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!