Knit Your Square to Give Your Share - PART 4

chalky_75

Congratulations Sue x That is lovely,well deserved news!


I always find that when faced with terrible news -- as has happened in Japan today - I feel the need to actually do something. Not necessarily with that particular disaster in mind but just something "good" !

A lovely lady called Janet ( The Puppet Lady!) http://puppetystuff.blogspot.com/2010/02/clown-puppet-knitting-pattern.html is really kind and often pops into my blog and leaves a lovely comment. She works so hard for Operation Christmas Child.
http://www.operationchristmaschild.org.uk/


Well DOH has an Aunt Dorothy who is nearly 90 and she collects for her church group who support Operation Christmas Child as well. I was speaking to her on the phone the other day and she asked if I would make little things for her again this year. I actually feel it gives her a real reason to live and she loves collecting bits and pieces all year round.

I know Janet would be glad that I popped into her blog and copied some patterns of the things she makes and here they are'
Firstly a sweet little purse that is perfect for those tiny little balls in the wool stash.


And here's the pattern:

Materials:
Oddments of double knitting wool in 3 colours.
Needle size: 3.5 mm (UK 9) and 6mm (UK 4)
Button

Using 3.5 mm needles and 1st colour, cast on 16 sts.
Knit 2 rows in garter stitch. (Every row knit)
Next row: ( Make button hole) K7, cast off 2 sts, knit to end.
Next row: K7, cast on 2 sts, knit to end.
Work 6 more rows in garter st. Break off wool.

Change to 6 mm needles and join in other two colors together, knitting with double thickness.
Knit 28 rows in garter st. Break off wool.

Change back to 3.5 mm needles and join in 1st colour again. Knit 10 rows in garter stitch. Cast off.

Fold work in half and stitch up side seams. Sew on a button opposite button hole.


The other wonderful things that Janet makes are gorgeous puppets.
This pattern is a simplified, slightly smaller version of that provided on the Operation Christmas Child website. It is still plenty big enough for a child’s hand.
You will need: Oddments of double knitting wool, including face colour and hair colour (furry/fluffy wool makes good hair.)

Needles: 1 pair size 8 or 7 (4 mm or 4.5mm) needles.

Cast on 36 stitches work 6 rows in rib or garter stitch.

Change colour and work 20 rows in stocking stitch in various striped wool.

Next row: Maintaining stripy pattern cast on 8 stitches. Knit back these 8 sts plus 18 sts from body. (26 sts altogether). Turn leaving remaining 18 stitches on a spare needle and cast on 8 sts. K3, P28, K3

Continue for a further 6 rows remembering to knit the first and last 3 stitches on purl rows.
Cast off 10 sts. Knit to end of row.
Cast off 10 sts. Purl to end of row. 14 sts remain.

Slip these stitches onto spare needle, and break off wool.

Rejoin wool to 18 sts on first spare needle, and work to match.
On last row purl across the stitches left on the second needle giving total of 28 sts.

Join on wool for the face and knit across all 28 sts.
Work 11 more rows in stocking stitch. Break off face colour wool, leaving an end for sewing up.

Join on wool for hair.
Work 2 rows garter stitch. Break off hair colour wool.

Join on first colour for hat
Work 2 rows garter stitch
1st Row S1.K1. p.s.s.o.,K10, K2 tog, S1.K1.p.s.s.o., K10, K2 tog.
2nd Row Purl.

Repeat these last two rows, joining in wool for stripes if desired until 2 sts remain. (The number of sts between decreases will drop by 2 each time.)

Cast off.

Embroider eyes and a happy smile on face.

Sew up.

This is one I knitted for Janet as a New Years present as she is so kind and leaves me lovely comments on my blog.


I was wondering if anyone amongst our happy band would mind making something for Dear Aunt Dorothy. If you would you could Private message me and I could give you her address and little parcels arriving through her door would not only tickle her to death but also do wonderful things for all the children helped by this wonderful charity.

Lots of love to one and all xx

mioliere

Hi Chalky - I would love to make something for Dear Aunt Dorothy so I'd be grateful if you would pm me her address. I can't really knit these days due to my bad hands, but will it be OK if I made a crochet version of the purse?

