Knitting Pattern for Snow brick

Snow brick (to build the perfect snow fortress and to use with snowballs to re-create snow battle anywhere)

by Stana D.S.

Finished toy size: 1 snow brick  9"(22cm) by 6"(14cm) by 3"(8cm)

Yarn: white yarn in medium or sport weight. I have used the same as for the snowballs knitting pattern.

Recommended Needle size: US #3/3.25mm

Notions: Yarn needle, scissors, stitch marker, polyester fiberfill or white soft foam cut into the shape of snow brick (these are available at craft stores). You will also need patience (or many knitting friends) when you realize how many bricks should be knit to built a good size snow fortress.

INSTRUCTIONS:

The snow brick is knitted in one piece, with the two sides knitted from the edge or knitted separately and sew on when sewing the snow brick together. The brick is done in stockinette stitch, all odd rows are knitted and all even rows are purled except few rows which are knitted (this creates nice edge for the brick)

With a white yarn and two needles cast on 40 sts.

Row 1 and every odd row: Knit (40sts)

Row 2 and every even row except when stated: Purl (40sts)

Row 15: Knit (40sts)

Row 16: Knit (40sts) (this creates the first edge on the brick)

Row 17 - 53: Repeat the pattern from Rows 1 and 2 (40sts)

Row 54: Knit (40sts) (this creates the second edge on the brick)

Row 55 - 73: Repeat the pattern from Rows 1 and 2 (40sts)

Row 74: Knit (40sts) (this creates the third edge on the brick)

Row 75 - 111: Repeat the pattern from Rows 1 and 2 (40sts)

Row 112: Knit (40sts) (this creates the fourth edge on the brick)

Row 113: Knit (40sts)

Row 114: Purl (40sts)

Row 115: Knit (40sts)

Row 116: Knit and cast off all sts. Cut the yarn and leave long enough tail to sew the cast on and cast off edges together at the later time.

Short sides: With the white yarn, and knitting needle cast on 26sts or cast 26 sts to the bottom side edge of the snow brick

Row 1 and every odd row: Knit (26sts)

Row 2 and every even row: Purl (26sts)

Row 19: Knit and cast off all sts. Cut the yarn and leave long enough tail for sewing the edges together.

Repeat on the other side of the snow brick for the second short side of the brick.

Finishing: If you are using the foam, cut it into the shape of rectangular box measuring 9"x6"x3". Put the foam inside the knitted piece and sew all of the edges. If you are using the polyfiber, start sewing together the short sides, and leave only a small opening in the length seam between cast on and cast off sts. Stuff the snow brick, but be careful and do not overstuff it, so it has nice rectangular shape. Finish the sewing. weave in all loose ends. First brick is done.

Knit as many as needed to built the fortress.

To knit snowballs, feel free to use my snowball knitting pattern, available for free.

Disclaimer: Before having any snowball fight indoors, please remove all fragile and delicate things from the vicinity of the battle. I am not responsible for any broken vases.

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.

Knitting Pattern for Kuky, the Bear

                                  

Kuky, the Bear

by Stana D.S.

Finished Toy Size: 10" (16cm)

Yarn: Less than a ball of your favorite color in medium weight.

Recommended Needle Size: DPN US # 3/3.25mm (set of 4)

Notions: Yarn needles, crochet hook, scissors, stitch marker, polyester fiberfill (1 small bag), small amount of white yarn for the eye patch and small amount of black embroidery yarn.

Abbreviations: KFB= Knit in front and back of the same sts, it creates 2sts from 1st.

SSK= slip st, slip st and knit the 2sts together. This decrease 2sts to 1st.

INSTRUCTIONS:

This bear is knitted in the rounds, start at the bottom of his body, continue to the top of his head. The arms and the legs could be sewn on or use the same technique as I have explained in my post "How to attach the arms without sewing them on" from June 2011.

