The 2020 Temperature Blanket: Completed

Well, it happened.

2020 is done and dusted and so is the blanket to end all blankets. Much like 2020 itself, the blanket was seemingly never-ending and it has turned out slightly larger than planned.

And by larger I mean that folded in half lengthways, it’s the perfect size to cover our double bed.

It is well over 8ft long and no - I haven’t measured it as I don’t have a big enough house :)

I did do a few basic calculations though and worked out that it comprises approximately:

• 792,000 stitches

• 293 hours of knitting

• 1.98kg yarn

I managed to get a stretched out photo by employing a handy helper and commandeering the stairs.

We have agreed that the blanket can live downstairs as a family TV blanket snuggler, on the understanding that it lives on my bed at night and I think we are all happy with that arrangement.

If you are curious as to how I actually knit the blanket you can find my planning post here and at the end of this post I have given details of the yarns I used. I didn’t keep track of actual amounts though. At the blankets widest point it was 550 stitches across (2200 per day) so I ordered yarn as and when I needed it. It’s safe to say that I used at least 2 balls of each colour apart from the 2 extremes of temperature.

If you are interested in how to knit your own Temperature Blanket you can find my e-book here.

In praise of fluff

The start of 2021 was never going to be a walk in the park but my goodness, if this first week of the year has left you feeling fragile and in need of solace please know that you are not alone.

I've been pretty quiet on social media this week, mainly because it's so hard to know what to say. Many people are struggling. I hate the word "triggered" but it really does describe very well the real knife edge that people are on right now. Myself included.

My emotions aren't so much a see-saw as a trebuchet and I find myself reacting to things that ordinarily I would let slide.

I've avoided posting the "fluffy" content, fearful of being seen as glossing over or trivialising the unfolding world events. But there's nothing I can say that hasn't been said thousands of times already and right now, damn it, I think we need all the fluff we can get.

So, starting this weekend I am declaring a FluffFest.

In a marker of how seriously I am taking this situation I am forgoing my usual coffee for hot chocolate and marshmallows. I'm digging out my favourite knit - right now it's a basic colourwork sweater that requires 13" of stocking stitch in the round 💓 and all the snacks.

If you'd like to join me please use the hashtag #JanuaryFluffFest

Bring your comfiest PJs, your fairy lights and All The Biscuits and let's embrace the fluff.

A new e-book: How to Knit a Temperature Blanket

E-book: How to Knit a Temperature Blanket

As my own 2020 Temperature Blanket draws to a close I find I'm not ready to say goodbye to it just yet. It's been quite the year - to say the least - and knitting this blanket has given me so much comfort and support during some very unsettling times.

I wanted to create a resource for those who'd like to knit their own Temperature Blanket and so I've written a 19 page e-book with tips, suggestions and resources for you such as:

• Working out a temperature scale

• Yarn choice

• Estimation of yardage

• Size and gauge

• Choosing colours

• Ideas for construction

Like any big project the idea of starting a Temperature Blanket can seem a little daunting. Decisions on yarn, needles, colours, temperature scales etc - can all seem a little overwhelming. That's why I thought it might be a good idea to do this together - within a separate group in the Everyday Knitter Mighty Network.

If you purchase the e-book there is a link in the PDF which will take you to the dedicated, private group which, whilst quiet at the minute, will hopefully provide you with a year long source of support and encouragement from others undertaking a Temperature Blanket of their very own.

Once 2021 is underway I might open this group out to others from the main Mighty Network group who are undertaking their own annual project (of whatever nature) but I'll be totally honest and say that I haven't decided about that yet. Whilst I want to make it as accessible as possible I would like the group, at least for the first month to be exclusively for those who are undertaking this project.

If you have any questions please do pop it in the comments below or email me (email link at the bottom of the page

What is Payhip anyway?

Wishing and Hoping Baby blanket

As more designers are chosing to explore platforms other than Ravelry you might have noticed Payhip being mentioned more and more. It is certainly a popular platform among those designers taking part in this years FastenOff Yarnalong. It’s become my top choice for selling digital downloads as it’s so quick and easy to set up - plus it takes care of the EU VAT issue which is an absolute must for me. The platform is extremely user friendly but as with anything new, it can seem a little unfamiliar at first so I thought I would jot down a few helpful pointers to help you find your way around.

