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 ...

Bazinga Bee!

So I was lying in bed pondering a name for this post, and suddenly BAZINGA! or perhaps I should say BEEZINGA! Nice play on words I thought. My family really love watching The Big Bang Theory. As well as being incredibly funny, Sheldon reminds me of some of the autistic kids I have met through my work. Clever, funny, (and also perhaps challenging some people's preconceptions about autism) able to build good friendships.

 

I have been knitting some bees from my Bumble Bee Pattern. I saw this net fabric in a shop, and thought if I sewed it onto felt it would make quite nice bee wings. The original bees had acetate wings, the template for which comes with the pattern. I like them as they are very realistic, but I thought the gold might also look good especially if they were to used as a decoration.

But imagine my surprise when I typed Bazinga Bee into Google to find that it already exists. Someone has named a new species of bee in South America the Bazinga Bee. Click on the photo if you want to read more. I know he looks nothing like my bee, but I think his greeny sheen is rather beautiful. How hard it is to come up with anything truly original!

Baby Bee Shoes

At the Christmas craft fairs this year, I had one or two people ask me if I did my little knitted shoes in baby sizes. So I decided to scale down the pattern and make a baby version. 

My original children's pattern comes in two varieties: the daisy pump (which can be knitted in two colours), and a garter stitch version, which I called puppy paws, as they are embroidered to look like little paws.

I thought I could do both types in a baby version. I have knitted quite a little pile of garter stitch boots, and now I can't quite decide. I really love the way they look plain. I know they are very simple, but that is what appeals to me. But I have no idea whether other people will like them. So here they are plain ...

.... and here they are decorated.

When Frankie was a baby we called her Baby Bee for a while, so that is why I decided to embroider the bees. As our second child she was our B Baby, and she also had a little stripey suit that made her look like a Bumble Bee. 

Puppy Paws

I am going to put all the pictures on the pattern, so I guess the decorating is just an option. The pattern has two sizes: 0 - 3 month and 3 - 6 months. And as usual I have written these out separately, as I find patterns with brackets confusing.

They are knitted in double-knit wool, on quite a small needle, which means they are a firm knit. Any double-knit wool would work, but I have recommed some of the Sirdar wools I used in my samples. I wanted the booties to be quite structured, almost with the feel of a felted shoe. More shoe-like that sock-like. I really like knitting them, as it almost seems magical, how with a little bit of shaping the shoe shape is formed. And as they are on two needles with just one seam to sew up they are fairly simple. 

Knitted With Sirdar Snuggly Tiny Tots DK

What I am excited about is that I have a real baby model lined up. So expect a few more pictures next week. 

The pattern is available on ravelry. Follow the link in my side bar.

I have started work on the daisy version, which should be ready soon.