Little Donkey Hooded Sweater

Silly Season was the perfect excuse to have some fun with this Donkey sweater.  A stocking stitch body and moss stitch cuffs and collar means this cutie won’t take long to knit.  The real magic is in the long flowing mane, created using tassels, and there’s a handy pouch pocket in the front for storing carrots.  But my favourite element to this design, the ears, adorable!

This would make a great nativity costume for a little one, or just an extra funky Christmas sweater.

The pattern is written to fit chest sizes 53 – 73.5cm which is approx. 1-11 years old.

To knit this you will need:

• Stylecraft, Life DK (75% acrylic, 25% wool, 100g/298 m) in Grey, Silver Grey and Charcoal
• 3.25mm needles
• 4mm needles
• 4mm crochet hook (for mane)
• Locking stitch markers
• Tapestry needle

I look forward to seeing your finished projects.

Happy Knitting,

Piggy Nose Surprise, Last minute gift knitting

Take a break from time-consuming, intricate gift knitting to make a speedy stocking filler that’s guaranteed to put smiles on your friends’ faces.

This might look like a simple stocking stitch mug hug, but it has a special secret on the bottom is a pink snout, so that as you drink, you’re transformed into a perfect piggy :)

You will get quite a few mug hugs out of one 100g ball (or you could stash bust).

To make this you will need:

• Stylecraft Life DK (75% acrylic, 25% wool) Rose
• 3.25mm DPN’s
• Mug (circumference approx. 27cm)
• Pink Felt
• Pink sewing thread and needle

I would love to see your finished projects,

Happy Knitting,

Sparkle Christmas Tree Socks

Fancy some festive socks?  You have found some.  My passion for beading continues with these fabulous beaded socks with a lace Christmas Tree motif.  The Beads delicately highlight the pretty tree pattern that’s knitted into the fabric, and their metallic shade beautifully complements the rich red yarn with the golden sparkles in it.

The beads are applied with my favourite bead knitting method using a crochet hook, instructions are included with the pattern.

The pattern is written in four sizes to fit foot circumference 21 (23, 25.5, 27.5) cm.

To knit these socks you will need:

• Old Maiden Aunt, 4ply sock yarn (75% superwash merino wool, 20% nylon, 5% stalling, 100g/366m) One skein in Lip Gloss.
• 2.5mm DPN’s or needles to work in the round
• 0.75mm crochet hook (for beading)
• 96 Debbie Abrahams Size 6, seed beading colour 601
• Stitch markers
• Darning needle

I look forward to seeing your finished projects.

Happy Knitting,

Cute Knit for a Deer One

Who can resist a little person in a cute knit? Not me!  I am a tiny bit addicted to reindeers this year, you may have seen one or two pop up in some of my designs.  I was looking for a way to add a touch of festive to a simple sweater and it hit me….. REINDEER.

This cute sweater is a classic drop shoulder construction, worked from the bottom up.  The pockets are worked separately, you can either work them using the intarsia method. Or if you fancy giving swiss darning (or duplicate stitch as it sometimes known) a try, then this is the perfect project for you.

The pattern is written to fit chest sizes 53 – 73.5cm, which is approx. 12 months to 11 years.

To knit this you will need:

• King Cole Merino Blend DK (100% wool, 50g/112m) in Copper
• 3.25mm needles
• 4mm needles
• Darning needle
• Locking stitch markers

You can find the pattern inside issue 141 of Simply Knitting magazine.

As always I would love to see your finished projects.

Happy Knitting,

Festive Flower Pots

I am always looking for new things and new ways to yarn bomb the everyday objects around the house.  The silly season is the perfect opportunity to take things to a new level of daft, all in the name of Christmas!

Dressed up in their festive finery they’ll look just fabulous on a windowsill or table, planted with a small conifer or poinsettia (what a great gift!)

I designed these festively themed flower pot covers for Simply Knitting magazine and you can find the pattern inside issue 139.

