This is beginning to turn into a knitting blog. Not deliberately, it’s just the way things are panning out.
I kid you not,knitted chairs do exist. I'm not going totally ga ga just yet. Well they're knitted covers really.
Seems like a new art form to me. They even have a website dedicated to them. It’s brilliant. If you don't believe me take a look Knitted Chairs. Here's a designer one. I'd love a chair like this. It's gorgeous.
Can you believe there’s even a Knit a Chair Day in London. Take a look at last year's here on You Tube.
It's a very environmentally friendly idea. Who'd have thought you could turn ordinary plastic garden chairs into works of art.
Now I've never understood the craze for knitted socks. Hand knitted ones I mean. I hadn't realised they were popular until I started looking at knitting patterns on the Internet. I thought they had died a death in the 'forties when women had to wear them because they couldn't get stockings. Well the alternative was painting that seam line up the back of their legs!
I always hated the feel of wool on my feet when I was little. I could feel the pattern of the knitting digging into the soles of my feet and they made my shoes and boots feel tight.
Even if the hand knitted socks are fine and made of 3ply wool, you have to wear a size bigger shoe. They're probably good with wellies, but as I don't ever wear wellies I've never felt the urge to knit socks. I know you can buy really soft wools and cottons now but if I wear socks, they have to be thin cotton ones.
I came across these free patterns for celebrity socks today. You can choose from Stephen Fry's QI socks, Rick Stein & Chalky or Alan Titchmarsh. So take a look and you can download the patterns free.
Well I fell in love with the Alan Titchmarsh Fantasy socks. I never wear slippers so I could wear these socks around the house. Mind you I'll still need another pair of thin cotton socks underneath!
Looking for an Easter Egg pattern? There's a really sweet one on the Alan Dart website which you still have time to knit. It has a chick in it and it's free to download here.
I have to say I looked at other toy patterns on this site and there are some great patterns there. The tooth fairy is brilliant and the star spangled bantam cracked me up. I think the snowflake angel might be on my Christmas tree next year and if you have a Westie, how could you resist knitting Wesley with a little tartan coat.
Well I always knew it was good for you but I didn't realise just how much! Neuroscientists at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, US, have been studying the benefits of crafts in reducing memory loss. In case you ever needed proof that knitting is good for you, here’s the story.
Nearly 200 people between 70 and 89 took part in the study. The results showed that regularly taking part in craft activities such as knitting or patchwork can reduce memory loss by 40%.
It appears that watching hours of television increases the risk of memory loss, so to make the most of knitting’s essential benefits, switch off the telly and stick with the knitting.
The UK’s Alzheimer’s Society has come to similar conclusions, and believes that certain activities, including knitting, can enable the brain to develop reserve brain connections that can delay dementia.
Well now you can justify all that stuff you buy. No need for excuses, you have a valid reason. "Oh no pet, I'm not wasting money, I'm staving off demenentia"!
I got this information from Coats Craft website. There are some great free knitting, crochet, cross stitch and sewing patterns there.
