My Christmas presents :)

Hi everyone,

As promised here is pics of all my new stuff I got for Christmas:

I got loads of great crafty books, Including knitting Mochimochi!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ( Ive wanted this for ages) which has some beautiful patterns and is a really inspiring book! I also cant wait to start on many of the other projects in the other books too.

My very generous friend got me this cute little knitting kit which I'm going to start in January after I finish some of my Wip's. ( I have loooooootttttss of Wip's!)

I also got an brand new LAPTOP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! which I blogged this post from :) Its fantastic to have my very own one  instead of sharing as now I have somewhere to store and type all my patterns (and I can keep it in my room :)

My parents got me a stitch a day calendar which I am THRILLED with as now everyday I can wake up to a different stitch and be inspired to create something marvellous.

They also got me the needle felting kit which was on my list so I will be probably be posting in the near future to show you my felted creations. I'm very excited to try and see what I can make, I think I'm going to try felted beads first......

My Aunty and Uncle got me some really great stuff including this yarn and set of needles which I will be using to make cases for my laptop and...............

........... MY NEW CAMERA which I got on boxing day (as my boxing day present.) I used it to take all of the pictures in this post and I absolutely love it as it is so simple to use and takes great pics!

 My little bro got me these cute handmade felt badges. I have a little collection of handmade/felt/knitted brooches and these fitted in perfectly :)

Well that's most of my gifts, I couldn't post them all as I had over 30 (!) and some of them were chocolate and I've eaten them! I hope everyone else had a good Christmas :)

In other news I made this licorice allsort necklace:

I think its really cool! The licorice allsort patterns are from a Jean Greenhowe book and I attached the necklace part and sewed them together to make them into a quirky accessory :3

I wore it to the darts today. Sadly I wasn't caught on camera so it didn't get shown on T.V :(

ahhhhh well at least I can show my creation  to everyone on my blog :0)

See you all very very soon........

ByE bYe xx

Scarflette giveaway and interview with designer!

Hi guys :)

As part of her blog tour Vanessa Ruesch is visiting In it to knit it!

She is the designer of this beautiful scarflette and is giving away 5 emailable copies of the pattern! (Details of how to enter will be at the bottom of this post.)

(Images copyright to Vanessa Ruesch)

I asked her some questions about knitting and craft and also her love of music,

I read on your blog that you love music, does that ever inspire your crafting?

 Music inspires everything I do. Then again crafting does the exact same. I find that I lean more towards projects that have something musical to them. I don’t always make them, but I have plenty of projects that have music notes on them. One huge project that I did (which was not knitting or crochet) was an analysis project on Symphony No. 101 in D major, Minuet and Trio by Joseph Haydn. http://dreamknitter.blogspot.com/2009/11/so-i-had-this-music-analysis-project.html
It took way too many hours, but I got an A on it, and I loved working on it. I had never really done any type of cross stitch before, so I learned alot!



What is your favourite ever pattern that you have created?

I make up a ton of patterns, mostly off of what I see online or out in public. I don’t write them down because I am usually too preoccupied with school… I plan to write up some shawl and hat patterns this winter break, and throughout the next semester. (I will be attending a knitting club in Casey, Illinois during my student teaching, so I will have that time free!!!) My fav pattern that I actually wrote down is my Everyday Scarflette. I feel like it is a good beginning pattern for those who want to actually learn the basics of knitting shawls!

Ohhh I want to enter the giveaway now! :/


Who are your knitting/crochet/crafting inspirations?

My biggest inspiration is my grandma and father. My dad taught me how to crochet when I was 7 or 8, and I hated it. But after he kept pushing me I actually got pretty good. Whenever I would fly out to my grandmas in NJ we would sit and crochet. I loved those times. She passed away a few years ago and every project I make I keep thinking of how proud she would be of me that I kept going with crafting. I miss her!



What is your favourite part about knitting/crochet?

My favorite part about crafting in general, is trying something new. I started knitting lace hard core this past year, it was something I was always afraid of. Not difficult at all! I started with cross stitch, something new to me. I try to outdo myself every project. I want to make the projects that make people say “wow”. Same with quilting, sewing, and making jewelry.



