"Despicable Me" Minion Fingerless Gloves - Knitting Pattern

Recently I was asked for a minion glove pattern. This is a quick knit that can be adapted to your own unique style.



You will need
- 4mm needles
- crochet hook
- blue and yellow dk yarn
- goggle eye (or 2)

Minion gloves

Cast on 36 in blue on 4mm
Rib (k1,p1) 12 rows

Change to yellow
Stst 30 rows

Rib 6 rows
Cast off.

Pick up 8 stitches from the blue section with a crochet hook.
You will need to do this on the left and right sides, one on each glove.
The 8 stitches should start approx 5 stitches from the edge.

Stst 8 rows
Cast off



Sew up the blue ribbed section into a cuff.
Sew up 1cm of the yellow section by the blue ribbing.



Pick up 26 stitches from along this seam.
Rib 4 rows.
Cast off.






Sew up from the ribbing to the top band.

Using icord, braiding or crochet chains, create overall straps for the minion. Cross them over at the back of the glove.



Stitch on a smile and either one or 2 eyes.



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Beard Beanie - Knitting Pattern

This is a bearded beanie designed for Joel. He is super happy with his new facial hair in school colours.



You will need:
1 ball beanie colour - dk
1 ball brown -dk
4mm needles
5mm needles

The beanie

Any beanie pattern works really.
This one was 100 stitches casted on (4mm), 12 ribbed rows, change to 5mm needles, stst 30 rows.
K3, k2 together over the whole row
Purl
K2, k2 together over the whole row
Purl
K1, k2 together over the whole row
Purl
K2 together over the whole row
Purl
K2 together over the whole row
Cut yarn, leaving 30cm, thread all stitches onto the yarn, pull to tighten

Stitch up the back of the hat and attach tassels or a pom-pom.

Beard section

Cast on 4
K1 front and back, knit to last stitch, knit 1 front and back
Knit
Repeat those 2 rows until 50 stitches are made



(This bit makes the mouth gap)
Knit 18, cast off 14, knit 18
Knit 18, cast on 14, knit 18

Knit 8 rows

Knit 16, k2 tog, cast off 14, k2tog, knit to end

Treat either side of the moustache section separately.

Left side
Knit to last 2 stitches, k2 tog
K2 tog, knit to end
Repeat those 2 rows until 6 stitches remain
Knit 4 rows
Cast off

Right side
K2 tog, knit to end
Knit to last 2 stitches, k2 tog
Repeat those 2 rows until 6 stitches remain
Knit 4 rows
Cast off



Attach beard to hat- this is easiest when you place the hat on the recipients head, lining up the moustache and mouth, pinning, then stitching.



To make the moustache braids:
Take 30 lengths of yarn 60cm long. Fold in half and tie together.
Stitch tied bit into the centre of the upper lip area.
Secure tassel lengths to the beard, braid and tie.


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"Despicable Me" iPhone Cozy - Knitting Pattern

I admit, this is a little nuts. But, it got my mind working, and is a great size for getting over the RSI from the Doctor Who Scarf.... Here it is... A minion iPhone cozy. It will fit similar sized phones, or the itouch. For the iPhone 5 you will need to knit the yellow section longer though.



You will need:
- size 4mm needles
- yellow and blue dk wool
- goggle eye
- crotchet hook for the chains

Minion iPhone cozy

Cast on 26 in blue on 4mm needles
Stst 10 rows

Change to yellow
Stst 24 rows
Knit whole row
Knit 13, purl 13
Knit whole row
Knit 13, purl 13
Knit whole row
Knit 13, purl 13
Knit whole row
Cast off 13, purl to end
Stst 8 rows
K2tog, knit to last 2, k2 tog
P2tog, purl to last 2, p2 tog
Repeat previous 2 rows until 3 stitches remain
S1, k2tog, psso



Pick up 6 blue on the short side of the blue section.



Stst 6 rows
Cast off.



Chain a length of crochet from the top point of the yellow, and the 2 corner points of the overall fronts.



Stitch up side of the cozy.
Stitch a single eye on the front, and a smile.
Stitch the overall straps in place.
Link the yellow chain around the eye as a closure.



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Cute Frog Beanie

This was designed for Kim, as she wanted a cute hat, and the colour green.



You will need:
Green dk wool
Black embroidery thread
2 goggle eyes
Stuffing

Hat
Cast on 80 stitches in green on 4mm needles.
Rib 10 rows

Change to 6mm needles.
Knit 10, inc 1 over whole row, resulting in 88 stitches

Stst 23 more rows.

K3, k2 together over the whole row
Purl
K2, k2 together over the whole row
Purl
K1, k2 together over the whole row
Purl
K2 together over the whole row
Purl
K2 together over the whole row
Purl
K2 together over the whole row

Cut yarn with 30 cm remaining. Slip stitches onto cut off yarn, pull to tighten. Sew up the back.

Eyes
Cast on 11
K1 font and back, k1- repeat over row
Purl
K1 font and back, k1- repeat over row
Purl
Knit
Purl
Knit
Purl
Knit
Purl
K2 tog over whole row
P2 tog over whole row
Cut yarn, slip stitches onto yarn. Pull to tighten. This is the top of the eye.
Stitch up side. Stuff. Attach to hat.
Sew on goggle eyes.



