Tuesday 28 February 2017

The Tuesday Project - Doll hair

Carrying on with our Tuesday Projects - the last Tuesday is our doll making theme.  Last month we made the body now I want to add some hair.  I had a big look at different ways of adding hair to our doll - there are loads of different options out there.

The simplest is to cut felt shapes and sew them on - if you are feeling really adventurous you could make several styles - and change them about.  I found a few example of this on Google images - just to show you what you an do.

I thought I would stay more traditional and add wool hair - so here's how too.

You can use any colour you fancy - or mix and match.  I used cream, tan and a variegated browns.  Wrap the yarn round something - depends how long you want the hair to be. 


 - and cut up one side to give you even lengths.  Make a couple of inches at a time to keep it under control.


Lay the hair lengths across the top of the head - with a short length on the face if you want a fringe look.  With a very sharp needle and thread - work across the yarns with tiny little back stitches.


Add another few inches of yarn and continue backstitching.  You can add another layer on the top to build the hair up.


Lift the hair up - and add another line of yarn about half way down the back of the head.


I have not trimmed to neaten it yet - but it looks lovely and thick


And the back - needs a bit of a tidy but I don't have any sharp scissors on my lap


And I can't move now can I ?



Love
kitten


www.princesskitten.co.uk
www.thekittenandthegoat.co.uk
kittenandgoat@gmail.com

Monday 27 February 2017

Cute Kitten Fix

Monday is kitten's day off




Love
kitten


www.princesskitten.co.uk
www.thekittenandthegoat.co.uk
kittenandgoat@gmail.com

Tuesday 21 February 2017

How to open and close a jump ring

Something I am constantly asked in various ways is how to handle jump rings.  Many people pull the ends apart and then can't get them back into the correct shape.

There is a very simple little trick - and it is dead easy.
The tools you will need are 2 pairs of pliers - it does not matter if they are Snipe / chain nose (pointed) ends or flat ends - they do need to be flat on the innerside of the plier jaws - not crimp pliers or cutters.


OR - you can use 1 pair of pliers and a jump ring opener

And this is what you do - - do NOT grab hold of each side and pull them apart.

Take hold each side of the open bit and twist sideways.







Love
kitten


www.princesskitten.co.uk
www.thekittenandthegoat.co.uk
kittenandgoat@gmail.com

Monday 20 February 2017

Cute kitten fix

Monday is kitten's day off

I am not managing to keep up with all the online stuff very well this month - but I did manage an hour doing a bit of decorating in my summer house


Love
kitten


www.princesskitten.co.uk
www.thekittenandthegoat.co.uk
kittenandgoat@gmail.com

Saturday 18 February 2017

Saturday Art Day

I am having a day of plain practice.  I love to just scribe letters - it's very restful.

The Lady of Shalott is still my favorite poem - and it's massively long!  I thought I would scribe it in all 4 directions over the page - using a different colour each turn - and just keep building it up over it'sself and see what happens.  I need to let the layer below dry well - it will still catch and run - but that is what might make it fun.

Start of the first layer.



Love
kitten


www.princesskitten.co.uk
www.thekittenandthegoat.co.uk
kittenandgoat@gmail.com

Friday 17 February 2017

TA - DA

I have finally finished my living room wall.

I had to get the old goat to sand the wall over - I don't have the breathing capacity for anything with big movements in - and I was worried about the dust and my bad throat.  I have to admit that I did not redo the skirting boards - just too much extra work and dust - I just washed them. I have had the wall paper saved for about 3 or 4 years - I bought it half price in the sales.  The paint I got last year when I started - so that was no extra cost.  The only thing I bought was a lovely, snuggly fleece throw and several cushion covers in various textures and fabrics to match.  It is a wonderful space - and I feel all clean and tidy.

I matches the other side of the room that I did last spring.


Now I am going to have a couple of weeks break - then I am going to finish the bit in the middle.  Should not be as nearly as much work as it's mostly done.







Love
kitten


www.princesskitten.co.uk
www.thekittenandthegoat.co.uk
kittenandgoat@gmail.com

Wednesday 15 February 2017

Let's get organised

This year I have stepped up the organising kick.  As I have been so rough - and we have to face reality - it's not going to improve - I am really working hard to get systems in place so I can keep up with everything.  The biggest lie we tell ourselves is that 'we will remember that' - yeah - we all know we won't!!

So - alongside my planner stuff I have been working on a 'working on sheet' type thing.  I have a notebook where I jot everything down in - then at the end of the day I organise it all on a sheet to work through the next couple of days.

this is as far as I have got - you can customise it to suit your own needs.



