Fair Isle Mice - pattern

Cute little knitted mice with a colourful Fair Isle band.  A great way to use up your oddments of yarn. 

PDF version here.

A Dutch translation of this pattern has kindly been made by Kim De Vry and can be downloaded from the Ravelry pattern page, here.

To make your own mice, you will need-

Oddments of double knitting weight yarn in main colour and 5 contrasting colours

A pair of 3.75 needles

Toy stuffing

ABBREVIATIONS

k = knit

p = purl

sts = stitches

inc = increase

k2tog = knit 2 sts together

k2togtbl = knit 2 sts together through the back of the loops

Finished size – 3 inches long (excluding tail)

BODY

(Starting at tail end of mouse)

With main shade and 3.75mm needles cast on 9 sts, leaving a long end to make tail.

Row 1: k 1, inc knitwise in every st to end. (17 sts)

Row 2: p

Row 3: k 1, inc knitwise in every st to end. (33 sts)

Row 4: p

Row 5: k
Row 6: p

Rows  7 – 13: work Fair Isle pattern from chart.

Row 14: p

Row 15: K2tog, k 8, k2tog, k 9, k2togtbl, k 8, k2togtbl. (29 sts)

Row 16: p

Row 17: K2tog, k 7, k2tog, k 7, k2togtbl, k 7, k2togtbl. (25 sts)

Row 18: p

Row 19: K2tog, k 6, k2tog, k 5, k2togtbl, k 6, k2togtbl. (21 sts)

Row 20: p

Row 21: K2tog, k 4, k2tog, k 5, k2togtbl, k 4, k2togtbl. (17 sts)

Row 22: p

Row 23: K2tog, k 3, k2tog, k 3, k2togtbl, k 3, k2togtbl. (13 sts)

Row 24: p

Row 25: K2tog, k 2, k2tog, k 1, k2togtbl, k 2, k2togtbl. (9 sts)

Break off yarn and thread through remaining sts and pull up tight.  Fasten off.

EARS (make 2!)

With main shade and 3.75mm needles cast on  3 sts.

Row 1: inc knitwise in every st. (6 sts)

Row 2: k

Row 3: k

Row 4: k

Row 5: k2tog, k 2, k2togtbl. (4 sts)

Row 6: k2tog, k2togtbl. (2 sts)

Row 7: k2tog.

Fasten off. 

MAKING UP

Sew up seam on body and stuff. 

With the long tail from the cast on, make a twisted cord of about 5 inches in length to form the tail.

Attach the ears to the head and embroider eyes. 

Fair Isle Mice

Ever on the look out for ideas to incorporate Fair Isle knitting, I decided to make some little mice.

They are very quick to make and have a colourful Fair Isle band around their middles.

They are a great way to use up small amounts of double knitting yarn and the possibilities for colour combinations are endless.

I'll post the pattern up shortly.

Happy Easter

Happy Easter everyone.  Have a lovely day.

Whatever the Weather

I thought I was making good progress on the garden last week.  The weather was glorious - Spring had arrived and the sun was shining.

I took some photos of the flowers - whilst they looked good.  I'm not a very good gardener so the pictures are cropped and edited to show only the good bits!

The bulbs look wonderful, and the wisteria will be opening soon.

Then, just as I was getting into the swing of things, the weather changed and it went horrible and cold.  I don't like to go out when it's cold - I prefer to hibernate - so the garden will have to wait until it warms up.  At least we didn't get any snow like some places in the UK.

Thursday was the best day of the week, which worked out well, because we had chosen that day to go to Chester.

We browsed all the charity shops and swooped up some bargains.

For lunch, we picked up some chips and sat in the grounds of the cathedral to eat them.  

Chester is such a lovely place - very relaxing - a good day out.

I'm not sure what the weather has in store for us next week - whatever - I'm sure it will be a good week.

Harriet Pattern

A cropped, short-sleeved cardigan with a bright and cheerful Fair Isle pattern.

