Jan 24, 2014

Knitting Pattern for Fred, the Frog

Fred, the Frog (bookmark)
by Stana D.S.

Finished bookmark /toy size:  10.5" (27cm)

Yarn: Less than a ball of green yarn in sport to medium weight. Yardage about 52 - 55 yards.

Recommended Needle Size: DPN US#3/3.25mm (set of 4). Or use your preferred needles for knitting in the round.

Notions: Yarn needle, scissors, stitch marker, polyester fiberfill (1 small bag), small amount of white yarn for the eyes, small amount of red yarn for tongue, small amount of black embroidery yarn.

Abbreviations: KFB = Knit in front and back of the same st, it creates 2sts from 1st.
SSK = Slip st, slip st and knit the 2sts together, this decreases 2sts to 1st.
K2tog= knit two stitches together, this decreases 2sts to 1sts.
K3tog= knit three stitches together, this decreases 3sts to 1sts.

INSTRUCTIONS:
This frog is knitted in the rounds, start at the bottom of the body. The eyes, arms and legs are knitted separately and sewn on.

Body:
With the green yarn and two DPN cast on 6sts (3sts per needle). Place the stitch marker on the first st and begin working in the round.
Row 1: Knit around (6sts total)
Row 2: *KFB , knit 1, KFB; repeat from * around, 5sts per needle (10sts total)
Row 3: *KFB, knit 3, KFB; repeat from * around, 7sts per needle (14sts total)
Row 4: *KFB , knit 5, KFB; repeat from * around, 9sts per needle (18sts total)
Row 5: *KFB, knit 7, KFB; repeat from * around, 11sts per needle (22sts total)
Row 6: *KFB, knit 9, KFB; repeat from * around, 13sts per needle (26sts total)
Row 7: * KFB, knit 11, KFB; repeat from * around, 15sts per needle (30sts total)
Row 8 - 42: Knit around 35 rows (30sts total) 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, stitch to secure.
Row 43: *SSK, knit 11, K2tog; repeat from * around, 13sts per needle (26sts total)
Row 44: *SSK, knit 9, K2tog; repeat from * around, 11sts per needle (22sts total)
Row 45: *SSK, knit 7, K2tog; repeat from * around, 9sts per needle (18sts total)
Row 46: *SSK, knit 5, K2tog; repeat from * around, 7sts per needle (14sts total)
Row 47: *SSK, Knit 3, K2tog; repeat from * around, 5sts per needle (10sts total)
Row 48: *SSK, knit 1, K2tog; repeat from * around, 3sts per needle (6sts total). Cut the green yarn and attach the red yarn.
Row 49 - 53: Knit around 5 rows(6sts total)
Row 54: K3tog, K3tog (2 sts total) Cut the yarn, leaving long enough tail, and 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.


Eye balls (make 2):
With the green yarn and three DPN cast on 9sts (3sts per needle). Place the stitch marker on the first st and begin working in the round.
Row 1: Knit around (9sts total)
Row 2: *KFB, Knit 2; repeat from * around, 4sts per needle (12sts total)
Row 3: * KFB, Knit 3; repeat from * around, 5sts per needle (15sts total)
Row 4: Knit around (15sts total). Change the green yarn to the white yarn.
Row 5: Knit around (15sts total). 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, stitch to secure. Begin to stuff the eye ball with fiberfill.
Row 6: *SSK, Knit 3; repeat from * around, 4sts per needle (12sts total)
Row 7: *SSK, Knit 2; repeat from * around, 3sts per needle (9sts total) Finish stuffing the eye ball. Cut the yarn, leaving long enough tail, and 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. With the black embroidery yarn embroider the pupil on the eye ball, using the picture as a guide. Sew the eye ball on frog's head using the picture as a guide. Repeat for the second eye ball.

Arms and legs (make 4):
With the green yarn and two DPN cast on 6sts (3sts per needle). Place the stitch marker on the first st and begin working in the round.
Row 1 - 20: Knit around (6sts total)
Row 21: *KFB, knit 1, KFB; repeat from * around, 5sts per needle (10sts total)
Row 22 : Knit around (10sts total)
Row 23: *KFB, knit 3, KFB; repeat from * around, 7sts per needle (14sts total)
Row 24 : Knit around (14sts total)
Row 25: Knit and cast off from both DPN at the same time. Cut the yarn, leaving long enough tail, thread the tail on a yarn needle and stitch to secure. Thread the tail from the cast on sts on a yarn needle and sew the arm (leg) on the body of the frog using the picture as a guide.
Repeat for the second arm, and for both legs.

Finishing: With the black embroidery yarn embroider the fly on the frog's tongue using the picture as a guide.

Copyright: This pattern was design and written by Stana D.S.
The pattern is for personal use only.  Please acknowledge the author. Thank you.










Jan 21, 2014

Fred, the Frog

Fred, the frog
I needed a little break from "the snowballs knitting project".

For a while I had an idea to knit a bookmark. I sketched a bunch of ideas, and then I left the project unfinished. Not too long ago I went to a yarn store and saw this beautiful green yarn. I couldn't resist and bought it, thinking that perhaps this is the perfect color for some kind of frog, and then it clicked.  Fred, the frog was created.

A fun, and fast knit. The pattern will be out soon.

Thank you for visiting.

As you can see Fred, the frog fits nicely into various sized books.

 


 

 


Jan 12, 2014

Snowballs

Snowballs
Snowballs are what I have been knitting lately. I actually try to knit one snowball per day until I finish them all. My goal is to make about one hundred.
Now you may wonder why do I need so many snowballs.
Actually they are not for me.  I would love to organize a huge snowball fight in the middle of this summer to celebrate a half birthday of my child. 
I always said when the birthday party was cancelled or postponed due to inclement weather (snowstorms tend to happen on the day of the birthday party with regularity) that we should celebrate half birthday in the middle of the summer. This year I actually would like to do it, just for the fun of throwing snowballs in the middle of summer.

Thank you for visiting.

Jan 3, 2014

Knitting Pattern for Fifi, the Fluffy Dog

Fifi, the Fluffy Dog Pink
Fifi, the Fluffy Dog is a cute knitted toy full of personality.
The original Fifi lives in Europe and has several real dog admires.
I love to hear stories about her adventures.

To knit your own Fifi, you will need one ball of medium weight yarn and two balls of Fun Fur or other type of novelty yarn. Total yardage is approximately 100 - 120 yards of each yarn. The knitted toy is about 10" (25cm).

You can purchase the pattern by clicking on this button or on Ravelry.


Thank you for visiting.

Jan 1, 2014

A Rainbow of Colors....

Rainbow slugs
I love the colorful world of yarn.
A trip to my favorite yarn store is filled with anticipation and butterflies. Browsing through the endless possibilities of colors in various yarns delights me. I hold the yarn, feel its texture and thickness, and imagine picking up knitting needles, and turning that ball of yarn into a beautiful knitted object. Sometimes I wish I had the time to knit all that I dream of, but I only have two hands, and I can only knit one stitch at a time.
For the New Year I hope that I can finish more projects, and therefore make more knitting patterns available for others to enjoy the amazing miracle of turning a ball of yarn into something beautiful, one stitch at a time.

Happy knitting to all, and thank you for visiting.
Stana

Rainbow Slugs