Saturday 9 February 2013

Heart bag pattern - heartsease


This is a little bag pattern which I have devised in order to make heart-shaped bags for a charity event, (details of which are below the pattern).

You can use whatever hook and yarn you prefer. Obviously, a small hook and thin yarn will yield a small bag, whereas a large hook and chunky yarn will make a larger bag. I used an 8mm hook and extra chunky yarn, which made a bag measuring 6 inches across.

Heart Bag Pattern (UK terms)

Make a foundation chain of 4 chains
Row 1 - DC into second ch from hook, 1DC into each of next 2 st. Turn. (3)
Row 2 - Ch 1, 2DC in first st, DC in next st, 2DC in last st. Turn. (5)
Row 3 - Ch 1, 2DC in first st, DC in next 3 st, 2DC in last st. Turn. (7)
Row 4 - Ch 1, 2DC in first st, DC in next 5 st, 2DC in last st. Turn. (9)
Row 5 - Ch 1, 2DC in first st, DC in next 7 st, 2DC in last st. Turn. (11)
Row 6 - Ch 1, 1DC in each st. Turn. (11)
Row 7 - Ch 1, 2DC in first st, DC in next 9 st, 2DC in last st. Turn. (13)
Row 8 - Ch 1, 2DC in first st, DC in next 11 st, 2DC in last st. Turn. (15)
Row 9 - Ch 1, 2DC in first st, DC in next 13 st, 2DC in last st. Turn. (17)
Row 10 - Ch 1, 2DC in first st, DC in next 15 st, 2DC in last st. Turn. (19)
Row 11 - Ch 1, 1DC in each st. Turn. (19)
Row 12 - Ch 1, 1DC in each st. Turn. (19)
Row 13 - Ch 1, 1DC in each st. Turn. (19)

Now, for the top of the heart, which is worked in two parts.

Row 14a - Ch 1, work 1DC in next 9 st. Turn. (9)
Row 15a - Ch 1, DC2TOG, 1DC in next 7 st. Turn. (8)
Row 16a - Ch1, DC2TOG, 1DC in next 4 st, DC2TOG. Turn. (6)
Row 17a - Ch1, DC2TOG, 1DC in next 2 st, DC2TOG. Turn. (4)
Row 18a - Ch1, DC2TOG, DC2TOG. (2) Fasten off and weave in end.

Put slipknot on hook.
Row 14b - DC into 9th st from LEFT side. 1DC into each of next 8 st. Turn. (9)
Row 15b - Ch 1, 1DC into first 7 st, then DC2TOG. Turn. (8)
Row 16b - Ch1, DC2TOG, 1DC in next 4 st, DC2TOG. Turn. (6)
Row 17b - Ch1, DC2TOG, 1DC in next 2 st, DC2TOG. Turn. (4)
Row 18b - Ch1, DC2TOG, DC2TOG. (2) Fasten off and weave in end.

Make two and join together along sides using slip stitch. Chain a
handle and join on each side.

I hope that the pattern makes sense. Please contact me if you find any errors and I will rectify them!

Here is the 'heartsease' information..
We need 1.5million hearts bags knitted (or crocheted or sewn!) for all the children that are in need of care in the UK...

YOUR heart will go to ONE special little person in the UK. Please knit one (or more) and send to us...
BEGINS: Seventh February 2013 (Thursday)
ENDS: We will gather all the hearts and take to Parliament on Valentine's Day 2014 Friday*

* and on that day Kids Company, the UK Hand Knitting Association and the knitting design duo/company 'Ruth and Belinda' will take the hearts to Parliament. A declaration to the world that there are children in the UK that really need our support, love, care; emotional and physical.

Please knit a heart bag
for the children,
that in Camila Batmanghelidjh's
inimitable words,
"... are not properly cared for".

Little heart bags - made by people like you, with big hearts, to encourage and delight children at Kids Company.

Please send to:
heartsease, Ruth and Belinda HQ - 26 Queens Road, Exeter, Devon EX2 9ER, UK

http://www.ruthandbelinda.co.uk/designevents/heartsease.html

Please spread the word about this. And if you have the spare time and yarn to make a few, please do! I would love to see photos if you do make some!

Please feel free to use my patterns to make items for yourself, as gifts, or to sell. All I ask is that you do not republish the pattern as your own, and if you post pics of items you have made from my patterns, then please mention me and my blog. :) Thank you!

Saturday 26 January 2013

Bring it on, 2013!!

My, oh my! How the bloomin' heck can it be 2013 already?!? Time really does fly.. whether you're having fun or not! ;)


Once again, apologies for the delay in posting. Since the last post, we have moved, and whilst it is taking a little while for us to settle, I know we are now in the right place, after a few years of moving around. Once I've gotten my yarn storage situation sorted out, (more on that another day), I will feel even better!

At the last count, I had ten WIPs in my basket*, which is a few too many, I feel. I have a bit if a problem with having too many ideas and not enough hands to hook with! I also have a bit of a yarn addiction - not sure if anyone can relate to that? - which means there are always lots of yummy colours and textures screaming out to be transformed into a beautiful object.

I have finished a few things, but the temptation to start something new overtakes me, especially when I get my hands on some new yarn, and becomes even greater if that new yarn happens to be variegated! Speaking of which, I am sure there is a Noro-esque blanket a-calling my name. Toodle-pip for now! :)

*Basket = strewn in corners in bags