What is Payhip anyway?

First and foremost, it's a place you can buy digital products (also physical ones, should I ever have any). 

It works exactly the same as Ravelry from the purchasing perspective. You add a pattern to your cart, you enter your email address and then pay using PayPal with either a credit/debit card or a PayPal account. A download link to the pattern is then emailed to you.

A few things to note:

1. Payhip is not a marketplace like, say Etsy. You can't search it for knitting patterns. You'll need to know the URL for the designer you want to buy from - or search Google for the designer name plus Payhip.

2. Check out yarndatabase.com for an A to Z listing of designers who are selling using Payhip (and other non Rav platforms)

3. Payhip doesn't require you to sign in and doesn't hold your details. If you want to follow a particular designer tap the blue follow button in their profile. Then, when they upload a new pattern you'll get a notification. This single feature is probably my favourite - and is a distinct advantage over Ravelry.

4. As with Ravelry, you don't need a PayPal account to buy a pattern. You can use your credit or debit card through the PayPal site.

5. Payhip doesn't have a library function. The PDF is sent to you to store as you wish, which is generally good practice with any digital download. Even before the Ravelry issue I always donwloaded the file to my own storage rather than relying on the library function of another platform. I use Evernote to store mine as it's search function will find text even in images or PDFs so I don't need to worry about tagging

6. If you do want a copy of a pattern for your Ravelry library, please email me at the support address on the bottom of your pattern and I'll gift you a copy

I hope this helps answer your Payhip questions but please let me know if there's anything I've missed

Hats for humans - again

Image by Free-Photos from Pixabay

It’s that time of year when a certain smoothie brand (owned by Coca Cola) likes to indulge in a bit of PR fluff and invite people to knit tiny hats for plastic bottles that neither want or need a hat.

I’ve written about this before and why I generally prefer to knit hats for humans who need actual warmth, as opposed to plastic bottles that don’t - indeed the other year we had a Hats for Humans KAL which was great fun.

This year, time is a bit more limited but if the recent adverts for said knitted hats have got you thinking along the charity lines please do think about knitting for the fabulous Big Issue North who are asking for knitted items - hats, scarves etc - to distribute to people they are working with this winter. All items are gratefully received although they prefer natural/neutral colours if possible.

And if you are looking for a good basic beanie pattern you might like to know that I’ve recently added a free download to my ‘free patterns’ section here. It’s a basic hat knit in mistake rib and uses sock yarn held double - it knits up quickly and is ideal for using up some of those single skeins of sock yarn in your stash.

If you are looking for more suggestions on charity knitting you can find a comprehensive (and frequently updated) list over at The Knitting Goddess blog page.

Barn Door Cowl

Barn Door Cowl

Heavens, the last few weeks have been a bit full-on haven’t they?

I have to confess that I have been off line a little more than usual, trying to dissolve my anxieties with hot drinks, warm baths and my knitting. I’ve also been reading at a pace I don’t think I’ve managed since my teenage years. There’s something therapeutic about losing yourself in a good book - I’d quite forgotten how it can take you out of yourself and your worries and put you in a whole different mindset.

This cowl has been patiently awaiting publication for a few weeks now - it flew off the needles back in October and I’ve been wearing it pretty much constantly ever since.

It’s knit in DK yarn (the sample is Eden Cottage Yarns, Hayton DK) and 1 x 100g skein is sufficient for a single loop cowl.

It is knit in the round using a fun textured stitch - which is surprisingly easy once you get the hang of it. I have included links to two short videos in the pattern though just so you can see where the yarn is supposed to go, when you get to the tricky bit.

In line with my policy of transitioning all pattern sales away from Ravelry, this pattern is available for purchase on Payhip. There is a pattern page up on Ravelry for this design but the purchasing link will take you across to Payhip. If you buy the pattern and would like a copy for your Ravelry library please do let me know and I can gift a copy to you.