bitstobuy miniature knitting patterns is changing

I have been running the bitstobuy business for about 10 years now.  It all started when I wanted to expand my knitting hobby in some way, but really didn't need any more garments for myself.  A book from the library about knitting tiny items for the dolls house really inspired me, and when I found some oddments of laceweight yarn in my stash I started knitting some tiny sweaters which were snapped up immediately on ebay. 
Eureka!  Something I loved doing and was of use to others. 
I have to admit that my interest has always been on the knitting side, and I do not own a dolls house or have any interest in doing so.
I searched the internet and books for patterns, but all the ones I found were very complicated and took a lot of knitting, in fact would be very difficult for someone who just wanted to produce something quickly and easily.  So I did the obvious thing and started designing my own.
My first pattern was for this bedspread and cushions

For some reason this really captured knitters' imaginations and this is probably my most popular pattern ever.  From there I quickly developed patterns for all kinds of tiny furnishings and garments, and miniature toys.

For a few years I just sold patterns, but developed into kits (so that the customer didn't have to deal with the difficulty of getting hold of small quantities of fine yarn), needles and haberdashery.  I have since written three pattern books, each of which have about 25 easy to knit designs.

I have sold through ebay and my own website, and have had patterns published in the dolls house press and online.
I am slowing down a bit now, and decided I just wanted to carry on with the knitting, and move on from the business.

So I am proud to announce that the bitstobuy webpage business has been passed on to another wonderful miniature knitter, my daughter Anna!

Anna has put in many hours over the years in setting up and running the webpage for me.  She is really into knitting, with designs published in the main knitting publications (two patterns out this very month in Issue 19 of Knit Now) and on Ravelry.  On the miniature side Anna has concentrated on patterns for 6" bjd but also has other crafty things going on such as selling beautiful buttons and ribbons.

The www.bitstobuy.co.uk webpage will continue as at present for the moment, selling all the same lovely things, but it will now be Anna who is managing it and despatching stock.  Eventually she will be redeveloping the site and moving it over to beepbeepminiatures .  We will make sure that the old webpage address still stands though and will transfer to the new one.

Thank you to all my previous customers and I hope you will support Anna in the new business.

I will continue to knit and sell the tiny garments (I still need to keep my fingers busy) on ebay and a new shop that I have opened on http://www.etsy.com/shop/bitstobuyknits.

Lots more knitting to do

Had  a great day at the Knitting and Stitching Show.  As usual it was heaving with people but it was worth the effort to see all the lovely yarns, if only to touch and squeeze them.  I resisted the buffalo yarn at up to £65 a skein, but I did buy a beautiful wool and silk 2 ply to knit a very fine tie-front cardigan which I have been thinking about for a while.  There is so much on a skein that I only needed one, at £16, so that seemed a bargain.  I also bought some ssshhhhh acrylic to knit another Nanook, and a cotton mix for a stripy sweatshirt type pattern called Shellseeker by the same designer.  So probably got enough to keep me going until next year's show, which is already booked on the calendar for 10th to 13th October 2013. 

I had half a skein of wool/silk left over from my last Nanook, so found a pattern for a camisole and am squeezing the yarn out to hopefully have enough.  It is knitted top down and I am about half way there so should be able to get sufficient length and then stop when I run out of yarn.

Sorry no photos as him outdoors has taken the camera away for the weekend.

Meanwhile I am still knitting tiny things in between.  I try to do one a day to feed my ebay customers! Here is one I made earlier:

Free pattern for a 12th scale dolls house miniature knitting Christmas stocking

Here is a pattern for a tiny Christmas stocking for the dolls house in 12th scale.  Plenty of time to get lots of these knitted for Christmas!

This is taken from my Book 2 of knitting patterns.  Lots more Christmas patterns (including a long stripy Christmas stocking) can be found in my Christmas Book of miniature knitting patterns.

CHRISTMAS STOCKING 

 

Materials:  scraps of one ply or two ply yarn in red and white.  A pair of 2mm knitting needles.

