Variegated Dribbler

I am a big fan of  Kate Blackburn's Baby Bandana Bib but find its shape doesn't suit self striping yarn so well. So have developed this one to allow some shapely striping to take place, whilst hopefully still keeping the simplicity.  If you don't have a self striping/variegated yarn to hand, just switch yarns every 2 rows for a more dominant stripe.  To increase absorbancy power wash and dry 2-3 times before use.

Using a cotton or bamboo DK yarn (I used Sirdar Summer Stripes) and 4mm needles...

Cast on 3
Row 1 - K1, YO, place marker, K1, YO, K1
Row 2 - purl
Row 3 - K1, M1L, knit to marker, M1L, slip marker, K1, M1R, knit to last stitch, M1R, K1
Row 4 - purl

Repeat rows 3 and 4 until about 65 stitches (the odd row before or after won't make too much difference if you're bad at counting) ending on a row 4.

Complete a picot cast off by casting on 2 stitches, cast off 4, slip stitch back onto left hand needle and repeat to end.  (if you are doing this for a really manly boy then you can just do a normal cast off, but I personally don't feel its too feminine for most)

Cast on 3 and knit 7 1/2 inches of i-cord on double pointed needles. 

Edge the top of the triangle by knitting 2 of the i-cord stitches and slipping the 3rd purlwise, yarn over and pick up one stitch from straight edge. Slip over the slipped stitch and yarn over, so 3 stitches remain on needle. Continue to the end of the triangle. 

Knit a further 7 1/2 inches of 3 stitch i-cord, knit 3 together and thread yarn through remaining stitch.

Weave in ends, and voilà! So cute!

Elf Hat

A quick little elf hat, great for unisex babies and also for stash busting.  It doesn't use much yarn and can incorporate stripes very easily.

Using DK yarn and 4.5mm DPN needles (I used a stash of Rico Poems and and unknown gem hidden in my stash!)

Cast on 56 and space amongst 4 needles (14 per needle)

Knit until 3 inches long (curl unrolled)

[K12, K2TOG] repeat 3 more times

Knit 3 rounds

[K11, K2TOG] repeat 3 more times

Knit 1 round

[K10, K2TOG] repeat 3 more times

Repeat this decrease round (decreasing the last two stitches at the end of each needle) until 5 stitches remain on each needle

Knit 1 round

[K3, K2TOG] repeat 3 more times

Knit 1 round

[K2, K2TOG] repeat 3 more times

[K1, K2TOG] repeat 3 more times

[K2, K2TOG] twice

Knit 1 round

[K1, K2TOG] twice

Transfer onto one needle and turn to i-cord [4 stitches]

Knit i-cord for 1 ½ inches

K1, K2TOG, K1

Knit 3 rows

K1, K2TOG

Knit 1 row

K2TOG

Feed yarn through remaining stitch.

Tie loose knot in the i-cord stem.

Kensington Steeked Pot

Isn't it funny how fashions change.  Three years ago when I started knitting tea pot cosies I'd have thought how old fashioned this one looked and not touched it.  Now I was so keen to create something that really looked 'knitted' and had block colour texture I couldn't actually find anything 'old' enough!

I'm not a fan of most methods to make the two holes for tea pot cosies, I don't like joining in yarns and leaving stitches on stitch holders, or doing big amounts of awkwardly shaped seaming.  By using steeks and straight edges with a draw string this one avoids that.  There is a need to weave in ends due to the colour knitting but other than that, your cast off/on ends are used to crochet it together and so really minimal finishing.

Using DK yarn and 4mm needles...

Colour A
Cast on 80, leaving a very long cast on tail
rows 1-4: 2x2 rib
Colour B
row 5: knit
row 6: purl
Colour C
row 7: K2, sl1pw, (K3, sl1pw) rep K1
row 8: K1, (YF sl1pw,YB K3) rep K2
Colour B
row 9: K4, (slpw K3) rep
row 10: P3 sl1pw rep P4
row 11: knit
row 12: purl
Colour A
repeat rows 5-6
Colour D
repeat rows 7-8
Colour A
repeat rows 9-12

Repeat these rows 5-12 three more time in any colour combinations, I maintained my B&C and A&D pair swaps.

