We had some of the new ruffle scarves on display which are ideal for spring and autumn weather, as well as our new range or hand made greetings cards which will soon be available on the website.

The day went very well with most of the stallholders getting sales, and with the local Womens Institute supplying tea, coffee and cakes. Sales from refreshments went to a worthy cause and funds raised from the raffle went to the Autism Society.

All in a all a fund day was had by everyone.

As members of the guild, we’ll be there, with some of our new products which include our range of knitted toys, crochet bookmarks, lavender bags and scented sachets.  We hope some of our website customers will stop by and welcome all new customers too.

Battle Memorial Hall, Battle High Street, East Sussex, TN33 0AQ

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A few weeks ago a friend of mine came to me with a well known knitting magazine which pictured a cable pattern swatch.  Her problem was that what she was knitting did not match up with the pattern and also that in some rows the number of stitches were not correct.  I worked on the pattern and after some initial confusion I found that in some rows the writer had forgotten to add in the background stitches.  Also the picture in the magazine was for Cable B while the pattern was for Cable A!  If you like a challenge try Cable A – it is quite difficult.  Cable B is much simpler but also gives a very attractive design.

CABLE A (Interlacing Cable)

Abbreviations:

k = knit

p = purl

st(s) = stitch(es)

cn = cable needle

cr3f = slip next 2 sts onto cn and hold at front of work, p1, then k2 from cn

cr3b = slip next st onto cn and hold at back of work, k2, then p1 from cn

c4b = slip next 2 sts onto cn and hold at back of work, k2, then knit 2 from cn

c4f = slip next 2 sts onto cn and hold at front of work, k2, then knit 2 from cn

The cable itself uses 13 stitches.  I have used 5 stitches on either side to give a border.  If used in a garment the border of the cable would usually have only two or three stitches

Pattern:

Cast on 23 sts

Row 1: (Wrong side) k5, p2, k2, p2, k1, p2, k2, p2, k5

Row 2: p5, k2, p2, slip next 3 sts onto cn and hold at back of work, k2, slip p st from cn back onto LH needle and p it, k2 from cn, p2, k2, p5

Row 3: as row 1

Row 4: p5, cr3f, cr3b, p1, cr3f, cr3b, p5

Row 5: k6, p4, k3, p4, k6

Row 6: p6, c4b, p3, c4f, p6

Row 7: as Row 5

Row 8: p5, cr3b, cr3f, p1, cr3b, cr3f, p5

Row 9: as row 1

Row 10: p5, k2, p2, slip next 3 sts onto cable needle and hold at front of work, k2, slip p st from cable needle onto LH needle and p it, k2 from cable needle, p2, k2, p5

Rows 11-16: as rows 3-8

These 16 rows form the pattern.  Repeat as necessary.

CABLE B (Horseshoe Cable)

The cable itself uses 12 stitches.  I have used 5 stitches on either side to give a border.  If used in a garment the border of the cable would usually have only two or three stitches

Abbreviations:

k = knit

p = purl

st(s) = stitch(es)

cn = cable needle

C6b = slip next 3 sts onto cn and hold at back of work, k3, then knit 3 from cn

c6f = slip next 3 sts onto cn and hold at front of work, k3, then knit 3 from cn

Pattern:

Cast on 22 sts

Row 1: (Right side) p5, k12, p5

Row 2: k5, p12, k5

Row 3 and 4: repeat rows 1 and 2

Row 5: p5, c6b, c6f, p5

Row 6: as row 2

Row 7: as Row 1

Row 8: as row 2

These 8 rows form the pattern.  Repeat as necessary.

Recently a customer asked if we could knit a beret for a friend of his who was joining the United Nations.  I created a pattern from our original beret pattern and adapted it so that one can use any double knitting wool.  It knits up really quickly using a double strand of wool and large size needles.

MATERIALS AND MEASUREMENTS

Actual diameter laid flat: 28cm

When stretched will fit head 53.5-58.5cm (21-23 in)

Double knitting wool 100g (use double strand)

Needles: 5.5mm (No 5) and 6mm (No 4).

TENSION

5 stitches and 14 rows to 10cm (4 in) measured over stocking stitch using 10mm needles and double thickness of wool.

ABBREVIATIONS

RS = Right Side

WS = Wrong Side

K = Knit

P = Purl

Alt = Alternative

Inc = Increase by knitting into the front and back of stitch

Rep = repeat

St(s) = Stitch(es)

Tog = Together

BERET INSTRUCTIONS

Using 5.5mm needles and a double strand of wool, cast on 74 sts.

Row 1: (RS) K2, *P2, K2, rep from * to end.

Row 2: P2, *K2, P2, rep from * to end.

These two rows from the rib.

Rep these two rows three times (8 rows of rib in total).

Row 9: (RS) K1, inc once in each st to last 2 sts, K2 (145 sts)

Change to 6mm needles.

Rows 10-17: (WS) Starting with a P row, work in stocking st for 7 rows, ending with a WS row. Work should measure 7-8cm.

Shape Top:

Row 11: (RS) [K6, K2tog] 18 times, K1 (127sts)

Row 12 and every alternate row: P

Row 13: K

Row 15: [K5, K2tog] 18 times, K1 (109sts)

Row 17: K

Row 19: [K4, K2tog] 18 times, K1 (91sts)

Row 21: K

Row 23: [K3, K2tog] 18 times, K1 (73sts)

Row 25: K

Row 27: [K2, K2tog] 18 times, K1 (55sts)

Row 29: K

Row 31: [K1, K2tog] 18 times, K1 (37sts)

Row 32: K

Row 33: [K2tog] 18 times, K1 (19sts)

Row 34: P1, P2tog 9 times (10sts)

Row 35: K2tog 5 times (5sts)

Break wool and thread through the remaining 5 sts.  Pull up tight and fasten off securely.

