Cake Glorious Cake

I bought Molly some knitted cupcakes from ebay for her birthday last year, pre-knitting days. Oh they are so cute! So now I am feeling a bit more confident, I have been working on making some for myself. The first few attempts were a bit dodgy (too round...like a Christmas pudding!) or too big. In the end I realised I needed a different yarn (aran instead of DK) and lo and behold, here is the result! I am really pleased with them :)

Am knitting a set of six for one of Molly's friends birthday present next week.

I am so proud of them, I am going to share the pattern. I hope its readable, I have no experience in writing patterns! Feel free to make up for your own use or for charity, but please dont make them for profit. Thats a bit rude.

[This is an amended version of the pattern as of 23/3/09 which gives the same result but is (hopefully!) a bit clearer re the method of increasing for the cake part. Let me know if there are any other glitches.]

4mm needles, aran yarn (I used Patons Toddler Aran)

M1: Pick up loop between stitches and knit into the back of it to make an extra stitch.

Cake
Start with cake colour (mahogany for choccie cakes)
Cast on 7st
row 1: (K1, M1) 5 times, K1 - 11st
row 2: P
row 3: (K2, M1) 5 times, K1 - 16st
row 4: P
row 5: (K3, M1) 5 times, K1 - 21st
row 6: P
row 7-9: K
row 10: P
row 11: K4, (K1, M1, K6)x 2, K1, M1, K2 - 24st
row 12-14: stst, starting with a P row
row 15: K4 (K1, M1, K6)x 2, K1, M1, K5 - 27st
row 16: P
row 17: (K4, K1, M1) x 5, K2 - 32st
row 18: P
row 19: K6, (K1, M1, K8) x 2, K1, M1, K7 - 35st
row 20: P
Break off yarn and join icing colour
row 21-22: stst 2, starting with K
row 23: (K8, K2tog) x 3, K5 - 32st
row 24: P
row 25: (K4, K2tog) x 5, K2 - 27st
row 26: P
row 27: (K2tog) x 13, K1 - 14st
row 28: (P2tog) to end - 7st
Pass thread through stitches and pull tight. Sew up cake, leaving hole in bottom to stuff. Thread yarn through CO stitches and pull tight.

Chocolate button
CO 6st
Starting with P, stst 8 rows. Thread yarn through stitches and round edges of work. Pull tightly to make ball. Sew onto cake, passing the thread through to bottom of cake to fasten off to give a little 'dip' in the centre of the cake.

Sew straight stitches randomly on top for 'sprinkles'

Case
Using icing colour, Cast on 9st.
garter st 60 rows, Cast off.
Pick up and knit 28 stitches on row ends.
row 1: P
row 2: (K4, K2tog) x 4, K4 - 24st
row 3: P
row 4: (K2 K2tog) to end - 18st
row 5: P
row 6: K2tog to end - 9st
Thread yarn through stitches and pull up tight. Sew sides of case together.

Update on projects

1. I finished the matinee jacket, but am kicking myself cos I forgot to take a picture of it before I sent it to J and I. Hoping they will send me one of C wearing it cos it certainly was cute!

2. I finished Matt's hat in a few evenings. I used a pattern from a Rowan book which called for Big Wool, but it was way to expensive and a bit scratchy so I bought a less chunky wool/acrylic blend that did the trick. I adapted the pattern a bit (cast on more stitches and did more rows) so wasnt quite sure how it was going to turn out, but it looks pretty good if you ask me!Matt says its the first thing anyone ever made for him, which is cute. He hasnt worn it much yet though ;)

3. Blanket squares coming along. Finished 4 now and another on the way. Have copped out a bit as it was proving too much of a headache to make them all the same size what with the different stitches etc, so I have decided to just do a hotch potch of sizes. I think it will look good.They grow pretty quickly though, so are great to do when I am fed up of the fiddly bits.

4. My Debbie Bliss baby cashmerino sweater. Have done about 15cm of the back, but have kind of decided to give up on it. Its really fine, will take ages and I am not sure I like it enough to put the effort it tbh. I think I will look for something a bit chunkier...

5. Topsy Turvy Doll....no progress!

6. I knitted a dinosaur. Who wouldnt?? Another one on the go too. I plan a whole bunch. They are from the Jean Greenhowe Toy Collection book. The kids love 'em.

Knitting in Public

Its weird the reactions I get to knitting in public. I mean its not indecent or anything is it?! Its like I have felt the need to create a reason I am knitting. Like at a school meeting people made such a fuss that I said I had to knit Matt's hat when he wasnt around, or I have pretended I have a big deadline or something. But the truth is I just like knitting! If I am sitting listening to teachers talking about KS1 SATS for 45mins why cant I knit as well? Its not like I am reading a book or something, or talking on my mobile. I can perfectly well pay attention and knit!

But even being at friends houses causes comments, like a friend of mine implied that I didnt find them interesting enough, so I had to knit too. Actually, that one might have been true.... Also took my knitting to the pub but the light wasnt good enough, which is a shame because surely there is a place for pub knitting.:).

I guess the truth is you dont see people knitting much. In my communting days I do remember seeing the odd knitter though. That would be me if I still took the train! Maybe its my mission to educate people. I am certainly not going to change my ways and sit with still fingers. Knitting rocks!

Attention Deficit Disorder

I have too many projects in progress. I think I have a problem with following through. It must be psychological ;) Here is what I have on the go:

1. Matinee coat in Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino as mentioned below. Knitting finished just have to sew up now, hoping to do that tonight.

2. Jean Greenhowe Topsy-Turnabout doll. I couldnt resist after seeing one made up at Rosie's school. I have done the body and one skirt, other skirt is on the needles.

3. Blanket squares in greens and browns/chunky wool for a blanket for our bed, so needs to be about 2m square. Gah! Have done one square so far....its not very inspiring to knit, but I know it would be great to have on our bed so must pull finger out....

4. Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino purple jacket for *me*!! My first knitted item intended for myself. Might be a long time in the making though....

5. Have just ordered a pattern for a simple hat for Matt as a pressie for Valentines Day...so that will delay the other projects even further.

And as well as all this, I took a day out to knit myself a belt, as I couldnt find one in the shops anywhere and my trousers kept falling down. Didnt want to do anything too fancy, so did moss stitch, DK 5st across. Didnt take that long, but (as could probably have been predicted) its too stretchy. Oh well. Live and learn.

Will post again when and if I ever finish any of the above!