Knitted Head Scarf Patterns - Part 2

As promised, here are the additional patterns from my head scarf collection:

3. Purple/Grey Headscarf (middle right)

For this head scarf, I used round needles so there is no sewing up at the ends. You could also use DPNs (double pointed needles).
Needles: 4mm round needles, __cm long
Yarn: Any DK wool, 50g ball, suitable for 4mm needles.

Cast on 100 stitches in purple yarn.
Be careful the yarn is not twisted when joining your stitches into a loop to start Row 1.
Row 1: k2, p2
Continue until head scarf measures 2cm from starting edge.
Next Row: using grey yarn, k
Continue until head scarf measures 6cm from starting edge.
Next Row: using purple yarn, k2, p2
Continue until head scarf measures 8cm from starting edge.
Cast off using rib.

Change colours, width as desired. Add stripes of colour in the middle section. Let your creativity really go wild with this one!

4. Moss Head scarf
I made four of these in varying colours and they all looked so stylish. Plus they're super easy to knit!
Needles: 7mm
Yarn: Any chuncky yarn will work.
If you want to use a thinner yarn, just use smaller needles. This will create a smaller, tighter bobble effect.


Cast on 8 stitches
Row 1: k1, p1
Row 2: p1, k1
Continue repeating this sequence until desired length.
Cast off
Sew ends together.

Job done!

Enjoy the patterns and let me know how they turn out. I'd love to see how creative you've been...

Knitted Head Scarf Patterns

So, as many of you will know, I have recently got married and so have naturally doubled the amount of family members I can knit for! This led to knitting NINE head scarves for Christmas pressies. Now they've all opened them I thought I'd share my patterns with you. Yes, that's right, I made them up myself. I'm climbing the knitting ladder one stitch at a time!

Here are the first two patterns for you. It's the first time I've written down a pattern, so please post up any questions you have. Let me know how yours work out.

1. Purple Passion (left)
This is so easy, anyone can make it!
Needles: 7mm
Yarn: Any chunky wool will work.

Cast on 12 stitches
Row 1: K1, P1 for entire row
Row 2: as row above.
Continue like this until it fits around yours head (or the head your knitting it for).
Cast off.
Sew two ends together.

2. Holy Headscarf (middle left)
This one has holes in the middle which are created using 'yo' (yarn over). I knitted it for my eight year old sister and she loved it. The pattern below is for a wider adult head scarf.
Needles: 7mm
Yarn: Any chunky wool will work.

Cast on 15 stitches
Row 1: p
Row 2: k
Row 3: p2, k2, 2tog, yo, k1, 2tog, k1, yo, k3, p2
Row 4: p
Row 5: p2, k1, 2tog, yo, k1, 2tog, yo, 2tog, k1, yo, k2, p2
Row 6: p
Repeat Rows 3-6 until required length.
Next Row: k
Cast off

Pattern:

So there you have it, two Drew Designs to get stuck into! (Do you see what I did there?!) I'll post up the other two patterns soon. Watch this space...

SO vintage!

It seems Vintage is the thing, the way forward (kind of) at the moment. Everyone is knitting vintage, baking vintage, selling vintage and people love it, don't they? I mean, I do!

I am dying to knit a jumper now that I've finished all the knitted hearts (4 days to go until the big day - crazy!) So, of course, I started browsing the net for yummy designs. That's when I stumbled upon Stone Hill Collections. If you want vintage you need this site.

You name it, they got it: buttons, knitting patterns, lace, jewellery...everything from bits to bobs!

And...I found my jumper pattern there too. Do you like? So the colours are a little 'off', but that's the joy of knitting, right? Knitting patterns, your way. Ask me in a year and I might be able to show you the finished article.

For now I'm working on my not-so-vintage scarf, but more on that as it progresses...

Get creative. Get vintage!

National Knitting in Public Day 2011

Get your knitting needles out and get involved people!



Where could you share...?

New Beginnings...

So, I just can't not write a blog entry today, even though I don't technically have to do it. It's kind of habit now. I have to let myself down slowly, you know?

Anyway, as you might have noticed the old blog's got a new page, dedicated to the competition I ran at Ralph Allen School in Bath. Thanks a bunch to all the cool kids who entered the competition. Your work is now in a book for the world to read! Winners will be announced shortly...very exciting!

The anthology is nearly ready to go on sale so watch this space for more info...

As for me, well, I think I'll go do a spot of knitting with my free afternoon...What creative endeavours will you get stuck into today...?

Day 364: Knitted Wedding Hearts

So, as it's the penaltimate day of my blog-in-a-year challenge, I thought it was about time that I told the world (through my blog) that I am getting married! What a perfect opportunity to get creative!

As is tradition at wedding, the Bride (that's me!) and Groom give their guests a gift, commonly named 'the favours'. Well, of course I was going to get my knitting needles out for this one! Since January, I have been spending my creative time knitting little hearts...

I'd love to say that I designed the pattern myself, but I borrowed it from a knitting blog. I did put my own creative stamp on them though, by adding the ribbons at the top.

If you're into knitting, have a go yourself, but put your own mark on it and make them your own. That's how creativity moves forward.

