Knitting Pattern for Aliens in PJ

Aliens in PJ

Aliens in PJ
by Stana D. S.

Finished Toy Size: 6.5" (16.5 cm) tall.

Yarn: Worsted weight yarn.
Approximately 50 yards (46 meters) total for PJ (I used remnants of cotton yarn I had in my stash)
Approximately 30 yards (27.5 meters) of MC (I used Universal Yarn Cool Baby; 90% Cotton, 10% Nylon; 140 yards (126 meters) per 3.5 oz ( 100g);  Nr. 106 Green Monster)
Approximately 5 yards (4.5 meters) black yarn.
This is a great project to use up remnants of stash yarn.

Recommended Needle Size: DPN US # 5/ 3.75 mm (set of 5), or use your preferred needles for knitting in the round.

Notions: Yarn needle, scissors, stitch marker, polyester fiberfill (1 small bag)

Abbreviations: 
CC = Contrast color
DPN = Double Pointed Needles
K = Knit
KFB = Knit in front and back of the same st, it creates 2 sts from 1 st.
MC = Main color
R = Round, rounds
SSK = Slip st, slip st and knit the 2 sts together. This decreases 2 sts to 1 st.
st, sts = Stitch, stitches

INSTRUCTIONS:

Notes:
The gauge for this project is not important. The size of your alien may vary depending on the yarn and the needles you use. Make sure that your knitting is tight enough for stuffing to not to show through. Make stripes of 2 rounds in each color, or use up small remnants of stash yarn.
The Alien in PJ is knit in the round, starting at the bottom of the body. The eyes are knit separately and sewn on top of its head.

Body: 
With CC yarn and DPN, cast on 6 sts. Place the stitch marker, and begin working in the round.
R 1: Knit
R 2: KFB 6 times (12 sts total)
R 3: Knit
R 4: KFB 12 times (24 sts total)
R 5: Knit
R 6: (KFB, K1) 12 times (36 sts total)
R 7: Knit
R 8: (KFB, K2) 12 times ( 48 sts total)
R 9 - 22: Knit
R 23: (SSK, K6) 6 times (42 sts total)
R 24 - 26: Knit

R 27: (SSK, K5) 6 times (36 sts total)

R 28 - 30: Knit

R 31: (SSK, K4) 6 times (30 sts total). Cut off CC. Attach MC.

R 32 - 34: Knit

Thread the tail from the cast on sts on a yarn needle. Stitch through all of the cast on stitches, pull up tight to close the hole and stitch to secure. Begin to stuff the body with fiberfill.
R 35: (SSK, K1) 10 times (20 sts total)

R 36: Knit

R 37: (SSK, K1) 6 times, SSK (13 sts total)

R 38: Knit

Finish stuffing. Cut the yarn, leaving long enough tail, thread the end on a yarn needle. Pull the end through the remaining stitches on needles, gather up and close the hole, stitch to secure.

Eyes (make 3):

With MC yarn and DPN, cast on 9 sts. Place the stitch marker, and begin working in the round.

R 1: Knit

R 2: (KFB, K2) 3 times (12 sts total)

R 3: (KFB, K3) 3 times (15 sts total)

R 4 - 6: Knit. Cut off MC. Attach black yarn.

Thread the tail from the cast on sts on a yarn needle. Stitch through all of the cast on stitches, pull up tight to close the hole and stitch to secure. Begin to stuff the eye with fiberfill.

R 7: (SSK, K3) 3 times (12 sts total)

R 8: (SSK, K2) 3 times (9 sts total)

R 9: Knit

Finish stuffing. Cut the yarn, leaving long enough tail, thread the end on a yarn needle. Pull the end through the remaining stitches on needles, gather up and close the hole, stitch to secure.

Finishing:
Sew the yes on top of aliens head. Weave in ends.

Copyright:
This pattern was design and written by Stana D. S. Please acknowledge the author. Thank you.
 

June and three new knitting patterns

photo by Knitpicks

Strawberry Twist is another dishcloth pattern that I have created for Knitpicks.
The pattern is free and available to download on Knitpicks' website, link here: Pattern
or you can visit my Ravelry store and the link to free pattern is there as well.

Strawberries

This time of year I am rather busy in the garden. Everything has to be planted, seeds need to sowed, cared for, and it all takes time that has to be taken away from my knitting time. That is the reason why it takes me longer to post new knitting patterns.  Also knitting and designing  for third parties takes priority over the independent designing. But this week I have managed to publish two knitting patterns for hats.

Rayas Hat is knit in bulky weight yarn in two colors. The slipped stitch pattern allows you to work only with one color per round. The color combination is endless. To purchase visit my Ravelry store, or click on this button:

Rayas Hat

Neva Hat is another bulky weight yarn project. The pattern is completely reversible.
To purchase visit my Ravelry store or click on this button:

 

Neva Hat

Thank you for visiting.

Woodland KAL

During the month of June, into the first week of July I have a woodland animals and objects themed KAL hosted in my group on Ravelry.
It is a fun event with people knitting various knitting projects of animals, and things that can be found on your walk through the woodlands. The participants will have a chance to win one of my knitting pattern and the grand prize winner will select my next toy animal design pattern.

