NEW! having-a-ball! pincushion

happy 4th of July!

July's pincushion is complete, just published it yesterday! None too soon. Just in time to wish everyone a Happy 4th of July holiday!

Introducing my newest pattern, #11 in my series of monthly pincushions, Having-A-Ball! Pincushion. It was a fun pattern to create, very different from my others, mainly in how it was constructed. Always fun to try out new techniques and ideas.

July is the month of picnics, fireworks, and lazy days spent at the beach. This beach ball pincushion is a quick and easy knit and felt with optional 'stars & stripes' embroidery detailing. 

The pincushion uses worsted weight yarns, and measures about 3.5-inches wide after felted and stuffed. It is knit flat and sewn at the seam using a half-grafting method. The ends are synched shut before felting. The end panels are a piece of hand-dyed 100% wool fabric or felt sewn on. The wool fabric comes in a variety of colors and plaids. 

A sampling of red-white-and-blue-themed pins are the finishing touch! The pins are from Just Another Button Company, a mini-pin set called 'Where We Dwell'. For other fun patriotic-themed pins check out my ETSY store for more selections.

juggling balls

The beach ball would make a sweet baby's gift, tucked a top a hand-knit sweater or blanket. I have included a jingle bell into the center of the ball to create a rattle sound when shaken. Soft pastel yarn colors would add to the sweetness of this baby gift idea.

Another fun gift, is to knit a set of juggling balls. Knit the ball using sport weight yarn and size 7 or 8 double point needles, creating a smaller ball, perfect for that juggler in your life. Once felted, fill the balls completely with plastic poly-pellets, to give that added weight, perfect for juggling.

If you are around St. Paul, Minnesota this July, I am teaching this pattern at my local yarn store, Knitting from the Heart. Would love to see you there!

Happy knitting!

NEW! queen bee-hive pincushion pattern

queen bee-hive pincushion

 
My newest pattern, a knit & felt pincushion for the month of June, Queen Bee-Hive Pincushion.

Bees are a sign of summer and all things warm and golden. The beehive is where the queen hangs her crown at the end of a buzzy-day. Knit and felt a whimsical 4.5-inch / 11.4 cm beehive as a tribute to the hardest worker out there!

The pattern begins at the base, creating an opening to be later used for stuffing, and works upwards to the top. The beehive is knit as one continuous piece including purl rounds that will be later picked up for the beehive's horizontal ridges. Strands of raffia are knitted along with the yarn when knitting the horizontal ridges, to create a straw-like quality once felted.

Your Queen Bee-Hive is now ready for some early summer gift giving!

This pincushion design is one of 10 patterns now published onliine. I am working on two more designs to complete my year of pincushions: a pincushion for each month of the year.

Come join me in knitting a special pincushion (they make wonderful birthday gifts), each month!

Happy Knitting!

NEW! out-like-a-lamb pincushion

 

out-like-a-lamb pincushion

My newest pattern recently published, 'Out-Like-A-Lamb' Pincushion. Now available online!

As the old saying goes, "March comes in like a Lion and goes out like a Lamb" describes the transition between winter and spring. To help celebrate the anticipation of spring, knit and felt the March pincushion, a lamb, and transform it with a layer of loopy-locks -- a quick and easy embellishing technique. This little lamb makes a great gift for the quilting or sewing enthusiast in your life!

The felted lamb measures about 3-in / 7.6 cm tall from its base to the top of its back. The pattern begins at the base and works upwards to the top. The lamb is knit as one continuous piece, no sewing. The lamb's head stitches are then picked up and knit.

all-white lamb

Once felted, the lamb's body is embellished with loopy-locks: small loops created using a continuous strand of bulky weight yarn then needle felted to the body. The face is embellished using simple embroider and, if desired, decorative pins are the final accent to your finished lamb pincushion!

The little lamb is the seventh pattern in my pincushion-of-the-month collection. Be sure to check out my other designs, more to come! And let me know what you think!

