More Scooters From Susie

Susie has been making some more scooters from my Vespa knitting pattern. She has made some little side stands so they will stand up nicely. Love them! Thank you for sharing.

Vespa Scooter

Every now and then someone makes one of my patterns, and does it so well, that I feature it here. Susie bought my Vespa knitting pattern back in June, and has made this lovely model for her brother-in-law to put in his workshed where he loves renovating vintage scooters! She says "The trouble is he's a Lambretta fanatic so not sure how well a Vespa will go down!" Well I am certain he will love it!

If you have used one of my patterns I would love to see what you have made. 

Morris Traveller Pattern

Sometimes a pattern will just fly off the needles, and other times it is more difficult. But this one has gone beyond difficult into another zone. It has taken me over six months to get the final version, and I am sort of done with it now.

 

I knitted the first version, the black morris traveller, for my mother-in-law for Christmas. Actually that is my favourite one, and my daughter tells me it went well because it was made with love. But when I decided to do another test knit, the pattern I thought I had written up had gaps. The second version, the light green, is fine from the sides but just didn't look in proportion widthwise. So finally I have knitted the last morris traveller in burgundy, and I think at last we are there.

There are slight variations in the different models of morris traveller. Some have the front windscreen divided in two. But I hope I have caught the main features - the curvy bonnet, and the wooden frame at the back.

You hardly ever see a morris traveller these days. More often a morris minor might be about. So I am not really expecting this pattern to be a big seller, but sometimes you just have to make something for the love of it.

The pattern is available on ravelry and will be on Etsy later in the day.

 

Morris Traveller Number Two

 

It seems a long time since I wrote about the morris traveller that I made my mother-in-law for Christmas. You can read about that one here.

I thought the pattern was almost ready to publish, and have taken a break from the granny squares to do another test knit. Thank goodness I decided to do this, as while knitting this second version I have had to make changes and additions. I somehow had lost my instructions for the wings, so had to work this out again. I have spent a lot of time looking at this little car with my husband, and discussing the curve of the bonnet, the depth of the windows, is the back boxy enough etc. etc.

I am fairly happy with the result, except that compared with the first car this one just seems a bit too wide, and the back view (which I am not going to show) doesn't seem right. So there is going to be a morris traveller number 3 (perhaps I am think blue, or maybe burgundy). Hopefully this next one will be perfect, and I can publish the pattern.

Union Jack Mini Cooper

So much for all my New Year resolutions to post more often. I have just finished this mini cooper with a Union Jack roof, for a customer on Etsy. I always like making this version of my car pattern, and it is off to be gifted to Harry in New Hampshire. His name is on the numberplates, which you can't really see in these photo.

I have been knitting, but have been working on a jersey for my husband. His Christmas present, which may be ready just for when the weather warms up, and he doesn't need it.
 

 

A Neighbourly Mini Cooper

I've been busy making another mini cooper, this time for my neighbour at my new home in Cornwall. Being a neighbour here in the country is a different thing, than in London. There you could easily hear neighbour's conversations, as they were a matter of feet away, but here even a close neighbour is a bit of long stride across a field. 

We seem to have a lot in common, as we met at the local craft fair. And both owners of a mini cooper, a lovable black dog, and a black and white cat. 

For this mini cooper I slightly altered my pattern - adding details to the wheels, and adding a spoiler to the back. Rather a sporty model.

Black Mini Cooper

Another Christmas knit, which I could not show until it was given to the recipient, my sister-in-law. Her previous red mini cooper had a little knitted version on the dashboard, but when we saw her in the autumn we heard how that car had come to a sad end in some flood water. But she was in a new black mini cooper, which I have made a version of. Had to sneak out and take a few photos, just so I could get all the details correct.

Knitted from my own pattern, which you can find here. I have made a lot of these little cars over the years, and I am currently working on another one for my mini cooper owning neighbours.

