Roses

If Roses grow in Heaven,
Lord please pick a bunch for me,
Place them in my Mother’s arms
and tell her they’re from me.
Tell her that I love her and miss her,
and when she turns to smile,
place a kiss upon her cheek
and hold her for awhile.
Because remembering her is easy,
I do it everyday,
but there’s an ache within my heart
that will never go away.

This birthday there will be no phone call to you. Missing you

Elf on a Shelf Hat

Elf on a Shelf Hat:

Made for my Hopscotch Hill doll using fingering yarn with size 2.5 needles.If you use bigger needles and thicker yarn it will fit American Girl size dolls.

Knitted flat version:

Cast on 46 sts.

1: Knit.

2: Purl.

3-16: As rows 1-2.

17: K1, (k9,k2tog)x4, k1. (42sts)

18: Purl.

19: Knit.

20: Purl.

21: K1, (k8, k2tog)x4, k1. (38sts)

22: Purl.

23: Knit.

24: Purl.

25: K1, (k7, k2tog)x4, k1. (34sts)

26: Purl.

27: Knit.

28: Purl.

29: K1, (k6, k2tog)x4, K1. (30sts)

30: Purl.

31: Knit.

32: Purl.

33: K1, (k5, k2tog)x4, K1. (26sts)

34: Purl.

35: Knit.

36: Purl.

37: K1, (k4, k2tog)x4, K1. (22sts)

38: Purl.

39: Knit.

40: Purl.

41: K1, (k3, k2tog)x4, K1. (18sts)

42: Purl.

43: Knit.

44: Purl.

45: K1, (k2, k2tog)x4, K1. (14sts)

46: Purl.

47: Knit.

48: Purl.

49: K1, (k1, k2tog)x4, K1. (10sts)

50: Purl.

51: Knit.

52: Purl.

53: K1, (k2tog)x4, K1. (6sts)

54: Purl.

55: Knit.

56: Purl.

57: K1, (k2tog)twice, K1. (4sts)

58: Break yarn and thread through remaining sts to close. Sew seam neatly.

Knitted in the round version:

Cast on 44 sts. Join to knit in the round.

1: Knit.

2: Knit

3-16: As rows 1-2.

17: (k9,k2tog)x4, (40sts)

18-20: Knit.

21: (k8, k2tog)x4. (36sts)

22-24: Knit.

25: (k7, k2tog)x4. (32sts)

26-28: Knit.

29: (k6, k2tog)x4. (28sts)

30-32: Knit.

33: (k5, k2tog)x4. (24sts)

34-36: Knit.

37: (k4, k2tog)x4. (20sts)

38-40: Knit

41:(k3, k2tog)x4. (16sts)

42-44: Knit.

45: (k2, k2tog)x4. (12sts)

46-48: Knit.

49: (k1, k2tog)x4. (8sts)

50-52: Knit.

53:(k2tog)x4. (4sts)

54-56: Knit.

Break yarn and thread through remaining sts to close. Sew seam neatly.

Sew a bell to top of hat.

Emily Cardi

Notions:

50g Double Knitting weight yarn. (128.5m.)

Needles: US 3/ 3 mm. (or those you need to obtain gauge)

Darning needle.

Stitch markers or waste yarn.

3 small buttons .

Difficulty:

Gauge: 6 sts x 12 rows = 1 inch in garter stitch

Abbreviations:

Co: cast on.

Bo: bind off.

St-stitch: Sts- stitches

K: knit

P: purl

Yo: yarn over

K2 tog: Knit two stitches together as one stitch.

Bh: button hole.

The cardigan is knit sideways and seamed only at the sleeves.

Start left front:

Cast on 35 sts.

Knit 4 rows.

1: Knit.

2: Knit.

3: K20, turn work.

4: P16, k4.

5: K25, turn work.

6: K25.

7: K30, turn work,

8: K30.

Repeat these 8 rows for a total of 5 times. (40 rows)

Sleeve:

1: K20, place these sts on a stitch-holder or waste yarn. Cast on 19sts on left hand needle, knit these sts and the 15 left on needle. (34sts)

2: K34.

3: K19, turn work.

4: P14, turn work.

5: K19, turn work.

6: K24.

7: K29.

8: K29.