Colour A
row 41: K2, K2tog, rep
row 42: purl
Colour D
row 43: repeat row 7
row 44: repeat row 8
Colour A
row 45: repeat row 9
row 46: repeat row 10
Colour B
row 47: knit
row 48: purl
row 49: (K1, YO, K2tog) repeat to end
row 50: purl
rows 51 & 52: knit/purl
Colour A
repeat rows 5-6
Colour D
repeat rows 7-8
Colour A
row 57: (KFB 3 times, K1) repeat to end
row 58: purl
Cast off by K2tog, slip stitch from right hand needle to left hand needle, K2tog and repeat to end.  Leave a very long cats off tail.


Knit a 3 stitch i-cord for the tie (in Colour C), it will need to be about 15 inches.  This will thread through the holes created by the yarn overs and pull the cosy in around the tea pot lid.


Now here comes the interesting part... steeks.  It is all based around the columns of stitches 40, 41 and 42 - the needle is showing column 41 here.

Using a 3.5mm crochet hook, using Colour A make a slip knot and place onto the hook.  Stick your hook through the right leg of stitch 41 in row 7 and the left leg of stitch 40 as below.

Wrap the yarn over the hook, and pull yarn through the two Colour C stitches.

Wrap yarn over the hook again and pull yarn through the two Colour A stitches.
Repeat, sticking hook through the right leg of stitch 41 in row 8 and the left leg of stitch 40 as below

Keep going

When you get to row 22, or the 4th set of knit bumps turn your work and continue in the same way but this time stitching through the left leg or stitch 41 and the right leg of stitch 42.

When you get back to where you started, secure the yarn by doing a slip stitch into the starting stitch, and pull yarn through the last loop to secure.

Now, you can take the scissors to your piece of work (yikes!).  If you push down on your two lines of crochet you will see a 'ladder' between them rather than stitches.

This is what you cut - the rungs between the two crochet lines.

And this is where your opening for the spout will be.

Now you will also need to join the two edges/sides between rows 1-8 and from rows 58-27, this can be by crochet like the steeking or matress stitch, which ever suits you.  Then crochet like the steek around the edge between these two, encasing the hole.

Weave in your loose ends, and thread the i-cord through the yarn overs.

And there you go.

Christmas Phoebe-Pud Hat

Using a mix of knitting in the round, i-cord and flat knitting this creates a textured hat of much festive joy that is underneath it all remarkably simple.  Knitting this as an advent present for a dear friend's newly arrived bundle of joy it really made me go quite squishy and want one.  But remember people, a baby is for life not just for wearing hand knitted hats.

Using brown, white/cream, red and green DK yarn and 4mm needles...

For a small head ('very-newborn' - preemi or just tiny delicate cuties) cast on 57 stitches in brown (B) and join into the round by knitting the first and last stitch together.  To make bigger, go up in multiples of 8, making the necessary decreases to have 12 stitches on or around Round 10.

Knit in stockinette for 4 inches, (not stretching the cast on curl).

Join in white(W) yarn and as follows:

Round 1: K2(W), K6(B) until 1 stitch away from (W)

Round 2: K4(W), K4(B) until 1 stitch away from (W)

Round 3: K6(W), K2(B) until 1 stitch away from (W)

Working only in white (W)

Knit 3 stitches, place marker and as follows:

Round 4: K2TOG, K6 until marker

Round 5: K2TOG, K5 until marker

Round 6: K2TOG, K4 until marker

Round 7: K2TOG, K3 until marker

Round 8: K2TOG, K2 until marker

Round 9: K2TOG, K1 until marker

Round 10: K1, (K2TOG, K1 until marker) (10 stitches remain)

Switch to red (R) yarn 

K1, K2TOG, K1

Using DPN with these 3 stitches i-cord in red for 2 inches (or enough to tie a loose knot with the cord)

Switch to green (G) yarn (TIP a varigated/helix yarn works best)  to complete holly leaf.

Row 1: Knit still as i-cord

Row 2: turn and knit as a flat piece going forwards

Row 3: KFB, K1, KFB (5 stitches)

Row 4: KFB, K3, KFB (7 stitches)

Row 5: K2TOGtbl, K3, K2TOG (5 stitches)

Row 6: K2TOGtbl, K1, K2TOG (3 stitches)

Row 7: KFB, K1, KFB (5 stitches)

Row 8: KFB, K3, KFB (7 stitches)

Row 9: K2TOGtbl, K3, K2TOG (5 stitches)

Row 10: K2TOGtbl, K1, K2TOG (3 stitches)

Row 11: Knit

Row 12: sl1, K2TOG, PSSO

Cut yarn and thread through remaining stitch.

