Valentine's Day Fun!

Even though the Christmas season won't officially end until Epiphany on January 6, are you getting ready to un-decorate your Christmas tree? Have you carefully wrapped and boxed all your decorations and ornaments until next year? Feeling a little depressed about the end of all the holiday cheer? Well, why not work on a very simple, little Valentine project that's sure to please!

Yes! It's a little heart box, about 4 and 1/2 inches wide and about 2 inches tall. 

All you need are size US 8 double-pointed needles, a skein of red or dark pink or whatever color you'd like of 100% wool yarn (NOT superwash!) and a set of nesting heart cookie cutters like these from Wilton, ranging in size from 4 1/4 inches, 3 3/4 inches, 3 1/2 inches and 2 1/2 inches. My set actually has even smaller cutters, but I don't need those for this project. You won't really need the biggest one, either.
Other items necessary are a yarn needle and a bit of white yarn or embroidery floss. Because the heart box will have a nice, large space for embroidery, you might want to sketch out your design on water-soluble embroidery stabilizer first, then pin the design to the top portion of the box.

I sketched this rough little design on my embroidery stabilizer, using the heart cookie cutter as a template for size. Mine is based on an embroidery design from the JF Ingalls stamping catalog from 1886. All the designs are in the public domain. John Governale scanned all the images in for use, which are also in the public domain. Take a look here. You will get lots of great ideas! Remember though, always reserve the right to change your design as you go along ... Be sure you use BOILING (not just hot) water to remove the stabilizer!

So, are you ready?? Let's begin!

Knitted/Felted Valentine Heart Box
 by Anita M. Wheeless
Copyright 2013 Anita M. Wheeless
All Rights Reserved

Please read through all the directions first, just in case there's something you don't understand. Feel free to email me if you have any questions or hesitations! 

You will actually make four (4) pieces ... the top heart shape and the bottom heart shape are the same; however, the rest of the lid portion is different from the rest of the bottom of the box. Let's start with just the heart shapes.

You will be knitting back and forth on just two needles for these, but I like to use the double-pointed needles, anyhow.

Use any method you'd like to cast on 6 stitches.

Row 1: purl 1, increase (purling front and back), purl 4 (7 stitches in all)

Row 2: Knit 1, increase (knitting front and back), knit 5 (8)

Row 3: Purl 1, increase, purl 6 (9)

Row 4: Knit 1, increase, knit 7 (10)

Row 5: Purl

After you've worked to this point, cut the yarn and set this piece aside on its needle. You'll use it again in a minute. Taking a new needle, repeat the directions above; however, this time, when you've reached row 5, don't cut the yarn, instead, knit row 6 and when you've come to the end of it, pick up the other piece that you had worked and knit those 10 stitches on the same needle. You will now have two little bumps of the heart on one needle. Yes, there is a little hole or maybe two at the dip in the heart. Don't worry! This heart is easy to mend! You can see to that later, when you've finished the rest.

For now, let's continue making the heart.

Row 7: purl

Row 8: Knit

Row 9: Purl

Row 10: k1, slip, slip, knit, k14, k2together, k1

Row 11: p1, p2tog, p12, p2tog through the back loop, p1

Row 12: k1, ssk, k10, k2tog, k1

Row 13: p1, p2tog, p8, p2tog through the back loop, p1

Row 14: k1, ssk, k6, k2tog, k1

Row 15: p1, p2tog, p4, purl2tog through the back loop, p1

Row 16: k1, ssk, k2, k2tog, k1

Row 17: p1, p2tog, p2tog through the back loop, p1

Row 18: K1, ssk, k1

Thread a yarn needle with the same color yarn and gather the remaining three stitches onto it. Pull tightly and knot off. You can take small stitches with the yarn to close up any holes in the heart. Make another heart in just the same way. Now you'll have a heart for the top of the box and one for the bottom.

Let's finish the top of the box (the lid) ...

Using any method you'd like, cast on 42 stitches onto a double-pointed needle. Divide these 42 by knitting 14 onto each of three, double-pointed needles.

Round 1: Knit

Round 2: Knit

Round 3: Purl

Round 4: Purl

Bind off, purlwise.

