"The Craft Group" plus...

If you are an ambitious sock knitter, then this is the sort of 'next step' project for you! Janelle found this project on Ravelry. (You may have to set up a free account to see it.) Every day before Christmas, Janelle received another small part of the sock pattern. Each day another part of the festive sock pattern was revealed. From the crazy toes to the wise owls, there were many fun challenges. One sock was knitted toe to top and the other was knitted top to toe. Amazing job Janelle! The small price you paid for this Jo Price design/pattern was worth it! SEE THE RAVELRY LINK HERE

Hey sis... It's my sister's birthday today so here is a big HAPPY BIRTHDAY to her! She is, amongst other things (kind, caring, adventurous), a great blanket knitter.  She knows I love blue and so she made me this knitted blanket. She uses a circular needle and off she goes. Enjoy your day Jeanette!

When a friend of mine makes a quilt for one of her grandchildren, she takes them along to pick out the fabrics they would like. Even if she is not keen on their choices, she works with it and the results are gorgeous and personal. Today at The Craft Group, Bev I had a knitted rug for "Show and Tell". Her 6 year old grandson was quite specific about what he wanted... It had to have some white patches in it. And because he sometimes gets hot feet, it has to have openings for his feet! How crazy cute is that! A Grandchild creating something innovative together with his grandma. I love it!

My mum is a whizz knitter. I gave her my tea pot and BAM it came back with a cute little cover. She probably has an old knitting book with such things in it but if you would like to try this really thick stitch, I found this one on line and if you understand knitting patterns, you can give it a go! Pattern  HERE

Georgina saw this great idea in the Better Homes and Gardens magazine. She raced off to the Op Shop and found all their 2nd hand knitting needles and went ahead to make these! They are easy to make but tricky at the same time. The tricky part is handling hot plastic but wearing heat proof gloves help with this. Some instructions say to boil the needles and others say heat them in the oven.  Georgina did hers in the oven. Here is a good clip from the TV show "Better Homes and Gardens". I hope it works for you. They also show how to make easy bowls out of your old vinyl records! Or if you google "Knitting needle bangles" you will find lots of peoples' attempts and advice. Have fun!

Knitting an item takes ages. Stitch by stitch the item slowly grows. Why would you bother? We do it for love! For the love of creating and for the love of the ones who will be wearing the items! So, let's take our hats off to some fantastic ladies in The Craft Group who have made nearly 70 knitted items for charity! I don't want to mention their names (mainly Kay C, Bev G) unless I miss someone but here are their lovely warm creations. We sent them off to Mission without Borders who will send them to those in need in Eastern Europe. They suggest some patterns but are happy with other items such as these...     Thank you ladies, your hearts and hands are generous.

Sien has never finished a knitting project. Ever. Until NOW! It doesn't matter that it is finished just in time for summer ;) There are cool evenings in a Sydney summer, so I'm sure she will get to enjoy it. With the help and encouragement of the wonderful Wendy-Shirley-Valda-Roma team, Sien can be very proud of her achievement. It's great beanie with the right amount of slouch! She used a beautiful pure wool yarn. She made some pom poms for the end.  But the pom pom dilemma is... One, two or three pom poms? She decided on three. But then she thought it looked a bit like a moose. I guess this doesn't help does it? Sorry! I couldn't resist. :) GREAT BEANIE SIEN!!!!!!

Cowls are not new but there have been a few appearing at The Craft Group. Here is Joan's. Hers is knitted. You can find some free cowl knitting patterns here . Here is one by Bronwyn. Hers is crocheted. I love these next 2 photos. Bronwyn is chatting to me about her cowl she made. In the background are the quilting ladies frantically searching for a needle that flung into the air and landed who-knows-where. It was a very thorough search, let me tell you! In the end it was found at home in someone else's quilting bag.  It had landed there and wasn't on the ground after all! You might have better luck searching for crochet cowl patterns here . Stay warm!  Although I can't complain with our Sydney winter which has seen so many 20 degree days.  Nice!

Did you know you can knit your little fingers off this month for charity? (NOTE ADDED LATER: SEE BELOW*) In the past, ladies at The Craft Group have made knitted items and asked me how to get them to people in need? I had trouble finding a collector and distributor because my local Guardian pharmacy, who used to take my collections, said they don't do it any more. Some of the things knitted by Bev G given to "Save the Children" Well, either the person working there had no idea or that particular chemist didn't collect. But anyway, they are still collecting and I have the website to prove it! Save the Children distribute knitted items to children in need and you can easily donate your items at your local Guardian Pharmacy.   (look here for the one closest to you). They give out a free pattern book too. In the past they have told me that the items donated don't have to be from the pattern book, they can be anything for children to wear, providing they...

When the snowball yarn first came out everyone made scarves. But I think it is better suited for things like this cute bag made by Lorraine L. It uses 2 balls of snowball yarn and a bit of other yarn for the handle and little flap. The great thing is that I have the pattern for you! (Thanks for the tip Lorraine). Find the pattern here!  It's on the Lincraft website (together with heaps of other cool free patterns!) (I like Lorraine's better than the original! The Lincraft bag looks like it's a corn on the cob!)

I've shown off some of the knitted rugs for charity before, but I want to celebrate more achievements by showing you more! Lots of girls got in and made 10" squares (esp Wendy and Elaine!) then Judy offered to join them together. This is always the job that is hard to get someone to do. Judy has a great way of joining them by crocheting the squares together. Good move Judy. Let me show them off... Thanks everyone. I had them picked up by a "Wrap with Love" local volunteer.  I'm sure they will go off an warm someones body and heart.

I am amazed by the knitting skills of some of the humble ladies at The Craft Group! Bev G is such a gifted knitter. She handed me a bag full of items she hand knitted and wanted to donate to charity. We used to give items to Guardian Pharmacies but they don't collect for charity any more. We donated these to a collection organised by Spotlight. Does anyone know of a reputable collector in Sydney who distributes knitted items to people in need? I like to be prepared for any future knitted beauties. Good on you Bev. You are very talented and very generous!

This scarf by Shirley looks like it has been made with many different textures of year. But it is made by one ball she bought from Big W. Instead of it being a variety of colours, the one ball is a variey of textures. That has many easy creative possibilities!

At The Craft Group, I am always pesting people to make 10 inch squares for charity! Now and then someone passes me a square and I am collecting them to eventually put together a full rug. Bev G has found some time where her idle hands can be put to good use for warming up humanity. Whenever she goes travelling in the car with her husband, out comes the knitting needles. Did Bev pass me a few squares? No... a whole rug! It is made perfectly according to the size requirements of the organisation collecting them. Someone in the world will LOVE this rug Bev. Good on you!!!!! Check out "Wrap with Love Inc." by clicking here . Click  on  "Patterns" to see the exact dimensions they recommend. Go on, aim for just one 10" knitted or crocheted square this winter. You might find it therapeutic and make more! You can pass them on to me, or contact the organisation through their website to find a local collector.

I have a serious soft spot for a cute tea cosie! I have never actually made one.  Oh, I did make a felted coffee plunger warmer but that doesn't count. These ones are made by Cheryl after she learnt how to crochet flowers. So Sweet... So super sweet! I think the fact that I am actually cold right now as I sit and write this  is what's making them so extra appealing.