Shepherd Baby Set Video

 

My Shepherd Baby Set Pattern is for sale in all the usual places. 

 

https://www.ravelry.com/designers/ginny-sturdy

https://www.etsy.com/shop/GinxCraft

 

I thought you might like this photo montage. If you want to buy it as a Project Kit it is for sale by mail order at Blacker Yarns. The kit includes the pattern and 2 x 50g balls of lovely soft Blacker Swan yarn. Also your kit will be packed and posted by me.

https://www.blackeryarns.co.uk/shepherd-baby-set-project.../

Shepherd Baby Set

I'm not sure if anyone has noticed that so far I have not been very productive with pattern writing this year. I have been busy working away, and am finally ready with this new three patterns in one Shepherd Baby Set. For me this has been a bit of an epic, as I have not written a coordinated set before.

The set is knitted in 4ply wool, and the pattern contains instructions for all three items Hat, Shoes and Mittens and for three sizes: 0-3 months, 3-6 months and 6-12 months. All the examples in these photos are knitted from the lovely Blacker Swan 4-ply which is sold at my place of work Blacker Yarns. I would recommend this wool, which is very soft and lovely to knit with. If you wanted to gift the pattern and wool to someone, it is available as a kit, or you could gift it to yourself. 

The pattern is also available in my Etsy and ravelry shops, and could be made with other 4-ply wools. The shepherd’s baby hat is knitted in the round, and designed to be deep, and with earflaps to keep the baby really cosy. The pattern also contains instructions on a very easy method to make a little pompom.

The shoes and mittens are knitted on two needles, and by the ingenious method of shaping made by turning midrow, you will be amazed that the shoes are knitted in one piece, with just one short seam to sew up.

The mittens can be stitched to a length of icord, and then threaded through your baby’s jacket or cardigan, so they are always handy!

I am very grateful to my lovely little model, my great nephew, who was happy to be dressed in wool despite the nice weather. This pattern could also be for girl babies, or little shepherdesses.

I have made another of my little videos, from a montage of photos, and I will share here after it has been published on the Blacker Yarns social media.

Fingerless Gloves

I had left my gloves in the country, so decided to make myself a new pair. I have used this pattern before, when I made these mittens and gave them to a friend: Margot's Garden Fingerless Mittens.  

I love the design, and fingerless is usually my favourite sort of glove. Perfect if you have jobs to do, or photographs to take. I didn't look back at the previous post, but once again I extended the ribbed sections for the wrist. 

Just a reminder that there is still plenty of time left to join in my Ginx Woolly Linx party for Feburary. Click on the photo above or at the top of the page to find the party. I would love to see what you have been working on this month.

My Sparkly Mittens

I have knitted myself some fingerless mittens, and have gone for elegant black with a bit of sparkle. I just love this wool.

Two of my local wool shops have closed recently, and in the town where I live that does not leave a lot of choice. (I guess it is so easy to buy wool online these days.) There is still the famous "never knowingly undersold" department store, and although it has a fairly big choice, is not particularly good value. 

So when I occasionally see wool in any other shop I always have a good look. This wool was from Poundland, although unusually I think it may have been £2 a ball. Totally acrylic, but for gloves something hard-wearing and washable seems like a good thing. What I love is the flecks of sparkle. Did you know it is really hard to photograph sparkle, but I hope you can see it.

 

Snowdrops

Busy making some baby shoes and mittens. These were ordered to match a specific baby suit. I love green - my favourite colour. And so I have been waiting for the chance to go out and photograph some real snowdrops. One of my favourite flowers, and a sign that Spring is on its way.

Frog Mittens

This week I have been knitting some children's fingerless mittens. I have so admired many of the cabled owls I have seen recently, so thought I would have my own go at producing my own animal from cables. So meet Cable Frog.

He is made from a combination of cabling and bobbles. These are not hard to knit, but the part I found most challenging was writing the cable instructions. Not simple as sometimes you need to cable one or two stitches, and are you on a purl row or a knit row?
 

But I do like these little frogs, with their big feet, and little open mouths. I have used them on the back of some child's fingerless mittens. The mittens are knitted with Aran wool, and although I think the cream frogs show up better in my photos, I also thought green was quite a suitable colour for frogs. The mitten pattern is for sale on ravelry, and I have also put on the frog motif as separate download, so you could use it in whatever way you wish: frog edged scarf perhaps, frog pencil case or bookmark.

I have a few more plans for the frogs, but just thought I would show you this one, which was a bit of a flop. I think it is a cute froggy hat, but the recipient was not happy. She says she would not want to be seen out looking a bit like my acorn fairy. I can sort of see what she means. I may have another attempt at something similar, but for a baby, or at least a younger child who hasn't yet got strong views on fashion and what is cool. I do think Mums would love it.

"Mummy, Why have you made me look like an acorn?"