Cast on 4 sts in white.

Inc in every st (8 sts)

Inc purlwise in every st (16 sts)

K two rows.

 

Join in red and ss 6 rows.

 

Change to white.

K3, turn, p3.

K4, turn, p4.

K5 white, add in red and k8 in red, k3 in white.

 

Working in white:

P4, turn, k4.

P5, turn, k5.

 

Change to red and starting with a p row ss 8 rows.

 

For cuff:  Change to white and p one row.

Next row:  k4, inc in next st, k6, inc in next st, k4 (18 sts)

Starting with a k row, ss 10 rows.

Cast off.

 

To make up:  With wrong sides together fold in half and sew cuff seam.  Turn to right sides together and seam around stocking, gathering toe.  Turn right side out and fold cuff down. Make hanging loop with white yarn.

 Copyright Helen Cox 2012

FREE yarn with all website orders

Gosh it's been busy lately.  Babysitting, holiday which produced enough washing to keep me busy for weeks, garden projects etc.  Time to batten down the hatches for autumn and think about yarn things again.  I finished one cardigan before we went on holiday and am just working through another.  I have enjoyed doing full size knitting again but of course still have miniature knitting on the go too, and need to build up my stocks of miniature knitted outfits for the Christmas market.

I have also just listed my Christmas pattern book on ebay http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/bitstobuy/m.html?item=130762870960&sspagename=STRK%3AMESELX%3AIT&rt=nc&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649&_trksid=p4340.l2562 as it will be that time of year again soon.

I am doing a bit of tightening up on the miniature knitting webpage www.bitstobuy.co.uk.  The bjd patterns are being passed on to my daughter who knows far more about this scale than I do http://www.etsy.com/shop/beepbeep?ref=em. 

As I haven't offered a FREE gift lately, with all website orders until the end of October I will be adding two skeins of low bulk 2/28 2ply yarn, ideal for all those tiny sweaters and other projects.  One skein is a bright sunshine yellow and the other is a caramel brown, slightly variagated.  Ideal for that fair isle project.

Happy knitting!

Free gift with all website orders in June of ready knitted jacket

I missed offering a free gift last month so here is a special offer for June.

With all website orders this month I will be including a FREE lovely ready knitted jacket with mohair edging.

The jacket is in 12th scale and will fit a tiny 5 to 6 inch doll such as Heidi Ott or similar.  It will also fit small ball jointed dolls such as Pukifee, Lati Yellow or Hoojoo Baby, or other small dolls such as Pippa, Dawn, or Strawberry Shortcake.  The mohair edging will vary slightly due to the random nature of the yarn.

Check out the website and take advantage of this free gift:
www.bitstobuy.co.uk

Free knitting pattern for 'Ugg' boots for tiny bjd

Wot no website free gift this month????     Sorry folks, May is going to be so busy and I just haven't had time to think of a give-away with website orders this month.  But I am knitting, knitting, knitting and I promise a super free gift of a ready knitted item for June, so keep watching this space!

But here is a free pattern instead.  This was designed for bjd (ball jointed dolls) tiny size, so will fit Lati Yellow, Pukifee and similar dolls:

Knitted 'Ugg' boots for a 6 - 7 inch tiny bjd

Materials needed:  Small balls of yarn in brown and white.  A pair of 2mm knitting needles.

Measurements:  To fit a doll of up to 7” tall, with a foot length of about one inch.

Abbreviations:  st = stitch;  sts = stitches;  k = knit;   p = purl;  ss =  stocking stitch (one row knit, one row purl);   turn = turn knitting round and work back along sts just knitted;  k2tog = knit 2 sts together; p2tog = purl 2 sts together;  m1 =  make one by picking up and knitting between the sts;  tbl = through back of loops;  [ ]  = repeat instructions in brackets.

Make two the same.

Starting with sole cast on 10 sts with brown yarn and k one row.

