The making of a yarn Pisky footballer...yep this one's a boy!

Well despite the temptations of looms, extreme knitting needles and crochet hooks I have finally finished my Yarn Pisky Footballer! (slight pause whilst I complete a victory lap of the lounge! )

The Cove is proud to present 'Eric' a Yarn Pisky footballer

Half way through I remembered to take photos so here we go:

• Body, legs and arms attached: All knitted in the round on 4dpn

Well this may look like a voodoo doll but it is in fact the only place I could keep my spare needle without losing it! But that isn't a bad idea...VOODOO DOLLS hmmmm

• Measuring up for his kit



I realised that due to the small size of his neck and therefore the neck on his kit that I would have to do the 'fittings' prior to knitting his head.  This whole process was very much trial and error as Iwent along.  But was pleased with his 'footballers legs' and the fact he appears to have knees! Extremely freaky knitting and having these legs 'appearing'!

The effect of knees was achieved by taking a section of the stitches on the front needle - about 4 stitches and increasing a stitch between each one.

I knitted body etc in the round on 4dpn but decided I could get a better fit on his top by knitting the arms across just two pins and doing them both at the same time...this ensures a matching length across the two.

I wanted the kit to be generic rather than representative of a football team. As Eric is being purchased as an Easter present for a friends son I followed his mum's suggestion of using the colours of his newly decorated room. 

 The crest was a bit of fun as was the number on the back and the 'KU' kids united on the front!

At this point Eric was now a headless body with oddsox and no shorts! It was time to make him descent and crocheted two black tubes, reversed them so the cast on edge became a stronger gusset and the shorts flared out nicely at the bottom.  To form the top of the shorts I simply crocheted around the front and back edge of the tubes leaving the gusset side to be sewn up when finished.  Hey Prestto Eric had pants!....now he just needed a head! So back on the 4dpn and his head began to appear..

One nose and two eyeball holes later and it was out with the crochet cotton to create a mouth, eyebrows and of course eyeballs!

Fun bit next ...HAIR... A mix of different textured yarns and a bit of styling .....

From the front you wouldn't know he was bald at the back still!!!!

Well after sorting his other sock, finishing his hair, lacing his boots, adding another stripe to his jumper  - it was abit short over his tummy - and crocheting shorts and top together  - no draughts around the kidneys! Eric is born....

Now to think about the voodoo doll...hmmmmmmmmm.......

Oooh and don't forget to pop over to handmade Monday to see what clever crafters have been up to!

http://handmadeharbour.blogspot.co.uk/

Eric Update.....

He has arrived at his new home and is ALREADY making himself at home!

Sam -  Enjoy your new friend x

Eureka! A Blog Button .....and a headache!!!

Finally managed to create a blog button! Yippeeeeeeee! It may have taken hours and numerous attempts but its here please feel free to test it and let me know if it works, 'cos if it doesn't there is a drawing board with my name on it!!!


Firstly I had to create the button...

http://fotoflexer.com/

I used  fotoflexer photo editing package.  Really good fun! Free as well!

Then I tried to manually manipulate the code for the button.  I got the button to appear but not the grab box...sooooo back to google and after a few more searches found this :

http://www.mycoolrealm.com/sandbox/gbgen/

It was a eureka moment as my blog button appeared with its code.

Hope this helps you if;

a - you are struggling to complete this process yourself
b- you did it manually and can help yourself to a a smug smile at my expense - clever clogs!

Anyway I should have been asleep 3 hours ago so toodle pip!

Cor! What a whopper!

Have you ever heard of the term 'extreme knitting' ?


Well it involves the use of knitting needles the thickness of broom handles and loads of yarn all knitted together.

It isnt the practice of knitting in the most precarious place you can find as my husband would have you believe it is!  He may be a plonkka but he is MY plonkka!

Rachel Johns seems to be at forefront of this type of knitting and is launching her new website. So if this type of knitting appeals, as it does to me, its worth keeping an eye on her site......

http://www.racheljohn.co.uk/

Trust the Americans to go one better though...

http://dodge-gallery.com/cgi-bin/DODGE?s=artists&v=COLE06781

Dave Cole  is certainly worth a look. He has created sculptures out of extreme knitting and even knitted a 'lead' teddy bear!!!


Anyway anything knitting can do crochet can do too!
I have purchased an extreme crochet hook to go with my extreme knitting needles and I cant  help it it just makes me smile ...

Just fab! As soon as I have been creative I will post the results..good or bad! At the moment I am knitting a footballer so am being very strict about not getting side tracked BUT it doesn't stop me looking and smiling at my giant crochet hook...

who ever said bigger isn't better had never seen extreme knitting and crochet!!

Keep smiling and creating it makes the world a better place to be....

Ps have just found this great blog hop handmade monday

http://handmadeharbour.blogspot.co.uk/p/handmade-monday.html

Have a look