PDF available here.

To fit 32” chest.
Finished measurements:
Chest 34” / 86 cms
Sleeve seam 5” / 13 cms
Length 15” / 38 cms

Requirements
double knitting weight yarn-

• 2 x 50g balls in main shade
• 1 x 50 g ball in 5 contrasting colours

I used Sirdar Country Style double knitting yarn in light navy for the main shade and cream and a selection of pinks and burgundy shades from my stash. 

3.75mm and 3.25 mm needles

6 buttons

Tension
23 sts and 27 rows to 10 cm measured over pattern.

Abbreviations

k = knit
p = purl
sts = stitches
dec = decrease
alt = alternate
RS = right side
WS = wrong side
yon = yarn over needle

BACK

Cast on 97 sts with 3.75mm needles and main shade.

Row 1: (k1, p1) to last st, k1.

This row sets the moss stitch pattern.  Repeat this row 7 times more, ending with a WS row. 

Joining in and breaking off colours as required, commence Fair Isle pattern from chart. 

Keeping pattern correct, increase 1 st at each end of the 13^th row and on the four following 6^th rows. (107 sts)

Continue straight until two pattern repeats have been completed, ending with a WS row.

Shape armholes

Cast off 5 sts at the beginning of the next two rows. (97 sts)

Dec 1 st at each end of next three rows. (91 sts)

Dec 1 st at each end of next three alt rows. (85 sts)

Dec 1 st at each end of following 4^th row. (83 sts)

Continue straight until work measures 18 cm from start of armhole shaping, ending with a WS row.

Shape shoulders

Cast off 11 sts at beg of next four rows.

Leave remaining 39 sts on a holder.

LEFT FRONT

Cast on 49 sts with 3.75 mm needles and main shade.

Row 1: (k1, p1) to last st, k1.

This row sets the moss stitch pattern.  Repeat this row 7 times more, ending with a WS row. 

Joining in and breaking off colours as required, commence Fair Isle pattern from chart. 

Keeping pattern correct, increase 1 st at beginning of the 13^th row and on the four following 6^th rows. (54 sts)

Continue straight until two pattern repeats have been completed, ending with a WS row.

Shape armholes

Cast off 5 sts at the beginning of the next row. (49 sts)

Work 1 row.

Dec 1 st at beginning of next three rows. (46 sts)

Dec 1 st at beginning of next three alt rows. (43 sts)

Dec 1 st at beginning of following 4^th row, ending with a RS row. (42 sts)

Neck shaping

Cast off 6 sts at beginning of next row. (36 sts)

Dec 1 st at neck edge on next 7 rows. (29 sts)

Dec 1 st at neck edge on next five alt rows. (24 sts)

Dec 1 st at neck edge on two following 4^th rows. (22 sts)

Continue straight until work matches back to start of shoulder shaping, ending with a WS row.

Shape shoulders
Cast off 11 sts at beg of next row.

Work 1 row.

Cast off remaining 11 sts.

RIGHT FRONT
Cast on 49 sts with 3.75 mm needles and main shade.

Row 1: (k1, p1) to last st, k1.

This row sets the moss stitch pattern.  Repeat this row 7 times more, ending with a WS row. 

Joining in and breaking off colours as required, commence Fair Isle pattern from chart. 

Keeping pattern correct, increase 1 st at end of the 13^th row and on the four following 6^th rows. (54 sts)

Continue straight until two pattern repeats have been completed, ending with a WS row.

Shape armholes

Work 1 row.

Cast off 5 sts at the beginning of the next row. (49 sts)

Dec 1 st at end of next three rows. (46 sts)

Dec 1 st at end of next three alt rows. (43 sts)

Dec 1 st at end of following 4^th row, ending with a RS row. (42 sts)

Neck shaping

Work 1 row.