When you see a yarn shop what is your reaction?

When I see a yarn shop… I go inside. I text my boyfriend. He tells me not to spend to much money. So then I empty my bank account. This is why I do not keep much money in my debit account, so I do not spend my life savings. Which i totally would…..

ahhahaah wouldnt we all......................................



What other crafts do you enjoy?

I enjoy quilting, sewing, cross stitch, cooking, baking, crochet, knitting, beadwork (jewelry), and I used to think I was really great at drawing…



What do you hope to achieve in the future, knitting/crochet wise?

My long term goal in life when it comes to knitting and crocheting is to retire from teaching middle and high school band, so that I can open a yarn store. This is seriously something I have wanted to do since I was 12. I also want to make my crafting into a business. I do sell a bunch of the stuff I make, but I would love to make a living out of it!

Sounds lovely , Ill come visit in the future!



Which is better chocolate pudding or toffee pudding?

Can I get a mix of the two? That would be awesome!


To see more of Vanessa's design and check out other  items she has for sale such as cute stich markers you can visit her etsy shop or her blog :)

Blog: http://dreamknitter.blogspot.com/
Etsy: http://www.etsy.com/shop/luganchica102

For your chance to win a copy of the pattern and kick off your new year knitting all you have to do is send an email containing your name to iitki@hotmail.co.uk  with the subject 'Scarf giveaway'

Entries will close on the 3rd of January and winners will be announced on the same day!

I would just like to say thanks to Vanessa for visiting In it to knit it and also for this greeeeaaaatttt giveaway :D

Good luck everyone!

Bye xxxx

Ps. If you are interested in touring to In it to knit it or would like me to tour to your blog (Yes please!!!! I promise I wont make a mess :) please email me: iitki@hotmail.co.uk with the subject 'Blog tours'!

Pps. I will eb posting pictures shortly of the amazing christmas presents I got, hope everyone had an awesome day :)

Talk soon...........................



Yuletide felicitations!!!!!..............

........(Aahahahaa :0) for anyone who doesn't understand, the title means MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!

Yes we FINALLYYYYYY made it to the 25th of december, the special day, the big one, the main man.... (you get the point! ;)

I hope everyone is having a very merry christmas! I will be posting soon about all the amazing presents I recieved. Got to go now, theres presents to be opened and christmas dinner will be ready soon!

bye xx

Presents, presents and ooohhh more presents :)

welcome everyone to my bloggy home!

Last week I was girl on a mission, a knitting misson. I had to make sure all of my friends christmas presents were finshed  and get them all wrappped up in time for the next day....... My room was like santas grotto and I felt like an overworked elf! I apologie for the quality of some of the pictures about to follow but it was late and the light in my room was not good.

Firstly this was the donut I made for my friend :) Its the one her sisters turtle was sitting in in the pic I posted earlier. Its made from a Jean greenhowe pattern and then I added sprinkles.

The turtle I made can also be seen in the pic I posted earlier. She said she wanted a turtle with a moustache so with her turtle I gave her a tiny turtle accessory pack with a little moustache and harpeiece that fitted the tiny turtle. She didnt put her present down ALL day! :)


This is another thing made from a Jrean greenhowe pattern (jiffyknits) my friend said she liked rabbits and purple so this was created.............

My other firend said that she liked chocolate cake and cherries! the pattern was from Lets get crafting magazine, I spent a whole morning making it for her, she is saving it till xmas so she hasnt opened it yet, i hope she likes it!!!!!!! :-S

VAMPIRE BUNNY/BAT STRIKES AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! muhhahahahahahhaaha the friend I gave the basket of sweets and the bat for his birthday wnated a blue vampire bunny so I whipped up one of them for him, its sooooo cute:

I really did never know I had soooooo many friends :D

I created this cupcake pattern for a friend who was begging me and kept reminding me to make her a cupcake for christmas and it HAD to be pink! hehhehe she loooooovvvveedddd it <3 she carried it round all day!

Q.what do you make someone who likes hippos, purple and has a favourite purple scarf  A. a purple hippo wearning a purple scarf!:

Only a few more prezzies left to go......... Now you can see why I said OVERWORKED!!!