Next row:  k1, m1, k3, m1, k2, m1, k3, m1, k1 (14 sts)

Next row:  k2, m1, k3, m1, [k2, m1] twice, k3, m1, k2 (19 sts)

Next row:  [k3, m1] twice, k7, [m1, k3] twice (23 sts)

Next row:  k4, m1, k3, m1, k5, m1, k4, m1, k3, m1, k4 (28 sts)

Change to white and k two rows.

Next row:  k6 brown, k1 white, k14 brown, k1 white, k6 brown

Starting with a p row, ss 7 rows, at same time keeping continuity of pattern with brown and white yarns the same (there will be 2 sts of white on each row).

Shape top of foot: 

Keeping continuity of pattern with brown and white yarn continue as follows:

Row 1:  k16, k2tog tbl, turn

Row 2:  slip one, p4, p2tog, turn

Row 3:  slip one, k4, k2tog tbl, turn

Row 4:  slip one, p4, p2tog, turn

Rows 5 to 6: repeat rows 3 to 4 (22 sts)

Row 7:  slip one, k to end of row

Row 8:  p

Row 9:  k6 brown, k10 white, k6 brown

Row 10:  p6 brown, p1 white, p8 brown, p1 white, p6 brown

Starting with a k row, ss 4 rows, at same time keeping continuity of pattern with brown and white yarns.

Change to white yarn and k two rows.

Cast off.

 

To make up:  Fold with right sides together and join back and sole seam.  Turn right side out.  Do not press.

A kit giving everything needed to make the boots, a duffle coat, and leggings is available from the website.

www.bitstobuy.co.uk

Free gift with website orders in April - cotton tweed polo sweater kit

Here is the free offer for April.   A kit giving instructions and yarn for you to knit this lovely soft cotton tweed sweater for a 5 to 6 inch doll, very easy to knit in just a couple of hours.  It will fit all dolls house dolls such as Heidi Ott and similar, also suitable for other similar sized dolls such as Pippa, Dawn, and (if you are able to remove head to fit) Strawberry Shortcake, and other tiny bjd such as Lati Yellow and Pukifee.  Will be oversized on Hujoo Baby and smaller dolls.  You will need a pair of 2mm knitting needles.

To obtain the free kit just send an order to the webpage www.bitsotbuy.co.uk during April.

Why not have a look at the kits and extras available from the site and start knitting soon!

Not just knitted baby ugg boots but tiny tiny doll Ugg boots

Some time ago I adapted a pattern to make some baby knitted Ugg type boots.  That set me thinking on making the pattern even smaller, to make some Ugg boots to fit a tiny doll.  This is the result;  these will fit a doll such as the tiny bjd, Lati Yellow, Pukifee etc, and similar 6 to 7 inch tall dolls.

The British penny is to show the size, which is very small!

I have developed a new pattern, with a duffle coat, leggings and boots, to fit the tiny bjd.  The pattern will be available very soon from the webpage shop, and comes in a brown version with pink leggings, or the black version with red leggings.

www.bitstobuy.co.uk



Guest blog from Anna of beepbeepdesigns - Knitting for bjd

Anna has written a guest blog for me about knitting for ball jointed dolls (bjd).  These are collector dolls, very popular in the US and Far East.  They come in all sizes but Anna designs for the tiny range, which are 12th, 1:12 scale, and includes the Lati Yellow and Pukifee ranges, also the Hoojoo or Hujoo Baby.  Her patterns are available from Etsy and her own webpage, see links below.

BJD, or ball-jointed dolls, are collectors' dolls that come in all sizes from three inches to three feet. They are fun to dress and style as they are very posable and photogenic! My doll, Felicity, is a Fairyland Pukifee, and she's called a 'tiny' as she's only six inches tall. This makes her about the same size as a dolls house doll. Her body shape is a bit different to an adult dolls house doll though, and her head is much bigger, so it's worth using patterns that have been adapted to fit a BJD.

