Frankie the Sweetheart Button Teddy

Here is a quick blog on my latest embellished button bear called the Sweetheart Denim Teddy.  My daughter named him Frankie as she tells me its a type of jean in Dorothy Perkins - who knew?

So this is the same pattern used for all the button bears and essentially the nursery bears in part also.  I saw the Sharon the nice lady from Stylecraft who comes around to show me all the latest yarns and she loved the Button Bears and asked if I would do one in their Jeanie Aran Denim yarn. So happy to oblige I crocheted him up.  As I used one colour he needed jazzing up a bit.  You may have noticed that I really like using felt on my latest designs. The reason being it lies flat against the design and enables you to add another texture and colour without to much effort, plus felt is super cheap and is available in an abundance of shades. Using running stitch gives the felt the vintage toy look when sewn on.  

So Frankie got kitted out with a felt big nose, paw and foot pads and I think the colour gives them a suede look about it. A trick I use when cutting out the felt for the nose is to fold the felt in half then cut half the shape, when you open it the other side will be symmetrical.  For the paw pads fold the felt in half but cut two complete shapes out, both pieces will be identical so each paw pad will match perfectly.    

I thought at this stage he would be complete but when I looked at him on the table he was missing something.  He looked cute but could be cuter.  I played with heart buttons but he needed an injection of more colour and I cut a red heart out.  Once pinned in place I left it and come back a few hours later to see if it had a awww moment.  I do this a lot with designs.  Pin them together then leave them and come back the next day and see if it has an impact when you look at it again, if it doesn't then I rearrange and repeat the process. Sometimes you have it perfectly planned in your head what it will look like but in reality it invariably isn't the complete image you had.  I have this perfect visionary before making a cake and I can guarantee it most definitely does not turn out as my imagined one.  So I would recommend never rushing the putting together process, take your time and play with ideas.  

All complete I added a couple of heart buttons to his foot and one to his bottom as when I turned him around he looked so plain compared to the front.  Finally happy he went off for his photoshoot and now he's ready for any one of you that would love to make him for yourself or if you can bear to give him away.

Free Knitting Patterns: A great deal, or just not worth it?

Why opt for free patterns? 

It seems like a simple enough query, but there are a few different reasons people choose free patterns over those that cost money.

One massive consideration is that if a pattern is free, there is less of a feeling of obligation to use it, even when it’s downloaded to your computer. This means that there’s no risk for the knitter; if the pattern turns out to be badly written or not to your taste, you may simply discard it, without the disappointment that you have passed over hard-earned cash for something that holds no worth to you.

For beginner knitters, downloading several free knitting patterns for similar items might be a helpful part of the deliberation process. Some patterns are more suited to us than others—and it is only by comparing the style and manner in which alternatives are written that we can develop our own style, and progress further along our knitting journey. 

And finally, if you can find a free pattern that works for you, why not use it? There are a wide variety of patterns out there, from gorgeous checkered scarves to fleece teddy bears to beautiful cushion covers. Even if we don’t end up using the pattern, it can help inspire our latest project, giving us a springboard from which to work. Skilled knitters may even settle for a close match to their dream design, and adapt the pattern to their requirements as they go. 

Are free patterns as good as those you have to pay for?

For some, free patterns may be seen as cast-offs. It is common to associate value with cost; even to determine one by the other. Designer clothes labels illustrate this well. When applied to knitting, we all know that patterns take time and energy to produce. If one is being distributed for free, does that mean that it’s likely to be no good?

It is, of course, possible that you’ll come across the odd ‘bad’ pattern amongst a bunch of free downloads but there are plenty of valid reasons why a designer may offer one or two high quality freebies.

For those who make their living within the crafting industry, free patterns are first and foremost a marketing tool—often produced alongside a more extensive paid range. They are used to give customers a taste of the designer’s style; those who enjoy knitting their pattern may well return to that website when thinking about their next project, even if that means paying. Equally, impressed knitters are more likely to recommend the name to others, increasing the potential for future sales.

It is, therefore, in the designer’s best interests to produce a pattern both representative of their brand, and also of a standard that they are happy to associate their name with.

