2023-05-04 12:58
I had requests for a version of my dog finger puppet knitting pattern that includes instructions for knitting flat on straight needles. So here it is:PATTERN
FOR A KNITTED DOG FINGER PUPPET… Read More
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Tags:
masks
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mask
dog finger puppet
charity shop
machine
face coverings
straight needles cast
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I love wool. I knit. I try to crochet. I blog about it.
2023-04-06 20:55
PATTERN
FOR A KNITTED DOG FINGER PUPPET
This is a
knitting pattern for a dog finger puppet. It makes a mostly seamless, “in the
round” finger puppet that should fit most… Read More
2021-01-19 15:36
Back in December, before our latest lockdown, I was volunteering in a charity shop. I decided it was high time to make some more masks, but this time in a plain, light colour. Because I wash… Read More
2020-12-02 16:01
Who can come up with the best collective noun for face masks? Oops, we're supposed to call them face coverings here in the UK, but very few people do. I happily wear them when I have to. But… Read More
2020-10-18 14:12
I decided to make a couple of pretty masks...for myself this time. There was a bargain rail outside a charity shop. On it I found a little skirt for £1. The material was lovely. It was… Read More
2020-09-05 18:48
Crikey! I know it's been a while since I posted, but I wasn't expecting to have to learn a whole new Blogger. I expect there were good reasons for the changes, though I was very used to old… Read More
2020-07-25 15:02
When I said I was done with masks, I spoke too soon. As I was putting away my sewing machine, I had one of those Eureka moments. Why not make face masks for the worry monsters that Knit… Read More
2020-06-28 15:20
Hopefully this will be my last post about masks. I am firmly on the same team as those who believe these homemade face coverings are almost useless as protection against anything, never mind… Read More
2020-06-06 12:07
One day before the UK was put into lock down in March, I caught a bus to my local garden centre. I had a sense of impending doom and it felt like "now or never". It was a strange experience;… Read More
2020-05-16 13:26
Who would have thought I would ever publish a photo of myself auditioning as Hannibal Lecter's sister? But here it is. Here in the UK we have recently been advised to wear face coverings on… Read More
2020-04-21 15:50
Whilst under house arrest and going slightly crazy I am still knitting pants for Knit-for-Nowt's worry monsters. However, I can't keep writing about pants as this blog might start attra… Read More
2020-03-29 17:07
I used to think of the world as:before and after Daughter was born,before and after 9/11,and before and after Brexit. Now I think of it as: before and after Covid-19. The "aft… Read More
![A [collective Noun] Of Pants...](https://cdn.blogarama.com/images/posts_thumbs_site_id/2773/277289-935858118.w320.jpg "A [collective Noun] Of Pants...")
2020-01-28 12:12
If I haven't been writing many blog posts recently, at least they can be witty. Or so I thought. I've been trying to discover the collective noun for pants, as in a pride of lions or a swarm… Read More
2019-12-24 20:19
As the title says, it has been nearly 2 months since I looked at my blog. The reason was good, I suppose. I decided to have a huge decluttering and tidying splurge. The house is now (probabl… Read More
2019-10-27 14:19
I never dreamed this time last week that I would spend the next few days knitting pants. I know that doesn't translate well around the world. When we say 'pants' in the UK we really mean und… Read More
2019-10-06 13:31
This is my latest creation for Knit-for-Nowt, an organisation that donates worry monsters and similar items to therapists who work with traumatised children. As usual, my effort is more… Read More
2019-09-04 15:58
This happy bunch of memory bears and little blanket squares is now in the post and on its way to SiMBA which is an organisation that donates memory boxes to bereaved parents.There… Read More
2019-08-22 15:01
Wow! Another month has gone by since my last post. I have no excuses. Summer is always really hectic chez moi.I recently discovered a new (to me) charity to knit for. It is called SiMBA… Read More
