Old Knitted Cupcake Blog Posts


Here are a selection of posts rescued from my old blog!

04 December 2008

Free Mini Christmas Lights Pattern

Hello all!
My name is Claire and I'm the co-writer of this blog - although I think Abbie is posting more than me at the moment! I am on ravelry and my ravatar is claire-marie
I would like to start off with a free pattern - it is the first that I have designed myself - I was interested in knitting some Christmas Lights for my Christmas tree - however, I couldn't find any suitable patterns so I made one up!
So, here goes:
Mini Christmas Lights
Use 3.5mm straight needles and DK yarn.
This pattern uses about 4yrds of the bulb colour, and about 2 yrds of the plug colour for each light.
Abbreviation: kfb = knit into the front and back of the stitch
Cast on 2sts in the bulb colour
Row 1: purl
Row 2: Kfb to end [4sts]
Row 3: purl
Row 4: (kfb, k1) rpt to end [6sts]
Row 5: purl
Row 6: (kfb, k2) rpt to end [8sts]
Row 7: purl
Row 8: (kfb, k3) rpt to end [10sts]
Row 9: purl
Row 10: (kfb, k4) rpt to end [12sts]
Row 11: purl
Row 12: (kfb, k5) rpt to end [14sts]
Row 13: purl
Row 14: (kfb, k6) rpt to end [16sts]
Row 15: purl
Row 16: knit
Row 17: purl
Row 18: k2tog to end [8sts]
Break off bulb colour and join in plug colour
Row 19: purl
Row 20: knit
Row 21: purl
Row 22: knit
Row 23: purl
Row 24: k2tog to end [4sts]
Break off yarn and thread thorugh stitches twice - pull up tight. With right sides together, oversew row ends of the plug. Strating from tip of bulb, oversew row ends to halfway up the length of the bulb. Turn out the right way and stuff, then sew up opening.
The mini christmas lights can be sewn along a length of ribbon or i-cord and draped around your Christmas tree!

01 January 2009

New Year, New Knitted Sackboy!

Hi Everyone and Happy New Year. We hope that 2009 brings lots of lovely knitted things. We got some good books/knitting notions for Christmas and are looking forward to putting them to good use! Hope you all had a fantastic Christmas also. This blog has been slacking in the last month or so - we're putting it down to the rush of the festivities - but it is our New Year's Resolution to try harder in 2009 (I give it a week!).
I'm currently knitting a lovely ski hat with a spiral pattern in a charcoal and pink wool. It's not a pattern of my own, you can find it on Ravelry, but I had to adapt it as the sizing was a little odd. It's knitting up pretty quickly on a lovely pair of bamboo circular needles, but I'm really desperate to get it finished as I'm off skiing a week on Sunday! It's done in two colours, which makes it really thick and warm. I made it in colours to co-ordinate with my skiwear, so I'm hoping the final FO fits ok!
This is the spiral ski hat in its early stages!
This is the spiral ski hat in its early stages!
It's actually nearly done now, but I'll add a photo when it's completed.
Another thing I'm really excited about knitting is Sackboy from PS3's LittleBigPlanet! I played the game recently at a friend's house and fell in love! For those of you who have no idea what I'm talking about, I'll explain. LittleBigPlanet is a 3D game on the Playstation 3, which I won't claim to fully understand, and you run around in a little world trying to solve puzzles with logic to progress. "You" are a little knitted creature - Sackboy -(although I think you can be a Sackgirl too), and you can dress up in different clothes which you collect as you progress in the game. It's really cute. Anyway, the day before yesterday I woke up with a sudden urge to knit this creature! I did the usual searches for the pattern, but they were pretty useless and due to copyright etc. I couldn't find a free copy. I frankly couldn't be bothered to sit around writing the pattern.  However, I did notice that Alan Dart had written an 'unofficial' pattern in Issue 49 (January 2009) of Simply Knitting. I was upset to find out that this is generally sold out and that many knitters have been unable to obtain it. However,  happened to be in WHSmith the day before in my local town and had briefly picked up a copy of Simply Knitting. The free gift had fallen down to obscure the advertisement for the Sackboy pattern, or else I would have bought it there and then! So I frantically went back to town, hoping that no-one had bought it! Thankfully, they hadn't and I secured the last copy!
Sackboy - how cute is he?
Sackboy - how cute is he?
So, I've bought the zip and little buttons for his eyes and as soon as I finish my ski hat (hopefully later today if I get my act together and stop writing rambling blogposts) I am going to start Sackboy. I can't wait! Has anyone else knitted a Sackboy? Please share your photos! Hopefully I'll make some clothes for him if I have time. I also want to modify the pattern to make a smaller one.
EDIT - Simply Knitting have just teamed up with The Sun newspaper and released the Alan Dart Sackboy pattern for FREE download. I have checked and it is all authorised so anyone who's been struggling to get hold of the pattern can get it from there! Just wished it'd happened a few days before!
Anyway, hope everybody has a fantastic 2009!
Lots of Love,

