Knitted Poppy Tea Cosy

After a few false starts I have knitted a tea cosy which consists of 3 strips on each side.  I then sewed them together, and added a few rows at the top and bottom to neaten the edges and to get the right length.  I toyed with the idea of a green tab to finish it off, but decided that the pom-pom looks better. 

I had intended to do more strips and more poppies but I think that would be better suited to a complicated fair-isle/intarsia design.  With this design, I quite like the way the whole poppy seems to be at the centre of a cross.

I have thought of 3 other ideas for tea cosies with poppies on and I am now off to cast one on.

 

Modular Knitting or Strip Knitting?

In this blog I tend to use the term “modular knitting” to refer to all forms of knitting which involve knitting shapes – squares, oblongs, L-shapes, triangles or even irregular shapes.

Horst Schulz uses the term “patchwork knitting” to describe his modular knitting.  I tend to use this term just for quilts and throws.

Vivian Høxbro uses the term “domino knitting” to describe her modular knitting – but she mainly uses squares and shapes involving squares.

There is another lesser-used term – “strip knitting”.  Much of my modular knitting is really strip knitting.   The photo below shows a commercially bought bag covered in strip knitting.  I was trying to use up very small bits of Fandango yarn – so I knitted very narrow strips.

 

The tea cosy that I am currently working on is an example of strip knitting.  When I say “currently working on” I mean “thinking about” – actually this week I have been knitting a very small jacket for a baby who arrived last weekend.  This afternoon I am going to get on with roughing out a pattern for my tea cosy.

Modular Knitted Bag’s First Excursion

 

I admit it – this post is just an excuse to show you a photo of the other side of my bag.  I used it yesterday with the green side facing outwards, but today I showed off this other side.

What I like about using Fandango yarn is that the modules and stripes of knitting are not clearly defined – they merge together.  You can achieve a similar effect by felting wool, but it involves a lot more hassle.

Now I am at a loose end – what shall I knit next?  I would like to make a start on a jumper but I think that I had better do something easier.  I may attempt a tea cosy to commemorate the First World War.  I have an idea in my head – I hope I will be able to translate it into knitting.

Modular Knitted Bag – It’s Finished – Almost!

 

I have now widened and lengthened the 2 side panels, made handles and made an inner rim for the top of the bag. 

In order to produce the sloped shape I used a basic mitred square of: 9+1+9 at the bottom and 8+1+8 at the top.  In fact there are no individual squares – and so I used oblongs of 9+ 1+18+1+9 and L-shapes of 9+1+18+1+18+9 for the bottom shapes and oblongs of 8+1+16+1+8 and L-shapes of 8 + 1+16+1+16+8 for those at the top. 

All the knitting is stocking stitch but it is hard to tell!

I have said the bag is finished – well it isn’t quite – I need to do some more stitching to secure the inner rim inside the bag and I need to use sewing thread to do a line of stitches along each handle to stop them twisting when I use the bag.

Modular Knitted Bag - Second Progress Report

 

In odd moments during the week I have managed to finish the second panel of my modular knitted bag.  I think I am happy with it!

I was thinking about the yarn – which is Colinette Fandango.  I know the light grey is the shade called Slate.   I was trying to identify the others.  I think the following is correct:

• Grey: Slate
• Green: Forest?
• Dark mauve: Fruit Couli
• Blue: Blue Parrot
• Light mauve: Lilac
• Brown: Copperbeech
• Gold: Pierro
• Pink: Cherry
• Blue/Pink/Gold:  I am not sure - it may be Morocco.

I used to be more organised and tie a piece of yarn to the band so that I knew which colour was which.  I still have lots of scraps of yarn from old projects, but more recently I have foolishly thought I would remember.  It doesn’t matter really.  If you forget what colour yarn you have bought from Colinette – you can send a small amount of it to them to be identified so you can have some more.  Sadly that doesn’t apply to Fandango.

Noro Magazine Issue 4

When I was out this morning I found the latest Noro magazine. 

The cowl on the front cover is lovely but my favourite pattern in the magazine is a feather and fan stitch blanket knitted in Silk Garden.  It would cost a fortune to make – but I can dream!

There is also a very striking scarf made from crocheted “flowers”.  I am not sure I have the technical skill required for it – but I wish I had!

For those of you who have ever had battles with Noro yarn – there is an interesting article called: “10 tricks for bending Noro colors to your will”.  This explains why two balls of apparently the same shade can seem completely different.

If, like me, you have no intention of making any of the items in the magazine – it is still worth looking at, for inspiration.

Modular Knitted Bag - First Progress Report

I have finished the main panel of the first side of the bag.  I am pleased that I managed to use a different number of stitches to get the panel to slope in at the top so that it will fit the red bag lining.

The light grey background looks OK but I tried using dark grey for the other side and I thought it looked too gloomy.  I want a summery look – so I think I am going to use light green.  I know my other maze bag is green but it looks completely different. 

Although I always make the sides of my bags different – so I can turn them around for a different look – I like there to be some link between the 2 sides – so I intend to use the same colours – the green background will make the panel look different.