I just made this for someone for fun he made me laugh and I couldnt resist! My friend wanted something blue and shes quite random so.......

Whats that coming over the hill is it a MONSTER!!!, yes it is :P

I made my baby cousin a present too...

Shes really cute!!! I hope she likes my presents I made her with love!

AFTER ALLL THAT a teacher at my school had seen the presents I made all my amigos she wanted something of her own, so I got to work and created this.....

a little christmas pud!

fewwwwww Im shattered just thinking about all the knitting and crocheting but it was very fun!

Today my swap parcel from the cute and quirky swap group i set up arrived oohhh I just love everything in it!!!!

THANKYOU TO MY LOVELY PARTNER!!!

after that long post I think its nearly time for bed... I think I might have a bit of choccy before bed though heheheh mmmmmm yummy! and I have to knit more of tipsy turkey too :)

See you later

Bye xx

Raindeers, who really is the most famous of them all????

Hola everyone!

Remember with your giveaway entry I told you to give the name of the raindeer, well here are the tallys of the number of votes per raindeer and suprisingly rudolph was not the most popular one (despite the song).

Comet - 3
Vixen - 2
Prancer - 2
Dancer - 2
Dasher - 4
Rudolph - 3
Vixen - 1
Donner - 2

But the winner with 6 votes is BLITZEN!!!!!!!! hahah I was laughing very hard as one of the entries said that he was a bit 'under rated' then he won!!!!!!! :)  Well done blitzen!

I found this on the web and I think that buy the sounds of it blitzen was the most worthy winner for a crafty giveaway/blog!!!!

I will be posting soon with all the pics of my friends presents, see you soon byeeeeeeeeeeeeee xxxx

p.s its blitzen a boy or girl im confuzzled??????? :) I always thought blitzen was a boy but apparently blitzens a girl, ahhh well you learn something everyday!

And the winner is.............................

Its time for the results of the christmas giveaway :) Its them moment youve all been wating for ................................ and the winner is........... KRISSY ALLACHER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Congratulations Krissy you are the winner of the christmas choclates,buttons and needles! An email has been sent to you telling you what you need to do :)

(winner generated by random number generator at http://www.random.org/)

Dont be sad if you didnt win there will be loads more chances to win something coming very soon (and lots of other cool stuff too!)

Congratulations again!

See you soon, byeeeeeeeeeeee xxx

Entries now closed!

Just a quick nte to say that entries for the christmas giveaway are now closed. The winner will be announced later today :)

see you soon!

Don't eat it all at once!

Yola!

This is just a quick blog post to show you a pic mysome of my friends sent me after they got their christmas presents today :) I will be doing a longer post with pictures of all the yarnie presents I made all of them but I reallly wanted to show you all this!

Awww so cute! my friend loved her turtle sooo much, I never knew one small turtle could bring so much joy! (she named it Fred!) and her sister loved the donut too :)

He looks so happy in there, well its everyones dream to be sitting in a giant donut (.... no? Just me then :)

Blog again soon,

Bye!

P.s dont forget to enter the giveaway, not long left now!

Quick n easy christmas tree decoration!

Hello everybody!

Ive been working verrrryy hard recently trying to finish all the knitted and crocheted christmas presents for freinds and family :) Im nearly there but then I started another project........... ( I cant help myself!) My familys having a dinner party today and wnated to make something each for the guests. I needed something quick easy and christmas themed and so was born the QUICK N EASY CHRISTMAS TREE DECORATION (hahaha pretty much what it says on the tin!)

Im giving away this pattern free as another christmas gift to all my lovely readers, hope you like it!

Each christmas tree takes under half an hour each so you can make a bunch in no time :)

Abbreviations:

• Gst = Garter stitch (knit all rows)
• K2tog = Knit 2 stitches together
• Inc = Increase
• st/ sts= stitch/ stitches

You will need:

• 1 pair of 4.00mm knitting needles
• DK yarn, in any colour (for tree)
• Glue (to stick on tree decorations)
• Sequins/glitter shapes (to decorate tree)
• You can add any other decorations to tree or just leave them blank, whatever you feel like!