the knitted cupcake x


EDIT - January 2011
It seems like everyone's having a little trouble with the fingers. Although I haven't made a video yet, I have taken some photos, which will hopefully help you. I made this pretty quickly, so I apologise for the poor quality of the photos (taken on my mobile).
So, if you want to know how to make the sackboy fingers, read on:

How to make the arms/hands/fingers:
ARMS:
Row 1. Cast on 6 stitches
I used the cable cast on method.
Sackboy Fingers Step 1 (Row 1)
Row 2: Purl
Row 3: Increase into every stitch (12 stitches)
 
Sackboy Fingers Step 2 (Row 3)
 
Rows 4-16: Stocking stitch, starting with a purl row
 
Sackboy Fingers Step 3 (Rows 4-16)
 
Thumb:
Row 17: Cast on 3 stitches(I did so cable style) at the beginning of the row and then knit that row (15 stitches)
 
Sackboy Fingers Step 4 (Row 17)
 
Row 18: Cast on 3 stitches then purl the row (18 stitches)
 
Sackboy Fingers Step 5 (Row 18)
 
Row 19: Cast off 3 stitches then knit the row
 
Sackboy Fingers Step 6 (Row 19)
 
Row 20: Cast off 3 stitches then purl the row
 
Sackboy Fingers Step 7 (Row 20)
 
You should now have something that looks like a T-shirt shape.
Right, now moving onto the fingers. You'll have to bear with me here (and ignore my bad knitting). The hand and fingers can look very wrong at times but just stick with it and it'll turn out ok.
Little Finger:
Row 21: Knit 7, then turn and work on these stitches only
 
Sackboy Fingers Step 8 (Row 21)
 
With me so far?
Row 22: Purl 3, then turn and work on these 3 stitches only
Sackboy Fingers Step 9 (Row 22)
Row 23: Knit (3 stitches only!)

 
Sackboy Fingers Step 10
Break yarn (100cm length). Thread through 3 of the stitches on the needle (the ones you were working on), draw up tightly and oversew side edges of the finger.
 
Sackboy Fingers Step 11: the completed little finger
 
 
Right, well that's a thumb and a finger down, only 3 more to go!
Ring Finger:
Not sure I can label the rows anymore!
This is what it should look like at the moment (5 stitches left hand needle, 4 stitches right hand needle:
Sackboy Fingers Step 12: before starting the ring finger
Next Row: Using the remaining length of yarn, knit 2 from left-hand needle, turn and work on these 6 stitches only
 
