Although quick and easy to knit, it was not a boring pattern to do.  I enjoyed knitting it!

The pattern is a free download on Ravelry and is the Heartland Lace Shawl by Evelyn Clark.  (You need to be logged into Ravelry to access)

I knitted both my shawls in the same yarn:- Sirdar Balmoral which is Wool, Alpaca and Silk mix.  I used just over 3 x  50g balls.

I would really like to knit this shawl in the same yarn but in different colours, but this means a trip into Aberdeen, which doesn’t happen very often.

It is a two row pattern repeat, but the yarn makes it look and feel very special!

Pattern

Using 5mm needles and thumb method cast on 85 sts loosely.

1st Row: (rs) K1, *yfwd, k1, sl, k2tog, psso, k1, yfwd, k1, rep from * to end.

2nd Row: (wr) Purl

1st and 2nd rows set patt.

Keeping coninuity of patt as set (throughout) cont until blanket measures 64cm, (25 1/4in), ending with a ws row.

Cast off loosely in patt.

When I knitted this blanket, I did 140 rows to reach the required measurement. The yarn stated is 2 x 50g of Sirdar Snowflake DK, but with my tension, I could get two blankets out of 3 balls.

You can get the pattern for free when you purchase the yarn from GetKnitted.com

I bought the pink, knitted up in the picture and a green colour too.

The yarn feels very silky, soft and warm. I found the yarn very easy to split especially while knitting the cuff and heel details.

My fingers looked like pin cushions by the time I was finished because of the fine needles.

I really like how they turned out, but although I was knitting them for myself, and they do fit, my 8 year old daughter has decided that she wants them.

And they fit her!

So I will just have to buy myself some fancy yarn and make some more for myself I will hide them next time.

You can get the pattern free from the Interweave Sockalong Blog.

The cheery Christmas robin is no stranger to cold bleak winters. He knows how to keep warm and he will keep the teapot warm too. The festive robin novelty Tea Cosy is quick and easy to make and adds Christmas cheer to the kitchen or breakfast table, he also makes for a very unusual gift.

To make the Christmas Robin tea cosy you will need…
5.5 mm, UK size 5 or US size 9 knitting needles,
50g Brown double knitting wool,
50g Red double knitting wool,
25g White double knitting wool
And scraps of felt for the eyes and beak.

Divide all of the balls of wool into two balls so that the yarn can be used in double thickness but knitted up as a single strand.

The Back Using double thickness brown yarn cast on 28 stitches and work 38 rows in straight garter stitch (Knit each row)

Leave the stitches on a spare needle until later.

The Front Using double thickness brown wool, cast on 28 stitches and work 4 rows in garter stitch.

Break the yarn and change to white (again double yarn) Work another 4 rows.

Row 9: Knit 6 stitches with white, Join Red (double yarn) knit in red to last 6 stitches. Knit 6 with white.

Don’t carry the yarn behind the work, instead use separate balls of wool and twist the yarns together when changing colours to avoid leaving holes.

Row 10: K6 white, K16 red, K6 white.
Row 11: K4 white, K20 red, K4 white.

Repeat the last row 21 more times.

Row 33: K5 white, K8 red, K2 white, K8 red, K5 white.
Repeat this row again.

Row 35: K6 White, K6 red, K4 white, K6 red, K6 white.
Repeat this row again.

Work two rows in white.

The Tea Cosy Top Using brown double yarn proceed to knit across the tea cosy front and then tea cosy back as follows…

Shaping the top Row 1: *K5, K2 tog* repeat to end

Next and every alternate row Knit.

Row 3: *K4, K2 tog* repeat to end.
Row 5: *K3, K2 tog* repeat to end.
Row 7: *K2, K2 tog* repeat to end.
Row 9: *K1, K2 tog* repeat to end.
Row 11: *K2 tog* repeat to end.

Thread the end of the yarn through the remaining stitches and through the loop of the yarn itself and draw up the knitting tightly and Finnish off.

With the front and back right sides together, sew about 9.5cm from the finishing off point down the side seam towards the cast on edge.

At the bottom of each side seam, sew about 3cm upwards. The holes are left for the teapot handle and spout.

From felt cut out two eyes (Approximately 4cm in diameter) and sew into position.

Cut a 5cm long kite shape from black felt and fold the fabric in half along the long edge and over-sew this edge with small stitches. With the seam at the bottom, flatten out to form a slender pointed beak. Sew into place.

Now the rosy robin can keep your rosy lee piping hot all winter.

This novelty Christmas robin tea cosy fits teapots up to 47cm round and up to 17cm high, a medium sized teapot.

For tea cosy photograph visit http://www.santaspostbag.co.uk/christmas-robin-novelty-tea-cosy-homemade-decoration.html S. Roberts writes for http://www.santaspostbag.co.uk a popular Christmas educational resource packed with creative things to do over the festive period including traditional, religious and 21st Century activities. For information about the Christmas Robin visit http://www.santaspostbag.co.uk/christmas-robin.html

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Crochet is a great hobby to take up. And not only is it a hobby that you can have fun with and use your imagination but you can really be industrial with it. The benefit of saving money on what you are able to make by hand is also a plus. Not to mention the quality for experienced crochet hobbyist comes out looking better than anything you could buy in the department store. We of course just feel like we are just being useful with our hands. While mostly it is a hobby that the female gender enjoys, men can also benefit and enjoy taking up crochet.

