Dice Knitting Pattern and Yarn Bombing Derby Feste!

This past weekend was Derby Feste and Anne organised to once again Yarn Bomb Derby’s Silk Mill. Many enthusiastic individual knitters and knitting groups got involved and between Anne’s wonderful patterns and everyones hard work (many a knitting needle was worn out) they managed to produce this wonderful tribute to everything game related!

Unfortunately the display was somewhat obscured for part of the day by a giant blow up snake (interesting planning on the part of the event organisers there) but when it was visible the yarn bombing was hugely popular with adults and children alike. All the contributers came along to visit and there was a general feeling of pride that their combined efforts had managed to produce such a wonderful display. Unfortunately it had to be removed at the end of the day but it is due to decorate the local hospital over the next few days.

Knit A Dice

The dice were particularly popular with the Feste visitors so I am very pleased to be able to share Anne’s knitting pattern with you all here today.

Using double knitting yarn and size 8(4mm) needles.

Cast on 20 stitches and knit every row.

Knit until it makes a square, I had to knit 34 rows (this may very on how tightly you personally knit).

Cast off.

Knit 5 more squares in the same way for the other sides of the dice.

To Make Up:

Firstly sew 4 sides together.

I found it best to sew the cast on edge of the first square to the side edge of the second. The side edge of the second was sewn to the cast on edge of the third and then the cast off edge of the third was sewn to the side edge of the fourth.

Sew the first and fourth pieces together so that all four pieces are joined.

Now attach the fifth square to start making it into a cube. Again stitch a cast on edge to a side edge and sew around all four sides.

When stuffing the dice I wanted it to look as square as possible so I used foam cut to size, each side measured approximately 8.5 cms. I had to use several pieces of foam to form this particular cube.

Once it has been stuffed with the foam attach the last side.

I cut circles of black felt to make the spots. They were roughly the size of a 20 pence coin.

Yarn Bombing Knitted Bee Tutorial!

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

Knitting For Charity

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!