Sackboy Fingers Step 13
 
*Next Row: Purl 3, turn and work on these stitches only
 
Sackboy Fingers Step 14
 
Next Row: Knit (3 stitches only)
Your work should now look like this (3 stitches on the left needle, 6 stitches on the right):
Sackboy Fingers Step 15
Thread the yarn through 3 stitches on the needle (the ones you've been working on), draw up  tightly then oversew the edges as before **
Sackboy Fingers Step 16
This is where it all starts to look a little odd, but don't worry.
Sackboy Step 17: thumb and 2 fingers completed
Middle Finger:
Next Row: Using remaining length of yarn , knit 1 stitch from left hand needle, turn and work on these four stitches only (2 stitches on left hand needle, 4 on right)
Then just do the same as you did for the last finger from * to **
 
Sackboy Step 18: making up the middle finger
 
You should now have 2 stitches on the left needle and 1 on the right
Sackboy Fingers Step 19: completion of middle finger
Index Finger:
Next Row: Using remaining length of yarn, knit 2 stitches from left hand needle.
All 3 stitches will be on one needle now
Sackboy Fingers Step 20
Stocking stitch 2 rows
 
Sackboy Fingers Step 21
 
Thread yarn through the stitches on the needle and draw up tightly
Flatten it out. You should have something like this:
Sackboy Fingers Step 22: completion of the index finger
Now, if you read on to the making up instructions, it's fairly straightforward. Oversew the index finger, then thumb and arm.
Here is the finished article (looks better when stuffed):
Sackboy Fingers Step 23: Finished!
I hope this has helped you all. I did this in a bit of a rush, so if there are any errors I apologise and please let me know.
Good Luck,
the knitted cupcake x

04 January 2009

Springtime Tulips

hello all, here is the second free pattern from theknittedcupcake!
claire's tulip
claire's tulip
this pattern is for a crochet tulip and a tulip bud, complete with stems! All stitch names are the English version.
Using DK yarn and hook size 3.5mm-4mm
Open tulip flower:
Using yellow, make a loop around your finger and make 6dc into the ring - pull ring tight.
Work in a spiral and crochet 2dc into each dc (12dc)
Place a stitch marker in the front loop of the first of these 12dc
Next round - work only in back loop - (2dc into a dc, 1dc into a dc) repeat to end (18dc) Join with slip st into 1st dc of the round. Fasten off yellow.
To make the stamens, join in black and work on the WRONG side of the centre piece - slip stitch into both loops of the next 3dc, slip stitch into the centre hole)
 repeat 6 times, join in first slip stitch, fasten off black.
Join red into the front loop of dc with stitch marker in it.Chain 1 and work 12dc around circle into the front loops around the circle working over the black strands.
Continue working in a spiral.
(2dc in a dc, 1dc in a dc) repeat 6 times (18dc)
(2dc in a dc, 1dc in each of next 2dc) repeat 6 times (24dc)
(2dc in a dc, 1dc in each of next 3dc) repeat 6 times (30dc)
1dc in each dc around for next 7 rounds.
Petal round: (slip st into next stitch, 2ch, treble into next st, 1ch, double treble into next st, 1ch, treble into next st, 2ch, slip st into next st) repeat 6 times and fasten off (6 petals)

Tulip Bud
Using red DK yarn, make a loop around finger and make 6dc into ring.
Work in a spiral, make 2dc into each dc (12dc)
(2dc into a dc, 1dc into a dc) rpt to end (18dc)
1dc into a dc (18dc)
(1dc into each of next 7dc, dc2tog) twice (16dc)
(1dc into each of next 6dc, dc2tog) twice (14dc)
(1dc into each of next 5dc, dc2tog) twice (12dc)
(1dc into each of next 4dc, dc2tog) twice (10dc)
(1dc into each of next 3dc, dc2tog) twice (8dc)
(1dc into each of next 2dc, dc2tog) twice (6dc)
(1dc into each of next 1dc, dc2tog) twice (4dc)
Fasten off.
Finish off tulips with a 4stitch i-cord stem.