2019-07-25 13:42
With my usual impeccable timing, I have just finished a scarf to match the hat I knitted recently. The timing is impeccable because the temperature in London is hotter today than ever record… Read More
2019-06-22 16:24
Well, I finally finished the Northmoor Watchcap. Midsummer is a good time for knitting hats, don't you think? The link takes you to the pattern and I can definitely recommend it. There… Read More
2019-06-01 18:17
Thanks to everyone who left comments on my last blog post and apologies that I haven't found time to answer them. But, rest assured that I read and appreciate every comment. However, on… Read More
2019-05-15 16:50
Good things come in threes, so here is my third worry monster. It is supposed to be a type of winged insect, though the wings don't show up very well against the wicker background. Oh well… Read More
2019-05-06 20:48
Here is my latest worry monster. I'm not sure what has happened to its right ear. It does match the left one, honestly. This will be going to Knit-for-Nowt and will eventually be p… Read More
2019-04-12 20:26
I promise this isn't the same hat photographed from different angles and blogged about several times! I have quite a lot of this Aran wool to use up. I loved it when I bought it and I still… Read More
2019-03-31 09:23
Calling all busy crafters....I'm advertising this competition on behalf of Knit-for-Nowt. I can vouch that this is a fantastic organisation that needs and will find homes for all your creati… Read More
2019-02-17 17:31
I have been busy knitting bootees and mittens for PreemiesUK. The pattern is a really basic one which is on their website somewhere. Each item weighs about 5g, so it's a great way to us… Read More
2019-02-02 11:05
Here is another small bunny blanket that I knitted recently, this time for charity. It will go to PreemiesUK as they are having a sale at Easter and this might suit the theme. It's… Read More
2019-01-12 15:54
Having finally succeeded in using up my 4 ply yarn, apart from a few scraps, (which may have a future use, after all), I decided to use up my Aran yarn which is taking up an unreasonable amo… Read More
2018-12-16 13:59
I have never knowingly bought 4 ply yarn. But I seem to accumulate quite a lot of it via kind donations. It definitely comes in useful for tiny baby items, which I like to knit occasionally… Read More
2018-11-04 16:23
No photos of any recent projects for the simple reason that there haven't been any.I've been taking part in a nutrition study that is, apparently, the biggest in the world. That's quite a cl… Read More
2018-10-07 15:38
Shock! Horror! It is nearly 3 months since I posted here. My last post coincided with a record-breaking heatwave in the UK. It seemed to go on for months in London and even thinking about pi… Read More
2018-07-21 15:00
This is a knitting/crochet/sewing blog and there are enough problems in my own country. So, I wouldn't waste column inches on a political rant; or would I?Joking apart, it was a strange coin… Read More
2018-07-15 12:01
I don't have any finished items to show, so here is a photo of my latest charity shop find. It's a lovely little ceramic sheep and cost the bargain price of 99p. It usually sits on a low wal… Read More
2018-07-01 12:14
We are going through an intense heat wave here in the UK. Comparisons are being made to the heat wave of 1976. That one was totally wasted on me as I was busy taking exams that year. So this… Read More
2018-06-03 19:37
STUFFED DOG KNITTING PATTERNThis pattern uses dk yarn doubled (i.e. two strands of dk yarn knitted together) and size 5.5mm knitting needles. It produces a dog measuring 14 inches long.I fin… Read More
2018-05-27 16:34
During my recent knit-exploits for Knit-for-Nowt, I noticed a plea for dog glove puppets. I knitted a couple and then amended the pattern slightly to make a dog Worry Monster. Well, it… Read More
2018-05-07 16:57
Here is a pattern that I wrote for Knit-for-Nowt. Clare, who runs everything, likes to include a dog puppet when she sends families of puppets to the therapists. Children will ofte… Read More
2018-04-29 21:19
Here are my latest two Worry Monsters that I have knitted for Knit-for-Nowt. I found myself buying some bright colours for these two. My wool collection is heavy on pastels that do… Read More