I've been a knitter for many years so it was natural for me to knit for my doll. Sewing can be very fiddly in this small size and you have to worry about seams and fraying. Knitted seams don't fray which can make it easier to make things you wouldn't knit for a person, such as leggings or even a swimming costume.

 

One of the great things about miniature knitting is how quick it can be. You can knit a sweater in an evening, and a whole wardrobe for your doll in a week! It's easy to make cardigans in colours to match every outfit. And plain items can be easily made more exciting by adding buttons, ribbons and felt shapes. If you snip the shoulder-ribbons off your tops, those are just right for miniature crafting. And a full-sized button looks great sewn onto a jumper or a hat (well, I love buttons so I think they look great anywhere).

So whatever kind of doll you have, why not knit them something completely unique.

For beepbeep designs:

http://beepbeepdesigns.blogspot.com/

http://www.etsy.com/shop/beepbeep?ref=em

http://www.windthebobbinup.co.uk/

http://folksy.com/shops/beepbeep

http://www.beepbeepdesigns.co.uk/minis/

http://www.beeptwo.com/

bitstobuy meets beepbeep designs for 12th scale minature knitting

Some of our customers have already made the connection!  Beepbeep designs is my daughter, and we share the hobby of miniature knitting.  I tend to stick with the dolls house items, and amongst other things Anna knits and designs for bjd (ball jointed dolls).  They are both 12th scale, but the dimensions are slightly differerent, and the styles vary - dolls house garments are more traditional but bjd tiny designs are cuter and more for little girls.

We don't live very close togther but when we manage to meet up there are always plenty of knitting related activities to share!

For bitstobuy:

www.bitstobuy.co.uk

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/bitstobuy/m.html?item=130635275930&sspagename=STRK%3AMESELX%3AIT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649&_trksid=p4340.l2562

For beepbeep designs:

http://beepbeepdesigns.blogspot.com/

http://www.etsy.com/shop/beepbeep?ref=em

http://www.windthebobbinup.co.uk/

http://folksy.com/shops/beepbeep

http://www.beepbeepdesigns.co.uk/minis/

http://www.beeptwo.com/

Pukifee bjd knitted sweater for winter 12th scale

My daughter makes some lovely tiny garments for ball-jointed-dolls.  These are basically 1:12 scale, the same as 12th scale dolls house, but have a much larger head, which can make it a bit difficult to make removable clothing, but she seems to have got it sorted!

I love this yoked patterned sweater and leggings, shown on her Pukifee.  I believe that the pattern and possibly ready knitted garments will soon be making an appearance in her Etsy store http://www.etsy.com/shop/beepbeep?ref=em

A happy miniature knitting Christmas!

Tiny tiny Christmas knitted stockings for the dolls house.

www.bitstobuy.co.uk

Miniature knitting is not just for Christmas....

I thought I would list some Christmassy miniature knitting.  All these are dolls house size 12th scale, so the tea cosy is about one inch high, and the stockings and Santa toy are both about 1 1/2 inches high.

Perfect for the seasonal dolls house, or to accessorise other 6 inch dolls such as bjd, Kelly, Strawberry Shortcake and so on.

Patterns are available in the Christmas knitting book, from the webpage shop.

www.bitstobuy.co.uk



Christmas is coming

I have tried most crafts in my time, but knitting is my favourite hobby and I just have to knit all the time. I long ago got tired of garments which never seemed to turn out just as I wanted, although I sometimes get tempted by socks and all the lovely patterns on Ravelry.

I have found my niche with miniature knitting (dolls house scale).  I began designing little patterns, which I sold through my website, and developed the business into kits (so customers don't have to buy large amounts of yarn they won't use), books of patterns, yarn and needles suitable for my patterns, also some ready knitted garments.

Knitting isn't popular during the summer, and most of the business is done in the run-up to Christmas, especially with the little ready made sweaters.  Cardigans and anything with colourwork are especially popular.

So at this time of year I spend the evening in front of the TV making little garments - I can usually do one in an evening.  I sell them on ebay  and they go quite well, although I know this is because I don't charge much for them.  I justify it by saying that it is a hobby and I am not in it for the money, and hopefully it also provides some advertising for the webpage.  And I love doing it!