Body and Head: With the yarn and three double pointed needles, 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, knit 1; repeat from * around, 6sts per needle (18sts total)

Row 5: Knit around (18sts total)

Row 6: *KFB, knit 2; repeat from * around, 8sts per needle (24sts total)

Row 7 - 8: Knit around (24sts total)

Row 9: *KFB, knit 3; repeat from * around, 10sts per needle (30sts total)

Row 10 - 16: Knit around (30sts total)

Row 17: *SSK, knit 3; repeat from * around, 8sts per needle (24sts total)

Row 18: Knit around (24sts total)

Row 19: *SSK, knit 2; repeat from * around, 6sts per needle (18sts total)

Row 20: Knit around (18sts total). Thread the tail from the cast on stitches 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.

Row 21: *SSK, knit 1; repeat from * around, 4sts per needle ( 12sts total)

Row 22: Knit around (12sts total)

Row 23: SSK all around, 2sts per needle (6sts total)

Row 24: Knit around ( 6sts total). Finish stuffing the body with fiberfill.

Continue with Head:

Row 25: KFB all around, 4sts per needle (12sts total)

Row 26: Knit around (12sts total)

Row 27: KFB all around, 8sts per needle (24sts total)

Row 28 - 29: Knit around (24sts total)

Row 30: *KFB, knit 3; repeat from * around, 10sts per needle (30sts total)

Row 31 - 32: Knit around (30sts total)

Row 33: *KFB, knit 4; repeat from * around, 12sts per needle (36sts total)

Row 34 - 36: Knit around (36sts total)

Row 37: *KFB, knit 5; repeat from * around, 14sts per needle (42sts total)

Row 38 - 40: Knit around (42sts total)

Row 41: *SSK, knit 5; repeat from * around, 12sts per needle (36sts total)

Row 42: Knit around (36sts total)

Row 43: *SSK, knit 4; repeat from * around, 10sts per needle (30sts total)

Row 44: Knit around (30sts total). Begin to stuff the head with fiberfill.

Row 45: *SSK, knit 3; repeat from * around, 8sts per needle (24sts total)

Row 46: *SSK, knit 2; repeat from * around, 6sts per needle (18sts total)

Row 47: * SSK, knit 1; repeat from * around, 4sts per needle (12sts total)

Row 48: SSK all around ( 6sts total). Finish stuffing the head. 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.

Arms: With the yarn and crochet hook pull through 8sts total (2 and 3 per needle) through the upper side of the teddy (use the picture as a guide for positioning the arms). If this direction is not completely clear, begin with yarn, 3DPN and cast on 8sts (2 or 3 per needle). Place a stitch marker and begin working in the round.

Row 1 - 20: Knit around (8sts total)

Row 21: *KFB, knit 1; repeat from * around (12sts total)

Row 22 - 23: Knit around (12sts total)

Row 24: *SSK, knit 2; repeat from * around (9sts total). Lightly stuff the hand part of arm.

Row 25: *SSK, knit 1; repeat from * around (6sts total)

Row 26: SSK around (3sts 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.

Repeat on the other side of teddy for second arm. If the arms were knitted separately, sew them on using the picture as a guide.

Legs: With the yarn and crochet hook pull through 8sts total (2 and 3 per needle) through the bottom of the teddy (use the picture as a guide for positioning the legs). If this direction is not completely clear, begin with yarn, 3DPN and cast on 8sts (2 or 3 per needle). Place a stitch marker and begin working in the round.

Row 1 - 20: Knit around (8sts total)

Row 21: *KFB, knit 1; repeat from * around (12sts total)

Row 22: Knit around (12sts total)

Row 23: Knit 1, KFB,KFB,KFB,KFB,Knit 7 (16sts total) (the increase should point towards the front of teddy, if needed move the increase sts within the row)

Row 24 - 25: Knit around (16sts total)

Row 26: SSK, knit 1, SSK,SSK, knit 1, SSK,SSK,knit 2, SSK (10sts total)

Row 27: SSK around (5sts total). Lightly stuff the feet part of the leg. 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.

Repeat on the other side of teddy for second leg. If the legs were knitted separately, sew them on using the picture as a guide.