2018-04-15 17:52
PATTERN FOR A KNITTED WORRY MONSTER WITH LEGSHere is the pattern I wrote recently for a worry monster. I have donated it to Knit-for-Nowt and it is already on their website. T… Read More
2018-04-07 17:08
Here are two tiny blankets that I knitted with wool donated to me. Thanks, Betty. I was in the mood for simple corner-to-corner blankets. The one on the right is James C. Brett Baby Mar… Read More
2018-03-21 10:17
KNITTING/STITCHINGLUCKY DIP COMPETITION 2018The charitable service, Knit-for-Nowt, announces a fun competition! Send in an item for Knit-for-Nowt to donate to therapists working with c… Read More
2018-03-14 17:16
After I wrote my pattern for an insect worry monster, I knitted one to make sure there were no mistakes. This one is 12 inches tall and has already gone off to Knit-for-Nowt from w… Read More
2018-03-03 18:00
Here is the pattern I wrote recently for an insect worry monster. I have donated it to Knit-for-Nowt and it is already on their website. This one is in intentionally scary col… Read More
2018-02-19 16:43
There has been a lot of publicity about the Suffragettes recently. Thanks to them, February 2018 is the centenary of some women being allowed to vote in the UK. They were given the right to… Read More
2018-02-10 19:57
Here is another Worry Monster that I knitted for Knit-for-Nowt. It's about 12 inches tall, like my last one. These are used by therapists and the pocket on the front is for ch… Read More
2018-02-03 16:43
Here is my latest creation for Knit-for-Nowt. It is a stuffed bee measuring over 12 inches in length. Therapists and social workers use these Worry Monsters to encourage traumatised chi… Read More
2018-01-25 16:07
Following my last blog post about worry puppets, I have just finished sewing two therapy puppets. These are for the same organisation Knit-for-Nowt. They are used, as before, by t… Read More
2018-01-07 21:17
2017 was a year I will be happy to forget for lots of reasons. By December I felt just about ready to knit something daft but useful. I don't often knit toys. But a charity I have knit… Read More
2017-12-10 17:21
It must be winter. The first snow of the season is on the ground outside my window and I am craving stodge and all things bad. But my halo isn't completely tarnished because I have done my b… Read More
2017-11-26 16:39
I received another bag of lovely donations from Hubby's colleague. Pastels predominate because she used to knit for her grandchildren, who are now older and wiser and more into grunge. I can… Read More
2017-11-13 16:17
Here are two more cushion covers that I upcycled from Hubby's shirts. I have now made four of these, which is probably enough for now. Three of them will be gracing the sofa bed in the spare… Read More
2017-10-22 21:52
We live in a 1930s house that is a bit of a money-pit. For most of the year I have been decorating/repairing/updating things that nobody except me seems to notice either before or after. Hey… Read More
2017-10-12 17:10
I have been busy sewing today. I needed a break from knitting with 4 ply yarn that seems to last forever. The catalyst was finding a perfectly good shirt in my waste bin. Hubby has to dress… Read More
2017-09-16 08:32
Here are three more hats that I have just knitted from the Andycrafts pattern which is fast becoming my favourite preemie hat pattern. That's because it is small but perfectly formed. Y… Read More
2017-08-31 13:36
My blog received a mention in a well-known women's magazine this week and I can already see from my visitor statistics that many more people than usual have looked at my blog. So, welcome to… Read More
2017-08-20 15:56
The fairly atrocious photo above definitely does not do justice to my latest knits. I finished the preemie blanket that I blogged about recently. It measures 15" square which shows up the ti… Read More
2017-08-01 15:42
I have just been doing a little housekeeping on my blog. It seemed like a good time to check all my links to make sure they actually lead somewhere. Everything should be working fine n… Read More
2017-07-22 13:51
This is all I have to show for the last few weeks. A heatwave (welcome, but too hot for knitting), followed by a "meet-the-inlaws" family barbecue (a great day) followed bya Cliff… Read More
2017-07-01 16:01