For the Santa pot you will need:

• James C Brett, Twinkle DK (97% acrylic, 3% polyester, 100g/300m) Red
• Stylecraft , Special DK (100% acrylic, 100g/295m) Black
• Oddment of Gold DK

For the Snowman pot you will need:

• Patons, Merino extrafine DK (100% wool, 50g/120m) White and Black
• Oddment of orange DK
• Stuffing
• Buttons

For both:

• 3.25mm DPN’s
• Black 13cm  flowerpots

As always I would love to see your finished projects,

Happy Knitting,

It’s Alive! Frankenstein Sweater for your little monster

It is that time of year again folks, where I dust off my spooky imagination and get to have some really silly fun in the name of being ‘seasonal’.

Over the years I have designed a number of Halloween collections for Simply Knitting magazine, but this year it is just one project….

Frankenstein Sweater (isn’t this young man just the coolest model ever?)

This super cute drop shoulder sweater is not only for Halloween, I am sure your little monster will want to wear this sweater well beyond the scary season.

Those of you who are not new to my work, will know that I like my designs to be playful, yet simple to achieve. There are charts for the hair and eyes, which are worked using the intarsia method.  But fear not, you could easily work these using duplicate stitch (or swiss darning), which would produce a great 3D effect for the features. The mouth and tongue are worked separately and sewn on the front at the end.

The pattern is written for chest sizes 53 – 76 cm (that is approx. 12 months to 11 years).

Skills needed:

• k2tog
• ssk
• ribbing
• picking up stitches
• mattress stitch
• swiss darning or intarsia
• crochet chain or I-cord

Kit needed:

• Stylecraft Special DK yarn in (black, bright green and violet)
• Oddment of red 4ply yarn
• 4mm crochet hook
• darning needle
• 2.5mm needles
• 3.25mm needles
• 4mm needles

You can find the pattern for this sweater inside issue 138 of Simply Knitting Magazine.

 

Still looking for more spooky inspiration, take a look at my Ravelry store,  if you are quick I am running a special offer.  Use the code ‘Socktober’ at the checkout and you will receive a 30% discount on all my patterns!  Happy Knitting, Jane x

Ghost Toy

Knitted eye balls

Black Cat Ear Hair Clips

Crochet Bunting

Black Cup Cosey

 

 

 

 

Oh So Sweet Socks

Sweeeeeeeeet feet!  I designed these butterscotch coloured socks using West Yorkshire Spinners Signature 4ply yarn from their Sweet Shop Collection.

The cable and lace design will keep those of you who have a little sock knitting experience entertained, whilst those sock veterans amongst you will whip through this intuitive pattern with great gusto.

The pattern is written in two sizes, with instructions for adjusting the foot length, with out disrupting the elegant patterning on the foot.

You can find the pattern for these pretty socks inside issue 136 of Simply Knitting Magazine.

Knittens

When mittens are both knitted and crocheted – knittens.

Granny squares make up the body of the knittens and a simple rib is picked up and worked around the top and bottom of the squares to finish them off.  Simple :)

You can find this pattern inside issue 133 of Simply Knitting magazine, have fun with your knittens :)

Aye Aye Cap’N, Perfect Pirate outfit for Baby

Well hello there me hearties,

I remember how difficult is was when my boys were small and we were invited to fancy dress party.  I wish I had thought of this back then!

This two piece set, has some cute knitted pants with the pirate patch on the bottom and a co-ordinating beanie hat with faux eye patch….

 

Back detail

 

Front detail

You can find the pattern for this little outfit inside issue 133 of Simply Knitting magazine.  Happy Knitting,  Jane x

Home Sweet Home, knitted bunting

Hellooooo, welcome back

Today on the blog, I have some knitted bunting which would make a really great house warming gift.

I think this is an excellent travel project (for those of you who are still planning your holiday knitting).  The individual houses are really portable and quick to knit.

The lettering is worked using either lengths of crochet chain or knitted I-cord which is sewn on using the template which is included.  Why not mix it up a bit and put names on the bunting?  You can find the pattern for this bunting inside issue 133 of Simply Knitting magazine.  Happy Knitting,  Jane x

 

Squeaky Clean Bath time Fun

Bath time will be so much more fun with this cute pair of knitted wash mittens.

 

Featured in issue 135 of Simply Knitting magazine, these two were knitted using Rico Design, Essential Cotton DK.  The yarn really did a great job of keeping its shape when wet and they will wash nicely in the washing machine.

I am sure you could adapt the pattern to make other bath time pals, I would love to see what you come up with.

Happy Knitting,  Jane x