This is a few I have around at the moment

Did I mention that this is just a few???

Dress up your dolls and dolls house for Halloween

Anna is selling lots of knitted clothes and related items for Halloween, suitable for bjd but also some will fit dolls house dolls too.  Check out her store at
http://www.etsy.com/shop/beepbeep?ref=pr_shop_more

Hallowe'en knitting patterns for bjd

Anna has just published her new book of knitting patterns for tiny bjd, Lati Yellow and Pukifee size.

they are lovely seasonal patterns perfect for dressing a tiny bjd for Hallowe'en, including pumpkin, a pumpkin hat, witches hat, cloak and treat bag!  Pretty and very unusual.  Available now from http://www.etsy.com/shop/beepbeep?ref=pr_shop_more

Christmas is here!

My new book of Christmas patterns for the doll's house is now available.

All new miniature knitting patterns for the holiday season, easy to knit using 2 ply yarn and 2 mm knitting needles. 



Patterns included are:

• Wreath decoration
• Garland
• Christmas stockings
• Father Christmas outfit
• Mother Christmas outfit
• Santa hat
• Pixie outfit
• Toddler dress
• Child's sweater and pleated skirt
• Adult sweater
• Santa toy
• Stained glass windows blanket
• Christmas pudding tea cosy

Available from ebay or the webpage, or contact me for details.

www.bitstobuy.co.uk

New collection of bjd knitting patterns for the summer

Anna's new e-booklet of bjd knitting patterns is now available:

Absolutely gorgeous patterns for the summer for your tiny bjd, Lati Yellow size. 
Available from her on Etsy

http://www.etsy.com/listing/76957837/summer-sun-knitting-pattern-ebook-for

And I believe she is currently working on the winter collection, so more patterns to come soon.

www.bitstobuy.co.uk

Lots of knitting patterns for bjd, lati yellow, pukifee and other tiny dolls

I have decided to concentrate on dolls house scale knitting patterns and have passed over designing tiny bjd patterns to my daughter Anna.  She has so many of her own lovely ideas that it was a shame to be in competition and she understands the collection of these tiny dolls, and appropriate designs, much better than I do.
She is putting together several lovely collections of designs, and the first booklet is now available.

More details can be found on her blog
http://beepbeepdesigns.blogspot.com/
She is selling it as an ebook on Folksy
http://www.etsy.com/listing/73897449/brilliant-basics-knitting-pattern-ebook
also on Ravelry
http://www.ravelry.com/
Where her designer's name is JaneUK
Here's looking forward to the next collection!

http://www.bitstobuy.co.uk/

Dolls house and bjd knitting patterns measurements

There are so many tiny dolls out there and I am being asked all the time which dolls my patterns fit.  It can be difficult to know without having the doll in front of me, but I have spent some time gathering together measurements and am fairly confident now about sizing.  My own doll is a Doll Family JoJo (how I would love to have a Lati Yellow) which is a fairly average tiny doll size.  As knitted garments are so stretchy anyway they adapt fairly well to most tiny doll sizes.  All my basic patterns will fit 5 to 6" (13 to 15 cm) dolls house dolls including Heidi Ott, also Pippa, Dawn and Kelly.  Those patterns which are either specially designed for larger heads, or have a front opening such as a cardigan will fit 5 to 7" bjds  (13 to 18 cm) such as American Girl, Rosen Lied Monday child, Lati Yellow, Pukifee, Bobobie Tiny, Ellery Kish and JoJo.  They fit but look oversized on smaller 4 to 5" (10 to 13 cm) PukiPuki, Lati White, Yoshi, and Hujoo baby, although I have adapted patterns and knitted specially for these sizes.  I also have some patterns for dolls house child dolls such as the Heidi Ott children, which are 4" (10cm) tall.
Hope that helps!

http://www.bitstobuy.co.uk/