Someone gave me a ball of very coarse black and silver wool several months ago. I wondered what to do with it until I realised that I have never knitted anything for our cat Fleur. How… Read More
2017-05-26 14:39
I decided to end a really dreadful week with something good. I know I haven't blogged for ages; but I have been busy with lots of things including knitting. I used up the last of the d… Read More
2017-04-20 16:46
When my employer set me free (woo hoo!) last year, I celebrated with a little trip to Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. It was in Lincolnshire that I spotted and bought a little antique desk. It h… Read More
2017-04-07 14:41
This lap blanket has just gone off to SIBOL where the industrious Sue will add it to her collection of blankets from other volunteers. When the pile threatens to take over her hous… Read More
2017-04-03 19:17
I mainly knit and crochet. But occasionally I sew. This is my latest project; a draught excluder made to fit my door perfectly. The front of my house faces north and, when the wind is coming… Read More
2017-03-14 21:40
I finally finished knitting the preemie blankets using the wool kindly sent to me by Jo of the Three Stories High blog. The yarn is Water Wheel Comfy 4ply and Jo confirmed after my… Read More
2017-02-18 15:59
Look what Hubby brought home from work yesterday. A colleague knows that I knit and brought in all this lovely wool for me. Most of it is acrylic double knit which is exactly what I use. &nb&hell…Read More
2017-01-30 14:57
The blogging world is a marvellous, friendly place. Jo who writes the inspiring Three Stories High blog contacted me a few weeks ago to offer some baby yarn. Of course, I said yes… Read More
2017-01-19 21:22
Here are two very simple hats to fit an adult. They will go into my charity box until I have enough to post off to Knit-for-Nowt. I used a pattern called "Ellie's Easiest Ever Hat… Read More
2017-01-15 17:29
In my last post, I said I might make a poster of my wildly witty and highly original (I hope) "Keep Calm" quotation. The weather outside (is it ever inside?) is only fit for ducks. &nb&hell…Read More
2017-01-03 22:27
Towards the end of last November, I sent a parcel to Knit for Nowt. This is an organisation that supplies knitted and crocheted items to people in Hull and East Yorkshire. I was i… Read More
2016-12-20 23:25
Just a quick post to wish everyone a peaceful Christmas and a new year better than the last one we have all endured.I have loved reading all my favourite blogs and am looking forward to more… Read More
2016-12-01 20:37
This has been the coldest week of the year in my part of the UK. It is cold enough for snow, though I haven't seen any yet. After crocheting a large blanket, I am in the mood to… Read More
2016-11-19 21:06
Do not adjust your set. My latest blanket really is this bright! I'm using up a cone of shocking pink yarn that I bought a couple of years ago. It knows how to pack a punch!I started t… Read More
2016-10-24 22:50
I can't believe nearly a whole month has gone by since my last blog post. A lot has happened in that time. I suppose the most momentous event was my retirement at the grand old a… Read More
2016-09-27 20:01
Having recently knitted with a dk yarn that was more like 4ply, I have just gone to the opposite extreme and knitted with a dk yarn that was more like Aran. This was the Peter Pan Cupc… Read More
2016-09-22 16:22
I am ready to face up to the fact that autumn has arrived, even though our weather here is warm and I still haven't turned on the heating. Woo hoo!This is a photo of a tapestry that I… Read More
2016-09-11 08:37
.....but I told you so. Summer is still shining down on us in my part of the UK and the forecast for next week looks just as good with temperatures close to 30 C. That will do ni… Read More
2016-09-01 07:54
Start of rant****Since when did September 1st become the first day of autumn? Maybe it was about the same time we dumbed down and started talking about "going to uni". In my day(… Read More
2016-08-19 11:11
This beautiful yarn arrived today. It was sent to me by Kate at Loving Hands. This is the biggest online community of knitters, crocheters and sewers that I know about.  &hell…Read More
2016-08-12 14:18
Today, I am another year older (unbelievable but true) and another year wiser (really?). I noticed that it is a whole month since I updated this blog. Summer is always my busiest… Read More
