Smaller bear

I made bears for the smaller kids, and Amber wanted one too. However, she didn't want a great big bear to hug, just a smaller one to know that I love her. So here it is, standing on Possum's bear, just to sow the size difference. I used exactly the same pattern as the other bears, just much smaller yarn and a correspondingly smaller hook. It worked out really well, and she is very happy. Now all I have to do is make an orange one for Techno Boy and they'll all have lovely bears.

Little Moon

I have always used cloth nappies on my kids. It never occurred to me to use disposables, I just couldn't see the sense of it, so much money down the drain and so much in landfill.

With Possum, I just didn't have time for all that washing and folding, so I started looking for modern cloth nappies, these don't need folding, they just come as you wear them. While looking for these, I discovered reusable menstrual products. It had never occurred to me that disposable pads were also a waste of money and filling up landfill. I just accepted that that was how I did it.

However, the discovery that lovely pads could be bought online, just like lovely nappies, changed my thinking. So I purchased a heap and love them, they are very comfortable, and so easy to wash. However, while looking into reusable pads, I also found the concept of the menstrual cup. It took me a bit longer to come round to these, however, I bought one recently, and it is the best purchase I have made in years. I love my lunette, it is so comfortable, and I can do anything while wearing it (well almost) and don't have to worry about leakage. I am looking forward to swimming all summer, without having to take a few days off every month.

Life is looking up.

Felted bag

I have just completed my very first completely invented by me project. I have never designed anything before, but while knitting socks (which I don't really enjoy) I was struck by an idea for knitting a felted bag with a mobius loop for a handle. It worked out really well, and I've enjoyed using it over the past few days.

Here is the pattern

Jenny’s felted, mobius, seamless bag

Patons Jet 2 doubled up

3 balls colour 1, 3 balls colour 2 (always knit with both colours)

9mm circular needles on long cable or long DPNs

Cast on 60 stitches using Judy Becker’s magic sock cast on http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEspring06/FEATmagiccaston.html. You will have 30 stitches on each needle. (or as many as you need for your bag)

Increase ever second row until you have 72 stitches (or as many as you need for your bag) Then work in a round until bag is a little longer than you need (remember it will shrink when felted)

3rd last row: knit 69 cast off last 3 (now is a good time to work out how you are gong to do the mobius loop handle, I used interchangeable cable needles and a joiner, so I simply knitted each half of my last row on a different cable and then joined them as a loop.)

2nd last row: cast off 3, knit 30, cast off 6, knit 30, cast on 3.

Last row: cast on 3, knit 30 cast on 3 on one loop, and 3 on the next loop, knit 33.

Sort out your cable needles so you can use Cat Bordhi’s mobius cast on for the handles. Cast on extra stitches using Cat Bordhi’s mobius cast on (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVnTda7F2V4) until you have a loop big enough for your handle.

I did 140 stitches (or 280 depending how you choose to count them)

Knit 2 rows

Purl 1 row

Knit 2 rows

Cast off in knit

Neaten ends (only two ends to neaten yay)

Felt bag.

Dry flat

Enjoy