The motives of others, who have a passion—but no professional interest—in knitting, may appear more altruistic. They are making the pattern out of pure enjoyment, or as a personal challenge. It might never have even crossed their mind to charge for the privilege of replicating the design.

And while they don’t have so great a reputation to maintain, it is worth remembering that these people are in a position to produce the ultimate ‘for knitters, by knitters’ patterns. A crafter who thinks that a knit is worth sharing with others will probably have spent a good deal of care and attention on ensuring their instructions are accurate and can easily be followed. If they are skilled in this area, then there’s no reason to assume that their pattern is of any lesser quality than one you have to pay for.

This seemingly justifies those who only ever opt to use free patterns. If they are of such good quality, is there any incentive to pay for them?

Why pay if you can get patterns for free?

Despite the high quality of many free patterns, there are reasons that would persuade many knitters to purchase one instead.

While there are lots of free options out there, the choice will never be so vast as for paid patterns. Complex designs are less readily available on the free market, and perhaps rightly so. They will probably have taken more time putting together than simpler patterns; you are paying for an advanced skill.

Some of you will also have a favourite designer—perhaps you even got to know of them through a free pattern promotion. When you are confident in someone’s ability to produce a great pattern and strong design, there’s every reason to support their work financially, whilst benefitting from their abilities and guidance.

Making a payment can also increase motivation: as soon as money has been handed over, you have a vested interest in the product. It’s similar to the idea of paying for a language course. If the lessons were free, and you were feeling lazy one week, then there’s little incentive to attend. But paying in advance can stir you into action, and persuade you to make the most of the opportunity, even when there are other things to be done.

So, if you are keen to knit, but never seem to find the time, buying a pattern may be the way forward. It will help you commit to a project—really good news for those of us who are decision-phobes, or struggle to get past the inspiration stage! If you can afford it, a couple of pounds can help you prioritise your knit until the finished product is in your hands. 

Free vs Paid: The Result

So, what’s the conclusion? Are free patterns worth the saving, or would you be better off splashing out on a design that will really motivate you to succeed?

Well, as with most things, a balance is best. Free patterns are a brilliant way of keeping costs down when money is tight, and are great for getting to know different designers. But you should judge paid and free designs by the same yardstick. If a pattern seems to be exactly what you’re looking for, great! If not, there are hundreds of other options out there. 

Choose wisely, and you’ll enjoy your knit to the full, whether it’s cost you money or not.

Knitting the Perfect Gift: Baby Wool That Doesn't Break The Bank

Inspiration
Whether you’re preparing for the birth of a baby, or looking for a special gift for an existing sprog, knitted goodies make for the perfect present. For one thing, chances are high that it will be cherished for years to come. For another, there’s very little chance of experiencing that sinking feeling… you know, the one that comes from muted thanks—and the awkward realisation that you’ve produced exactly the same outfit as another well-wisher. 

So, having opted for unique and original, it’s time to decide on specifics. This is where you can really let your imagination run loose. There are tonnes of useful ‘baby things’ to make: warm garments, snuggly comforters and squishy toys are all sure to go down well. And one of the best things about knitting for babies is that whatever item you choose, it’s sure to look cute.

Some things to think about

Time

More so, perhaps, than other projects, knitting for babies may throw up the added pressure of a time restraint—particularly if you’re planning on delivering the gift to a newborn. There’s nothing wrong with ambition (and plenty that’s right with it), but a beginner knitter with no experience of the craft may struggle to produce a complex design with only a couple of weeks until the due date! Bear in mind that babies grow quickly; a modest, punctual present will always beat an expert-level knit that no longer fits.

The issue of time is easily resolved. Right here on site, we have patterns to suit every level: from simple blankets to advanced level designs—and if you’re lacking in inspiration, you could always turn to other corners of the internet (we won’t be offended, promise!). At the moment, we’re loving the ideas on this blog.

For knits that are sure to stand the test of time, consider an alternative to clothing. If you feel up to the challenge, you can’t get cuter than Kawaii. Our patterns draw on traditional Japanese culture; you’ll end up with an adorable toy, fit to become baby’s favourite. Alternatively, mermaid tails are all the rage right now—and you’re never too young for a little magic.

