Tag Archives: craft

Yarn Bombing Knitted Bee Tutorial!

Posted on by Abi

A tutorial has been long overdue, so due to the popularity of Anne’s bees during our recent yarn bombing antics we’ve decided to share the pattern here with you all today!

How to Knit a Bee

You will need small amounts of double knitting yarn in black and yellow.

A pair of size 8 (4mm) knitting needles

Cast on 5 stitches in yellow yarn.

Row 1, Knit1, (kfb) x3, Knit1 (8stitches)

Row 2 and every alternate row purl.

Row 3, Knit1, (kfb) x7, (15 stitches)

Row 5, Knit1, (kfb) x13, Knit1 (28 stitches)

Row 7, (Knit1, kfb) x14 (42 stitches)

Rows 9, 11, 13, Knit.

Row 15 Change to black yarn and knit 6 rows.

Row 21 Change back to yellow yarn and knit 6 rows.

Row 27 Knit 6 rows in black yarn.

Row 33 Knit 6 rows yellow.

Row 39 Knit 6 rows black.

Row 45 Knit 6 rows yellow.

Row 51 Knit 6 rows black.

Row 57 Still using black yarn k2tog across the row, (21 stitches)

Row 58 knit.

Row 59 k2tog across row, (11 stitches)

Row 60 knit.

Row 61 (k2tog) x5, knit 1 (6 stitches)

Row 62 k2tog, knit 2, k2tog, (4 stitches)

On last 4 stitches knit 6 rows, this will form the sting.

Break yarn and thread through the 4 stitches and pull tight.

This makes the bees body. Sew along the sting and then sew the body together matching stripes up. Leave a gap in the body to stuff, once stuffed sew gap closed. With a piece of black yarn stitch running stitches around the start of the first black stripe and pull slightly to give the head a little shape.

Stitch on two buttons for the eyes and a smiley mouth.

Pattern for the wings.

You need a small amount of black yarn and size 9 (3.75mm) needles.

Knit four wings as each one is made by sewing two pieces together.

Cast on 6 stitches.

Row 1 knit

Row 2 purl

Row 3 knit

Row4 purl

Row 5 knit but increase one stitch at each end of the row (8 stitches)

Row 6 and each alternate row is purl.

Row 7 knit but increase one stitch at each end of the row (10 stitches)

Row 9 knit but increase one stitch at each end of the row (12 stitches)

Row 11 knit but increase one stitch at each end of the row (14 stitches)

Row 13 knit but increase one stitch at each end of the row (16 stitches)

Row 15 knit but increase one stitch at each end of the row (18 stitches)

Rows 17, 19, 21 knit.

Rows 23, continue in one row knit one row purl and decrease one stitch at each end of every row until you have 10 stitches.

Row 27 k2tog at each end of row (8 stitches)

Row 28 purl

Row 29 k2tog at each end of row (6 stitches)

Row 30 purl

Row 31 k2tog at each end of row (4 stitches)

Cast off.

Sew two wing pieces together wrong side facing outwards. When both wings wre complete sew them to the back of the bee behind the head.

 

Key

K2tog – knit two stitchs together

Kfb – knit into the front and back of the loop to make a new stitch

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Knitting For Charity

Posted on by Abi

Here at Angel Eden we are always looking for creative ways to use up left over pieces of materials from our various crafts. So when we heard that Oxfam were looking for knitters to help them raise funds we were keen to get involved.

Anne and I both have a huge amount of leftover wool from various projects, too nice to throw away but too small to use this seemed like a wonderful opportunity to not only clear some space but help out a worthy cause at the same time.

The idea is simple, enthusiastic knitters knit small squares which can then be sewn into a larger blanket. These are then taken along to local and national festivals and sold to raise funds for the charity. In 2010 the blankets raised £6000 at just one music festival alone!

We began by knitting six inch squares, but it soon became apparent that it would take a considerable amount of time to complete a 6ft by 4ft blanket. With this in mind we are endeavouring to enlist fellow knitters in this most worthy of causes.We have had a great response on Twitter already but are now hoping to get you guys involved as well.

If you would like to join in and help us to make as many blankets as possible then here’s what you need to do:

Squares are knitted in double knitting yarn on size 8(4mm) needles. We cast on 30 stitches and knitted 56 rows in garter stitch to make a square.

Basically we are looking for six inch squares knitted in any colour of DK yarn and we will sew them together into blankets.

Contact Anne or myself by email, facebook or through Twitter for details of where to send your completed squares.

Thanks again!

 

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Win tickets to Sewing for Pleasure, Hobbycrafts and Fashion, Embroidery & Stitch!!

Posted on by Abi

Between 22-25th March, Birmingham NEC will once again play host to three wonderful creative shows.

Sewing for Pleasure features more than 150 stalls filled to bursting with irresistible products, inspiring displays and expert advice.

Fresh from filming ‘Kirstie’s Handmade Britain’ Jamie Chalmers (aka Mr X Stitch) will be featuring up and coming trends to the world of embroidery and needlecraft.

For those interested in ‘Make Do and Mend’ a visit to the Sewing Hub is a must. Experts are on hand to give valuable advice and practical workshops.

After all that you can pop into the second show Fashion, Embroidery and Stitch where you can enjoy free catwalk shows throughout the day.

If like me you love everything costume and period drama then you’ll adore the stunning displays of costumes from Downton Abbey. Not to mention the Austen inspired quilt collections or Poetry in Stitches 3.

Finally a trip across to Hobbycraft where you can indulge in workshops covering everything from beadwork, jewellery making, stamping, card making, embossing, pyrography and papercraft.

To top it all you can even visit for free if you are one of the 5 lucky winners of our latest competition.

We have 5 pairs of tickets which gives you access to all three shows to giveaway.

How to Enter

Step 1. Leave a comment on this post. Remember to leave me a way to contact you if you win.

Step 2. Do any of the following:

The competition will end at midnight 10th March 2012.

For full details on all the shows visit their website here.

The pic of the Rose is used courtesy of Sarah Charmain Textiles (the very talented designer).

The Catwalk pic is Copyright – michaeljamesphoto.co.uk

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