2016-07-12 06:43
This little quartet was posted recently to PreemiesUK. Sometimes I hear about people who struggle to find homes for their preemie items. Well, I love this group because it h… Read More
2016-07-06 06:05
Well, the scarf that I have been working on is now finished. It is 48" long and will fit a young child. I was knitting with two balls of 4 ply pink yarn together and kept going u… Read More
2016-06-23 07:01
I don't have much to show for the past three weeks. This is my crazy busy time of year. Even though I cut some activities out of my schedule, the rest just seem to have expanded… Read More
2016-06-04 21:03
When summer arrives, I tend to feel more inclined to use up my 4 ply yarn. It is a dwindling supply mainly made up of odd balls. It barely fills a carrier bag. But, as it g… Read More
2016-05-24 07:14
This hat looks 100% better in real life! I had some variegated yarn left after finishing my recent blanket and, as usual, didn't want to "put it back in the bag". So I knitted a… Read More
2016-05-17 05:50
Why is this called the Tickled Pink blanket? Apart from the obvious fact that 99% of it is various shades of pink:I learned how to crochet a new granny squareI learned how to crochet a… Read More
2016-05-10 18:57
Having recently knitted some bright pink hats, I decided to play fair and knitted a balaclava with some grey wool left over from a recent project. I added three stripes in a variegated… Read More
2016-05-10 17:04
Balaclava pattern Read More
2016-05-06 19:21
This time last week I was on the last round of a very big crochet project that I have been working on. It has gone surprisingly quick because I have worked on it exclusively. The… Read More
2016-04-22 05:45
I finally made a start on using the shocking pink yarn that I mentioned a few weeks ago. I have a huge ball of it. I found it in a big bag of tangled yarn that someone was trying… Read More
2016-04-15 08:14
I had some blue yarn left over after knitting my recent scarf and I didn't want to put it back "in the bag". So I knitted two newborn baby hats. The colours are possibly a little… Read More
2016-04-10 09:24
My scarf drawer is now officially full. If I knit or crochet a new scarf for myself, I have to get rid of one. Spilling over into another drawer is not an option. Our 5-10… Read More
2016-04-05 11:07
While I ponder what to do with some really bright pink yarn that I recently rescued, I have been busy crocheting this scarf. I used up most of the red wool that was left over after I k… Read More
2016-03-27 20:53
Do not adjust your brightness control. This pink really is this shocking. In fact, it is probably even brighter than it looks here. I bought it very cheaply at a local boot… Read More
2016-03-22 19:50
Here is the jumper I have been working on. I found the pattern in Yours magazine. It was described as "for knitters with some experience". I'd say that was a fair descripti… Read More
2016-03-06 08:43
I started this blanket months ago and then had to put it away to protect it from the clouds of dust that filled the house while we were renovating the ground floor. Well, the renovatio… Read More
2016-03-02 16:24
I don't usually write WIP posts, but I haven't finished anything lately due to decorating commitments. This is what I am working on at the moment. A couple of years ago I was luc… Read More
2016-02-20 15:32
It's been all about grand finishes here this week. We now have lovely new floors and a very strong oak staircase that will still be here in a hundred years time. I have miles of… Read More
2016-02-02 15:40
.....well that is not strictly true. The downstairs of my house is slowly being ripped apart and put back together again. Our kitchen has been replaced and all the floors have be… Read More
2016-01-25 07:23
I bought the first issue of a new crochet magazine last year. The only reason was its cheap introductory price. This made the free gift of two balls of yarn very good value. One… Read More
2016-01-18 16:08
My scarf drawer is groaning under the weight of scarves that I either bought years ago or made recently. The winter here has only just arrived. So I am really pleased to have jus… Read More
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