Continue sleeve:

1: K34.

2: K34.

3: K19, turn work.

4: P14, turn work.

5: K19, turn work.

6: K24.

7: K29.

8: K29.

Repeat these 8 rows for a total of 6 times. (48 rows)

Back.

1:Bind off 19sts at the beginning of the next row. Knit the remaining 15sts on needle.

2: K15 and then knit 20 sts from stitch holder.

3: K20, turn work.

4: P16, k4.

5: K25, turn work.

6: K25.

7: K30, turn work,

8: K30.

1: Knit.

2: Knit.

3: K20, turn work.

4: P16, k4.

5: K25, turn work.

6: K25.

7: K30, turn work,

8: K30.

Repeat these 8 rows for a total of 8 times. (64 rows)

Make second sleeve as for first sleeve.

Start right front:

1:Bind off 19sts at the beginning of the next row. Knit the remaining 15sts on needle.

2: K15 and then knit 20 sts from stitch holder.

3: K20, turn work.

4: P16, k4.

5: K25, turn work.

6: K25.

7: K30, turn work,

8: K30.

Continue front:

1: Knit.

2: Knit.

3: K20, turn work.

4: P16, k4.

5: K25, turn work.

6: K25.

7: K30, turn work,

8: K30.

Repeat these 8 rows for a total of 4 times. (32 rows)

Button hole band:

1: K22, yo, k2tog, k3, yo, k2tog, k3, yo, k2tog, k1.

2-4: K35.

Bind off.

Sew sleeves and finish off yarn ends.

Sew on 3 buttons.

Patricia Renwick © Copyright December 2016.

All rights reserved. You may sell items made from this pattern but not the pattern. Please respect my design rights. 

Bear Factory Teddy.

Many years ago when I was last in England we saw the Teddy Bears in the Bear Factory shop in the local shopping center.

Then six year old DD loved the bears but DH thought they were too expensive so sadly we couldn't buy one. It was a lovely surprise for DD to receive one the day we left. My sister-in-law Julie bought DD a bear: Emily. She even had her birth certificate and her passport. The customs officer at the Airport very seriously controlled Emily's passport and said she could go on the plane much to DD's delight!

Since I have internet I have often tried to buy a Scottish outfit for the bear. Prices always run too high on Ebay but recently I actually won a Bear Factory Cat with a Scottish outfit.

As you may imagine I was thrilled! 
He had a voice message so I asked the seller about his history:

"He belonged to a dear friend who's husband sadly passed, she didn't want to throw him away so she gave him to me as I was organising a Burns Night Event and I thought that he would look enjoy being the centre of attention at the head table. Fergus has graced a number of Burns Nights and Hogmanay's - We are downsizing. so sadly we have had to say farewell to him, but I'm over the moon that he has gone to such an appreciative and loving home!"

I so often "meet" such nice people on Ebay!  

Emily did have fun trying on the outfit but obviously I couldn't take his clothes from Fergus so I knit Emily a new cardi to make up for it. One day I will find her a kilt as well! Still searching! (Doesn't she look lovely in the kilt?)

Emily still has her original outfits and her passport and birth certificate are put away with the family ones! Lol! Yes I am a little crazy maybe!

Fond memories of my last trip home to England and the last time I saw my parents. 

Free Scarf Pattern

There are so many versions of the Bow-tie scarf available online, mainly free, all slightly different. All so cute.

This is the version I made for my 3 year old Granddaughter: Emma’s Bowtie Scarf. I thought I would write it here so I won’t forget if I want to make another one!

50g Sport weight yarn.

Size 3mm needles.

Stitch holder.

Darning needle.

Using 3mm needles, cast on 3 sts

1: Kfb, k1, kfb.
2: Knit.
3: Kfb, knit to last stitch, kfb.
4: Knit.
Repeat rows 3-4 to 31 sts.
K 10 rows in garter st.
Decrease:
1: Knit 2tog, knit to last 2sts, k2tog.
2: Knit.
Repeat rows 1-2 until 11sts remain.
Knit.
Right side: Kfb every stitch. (22sts)
Knit.
Right side: Kfb every stitch. (44sts.)
Knit 124 rows. (11” or to desired neck length.)
Knit 2tog across row.(22sts)
Knit.
To make slot: *K1, slip next st onto a stitch holder, keeping this stitch at the back of the work. Repeat from * to end of row. Stitches are divided, half on needle and half on stitch holder.
Working on stitches on needle, work 12 rows in k1, p1 ribbing. Break yarn, and leave these sts on a spare needle.
Slip stitches from holder and work 12 rows in k1, p1 ribbing. Do not break
yarn.
Next row: (To close slot and increase stitches). *Knit tog 1 stitch from needle and 1 stitch from spare needle.
Knit.
1: Kfb, knit to last st, kfb.

