Flutterby Patch

Cosy knitted shoes for babies and teddies

I think global warming must have been and gone because Britain is now being ravaged by a mini ice-age. I'd almost forgotten what snow looked like as we've had very little in recent years, but the feathery flakes started falling before Christmas and everywhere has remained white ever since.

It's bitingly cold outside and so I've had the perfect excuse to stay indoors and knit.

Searching through some very old 1940s patterns that my granny once used I found the sweetest little baby slipper/shoe.

It looked so cute I read the pattern, added a few ideas of my own and knitted a sample. It would have made just the right gift for my friend's new grand-daughter if only I'd been able to find enough yarn of the same colour to knit another shoe!

And so I started again. Pale pink this time with satin ribbon bows as a finishing touch.

No sooner had I finished than a mischievous little bear arrived.

he seemed very interested in the shoes

and decided to try them for size

In he climbed

and slid right down into the toe.

Doesn't he look cosy.

As the sun goes down on another freezingly cold day

I shall remain in my cosy place beside the fire and

knit!

Patterns for the little shoes and tiny teddy are now in my Etsy shop if you fancy knitting either or both. They are done in DK yarn on 2.75mm needles (US size 2). The sole of the shoe measures 10cm (4in) from front to back so would fit a foot of similar length.

From a very cold and icy Britain, until next time,

Eli

Knitted snowman - free pattern

Greetings friends from us all at Flutterby Patch. We've had a very merry time here over the festive season and hope you have too. My little knitted family (you might have seen their patterns in my Etsy shop) have all gathered to wish you a Happy and Peaceful New Year

I thought I would end the old year and start the new one with a 'free' knitting pattern. A couple of days before Christmas I decided that my traditional cake decorations (that I use every year) were looking a bit tired and so I decided to knit some little snowmen.

I secured them on the cake by pushing one end of a cocktail stick into the knitted base and the other end into the cake. They measure approx 3.5ins (9cm) and are made from DK yarn. You will find the knitting instructions at the end of this post.

The poor snowmen grew increasingly worried when their cake grew forever smaller as slices were cut off and eaten.

But kind Tilly came to the rescue. She placed a thread through each of the little hats and hung the snowmen on the Christmas tree out of harms way.

So now the little characters can enjoy the view from high up in the branches.

Meanwhile I'm working on several new knitting patterns for my Etsy shop and receiving plenty of help from my little knitted family. You might recognise this rascal, it is baby Daisy who seems to be hiding her sister's dolly amongst my balls of yarn.

I hope you don't suffer from too many 'helping' hands whilst knitting.

Happy New Year to you all.

Until next time
Eli

 

SNOWMAN PATTERN

You should find this straight forward and easy to follow

All knitting is done with DK yarn (US – light worsted, Australia – 8 ply). You will need a small amount of white and bright shades for sweater, hats and scarves. Use 3.25mm needles (US 3).

The following pattern is for my basic snowman with hat and scarf (sweater instructions come at the end)

Body and head 
Cast on 11 stitches in white and work in stocking stitch.
1. purl
2. increase into every stitch across the row (22st)
3 - 27. stocking stitch starting with a purl row
28. knit 2 stitches together across row.
Break yarn leaving 15cm (6in) tail. Use a tapestry needle to remove stitches onto this tail.

Making up
Starting at the bottom, gather the cast-on edge by catching each stitch and then stitch the seam (this will go at the back). Prepare to stuff the snowman through the gathered top which can be pulled open to allow stuffing to pass through. The firmer you stuff him the fatter he will become. When firm, but not over-stretched, pull the gathering thread to close the head and secure firmly.

Create a head
To create a head you need to firmly tie a length of white yarn around the snowman at row 18 to give him a neck.This will leave 10 rows for the head.

Arms
Cast on 9 stitches in white and work 11 rows in stocking stitch. Break yarn leaving a 15cm (6in) tail. Use a tapestry needle to remove stitches onto this tail. Gather the 9 stitches and use the gathering tail to stitch the arm seam. Before closing the top of the arm push a tiny amount of stuffing into the snowman's hand (you won't require much). Position each arm (see picture) and stitch to the snowman at the shoulders. Catch the wrist to the body with a single stitch.

