This is the finished cushion cover in all its glory.





Last night was frantic with last minute knitting, as my friend sewed up the seams on her sewing machine pretty much as I went. I actually can’t wait to give it to my friend for her (super late) birthday/ moving in gift. I’m really quite pleased with myself, and the effort that went into it, which I think she will appreciate. In fact she probably has no idea I’m capable of this kind of knitting. Then again when I came up with the idea, neither did I!

This feeling of accomplishment is quite addictive…what next

With a day to go and still no idea what to get my friend for her birthday my thoughts turned quickly to what I could make. As a big fan of the Pirates of the Caribbean films and having just bought her first flat I thought a skull and crossbones cushion cover would be a perfect gift. I didn’t really think it through though, and before I knew it I’d announced to her I was making a fabulous present for her and she’d receive it soon. Now backed into a corner I actually had to come up with the goods.

Having done many features in the mag on intarsia, I didn’t think it would be that hard, I just knew it would need the patience of a saint. I started looking for easy skull and crossbones patterns on the internet – ha, no such thing. They all looked incredibly difficult or like the baddies in an ‘80s computer game. In the end I ended up using the skull of one pattern, the bones of another, printing out some chart paper, superimposing one on top of the other, drawing the chart then basically writing the pattern. I swear, the knitting part was actually the easiest bit.



So here is the front of my cushion cover. Not bad for a first go. Sure, in hindsight it would have been easier to buy her a Captain Jack Sparrow key ring, but really nothing beats the feeling of accomplishment when you set your mind to something and conquer it, especially when you know it is something someone will love. And besides, it makes me feel all pleased with myself, so really I’m just showing off.

I thought this photo, starring deputy ed Emma W, might make you laugh, dear readers. So many captions could go with this photo, it’s crying out for a caption competition. I’m starting with ‘Just another day at the office’ but if you can think of something better let us know!



And just to let you know, I finished my chicken in time for mother’s day and it went down a treat (though it arrived a little flat in the post and my mum had to do a bit of resuscitation to plump him up a bit). Now she reckons he needs a lady friend. Hmmm.