Using the same color yarn and the yarn needle, securely stitch this piece to the sides of the heart, making sure to follow the shape as you stitch. Close up any gaps or remaining holes. This will be the lid of the box. You can set it aside for now.

Now for the Bottom of the Box:

Using two strands held together, and any method you'd like, cast on 42 stitches onto a double-pointed needle. Divide these 42 by knitting 14 onto each of three, double-pointed needles.

Rounds 1-15: Knit

Round 16: Purl

Bind off, purlwise.

Fold the piece over so that you've doubled it. Now, stitch this piece securely to the remaining heart shape. This will be the bottom and sides of the heart box. I like to use two strands held together to make it very stiff and sturdy. In fact, if you'd like, you could use two strands held together for the entire box. Again, be sure to close up any gaps or holes. Now, you're ready to felt!

Felting:

Put your pieces in a zippered lingerie bag and put this in your washing machine, along with a few tennis balls or jeans or other item that won't give off lint (don't use towels!) ... set the washer for the smallest load and the hottest water ... and the MOST agitation. You should set a timer for increments of five minutes and go back and check on your pieces. Once they are felted pretty well (no stitch marks remaining or, if there are stitches showing, they should only just show faintly and, if possible, the stitches are adding to the decorative nature of the box), take the pieces out, rinse them under warm water and press into a towel to dry. NOW, take the cookie cutters and shape your wet felted pieces into the cookie cutters. Use the larger cutter for the box top and use the cutter along the outside. Place a smaller cutter inside the box top, as well. The bottom really only needs a cookie cutter inside to help shape it. Remember, wet felt is a lot like wet clay. Feel free to pull it, stretch it and mold it into the shape you want. Allow the cutters to stay in and around the heart-box pieces until completely dry, which may take a day or two.

Decorating:

When your pieces are completely dry, you'll see that the box top is the perfect little canvas for embroidery! Choose your design and, if you're using stabilizer, pin it to the top. I used two strands of floss held together and worked a chain stitch outline, surrounded by a series of French knots. The inside flower is made of a few daisy stitches. Experiment! 

VOILA: Your box is finished ... now, all you have to do is fill it with a wonderful surprise!

Halloween Is Almost Here!

Wow! Time has been marching along while I wasn't looking! I can't believe that today is October 20 already! The trees are beautiful now, boasting reds and golds with greens still mixed in ... and the sky has been that special, cloudless blue that only comes when there's a chilly breeze that seems to sweep everything clean.
It's time to break out the apple cider and the doughnuts! Make oatmeal cookies and pumpkin pies. Take long, quiet walks in the park. Start those knitting projects you've been thinking about. Gather up all the good books you can find and prepare to settle in for breezy days and chilly nights.
As for patterns, maybe you'll finally think about making something whimsical this year ... why not start with some of my simple fall designs? Here are two free patterns perfect for fall:

The Felted Pumpkin In-The-Round

This free pattern is a super-easy, quick knit ... and a great pattern to start with if you've not tried knitting in the round before. Felting, of course, melts away any mistakes! Click here to go to the pattern.

The Felted Thanksgiving Turkey

This is another free pattern from the Mummble-Jummble2 archives! He's kind of rough around the edges, but a very fun, quick knit in the round. His tail, however, is knit back and forth. Click here to go the pattern.

Here are a few more seasonal patterns, available at The Pattern Box:

 Gray Squirrel  Pattern

Click here for the Gray Squirrel. The pattern is only $2.50 and provides all the directions for knitting, felting, stuffing, string jointing and embroidery tips!

Spooky Tree Pattern

Click here for the free Spooky Tree Pattern

Scaredy Cat

The Scaredy Cat pattern is sure to liven up your Halloween table! His body and head are one piece (knitted in the round, so no seams!) His tail, legs and ears are knit separately. His legs are attached by string jointing, so he can move. At $2.50, this cat design is really not so scary, after all! Click here for more information.

Teapot and Tea Cups

As the chilly weather takes over, why not enjoy a pretend cup of tea with this easy-to-knit and felt teapot? Don't forget to knit up the free tea cups and saucers to complete the tea service! Click here for more information.

