Tashtastic Knit and Crochet Moustache Patterns

Who in the world does not admire a fine bristling bit of face fur? The moustache has been wooing women (and men), winning hearts, and being twirled in a dastardly manner since the dawn of time. We know you’d love your very own moustache but who has time time (or the hormones) to grow one in today’s busy climate?

Fear not that is where Stitch and Bitch London’s fine Tashtastic Knit and Crochet Moustaches come in. Hurrah for the tash!

For a small or large donation you can download these three fine face fur patterns and start getting your tash on right away.

All you need to do is donate to the Prostate UK Charity and the moustache patterns are yours. Any sum will do (we recommend a minimum of £2).

Just CLICK HERE to go to our donations page and give as much as you can.

CLICK HERE to download the S&B London Tashtastic Knit Crawl 2009 Moustache Patterns

Now find yourself a quiet corner and start creating your tash.

Want to take your tash out of the town? Join us on Saturday the 13th of June on Worldwide Knit in Public Day for the S&B London Tashtastic Knit Crawl 2009. Knitting at Tower Bridge, the Tate Modern, the London Eye and Trafalgar Square.

For all the details on the Knit Crawl 2009 please click here.

We’d love to see pictures of you sporting your hairy nose neighbours too. Send your photos and marvellous Moustache tales to stitchettes@stitchandbitchlondon.co.uk and we may even feature them here on our blog.

Knitters and crocheters, get your tash on for an incredibly good cause. Go on.

(Special thanks to Megan for her Finger Moustache pattern donation)

The Stitch and Bitch London Tashtastic Knit Crawl 2009

In 2007 we Knit Crawled for Cancer Research, in 2008 we Knit Crawled for Breast Cancer Care, this year Worldwide Knit in Public Day looms once more. The Stitch and Bitch London Knit Crawl 2009 has a far manlier theme…

The Stitch and Bitch London Tashtastic Knit Crawl 2009 will take to the streets of lovely London Town on Saturday the 13th of June.

We’ll stomp our way across four iconic London sights:

Tower Bridge: get down with the ravens and explain to tourists they’re not at London Bridge

Tate Modern: knit it up all arty-like in the gargantuan turbine hall where passers-by will assume you are an art installation

London Eye: get your stitch on in Jubilee Gardens under the gaze of the all-seeing London Eye

Trafalgar Square: a Knit Crawl traditional. Say hi to the Lions and furiously blend in with whatever festival happens to be taking place there, while knitting like you mean it

This year we’re doing it bloke-flavoured, raising money for the Prostate UK Charity in a tashtastic manner. We’ll be knitting (and possibly wearing, for those with no shame) moustaches for that manly feel.

CLICK HERE for our S&B London Tashtastic Knit Crawl Moustache Patterns.

We’ll also be offering some knit-flavoured raffle prizes, free gifts, and the chance to wear a knitted moustache in public (optional).

And you may be able to buy this fine face fur for the price of a donation on the day.

The S&B Tashtastic London Knit Crawl Map

View Larger Map

Knit 1: Tower Bridge
Noon to 1pm

The Scoop outside City Hall
City Hall
The Queen’s Walk
London
SE1 2AA

Knit 2: Tate Modern
1.30 to 2.30pm

Tate Modern
Turbine Hall
Bankside
London
SE1 9TG

Knit 3: London Eye
3.15 to 4.15pm

Jubilee Gardens
In front of London Eye on the grass
Queen’s Walk
London

Knit 4: Trafalgar Square
4.30 to 5.30pm

Trafalgar Square
London
WC2N 5DN

Knit Crawlers Wine, Beer and Cake: Walkers of Whitehall

5.30 till we can drink no more

Walkers of Whitehall
15 Craig’s Court
Whitehall
London
SW1A 2DD

Join us for the whole thing, join us for a small part, just make sure you get your knits out on the town for a good cause.

Huge thanks to:
Banyan Tree Yarns (the UK home of Lion Brand’s wonderful wool)
Soak (amazing stuff for washing your handknits without the horror)
Debonnaire Yarns (artistic yarns and all kinds of woolly goodness)

Race for Life: Woolly hats for cancer fighters (almost FREE pattern)

Because Cancer Research is about those who are fighting, as well as those we have sadly lost, we’re going to be knitting chemo caps as we go (knitting as you walk is optional). The caps will be donated to various cancer wards across London.

S&B London are offering two fabulous chemo hat patterns for a minimum £2 donation

(give more if you like)

There is a round hat and a square hat. Both are easy to knit and very quick (use whatever yarn you like, as long as it’s not scratchy).

To donate click here and give as much as you like.

Donate first then CLICK HERE to download our S&B London Cancer Fighter hat patterns once you’ve donated.

We’d love to see the hats you end up making too. Send any pictures to stitchettes@stitchandbitchlondon.co.uk.

We plan to donate them to local London cancer wards so get in touch for an address if you have rustled some up, or bring them along to an S&B meeting.