Cast off 6 sts at beginning of next row. (36 sts)

Dec 1 st at neck edge on next 7 rows. (29 sts)

Dec 1 st at neck edge on next five alt rows. (24 sts)

Dec 1 st at neck edge on two following 4^th rows. (22 sts)

Continue straight until work matches back to start of shoulder shaping, ending with a RS row.

Shape shoulders
Cast off 11 sts at beg of next row.

Work 1 row.

Cast off remaining 11 sts.

SLEEVES
Cast on 67 sts with 3.25 mm needles and main shade.

Row 1: (k1, p1) to last st, k1.

This row sets the moss stitch pattern.  Repeat this row 7 times more, ending with a WS row. 

Change to 3.75 mm needles. 

Joining in and breaking off colours as required, commence Fair Isle pattern from chart, starting with row 15. 

Keeping pattern correct, increase 1 st at end of your 7^th row and on the three following 6^th rows. (75 sts)

Continue straight until row 23 of the chart has been completed for a second time (to match the back and fronts to armhole), ending with a WS row.

Armhole shaping
Cast off 5 sts at the beginning of the next two rows. (65 sts)

Dec 1 st at each end of next three rows. (59 sts)

Dec 1 st at each end of next four alt rows. (51 sts)

Dec 1 st at each end of the three following 4^th rows. (45 sts)

Dec 1 st at each end of the next four alt rows. (37 sts)

Dec 1 st at each end of the next 5 rows. (27 sts)

Cast off 5 sts at the beginning of the next two rows. (17 sts)

Cast off the remaining 17 sts. 

MAKING UP
Darn in all loose ends.
Join shoulder seams.
Set in sleeves and join side and sleeve seams.

NECKBAND
Using 3.25mm needles, main shade and with RS facing pick up and knit 40 sts from right front, knit across 39 sts from holder for the back neck, pick up and knit 40 sts from left front. (119 sts)
Row 1: (k1, p1) to last st, k1.

This row sets the moss stitch pattern.  Repeat this row 5 times more. 

Cast off in moss stitch.

BUTTON BAND
With 3.25mm needles, main shade and with RS facing pick up and knit 57 sts up left front of cardigan.
Row 1: (k1, p1) to last st, k1.

This row sets the moss stitch pattern.  Repeat this row 5 times more.

Cast off in moss stitch.

BUTTONHOLE BAND
With 3.25mm needles, main shade and with RS facing pick up and knit 57 sts up right front of cardigan.
Row 1: (k1, p1) to last st, k1.

This row sets the moss stitch pattern.  Repeat this row one more time.

Buttonhole row : k1, p1, k1 (yon, k2tog, [p1, k1]x4,) 5 times, yon, k2tog, p1, k1. (six buttonholes made)

Work 3 more rows in moss stitch.
Cast off in moss stitch.

Sew 6 buttons onto button band to correspond with buttonholes. 

Fair Isle Finished

It's always exciting when a knitting project is finished.  So, hot off the needles, here is my lovely cropped Fair Isle cardi.

So colourful and just how I planned it.

I think the choice of short sleeves rather than long sleeves was the right decision.

So now I'll have to get the pattern typed up so that I can share it with you.

And then it's the excitement of starting a new knitting project - all  this excitement, I may need to lie down in a darkened room for a while.

More Fair Isle

I don't think I'll ever get tired of knitting Fair Isle.  What is more, I've just treated myself to this gorgeous book - so I'm itching to get started on some new Fair Isle projects.

I finally got round to buying myself a phone a few months ago (not that I'm using it - it's only for emergencies!) and so I've been meaning to make a cosy for it for some time.  An ideal opportunity to knit some more Fair Isle!

I used my dwindling stash of Rowan Scottish Tweed 4 ply - I have only 7 colours remaining - so used a bit of each.

Now my phone is warm and cosy - and very stylish!

Swallows and Amazons

One of my favourite children's books is Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransome.  I have read it several times - plus all the other books in the series.

In 2010, the story was adapted into a musical with music by Neil Hannon from The Divine Comedy and it premièred in Bristol.