Hope you enjoy!
Claire x

15 February 2009

Horst Schulz - African Adventure

Good Evening!
As I was browsing through Ravelry recently, I came across a very interestingly designed throw in someone's project page. It was called An African Adventure and designed by a gentleman called Horst Schulz. I was very interested in this pattern, and came across a whole group on Ravelry, dedicated to his work. It is called the Horst Schulz Fans.
On their group page discussion board, I began to learn a little more about Horst Schulz. When he was a boy, he lived during World War 2 at a refugee camp in Denmark. An old lady there taught him to to knit with yarn from old sacks. He later worked as a decorator in Berlin and began to knit in patchwork style, putting little pieces of knitting together in any direction - modular knitting. He calls it Patchwork Knitting. He holds workshops in many different countries, and An African Adventure was created during a workshop in South Africa in 2000.
Many people are making this wonderful throw on Ravelry and it is amazing to see all the gorgeous colourways used. It is really more a work of art than a throw!
I am not planning to start making this at the moment (I already have a throw that needs finishing), but it looks really interesting and hopefully I'll be able to create it in the future. Hopefully, this blogpost will inspire those of you that don't already know about this pattern to give it a go. If you join the group on Ravelry, have a look at the notes page for useful tips and advice. There is no 'pattern' as such.
Here are some wonderful pictures that dolliewollie very kindly let me post on here:
theknittedcupcake x

02 March 2009

Free "A Little Knitted Heart Motif' Pattern

Recently, I wanted to send a friend a card for her wedding but couldn't find anything I liked in the shops that didn't cost the Earth. So, I thought I'd knit a little heart motif.
I searched for a pattern, but couldn't really find what I was after so I thought I'd have a go at creating my own.
This is a pattern for a little heart motif, which measures approximately 4 x 4cm depending on your gauge. You can make it in all colours. The idea is that the motif is used to decorate a card but it probably can be used for whatever catches your imagination - decorated jeans, t-shirts, bags etc. The idea was originally for a wedding card, but can also be used for christenings, birthdays, anniversaries, births and anything else you can think of!
Have fun, and let me see your pictures! Feel free to knit this for personal use or for charity, but as with any of the patterns we're posting on this site please don't use the pattern for personal profit or reproduce without permission.
The Ravelry pattern link is here. You can see my one knitted up on Ravelry here.
A Little Knitted Heart Motif


A Little Knitted Heart Motif
A Little Knitted Heart Motif


Equipment:
Small amounts of DK wool in chosen colour
2.75mm knitting needles (UK12, US2)
Stitch holder
Needles
Cotton (in matching colour)
Beads or other decoration
Method
Cast on 1 stitch in chosen wool
Rows 1-19:
Row 1 and all odd-number rows: purl to end
Row 2: Make a stitch by knitting into the front and back of the stitch (kfb) (2 stitches)
Row 4: kfb, k1 (3 stitches)
Row 6: kfb, k1, kfb (5 stitches)
Row 8: kfb, k3, kfb (7 stitches)
Row 10: kfb, k5, kfb (9 stitches)
Row 12: kfb, k7, kfb (11 stitches)
Row 14: kfb, k9, kfb (13 stitches)
Row 16: knit
Row 18: knit
Rows 20-end:
Row 20: k1, k2tog, k2tog, k1 (4 stitches on the right needle. Put the remaining stitches on the stitch holder and continue knitting with the stitches on the right needle only)
Row 21: purl to end
Row 22: k1, k2tog, k1 (3 stitches)
Row 23: purl to end
Row 24: knit to end (3 stitches)
Thread yarn through remaining stitches and bind off, taking care not to distort the shape.
Take the remaining stiches off the stitch holder and put back onto the needle.
Row 25: cast off one stitch, k2tog, k2tog, k1 (4 stitches)
Repeat rows 21-25.
Tie in loose ends, taking care to keep the shape of the heart. Cover with a damp cloth and lightly press with a warm iron. Do not press too hard, or the stitch detail will be lost.
Using the cotton and a needle, decorate with beads.
Your heart is now ready for use. I use a few dabs of a strong glue to stick it to a card.
theknittedcupcake x



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