A Project for Christmas!

A Project for Christmas
(or anytime!)

Spoolknitted cords are the
perfect addition to any
type of knitted project.
Hats, scarves, jackets,
toys, etc. can include a
spool knitted cord in some way.

Adding a cord to a plain
afghan can be especially
appealing, keeping it simple
and elegant.

Follow a *plain stocking stitch
knit instruction for a plain
afghan in a burgandy or deep red
colour adding approximately
25 cms of cream colour border.
Spool knit a length of green coloured
cord and sew it in place all
around the outside edge
of the afghan.
Next spool knit 8 lengths of
green coloured cord and arrange
in a scroll pattern on the
cream border. Pin and sew
in place.
(Size will have to be determined
by you and the size of the finished
afghan).


Variations of this could be
- Use the 8 lengths of cord as stems and
add wool felt leaves and flowers that
are then blanket stitched around
the edges.

- Use a continuous length of green cord
in a zigzag pattern over the cream
border.

- Add a celtic patterned spool knitted
cord over the cream border.

*The afghan could be crocheted in a
plain double crochet instead of knitted.

What other ways can you think
of to add a decorative
spool knitted trim to your
afghan?


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Competition!

Several things had taken
me away from the Spool Knitter
blog the past month
but I hope this announcement
will make up for it.
I am currently looking
after the Yahoo Spoolknitter
Group - Noreen Crone-Findlay
is the founding "Mom" of the
group - and due to lots of other
time-consuming
projects, has asked me if I would
take over for a while.
I am very honoured that she
would consider me for the job,
Noreen is Queen of Spoolknitting.
As she has given me
practically free rein, I thought a
competition could be fun!
Why not pop over and
take a peek at Yahoo
Spoolknitter Group
and check out the details.



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MOULIN ROTY

Here is a very attractive sewing kit

(valise couture) made by
Moulin Roty - France.


This little carry case holds
all of the young child's
requirements for
sewing and knitting.


Tape measure, embroidery thread, scissors,
spool knitter, crochet hook, buttons,
thimble, cottons, sewing
needles, knitting needles, and wool.


Of course, the spool knitter is the main
attraction here. Measuring just 6 cms
from top to bottom including the staples,
in the cutest mushroom shape.

This set is new, very well made, and it
will quickly become a collectible for
the future.


Details : Moulin Roty S.A.
44390 Nort-Sur-Erdre
France
www.moulinroty.fr


☺☺☺☺☺☺☺

Rocket Knitting Nancy

This is the new (2008) Knitting Nancy
box from Rocket Toys and Games.
I find it a pity that the Knitting Nancy
itself was not changed. Aside from the
extremely pink face, this exact Knitting
Nancy has been around for about 30 years.

Below is the leaflet found in this box which
is printed on both sides.


Originally made by Spears Games which was
then taken over by Mattel, the Knitting Nancy
was not continued by Mattel. We now see it
being produced by Rocket Toys and Games of
England.


Below is the first Knitting Nancy box
from Rocket Toys and Games.


Although a different Knitter is pictured on the
box, the actual Knitter found inside is the one
shown here on the right.


∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆

New Knitting Nancies

These are newly painted

Knitting Nancies in the tradition
of the vintage Spear & Sons
Knitting Nancy of the 20's - 30's.
They are being offered for purchase
through my Spool Knitter group
on Flickr where you will find
more information.
They are for members only
and limited to twelve
(and some have sold).
So if you are interested, you
are welcome to join the
group (link in side column)
and contact me for
details.
Be quick, as should you
have a colour preference
there is a limit there also.

The Knitting Nancies
shown in the photo are
yet to have their loop posts
added but I assure you that
they will be complete
and have some little extras
included in each of their
boxes.


♀♀♀♀♀♀♀

The Knitting Bee!

Sometime ago, I found an interesting

little "magazine/newspaper" titled
- Harper's Young People - An Illustrated
Weekly - Vol. II No. 80 -
dated Tuesday, May 10, 1881 -
published by Harper & Brothers,
New York -
Price Four Cents.

I consider it of great interest in
particular to
the spool knitter world.
Among its illustrations and stories
is an illustration/engraving of -
"The Knitting Bee"
....an engraving of the painting
by G. H. Story
(engraved by J. Tinkey)

The two young girls are intent
on their knitting while the
young boy is very busy working
on his spool knitting.

I have zoomed in on the
spool knitter which appears to
be a specially made wooden
spool knitter (not a cotton
spool as I think they were
not yet available) which
has four wooden posts and
not nails.
(Click on picture
to enlarge)

Below is my interpretation of how
this spool knitter looks bearing
in mind that the boy's
finger is covering part of the
base.

George H. Story (1835 - 1922)
was an American artist
perhaps better known for his 1916
painting of Abraham Lincoln, a picture
of which can be found HERE at the
AMICA Library.



☼☼☼☼☼☼☼

Fun With Wool

It is quite a common question
- "What do you do with Spool-
Knitted Cord?"

It does appear to be a rather fruitless
occupation. "You have a very fine
knitted cord - not much can be done
with it" ...you say!

There appears to be very little written
about the subject with very little offering
in the way of patterns.

I am always looking for books that
have anything to do with spool knitting.

There are some books that have been
published in France and Germany.
It appears that this craft is more popular
in these countries - and has been the case
for many more years - than anywhere
else in the world.

I have, in the past mentioned some
books on my blog.

Here is another one to add to the list -

Fun With Wool
by
Marie-Françoise Héron
1974
It is published in French
and English language.


It is a paperback size with 96 pages -
over half of the book deals with
projects for french knitting.
It is still available to purchase on
the internet.

You can also check the links on my
blog for other sites that offer patterns
and of course, don't forget
Noreen Crone-Findlay has
published books on spool knitting -
these links are there also.
Plus, if you are a member
of Ravelry,
Noreen has a group there called
"Cool Spool: Spool Knitting Beyond
the Cord".
My Spool Knitter group on Flickr
welcomes new members - the photos
by other members can provide
inspiration also. (Link to
Flickr is in the side column).



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