To make:

• Using 4.00mm knitting needles and DK yarn cast on 16sts
• Gst 3 rows
• *K2tog, k to end, K2tog (14sts)
• Gst 2 rows*
• Repeat from * to * until 8sts remain
• Inc 2sts at each end of next row (12sts)
• Gst 2 rows
• Repeat from * to * until 6sts remain
• Inc 2sts at each end of next row (10sts)
• Gst 2 rows
• Repeat from *to* until 4sts remain
• K2tog twice (2sts)
• Gst 2 rows
• K2tog (1st)
• Fasten off and cut leaving long thread (for loop to hang)

To Finish:

Darn in cast on thread length. sew length of thread at top of tree into a lopp for hanging and decorate however you want! (I used glue and sequins!)

Enjoy!

tis' the season to be jolly falalalalalalalala.....................................................................

DONT FORGET TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY!!!!! CLOSES ON 15TH DEC DONT MISS OUT! :)

Snowman finger puppet: free pattern :)

Hi everyone,

I have been feeling very christmassy and found this pattern I wrote a while ago and thought what the hey! its the festive season why not give you all a treat :0) Here is the pattern for these little guys!! :

Make loads of them with different coloured scarves to get you in the festive mood :D

Awww I think they are soo cute!

(I call them freddy and eddy.)

You will need:

• 3 1/4 mm needles
• 3mm crochet hook
• White DK yarn
• Black DK yarn
• and oddment of orange yarn for carrot nose
• and another odment of coloured wool for the scarf :)
• a tiny bit of stuffing for the head
• an embroidery needle!

stst: stocking stitch
sts: stitches
k2tog: knit two stitches together
ch: chain

Snowman:

With white yarn and 3 1/4mm needles cast on 14 sts

stst 23 rows

change to black and stst 3 rows (for hat)

last row: k2tog across row (7sts)

cut long piece of yarn and thread through all 7 sts on needle, draw up and fasten off.

Scarf:

Using 3.00mm hook ch 25. fasten off

To make up:

Snowman:

Sew around 1.5cm down back of snowman (down from  head) and thread yarn all the way around neck, stuff  and draw up and fasten, do not cut yarn, continue to seam the rest of the back of snowman. Embroider features as seen in picture.

Scarf:

Thread pieces of same coloured yarn through ends of scarf tie then cut short to create tassel effect.tie round neck, done.

Congratulations you are now the proud owner of your own little eddy (or freddy :)

You can put small sweets in the end and use them as place settings or sew a loop to thier head, stuff and sew  body and hang them on your tree!

Enjoy, and think ITS CHRISSSSSSTTTTMMMMMAAAAASSSSSSSSS! (hahaa)

Bye!

Christmas giveaway!

Hello all faithful readers,

As it is the special festive season I thought I would do a special christmas giveaway just to kick start the celebrations!

 

Here is what you could win!!!!

• A set of  'upcycled' christmas handpainted  knitting needles (long story short; old, abandoned needles that I bought and painted to make better than new! :)
• Some hand made christmas pudding buttons (also hand made by me!)
• And some yummy chocolate tree decorations :P

Here is a close up of the needles:

They even have a little red gem on top that will glint in ight of your fairy lights!

Here are the buttons:



AND THE CHOCOLATES!!!!!!

For your chance to win all these prizes all you need to do is send an email to : iitki@hotmail.co.uk

including your name and the name of one of santas raindeer! (I added the last bit for fun :)

The giveaway will close on the 15th of December and the winner will be announced then as well.

Hope you enjoy the giveaway and good luck!

See you soon :D

P.s The giveaway is open to anyone, any age, who lives anywhere.

I'm dreaming of a white christmas........

ITS SNOWING!!!!!!!!!!!!!! But I still had to go school :/

Ahhh well when I got home there was enough snow to make......

     Mini man the snowman :)

I <3 him!

He even has a little hat and scarf.

Recenlty my swap parcel arrrived from the swap I take part in on Ravelry, again I had another generous parcel :)

Thankyou!!!

I have been making some more buttons, I made come cookie ones and some mini mushroom ones. I will post pictures soon!

