Buy British Month

my first bbm purchase has arrived!

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Chunky Alpaca Baby Jacket

I want to knit a baby jacket in chunky alpaca, but cannot find any patterns. So as I am going to have to make it up I thought I'd blog it :) It is knit from the top down on circular needles, for a seamless finish.

I took One 100g skein of Chunky Alpaca (100 yards) (Available from my store) A pair each of size 6.5mm/10.5US, and 8mm/11US circular needles. I had two smaller circular needles to use as stitch holders. 4 stitch markers. Gauge/Tension - 6st x 8 rows = 2 inch square

With the 6.5mm/10.5us circular needles and longtail cast on 32 stitches.

Row 1 - k4, place marker, k6, place marker, k12, place marker, k6,  place marker, k4.

Row 2 - K row increasing one stitch before and after each stitch marker. (40 stitches)

Row 3 - Knit

Row 4 - Change to size 8.mm/11.us needles. Knit row increasing one stitch before and after each marker. (48 stitches)

Row 5 - K3, Purl to last 3 stitches, K3

Repeat rows 4 and 5 until you have 96 stitches. (12, marker, 22, marker, 28, marker, 22, marker, 12)

Divide row - K 12, slip next 22 stitches onto a spare needle, K28, slip next 22 stitches onto a spare needle, K12

1st  post divide row - K3, purl to last 3 stitches, K3.

2nd post divide row - Knit

Repeat last two rows until work measures 4 inches from the divide row to the bottom of work.

Work 4 rows garter stitch (Knit) Cast off. Sew ends in.

Sleeves - **Slip one lot of the 22 stitches held on a spare needle back onto your larger circular needle. You will have a gap between the last stitch and the first stitch, Pick up a stitch here to close the gap. Continue to knit in the round until your sleeve measures 2 inches from where you have rejoined. Work 2 purl rows then cast off. Sew ends in.** Repeat fromm ** - ** for second sleeve.

Make a twist tie for each side of the jacket fronts and attach securely. Voila!, Beautifully warm, snuggly soft Baby Jacket!

April Dye Club

Although we are basking in glorious sunshine now, the month started with more than its fair share of rain. Our dye club decided on the theme of April Showers for this months project. Looking out across the Valley we had such contrasts of just two colours. Blue and Green. The blue of the sky, the river, the rain, set against the greens of the grass, the trees and the new growth spurting everywhere.

Pictures of the delicious new colourway for your delectation!

lots of woolly loveliness drying in the shade!

Hannahs' Progress pics

Not happy with the pooling in the linen stitch so have gently ripped it back.

I'm happier with the reworked piece

night time pic

Frogged the left leg