Image: www.CraftyDeb.com

We’ve got a bit of a thing for vampires here at S&B London HQ (“No?! Really?!” we hear you cry). So what with it being Halloween and all that, we thought it high time to feature some Undead (or should that be Life Challenged?) inspired craftiness.

We took our shovel and dug through Ravelry for some vampire find to get your fangs into. If you’re not a member of Ravelry click here to join and see the patterns.

Here’s S&B London’s rundown of the top five bloodsucker-themed patterns. The stakes couldn’t be higher (sorry!). We’re going to stick our necks out and say that none of these suck! (OK we’ll stop trying now!) Just don’t bite off more than you can chew (we really will stop now!). If you crave the undead True Blood charms of Eric Northman and Bill Compton, pine after sulky Edward Cullen, or if you’re a purist and just want Dracula, then there’s something for you…

In at Number Five: he was where it all began. The somewhat blood-curdling Dracula or Vlad. We thought both these patterns were worthy of a mention.

At Number Four, and only recognisable to you Twilight fans out there, are Julie P. Miller’s Eclipse Socks. Simple and understated, but to those in the know, so Team Edward!

This year’s Number Three is Edward. Yes, you can possess the most sought-after 17-year-old dead guy in the world. He’s our own brand of heroin…

At Number Two: wear your fang marks with pride with Krysten Lewelling’s Love Bites scarf. Inspired by True Blood, and Sookie’s vampire-loving! You’ll be fangtasising (oops!) about Bill or Eric…

And at Number One, the bloody fangtastic (sorry – couldn’t resist!) Twilight Finger Puppet Pattern. Not only could you have your own Edward, but a Jasper, Alice, Carlisle, Rosalie etc at your fingertips.

Join us next year for the freshest patterns from the coffin!

Stitch and Bitch London would like to apologise for the awful puns in this article. We’ll get our cloaks!

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways via the medium of knitting and interpretive dance. Actually forget the dance…

To celebrate their centenary the Poetry Society have decided to team up with knitters around the world to make a giant work of art.

At this very moment over 850 knitters around the world are now knitting (and crocheting) the individual letters a secret poem which could span a gobsmacking 40-feet.

As with all art it’s all about the silences as well as the shouts, so the blank spaces between the words are just as important. There is still time to register to be involved with knitting or crocheting these blank spaces that will form the spaces between words and the edging of the poem.

To take part please email officeassistant@poetrysociety.org.uk and we will send you the knitting or crochet instructions.  Finished squares can be sent to us or brought along to the I Knit Weekender on 11 and 12 September, where you can knit more squares or help with sewing up.  The final deadline for sending in squares is 14 September.

The final knitted poem will be revealed in all its glory in October 2009.

Next time someone asks that tiring question “What’s the best thing you’ve knit?” you can shout “HA! It’s was a bit of poem!” in their face, possibly before unfriending them for asking such an unoriginal question in the first place. Well worth a bit of stitching.

(Thanks to Sarah for passing this on)

Tiny hats for bottles of Innocent smoothies are becoming a bit of a tradition. You S&B Londoners have been knitting them annually since S&B first began and have come up with some tiny loveliness.

The hats are sold atop smoothie bottles and do more than just them look pretty. Each one raises money for Age Concern, helping support older people when they need it most.

This year we’ve decided to go all out and try to churn out as many tiny hats as possible. Fancy knitting a few?

You can find three fabulous tiny hat pattern on the Innocent site. Start off simple, start off a little bit crazy, or go entirely wild with your idea.

The Stitchettes will collect up the Innocent Hats and hand them over for the deadline of Friday 16th October. You can bring them along to any meeting. We’ll feature our faves on our blog post and in the newsletter after the deadline.

If you can’t make it along to a meeting then fear not. You can send them into Innocent via snail mail too.

Just pop your hats in an envelope along with your name, address and number of hats knitted, and send them by the 16th of October to this address:

The Big Knit
Fruit Towers
1 The Goldhawk Estate
Brackenbury Road
London
W6 0BA

To kick things off S&B London are teaming up with Innocent to launch The Big Knit with a Stitch and Bitch London meeting at Innocent’s headquarters Fruit Towers. There’ll be cakes, smoothie galore, hat patterns, yarn, pom poms, and more cakes (we’re all about the cakes). There’ll also be a chance to show off your stitching to some of the Innocent employees and some of the yarn wielding Age Concern grans.

You’re all invited, and it’s all completely free. So hop along to Fruit Towers for the fruitiest Stitch and Bitch London meeting to date. Go on.

WEDNESDAY 12^TH AUGUST
Time: From 6pm
Venue: Fruit Towers
1 Goldhawk Estate
Brackenbury Road
London
W6 0BA

Map Website Nearest tube: Goldhawk Road (4 minute walk), Hammersmith (8 minute walk) or Shepherds Bush (12 minute walk)

Macmillan are lovely folks. They’ve been improving the lives of cancer fighters since way back in 1911 and this year they have teamed up with The Knitter magazine to ask for your help.

A Nationwide campaign called the Macmillan Comfort Blanket, in association with the World’s Biggest Coffee Morning on 25^th September and supported by Rowan, has been launched.

They’re asking folks to knit 20cm x 20cm squares to make up Comfort Blankets. The blankets will consist of 40 squares (8 long and 5 wide). Each will be handed over to someone who is living with cancer to make them cosy while they fight their battle.

Fabulous designers (Amanda Crawford, Debbie Bliss, Jane Crowfoot, Jean Moss, and Martin Storey) from all over the knitting planet are joining in with some jaw-dropping square patterns which you can download on Macmillan’s website. Or you can make something even more stitch-worthy of your own.

Coffee Mornings will be taking place all over the UK on the 25^th of September. But as we’re evening owls we’ll be planning a Macmillan Comfort Blanket meeting to bring your squares to and sew up blankets at the end of September.

Until then you can send your Comfort Blankets to:

The Knitter Macmillan Comfort Blanket
Future Publishing Ltd
30 Monmouth Street
Bath
BA1 2BW

or drop it off with them at The Knitting and Stitching Show at Alexander Palace in October.

You can also register for a coffee morning or donate online www.macmillan.org.uk/coffee or call 0845 602 1246 quoting NA3

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 donate 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)

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)

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.

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

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….

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!