Now the reason you are reading this article is because you are looking to expand your knowledge of crochet patterns. Finding new patterns and resources will help you to become more skilled and useful with your skill. Here are a few web sites that you can go to and find free crochet patterns and give you fresh ideas for new clothes, blankets or other imaginative cloth based items.

The web site About features a very huge database of different crochet patterns of all types, shapes and sizes. You will find everything from Afghans, baby clothes, bookmarks, dolls, pillows and much more. Varying skill level from beginners to more advanced crochet patterns are available with directions. (http://crochet.about.com/library/blfreepatts1.htm)

If you are just getting into crochet and you are in need of lessons and stitching methods you can also learn the hobby without having to pay for a book. The official Crochet Guild of America features lessons as well as crochet ideas for new learners. Be sure to check out their web site if you are a serious fan of crochet and want to improve. (http://www.crochet.org/)

Also here is a web site that shows you how to get free stuff for crochet: http://www.FREEBIESSAMPLE.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Karla_Reyes

An unusual novelty tea cosy and egg cosy featuring small stuffed chickens. These cosies would fit right into a country cottage kitchen with the free-range hens roaming around the top. Ideal for keeping the teapot and boiled eggs warm too, children really enjoy them. Taking less than an hour to make they do make a lovely surprise on Good Friday and Easter Sunday when you present someone a hard boiled egg for their breakfast that still has a hen sitting on top of it.

Don’t be fooled into thinking this tea cosy and egg cosy with hens must be difficult to make, because they are really very quick and easy with minimal shaping.

To make the three country hens, tea cosy you will need…
5.5 mm, UK size 5 or US size 9 knitting needles,
3.25 mm, UK size 10 or US size 4 knitting needles,
50g White double knitting wool,
50g Lemon double knitting wool,
25g Dark Brown double knitting wool
25g Red double knitting wool
Other oddments of hen coloured double knitting wool and scraps of felt for the beak.

Knit the Front and Back of the tea cosy to match
Using the white wool and the lemon wool as double thickness yarn and size 5 knitting needles, cast on 28 stitches and work 38 rows in straight garter stitch (Knit each row)

Leave the stitches on a spare needle until later.

Shaping the top… Using white and lemon wool as a double yarn proceed to knit across the tea cosy front and then tea cosy back as follows…

Shaping the top Row 1: *K5, K2 tog* repeat to end

Next and every alternate row Knit.

Row 3: *K4, K2 tog* repeat to end.
Row 5: *K3, K2 tog* repeat to end.
Row 7: *K2, K2 tog* repeat to end.
Row 9: *K1, K2 tog* repeat to end.
Row 11: *K2 tog* repeat to end.

Thread the end of the yarn through the remaining stitches and through the loop of the yarn itself and draw up the knitting tightly and Finnish off.

With the front and back right sides together, sew about 9.5cm from the finishing off point down the side seam towards the cast on edge.

At the bottom of each side seam, sew about 3cm upwards. The holes are left for the teapot handle and spout.

Knitting the hens… Using a hen coloured double knitting wool and with size 10 needles, cast on 16 stitches and work 16 rows in stocking stitch (knit a row, purl a row)

Cast off.

To make up the hen… Fold the square of knitting in half diagonally (with the right sides of the work facing) to form a triangle. Sew along one edge, turn and stuff lightly and neatly over-sew up the opening. With the thread still attached, sew small running stitches half way along the folded side of the triangle. Then insert the needle into the middle of this side and come out at the opposite corner, passing the yarn through on the inside of the hen. Draw up the stitching tightly to the hen’s tail and head a bird like shape, and finish off.

The Hen’s Comb (The red crest on the top of its head)… With red double knitting wool and sized 10 knitting needles, cast on 7 stitches.

Row 1: Knit Row 2: K1 *Bring the wool round the needle tot he front of the work and K2 tog* repeat to end. Row 3: Purl Cast off.

To make up the Comb… Fold the red knitting in half so that the holes form a little scallop edging. Over-sew the long straight edges together and sew into position on the hen’s head.

Finishing off… Finish off the hen by sewing an eye on either side of its head in dark brown wool. Cut a diamond shape from black felt, fold in half to create a triangle and sew into place. With red wool sew a couple of loops just below the beck for the hen’s wattles.

Make three hens in this way for the top of the tea cosy.

The Nest… Using dark brown knitting wool and size 5 knitting needles cast on 60 stitches and then cast off.

Sew this long length of knitting to the tea cosy to form four loops, a bit like a flower. These loops make the hen’s nest.

Sew the three hens into position on the nest at the top of the tea cosy.

To Make The Egg Cosy… With lemon and white double knitting wool and size 5 knitting needles, cast on 27 stitches and work 12 rows in garter stitch.

Shaping the Egg Cosy Top…
Row 1: *K1 K2tog* repeat to end.
Row 2: Knit
Row 3: *K2 tog* repeat to end.

Thread the end of the yarn through the remaining stitches and through the loop of the yarn itself and draw up the knitting tightly and Finnish off.

With the front and back right sides together, sew up the seam.

The Egg Cosy Nest…
Using dark brown knitting wool and size 5 knitting needles cast on 20 stitches and then cast off.

Stitch in a ring at the top of the egg cosy. Finally make a hen to sew at the top of the cosy.

More of S. Roberts craft ideas can be found at http://busy-crafting.blogspot.com/. For Christmas crafts visit http://www.santaspostbag.co.uk/ where you can also send a free letter to your child from Santa Claus. SantasPostbag is in association with http://www.bigboystoyz.com together keeping Christmas Magical.

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