For the knitters out there (no, I still haven’t got round to learning!), you can download a free festive santa and snowman pattern from knitting pattern resource Knit Pat. Simply register for their newsletter to get your free download.

Posted: December 3rd, 2008 under Freebies, Knitting/Crochet.
Comments: none

The Big Knit has come round again – so it’s time to fire up those needles and get knitting.

What’s the Big Knit?
Every year Innocent Drinks run a campaign to get folks up and down the land to knit little hats for their smoothie bottles. For every behatted bottle sold, they – that’s Sainsburys and innocent – will give 50p per bottle sold to Age Concern to help keep older people warm in winter.

Why are they doing it?
It’s a really sad and largely unknown fact that every winter, over 25,000 older people die from cold related illnesses. It’s tough for many to get enough food, warmth or activity to stay fit and healthy. The money raised from The Big Knit goes towards providing hot meals, blankets and advice to older people on how to keep their houses warm.

How can I help?
Last year they raised over £200,000 for Age Concern and this year they’re looking to raise lots lots more. So they’d love your help. All you need to do is knit them a little hat and pop it in the post. They’ll do the rest. There are patterns below and lots of incredible hats in their hat of the week gallery for inspiration.

So dust off those needles, grab the nearest sheep and get your wool on (your needles). Please remember to send your hats by 17th October to: The Big Knit, 1 The Goldhawk Estate, Brackenbury Road W6 0BA. Don’t forget to pop us a note on the envelope with your name and address and the number of hats knitted.

Happy knitting.

P.S If you’d like them to send you a knitting pack as soon as they’re ready, pop your details here or if you’d like any more information email thebigknit@innocentdrinks.co.uk

Posted: September 17th, 2008 under Events, Knitting/Crochet.
Comments: none

The Telegraph currently have a great free PDF available to download featuring 5 vintage knitting patterns that, while too complicated for lil ole me, would be great for any keen knitters out there. All designs are very wearable (ie. you wouldn’t look like you borrowed them off your gran) and my personal favourite has got to be this chunky jacket with frog fastners, just what you need for a Glasgow winter (and summer!).

Posted: September 3rd, 2008 under Fashion, Knitting/Crochet.
Comments: none

I may not of mentioned it before but Him Indoors is returning to Scotland! Unfortunately it means he will be working through in Edinburgh, but it has caused me to try and be a bit more positive about our nation’s capital. For a start, it’s home to a multitude of museums with some great exhibition’s coming up (Tracey Emin’s first ever retrospective begins at the start of August).

Personally I can’t believe I’ve never ventured through to the Museum of Costume and really want to catch current exhibition Hip Knits:

Hip Knits brings together a collection from Fair Isle sweaters to cutting-edge creations reflecting Scotland’s international reputation for its beautifully designed knitwear. Explore the enduring popularity of luxury Scottish knitwear and check out some of the latest catwalk designs. See knitwear by Queene and Belle, Pringle of Scotland, Ingrid Tait (of Tait and Style) and other international fashion firms.

Get a real feel for techniques and material. Learn about designer inspiration, find out about the versatility of wool, get to grips with yarn and try out some knitting techniques yourself. Entry to the exhibition, which runs each day until Fri 31 October, is free (included in museum admission). If the exhibition fires your imagination, there are a number of knitting workshops being run in conjunction with the exhibition.

Posted: July 17th, 2008 under Events, Knitting/Crochet.
Comments: none

So, I have spent the weekend trying (and subsequently failing) to work out how to get more of my 30 things list ticked off.

While the age-old and invariably idiotic cleaning method of dragging everything out to put away in a more orderly fashion has (as always) been abandoned at the drag everything out stage, I have had a breakthrough on number 14 ‘Learn how to knit’. Yes, my craftiness is outweighed by my complete lack of patience so have never added knitting to the list of crafts I enjoy.

Enter the kick up the arse I need in the form of Save The Children’s ‘Knit One, Save One’ campaign. The idea is that you knit a hat for a newborn as a newborn baby can’t regulate its own body temperature. It loses lots of vital body heat through its head which makes it more prone to pneumonia – a disease which still kills around 2 million children each year. You simply (!?) follow the downloadable pattern on their site and then send it to the charity who will send to mothers and babies in developing countries. The added bonus is that for non-knitters like me they even have a How To Knit guide for beginners on the site too! Now it’s just a matter of buying some wool…