DAILY JOB PLAN         URGENT:

BUY:













ASK / CHECK:
DO:













THINK ABOUT:
BLOG IDEAS / ONLINE WORK:












WORK / KEEP AN EYE ON:
PERSONAL IDEAS:




Love
kitten


www.princesskitten.co.uk
www.thekittenandthegoat.co.uk
kittenandgoat@gmail.com

Tuesday 14 February 2017

Monthly square - Heart pattern

Bit of a love theme to this month's square as it's Valentine's Day.  You can use the square which ever way round you prefer - how's that for double value?

use - double knitting weight - worked on 4mm knitting needles – about 12g

Or chunky weight yarn - 2 strands of double knitting (equal to chunky weight yarn) to be worked on 6mm knitting needles – about 20g

The squares worked in DK measure about 4 ½” square – and the larger ones 8” square.  

You could use 3 strands of DK together – working on 8mm knitting needles – and the square will be bigger - or 4 ply yarn on 3mm size needles and the square will be much smaller.

Cast on 29 stitches.
Row  1: *(knit 1, purl 1) – repeat from * to last stitch, knit 1.
Row  2: *(purl 1, knit 1) – repeat from * to last stitch, purl 1.
Row  3: *(knit 1, purl 1) – repeat from * to last stitch, knit 1.
Row  4: *(purl 1, knit 1) – repeat from * to last stitch, purl 1.
Row  5: knit 1, purl 1, knit 1, purl 1, knit to last 4 stitches, purl 1, knit 1, purl 1, knit 1.
Row  6: purl 1, knit 1, purl 1, knit 1, purl to last 4 stitches, knit 1, purl 1, knit 1, purl 1.
Row  7: knit 1, purl 1, knit 1, purl 1, knit to last 4 stitches, purl 1, knit 1, purl 1, knit 1.
Row  8: purl 1, knit 1, purl 1, knit 1, purl to last 4 stitches,  knit 1, purl 1, knit 1, purl 1.
Row  9: knit 1, purl 1, knit 1, purl 1, knit 10, purl 1, knit 10, purl 1, knit 1, purl 1, knit 1.
Row  10: purl 1, knit 1, purl 1, knit 1, purl 9, knit 3, purl 9, knit 1, purl 1, knit 1, purl 1.
Row  11: knit 1, purl 1, knit 1, purl 1, knit 8, purl 5, knit 8, purl 1, knit 1, purl 1, knit 1.
Row 12: purl 1, knit 1, purl 1, knit 1, purl 7, knit 7, purl 7, knit 1, purl 1, knit 1, purl 1.
Row 13: knit 1, purl 1, knit 1, purl 1, knit 6, purl 9, knit 6, purl 1, knit 1, purl 1, knit 1.
Row 14: purl 1, knit 1, purl 1, knit 1, purl 5, knit 11, purl 5, knit 1, purl 1, knit 1, purl 1.
Row 15: knit 1, purl 1, knit 1, purl 1, knit 4, purl 13, knit 4, purl 1, knit 1, purl 1, knit 1.
Row 16: purl 1, knit 1, purl 1, knit 1, purl 4, knit 13, purl 4, knit 1, purl 1, knit 1, purl 1.
Row 17: knit 1, purl 1, knit 1, purl 1, knit 3, purl 15, knit 3, purl 1, knit 1, purl 1, knit 1.
Row 18: purl 1, knit 1, purl 1, knit 1, purl 3, knit 15, purl 3, knit 1, purl 1, knit 1, purl 1.
Row 19: knit 1, purl 1, knit 1, purl 1, knit 3, purl 15, knit 3, purl 1, knit 1, purl 1, knit 1.
Row 20: purl 1, knit 1, purl 1, knit 1, purl 3, knit 15, purl 3, knit 1, purl 1, knit 1, purl 1.
Row 21: knit 1, purl 1, knit 1, purl 1, knit 3, purl 15, knit 3, purl 1, knit 1, purl 1, knit 1.
Row 22: purl 1, knit 1, purl 1, knit 1, purl 4, knit 6, purl 1, knit 6, purl 4, knit 1, purl 1, knit 1, purl 1.
Row 23: knit 1, purl 1, knit 1, purl 1, knit 4, purl 5, knit 3, purl 5, knit 4, purl 1, knit 1, purl 1, knit 1.
Row 24: purl 1, knit 1, purl 1, knit 1, purl 5, knit 3, purl 5, knit 3, purl 5, knit 1, purl 1, knit 1, purl 1.
Row 25: knit 1, purl 1, knit 1, purl 1, knit 6, purl 1, knit 7, purl 1, knit 6, purl 1, knit 1, purl 1, knit 1.
Row 26: purl 1, knit 1, purl 1, knit 1, purl to last 4 stitches, knit 1, purl 1, knit 1, purl 1.
Row 27: knit 1, purl 1, knit 1, purl 1, knit to last 4 stitches, purl 1, knit 1, purl 1, knit 1.
Row 28: purl 1, knit 1, purl 1, knit 1, purl to last 4 stitches, knit 1, purl 1, knit 1, purl 1.
Row 29: *(knit 1, purl 1) – repeat from * to last stitch, knit 1.
Row 30: *(purl 1, knit 1) – repeat from * to last stitch, purl 1.
Row 31: *(knit 1, purl 1) – repeat from * to last stitch, knit 1.
Row 32: *(purl 1, knit 1) – repeat from * to last stitch, purl 1.
Cast off.

