Lamp post yarn bombing at the Westmount Public Library

Located across the access road from the Westmount Public Library is one of the vintage style lamp posts that are scattered throughout our adopted neighbourhood. I love them because to me, they're so Narnia-esque. Because of this, I decided the lamp post, (that also functions as a muster point) outside the library would be perfect for a yarn bomb.

This particular lamp post is easy to overlook because of its location close to the parking lot and a garbage can. A little splash of colour is just what it needed! I decided to experiment with knitting different lace patterns. I used the following patterns; Easy Lace Mesh Scarf, Christmas Lace, Spring Lace Scarf, Easy Lace Scarf, Simple Chevron Lace Knit Stitch, ZigZag Lace Scarf, Lace and Eyelets Scarf and Checkboard Lace Scarf. And then, for an extra touch of whimsy, the fairies.

It only took the Westmount Public Security Unit 10 minutes to arrive after I started putting up the yarn bomb. Thankfully, the officer agreed to let me proceed with my project, although he warned me it could be taken down at any time . . . I had a great response from passersby who stopped to chat about what I was doing.

I miss my Saskatoon yarn bomb team, but thankfully I've got a crafty friend here in Montreal that was able to lend a hand!

This is a project I've been working on all fall, and I've worked on it in many places. I discovered one is guaranteed a quizzical look when answering the question, "What are you working on?" with, "It's a lamp post cosy!".

So to lamp post cosy knitters everywhere - this one's for you.

Who can resist knit fairies?

After a summer and fall of knitting more kilt hose, I needed a project that was more colourful and whimsical. I decided on this pattern for a tiny knit fairy.  It was so fun that I made three! It’s a great quick project that can be completed in an evening or two. I made all of them with left over bits of yarn from my collection.

I don’t like sewing seams down the backs of my projects, so for the first fairy (the one with the yellow hair), I started with her head and knit it in the round using quite thin yarn, 3.25mm dpn and this pattern:

Using the skin colour, cast on 8 stitches over 4 dpn (double pointed needles) – a 5^th dpn is needed to be the working needle.

R1: knit

R2: k1, m1, k1 on each needle (12 stitches total)

R3: knit

R4: k1, m1, k1, m1, k1 on each needle (20 stitches total)

R5: knit

R6: k1, m1, k3, m1, k1 on each needle (28 stitches total)

R7-15: knit

Switch to body colour

R16-36: knit

Cast off

I then followed the instructions of the original pattern. The final effect was ok, but I didn’t like how the neckline puckered at the gather and I decided that knitting in the round wasn’t worth the extra effort.

For the next two fairies I stuck to the original head/body pattern and was happier with the overall shape.

Instead of twisting yarn for arms, I made a two or three stitch i-cord, or when using the thicker brown yarn, I made a chain using a crochet hook.

To give the wings a more rounded look, I used this pattern:

CO 4 stitches

R1: knit

R2: k1, m1, k2, m1, k1 (6 stitches total)

R3: knit

R4: k1, m1, k4, m1, k1 (8 stitches total)

R5-9: knit

R10: k1, k2tog, k2, skp, k1 (6 stitches total)

R11: knit

R12: k1, k2tog, skp, k1 (4 stitches total)

Cast off

Happy fairy making!