Going back to the remaining white stitches, repeat red i-cord and green leaf two more times.

(TIP If necessary, use the tail of the red to join the three i-cords beneath the berry knots with a small stitch in the centre to prevent a hole)  Weave in remaining ends.

Tie a loose knot in the i-cord so the red produces a 'berry' and the leaf pops out of the top.

Stand back and melt with festive adorable cheer.

Munchkin Bobble Hat

I really struggle knitting presents for friends expecting baby boys.  Knitting lends itself to floral cutsie stuff, and for boys all you find is either boring plain-in-blue or tacky Bob-the-Builder style cartoon stuff.  So this is my attempt to get something cute but not feminine into the selection for newborns.  If you err to the side of cartoon stuff then you could use bright colours and turn the bobbles to eyes to make it look alien/monster-ish if you really want.  And if you have a girl, then pink or purple will work just as well!

Using DK wool (I used a slight variegated one – Wendy Peter Pan Raindrop Surprise) and 3.5mm circular needles, and a smidgen of scrap yarn for stuffing…

Cast on 60 stitches in contrast colour and join in the round (magic loop is easiest in my opinion, particularly for switching to the i-cord at the end)

rounds 1-7 - Knit contrast colour

round 8 - Change to main colour (on second round of main colour, slip the first stitch to avoid a jog in the colour – thanks Techknitter!)

rounds 9-35 - Knit a further 26  rounds

round 36 - K4, K2TOG (50 st remain)

round 37 - Knit

round 38 - K3 K2TOG (40 st remain)

round 39 - Knit

round 40 - K2 K2TOG (30 st remain)

round 41 - Knit

round 42 - K1 K2TOG (20 st remain)

round 43 - Knit

round 44 - K2TOG (10 st remain)

round 45 - K2TOG (5 st remain) - you will need to switch from magic loop to 'flat' on this round

rows 46-50  - Knit i-cord for 5 rows

row 51 - KFB (10 st) - switch back to magic loop after this row

round 52 - Knit

round 53 - K1, KFB (15 st)

round 54 - Knit

round 55 - K1, K2TOG (10 st remain)

round 56 - Knit

round 57 - K2TOG (5 st remain) - you will need to switch from magic loop to 'flat' on this round

at this point, put some scrap wool in to ensure the bobble remains round and not deflated

rows 58-62 - Knit i-cord for 5 rows

row 63 - KFB (10 st) - switch back to magic loop after this row

round 64 - Knit

round 65 - Knit
round 66 - K2TOG (5 st remain) - you will need to switch from magic loop to 'flat' on this round

at this point, put some scrap wool in to ensure the bobble remains round and not deflated

row 67 - Knit
row 68 - K2TOG, K1, K2TOG, (3 st remain) then pass stitch 1 and 2 over 3 (1 st remain)
Thread yarn through remaining stitch, and weave in loose ends.

Mini Life Belt

This is a little accessory to a project I am currently working on (watch this space).  But I thought it would be worth sharing as a 'project' in its own right as could be used in many more ways than originally intended.  Maybe to embellish a water scene jumper, decorate a card for someone achieving the RLSS Lifesaving Award, or adorn a beach themed bathroom. (it looks large but is only 1.5 inches, you could adapt smaller by using 3 or 4 rather than 5 stitches and smaller needles and thinner wool but due to i-cord technique is unlikely to be able to successfully adapt it as bigger).

Using two double pointed needles (DPN) as small as you can manage (2.25ish mm) and DK wool...

In red cast on 5*

Knit 4 rows in red using i-cord technique (instead of turning row, slide to end of needle and pull yarn tight to close gap)...

Change to white and knit 5 rows, being careful when changing rows to pull white yarn behind and under the red tail keeping spare yarn held inside the cord...

Change to red (knotting the yarn in the centre of the i-cord to the white yarn at the end of stitch 5 to ensure it pulls across) and knit 5 rows as above...