Ears: With yarn and crochet hook, secure the yarn to teddy's head, and pull 16sts (8sts on one side and 8 on the other) using the picture as a guide. If this direction is not completely clear, use 3 DPN and cast on 16sts on 2 DPN (8sts per needle)

Row 1: Knit around (16sts total)

Row 2: SSK, knit 4, SSK, SSK, knit 4, SSK (12sts total)

Row 3: Knit around (12sts total)

Row 4: SSK, knit 2, SSK, SSK, knit 2, SSK (8sts total)

Row 5: Knit around (8sts total)

Row 6: Knit together and cast off the sts from both needles at the same time. Cut the yarn, and secure the last sts. If this direction is not completely clear, cast off the sts separately and sew them together with tail of yarn. if the ears were knitted separately sew them on the sides of teddy's head  using the picture as a guide.

Finishing:

Eye patch: (Make 2)

With two double pointed needles using as straight needles cast on 2sts with white yarn.

Row 1: Knit 2 (2sts total)

Row 2: PFB, purl 1 (3sts total)

Row 3: KFB, knit 2 (4sts total)

Row 4: Purl 4 (4sts total)

Row 5: Knit  4 (4sts total)

Row 6: P2tog, purl 1 (3sts total)

Row 7: SSK, knit 1 (2sts total). Cut the yarn, leaving long enough tail, and thread the end on a yarn needle. pull the end through the remaining stitches on needle. With the same yarn sew the eye patch on the face of the teddy using the picture as a guide. With the black embroidery yarn embroider the pupils.

Nose: With black yarn, and crochet hook cast on 12sts (4sts per needle). Position the nose in the middle of teddy's face, using the picture as a guide. If this direction is not completely clear, begin with black color and 3DPN and cast on 12sts (4sts per needle). Place a stitch marker on the first sts and begin working in the round.

Row 1: Knit around (12sts total)

Row 2: *SSK, knit 2; repeat from * around, 3sts per needle (9sts total)

Row 3: *SSK, knit 1; repeat from * around, 2sts per needle (6sts total). Lightly stuff the nose. 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. If the nose was knitted separately, sew it to the teddy's face using the picture as a guide.

Embroider the smile on teddy's face.

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. Please acknowledge the author. Thank you.

Snowballs

 

 

At this time  last year we had enormous amount of snow. But it was all too powdery and we could not make good snowballs. At that time an idea occurred to me, it would be easier to knit a snowball rather then trying to make it from the powdery snow. This knitting pattern is the result.

The pattern has been published at Petite Purls, Winter 2012, Issue 11.
I have updated the pattern and created two versions (in English and Czech language).
You may download the PDF file by clicking on the button.

download now

Thank you for visiting.

New Year, New Post

Happy New Year to everyone!

Today is a good day to reflect, to dream, to plan. It's a perfect day to start making the dreams and plans come true. We just have to remember that everything takes time.
Knitting taught me how to be more patient, and also to be more open to new opportunities and ideas. When I took the knitting needles first time in my hands as a child, I was clumsy and impatient. With time and the help of my grandmother I got better. I could actually finish what I started. Somehow I kept on knitting through the mistakes, tryouts, and challenges, and I enjoyed the whole process. Knitting actually helped me to relax and calm down every time I took the knitting needles in my hand. Somewhere along the path, I began to sketch ideas of what I wanted to knit. At first I designed sweaters, and flat pieces of knitting. Then one day I tried to knit a bear for my child. It worked. I knitted a second bear, and this is how it all started. Today there are more than 300 critters that I have knitted with my own hand. Most of them are in the hands of various children all over the world. I hope that they are loved as much as those that my child keeps at home.

For the upcoming year, I plan to knit more toys. Some of them will be given away to charities, some of them will be given to friends and their children, and few will probably end up in the hands of complete strangers, yet all of these toys will be knitted with the same passion. I also would like to continue writing the various knitting patterns that starts as a sketch in my little book. This task is the hardest, because it requires time in front of a computer. I must admit that I do not enjoy writing about knitting as much as knitting itself. But I will try to do my best.

This past year, my blog began its journey. It started as an idea, then it turned into reality and the blog still continues to grow. This would not happen without the support of you, the readers, and I am very grateful for all of you.

Thank you for visiting, thank you for reading, and thank you for returning.