And no matter what level you are, and whatever you choose to make, it’s always possible to add a personal touch. Using a shade that complements the baby room, or opting for the parents’ wedding colours, are both great (and simple) ways to show extra thought.

Yarn

Then, of course, there is the issue of yarn. Comfort, washability… you only have to tentatively explore the subject on Mumsnet to discover that people hold pretty strong opinions about baby wool. But it’s worth considering all the options in order to make an informed choice. 

Then toss the ‘baby needs best’ mentality into the mix and you have cost considerations too. And whilst it’s true that your gift may make it into the ultimate box of baby-dom, looked back on with great affection, and handed down from generation to generation, it’s worth remembering that babies are, by their very nature, young. There could be years and years of present-giving ahead of you: breaking the bank on the first might not be a sensible start. 

What’s clear to all, though, is that babies merit different, less fibrous yarns to those that can be tolerated by adults (no child deserves a hairball). And, since the item will be worn or cuddled in (and sucked, chewed and slobbered over) by the most messy adorable of humankind, the wools will need to be both washable and soft, at an affordable price.

So, what yarn should you choose that knits together all these considerations? 

Many believe that only natural wools, known for their softness, are suitable for youngsters, but these are generally the most expensive. Others advocate the merits of acrylic—cheaper, more easily washed and dried… but perhaps not so cozy. 

Synthetics
Many knitters dismiss synthetic yarns out of hand for babies. Cygnet Baby Pato, made of 100% acrylic, should set your mind at ease. Its price reflects the man-made nature, but it’s extremely versatile.  It’s also a great option for little ones who suffer from allergies, as it contains no animal fibres, and is perfect for consistency when knitting large items: there is very little variation between different batches and you can usually count on man-made fabrics to be machine washable. 

To avoid bobbling over time, consider an anti-piling synthetic. King Cole’s Cherished yarns are made from a special acrylic designed to retain a bobble-free existence.

Blends
By mixing different fibres, you can add value to a yarn –without adding much to the price tag. 

Polyamide is fire resistant, and can be combined with acrylic to achieve a yarn that balances comfort with cost. Far from being itchy or uncomfortable, James C Brett’s Supreme Soft & Gentle yarn is luxurious in appearance, and supersoft to the touch. At an affordable price, there are both double knitting (DK) and 4 ply versions available—less confident knitters will find the former a little easier to work with. Alternatively, Jenny Watson’s Babysoft range is available in a variety of beautiful pastels and is designed to be especially gentle on young skin. 

Acrylic and nylon also make for a gorgeous combination, as proven by King Cole’s Comfort range. Nylon increases the overall elasticity of a yarn, which will help to make your gift durable. There are no less than 20 colours to choose from, ideal for any cozy knit you can think of. Snuggly Baby yarns by Sirdir are an equally affordable option. This range is also sure to keep its shape in the washing machine, and can be tumble dried—hugely useful for baby gifts. 

If you can’t quite get behind full-blown synthetics, a blend that includes natural fibres could make for the ultimate combination. Not so premium in price as pure Merino, a mix of wool, cotton and acrylic make up these fun, multi-coloured balls, and will keep your knit both exceptionally soft and highly durable: a win-win.

Natural Fibres
Of course, choosing cheap wool is all relative. For instance, if you’re convinced that your gift will be recycled (perhaps it’s for a child who has younger siblings), then there’s nothing to stop you opting for luxury. This doesn’t have to be expensive; Wool4less offers Peter Pan 100% Merino at a price competitive to many of the mixes above—and you can be assured of quality, comfort and a beautiful finish. 

The Finished Product
When you’ve decided on a yarn—and all’s purled and knitted—you’ll end up with a special keepsake that hasn’t cost you the earth.

Of course, the subject themself may not thank you immediately. After all, when there are booties to be worn, blankets to be swaddled in and toys to be tossed around, there’s little time for words. But with time comes appreciation—and handmade gifts often become treasured heirlooms, long after baby is fully fledged. 

