Summer 2024

 

My summer project is to knit another rattlesnake. I was asked to make one, and I looked through my yarn stash and picked up the yarn in the colors I wanted to use. I have not started to knit the snake, yet and now I have a bit of deadline to finish this project, simply because I was procrastinating. 

After a year of missing, I am again participating in the Ami-a-long, an event for knitters and crocheters to create toys using the patterns from participating designers. Post about it on Ravelry, and be eligible to win a pattern from the participating designers. Ami-a-long group on Ravelry has more information in regard to who is participating designer and all the details.

As soon as I finish the rattlesnake, I should be able to concentrate on the next toy mystery KAL. I will post more details when I have everything ready. 

In the meantime, I hope that you have a fun filled summer. 

Thank you for visiting.

Stana

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.

Knitting Pattern for Friend or Foe Hat

Friend or Foe Hat

I love to knit. I knitted my share of sweaters, vests, and other wearable garments over the years. Yet, I seem to fail to create a hat that my kid would be willing to wear. I try hard and I hope one day I will succeed.
The Friend or Foe Hat is my latest attempt. It is a reversible hat with stripe pattern of  king and coral snake.

King Snake stripes version

Coral Snake stripes version

The pattern is available in my Ravelry store or by clicking on this button:


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Cool wool....

Monster Al and his Friends

Somehow I have stumbled upon an article named "How wool got cool" by Rosie Ifould and the readers were encouraged to contribute to The Guardian by submitting their knitted or crocheted projects to Weird and wonderful knitting for a chance to have their work published. My two submitted pieces Diamondback Rattlesnake and Monster Al and his Friends were both accepted and are published on their website:
Link here



Diamondback Rattlesnake

About the same time I have stumbled upon The Crafty award where you can submit your do-it-yourself creations and once again I have submitted the Diamondback Rattlesnake and my submission was published as well.

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Toys for Library

Toys for Library

Once again, our local library have the summer reading program for children. The program encourages them to read. The volunteers record the time and books the children read, and for their time and participation the children receive raffle tickets. Each week there are plenty of prices to choose from.

I think that this year is my fourth or fifth year that I have donated several of my knitted toys towards the weekly prices. Each week one of my knitted toy find a new home. I see the amount of tickets in the container in front of my knitted toy each week, and I must admit it is rather enjoyable feeling to see how many children are interested in winning those handmade toys. Whenever we visit the library to pick our books, the librarians tell me all about how much joy and smiles the children had when they came to pick up their new toy.

For me personally, this is what knitting is about. The joy and happiness a handmade gift can bring.

Thank you for visiting.

Knitting Pattern for Topsy-turvy Snake

King Snake

 

 

Coral Snake

Sometimes it is all about making something special. I have been asked to make a topsy-turvy snake in the colors of King Snake and Coral Snake.

The pattern is now available to purchase in my Ravelry store or by clicking on this button:



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Knitting Pattern for Snake Bookmarks

Snake Bookmarks

These snake bookmarks in coral snake and king snake version are about 12" (30.5 cm) long.
The samples are done in Cascade 220 Superwash in Red, Yellow and Black.
Each bookmark uses approximately 40 - 50 yards / 36.5 - 46 meters total.

You may purchase the pattern in my Ravelry store or by clicking on this button.

Coral and King Snake Bookmarks

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New Adventure

It probably took me few years of going back and forth in my mind. But finally, I made that leap of faith and jumped.
I have opened my Etsy store

Stana's Critters etc.

It's a work in progress. I am not sure what will happen next, but it sure will benefit everyone.
I will design more knitted patterns, the toys will hopefully find new home and I hope to have happy customers. In the process I might make some money to buy more yarn, which I would use to make more toys for the charity purposes.
Thank you for visiting.

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.



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Craft Fairs

When designing my little critters I tend to knit many samples. In this respect I am perfectionist, I like when my patterns are good. Some of these little critters are given away to many children that I know. Some I give to charities. Few of my critters are available at the art galleries which sell my art.

This past weekend I had an opportunity to sell my critters at a craft fair. I must say that it has been an interesting experience. This coming weekend I am attending another craft fair. It will be once again with the Tip Top Toes shop owner. I adore her baby slippers. The store can be also found on Etsy.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/TipTopToes?ref=ss_profile

Thank you for visiting.