Tomorrow is the 1st of december!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ive been waiting for ages for it to be that day!

In my house all the christmas decorations go up on this day so its very exciting. Also advent calendars start :P Yummy choclate........

Thsi will be a month full of fabulous blogging so check back soon for special free patterns, pictures and a christmas giveaway!

(And obviously because you love me! ahhahaha )

Post again very very soon........

Byeeeeeee.

Old Jewellery crochet stitch markers

Hi everyone,

In lots of the crochet patterns I use it recommends using a safety pin as a stitch marker. I do this a lot as I find it easy to move and use but it does look a bit boring! :/ So I though how can I make them more exciting and I came up with Jewellery stitch markers......

here is a very simple tutorial for making crochet stitch markers from old jewellery and safety pins :)

First you need some safety pins:

Then some old (or new) Jewellery with different charms /bead/chains on it:

Take one safety pin and one charm. Using pliers or your fingers open the ring of one of the charms slightly. Hook it through the circle part of the safety pin and using pliers or your fingers shut the ring so that the charm stays on the pin :)

Finished!!!

You can experiment but using all kinds of charms and if using things like necklaces you can use different lengths of chain to make a kind of chainy tassel :) Anything you like really. Just be creative that's the main thing.

Also when they are done you can wear them on your clothes in case you start a project on the go!

(That's what I'm going to do! :0)

See you soon xxx

Giveaway winner!

Congratulations to...................... NICOLE IVEY! The winner of the first ever IITKI giveaway :)

You have won all of the wonderful prizes featured :) an email has been sent to you telling you what you need to do to get your prize on its way to you!

Don't be too sad if you didn't win this one, lots more fantastic giveaways coming up soon including a special Christmas themed one In December :)

check back soon!!!

:o)

Giveaway entries now closed

Just a note to say the giveaway entries are now closed! Check back on the 22nd to find out if you have won :)

Pom-Pom headphone case/ trinket box: FREE PATTERN!

Konichiwa!

Like I promised here is the pattern for the pom-pom box I created recently :)

You will need:

• Cream worsted/ Aran Weight Yarn (for case)
• A small amount of embroidery thread (to sew on button)
• A small/medium sized clear button
• A small amount of DK yarn the same colour as embroidery thread (for pom pom)
• A 3.5 mm crochet hook

Top:

rnd 1: Make a magic ring, 6dc (6sts)
rnd 2: 2dc into each st (12sts)
rnd 3: *1dc, 2dc into next st* Repeat from * to * around (18 sts)
rnd 4: *2dc, 2dc into next st* Repeat from * to * around (24 sts)
rnd 5: *3dc, 2dc into next st* Repeat from * to * around (30sts)
rnd 6 -8 : 1dc into each st around (30sts)
When rnd 8 is completed ch 5 and slst into 2nd chain from hook. This completes button loop. Depending on the button size this may need to be smaller or larger so please check.


Bottom:

rnd 1: Make a magic ring, 6dc (6sts)
rnd 2: 2dc into each st (12sts)
rnd 3: *1dc, 2dc into next st* Repeat from * to * around (18 sts)
rnd 4: *2dc, 2dc into next st* Repeat from * to * around (24 sts)
rnd 5- 8: 1dc into each st around (24sts)
Fasten off.

To make up:

Overlap top and bottom half slighlty and sew together, sew about a length of 1 cm at the back of case (opposite button loop) The case should now open and close with the seam acting as a hinge. Darn in any lose ends. Close the case fully, the bottom half should roll up inside top half slightly. Mark the position of the button, by using position of loop as a guide and sew button to case using embroidery thread. Make pom pom and sew to top of case. if pom pom is too large trim slighlty.

Voila! you now have a new little pom-pom box :) enjoy..............................

The present day....

Hi guys!

I thought I would do a post about what is currently going on in my life.......

At the moment im on exam leave from school. Ive done most of my exams. I only have food tech left on friday. (YAY!!!!!! NO MORE REVISING!)

