The very lovely Sayraphim Lothian is helping me learn how to turn my little-red-bus logo into gorgeous knitted toys. These will be sent to six of my wonderful crowdfunding campaign supporters – thank you so much for giving me the excuse to make something so totally brilliant!
Not only that, but Sayraphim is SO AWESOME that she’s open sourced the design. You can make your OWN knitted bus by following the lessons below. How fricken cool is THAT?! She started sharing the how-to-guides on my facebook page but then that Hugh Jackman thing happened and it all got a bit nuts, so I’ve pasted them here too and will add to them as the lessons progress.
Want to join in? Please do, all welcome! And please drop in to ask questions, report any problems and share what you make. You can post updates or pics on my facebook page or link to your work in the comments here :)
This is what we’ll be knitting:
knitted bus sketch
But before we start, some background and thanks.
I first met Sayraphim via the Freeplay Indie Games Fest a couple of years ago and we’ve been twitter-friends since. When I started tweeting about my new hobby, knitting, she got all excited and showed me some of the incredible work she’s been making over the years. I must admit my inner #knittingnerd went all-a-flutter at this one:
knitted dalek
Thanks masses to Sayraphim and my sexy campaign supporters, obviously. But two other people need a mention. My fabulous little-red-bus logo was generously designed by James Hutson. Inspiration for even making a bus in the first place came from this fabulous photo and work by Leah Sutton via knitting community Ravelry:
(c) Leah Sutton
Now for the good bit… Let the lessons BEGIN!
Prep time…
knitting kit (photo by Fee of the stuff I’m using, but use what you like)
hi guys! Ok, so as you know, Fee and I will be knitting her Big Red Bus on this page from Wednesday. But I thought we should start today with the stuff you’ll need to play along at home…
We’ll be knitting with red, white and black yarn, 8 ply, which is Sportweight in the US. We’re also knitting with 2(ish)mm needles, you can knit this with whatever you have, but smaller needles will make tighter stitches which means you will be less able to see the stuffing through the knitting. You’ll also need a few fistfuls of stuffing, a row-counter and a darning needle. So gather your supplies, find a comfy chair, make yourself a cuppa and we’ll see you on Wednesday night for the first installment of Knit A Bus With Fee And Me!
Part 1…
Ok, the first in the Knit Along w Fee n’ me instructions to knit your very own Little Red Bus… We’re starting with the bottom of the bus, so all Fee’s great technology doesn’t fall out when she goes over bumps…
knitted bus bottom
To knit the bottom of the bus is very simple.
Cast on 17 stitches in black.
Knit in stocking stitch (knitting one row, purling the next) for 37 rows.
Cast off.
Part 2…
And because black bus bottoms aren’t very exciting, I’ve cunningly knit up the second part of the bus for you to knit along at home with as well. This is the side of the bus, and you’ll need to knit two.
knitted bus sides
To knit the side of the bus is a little more complicated but not very. It’s knitting a gentle curve to make the top of the bus match Fee’s logo.
Row 1 – knit the whole row
Row 2 – purl the whole row
Row 3 – knit to the second last stitch, then increase by one (so you end up with 15 stitches)
Row 4 – purl the whole row
Row 5 – knit to the second last stitch, then increase by one (so you end up with 16 stitches)
Row 6 – purl the whole row
Row 7 – knit to the second last stitch, then increase by one (so you end up with 17 stitches)
Row 8 – purl the whole row
Row 9 – knit to the second last stitch, then increase by one (so you end up with 18 stitches)
Row 10 – purl the whole row
Row 11 – knit to the second last stitch, then increase by one (so you end up with 19 stitches)
Row 12 – purl the whole row
Row 13 – knit to the second last stitch, then increase by one (so you end up with 20 stitches)
Row 14 – purl the whole row
Row 15 – knit to the second last stitch, then increase by one (so you end up with 21 stitches)
Row 16 – purl the whole row
Row 17 – knit the whole row
Row 18 – Purl the whole row
Row 19 – knit the whole row
Row 20 – purl the whole row
Row 21 – knit the whole row
Row 22 – purl the whole row
Row 23 – knit to the second last stitch, then decrease by one (knitting two stitches together so you end up with 20 stitches)
Row 24 – purl the whole row
Row 25 – knit to the second last stitch, then decrease by one (knitting two stitches together so you end up with 19 stitches)
Row 26 – purl the whole row
Row 27 – knit to the second last stitch, then decrease by one (knitting two stitches together so you end up with 18 stitches)
Row 28 – purl the whole row
Row 29 – knit to the second last stitch, then decrease by one (knitting two stitches together so you end up with 17 stitches)
Row 30 – purl the whole row
Row 31 – knit to the second last stitch, then decrease by one (knitting two stitches together so you end up with 16 stitches)
Row 32 – purl the whole row
Row 33 – knit to the second last stitch, then decrease by one (knitting two stitches together so you end up with 15 stitches)
Row 34 – purl the whole row
Row 35 – knit to the second last stitch, then decrease by one (knitting two stitches together so you end up with 14 stitches)
Row 36 – purl the whole row
Row 37 – knit the whole row
You’ll need to knit two sides for your Little Red Bus and cleverly you knit them the same way.
Join us next Wednesday we’ll be knitting the front back and roof of the bus! Then there’s just some little windows and wheels and we’re away, Little Red Busses alongside Fee’s Really Big Roadtrip bus! WHOOO!
Part 3…
We’re knitting the back, top and front of the bus in one long strip.
knitted bus back top & sides
Cast on 17, the same as the bottom of the bus (which makes it a uniform width) and then knit 77 rows. This should make it long enough to be the back, top and front of the bus (though feel free to check it occasionally and adjust the length accordingly when you get it just right). I couldn’t photograph it properly because it kept curling up, so instead I drew this step for you.
Next, we’re sewing the top/back/front to both the sides… Ready?
Part 4…
Today is windows, windows, windows. Which are basically white squares and rectangles, but don’t tell anyone. We want them to think we’re super tricksie!
Ok, for the front windscreen:
Cast on 12
Knit (in stocking stitch) for 10 rows
Cast off
Repeat for back windscreen
Cast on 6
Knit stocking stitch for 10 rows
Cast off
Make 5 of theseFor the side doors
Cast on 3
Knit stocking stitch for 17 rows
Cast offNow all we have are the wheels, sewing the little red bus up and then a bit of decorative stitching. The Little Red Bus is almost there!
Part 5… starts next week!
Be sure to check in here, on twitter or the facebook page for the next lesson!
I’m in, once I’ve finished knitting the couple of security cameras I need to get finished…
yeay, let us know how you get on (& send pics of security cameras too!)