TO MAKE UP: Join the back seam and neaten off loose ends.

Late last year, just before the winter, I was looking for an elegant wrap that I could use in the evenings but also during the day for when it was a little milder.  I didn’t manage to find one, but instead I found this beautiful pattern online, from Crafts Beautiful.  This wrap is long, with lovely tassles and knitted using Sublime cashmere merino silk double knit wool.  I’ve actually made two now, and the third is just about to be started – and they’re all different colours.  As I was so pleased with the results, I’ve decided to add them to our store, even though they’ll be rather expensive with the price of cashmere being what it is. There are many people who won’t have the time to knit this for themselves I’m sure!

This particular wrap is knitted in a moss stitch – and as it’s so long and the wool is fine with small needles, this took absolutely ages – but I have to say this was well worth the effort and I’m really pleased with the results on each one.  This is a very easy knit, with little to no pattern reading required and is sure to be a popular gift, even if it’s for yourself. I’ll be sure to update this post once the wraps become available on our main storefront.

To download and read the pattern you will need Adobe Reader. The pattern is available for free download by clicking on the link below.

Download Cashmere Wrap pattern

Candles are made from wax and have a wick usually made from string. The wick is lit and draws the wax up. Many people make their own candle for personal use or for sale, and the process is relatively simple. People have been making candles as far back as the ancient Egyptians, and the materials used have changed a lot. Early candles used fish oils, insects and seeds to make the wax, and cultures all over the world have different methods of adding perfume.

Firstly a candle maker needs to melt wax. In modern times the wax is usually made from tallow, which is fat from cows or sheep, though in the past other materials have been used. The wax will liquefy at high temperatures but it must be monitored carefully as it will produce highly flammable vapours at temperatures around 300F

Moulds can be purchased with which to make the candles. These usually have a hole through which the wick is fed. The mould is turned upside down and the other end of the wick is tied to something such as a skewer. This is to keep it vertical so that it will run from one end of the candle to the other straight down the middle. The holes in the mould are sealed with special putty or metal tape, and the wax is poured in. As the wax dries it will shrink, so holes must be made in it to allow it to shrink without trapping air. These holes are filled in later with more wax.

These home made candles are often put into glass containers and become a centrepiece for a display or mood lighting for a special occasion.

Published Courtesy of Article City. Article by John Gibb

Materials Required

3 x 50g balls of fashion yarn or other suitable wool

6mm needles

Tension

22sts and 30rows to 10cm (stocking stitch) on 6mm needles. Always check your tension before starting. To achieve the right measurements, you can always increase/decrease your needle size or change the type of wool you’re using

Abbreviations

K=Knit; P=Purl; patt=pattern; RS=right side; st(s)=stitch(es); Cont=continue; cm=centimetres; mm=millimetres

Pattern

With 6mm needles, cast on 40sts.  For a longer thinner scarf, cast on 30sts.

Row 1 (RS), Knit

Row 2 – K2, P36(or 26 for longer version), K2

These two rows form the main pattern

Continue in patt until you have sufficient wool remaining of the 3rd ball to enable to you to cast off, ending with RS facing for next row.

Cast off

Make Up

Do not press

Sew in ends of wool.

And that’s it – as you can see very quick and easy. I can’t stress how important it is to choose your wool properly for this otherwise the scarf can look too plain.

The finished bookmark measures 16cm x 5cm and is stitched with DMC thread on white 14 count Aida, finished with some lace from the local hobby craft store.As always, the back of the bookmark is tidied with white felt to give it a more professional look.The pattern for this bookmark is from the Sam Hawkins Designs Cross Stitch for BookMarks booklet which I bought on ebay a few months ago, but is available elsewhere as well – and what a good buy it has turned out to be, there are a great variety of bookmarks in there which gives me some great ideas for forthcoming projects this year. This bookmark is very small and light, which meant that the airmail postage was relatively cheap and that mum got something different (and hand-made) this year!

The nice thing about these bookmarks is that they can actually be used as gifts for many other occasions as well – birthdays, Christmas (stocking fillers) and even “thank you” and “get well” gifts. With the wide range available in the booklet, I’m sure you’ll be seeing many more of the bookmarks becoming available in our store. I am also going to make a bookmark range in cream Aida and then try some of the patterns on a 16 count fabric as well – as some of them seem to demand a more delicate look. For now, I’m moving onto making some easter gifts, mainly cross stitch greeting cards with easter eggs and rabbits, so I’ll be sure to post those up when they’re ready.

I’ve had a busy few weeks recently so I’ve only managed to complete small cross stitch projects. Its lovely in the evening to be able to sit and relax with my stitching. This little bookmark was completed a few days ago but its taken me this long to take a picture and get it put on to the store.

The lovely orange lines in the worm almost make it look like its wiggling which is why I’ve called this Wiggly Worm. This reminds of the term “Bookworm” so often used in my childhood days. The bookmark itself is made using DMC threads on 14 count aida. With a white felt backing and fringed edges, its very cute, and has been one of our most popular sellers at craft fairs in 2008 and also on our store.