If you want to join our Race for Life team and race along with us you can see all the details here. We’d love to have you join us.

PS If you download without donating we won’t know. But you’ll know. It will slowly eat away at your conscience in the night. Eventually you’ll end up living on a hill in the middle of the wilderness talking to your imaginary friends and knitting with your own hair. So be nice and donate. Even a teeny bit helps.

S&B London Knit Crawl Sit-upon Pattern

As International Knit in Public Day beckons on Saturday 14th June, S&B London prepares to embark upon it’s second annual London Knit Crawl. You are all invited to join us in bring knitting proudly to the streets of London. Check out last year’s Knit Crawl from our blog entries in June 2007 for a taster of what’s to come.

Details of this year’s crawl will be released soon – keep your eyes on the newsletter and this blog for them. But for now we would like to set you a challenge. We all had a fab time on last year’s crawl, but the day took it’s toll on our bums as they sat on London monuments, concreate and grass all day long. So this year, to keep you comfy we are asking you to knit along with us and create your own Sit-upon.

The pattern, designed by Steph Fairless of iloveknitting.net, is a carry-along cushion, one side knitted to your own design and the other made from any waterproof fabric. It cleverly doubles up as a bag for your project too.

Here’s how it works (expertly demonstrated by Purl Princess):

1) Turn up to the Knit crawl with your finished Sit-upon and look for a fine place to sit.

2) Once you’ve found your spot, don’t forget to take your project out of your bag first

3) Now plonk yourself down and enjoy a spot of well-earned knitting time. You bum with thoroughly enjoy the Sit-upon’s added comfort.

4) When it’s time for the Knit Crawl to move on simply grab your cushion and give the PVC waterproof underside a good brush down.

5) And you’re ready to continue on with the rest of S&B London, as we roll on to the next location to show London what we’re all about!

Once you’ve finished we’d love to see your take on the Sit-upon, so send us an email with some pictures of it or bring it along to the group and we’ll feature your design in our newsletter or on this blog.

We’d love you to join in and knit with us, so here’s the pattern:

STITCH AND BITCH LONDON SIT-UPON

This pattern is only to be used as a guide and inspiration to create your very own Sit-upon for the Stitch & Bitch Knit Crawl.

Be as creative as you like!

Send us a picture of your finished Sit-upon or bring it to the group, we will feature your design on our blog or in the newsletter.

Materials

• Yarn of choice
• Knitting needles to match gauge of yarn
• Cushion - buy one from Primark/cheap shop or fill your Sit-upon with soft cushion filling/stuffing. (Rough size = approximately 37cm x 37cm (15″ x 15″))
• PVC/ waterproof backing
• Plastic bag to cover cushion (optional)

1. Measure up your cushion (or choose a suitable size to sit on) so you know how big to make your knitted square, and for cutting the PVC fabric. (Rough size = approximately 37cm x 37cm (15″ x 15″))

2. Knit a square to the size you want your cushion.

If you are using a pre-made cushion:

• Make a tension square so you can work out how many stitches to the centimeter you need (unless you are a good guesser!).

3. Make a handle to your required length and width (rough size = approximately 60cm). The handle on the cushion shown is 41cm (16″) long and 4cm (1.5″ wide). Don’t make it too long as it will stretch. You can either do one handle or two.

4. Any extra embellishments to the cushion before sewing up. Add sequins, tassels, embroidery, buttons, or an appliqué, but remember that you’re going to be sitting on it, so nothing too pokey!

Making up

1. Cover your cushion with a plastic bag in case it gets wet (optional).

2. Pin and sew the handle to knitted square.

3. Put PVC and knitted fabrics right-side facing each other and sew round 3 edges.

4. Insert a zip if you wish to use the Sit-upon as a project bag also.

5. Turn inside out so correct sides are now facing outwards. Insert your cushion or stuffing.

6. Sew last edge (if you’re not using a zip).

Places to buy your materials

• John Lewis, they will have most of what you need and a good range of PVC fabrics.
• Your local haberdashery and fabric shop.
• EBay, find wonderful fabrics and yarns online.
• If you want to be extra special there is a double knit pure wool yarn which is Teflon treated to make it water and snow resistant. Dalegarn Hauk. It is available through www.dragonyarns.co.uk
• For super cool embellishments and trims, try www.josyrose.com

Happy Knitting!

Cushion featured designed by Laura ‘Purl Princess’ Parkinson

Knitted Baby Starfish

I was so impressed by a recent visit to London Zoo, that I have decided to start my own knitted aquarium. So, I’ve started by writing a very simple pattern for a starfish. All you need to be able to do it cast on, knit and cast off. Once you’ve got the hang of this easy pattern, you can adjust the size to make a bigger starfish. Here’s the pattern – it’s so easy!

Materials: 2.75mm needles, doulbe knit yarn in any shade that takes your fancy, scissors and a knitter’s needle.

