Knitted Pencil Case

This is a little project I have been working on for my daughter, who has been asking me for a nice pencil case to take to school. I found the pattern in the book "Essential Knits for Kids" by Debbie Bliss.


Knitted in garter stitch, the pencil case is quick and easy to knit (no increasing or decreasing required). The pattern calls for five colours to be knitted in randomly alternating stripes, but you could really use any colour combination you like (I used six colours). Inserting the zip and lining is a little on the fiddly side, though. I handstitched the lining using a small blanket stitch (just because I like blanket stitch), but I'm sure a simple slip stitch would be just as good.

For an added decorative touch, I decided to try my hand at crocheting a flower. I have never learned to crochet, so I was being quite ambitious, really. However, thanks to modern technology, I managed to whip one up fairly easily that I think looks pretty good!


My inspiration for the flower came from here. I found some videos on YouTube to help me figure out how to 'sc', 'dc', etc. I only went as far as two colours for my flower, as I thought the three-coloured version would be too big for the pencil case. I'm pretty sure I made some mistakes, but overall I'm happy with the way it turned out and I am now keen to try my hand at more crocheting!

Book Review: "Wild Knitting"

This is a big call, I know, but I believe I have in my posession the best knitting book ever written...


Published in 1979, "Wild Knitting" really has something for everyone. Here are some of my (many) favourites:

For that special man in your life, the "Pastoral Pullover"...

It's a bit hard to see the level of detail in the photo, the accompanying illustration shows the full detail...

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The introduction to the pastoral pullover pattern claims that the jumper "enables you to blend in with the landscape", something that you couldn't do with another wonderful pattern from the book, the aptly named "Forget-me-not Bikini"...


That picture fascinates me - what's with the bloke in the top corner???

"Wild Knitting" also has the animal lover covered, with the "Armadillo Wrap", which promises that you can "be beautiful without being cruel"...


For the homemaker, there is the "Cactus in Pot" and "Secret Garden" patio floor rug (complete with tufts of grass), which allows you to "enjoy summer all the year round"...


As is the case with most knitting books, there is a plethora of stunning fashion choices in "Wild Knitting" to enable us ladies to step out in spectacular style, no matter what the occasion. My favourite would have to be the "Silver Dress"...


Why is she holding a cane in that photo?

If the silver dress is not sexy enough for you, there are also patterns for a lingerie set, including a lacy camisole top, frilly knickers, stockings, and a suspender belt...


The man in that photo is rather creepy, don't you think? I bet he owns the cane that the silver dress lady is holding.

The kids haven't been forgotten in this book, either. The "End Games" section at the end of the book suggests that knitted props and accessories "make interesting objects when displayed on shelves in odd corners to surprise, and when used by children for dressing up and in games". The knitted props and accessories referred to are a mouse and a wedge of cheese, knitted lipstick, and these...


Yes, that is a pattern for a knitted pack of cigarettes and a cigarette lighter! I can't help but giggle at the idea of sending one of my kids to school with these...what would the teachers/other parents think? Whilst there is no photo of the finished cigarettes on the page with the pattern, if you look closely you can find some strategically placed items in many of the photos throughout the book, like this:


You might also have spotted the silver dress lady holding the knitted lipstick as well.

There are many other outrageous patterns in "Wild Knitting", and while the chances of me actually making anything from the book are infinitesimal, it is a joy to flick through the pages and be reminded of how much our world has changed in the last 30 years!

Fleecie Pets

About six years ago I made a basic 8-colour patchwork blanket out of fleece. I had a narrow strip of each colour left over from that project and of course managed to convince myself that I needed to keep the surplus fabric because I would be sure to find a use for it one day. Imagine my delight when I found this book containing patterns and instructions to make gorgeous little toys out of, you guessed it, narrow strips of fleece!

I had a couple of problems when I started to make my Fleecie Pets. Firstly, which pet was I going to make first...Squealy the piglet, Joe the monkey, Leapy the frog, Hoppy the rabbit, Spangles the cat, Patches the dog, Sniffy the mouse or Fuzzy the sheep? My second, and more concerning problem was that my fleece off-cuts were agonisingly too narrow for the pattern pieces! I managed to solve the latter problem by scanning the patterns and reducing their size a little before printing them out. Crisis averted!

In the end I managed to make five pets, along with some of the cute outfits in time for my 4yo daughter's birthday. The sewing and knitting patterns were very easy to follow. I'm sure it would have been even easier had I been making the full-sized pets, as at times the sewing was a little bit fiddly. I also had a little trouble figuring out how to re-size the knitting patterns (I ended up opting for slightly smaller needles) so the knitted components were a little too big.