Hat
Choose a colourful yarn (or two if you want stripes) and cast on 24 stitches. Work 13 rows in stocking stitch starting with a purl row and add your own stripe combination if required. Row 14 - knit 2 stitches together across the row. Break yarn leaving a 15cm (6in) tail. Use a tapestry needle to remove stitches onto this tail. Pull the thread and gather the stitches to form top of hat. Stitch the hat seam. Fit hat on the snowman's head turning up the bottom 3 rows to make a brim (see picture). DON'T stitch on the hat yet as first you must create a face.

Eyes
With the hat fitted on the head decide where you will position the eyes. Remove the hat and stitch eyes with black yarn or embroidery floss. Large French knots make excellent eyes. You can secure the black yarn at the top of the head as it will be hidden under the hat.

Nose
You can embroider a black nose or make an orange nose like mine which is supposed to represent a carrot. I used the following method for the beaks on my penguins and it is quite effective.

Use bright orange yarn and cut off a 6in (15cm) length. Secure a tapestry needle into the arm of your sofa, a cushion (or similar) and wrapping the yarn around the needle, tie a knot in the centre (see picture below).

Tie two more knots pulling each one tightly so that you achieve a 'carrot' shape (see below). Slide the carrot nose from the needle and use the two orange tails to secure it to the snowman's face by passing each one through the head and out at the top.

Mouth
The mouth is simply 4 small running stitches positioned to make a smile.

Scarf
Made from a twisted cord of coloured yarn. Alternatively make a crochet chain.

Once the face is complete you can stitch the hat onto the head. I back-stitched the hat to the head so that the stitches were concealed beneath the turned back brim. Add a bobble/pop-pom to the top if required.

To give the snowman a sweater like the one I made simply knit 6 rows in white and then continue to row 18 in the colour of your choice (striping if necessary). At the end of row 18 break off colour and join white yarn. Continue to the end in white. For the arms knit 8 rows in the sweater colour and 3 rows in white to form the hands.

Wishing you lots of fun with your snowman knitting
Eli

Deep and crisp and even

Greetings friends. I hope by now you are well advanced with your festive preparations.

This little angel that I made the year after I was married puts in an appearance each Christmas. When my children were little they used to wait excitedly each year for her to emerge from the box of trimmings.

Putting her away after Christmas was always difficult and one year the children hid her in a secret place so that she didn't have to live in her box all year. She popped out of her hiding place throughout that year, always with the same cheeky smile. She's a great friend.

This year the little angel is sitting on the mantel with a few other vintage family favourites.

Well folks, if you are one of the people I complained to last week saying that we rarely have snow here in Lakeland I am now feeling rather silly as it has been snowing for several days. Happily, for once, I have completed my Christmas shopping and so now only require the bare essentials.

This was our lane yesterday when husband and daughter decided to walk into town to collect a few bits and pieces (daughter took the camera!)

Can there be a prettier winter scene than one of freshly fallen snow?

When outside is cold and cloaked in white then inside always feels so much more snug and warm don't you think?

When my two willing shoppers reached the town they found the roads relatively quiet (usually traffic is nose to tail at this time of year).

The car park at the supermarket was also quiet.

Many customers had come on foot

or by train

Needless to say, inside the supermarket was as busy as ever with Christmas shoppers.

Once our items were paid for and packed

the journey home could begin.

The sky was heavy with snow.

Down our lane the woolly sheep were munching their lunch

And back at home I had prepared a warming morsel for the two returning travellers.

After lunch, with energy restored, my daughter helped me put the final touches to the decorations.

We have a very high ceiling in our hall and with the help of a fluffy duster on a long stick my daughter was just able to reach the rogue cobwebs that (shame on me) I had failed to remove!

It was my job then to ensure there were no offenders on the chandelier.

I confess we don't have this lit so often these days as we are well aware of the power it wastes!

You might remember I bought a little fir tree a couple of weeks ago that was apparently not fit for purpose. The seller declared it to be too thin and the wrong shape so it would be disposed of. Needless to say I took pity on the little fir and brought it home.

And here it is, standing resplendent in our hall. Recently I inherited my parent's Christmas decorations and so have used these to trim the little tree and doesn't it look colourful.

There were a number of baubles remaining and so these I have places in a pretty glass bowl where they sit gleaming on the hall table.

And so with decorations complete it was time to pack a few gifts and who better to distribute them than Santa Mouse. And here he is waiting patiently in the snow with his sack stuffed full of 'goodies'.

Wishing you all a Very Happy Christmas

Until next time,
Eli