I use Robin double knitting 100% acrylic yarn for all my knitting work.  If you are using pure wool, or a wool mix you will need more as the yarn is heavier.
**** This is my own original work.  Use it for your own use or for charity selling.  Use it to inspire you, and to lead you on to other projects.  But, please do not resell the pattern as your own workings.  It takes me years of learning, and months of work to produce a final pattern.

The Kitten and The Goat
9, New Shambles, Kendal, LA9 4TS
Love
kitten


www.princesskitten.co.uk
www.thekittenandthegoat.co.uk
kittenandgoat@gmail.com

Monday 13 February 2017

Cute Kitten Monday

Monday is kitten's day off


I could not resist this one


Cake


Love
kitten


www.princesskitten.co.uk
www.thekittenandthegoat.co.uk
kittenandgoat@gmail.com

Saturday 11 February 2017

Saturday art day

I have been feeling so much better this week - can't wait to get back to more 'normal'.

I finished the inking on my page this afternoon - I have smudged it in a couple of places - going round over yourself then ink did not dry well enough - it's too cold and damp today.  I will leave it for a few weeks - then I may decorate all the blanks.




Love
kitten


www.princesskitten.co.uk
www.thekittenandthegoat.co.uk
kittenandgoat@gmail.com

Thursday 9 February 2017

New wall is coming along!

I am definitely starting to get my 'omph' back!!  I have been able to get up in the mornings this week - and I have had a little bit of energy to get on with the decorating.

I had to get the old goat to give the stripped wall a good sanding - I just could not manage that - but once it was done - and washed - I have been able to make a bit of progress.

So - I gave the plain wall a couple of coats of white paint to undercoat and make it all the same.  I am going to put 3 strips of wallpaper in the middle behind the sofa - so I marked out where that will go.  Then I have given the sides the first coat of lilac paint.  I am really pleased with it - I have been saving this wall paper for years.  It should be nearly finished by the end of the week.  Then next week I can get everything clean and put back in place - and some new dressings for the sofa will be in order.

Actually - seriously - I really have to get on and sort out the living space.  All the fleece arrived yesterday.  Who needs to get into the room anyway - opps!!!!!

Love
kitten


www.princesskitten.co.uk
www.thekittenandthegoat.co.uk
kittenandgoat@gmail.com

Tuesday 7 February 2017

Kit of the month - knit a teacosy

Who is up for a bit of colour work this month?  - line by line - fully explained - if you have never done any colour work before this will be a really easy start for you.  Once you have mastered the technique - you could use it to make a cushion.


The full kit is available for £9.50 (you will need a pair of 6mm knitting needles)

the pattern is available to download - you will need DK or chunky yarn and a pair of 6mm knitting needles)


Love
kitten


www.princesskitten.co.uk
www.thekittenandthegoat.co.uk
kittenandgoat@gmail.com

Monday 6 February 2017

Cute kitten fix

Monday is kitten's day off



Love
kitten


www.princesskitten.co.uk
www.thekittenandthegoat.co.uk
kittenandgoat@gmail.com

Saturday 4 February 2017

Saturday Art Day

I have been brewing this all week - mind you - I nearly gave up while I was trying to work out the grid lines!!! 


This will take me a couple of  sessions.  It is created with 3 different inks mixed directly in the pen nib so that they form several different tones and variants.  No colour remains stable and true to its self.  

It's not my neatest writing - but it's a VERY long time since I did any work like this!


Love
kitten


www.princesskitten.co.uk
www.thekittenandthegoat.co.uk
kittenandgoat@gmail.com

Wednesday 1 February 2017

What's on Your Work desk Wednesday

 - Or rather - What's in the middle of your kitchen floor!!!!!

You have been asking me to stock wadding - so I picked up a roll of 2oz and a roll of 4oz from Simon - - NO ONE TOLD ME THE ROLLS WERE THIS BIG!!!!!



You can't move in the kitchen.  I am going to split into 10m lengths and take 1 section at a time to the shop - please come and buy it!!

Love
kitten


www.princesskitten.co.uk
www.thekittenandthegoat.co.uk
kittenandgoat@gmail.com