Keep alternating until 4 blocks of red and 4 blocks of white have been completed.  As it is a wide i-cord you may need to massage the cord and give it a vertical tug to make sure the wide joining is not noticeable.

* if you are confident with kitchener stitch then join the two ends together, having done a provisional cast on.

Otherwise; thread the remaining white yarn through the 5 stitches from right to left keeping loose for the moment.  Stitch together white and red ends into a circle by catching a red cast on loop and sewing to a white ladder between the stitches you have just sewn (hence keeping it loose to let you see these bits of thread to pick up).  Pull tight to close.

Weave in any ends left over by threading down the centre of the i-cord.

Now, using brownish yarn (to represent the rope) and a tapestry needle thread up inside of cord for half the circle (to secure it within the project rather than knotting), coming out halfway through a red section.  Take around edge of circle to the next red section placing thumb as a spacer to ensure yarn is loose, and stitch through the outside middle red ladder, tying a two little knots.  Take around edge of circle, repeating above, three times.  Tie the next knot to the starting yarn and thread back down into cord, weaving the ends in.

Ivy Leaf Cord

A quick little number either to make bottle dressings like the leaf or lavender ones, or for more adventurous Christmas wreath like decorations.

Using any wool and the thinnest double pointed needles you can muster without snapping! (don't forget the K2TOG tug tight)
I used DK and 2.25mm....

Cast on 23 stitches
row 1 - K2, sl1 K2TOG PSSO, K5, sl1 K2TOG PSSO, K5, sl1 K2TOG PSSO, K2
row 2 - purl whole row
row 3 - K1, sl1 K2TOG PSSO, K3, sl1 K2TOG PSSO, K3, sl1 K2TOG PSSO, K1
row 4 - purl 8, turn leaving remaining 3 stitches on needle
row 5 - K1, sl1 K2TOG PSSO, K1, turn leaving remaining 3 stitches on needle
row 6 - purl 6 to end
row 7 - K1, sl1 K2TOG PSSO, K1, sl1 K2TOG PSSO, K1
row 8 - purl
row 9 - K1, sl1 K2TOG PSSO, K1

Now you can use these 3 stitches to i-cord, sliding along to end of needle, knit, pulling thread tight across the back, sliding across to the end of the needle again, and pulling tight.

This is the point where I say.... if you are thinking of making a wreath or a string of ivy... I advise having 3 double pointed needles, and using the wool from both ends of the ball.

Leaving the ivy leaf and 11 stitches of i-cord on needle 1, start a new ivy leaf from the other end of the ball of wool using needles 2 and 3, after 7 stitches of i-cord K2TOG leaving 2 stitches and cut yarn removing from ball. Hold needle 2 in front of needle 1 and knit the stitches together using active yarn from first leaf (like a double bind off), the stitches 1 and 2 of the needle 2 leaf with first 2 stitches of needle 1 leaf then the one remaining of needle 1 leaf and continue i-cording as normal.

Add in more ivy leaves as above, knit the 2 stitches first to put the leaf on right, or knit 1 of needle 1 and then the 2 stitches to put the leaf on left.

Lavender cord and bottle topper

Following on from the mint leaf cord and bottle topper to top off my mint vodka, a complimentary lavender option seemed appropriate.  Again, no seams, all in one piece.  I don't expect everyone is out brewing lavender vodka but it could also be used for bathroom related products!

Unlike the leaf, it is all done in an i-cord style - sliding the stitches to the other end of a double pointed needle which in effect makes it knitting in the round.

So, first for the cord...
Using two 2.75mm double pointed needles and DK yarn...


Cast on 3
row 1 - knit
row 2 - K1, [YO,YO, K1]
row 3 - KFB [YO, YO, KFB]
row 4 - K1 [YO, YO, K1]
row 5 - K2TOG (remembering to drop the YOs)
row 6 - knit

Give what you have knitted so far a light tug and it will expand the YOs and look a bit lacey and a bit loopy (don't pull too hard and loose the loops totally!).

Continue to knit i-cord, once i-cord is long enough to wrap round bottle in a loose 'tear drop' shape, then K1, pick up a top stitch from row 5 of the i-cord and K2TOG (middle stitch plus stitch you picked up) and K1. Do 8 more rows of i-cord. Now time to do the final blossom. *

row 7 - KFB [YO, YO, KFB]
row 8 - K1 [YO, YO, K1]
row 9 - K2TOG (remembering to drop row 8's YOs) [YO, YO, K2TOG]
row 10 - K1 [YO, YO, K1]
row 11 - knit
thread remaining yarn through last 3 stitches.