Day 361: Embracing Randomness

Today's challenge is to search for inspiration, but in a way that might lead you anywhere...

1) Think of two random words, the first that come into your head will do. For example, mine were 'life' and 'pogo'.

2) Go to Google Images, type in words and see what comes up!

Here's some of the cool/hilarious pictures that came up on my random search:

So, there you have it, 'Life Pogo' a slightly confused (rather frightening) dog, a plant-boy and some sort of knitted sheep?

What will you find...

When you find that little piece of inspiration you've been looking for, jot it down and see what becomes of the randomness...

Day 352: My Guerilla Knitting Experience

For those of you who don't know what guerilla knitting is, it's basically anonymous knitting left in public spaces. So, people will do a bunch of knitted patches and then cover a tree or a lamp post in it.

Being into knitting I thought it was about time I got involved in a bit of knitting graffiti, so when the opportunity came up on campus, obviously I jumped at the chance.

This particular guerilla knitting is in aid of the 'Red Thread' exhibition going on at Bath Spa campus this Saturday, 28th May 2011.

Here's me preparing next to the lake on campus. Oh, the concentration...

Then I headed over to the site where guerilla knitting would commence and off we went. Now I have to tell you that it was guerilla knitting, but we weaved them into the installation with bits of fabric and wool and pom-poms...

The red knitted bit in the middle is my handy work!

Check out some more guerilla knitting on Google. It's amazing! How could you use your skills to have some fun and help a good cause...?

Day 351: Miniature Knitting

Check out these tiny knitted items. They're so cute! Makes my 'little' mice I knitted look massive in comparison. The detail is incredible. The dolly that owns this better wear it with pride. Isn't it amazing what you can do with a little bit of creativity (and a magnifying glass!)

Day 344: Bournemouth's Knitting Library

Check out what's been going on in Bournemouth Library...

This isn't any ordinary rose bush, it's a knitted rosebush!

Bournemouth have turned a home of books into a garden of woollen flowers, birds, pots and vegetables. Isn't it amazing what a bit of imagination can create?

Check out this link to see more inspirational creations.

What will inspire your imagination today?

Day 324: Writers' Block

What do you do when you run out of ideas, when nothing inspires you to be creative?

Sometimes I get like this, especially when it's sunny. All I want to do is go outside and have fun in the sun, rather than sit in front of my laptop and write.

So what can we do when we don't want to get creative? How can we find inspiration?

Well, I've decided that I need to be proactive about it. If I wanna be out in the sun, then I need to find a creative way to do it. Sometimes I read or knit in the garden, which I love, so I think it's time I took my writing into the garden too.

Who needs a laptop when you've got pen and paper, eh? I think it'll help to write in different places. Maybe I could try writing in the park or at the beach, on a bench in town or even in my sister's tree house.

Right, that's it, I gotta try it. It's my next project, writing in different places. Wanna join me? We can be like Richard Long, whose art is walking and finding different ways of documenting it. New, exciting, experimental...

Just by writing this blog entry today, I've managed to find inspiration to get back on it.

What will you try...?

Day 304: Derek the Dinosaur

Yes! I am pleased to tell you, with a pretty smug smile on my face, I have finally finished the dinosaur I said I'd make back in January, Day 213.

How's your own creative challenge/mission going? I don't mean to rush you, but it's nearly Easter, so you better get a move on!

Here's some pictures of Derek for you. He's enjoying the sunshine.

Get your own dinosaur patterns here.

Day 278: How can we create for others?

This afternoon I have spent my time baking these:

They're nothing special, just little fairy cakes.

I find I enjoy creativity the most when I can do it for other people. When I knit, I like to make something for someone I love and care for. When I write, I think about all those teenagers who need stories. If I bake, I'll usually make them for someone else (but sometimes me too!)

These cakes have been made especially for Chris Stillman's friends and family. He died a few week ago and his funeral is this Monday. Lots of people will come to pay their respects and remember Chris. If I can use my creative skills to make that day a little bit easier, then there's not much more I can ask for.

How could you use your creativity for others this week?

Day 274: My Grandparents

Today's blog is dedicated to my Nanny and Granddad, Doreen and Malcolm.

Nanny is a talented and wonderfully creative lady. Even though she's retired, she isn't just sitting around in the garden, she's even busier than she was when she worked!

This morning she sent me an email at 7:40 in the morning to show me these:

She's made them out of paper! How cool! It beats my origami 'flower' any day.

It's not just animals she makes out of paper. My Nan makes the most beautiful cards which she sells at craft fairs all over the country. She also knits amazingly complicated scarfs, she cooks and wears really funky clothes. She even paints her nails every week! I mean, what a cool Nan!

If it wasn't for her, I wouldn't be such an enthusiastic knitter!

As, for Grandad, well he is the most enthusiastic reader I've ever met. He's always got his nose stuck in a book and they've got the most amazing wall in their house, completely covered in book shelves. He used to be a type setter (organised book's layout) and after that he was a proof reader, so naturally he's getting involved in my writing competition/anthology project!

