More Mitten knitting patterns!

I don't seem to have timed these for the right time of year, but I've been on a bit of a mitten knitting pattern fest just lately.

Here are some more character mittens, doll and clown this time:

Doll and Clown Puppet Mittens

I couldn't resist making some frilly and sparkly mittens for a little princess:

Princess Mittens

The designs are available in three sizes, to fit children from two to seven years of age.

The patterns are available from Ravely Or Love Knitting.

New fun knitting pattern for Child Animal Puppet Mittens

Here is a pattern I have been working on this winter:

 

These mittens are available in three animal designs, and each one is in three sizes to fit children aged 2 to 7 years.

 

Will keep little fingers warm or can just be used to put on a puppet show!

 

The pattern is available from Ravelry or LoveKnitting, and is quick and easy to knit with scraps of DK yarn.

 

 

 

 

Flowerpot scarecrow

Today I helped to make a flowerpot scarecrow.  It took 3 hours but was great fun to do!

 

UPDATE:  We won first prize in the group category.  All the hard work was worth it!

My granny square blanket

I have spotted a number of Pinterest boards lately with lovely designs of granny square blankets.  This reminded me that I made something similar in the early 1970's when for some reason I had lots of oddments of yarn around and just wanted something to fill the evenings in front of the TV (nothing changes!).
I rummaged around in my blanket box and there it was.

I remember trying to sort the colours so that I went light, medium, dark then repeat, well sort of  'ish. 
It did have some use but the trouble with knitted blankets is that they are very heavy, and not that comfortable to sleep under.  And of course impossible to wash. 
I remember visiting my dear old mum and the bed we were put in had several blankets made of knitted squares, and it was like sleeping under a plank, but that is another story.
In fact I made two much the same.  The other one was given to my mother-in-law and when we were sorting out her house it went to the charity shop!  I hope someone treasures it. This design was not so popular then as it is now, perhaps it is now 'retro'.
Of course I just crocheted round and round and today's designs are much more appealing, with lovely colour combinations and crochet patterns.  I expect it will go back into the blanket box for now.

Free miniature knitting pattern - Dolls house family part 3

I designed this pattern for a dolls house family because I thought it would be fun! OK not one for miniature collectors this one, but ideal to knit for a first dolls house for a toddler or small child. The figures are in 1:12 scale, so all the usual 12th scale garments will fit.

Here is the final part of the pattern which gives instructions for the child dolls.

DOLLS HOUSE FAMILY MINIATURE KNITTING PATTERN - CHILD DOLLS

Copyright Helen Cox 2012

Materials required: A pair of 2mm (size 14) knitting needles. A small ball of 2ply flesh coloured or cream yarn and a small ball of 2ply white yarn or 20 crochet cotton for the underclothes. Two black beads for eyes for each doll and scraps of yarn for hair. Polyester stuffing.

Measurements: The child dolls are about 4 tall. All the 1:12 scale garments in the bitstobuy range will fit the dolls.

Abbreviations: st = stitch; sts = stitches; k = knit; p = purl; ss = stocking stitch (one row knit, one row purl); inc = increase by working twice into next stitch; dec = decrease by working next two sts together; turn = turn knitting round and work back along sts just knitted; k2tog = knit 2 sts together; p2tog = purl 2 sts together; [ ] = repeat instructions in brackets.

CHILD BODY AND HEAD

Cast on 12 sts.

Ss 12 rows.

Next row:  k2, inc in next st, k6, inc in next st, k2 (14 sts)

Starting with a p row, ss 3 rows

Next row:  [k2tog] 7 times (7 sts)

Starting with a p row ss 3 rows.

Next row:  inc once in every st (14 sts)

Starting with a p row, ss 9 rows.

Next row:  [k2tog] 7 times (7 sts)

Next row:  inc purlwise once in every st (14 sts)

Ss 9 rows.

Next row:  [p2tog] 7 times (7 sts)

Ss 3 rows.

Next row:  inc purlwise once in every st (14 sts)

Ss 3 rows.

Next row:  p2, p2tog, p6, p2tog, p2 (12 sts)

Ss 12 rows.

Cast off.

To make up body and head:

Do not press. With right sides together, fold in half and seam down each side. Turn right side out and insert a small amount of stuffing. Close bottom seam.

ARM (Make two )

Cast on 10 sts.

Ss 8 rows.

Next row:  k, decreasing one st at each end of row (8 sts).

Starting with a p row ss 5 rows.

Next row:  [k2tog] 4 times (4 sts)

Next row:  inc purlwise once in every st (8 sts)

Ss 4 rows.

