Knitting Orders

I have been doing some knitting to order. I don't do very much of this, as sometimes it is hard to judge how long the knitting is going to take. But having intended to put some of my more popular knits in my Etsy Shop for Christmas, as usual I somehow didn't get myself organised, so was really pleased to get a few unprompted orders.
 

So as you can see my classic 2CV is driving off to someone named Pam

Some of the knits have been for a lady I met through one of the craft fairs that I did several years ago.

This is my Cherry Berry, but knitted in a smaller size for a toddler ...

... with matching mittens

and some baby bee shoes and shoe bag ...

... and finally my blueberry clutch bag, in sophisticated black, with a tiny silver fleck, and tartan silk lining.

I do like revisiting my own patterns from time to time. It is sort of reassuring to see that I can produce the same item. 

Also fun for me if someone wants a slight variation on one of my patterns, which is what I am working on at the moment ...

A Flutter of Fairy Folk

Forget-me-not

Spring is in the air here in England, and with flowers appearing I just thought I would put all my fairy folk together, for a bit of a fairy gathering. What to call a party of fairies? After a bit of research I decided a flutter sounds nice. These are all knitted and adapted from my Mermaid and Flower Fairy pattern.

I do like it best where I have managed to photograph them in a natural setting. Most of these fairies have already found new homes, although one or two are still in my shop. There is such variety in nature that I have only once or twice repeated a design. I am already thinking of a few new ones: primrose, blackthorn, or honeysuckle.

So if you have a flower or tree that means a lot to you, please get in touch and I will have a go at making it.

Holly

Dandelion

Oak Tree

Lily

Apple Blossom

Stitchwort

Bluebell

Lavender

Cherry Tree

Snowflake

Mermaids

Christmas Fairies

Pohutukawa (New Zealand Christmas Tree Fairy)

Echinacea (but photographed on a sunflower)

Daisies

Cherry Ripe!

Meet the Cherry Fairy Twins. I was delighted by Frankie's reaction when I first showed them to her. "Lady Gaga!" she exclaimed. Not my intention, but I can see what she means, although I had thought of them as more in 1940's dress.

Sorry about the seemingly never-ending stream of fairies. I do love making these little girls, which are still my basic pattern. It is such fun deciding on the flower or fruit and how to give them their character. There are still more on the way, and even when made I have to hope for a sunny day and seek out the right flowers for photographs.
 

These ones also come in their own little dupion silk bag. The cherries are hand embroidered, and the drawstring made of suede leather. They are also off to my Etsy shop. I am still working on a slightly bigger toy pattern, but whenever I need a bit of a break I return to my fairies.

Hattie Models The Cherry Beret

I have some new photographs for the Cherry Beret on ravelry. My model is my friend's daughter, whom I have known since she was a tiny tot. I met her and her mum a lot of years ago, at the toddler group in the church hall. And now she is all grown up and sophisticated.  She was a little shy about modelling, but I think the photos are just charming, and as a thank you she now has the hat, which I hope will be the envy of her friends.

Tiddles decided to get in on the act too. He is one of the very handsome sons of my own cat, Noodles.

Slouchie Cherry Beret III

Finally I have finished my Cherry Beret pattern. This is my third version, and I think I am at last happy. It is more or less the same as version two, with a few alterations, but this time in moss stitch. It is a bit more of a slouchie now.

This pattern has been much harder work that my little critters, which just seem to fly off the needles first time without any need for a rethink or reknit.

Thank you to my model, who is one of my colleagues from school. Can you see why the children love her? We dashed outside in the lunch break.

The pattern is available on Ravelry. It does not include instructions for the cherries and leaf, as I did not really see what I could add to the several really great cherry patterns that are already available free online. Perhaps people would prefer a tassel or flower.

Click Here to Link to Ravelry