From crib to cuddles (and back again) a handmade gift will get plenty of use—especially if you plan things right.

Spring Easter Lambs

This is a quick blog to let you know that I made a quick little lamb pattern for Wool4less who are letting everyone download it for FREE!!  They wanted me to use the tinsel yarn that has a huge following. So I wouldn't want anyone to miss out that maybe reading this blog, so if you like them head over there to download a copy.

http://www.wool4less.co.uk/FREE-Tinsel-Spring-Lamb-Pattern_A21EPX.aspx

Button Bears

When I started this new design I didn't really think I would seriously fall in love with it, but I have.  Especially the BIG bear who I have named Bernie.  I had a vision of what they would turn out like but I'm so pleased with the end result and I hope if anybody decides to make their own they will be happy too.  The sketch below was my starting point, a very simple teddy shape.

I have made the pattern three times in exactly the same way but the little one Olly is make in DK, Theo in chunky and Bernie in super chunky.  Here are my hints and tips in getting the best out of the design.

I always start with the body as its a simple part of the pattern and you can get your tension quickly as there is not much shaping, plus you get an instant sense of what the overall size will be.  Next I tackle the head.  You start with the lighter colour as the head pattern begins at the nose section. There is shaping around the cheek area and in the pattern you increase both sides.  When you come to stuffing the head you need to stuff these areas fuller as you have created the space.  This gives the bear face a fuller face.  At row 11 you change to the dark brown, I simply tied the two colours together for the join and the knot will disappear in the head when you stuff.  After row 22 its time to position the eyes. I played with different sizes and spacing for quite some time and plucked for 8mm on the DK version with little spacing.  I placed them on the first row of the brown with only one whole stitch between them.  Of course play with the eyes and position them where you like best. After row 29 I started to stuff the head.  I really stuffed the nose and head.  Use the end of a bigger crochet hook and move the stuffing into the areas that need extra shaping like the cheeks and top of the head.  Finish the last 4 rows, stuff a bit more into the back of the head and then close up.  

 

I always do the face once I have the head stuffed, I like to see what it will look like.  I cut black felt for nose which I placed towards the top of the nose. I carefully pinned in place and secured by sewing a running stitch around the nose.  Then with embroidery thread I placed one long line coming from the centre of the nose at the bottom directly down 6 rows below, from there I went either side in two parts 11 stitches.  I did one long thread to stitch 6 and then another long thread for the remaining 5 stitches.  I repeated this on the other side.

Onto the ears.  The outside of the ear is very simple, when it is completed I sewed up the end and left a long thread for attaching to the head.  The inner lighter brown of the ear is not crocheted in the normal amigurumi style and is simply rows of crochet decreasing in at the end.  Once these inner ears are complete pin neatly into the outer ear and pull the inner ear to fit completely, once happy then sew into place and then use the darker brown thread to sew the ear to the head.  I placed the ears 5 rows back from the eyes making sure that both sides of the ear are positioned on the the same row.

Making the limbs is pretty simple. When you come to stuff them, you need to stuff tightly in the hand and foot sections.  The 1/3 at the top of the arm and 1/3 of the top of the leg are not filled at all, as they need to be flat so the button can be pressed against them. When sewing up the open ends of both the arms and legs try and create a rounded shape as they will be on view so the neater the better. You can see from the photo below how I have sewn up the end but given it a curved shape.  The light brown pads are placed towards the bottom of each foot rather than right in the centre.

 

Now it is time to put your bear together.  I highly recommend you watch the you tube clip below on how to sew on the arms and legs using the button method.  These steps are exactly the way I assembled the bears. I could write it all down but that would be more confusing.  You will need a long doll needle which I had to quickly purchase (ebay is always my go too when it comes to late night crafting purchases).  Remember to check the legs both reach the ground and not one leg is higher than the other before pulling them tight.  After I had put on the limbs I then finally sewed on the head.  

I hope you enjoy making your own button bear.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xakBaLJ6j2A

 

All yarn supplies are from www.wool4less.co.uk and they sell the pattern and the kits for all 3 bears.