Break yarn, leaving a long end, and gather through sts.  Fasten off.

To make up:

Do not press. With wrong sides together, fold in half and seam on right side with small stitches, inserting a small amount of stuffing at the same time. Leave top open. Sew into place on body.

LEG (Make two)

Cast on 3 sts.

Next row:  Inc once in every st (6 sts)

Next row:  p

Next row:  [k2, inc in next st] twice (8 sts)

Starting with a p row ss 3 rows.

To turn heel:

Next row: k1, turn

Next row: p

Next row: k2, turn

Next row: p

Next row: k3, turn

Next row: p

Next row: k to end

Next row: p1, turn

Next row: k

Next row: p2, turn

Next row: k

Next row: p3, turn

Next row:  k

Starting with a p row ss 7 rows.

Next row:  k, increasing one st at each end of row (10 sts).

Starting with a p row ss 11 rows.

Cast off.

To make up:

Do not press. With wrong sides together, fold in half and seam on right side with small stitches, inserting a small amount of stuffing at the same time. Leave top open. Sew into place on body.

Finishing:

Make hair as follows:

Girl  – cut lengths of yarn about 12 inches (30 cm) long and sew into place on head along parting.   Tie girls hair into bunches and secure at side of head, trim or make into plaits.  Tie red yarn around plaits as ribbon.

Boy – Cut lengths of yarn about 2 inches (5 cm) long and sew into place on parting.  Sew long loops at front of head for fringe.  Trim to length.

Sew tiny black beads to face for eyes.

KNICKERS

Cast on 14 sts. Work in k1, p1 rib for 2 rows.

Next row: Working in k, inc 1 st at each end of row (16 sts)

Beginning with a p row, ss 9 rows.

Continue in ss, dec one st at each end of the next 6 rows (4 sts).

Ss 4 rows.

Continue in ss, inc one st at each end of the next 6 rows (16 sts).

Ss 9 rows.

Next row: Working in p, dec 1 st at each end of row (14 sts)

Work in k1, p1 rib for 2 rows. Cast off in rib.

To make up:

With right sides together fold in half and join along the side seams. Turn right side out and press very gently with a cool iron.

 

BOXER SHORTS

Cast on 14 sts. Work in k1, p1 rib for 2 rows.

Next row:  Working in k, inc 1 st at each end of row (16 sts)

Beginning with a p row, ss 11 rows.

Next row:  Cast off 4 sts, k to end (12 sts)

Next row:  Cast off 4 sts purlwise, p to end (8 sts)

Continue in ss, dec one st at each end of the next 2 rows (4 sts).

Ss 4 rows.

Continue in ss, inc one st at each end of the next 2 rows (8 sts).

Next row:  Cast on 4 sts, k to end (12 sts)

Next row:  Cast on 4 sts, p to end (16 sts)

Ss 11 rows.

Next row:  Working in p, dec 1 st at each end of row (14 sts)

Work in k1, p1 rib for 2 rows.  Cast off in rib.

To make up:

With right sides together fold in half and join along the side seams.  Turn right side out and press very gently with a cool iron.

(My apologies for the formatting of the above pattern, I have problems copying and pasting successfully into Blogger!)

 

The pattern is also available as a kit from the website www.bitstobuy.co.uk, giving all the yarn etc needed to complete the whole family.

 

Has anyone tried the patterns?  What did you think?

The hazards of baby-led weaning and pasta in green spinach sauce

'I want MORE!!!!!'

Free miniature knitting pattern - Dolls house family part 2

 

I designed this pattern for a dolls house family because I thought it would be fun! OK not one for miniature collectors this one, but ideal to knit for a first dolls house for a toddler or small child. The figures are in 1:12 scale, so all the usual 12th scale garments will fit.

Here is the pattern for the mother doll, the others I will be listing on the blog soon.

DOLLS HOUSE FAMILY MINIATURE KNITTING PATTERN - MOTHER DOLL

Copyright Helen Cox 2012

Materials required: A pair of 2mm (size 14) knitting needles. A small ball of 2ply flesh coloured or cream yarn and a small ball of 2ply white yarn or 20 crochet cotton for the underclothes. Two black beads for eyes and scraps of yarn for hair. Polyester stuffing.

Measurements: The doll is 5½ to 6 inches tall. All the 1:12 scale garments in the bitstobuy range will fit the doll.