There is a lot to learn from grandparents, so don't rule them out. What could you learn from yours?

Day 260: Get invovled in your town's creativity

Being at a creative uni like mine is such an amazing place to be. As you may know I have teamed up with film students and graphics students in various projects this year, but that's such a small representation of what's going on.

On my way to Sainbury's today I saw a friend who is running a film competition. She gave me a poster to put up at work and I thought I'd email the film student I'm working with to tell her about it too.

Last night was knitting group, which was loads of fun. We had new people come too, so it was great to see them joining in the fun. Tonight I'm going to an open mike night with musicians, poets and comedians. This weekend sees the launch of the Bath Literature Festival too. So many students I know are invovled in some way, doing readings, volunteering and loads more.

Creativity is part of where I am and I feel really lucky to live here in Bath. It's just a case of being active and getting ivolved.

What's going on in your town? What about your school/college? Can you get invovled? If you can't find anything you fancy, why not start it up yourself? What's stopping you? Why not share your creativity with the people around you...

Day 259: Annoying Knitting!

For the past two weeks I have been using every spare moment I have knitting. I've been working on a (pretty complicated) hat for my sister and I wanted to get it done quick so I can send it to her. But when I got to the end the depressing truth became all too obvious. It's way too small!

Don't be fooled by its pretty appearance! I don't know how many hours I've spent on this hat and now what am I going to do with it? I've got to start all over again to make a bigger one, which will take even longer!

Sometimes being creatively ambitious can be so annoying! You know what I mean? Does this mean we shouldn't bother?

No! I will damn well carry on and make a better (bigger) hat for my sister and she will love it!

Day 257: Adele on a Saturday morning

This morning I have been doing a spot of knitting (for one of my sisters, but sshh, don't tell her!) and listening to the lovely, Adele.

She's got such a soulful voice and it make me feel calm, you know, like it's ok that I'm spending the morning knitting instead of getting on with uni work! Jamie Cullum is another one of those who has this affect on me. I listen to them and enjoy their melodies and push on with my own creative works, whilst they get on with theirs.

Like I've said many times over the last 257 days, creativity feeds creativity. It all works together to help each other along...

What helps you to be creative? What do you enjoy listening to, watching, doing...? Add a bit of creativity to you Saturday afternoon and see where it takes you...

Day 238: Daniel Pennac

As I mentioned yesterday, I've just finished reading a great book called The Rights of the Reader by Daniel Pennac. He's an author and a teacher and it's certainly evident from his book that he has a lot of opinions about how we get taught to read.

In one chapter he talks about reading and how we find time for it. Do we find time for it? Well, it depends if it's important to us. Daniel Pennac says it beautifully, 'time to read is always time stolen.'

Isn't that true of all things we love? I know I should definitely read more, but I'd much rather spend that stolen time doing some knitting!

What do you spend stolen time on? Most people spend it doing the things they love and I guess for many of us, it involved creativity, am I right?

I think creativity begins to take over our time in some ways, not just the stolen bits. Should it take over? Pennac quotes Legend of the Fall by Jim Harrison, whose character, Burlington says, "Yes, when you buy a jacket, it's important the pockets are big enough for a paperback!"

The things we love spending time on do affect other areas of our lives. I've heard drummers say they bought that car 'cause its boot's big enough for the whole drum kit. Or student artist demanding the biggest room in their shared house so they have space to paint.

So what about you? Do you steal time for your creations? Do you customize your life for your 'art'? Should you?

Something to think about...

Day 234: Creativity and the bean stork

Are there some things that are more important to you than others? Do you think some lessons at school/college are more worth while?

I find that it doesn't matter how much work I've done for Uni each day, if I haven't written anything for my novel, I don't feel like I've achieved anything. I could have done loads of reading, planned for my competition project, sent a million emails...if I haven't done any creative writing then, in my head, I've done nothing.

Do you ever get like that?

Sometimes, I'll get to the end of the day feeling a bit rubbish about my 'achievements', then I'll do half an hour of knitting (or something else creative that I love) and everything's fine again.

What does this say about my priorities? What does it say about what matters to me? What does it say about my creativity?

It's weird isn't it? Do non-creative people get this? Please don't tell me I'm the only one!

After a bit of thinking, I've come to the decision that creative things I do, like knitting and writing, grow. I can see the change I've made. There are more words in that story, the characters are more developed...the dinosaur I'm knitting  has a longer neck (yep, I'm doing it...see Day 213).

So yeah, it's in the word...to be creative is to create. Why wouldn't you love it?

Day 217: Wooly Winters

Good News Folks! I found out from BBC this morning that wool is on the up. More people are buying knitted stuff. More people are knitting. Which means, British wool is making money for our country, yay!

You wanna know why I'm banging on about this, don't you?

Well, the truth is guys, knitting is cool! Creating your own bags, clothes, toys...is the way forward.

So get out there and start creating. There's never been a better time to support our country's economy. Plus, it's real good for the environment too. Hardly any fossil fuels needs to be used to produce yarn and British wool is being sold all over the world.

If you need an excuse to get creative with wool, here it is. No more excuses people. It's time to be inspired by sheep!