In December last year the play moved to London and this year it is doing a tour of the country.  This week it was in Liverpool, at the Playhouse - and we were there.

It was wonderful - so very cleverly done, lots of fun.

The children are all played by adults and despite the fact that 7 year old Roger was played by a well-built adult male with facial hair and the props consisted of sticks and streamers carried on by actors wearing overalls, it was very easy to suspend your disbelief and enjoy the fun.

The Amazon Pirates

Making a pact

Sailing in Swallow

That's seven year old Roger - second from the right!

The play continues on tour until the end of May, so if you can catch it I would definitely recommend it.

New Fair Isle

Having completed Eve's birthday cardi, I have three balls of the navy wool left over.

Add some pinks, plums and some cream and it's ideal for some Fair Isle knitting.

I've knitted the back, the fronts and after tidying up some of the ends, I've knitted up the neckband and button bands.

Now for the sleeves.

I had originally planned on a cropped cardi with short sleeves - but, on the one hand, I'm thinking I might get more wear out of longer sleeves - but, on the other hand, with all this lovely sunny weather we're having at the moment, shorter is more summery.  I'll probably end up doing both!

I'll let you know how it goes.

Belated Mothering Sunday

Mothering Sunday was last Sunday - but as it clashed with Eve's 18th birthday we postponed it until yesterday (I wouldn't want to miss out!).

Grace and Eve gave me some lovely presents, including this month's edition of Mollie Makes.

The free gift on the front was a kit to make a crocheted rose.  The kit included the cotton yarn, a crochet hook and a badge pin.  I couldn't resist making it straight away.

The girls also gave me a drawing Eve had done of the two of them when they were little.

What a wonderful gift, I'll have to get a frame for it and hang it somewhere special.  I'm so lucky to have such thoughtful - and creative, daughters.

In the evening we went to the cinema.  We have been wanting to see the film 'The Artist' for ages.

Our local cinema is run as a charity and doesn't have digital projectors - so can only show 35mm reel versions.  We like to support our local cinema so I got in touch with them back in January to see if they would be showing 'The Artist'.  Unfortunately the film company weren't releasing the 35mm versions of the film until after the Oscars so our cinema wouldn't be getting it until March (seems unfair).

Anyway we decided to wait, rather than go and see the film at one of the larger commercial cinemas - and finally our patience was rewarded.  It was definitely worth the wait.  We loved it.

The film was funny, sad and very cleverly done - all in black and white and silent.  No wonder it won all those Oscars.

We love our local cinema - it's run by volunteers and very reasonably priced - but it was sad and slightly embarrassing to see that we were the only three people there last night!

It was a wonderful Mothering Sunday - I'm counting my blessings - because I seem to have more than I deserve.

Out and About

One of the great things about birthdays is lots of chocolates.  One of the bad things about birthdays is too many chocolates.

So now it's time to get fit again.  The weather is improving all the time - and the skirts are a bit tight around the waist.  I didn't ride my bicycle as much as I should have done last year so I thought I'd start making an effort this week to get back in the swing.  The first few days were torture - aching legs and some what saddle sore. But now it's not such a painful process.

Here's my trusty bicycle.

Looking at it propped up there, I feel it could do with some colourful decoration - I'll have to work on that.

Anyway, today for my ride I thought I would cycle along the promenade and maybe pop down to the beach to collect any interesting pebbles or shells.

As soon as I reached the front, I realised I wasn't going to get much beach-combing done - the tide was in!

It was an unusually high tide - all the iron men were virtually submerged.  (There are pictures of the iron men, here, if you don't know what I'm talking about).

Can you see a tiny black dot in the water towards the top left - that's the head of an iron man.   Here he is zoomed in.

The iron men make very useful perches for passing gulls.

Despite not being able to collect any pebbles, I had a lovely time at the front.  A pleasant Spring day and fortunately I had come prepared and had my pen, notebook, novel and reading glasses with me.

So it was a relaxing hour spent getting fitter and enjoying the great outdoors.