Knitting Pattern for Funky Colored Snake

Funky Colored Snake
by Stana D. S.
Finished Toy Size: up to 6' tall
Yarn: It depends on how colorful the snake will be, you will need approximately three or four balls of yarn. The more colors you use the less amount of the yarn is required. I love to mix leftover yarns to create unique snakes.
Recommended Needle size: DPN US #3/3.25mm (set of 5)
Notions: Yarn needle, crochet hook, stitch holders, scissors, stitch marker, polyester fiberfill (1 small bag), small amount of black embroidery yarn, small amount of red yarn or red felt for the snake tongue.
Abbreviations: KFB= Knit in front and back of the same sts, this creates 2sts from 1 st.
SSK= slip sts, slip st and knit the 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 the beginning of the needle and knit again. This technique makes tube.
INSTRUCTION:
The snake is knitted in one piece from the tail to the head. Change the various yarns to create different length of stripes. The pattern could be random or if preferred create some precise mathematical pattern.
With first color of yarn and three double pointed needles cast on 6sts (2sts per needle). Place a stitch marker on the first sts and begin working in the round. Keep knitting in the round. Thread the tail of yarn from 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 snake with fiberfill.
To increase sts to total 30sts for the head add 1st only per row every 20 or 30 rows. I add the sts in the round pattern to make the increase in the snake's body very smooth and subtle. First st increase I add on first needle, second st increase I add on second needle, third st increase I add on third needle, fourth st increase I add on first needle. Continue knitting in the round in this increase pattern until you have 30sts total (10sts per needle) and desired length of snake. Do not forget to keep stuffing the snake with fiberfill while knitting.
Continue with Head:
transfer the 30sts from 3 to 4 DPN, remember there are 15sts for top and 15 sts for bottom of the snake's head (7 or 8 sts per needle).
Row 1 - 3: Knit around, 7 or 8 sts per needle (30sts total)
Row 4: Knit 1, KFB, knit 11, KFB, knit 2, KFB, knit 11, KFB, knit 1 (34sts total)
Row 5,6: Knit around (34sts total)
Row 7: Knit 1, KFB, knit 13, KFB, knit 2, KFB, knit 13, KFB, knit 1 (38sts total)
Row 8,9: Knit around (38sts total)
Row 10: Knit 1, KFB, knit 15, KFB, knit 2, KFB, knit 15, KFB, knit 1 (42sts total)
Row 11,12,13,14: Knit around (42sts total)
Row 15: Knit 1, KFB, knit 17, KFB, knit 2, KFB, knit 17, KFB, knit 1 (46sts total)
Row 16,17,18,19: Knit around (46sts total)
Row 20: Knit 1, SSK, knit 17, SSK, knit 2, SSK, knit 17, SSK, knit 1 (42sts total)
Row 21,22,23,24: Knit around (42sts total)
Row 25: Knit 1, SSK, knit 15, SSK, knit 2, SSK, knit 15, SSK, knit 1 (38sts total)
Row 26,27: Knit around (38sts total)
Row 28: Knit 1, SSK, knit 13, SSK, knit2, SSK, knit 13, SSK, knit 1 (34sts total)
Row 29: Knit around (34sts total)
Row 30: Knit 1, SSK, knit 11, SSK, knit 2, SSK, knit 11, SSK, knit 1 (30sts total)
Row 31: Knit around (30sts total)
Row 32: Knit 1, SSK, knit 9, SSK, knit 2, SSK, knit 9, SSK, knit 1 (26sts total)
Row 33: Knit around (26sts total)
Row 34: Knit 1, SSK, knit 7, SSK, knit 2, SSK, knit 7, SSK, knit 1 (22sts total)
Row 35: Knit around and cast off. Cut the yarn, leaving long enough tail, and thread the end on a yarn needle. Finish stuffing the snake with fiberfill. Sew together the bottom and top of the snake's mouth, stitch to secure.
Finishing: With the black yarn embroider the snake's eyes. With a red yarn cast on one DPN needle 4sts and I-cord the snake's tongue, after approximately 2" split the I-cord in two and I-cord the first 2sts for another 1". Cut the yarn, leaving long enough tail, and thread the end on a needle. Pull the end through the 2sts on needle, gather up and close, stitch to secure. With the red yarn attach it to the remaining 2sts and continue the I-cord for 1". Cut the yarn, leaving long enough tail, and thread the end on a needle. Pull the end through the 2sts on needle, gather up and close, stitch to secure. Weave in all the loose ends. Sew the tongue to the snake's mouth. Another alternative is to cut the snake's tongue out of red felt and sew it to the snake's mouth. Use 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.

The treasure box

This yarn is part of a box filled with yarn that used to belong to my grandmother. My mom gave it to me to do something with it.

So I did. Now I have to figure out what to do with the knitted toys. These might be hard to give away, because when I look at them I think of my grandmother. She was the one who taught me how to knit when I was a little child. I am grateful for her being my grandmother and I miss her.



Thank you for visiting.

Rare Pink Snake....

....has been spotted in our garden.



The original toys are available upon request. The pattern will be available soon.






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A Little Temptation.......

........applesssssss pleassssse.




The pattern for apples and snakes will be available soon. The original toys will be available upon request.


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