It's a Jungle Out There!

Meet the newest addition to The Pattern Box animal patterns!

I have finally written up and taken some photographs of the Giraffe pattern. If you're interested, he (or she!!!) is for sale at The Pattern Box. After purchasing, you can download it right away! Why not turn your own backyard into a jungle this summer and knit the lion and the elephant, too? All are knit in the round on double-pointed needles (size US 8) and then felted in your washing machine. I hope you'll give them a try!

Introducing the Mice on Holiday

These mice are taking a much-needed holiday in the sun after staying inside all winter long! Their bodies and heads are one piece, and knit in the round on size US 8 double-pointed needles. They are super-quick and super easy, but definitely not boring!

You'll find the pattern for sale both on Ravelry and at The Pattern Box website. I hope you'll take the 7-page pattern along on your holiday and give them a try!

Popknits Watermelon Glass Cozies and Napkin Ring Set!

Here's the non-felted version. Just use size US 5 double-pointed needles. One skein of pink Cascade 220 and one skein of green will make 4 glass cozies and 4 napkin rings!

If you'd like a felted version, simply use size US 8 double-pointed needles. Still, it only takes one skein of pink Cascade 22o and one of green to make four glass cozies and four napkin rings.

When I was little (and I'm much bigger now!), my parents belonged to a Saturday evening bridge club. How my best friend AnneMarie and I would look forward to the times when my parents hosted it! All the great snacks we'd have! Bugles! Doo Dads! Twigs! Chipsters! Dry-Roasted Peanuts! Pretzels! and bottles of Coca-Cola! Ah! Yes!
And the way my Mom always set everything up ... the kitchen became the "bar" and highballs with whiskey and ginger ale seemed to be the favorite. Those tall, ice-filled glasses always sported glass cozies. They were store-bought, but they were knit, stretchy and had sparkly threads glittering throughout. They were very festive, indeed!
So, with fond memory of those glass cozies, I came up with a very quick, very easy pattern for knit (or knit, then felted) glass cozies with matching napkin rings in summery, watermelon colors.
Take a look at the Popknits Summer Issue for the free pattern. And remember, the watermelon seeds are duplicate-stitched (or Swiss Darned), so there's no chart to follow and no switching of yarn colors.
I hope you'll give it a try and raise a glass to sweet summer evenings! And bridge parties of long ago!



Duplicate stitch (or Swiss Darning), is so easy! Just look for the V shapes in your stitches. Insert your yarn needle from back to front through the center of a V. Then, as this photo shows, put your needle through the top of the V from right to left. Then, put your needle back down through the center again and pull it out the back. Voila! You've made a stitch right over your other stitch!

Gumball and Cracker Jack Charms!

Looky! Looky! My treasure box arrived! Chock full of odd little charms! Don't you just want to dig in and see what's inside? If you really can't resist, go to eBay and look at all the vintage charms for sale. You won't believe how many there are!

Here's a closer view of some of them. This batch was incredible! Truly a mini wonderland! I just purchased another batch on eBay with over 300 charms in it! I can't wait for it to come!

For awhile now I've been looking through eBay auctions for gumball and Cracker Jack charms. There's just something about them that is fun, happy and totally fascinating! I love them! I could spend hours just sifting through the little things! Even my son, who thought they were the absolute most ridiculous thing I've ever purchased on eBay, couldn't stop sorting through them after they arrived!! Don't they look like an I-Spy game ready to be played? I'm not quite sure what I intend to do with them all, but I know there's a plan brewing somewhere. When the others arrive, including the 20 adjustable rings, I'll be sure to post photos here!

Knitted/Felted Garden Lantern Pattern!

The battery-operated candle inside gives off a lot of light! Hanging a few of these lanterns from tree branches or shepherd's hooks will add a bit of charm to any evening garden party.

This is the "tall" tea light available from battery operated candles online.

I used simple Swiss darning to make colorful designs on the lantern before felting. The free, 7-page pattern gives you all the instructions you'll need. The pattern is a pdf and you can download it here. I hope you enjoy it! As always, if you run into anything troubling about it, jot me an email and I'll get back to you as soon as I can. I hope you're having a wonderful summer so far!

Say, "Hello!" to Cool Cat, Version One

Here's my latest little critter ... I wanted to knit (and felt) a cat that could be done all in one piece, including the arms and legs and tail, and who could sit, as well. So, here he is: Meet Cool Cat, Version One!
The only sewing you have to do is to sew up his bottom and stitch on his ears ... that's it!

Here's a side view. I am working on a smaller version and a larger version. As soon as all three are ready, I'll have the pattern available for sale. I hope you like him!

Old Favorites New Again! Take-Along Sun and Sockless Sock Monkey PDF Versions Now Available

After receiving a couple of emails from people who found it difficult to print out some of my free patterns from my blog, I have finally gotten around to adding pdf versions of the Sockless Sock Monkey knitting pattern and the Take-Along Sun knitting pattern to my website. If you remember, the Take-Along Sun was wonderfully translated into French and that version is also available. You'll find all of these free patterns at The Pattern Box on the Free Patterns page. You can click here to go there now! I hope you enjoy these versions and find them easier to print out.