Hello Tallulah

Already in the second week of January and I'm getting so confused thinking it is April as the weather is so mild and the garden plants have tiny little buds already.  They are talking of a cold belt arriving tomorrow onwards but it never really seems to effect me on the far East Coast - thats probably a good thing right?

So my task for the Christmas break was to finish another pet for the collection and decided on a micro pig.  The bright pink in the riot chunky (Dawn) collection was calling to me, a bit cliche to use pink for a pig but I think Tallulah worked out well and the pink to dark plum colourways suited this design.

The body was tackled first which is roughly the same as Milo the Cat and as it is the same all around and the shaping is minimal.  The good thing about designing animals is once you have one or two designed the others are usually a variation of the patterns of the others. 

It was important to get the nose right on this pig as a snout is usually boxy in shape. To keep the shape of the nose during stuffing I wedged thick card into the nose so it would keep the perfect flat round snout shape.  You can see from the image below the card firmly placed in the nose.

         

 

Deciding on the size and placement of eyes was a long decision.  It was between a 8mm or 10mm eye and then near together or far apart.  The head sat on my desk for a good 24 hours while I decided as once you commit to pushing the backs of the eyes on there is no going back.  So 10mm it was with a far apart placing, backs pushed on so just had to make it work now.  Its important to take the time on the face as this will determine everything ultimately, this is what gives the design personality.  The next problem was the markings on the nose, I was looking forward to this part and had the idea it would be simple and sew on some round markings - well it looked awful.  I tried using little buttons, then heart shaped buttons, black felt, pink felt, brown thread, grey thread,  everything I tried I really didn't like.  Again I left the head on my desk overnight to rethink.


After a nights sleep to rethink, I got a contrast colour within the yarn and simply sewed two lines on the nose - voila nose finally sorted.  So straight onto the trotters, I took the front paws from the Bruno the Puppy pattern and once the round foot was crocheted a little bit of stuffing needs to be put in.  You can see from the image below before the leg section is crocheted stuffing needs to go into this part.  Once stuffed the rest of the leg could be completed.  Then I got some grey embroidery thread and sewed in a line in middle of the trotter and pulled in tight so you create essentially two toes either side. Again take the time to puff up the trotter shape.  I made all four in one go and they were on the coffee table when my best friends and her husband were over.  He looked at them and had a very confused look on his face, I won't say what he thought they were as slightly rude but very funny.

Ears were a slight adaption on Milo the Cats just longer.  With everything made i just played with positioning.  As I always say take your time on this part, don't sew anything into place until you really like the way it looks.  Take photos of each position so you can quickly see them altogether which makes it easy to quickly compare how they look.

 

I forgot to mention the tail,  This is a fun crochet project and a great pattern for using for any spiral design.  They look great as spiral mohair scarfs.  You simply chain then in each chain you 2 x dc, then on the next row you 3 x dc into dc, so you are constantly increasing every stitch which makes the spiral.   Very easy and very effective.  All thats left to do now is sew up and give your micro pig a name.  Hope you enjoy making Tallulah.

I used King Cole Riot Chunky in colour Dawn

http://www.wool4less.co.uk/King-Cole-Riot-Chunky-100g-NEW-COLOURS_AZ2T7.aspx

                                            

Fresh Ideas

I am excited about the New Year, as I have been approached by the magazines Let's Knit, Inside Crochet and Knitting and Crochet to feature the Kawaii Designs.  I have been working on another pet which will be a free pattern launch in the Knitting and Crochet Magazine in the New Year, but I am not allowed to say what it is until it officially goes in the mag.  

However what I can say is I am currently working on another pet which will be a goldfish but isn't actually gold in colour.  I hope to get this finished very soon and on our Etsy shop and on the Wool4less site as a free download. 

Here is the start of it, name to be determined.  Its not until the eyes go in will I be able to think of a suitable name, any suggestions welcome.  Not sure at this stage either how elaborate to make it, thinking a simple fish like the ones you win at Fairs or a more ornate fish with the goggly eyes.   

Any ideas on pets you would like to make let me in the future please know.  I have lined up to make a micro pig and a tortoise.

Finished Bubble the Goldfish.