Abbreviations: st = stitch; sts = stitches; k = knit; p = purl; ss = stocking stitch (one row knit, one row purl); inc = increase by working twice into next stitch; dec = decrease by working next two sts together; turn = turn knitting round and work back along sts just knitted; k2tog = knit 2 sts together; p2tog = purl 2 sts together; [ ] = repeat instructions in brackets.

MOTHER BODY AND HEAD

Cast on 12 sts.  Ss 4 rows.

Next row:  k2, k2tog, k4, k2tog, k2 (10 sts)

Next row:  p

Next row:  k2, k2tog, k2, k2tog, k2 (8 sts)

Starting with a p row ss 3 rows.

Next row:  k2, inc in next st, k2, inc in next st, k2 (10 sts)

Next row:  p

Next row:  k2, inc in next st, k4, inc in next st, k2 (12 sts)

Next row:  p

Next row:  k2, inc in next st, k6, inc in next st, k2 (14 sts)

Starting with a  p row ss 3 rows.

Next row:  [k2tog] 7 times (7 sts)

Starting with a  p row ss 3 rows.

Next row:  inc once in every st (14 sts)

Starting with a p row, ss 11 rows.

Next row:  [k2tog] 7 times (7 sts)

Next row:  inc purlwise once in every st (14 sts)

Ss 11 rows.

Next row:  [p2tog] 7 times (7 sts)

Ss 3 rows.

Next row:  inc purlwise once in every st (14 sts)

Ss 4 rows.

Next row:  k2, k2tog, k6, k2tog, k2 (12 sts)

Next row:  p

Next row:  k2, k2tog, k4, k2tog, k2 (10 sts)

Next row:  p

Next row:  k2, k2tog, k2, k2tog, k2 (8 sts)

Starting with a p row ss 3 rows.

Next row:  k2, inc in next st, k2, inc in next st, k2 (10 sts)

Next row:  p

Next row:  k2, inc in next st, k4, inc in next st, k2 (12 sts)

Starting with a p row, ss 4 rows.

Cast off purlwise.

To make up body and head:

Do not press. With right sides together, fold in half and seam down each side. Turn right side out and insert a small amount of stuffing. Close bottom seam.

ARM (Make two )

Cast on 10 sts.

Ss 10 rows.

Next row: k, decreasing one st at each end of row (8 sts).

Starting with a p row ss 9 rows.

Next row: [k2tog] 4 times (4 sts)

Next row: inc purlwise once in every st (8 sts)

Ss 4 rows.

Break yarn, leaving a long end, and gather through sts. Fasten off.

To make up:

Do not press. With wrong sides together, fold in half and seam on right side with small stitches, inserting a small amount of stuffing at the same time. Leave top open. Sew into place on body.

LEG (Make two)

Cast on 3 sts.

Next row: Inc once in every st (6 sts)

Next row: p

Next row: [k2, inc in next st] twice (8 sts)

Starting with a p row ss 3 rows.

To turn heel:

Next row: k1, turn

Next row: p

Next row: k2, turn

Next row: p

Next row: k3, turn

Next row: p

Next row: k to end

Next row: p1, turn

Next row: k

Next row: p2, turn

Next row: k

Next row: p3, turn

Next row: k

Starting with a p row ss 13 rows.

Next row: k, increasing one st at each end of row (10 sts).

Starting with a p row ss 15 rows.

Cast off.

To make up:

Do not press. With wrong sides together, fold in half and seam on right side with small stitches, inserting a small amount of stuffing at the same time. Leave top open. Sew into place on body.

Finishing:

Make hair as follows:   cut lengths of yarn about 12 inches (30 cm) long and sew into place on head along parting.  Tie mothers hair back  and secure at back of neck, and twist upwards into chignon and secure. 

Sew tiny black beads to face for eyes.

KNICKERS

Cast on 14 sts. Work in k1, p1 rib for 2 rows.

Next row:  Working in k, inc 1 st at each end of row (16 sts)

Beginning with a p row, ss 9 rows.

Continue in ss, dec one st at each end of the next 6 rows (4 sts).

Ss 4 rows.

Continue in ss, inc one st at each end of the next 6 rows (16 sts).

Ss 9 rows.

Next row:  Working in p, dec 1 st at each end of row (14 sts)

Work in k1, p1 rib for 2 rows.  Cast off in rib.

 

To make up:

With right sides together fold in half and join along the side seams.  Turn right side out and press very gently with a cool iron.

 (My apologies for the formatting of the above pattern, I have problems copying and pasting successfully into Blogger!)

The pattern is also available as a kit from the website www.bitstobuy.co.uk, giving all the yarn etc needed to complete the whole family.