I have a friend. We'll call her Kelly.

Kelly isn't her real name, but she has long skinny arms and can't find a jumper to fit her and wants to know where to get a jumper custom knit for her or for people with a need like her.

I have a few suggestions for her:

•  http://www.etsy.com/

• http://www.ravelry.com/

• Go to your local Vinnies or other charity store and ask if they have an old knitting pattern section. Sit there a while, check what patterns they have. They are usually around 50c to $1.00 a pattern leaflet. Look for patterns in 5ply or 8ply Patons wool. Patterns from earlier decades seem to have fitted jumpers. Find one you love.

• Go to your local library and spend some loving time at call no. NF 746.

• Then ask all your acquaintances if they know anyone that knits for cash.

• Or see how other girls cope with their long, skinny arms. My suggestion is that if you love the knitted look, but think your arms are holding you back, go for a long sleeve lycra fitted t-shirt, the same kind available at Kmart, Big W or Target nearly every season and mix it with a hand knitted cowl, a knitted scarf, a shawl or a poncho, and perhaps a trench coat?

• I also happen to know that in the town where my friend works, there is a very good craft cottage in Cook Park. Go and have a chat, see if they have any custom knitters. In fact, looking at the website, I want to go there right now.  Park Guildry, Orange.

Hope these help. Looking forward to seeing you in wool.

My Vinnies Scarf

Here it is. The work in progress.


And the finished results...


Knitted on those 6.5 mm needles I bought the other day for $2. Notice how the needles narrow significantly as they get towards the plastic cord. Stitches jump down here and you have to push them back through and may potentially split the wool.

This used three of the Patons Totem balls which may have been partial balls to begin with.

The pattern is as follows.

Cast on 17 stitches. (I nearly always use a cable cast on).

*Knit first two rows.

Third row ... knit 2, purl 1, knit 2 together, knit 2 together, yarn over and knit 1, yarn over and knit 1, yarn over and knit 1, yarn over and knit 2 together, knit two together, purl 1, knit 2.

Fourth row ... purl

Then recommence pattern at *.

At the end I completed the pattern with a purl row, did a knit row and cast off.

I loved knitting with this wool ... it was vibrant, soft and scrunchy. Nothing quite compares to wool.

When knitting, make sure you knit it long enough to fold in half and poke ends through loop.

And I guess this scarf may have cost about ...hmm $0.60. Bargain. I love Vinnies.

This pattern is not to be used commercially or to be resold without my written permission.