I have started making my own buttons from fimo. I love how creative it is you can do whatever you want and can use the finished product! I made some halloween pumpkin ones for the swap I did last month. Here they are:

Im going to make some for my next swap which is christmas themed. I might also do a tutorial on here soon on how to make some for anyone who wants to try it. They are simple but fun :D

As I am vegetarian me and my family don't eat turkey for christmas dinner, but when I saw Alan darts latest pattern in simply knitting magazine I knew we were going to have one this year......

(Picture from: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Alan-Dart-Toy-Knitting-Pattern-TIPSY-TURKEY-Christmas-/370449404169)

Hes so cute, how could you not wanna make him, but remember turkeys are for life not just for christmas ;)

I found out I had alot more friends than I thought when I sat down to write my christmas present list, Ive been making around a present a night. I decided I was going to make them all something so Ive been trawling Ravelry to find patterns for interesting mini items for all of them, its a long process!

I wrote my own pattern for a pom pom headphone case/ trinket box the other day which I will be posting up for free soon :)

Im also practising for a christmas concert coming up at school soon, I play clarinet. For those of you who dont know what it is its the instrument squidward in spongebob sqaurepants plays (Yes, thats why I chose that instrument. hahaha so sad I know!)

(Picture from: http://lizzx3.glogster.com/more-than-spongebob/)

Well thats my life at the moment. I pretty much counting down the days to christmas. Hope everyone esles is going ok!

See you all very very soon

P.S my uncle from Australia is coming over on friday. I havent seen him in ages! Im making him a crocheted christmas pudding as a prezzie :) will post pics soon! ohhh im so excited....

BYE

Giveaway!

Hello everyone!

I just wanted to remind you that the giveaway ends in 5 days!!! good luck to all those who have entered already. The giveaway is open to anyone in any country and if you are the one lucky winner you get all the prizes mentioned :oD

To enter send your name and email to : iitki@hotmail.co.uk

Simple as.... Good luck

Don't forget to subscribe as there will be more giveaways coming very soon!

bye

Christmas and Chicks!

Hola Everyone :)

Recently me and my mum bought some donations to give to the shoebox appeal. It is a charty whcich gives christmas presents to kids that don't normally get anything. The stuff gets put in shoeboxes and sent to kids around the world who dont have all the luxuries we have. Its a really nice appeal. I donated some hairclips that I made with crocheted flowers on them (as seen in picture!) Its a nice thought to think that something I made will brighten a kids day :)

To get involved go to: http://www.operationchristmaschild.org.uk/

 (All our stuff!!!!!!)

There are a few rules you ahve to follow so that your box is suitable but it makes you feel really good when you make one as something as small as a bracelet can make a childs christmas!

From one charity to another.....

I also finished some more chicks (and sonwmen!) for the charity knitting I am doing. They are easter bunny themed:

The lady who organizes it said they accept snowmen other animals etc so I thought I would be a bit creative!I am very close to my target of 50!!!!!!!!  Ill keep knitting.......

Talk soon,

Enter the giveaway or itll be too late :o) Only 9 days left!

Bye Bye

Happy (late!) Halloween......

Happy Halloween loyal readers!

I realise I am a bit late (4 days!) but I was busy with trying to post Japan pictures and set up the giveaway. However I was not willing to let Halloween pass by without a mention because it is one of my fave holidays :D

The theme for the swap on ravelry was Halloween so I got a cool themed parcel that made my day even more special. It had loads of great stuff including some kool aid so I can do my own dying. (How exciting!)

Thankyou to my generous swap partner!

Because we arrived home quite late by the time we got to the supermarket the next day all the big pumpkins were sold out but we did find these........ munchkin pumpkins!

They are so cute, however because they are so small they are un-carveable :/ So we had to decorate them and draw on them instead.

Mines the one with the purple star bow.....

 ... from real pumpkins to knitted ones. I made four of these as a Halloween gift for my family and one one for myself ( I couldn't resist!) They were from the Jiffy knits book I mentioned in an older post on my blog. the pattern was soooo quick I made them all in one night:

I hope everyone had a good Halloween like me, next is Christmas :D

DON'T FORGET TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY!!!!!

Information and how to enter is in earlier post and will be re posted soon :)

Good luck

Bye bye friends :0)