Friendly Ghost

This little ghost is knit completely in the round, then felted in the washing machine. After he's dry, simple embroidery stitches make him come to life! More information can be found here.

The Pattern Box Got a Face Lift!

The house is a mess. Papers and clip-art books litter the family room. I haven't cooked a meal in weeks. BUT the newly designed and renovated The Pattern Box was launched around midnight this morning! Please take a moment to visit. I think you'll be glad you did! There are still a few things missing ... some dolls and a few free patterns; a couple of item descriptions; the tips/techniques page; and a few more clip-art decorations. I'll get to those in the next few weeks.

Since I opened The Pattern Box in June of 2008, I had envisioned a website that was fun, colorful and easy to navigate, while incorporating kind of an old-fashioned feeling. I tried my best, but with my limited abilities and time, I ended up with a hodge-podge of over-sized photos and hard-to-read fonts! Yet, I reminded myself, the site was up and it was working. That was good enough.Over the years; however, it became a very small dream that, one day, I'd get to see my website the way I knew it could be ... SO ... I want to publicly thank my very-talented son (okay, and I want to brag about him a little bit, too) ... who used his computer savvy and his graphic-arts genius to re-design my website and create all the fabulous elements that pull it together.
Thank you, Kent! (BIG HUG) It's exactly what I wanted!!

That Was Easy!

Sophie discovered an easy way to get a treat!

Join Me for the Christmas Elf Class

Do you need a little Christmas? You're in luck! Cottage Yarn is having Christmas in July classes and guess what??? I will be teaching the Christmas Elf! Participants will receive not only the pattern, but the yarn, too! The two-part class will take place on Thursday evenings, July 12 and July 19, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Call Cottage Yarn for more information and to sign up (704) 545-8440. Hope to see you there!

Only Six Months to Christmas!

A sneak peak at my new Christmas Elf design

I know summer is just beginning ... but that's the perfect time to get started on quick, little Christmas gifts!
New this year: The Christmas Elf.
My late mother-in-law was a big believer in putting out a ton of her vintage Christmas elves. This one is knitted in the round, then felted in the washing machine. It only takes a few hours from start to finish!

 Everybody loves the Gingerbread Man ... why not knit/felt my little guy and give the book along with it?

Here's a great beverage cozy with a built-in coaster! Perfect for highballs and other festive drinks, the design is a modified quilted lattice stitch with beads.

Stay tuned!

Aunt Mug's Bed Jacket

With my fascination of vintage (or just plain old) stuff, I searched around on eBay one day and came up with this pattern booklet. It doesn't have a copyright date on it, but from the looks of it, I'd say maybe '30s? or '20s? It's hard to tell. I love the baby clothes ... and the bed jackets! I wonder why bed jackets ever went out of fashion? Maybe people don't do enough sitting up in bed with their morning coffees and newspapers anymore!
At any rate, my wonderful Aunt Mug is scheduled for hip-replacement surgery in June ... on her 81st birthday, no less! So, I decided I'd knit her a bed jacket for her stay in the hospital and the rehab facility ... and why not for home, too, when she gets back?
It was a super easy pattern to follow once I figured out what contemporary size needles and yarn would be equivalent to those listed. I even tried to find vintage skeins of Patons Princess yarn, but couldn't come up with the right thing.
I settled on a US size 10 1/2 needle for the old UK size 1 needle ... and a US size 7 for the UK size 7. They seemed to match the photographs fairly well. I used Cascade Pima Cotton yarn in sort of a seafoam color. I had to teach myself how to crochet the shell edging ... and, as my good friend and knitter/crocheter/embroiderer extraordinare suggested, I really should have doubled the yarn as I worked the shells so that it would end up as heavy as the jacket, itself. Sigh. I ran out of time and left them as they were, only doubling the yarn on the cuffs.

 The old pattern booklet.

 This is what it looks like ...

This is what it's supposed to look like.

All in all, not bad. I hope she likes it ... and that it actually will be a useful gift. (I'm also sending the miniseries of Little Dorrit for when she's sitting in bed, wearing her bed jacket and sipping coffee ... or tea, perhaps.)