Happy New Year - and a Morris Traveller

Happy New Year. It has been a tough time for everyone, in different ways, but I am wishing everyone who visits here that you find joy and comfort in being creative in 2022.

I would like to show you one of the things I have been working on. It is a Morris Traveller for my mother-in-law. When my husband was a child this was the family car, and he remembers all four children being piled early in the morning half asleep into this car for the long trip from Devon to Norfolk. Although I wasn't well enough to go on the Christmas visit, my husband says she instantly recognised it when she opened the parcel and was really delighted to see the old family car.

You really don't see these cars around much any more, but they were very distinctive, with the wooden box frame at the back. I have spent a lot of time looking at photos. The curved bonnet at the front has also been a bit of a challenge. In due course this will be a pattern, but I will have to write up from my notes, and make a few more, before I am ready to publish it.  

 

I have decided for the moment to have a little break from the regular monthly Ginx Woolly Linx Party. I will continue to visit the blogs of regular contributors and keep up-to-date with what you are working on. I started the link party in 2018, but have felt recently I have been relying on it too much, and not been publishing my own original work. I am hoping that I can focus a bit next year, and write a few more patterns. Plenty of ideas, but it is very easy to get distracted. But I may occasionally do a themed link party, so do keep checking in with me.

My favourite projects from December's party are this lovely lapghan throw from Valeria of Just East of Eden. Nice to see these Christmas cards from Liz at Howling at the Moon. Simple and elegant.  Alexandra of Eye Love Knots has reviewed a pattern for this fair isle gansey cowl. I enjoyed the fair isle crochet. And finally I could not resist showing you Tonna of Sew Craftsy Crochet who has modelled this Christmas bauble on her own cat, Maki. Just adorable.

 

 

Tesla Model 3

 

I'm always pleased when someone returns to my shop, as it must mean they were happy with their previous experience.  And a customer recently came back from 2016 (have I really been doing this that long?), for whom I had made several cars. 

 

 

This time he asked if I could make a Tesla Model 3. I started off by thinking I could just adapt my mini cooper pattern, but after one failed attempt, decided to more or less start from scratch for the side panels. It is amazing what can be done with a bit of printing from the internet, and graph paper, and I am really pleased with how the side of the car looks, with its streamline curve on the roof.

 

After that the wheels had to be slightly reduced in size, so they could sit in flush with the side of the car. Then it was all down to getting the glass roof right, and the finishing details.

 

Strangely I keep spotting a white Tesla Model 3 in my neighbourhood just like the one I have made. I know it must have been there all along, and it just because I have been thinking Tesla for the last few days. 

 

I am not writing this up as a pattern, but will file my notes away just in case. I imagine this is probably the only handknitted Tesla in existance. Would you like me to have a go at making your model of car? I am always up for a challenge.

 

Still plenty of time left to join in Ginx Woolly Linx Party for August.

 

 

Lambretta Wedding Anniversary

I had an enquiry on Etsy from Ally, who wondered if I could make a lambretta scooter, as a gift for her husband on their first wedding anniversary. I hope she doesn't mind me mentioning that they went on their first date when they were 12, went their separate ways, but met up again 35 years later. How cute it that? She sent me a photograph, and I thought I could give it a go ...

I actually love this sort of order, when I am following my own pattern, but having to personalise it. The lambretta is different to a vespa in quite a few ways. The back section is longer and doesn't have the wheel hubs, and the seat has a very distinctive kink at the back. The front and hub caps are slightly different in shape, and the wheels smaller.

So I am wishing Ally and Col at very Happy Wedding Anniversary celebration on Monday.

Just a reminder that there is still time left to join in my Ginx Woolly Linx party for June. Click on the photo above or at the top of the page to find the party. I would love to see what you have been working on this month.

2CV Memories

I have sold my Henrietta 2CV pattern quite a few times, but only occasionally seen the finished car by someone who isn't me. Sometimes on ravelry knitters do link up their projects, but on Etsy there isn't any way to do this. But recently more and more often the download function doesn't work on Etsy. Customers end up sending me a message, and then when I have their email I can send them the pattern this way. 

