Woolly pencils

Don't you just love coloured pencil crayons?

I have a polished wooden box containing 72 different shades and it excites me just to look at them.

New crayons were always a gift to be treasured when I was young and I still have an old box containing the much used remnants of my crayoning childhood.

My pencil crayons and a colouring book kept me busy for hours.

These days my creative colouring is often done with knitting yarn so I decided to marry the two and experiment with knitting a pencil crayon.

First I made a blue one.

Then I made green and magenta ones. If you'd like to give it a go here is what you do...

DK yarn and 2.25 mm needles (US size 1). Stocking stitch throughout. The knitted fabric should be quite firm as you don't want a lot of stretch.

Choose your colour and cast on 9 stitches. Knit to the required length (I did 20 rows). Change to beige (wood colour). Knit 1 row then knit 2 together at the start of the next 4 rows (5 stitches remain). Change to main colour and knit one row. Remove stitches onto a sewing needle and gather tightly. Roll the knitted piece to create a pencil and ensure all the loose ends are tucked inside. Stitch to close. Make the pointed (sharpened) end as 'pointy' as you can. To knit a fatter pencil simply cast on more stitches and knit more rows, its as simple as that. Perhaps a child's old hand knitted sweater could be cheered up with the addition of a few knitted pencils in bright shades! 

Pencil Cosy
This was an after thought and I think it could catch on!


The previous pattern (nine stitches on 2.25 mm needles) will create a tiny tube that perfectly fits a standard pencil. The cast off edge is at the top. Finished with 2 rows of garter stitch. You should weave in the loose ends then wrap the knitted piece round the pencil which makes it easier to stitch the seam and close the bottom. A few beads and a woolly tassel produce the finishing touches. Little girls will love these pencil cosies and they'd make cute little gifts for their friends. (Warning... As the cosies will invariably be placed on the 'writing end' they could become very stained if fitted on fibre tipped pens and ball point pens and that would be a shame! )

Making a little woolly tassel like mine is easy but I'd like you to go over to Down the Rabbit Hole where my blogging chum Selia has created some extra ordinarily beautiful and unusual tassels.

Selia recently gave me this 'Marie Antoinette Award for Inspiration' for which my humble thanks Selia, I will pass it on to others in due course.

Comments

[Paula]

Dear Eli,

Yes, indeed, I do love colored pencils, and you have a wonderful assortment. I love the vintage book and old box of your pencils that you so lovingly saved.

I never cease to be amazed with your knitting skills! I love the colored pencils you knitted and the pencil cosy! Thank you for sharing your pattern.

Selia's tassels are so pretty, and the award she gave you is well deserved! I am always inspired by you!

Love, Paula

[natalie jo]

Greetings Eli,

I'm in total agreement with the previous comment...Your knitting skills amaze me too!!! Just finished peeking at your August postings and I am most intrigued with your 17th century dolls. They are beautiful! I especially enjoyed the fact that you gave them all names and positions in the household. I definately think Tasha Tudor would aprove!

Fondly, natalie jo

[mathea]

I love my coloured pencils too - I think I have the same set - but I have never thought of knitting any!

[Redwood House]

I love the knitted pencils and the pencil cosy with tassels how cute are they, what lovely little presents they would make. Your knitting is lovely and fun you seem to do so much and yet I thought knitting took ages to 'grow' are you one of these tallented ladies that can knit and watch the tele at the same time I wonder, that really is clever.
Jan

[Paula]

Dear Eli,
Just popping in again to say you would be most welcome to come calling! Oh, I do wish we did not have such a distance between us! I would be delighted to make you all the coconut topped cupcakes you could eat and a pot of tea! You could teach me to knit, too! Thank you so much for all your sweet and encouraging words! You blessed me so much! I would love to tour Beatrix's cottage and see all her lovely items in the shops. It is wonderful that she lived so near to where you live. Thank you for all you share with me!
Love, Paula

[Rhondi]

Hi Eli
I always loved pencil crayons and coloring as a young girl. Your knitted pencils are adorable and I really like the photo that you have on your title.
Hugs, Rhondi

[Maggie]

Hi Eli,

I just found you today!
I will be reading your past entries in due time . . . but in the meantime, I agree with all the others: you are truly a talent with a pair of needles!
Your pencils/crayons are so much fun! My daughter is 23 and I recently bought her a Hello Kitty colouring book and she LOVED it. You would have thought it was a diamond necklace!
Your knitted dolls are charming!
Our talents with crafts and collecting and sharing keep us young. I am so pleased to have discovered you!
Thank you for sharing!
Maggie
xxx

[Maggie]

Hi Eli,

Thank you for your comment on my blog.
Would you mind providing me with a way to contact you?
I have looked all over your blog and cannot find a way to write to you other than here in the comments section.
You can contact me via etsy - www.sweetscarlett.etsy.com - and I will send you my email address address from there.
Cheers!
Maggie

[Maggie]

Oh Eli,
I feel so foolish! Trying to rework my blog today only has me in even deeper with the mess! A typo has wreaked havoc so I am now forced to live with the 'new' blog address.
Please note the change:
http://maggiesssweetscarlett.blogspot.com/
Thanks!
Maggie