Claire Garland's Blog, page 14

... a little free squirrel

as part of my once a month free pattern aka #freebeefridayknits 

but only free for a day - grab the pattern here - Ravelry



 

A little light squirrel painting...

I had a beautiful wooden box of water colours given to me for my 50th (last July!) - time I got them out...

A bird in the hand...

is always a good thing - especially if it's a free pattern - which it is.... because today it's #freebeefridayknits January! 

Pick up your pattern here - but remember it's only free for a day!

Oh... and Happy Friday!

Happy Christmouse...

...And thank you for all your support and encouragement regarding my knitting and patterns throughout the whole of this year... I'm looking forward to next year's knitting - have ordered and had my yarn already delivered! And there will be more #freebeefridayknits too...
So - a Very Happy Christmas to all of you.... Claire

xx

Mouse pattern here

December -

That's a magic word... must be, because say it and it conjures up and evokes so many glittery and shiny feelings and thoughts of wondrous things.

For this magical month's #freebeefridayknits I've chosen to knit a barn owl - I've seen a few flying around here (my home in Cornwall) and even once saw one perched on a fence right outside my kitchen window, that was truly special.

... I love all owls but this little character is my personal favourite... and what characters they are - I hope I've captured something of it in my homage to... the pattern link is here - Ravelry/dotpebbles

She/ he is knitted all at once - joining on and picking up stitches as you go... I've added a detailed and photographic 'how to make up' section and you could always email me if you get stuck!









 

Woodland Collection

Hello - another month... I do actually like November - I know it brings the cold, damp and dark days but that for me signifies cosy warm fires, warm soups, thick wooly jumpers and family togetherness... and of course the pending suspense that is Christmas... bring in the woods - knit your own for free! - the pattern is here but is only free for a day...

Chunky just got chunkier...

Who isn't in love with the on trend chunky knits - who doesn't love their cloud soft-ness? Let me tell you - your little one-cup-teapot is in for a total treat!





Yarn - I used 1/2 ball Yarn and Colors Urban and 15mm US P Hook

Starting at the top make 3ch

Round 1 1ch, beg with 2nd ch from hook work 6dc (sc) - working either side of 3 ch so that's 3dc (sc) along one side, 3dc (sc) along the other. Place marker
Round 2 2dc (sc) in 1st, 1dc (sc) in next, 2dc (sc) in each next 2, 1dc (sc) in next, 2dc (sc) in last. 10dc (sc)
Round 3 2dc (sc) in 1st, 1dc (sc) in each next 3, 2dc (sc) in each next 2, 1dc (sc) in each next 3, 2dc (sc) in last. 14dc (sc)
Round 4 2dc (sc) in 1st, 1dc (sc) in each next 5, 2dc (sc) in each next 2, 1dc (sc) in each next 5, 2dc (sc) in last. 18dc (sc)

Spout and handle
Round 5 1dc (sc) in each next 9, turn and work in rows on one side as follows:
*Row 1 1ch, 1dc (sc) in each 9, turn

Rows 2, 3 & 4  as Row 1**

Cut yarn and fasten off.

Return to remaining 9 sts, pull yarn through 1st of 9dc (sc) to work the other side as before from * to **

Joining both sides

After working across last row, do not turn but carry on across your first side and then across the second so 1dc (sc) in each next 18 dc (sc). Fasten off

Fancy a fig?

We endulged on these fancy figs on our holidays - the ones I can buy here are not as jammy and sweet but still delicious and so beautiful to look at - objet d'art in themselves - I'm totally inspired by them hence this knitted version!









I used 3.75mm (US 5) straight needles with Drops Bomull-Lin yarn in off-white and embroidered with single strands taken from 6 stranded embroidery thread

Beginning at the stalk end
In MC cast on 5sts
Rows 1-3 Beg. with a p row st st 3 rows
Row 4 inc) K1, kfb 3 times, k1 - 8sts
Row 5 P
Row 6 inc) [k2, kfb] twice, k2 - 10sts
Row 7 P
Row 8 inc) [K1, kfb] 5 times - 15sts
Row 9 P
Row 10 inc) kfb 15 times - 30sts
Rows 11-17 Beg. with a p row st st 7 rows
Row 18 dec) [K4, k2 tog] 5 times - 25sts
Row 19 P
Row 20 dec) [K3, k2 tog] 5 times - 20sts
Row 21 P
Row 22 dec) [K2, k2 tog] 5 times - 15sts
Row 23 P
Row 24 dec) [K1, k2 tog] 5 times - 10sts
Row 25 P2 tog across - 5sts
Cut yarn, thread end through rem 5 sts, pull up and secure - mattress sew up seam stuffing at same time.

Work many short stitches in fig colour shades all over the fruit - there is no particular method as long as each stitch is worked in a similar direction - I think of it similar to machine embroidery only by hand!

Note: this makes a round fig - if you want the effect of a cut fig then push in one side as you work embroidery over it

September = fox

... at least it does here - here's your #freebeefridayknits pattern for this merry month - I do love September even though it means back to early mornings... pattern here by the way

Budgie blank...

Use this simple pattern as a platform to add your own freestyle embroidery to create your own 'knitted' pet budgie.... pop by my @dotpebbles_knits Instagram gallery for more pictures









I used 3.25mmm straight knitting needles with DK cotton yarn such as Scheepjes Catona or Paintbox Yarn, toy filling and 6mm toy eyes (try Ebay)



Beginning at the tail cast on 8sts

Rows 1 - 22 Stocking stitch 22 rows

Row 23 dec) K3, skpo, k3 - 7sts

Row 24 P

Row 25 inc) Kfb, k to last st, kfb - 9sts

Row 26 P1, pfb, p to last 2 sts. pfb, p1 - 11sts

Rows 27 - 32 inc) Rep last 2 rows 3 times  - 23sts

Row 33 inc) Kfb, k to last st, kfb - 25sts

Rows 34-50 Beg. with a purl row, stocking stitch 17 rows

Row 51 Skpo, k9, kfb, k1, kfb, k9, k2 tog

Row 52 dec) P2 tog, p to last 2 sts, p2 tog - 23sts



... short rows to shape the head

Short row 1 K17, with yarn in front sl next st purl-wise onto RH needle, with yarn in back, sl st back onto LH needle, turn (WTk - wrap and turn knit)

Short row 2 P11, with yarn behind sl next st purl-wise onto RH needle, with yarn in front, sl st back onto LH needle, turn (WTp - wrap and turn purl)

Short row 3 K10, W+T

Short row 4 P9, W+T

Short row 5 K8, W+T

Short row 6 P7, W+T

Short row 7 K6, W+T

Short row 8 P5, W+T

Short row 9 K4, W+T

Short row 8 P3, W+T

Short row9 K2, W+T

Short row 8 P1, W+T

End short row K12 sts to end



Row 53 dec) P2 tog 5 times, p3tog, p2 tog 5 times - 7sts

Cast off.



Match then mattress stitch the row ends to join along the front of the body - stuff the body through the open cast off end at the head - at the same times adding the eyes - then mattress join the cast off edge to form the front of the head.

Along this front of head seam work a single long stitch then over that stitch work buttonhole stitch.