Stitch on a smile on the froggy.

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"Doctor Who" Scarf Hat Knitting Pattern

Recently I finished knitting my Doctor Who scarf... Talk about a mission! I ended up with RSI from the weight of the knitting, and it has significantly slowed my design progress. And then there were the scraps of yarn....



The Doctor Who Scarf Hat was born!

Super easy to knit, and made from the scraps of the scarf yarn. Ideal for a beginner... Or for the Whovian in your family. 😜 The whole hat is made in garter stitch (knitting each row).

The bottom creates a rolled band, so the "wrong side" of the knitting changes during the 3rd colour change. You will see what I mean later if you don't get it now....

You will need:
Size 4.5mm needles
Yarn scraps in dk:
- tan
- deep purple (think eggplant)
- charcoal
- red
- olive green
- copper
- yellow/gold
(See the doctor who scarf web page for details)

Cast on 90 stitches in tan. This can be adjusted to fit any head though.
Knit 5 rows.

Change to purple. Knit 12 rows.

Change to charcoal. Knit 21 rows.

Change to red. Knit 8 rows.

Change to olive green. Knit 12 rows.

Change to copper. Knit 6 rows.

Change to yellow/gold. Knit 14 rows.

Change to purple. Knit 4 rows.

Change to tan.
K3, k2 together over the whole row
Knit
K2, k2 together over the whole row
Knit
K1, k2 together over the whole row
Knit
K2 together over the whole row
Knit
K2 together over the whole row
Cut yarn, leaving 30cm, thread all stitches onto the yarn, pull to tighten

Stitch up the back of the hat from the top, and attach plaited/braided tassels or a pom-pom. I made tassels.

Fold up the band of the hat into half way through the charcoal section. Stitch this fold up to the seam at the back.

Below you will see the "right side" of the hat, and the messy changing colour bits that show on the "right side" end up inside the band.





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It's been so busy, thank goodness for soup!

Well, term three began with a hiss and a roar, followed by a great deal of cold. Sickness threatened. And almost won out. However, soup was the total hero! Between all the frozen soup and easily made soup, we made it through the worst of it all. (I hope). Spring is in view, and soon the weather will warm.
This morning has been a great time to make more of the Kumara and Leek Soup, still my favourite of the season.

Preparing my favourite soup

Knitting designs have slowed down with the busy-ness of the season sadly, but at least my Doctor Who Scarf is finished!  I love it completely; even if it is a challenge to wear.

I also have a Doctor Who Scarf Beanie... made from the scraps, and this pattern will follow.

Currently I am working on a Bearded Beanie and Minion Mittens, as one reader has issued the challenge, so watch this space for a pattern.
With the Drama of the Earthquake (6.5) in Wellington on Friday when I was in town with 50 students, a few hit but not gaining more than minor scraps by falling ceilings, and all our transport cancelled, I am happy for a dull and dreary few days.  (Here's hoping anyway).

The Union Jack Red-and-Blue Velvet Cake

We had a morning tea at work with the theme "Royal Baby Shower" and I made this Red and Blue Velvet Union Jack Cake.




The slice with "George" on it shows that as it is cut, it created massive Union Jack flag shapes.



Red and Blue Velvet Cake

250g nonsalted butter, softened
3 cups (660g) white sugar
6 eggs
20ml red food colouring
20ml blue food colouring
3 tablespoons cocoa powder
3 cups (375g) plain flour
1 cup (250ml) cultured buttermilk
1 teaspoon vanilla essence
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 tablespoon white vinegar

For the Icing
500g cream cheese
500g icing sugar
250g butter, softened


Prep: 30 minutes Cook: 35 minutes Assembly: 60 minutes

1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees C. Line a loaf tin and a shallow cake tin with baking paper.

2. In a large bowl, cream the butter and the sugar. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Sift cocoa and add to mixture.

3. Add flour alternately with buttermilk. Add vanilla and salt.

4. Separate the batter into 2 bowls. Colour each batter.


5. Mix the bicarb with the vinegar, and gently stir 1/2 into both of the mixtures. Be careful not to over mix.

5. Divide batter into prepared tins. The blue goes in the loaf tin, and will take an extra 10 min to cook (approx), the red goes in the shallow pan. Bake in preheated oven for 35-40 minutes. Allow to cool.

When completely cool, slice the blue cake into 4 (2x2)



Slice the red cake into a large rectangle the size of the final cake, and 2 thin strips.

Layer the cakes....

Place a thin red cake with blue either side.



Carefully cut the blue sections on an angle. Get crazy with the icing, icing between the blue and red stripes. This is enough to do your head in.



Ice the top.
Lay the large red cake on top. Ice.



Lay the thin red cake, and 2 blue sections, slicing the blue on an angle. Ice everything, turning yourself a little mad in the process.

Cover the whole cake with icing to hide the colours. Then it's a surprise as cut...



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Wizard of Oz bento

Well, I have probably gone a little nuts. But it is cool.

Here's Toto on the yellow brick road of cheese to the emerald jelly city, past the red tomato poppy fields....



And here's the witches hat, the scarecrows dip brain, the cowardly lion hiding in crackers, and the tinmans heart of onigiri.





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