FORGET WASHING.

Tired of endlessly washing your track suit?

Scientists have invented a fabric which you never have to wash! It repels dirt and sweat with chemicals attatched to nano- particles.

Here are my copied diagrams of how self cleaning fabric is made.

1. Nano-particles are attatched to clothing fibres using microwaves.

2. Chemicals that repel water, oil, and kill bacteria, but can not be directly applied to the fabric are bound to the nano particles.

ADIDAS COMMERCIAL 2007.

RUN-D.M.C. MY ADIDAS.

CONVERT A SHIRT.

Check out this cool sports dress! It was designed for tennis, but you could wear it for any sport, and guess what?  It is made from a standard classic open necked man's shirt! 

He'll never notice - choose a shirt you like from his laundry pile and find a sewing machine.

The open neckline, loose waist and front buttons are preserved from the original design. 

For greater freedom of movement the sleeves are eliminated and the arm holes scooped even deeper- before being faced with the same fabric as the dress.  A new band of fabric over the buttonholes strengthens the fastening and adds decoration with it's zig-zag top stitching. And deep side pockets sensibly backed with a dark coloured fabric, providing a handy place for tennis balls, stop watches, and locker keys. 

This dress will still need some extra fabric. Re-use the sleeves for facings, but also try to find scraps for pocket linings. We have more detailed instructions at Prick Your Finger, and I am determined to make this, so I'll keep you posted on the progress.

WILMA RUDOLPH.

Wilma Rudolph was the 20th of 22 children, and had polio as a child. In the 1960's Summer Olympics in Rome, she ran with a sprained ankle and won 3 gold medals.

Wilma could have worn anything and looked good.

GOWER RELAXES.

David Gower, England's former cricket captain, loathes formal dress and prefers to be casual off the pitch in his own design for a sweat-shirt look pullover. His pet hate? Men who sport cricket sweaters without any intention of playing the game! 

Quite right David. 

You could relax in a jumper like David's with a free pattern from Prick Your Finger. David chose Shetland DK knitted on 4mm needles. 

CYCLING TOGETHER IN STYLE.

Why not use this beautifully designed chart, to make cycling jumpers for chilled spring adventures? For a better quality copy of the pattern, cycle down to Prick Your Finger.

DECEPTACON - LE TIGRE

SAFE BOXING.

Here is a picture of me having a knitted boxing match with my friends Naomi and Annie. the pattern for these gloves can be found in a wonderful book called "KnitKnit" by Sabrina Gschwandtner.

Every knitter knows that our hobby is a great way to make un wanted demons go away. And if you have knitted through the night with your friends, you'll also know how important it is to take breaks every few rows to stretch your body, get your circulation going, and to say what it really on your mind. Play- fighting in your knitting circle can really open up the conversation.

Boxing can help boost your self -confidence, common sense, strength, a sense of calm under pressure - in fact, all the qualities you get from knitting but with the added bonuses of working up a sweat, loosing weight, and, hopefully, ending up on the floor screaming at the mercy of your friends.

The boxing gloves can also be worn as real gloves on cold days when you don't need to use your hands. The knitted whistle doesn't really work, but you can make a whistle like noise and just hold it to your mouth. The knitted gum shields however are very good for protection and dramatically change your facial expressions.

KnitKnit is avaliable from Prick Your Finger for a bargin price of £15.95. It contains patterns and stories from knitting artists and designers from all over the world.

FABRICAN.

Seems you can buy anything in a can these days.  Fabrican sell fabric in a can, which you can spray directly onto your body if you forget your gym kit. 

www.fabricanltd.com

SWEAT WITH THE THREE DEGREES.

Does anyone remember The Three Degrees? The Runner was my first disco tune, and I loved it because in the mix I had, the break sounded like the theme tune to John Craven's News Round. 

Why not get the look and train to this music?

Prick Your Finger is giving away free photocopies of this pattern for a knitted head band, as worn by the fabulous Three Degrees.

PUFF BALL PANTS.

We are digging the look of Fanny Blankers-Coen, a Dutch athlete who won 4 gold medals in the  London 1948 Summer Olympics. The British press embarrassingly called her 'The Flying Housewife'.

To get Fanny's look, why not try cutting down a pair of thin, over sized track suit bottoms and gathering the legs and waist with some extra elastic.

SPORTY CAPS.

How about embroidering a sporty initial on the side of your favourite cap? 

It's easy with chain stitch! Chain stitch is one of the oldest embroidery stitches and one of the most versatile. It easily moves around corners. Write your initial in the place where you want it, in pencil or chalk, and then follow these simple instructions below to make a Kool tag!

1. Work from right to left. Bring needle up through fabric and hold thread in a loop with your thumb. Reinsert the needle at the point where it emerged.

2.  Bring the needle point out a short distance away. Thread lies under needle point. when the needle and thread are pulled through, the chain is made.
3. To make another chain stitch, reinsert the needle at point where it emerged, bringing it out again the same distance away as for the previous stitch.
4. To change direction, bring the needle out in the direction and continue working chain stitches in the same way as for horizontal line.