Posted: June 1st, 2008 under Knitting/Crochet.
Comments: 1

Tell me a little bit about yourself, how old are you, when did you first get into crochet, how long have you been doing Jay Bird Designs, how did this develop into your current site/store?
My name is Jennifer J. Cirka, aka J, and I am 34 years old. I am happily married to my husband, Ron, of 5.5 years and together we have a beautiful 5 year old little girl named Heather. We are originally from Pittsburgh but have been living in the wonderful Western Slope of Colorado for the past 8-11 years. I learned the basics of crochet from my maternal grandmother when I was really little. It wasn’t until after high school when I picked up a book called “Teach Yourself to Crochet” that I really learned how to do it. Plus, I am still learning new techniques all the time! I started out making baby blankets for all my friends and then in 2003, after the birth of my daughter, I found out about the ebay boutique community. I had always had a knack for sewing and crafts, so I thought I’d try my hands at making children’s clothing. I needed something to make my items stand out more, so I started adding crocheted accessories to the sets. Eventually I realized that my crocheted items sold better than the sewn, so I started focusing my direction towards crochet.
In the beginning of 2007 I started creating my own crochet patterns and have been very successful with them. This has now become the main focus of Jaybird Designs. But I still do love to sew, so you’ll see some sewn items too in my store!

How did you come up with the name Jay Bird Designs?

I grew up in a time where there were A LOT of little girls named Jennifer. I was usually one of 6 in each class. So I had a lot of nicknames growing up….and one of them was Jaybird.

Tell me more about My Pink Zebra Boutique. What inspired you to create the site, do you do it yourself, what do you enjoy most about doing the site?

The Pink Zebra Boutique is an actual boutique in Texas, owned and run by my best friend Trevor. She is also a children’s wear designer who sells under the name Kraftymommas Boutique. The shop has been open since January of 2007. In August of 2007 she decided to open a corresponding website and she asked me to run it for her. The site/shop is AMAZING!! It features designs from over 15 different independent designers from around the US. We make custom and ready-to-ship items for babies, moms, children, and the home. You’ll find just about anything you could want on the site, and if you don’t, just contact us and I’m sure one of the designers would love to work with you to create the perfect item!

What do you love most about crochet?

Crocheting relaxes me, LOL! I can sit there mindlessly and watch a movie while I do it. I also love that it keeps my hands busy and is an excellent way for me to express my creativity!

Which of your creations are you most proud of and why?

That’s a hard one! I love almost all of my designs, LOL! But, I would have to say it is the “In Her Easter Bonnet” pattern in the April 2008 edition of Crochet World Magazine. This design was the first item I had ever submitted to a magazine for publication!! To have my first submitted design accepted is a huge accomplishment and it was a huge boost to my spirit that told me I was headed in the right direction with my business! Then, when the magazine came in the mail and I realized it had made the cover, I think I called everyone I knew!! A COVER!!!! On my first design!! YES, I am definitely proud of this one!

What do you feel has been your greatest achievement with your work/designs?

I feel my greatest achievement has been to get others enthused about crocheting!! I teach beginners crochet classes at my local yarn store and I love seeing their faces when they learn a new art! I love seeing what others have made from my patterns and love hearing their comments on how excited they are about what they have made.

How important is the internet to you in reaching buyers for your items? 

Very important! Without the internet, there would be no Jaybird Designs. There is not enough interest in crochet locally for me to support my business.

Where do you get your inspiration?

Everywhere!! I really love looking at sewn clothing and accessories and then trying to create the same look in crochet.

What are your goals for the coming year?

I would like to have 5 designs accepted for publication in 2009, which means they will be accepted this year. I would also like to create 5-6 designs for self-publication
 
What (if any) crafty sites/blogs do you visit regularly?

Some of my fellow crocheters:

http://kimguzman.bravejournal.com/

http://journals.aol.com/crochetwithdee/CrochetWithDee

http://blog.thecrochetdude.com/

http://www.gocrochet.blogspot.com/

some general crafty and boutique  blogs:

http://ycmt.wordpress.com/

http://www.designersnotion.blogspot.com/

http://dashinfashion.blogspot.com/

http://secretsfromthestudio.blogspot.com/

What’s the most rewarding thing about what you do?

Teaching others to crochet!

What’s the most difficult thing about what you do?

I have a hard time deciding on how much money to charge for each of my items, LOL!!

Posted: May 5th, 2008 under Crafter of the Week, Knitting/Crochet.
Comments: none

Knotions Magazine
Submit an Article

Visit website for complete details knotionsmag.com/submissions

Articles should be emailed to the editor. Articles on any knitting-related topic are welcome — techniques, projects, companion to a pattern and humor are just a few examples.

Articles should be between 500 and 1,500 words in length, and submitted in Microsoft Word (preferable) or a plain text file. Placement and captions for each photo should be noted. If you’re presenting a technique, step-by-step photos are required.

In your email cover letter, please include a signed Statement of Originality and the following author Information:

• Full Name as you want it to appear in the article
• Thumbnail photo of yourself
• Short bio (up to 50 words) written in the third person
• Email address for readers to contact you
• Blog or Web site address (optional)
• Paypal email address

Posted: April 10th, 2008 under Competitions, Knitting/Crochet.
Comments: none