2: Knit.

Repeat rows 1-2 to 31 sts.
Knit 10 rows in garter st.
Decrease:
1: Knit 2tog,knit to last 2sts, k2tog.
2: knit.
Repeat rows 1-2 until 3sts remain.
Bind off.
Sew in ends. Enjoy!

Baby Things.

I have been knitting several baby things recently neglecting my doll knitting. 
I decided to create a new baby blanket design for my soon-to-arrive granddaughter who will be called Vittoria. 

I wanted a pattern which was easy to remember with purl rest rows. The traditional tilting blocks pattern I like but in the garter block version, not the stockinette one. However that has both knit and purl on the wrong side so I set to to work to change the garter stitch blocks to make them into purl garter stitch blocks! A little bit of math and it gave an easy-peasy shawl to make which looks pretty!

I have written my version down and published it as a free pattern on Ravelry: Vittoria. It seems to be quite popular so far.

At the moment all my babyblanket patterns are free. 


I also did some sewing. I found the cutest quited Teddy Bear design fabric and made a small quilt. I bound it in a matching fabric and also made a sheet and pillowcase. A bag to hold it all and I was pleased with the results. I managed to do the mitered corners and a nice well sewn binding on the quilt.

I have enough fabric left to make another one so I will make one sometime for someone who will appreciate it. It worked out quite expensive to make, the fabric wasn't cheap.

Handmade unfortunately doesn't equate cheapness as some people think it does!

Now I have a matching bolero to finish for my Granddaughter and some mitts for my youngest DD and then it will be back to my dolls and patterns once more!
My dolls are always happy to have new clothes and never protest no matter how many times they have to try things on! Lol!

Error code F19

Sorry I haven't been able to write much recently. My washing machine broke on September 15th. 

I am supposed to have an insurance so called them. They don't even seem to know what the code means! No comment. I will never do this sort of insurance again I think the way it is going.

Just to cut a very long story short, I am still without a washing machine and today is November 8th! Absolutely disgusting in my opinion. 

Needless to say I am nearly killing myself by handwashing almost everything, and in sheer desperation I have asked my Bil if I can wash some things at his holiday house... 3 wash loads in nearly 2 months, again no comment. My washer usually goes at least every other day although I do always hand wash a lot of stuff! I am very tired with the whole situation. I don't think anyone understands the extreme stress this is causing. I could go to my DD's house but it is hard to get there and park, carry things, wait, and then return. Easier to handwash. I do not like to ask people. I hate having dirty washing. 

Talking about washing, I took some baby things, I made with love, to my Dil. She told me she will wash them in the washing machine and then steam iron for "bacteria"! I had made the things with love, hand washed and dried and blocked where necessary. 
 Thank goodness I hadn't made her a wedding ring shawl like the one I made for my DD's daughter's baptism. I so very nearly did. Not the same but similar, as usual for me exclusive. That would have been to throw out!

 My Mum sent me the Jamieson's cobweb yarn after DD got married. I will make my younger DD one while I am still capable of creating something like that. When she is old enough to marry I may not be able to knit this sort of thing, who knows. If I am here.

I am feeling so depressed. Tired. I am trying to keep the house clean and tidy, feeling frustrated with the washing machine thing and getting tired. Feeling inadequate. Useless.

Maybe fortunately I showed my sister-in-law the baby things and she said they were lovely. Unusual to have positive comments from them. Wants to make a babyblanket like the one I have named for this new DGD. Some small consolation. 

Yes because I am crazy enough to create an exclusive design with the name and publish it as I did with my first Granddaughter. 

I saw my son yesterday for the first time since April 10th. I have so rarely seen him since he was married. Not even the fingers of a hand.
 Is this life?