Congratulations, Mrs Twins; well deserved!

KathyXX

psso

What a lovely idea Chalky.

I`d be willing to contribute some small things. Easy for in between larger projects which are not going toooo well at the moment. Does it have to be the purses / puppets you mention or would anything else small be acceptable ?? Thinking hats, scarves.

ETA - just had a look at the website and saw hats & scarves acceptable so that will be fine.
Off to look in stash now.

Elaine.x

chalky_75

Oh! You are sooooo lovely. Anything at all in crochet or knit which could fit into a shoe box-- Operation Christmas Child will not accept things which are stuffed -- ELF AND SAFETY!
Aunt will be so thrilled!
Kathy would you mind popping a picture and the pattern of your crochet one on here!
I will do the same with my crochet purse/bag.
Oh this has given me such a lift --- Oh! and DOH is cooking tea!

chalky_75

It's quiet on here today -- hope everyone is having fun --- If not gentle hugs. As promised a few pictures of puses/bags. Auntie gets so many cotton hankies given to her that she tucks a new one in each little bag!


I start wit a rectangle of any size really made up of trebles so it is really quick and easy.
That one started with a chain of 22 and then I worked 20 rows of trebles to make the rectangle.I worked 1 row of trebles around each side to give a neat finish.
Then folded the rectangle using 2/3 rds for the body of the bag. This leaves 1/3rd for the flap!


I join the side seams with a row of double crochet going through both sides with each stitch.
The handle is a chain of approx 50 working back along the chain with a treble in every stitch. It is easy to do this as part of the sewing up process.
That just leaves a loop and button.


A little bag can be made without a handle.


I also fiddled last knit converting the little knitted purse into a crochet one. It was really quick and all I did was to make every knitted stich into a treble
IYSWIM


And finally there tucked in my work bag was an 8"square that dpixie sent me last year when we were doing operation stitch up and with a few folds you end up with a different style purse!


If any of that lot is a puzzle please let me know and I will try and explain more clearly!!
Thanks again for having a look

mioliere

Gosh, Chalky - where do you find the time? I've nearly finished a second purse but have yet to edit the instructions or take any photos. I will try to do that tomorrow but the time has, yet again, run away from me today!

KathyXX

Seakay

Would love address for Auntie Dorothy please. Just catching up with posts after trips away to MIL (good) sister(great) and funeral of old friend (better than might be expected). Unfortunately postman called when sleeping in to try and catch up on rest, caught toe on bannister rushing down barefoot and now have blueish purple toe and sick feeling on top of everything else!
Never mind. Will continue with current projects and look out for things to do for Operation Christmas Child. It will be nice to help with this worthy cause without having to take responsibility for a whole box!

Checked out the Lisa's stars site but couldn't see mention of exactly what knitted items they would like. Anyone else know?

In_Search_Of_Me

aww seakay poor you! oww!
Have been quilting like a madwoman here! Enjoying it but now need a snoozle!!
Love the purses chalky! Will see if mum will knock a few up as she knits so quickly!

psso

Hi all,

Just popping in to tell Chalky I`ve done the first two little purses for Aunt Dorothy.
Nice and easy which is exactly what I can cope with just now, too much other stuff happening still.

Was going to `disappear` for a couple of days on my own for a wee break but with the weather turning wintery again I think I`ll be staying at home. Brrr.
Curtains are all closed, fire on so am going to veg out on the sofa with my knitting tonight. Anything good on telly ? Probably not - oh well you can`t have eveything I suppose.

Have a good evening all and stay cosy if you have snow like us.

Elaine.x

KrazyKay

Thanks to everyone for kind wishes.
I really agree with Chalky that when things are tough and it seems like we are getting nowhere, doing something for someone in need makes me feel better. Thank goodness I came out of lurkdome and started doing some wooly stuff for others. Just reading some of the heart-rending stories like the ones on Lisa's Little Stars and seeing the devastation in Japan puts our problems into perpective and makes me grateful for what we have. K x