Huggaluf Pillows

These pillows are perfect for hugging.

It's kind of a new as well as revisited pattern.
I was inspired by my Huggalufs. Also I wanted to make a pillow to take with you on a trip, or just play around in the house.

The pattern will be available soon.

Thank you for visiting.

Pictures of some of the charitable donations

These toys travelled all the way to Michigan to be adopted by children in foster care.

These toys travelled all the way to Belgium to be adopted by children via Poekie project.












There are other toys and hats and baby blankets that have been already shipped somewhere else. I always hope that the recipients will appreciate the toys and will take care of them. It is something that I might never know, but that's OK. I will continue to send my toys away on their adventurous journeys to children all over the world.

Thank you for visiting.

Knitting Pattern for Chadwick and Igor, the frog twins

Chadwick and Igor, the frog twins
by Stana D.S.

Finished toy size:  5" (13cm)
Yarn: Less than a ball of green yarn in medium weight.
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 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 decrease 2sts to 1st.

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 three DPN cast on 6sts (2sts 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 all around, 4sts per needle (12sts total)
Row 3: Knit around (12sts total)
Row 4: KFB all around, 8sts per needle (24sts total)
Row 5: Knit around (24sts total)
Row 6: *KFB, Knit 1; repeat from * around, 12sts per needle (36sts total)
Row 7: Knit around (36sts total)
Row 8: *KFB, Knit 2; repeat from * around, 16sts per needle (48sts total)
Row 9 - 22: Knit around (48sts total)
Row 23: *SSK, Knit 6; repeat from * around, 14sts per needle (42sts total)
Row 24 - 26: Knit around (42sts total)
Row 27: *SSK, Knit 5; repeat from * around, 12sts per needle (36sts total)
Row 28 - 30: Knit around (36sts total)
Row 31: *SSK, Knit 4; repeat from * around, 10sts per needle (30sts total)
Row 32 - 34: Knit around (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. Begin to stuff the body with fiberfill.
Row 35: *SSK, Knit 1; repeat from * around (20sts total)
Row 36: Knit around (20 sts total)
Row 37: *SSK, Knit 1; repeat from * around, the last will be SSK (13sts total)
Row 38:  Knit around (13sts total). Finish stuffing the frog. 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 - 6: Knit around (15sts total)
Row 7: *SSK, Knit 3; repeat from * around, 4sts per needle (12sts total)
Row 8: Knit around (12sts 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 9: *SSK, Knit 2; repeat from * around, 3sts per needle (9sts total)
Row 10: Knit around (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 around, 6sts per needle (12sts total)
Row 22 - 24: Knit around (12sts 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 mouth on frog's head using the picture as a guide.

Copyright: This pattern was design and written by Stana D.S.
The pattern is for personal use only. The finished items may not be sold for profit, except for charity purposes. Please acknowledge the author. Thank you.

Needle Felting

Our local library offered needle felting class.
I have never tried this before and I was curious.
At first I wasn't sure about the whole process, but I experimented.

I did not like the occasional accidents when the needle went to my flash, instead of the wool.
But overall experience was interesting enough to return to the next class.

I must admit that I still prefer the knitting needles more than the felting needles, but every once in a while (whenever the class is available at the library) I go and make a little toy.

Who knows, some of these might be a future knitted toys as well. The inspiration for my critters comes from all sorts of places.

Thank you for visiting.

Knitting Pattern for Huggaluf Lovies

Huggaluf Lovies
by Stana D.S.
Finished Toy Size: Approximately 7x7" (18x18cm) square.
Yarn: This is a great project to use leftovers from other projects as long as the yarn is soft and feel good to the touch, remnants of white, red, and black yarn.
Recommended Needle Size:  For knitting in the round DPN US #3/3.25mm (set of 5)
For flat knitting US #3/3.25mm
Notions: Yarn needle, crochet hook, scissors, stitch marker, measure tape
Gauge: Will vary with the yarn used.
Abbreviations, techniques:
KFB = Knit in front and back of the same st, it creates 2sts from 1st.
PFB = Purl in front and back of the same st, it creates 2sts from 1st.
SSK = Slip st, slip st and knit the 2sts together, this decrease 2sts to 1st.
P2tog = Purl 2sts together, this decrease 2sts to 1st.
I-cord = the sts are knitted from one needle to second needle, do not turn the needle with sts around, just push the sts to beginning of the needle and knit again. This technique makes tube.
3 needle bind off = knit and cast off from two needles at the same time, this is a nice way to close the two sides together, without sewing it.
INSTRUCTIONS:
These Huggaluf lovies can be knitted in the rounds, or knitted flat and sewn together at the end. I suggest to sew on the eyes and mouth before all of the sides are sewn together, that way all of the yarn stays tucked neatly inside the square.