Weave in both ends up the centre of the blossom being careful not to pull too tight and flatten the pointed ends, and pull into the centre of the i-cord through to the middle of the loop.

And for the lavender topper

Using four 2.75mm double pointed needles and DK yarn...

Cast on 24 stitches, 8 per needle
rounds 1 - 7 [K2 P2] rib
round 8 - knit
round 9 - [K1, K2TOG] (you will have to slip stitches from one needle to the next to allow the K2TOG)
round 10 - knit
round 11 - K1, K2TOG
round 12 - K2TOG until last stitch
round 13 - K2TOG
Place remaining 3 stitches on one needle and do 11 rows of i-cord. Then follow blossom pattern rows 7 - 11.

Leaf cord and bottle topper

I wanted to jazz up some home made liquor as a present - how better than to adorn it than with knitting?! This option is a mint vodka in a one-glass wine bottle so I prepared an i-cord with mint leaves on each end - all knitted in one piece (no seams!). I am also working on a lavender vodka and aiming to do lavender ended i-cord... watch this space! This is perfect because it takes a matter of minutes and only a smidgen of your stash yarn. You can adapt it to the right size for whatever bottle/jar/item you wrap it around. Hey, you can even ammend the beggining and end and be more creative than my leaf and lavender - let me know how you get on! Christmas is sorted for hundreds of years with a variety of knitted up drinks, preserves, bath products and so on! Enjoy!

So, first for the cord...
Using two 2.75mm double pointed needles and DK yarn...
Make slip knot
row 1 - P1
row 2 - KFBF - Knit in the front, without sliding stitch off needle knit in the back, and then the front again before sliding off (1 stitch becomes 3)
row 3 - P3
row 4 - K1, M1R, K1, M1L, K1
row 5 - P5
row 6 - K1, M1R, K3, M1L, K1
row 7 - P7
row 8 - K7
row 9 - P7
row 10 - SKP, S2KP, K2TOG
row 11 - P1, P1tbl, P1
row 12 - K1, K1tbl, K1

Now knit a 3 stitch i-cord - instead of turning after row 12, slide stitches to the other end of the needle, and knit, pulling thread tightly behind. Keep knitting and sliding, knitting and sliding and the cord will look like the type you get on knitting dollies.

Once i-cord is long enough to wrap round bottle in a loose 'tear drop' shape, then K1, pick up a top stitch from row 5 of the i-cord and K2TOG (middle stitch plus stitch you picked up) and K1. Do 4 more rows of i-cord. Now time to do the final leaf (back to turning work each row rather than sliding). *

row 13 - K1, K1tbl, K1
row 14 - P1, Ptbl, P1
row 15 - K1, [M1R, YO, K1tbl, YO, M1L all in one stitch], K1
row 16 - P7
row 17 - K7
row 18 - P7
row 19 - K1, SKP, K1, K2TOG, K1
row 20 - P5
row 21 - K1, S2KP, K1
row 22 - P3
row 23 - S2KP
Cut yarn and thread through last stitch.

Weave in both ends up the leaf being careful not to pull too tight and flatten the pointed ends, and pull into the centre of the i-cord through to the middle of the loop.

Voila!  A pretty present presto!

 * if that all sounds too complicated, you have several options - continuing as simple i-cord and then moving onto the leaf. Partway through weaving your ends in then use the yarn to pop a small stitch joining both ends of the i-cord to hold together. Or, you can keep doing your i-cord much longer and once piece is knitted then tie in either a knot or bow around the bottle. The world is your oyster.
And for the leaf topper

Using four 2.75mm double pointed needles and DK yarn...

Cast on 24 stitches, 8 per needle
rounds 1 - 7 [K2 P2] rib
round 8 - knit
round 9 - [K1, K2TOG] (you will have to slip stitches from one needle to the next to allow the K2TOG)
round 10 - knit
round 11 - K1, K2TOG
round 12 - K2TOG until last stitch
round 13 - K2TOG
Place remaining 3 stitches on one needle and do 5 rows of i-cord.  Then follow leaf pattern rows 13 - 23.