Tag Archives: monster

Halloween Knits, Monsters, Eyeball Cushions, Bats….

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I love designing for Halloween,  I love the colours, I love the fun, I love getting to be as silly as my imagination will allow.  This is the third year running I have been asked by Simply Knitting Magazine to design a collection of projects for the Scary Season.  I have had the same model for each shoot and it has been lovely seeing her grow into a young lady.

 

Kitty Ears Hair Clips
Crochet Black Cats and Pumpkins
I Scream

 

This year I have four Halloween projects featured in issue 125 of Simply Knitting Magazine.

eyeseeyou eyeball cushion knit jane burns

Eye See you Cushion

Images courtesy of Simply Knitting Magazine

This comedy cushion will get a giggle or two as you hide from the Fright Night Movie.  Knit in the round from the centre out in chunky yarn, this project works up super fast.

monster bash slippers knit jane burns

Monster Mash

With their furry yarn and big green eyes, Simply Knitting said these were possibly the best slippers they had ever seen! I was thrilled to read that *blushes*.

These cute critters are worked by holding a strand of aran yarn together with the furry yarn to give the slippers a nice sturdy feel and ensure you get plenty of monster miles out of them!

go batty knitted bats jane burns

Go Batty

Go Batty for these charming knitted bats, with their Velcro fastenings these would look great just about anywhere!  I am looking forward to getting them back and putting them on Little Misses bike!

Finally,

iscream knitted cosy jane burns

I scream

Can’t have your hands getting cold whilst you indulge in your favourite treat.  Worked in chunky yarn in the round you can easily make this in an evening.  It would make an excellent gift 😉

I hope you have enjoyed these as much as I did designing and making them.

You can get your hands on a copy of the magazine here

As always I would love to see your finished projects on my Facebook page and on Ravelry.

Happy Knitting X

 

 

 

Hello from the Little Monster in my Pocket Pal Sweater

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It has been both busy and exciting times here at Knitting Image headquarters (okay, in my studio).  There have been lots of exciting commissions, and new companies to work with. I find it such a challenge to keep quiet about my projects as I am working on them.  I cast off and immediately want to write a blog ‘show & tell’.

A while back the folks at Simply Knitting Magazine asked me to apply my quirky style to some children’s garments.  This is the first in a series of designs, allow me to introduce you to ‘Pocket Pal’

pocket pal monster sweater jane burns

A special thank you to this very handsome model

This adorable (even if I do say so myself) sweater has it’s very own baby monster which fits snuggly into the Mummy (or Daddy) monsters pouch.  Knit in Sublime Extra Fine Merino DK, it is beautifully soft against delicate skin.  The pattern is written for ages 0-6 months to 5 years and would look equally cute worked in a more feminine palette.

The sweater uses the Elizabeth Zimmermann sewn bind off for the neck.  This particular casting off method produces a very stretchy neckband, great for children’s garments.  This method developed by EZ of sewing the tail of yarn through the stitches creates a finished edge that perfectly mirrors the long tail cast on.

This is how you do it….

Leave a tail of yarn approx. three times the circumference of the neckband, thread this through a tapestry needle

  1. Insert tapestry needle into first two stitches on left hand needle as if to p2tog, draw yarn through (do not slip off the needle)
  2. Reinsert the tapestry needle into the first stitch on the left-hand needle as if to knit, draw yarn through and slip stitch off the needle

Repeat steps 1 & 2 until all stitches are cast off.  You can find a great video demonstration here

pocket pal monster sweater jane burns

Issue 122 of Simply Knitting is available now, or you can download it from the App store and get knitting straight away.

As always I would love to see your finished projects on my Facebook page.

 

Mr KnittingImage makes his debut post

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I know my wife so well I thought I may get away with writing this while pretending to be her, but it occurred to both of us that there was no point – so I’m guest writing this while Jane is busy keeping up with her deadlines – as well as making her presence known on Yarn Shop Day, but more on that in the coming days.

I’m always extremely proud to see her work in national magazines, and more so when her work is on the front cover, as in this months Simply Knitting issue 120 (the owl, top right!).

Simply Knitting Issue 120 May2014

Simply Knitting Issue 120 May 2014

The magazine features 3 creations:

Flying High mobile
Pyjama Party case
Monster tissue box cover

Monster is a funky cover for your chosen brand of tissue. It’s made from simple parts sewn together, so is a great project for beginners. Googly eyes help with the oddball look, and the eyebrows can be arranged to create something as either crazy or intimidating as you wish :).

Pyjama Party owl is a pyjama case. I suppose it would be aimed at kids, but I prefer to think it’s for those of us young at heart. It features a cool stitch technique for creating the honeycomb pattern, and I’ve already seen knitters apply their own creative flair and use alternate colours to wonderful effect.

Finally Flying High, a relaxing mobile that’s sure to calm those still learning to find their voice when they should be sleeping – not that I’m scarred from fatherhood! It was great watching these simple balloon shapes come together, and piecing them together will be a joy for showing off your crafting skills.

First post complete – I think it’s time I make another cup of tea (knitters fuel) before getting back to writing code… well… it’s a Bank Holiday, perhaps I’ll get back to my gaming!

Until next time, stitch on and don’t forget to post your creations online and give Jane a shout on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram, we love to see them!