and all the kind words & responses I have recieved.

The winner is announced on 17th July and until then you can still vote for your favourite design(s) on the website right here and go straight to my design here

Knitted Bikini

I recently had the dilema of what to make for a friend who is off to Australia for a year. It's got to be handmade, obviously and preferably knitted (to remind her of me!), yet remain practical for her adventure...

The answer, of course, was a knitted bikini:

I found a free pattern called the BVI Bikini on Ravelry.

I followed it true to word, until it came to adding the straps (I'm still getting used to crochet patterns; so sometimes it's easier to freestyle it still).

The ties were a row of chain stitch which I then worked dch (double chain stitch) into.

It was nice and quick to knit up, I think I'll have to make one for myself too.

 The best tip I picked up fron this pattern, is after the cups have been knitted, you should hand sew elastic around the edges of them.  This will make them stay in place and give them the hold that commerical bikinis made from synthetic fabrics have.

I'm happy to say that my friend absolutely loved it ("The best present ever!") and it fitted her perfectly!

Just a special something for those cooler, nightime beach parties perhaps?

All the best, Saz!

xxx

Lace Knit Purse

Here's a little something I knitted up for a friend's birthday a few months back.  Her favourite colour is purple so this sparkly yarn had her name written all over it.  I began to knit the Lacy Drawstring Bag pattern from Textured Knits (Julia Cooper) but decided to freestyle it into a purse instead.

I used a contrast mint coloured yarn and added this minature sweet buttons for the opening.

It went down a treat!

You can buy the book here

It's got some great patterns in it, I'll post my other knits from it soon!