Body:
For knitting in the round:
Cast on 60sts, divide the sts evenly on the DPN needles, place the sts marker on the first st and begin working in the rounds.
Knit approximately 44rows (use the measure tape to assure the body is square shape)
Last row: Knit and cast off (or you could use the technique of 3 needles bind off). Cut the yarn, leaving long enough tail and thread the tail on a yarn needle. Stitch to secure.
For knitting flat:
Cast on 60sts.
1 and all odd rows: Knit
2 and all even rows: Purl
In stockinette sts knit approximately 44rows (use the measure tape to assure the height is half of the body's length)
Cast off. Cut the yarn, leaving long enough tail, thread the tail on a yarn needle and sew the sides together creating the square shape. Leave one side open for sewing on the eyes and lips.

Eye patch (Make 2):
With two DPN using as straight needles cast on 4sts with white yarn.
Row 1: Knit 5 (5sts total)
Row 2: PFB, knit 3, PFB (7sts total)
Row 3: KFB, knit 5, KFB (9sts total)
Row 4: Purl 9 (9sts total)
Row 5: Knit 9 ( 9sts total)
Row 6: P2tog, Purl 5, P2tog (7sts total)
Row 7: SSK, Knit 3, SSK (5sts total)
Row 8: Purl 5 (5sts total)
Row 9: Knit and cast off. Cut the yarn, leaving long enough tail. Thread the tail on a yarn needle and sew the eye patch onto the body, using the picture as a guide. Repeat for the second eye patch. Embroider the pupil and eye lashes.

Lips:
With two DPN and red yarn cast on 8sts.
Row 1: Knit 8sts, then turn the work upside down, with second needle pick up and knit 8sts along the cast on edge.
Row 2: Knit around, 8sts per needle (16sts total)
Row 3: *KFB, knit 6, KFB; repeat from * around 20sts total)
Row 4: Knit and cast off from both DPN at the same time. Cut the yarn, leaving long enough tail, and thread the end on a yarn needle. Sew the lips on the face of Huggaluf lovie using the picture as a guide.

Finishing:
Sew together the last side of the Huggaluf Lovie.

Arms and Legs (Make 4)
Cast on 6sts and make an I-cord approximately 5" (13cm) long. Cut the yarn, leaving long enough tail. Thread the tail on a yarn needle. Pull the end through the remaining sts on needle, gather up and close the hole. stitch to secure. Sew the beginning of the I-cord on the corner of the body, using the picture as a guide. Repeat for other arm, and repeat twice for the legs. Sew the legs approximately 1" (2,5cm) from the bottom corner on each side. Make a small knot on the I-cord.

Copyright: This pattern was design and written by Stana D.S.
The pattern is for personal use only. The finished items may not be sold for profit, except for charities. Please acknowledge the author. Thank you.

The Free Knitting Pattern Gift Away Winners...

Once again, we used this Dr. Seuss Cat's hat for the raffle.

My child wanted to draw the names....

The winners:
1. Anne Raftery
2. Wiggles Towers
3. Celtic Spacey
4. Cvetulka knits - Fireflies

Each winner can choose one knitting pattern from this selection:
1. Mini Pig
2. Mini Cat
3. Huggaluf
4. Huggaluf Baby
5. Sockeaters
6. Diamondback Rattlesnake

Congratulations!!!!!!!

Thank you for visiting.

Please send me an email to crowsd@yahoo.com with contact to where to email the PDF file with knitting pattern of your choice.

Knitting Pattern for Diamondback Rattlesnake

A while back I was challenged to make the Diamondback Rattlesnake. This snake was the result. I posted a photo of him on Ravelry and many people asked for the pattern.

To make this snake you have to be able to work intarsia and stranded colorwork. The stranded colorwork is done with all three colors. An easier alternative could be stranded colorwork in two colors and then add duplicate stitch for the third color. The snake is knitted flat, start at the tail’s end, work to its head, and continue with the bottom part. Rattle is added at the end.

You will need approximately 1 ball of each medium worsted yarn in brown, grey, off white for the top part of the snake and off white yarn with speckles for the bottom part. The pattern contains two charts, one for the upper body and second for the head, as well as written instruction.

The knitting pattern for the snake is available on Ravelry or could be purchased by clicking on this button.



Thank you for visiting.