Directions: Cast on 10 stitches

Row 1: Knit 10

Row 2: Knit 10

Row 3: Cast off 7 stitches, knit the remaining 3 stitches

Row 4: Knit 3, now turn the needle round and now cast on 7 stitches. This splits the row to make the gaps between the legs.

Row 5: Knit 10

Row 6: Knit 10

Row 7: Cast off 7 stitches, knit the remaining 3 stitches

Row 4: Knit 3, now turn the needle round and now cast on 7 stitches.

Row 7: Knit 10

Row 8: Knit 10Row 9: Cast off 7 stitches, knit the remaining 3 stitches

Row 4: Knit 3, now turn the needle round and now cast on 7 stitches.

Row 10: Knit 10

Row 11: Knit 11

Row 12: Cast off 7 stitches, knit the remaining 3 stitches

Row 4: Knit 3, now turn the needle round and now cast on 7 stitches.

Row 13: Knit 10

Row 14: Knit 10

Row 15: Cast off 7 stitches, knit the remaining 3 stitches

Row 4: Knit 3, now turn the needle round and now cast on 7 stitches.

Row 16: Knit 10

Row 17: Knit 10

Cast off 10 stitches

You should now have a knitted piece with 5 legs. These need to be stitched into a star shape as in the picture.

Now you have your very own knitted starfish! I have also adjusted pattern to make the fish bigger, by knitting the legs at a length of 15 stitches instead of 10. I kept the number of stitches always cast on at 3.

See more pictures here.

I plan to have the knitted aquarium completed later in the year. Watch this space….

Ladybird Knitting Pattern

Some of you may have seen the ladybirds I was knitting at the Stitch & Bitch London Knit Crawl and at some of the meetings. Well here is the pattern I have written – it’s the first one I’ve done, so I hope it makes sense. Anyway, it’s pretty simple….

Materials: 2.5mm needles; red and black double knit yarn (doesn’t have to be anything fancy); 1 darning needle, stuffing.

Directions:

Cast on 3 stitches

Row 1: starting with red yarn, purl 3

Row 2: k1, m1, k1, m1, k1 = 5 stitches (RS)

Row 3: purl 5 (WS)

Row 4: k1, m1 alternately until you have 9 stitches

Row 5: purl 9

Row 6: k1, m1 alternately until you have 17 stitches

Row 7: purl 17

Row 8: k1, m1, k15, m1, k1 = 19 stitches

Row9: purl 19 stitches

Row 10: k1, m1, k15, m1, k1 = 21 stitches

Row 11: p21

Rows 12 to 28 St st

Row 29: k1, k2tog, k15, k2tog, k1 = 19 stitches

Row 30: p19

Row 31: k1, k2tog, k13, k2tog, k1 = 17 stitches

Row 32: p17

Row 33: change to black yarn, k1, k2tog, k11, k2tog, k1

Row 34: p15

Row 35: k1, k2tog, k9, k2tog, k1 = 13 stitches

Row 36: p13

Row 37: k1, k2tog, k7, k2tog, k1 = 11 stitches

Row 38: p11

Row 39: k1, k2tog, k5, k2tog, k1 = 9 stitches

Row 40: p9

Row 41: k1, k2tog, k3, k2tog, k1 = 7 stitches

Row 42: k1, k2tog, k1, k2tog, k1 = 5 stitches

Row 43: Cast off purl wise

This gives you the top of the ladybird.

Underneath side:

Cast on 6 stitches

Row 1: Purl (WS)

Row 2: k1, m1, k4, m1, k1 = 8 stitches (RS)

Row 3: p8

Row 4: k1, m1, k6, m1, k1 = 10 stitches

Row 5: p10

Row 6: increase as above = 12 stitches

Row 7: p12

Row 8: increase as above = 14 stitches

Row 9: p14

Rows 10-13: St st

Row 14: Increase as above = 16

Rows 15-20: St st starting with purl row

Row 21: p1, p2tog, p12, p2tog, p1 = 14 stitches

Row 22: decrease as above knitwise = 12 stitches

Row 23: p12

Row 24: decrease as above knitwise = 10 stitches

Row 25: decrease as above purlwise = 8 stitches

Row 26: decrease as above knitwise = 6 stitches

Row 27: p6

Row 28: K2, k2tog, k2

Row 29: p5

Row 30: k5

Row 31: p2tog, p2, p2tog = 3 stitches
Cast off

Now, using the black yarn, make the ladybird pattern on the top side of the ladybird (a black line through the middle and vlack dots, see picture)

Now, holding the two pieces against one another (RS facing one another), sew togther, three quarters of the way around the perimeter, turn the right way out and stuff the ladybird. Then sew up the remainder of the seam. And now you have your very own knitted ladybird! You can also sew a broach pin to the back, so that it can be pinned to your favourite bag or cardigan.

You can see more pictures here. Happy knitting!