Happy knitting!

YES10

 

Small Shops. Big Deals. Etsy is running a promotions to the stores within, to help get a jump on your holiday shopping with a $10 off coupon once you spend $40 in one shop.  The coupon cose can be used multiple times throughout the promo until the end of the day, October 11, 2023. At checkout, type in the code YES10 and save $10 on that purchase.

My two Etsy Shoppes are linked below:

Marie Mayhew Designs (patterns, tools and yarns): https://www.etsy.com/shop/woollysomething

My Woollysomethings (knitted/felted samples for sale): https://www.etsy.com/shop/mywoollysomethings

So come on by, whether you are looking for patterns, tools or knitted samples for sale. I'd love for you to stop by and save a little at this time!

Happy knitting!

my velveteen pumpkins!

my velveteen-pumpkin

My velveteen pumpkin! I used the Pumpkin Patch pattern using a #5 bulky weight (Bernat Velvet, color Golden Moss) yarn and size 8 double point needles. Because of the chenille-like texture, it is very forgiving in gauge and tension.

stemless pumpkin

I plucked off the stem on a ‘real’ smallish pumpkin and hot-glued it to the top of the velvet pumpkin. Love the look and texture!

At the bottom for the blossom-end, I sewed a medium-size button to the base, coordinating the colors for a fun look.

These velveteen pumpkins are a perfect compliment to your knitting harvest this fall!

Happy knitting!

happy Autumn!

Kathy's bunnies!

 

lil' bunny kisses

I received a wonderful Easter gift this past weekend, an email from a longtime pattern customer. She wanted to share her bunnies with me (above), using my pattern Lil' Bunny Kisses. She has been busy, creating bunnies for her nieces and nephews. And she used scraps and stash yarn to boot. How cute are they?

I love the two-tone paws in the bunny in the front! Kathy said she was running out of yarn and had to improvise. What a fun idea and I am planning on doing the same. I think that if you do a two-tone paw you don't need the round disk on the paw's other side --- a great alternative. 

She told me she had embroidered yarn eyes on each of the bunnies because of the age of the recipients, but glass eyes, size 5 mm, are another alternative. Please keep your child's age in mind when choosing the eyes to prevent unnecessary swollowing.

Her photo has inspired me to create a bunny or two myself! How about you?

Thanks for sharing, Kathy, and giving permission to share your photo of bunnies! Any others have photos to share? If so, send them to mariemayhewdesigns@gmail.com

Happy Easter!

bee mine, valentine!

 

woolly sweet-hearts pattern

I love all things heart-related, especially chocolate! But right now I'm fasting from chocolate so I have to satisfy my 'sweet' tooth other ways this Valentine's day. And one of them is through knitting, of course.

 

The Woolly Sweet-Hearts pattern is not new but I never tire of it. They are so quick and easy to knit and felt up, and a sweet experience to embellish. 

I like using wool batt to stuff my hearts because once stuffed, I throw them back into the wash for a swish or two to felt them further. The wool batt shrinks with the heart creating a firm, sturdy shape that lasts years and years. The wet heart can be molded like clay. And if further detailing is needed, once dry, the little heart can be needle felted further to perfection. That is a rarity, but it is always an option.

woolly candy corn pattern

This year I wanted to combine the hearts with my Woolly Candy Corn pattern for my table display and decided to share it with you. I love the Woolly Candy Corn pattern for its flexibility of color choices, always able to coordinate with the various seasons and holidays throughout the year. I have woolly candy in every color and size, so I can pull them out and add them to any display!

Make small ones using wool sport weight yarns and size 7 dps, or large ones, using wool worsted weight yarns and size 10.5 dp needles. So simple, embellished or not! But a little embroidery and buttons will go a long way. That special gift for all those dieters in your life. Treat them this Valentine's day with the gift that keeps on giving, year after year. Happy Hearts Days!

Happy knitting!