To start off this fun event I offer 25% off all of my woodland animals knitting pattern. More details are available in the thread in my Ravelry group Stana's critters etc.
Here is the link to the group:
Stana's Critters Etc
and here is my designer page:
Designer page

Here are pictures of some not all of the patterns that are eligible.

Mushrooms

Oriana

Ralph

Fredrick

Have fun knitting, and thank you for visiting.

Nature, life and new knitting patterns

Today is one year anniversary since the storms producing tornadoes and macroburst passed through our community and wreck a havoc.
I wrote a bit about it in this post from last year:
Life

 After the storm

Life went on and even though the damage is still visible all around us we continue to live, dream, and hope. Nature is slowly recovering and in another ten or twenty years the damage will be hardly visible.

Today is warm and sunny day like it was last year. I hope that the weather will stay warm and sunny all day and my afternoon hike with the dog will be uneventful.

I hope to have some quiet time to knit few rounds on my latest project for third party company, and perhaps even start working on the pattern as well.

I also should post more information about the patterns that were published earlier this month and last month.

First it was my self published patterns for LM Wrap and LM Hat, both worked in Caron Cakes and completely reversible patterns.

LM Wrap

The patterns are both available in my Ravelry Store or you can purchase them by clicking on these two buttons:
LM Wrap:



LM Hat:

LM Hat

Also, my latest toy mystery KAL finished few days ago. just in case you missed it you can purchase the complete pattern for Dasher, the dragonfly in my Ravelry store or by clicking on the button bellow. Here is a picture of dragonfly knit in fingering weight yarn:

Dasher, the dragonfly

Dasher, the dragonfly:



I have two more patterns that were published in the latest issue of I Like Knitting magazine:
A fruity watermelon clutch, and a strawberry sandal motif.
Link to the latest issue of the magazine:

I Like Knitting, June 2019

photo by I Like Knitting

Watermelon Clutch

Watermelon Clutch

photo by I Like Knitting

Strawberry Sandal Motif

Thank you for visiting.

Spring toy mystery KAL

Four Leaf Clover

I always feel that there is something magical about finding a four leaf clover. Today I found one while I was in the garden. Whenever I find one, I  tend to press the leaf in a book and save them. Then these dry four leaf clovers are a nice surprise waiting to be discovered by someone while reading a book. 

Way back in winter I had a toy mystery KAL. It was Camille.

Camille

Afterwards I had a fun KAL devoted to Cats in my group on Ravelry. The grand prize for this was pick my  new toy design. Dasher is that toy design. It will be also our spring toy mystery KAL.
To participate in this new toy mystery KAL simply join my group on Ravelry, download the pattern and knit this new toy. It is fun and the first clue will be released this Monday.

Dasher, toy mystery KAL

Happy knitting.

Deadlines and Knitting Patterns for Stripy Hat and Little Lamb Hat

WIP

When working for a third party, creating a knitting pattern comes with deadlines. The whole process of creating a knitting pattern from an idea to a final product takes months. It does not mean that I personally have months to work on the knitting project, but rather that the entire process from sending a submission, being accepted, receiving the yarn, creating a prototype sample, writing the pattern, working closely with the sample knitter, and technical editor, reviewing the edited pattern, then reviewing the final pattern, and finally seeing the pattern published in a book or in a magazine takes months.

Last week two of my patterns were published in a book collection by Knitpicks:

Playdate: A Baby Knit Collection

I received an email about my patterns being accepted to this collection when I was waiting at the airport to board the plane to visit my family and friends in Europe. As always having a pattern submission accepted is a wonderful news, but this time it created an interesting element. The yarn I was going to work out the patterns was shipped to my home, while I was away. The deadline for my patterns to send back to Knitpicks was few days after my return from my trip. I had a knitting project that I took with me for the trip, but nothing else. It was a second sample of the Winter Pillow. Which was also a pattern I have created for Knitpicks: Winter Pillow Pattern

Winter Pillow WIP

Luckily I have a box of yarn that belonged to my grandmother at my mom's home. In a way it is a treasure box as it does contain more than remnants of odd yarns my grandmother used, it also brings out the memories of my time I spent with her.
When I arrived to my mom's place I opened the box of yarn and looked through. I picked some yarn and started to work on the patterns. After I finished the hats, I kept the notes but gave away the hats to my nephews and my friends' children.

Stripy Hats and Little Lamb Hats

Here is the link to the Little Lamb Hat pattern:

Knitpicks: Little Lamb Hat

photo by Knitpicks

photo by Knitpicks

Here is the link to the Stripy Hat pattern:

Stripy Hat

photo by Knitpicks

Thank you for visiting.

Knitting Pattern for Something Fishy

photo by Knitpicks

Something Fishy is another dishcloth I have created for Knitpicks.
It is a fun and fast knit, in garter stitch with some increases and decreases to create the fish shape. A perfect washcloth for bath time or to have few more helpers for the cleaning choirs around the house.

The pattern link to my Ravelry store is here:

Something Fishy

Or you can go directly to the Knitpicks website:

Something Fishy

Thank you for visiting.