This happened with Rosie a few weeks ago, and during our chat I said I would love to see her car when it is made. I was delighted one morning to wake up to an email with these photos of her finished 2CV. 

Like her I have a very emotional attachment to 2CV cars. Driving one felt like a private club, as 2CV drivers would always wave madly to each other. You can read about my memories here. Rosie told me that she and her late husband owned an emerald green 2CV bought in Northern Ireland in 1976. One of the first ones in the country. Her husband was a massive fan of Citroen cars and their technology so they had a lot of Citroen cars through their married life. Her first daughter born in 1977 was brought home from hospital in a Moses basket on the back seat of this car. No car seats or seat belts in those days!. 

So if you have made something from any of my patterns I would love to see it, and also any feedback on the pattern itself is always welcome.

It may seem that I haven't posted much knitting recently. I have been knitting, but most of this has been on a jumper for my daughter. I think I have mentioned before I am not particularly quick at knitting. I still have the front piece to make, but I am getting there. I also have a new pattern in the pipeline, and have made a special order for a customer's wedding anniversary. So although it is unlikely that this ladies husband is looking a knitting blogs, will not post pictures until after the celebration.

Just a reminder that there is still time left to join in my Ginx Woolly Linx party for May. Click on the photo above or at the top of the page to find the party. I would love to see what you have been working on this month.

My Very Own Mini Cooper

I have made my fair share of knitted mini coopers over the years. I have tried to do a count up, and think it is at least 15, but I have have missed some. But finally I have made a car for myself, and it is going to live on the back shelf of my very own mini cooper.
  

This knitted car is smaller than the usual cars I make from my Mini Cooper pattern, as I decided to knit it in Cornwall over the half-term holiday. I rather stupidly only took the needles for the wheels. The body of the car is knitted on larger needles. So I had to really adapt the wheels so they were in proportion.

It sort of upsets me that real life minis seem to be getting bigger and bigger.  Occasionally you still see an orginal mini, and they really are like a different car to the mini countryman. Little confession - I was quite keen to get a Fiat, but was over-ruled, and now we have the mini (called Neville) I really love it. It is very easy to park, but also quite nippy when needed. I am taking my daughter out in it for driving practice, and she finds it a lot more powerful than the driving instructor's car on which she is also learning.

Just a reminder that there is still plenty of time left to join in my Ginx Woolly Linx party for March. Click on the photo above or at the top of the page to find the party. I would love to see what you have been working on this month.

2CV Cushion

My last new pattern was for a 2CV cushion. I got the idea for this project from Jo, who saw my Henrietta 2CV pattern, and sent me a message on Etsy to see if I had a pattern for a cushion. I didn't, but I thought it was such a good idea, I set to work make one. And when it was done I sent her a copy. She has sent me some photos of the cushion that she made, and I have been holding them back so as not to spoil the Christmas surprise for someone.

She had done a fantastic job, and very quickly. I really like her method for the back of the cushion. Much more practical than mine, which may have to be unpicked at some point, when it needs washing.

I have really had very little interest in the pattern, but actually suspect it may be one of those slowburners. But my own 2CV cushion has sold, and is now in  France! Very happy about that, and am thinking of making another one.  

Also I have just thought that I would mention that I have rethought my pricing of knitting items on Etsy. I have removed all the postage fees, and adjusted the pricing. It was almost impossible to keep the postage accurate, as it seems to go up so often, and the rules about weight and size of packages seem quite hard to follow. I also find it a bit annoying to put something in your basket and then find that the postage puts it beyond what you are happy to pay. So I will see what happens ....

Just a reminder that there is still a little bit of time left to join in my Ginx Woolly Linx party for January. Click on the photo above or at the top of the page to find the party. I would love to see what you have been working on this month.