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!

the weather outside is frosty!

 

roly-poly snowman pincushion

snowbird pins

The weather outside is frightful, but knitting inside is delightful! Wouldn't you agree? This little guy captures the feel of winter around the country. Enjoy a little winter fun without all the cold and wet, knit a pincushion or two for your favorite winter enthusiasts, complete with decorative clay pins.

My Roly-Poly Snowman Pincushion pattern is available PDF format only. It is a knit and felt pattern, knit in one continuous piece, no sewing or piecing required. I love this guy and hope you will too!

Happy knitting!

an apple a day, knit one!

back-to-school apple pincushion

It's time for Autumn knitting! The first day of Fall was just a couple of days ago, so you're not far behind. How about starting with an apple pincushion for that favorite teacher in your life? The apple pattern is a quick and easy knit & felt design with endless possibilities as there are apple varieties: A Red Delicious, a Golden Delicious, and even a Granny Smith (see where I am going with this).

The pattern uses so little yarn, 100% wool, in your favorite red colors. It is knit completely in the round with no sewing necessary. It is felted and decorated with a cinnamon stick stem and knit leaf. The knit leaf adds a wonderful new texture to the apple's smooth felted wool. Knit up a basket full of these savory treats for your table decor. Its just about Harvest Time!

golden delicious apple pincushion

Next month's pincushion, October, is a Retro-Black Cat, perfect for a Halloween themed-knit that is both decorative and functional. My goal is to finish my pincushion series within the next six months (6 more to go). I have a fluffy little Out-like-a-Lamp March sheep pincushion almost finished! Then onto my spring and summer pincushion ideas to finish off a whole year of decorative pincushion designs.

The mini-set of pins that go perfectly with the Back-School Apple pincushion was created by Just Another Button Company especially for me (per my request/suggestion). I sell both the PDF apple pattern and the School Days mini-pin set on either my website or my Etsy store.

Don't hesitate to contact me if you have any further questions on any of my patterns, techniques or ideas. I am always here to help!

Happy knitting!

my sweet-hearts!

 

woolly sweet-hearts

Happy Valentine's Day, one and all! Wishing you sweetness wherever you can find it, hopefully in knitting these sweet little felted hearts sometime in your near future. The PDF pattern is Woolly Sweet-Hearts. It gives two shapes and two sizes to knit. And fun to embellish and decorate with whimsical clay pins.

To help with embellishing I have done a tutorial on several ways to embellish them further like the crochet edge shown above. See HERE or HERE or HERE for tutorial within this blog.

The decorative pins are from Just Another Button Company and I sell several Valentine themed pins in my website or Etsy shop. One set (shown right) I had JABC create just for me, so you can only buy this set within my shops.I love my hearts and they are sitting out in a bowl on my coffee table as we speak. The array of colors and designs are such a bright spot these cold winter days. Be creative or not. They are a quick and easy knit and a delight to embellish.

Be sure to share your heart creations. I would love to see what you create!

Happy knitting!

JABC prairie bee clay button

NEW! owl-be-yours! pincushion pattern

owl-be-yours! pincushion

February is fast approaching, little over a week away. My February pincushion pattern is officially ready! Owl-Be-Yours! pincushion is my sixth pincushion of the month pattern finished, only 6 more to go.

I love this little guy, his big eyes, and how his wings are tucked behind, holding a little valentine and tiny envelope, just waiting for you to take notice and ask: what do you have there?

The knit and felt owl measures about 4-inches tall. He is knit as one continuous piece. It begins at the base and works upward to the top. The owl's mask, wings and tail stitches are each individually picked up and knit. Once felted, the eyes are embellished using simple needle felting and embroidery. The wool roving beak is created and attached using needle felting.

valentine & envelope

Decorative heart-themed pins and a hand-made valentine are the final accents to the finished owl pincushion. The mini-pins set is from Just Another Button Company. I have created a custom-selected set that is only available in my Etsy Shoppe: red & white valentine pins.

Create a sweet little owl pincushion just in time for Valentine's Day! And yes, you have plenty of time. It knits and felts up quick and is ready for embellishing in hours.

Happy knitting!

NEW! woolly sweet-hearts

woolly sweet-hearts

My newest pattern, Woolly Sweet-Hearts, was published today, just in time for Valentine's Day! But with this pattern,  now everyday is a perfect sweet-hearts day.

every day is sweet-hearts day

Woolly Sweet-Hearts is a knit & felt design. The pattern gives instructions for a Traditional and Folk-style heart in two sizes: small and large.

The Traditional heart shape is more round and the Folk heart is taller, both in body and in the height of its bumps (the two rounded tops of the heart).

The hearts are knit using worsted weight yarn and size 10.5 double point needles. This creates a finished small heart about 2.5-inches wide by 3-inches high, and a large heart about 3.25-inches wide by 4-inches hight. Sizes do vary for each heart style design.

red, white, pink hearts

The hearts in the background, photo above, were knit using sport weight yarn and size 8 double points. Fill a bowl of hearts in several sizes, styles and colors!

In addition, the pattern gives instructions for two embellishing designs: Bee Mine and XXO. Once the hearts are felted, adding a button and simple embroidery turns them into messages of sweet endearment.

Legend says a red heart symbolizes love and passion; a white heart, true love and purity of mind; and a pink one, sweet friendship. Knit a heart in every color to show your true colors!

Happy knitting!

corks & pins for trees

woolly pine trees

The Woolly Pine Trees pattern is now available in either PDF or booklet format. I am so pleased to have published it in time for the holidays. They make great hostess or even secret Santa gifts!

set of 5 wine corks

In addition to the pattern, I also have in-stock for finishing off your little pine trees: wine corks and individual holiday pins. The wine corks are ready-to-go, the perfect size for your tree trunk. Each cork measures about 1 3/4-inches long by 7/8-inch in diameter. Ready to glue and insert into your felted tree. Don't want a wine cork? Just head outdoors and cut yourself a tree branch as a wonderful, natural-looking alternative.

holiday pins

The holiday pins shown are the crowning touch for your little pine tree. The pins are from Just Another Button Company. They are sold individually (you choose the design styles) and as a set of 5 pins (some all the same design and variety packs). Lots of whimsical choices to choose from!

Happy knitting!

woolly pine trees

woolly pine trees

A new pattern is available today, Woolly Pine Trees! A knit & felt holiday place setting design, just in time for the holidays! It is available in PDF format for immediate download or in a booklet format to be mailed out.

Create a memorable impression with your display of decorated trees for your next holiday gathering. Treat each guest with a special gift to take home with them. Each felted tree measures about 4-inch/10-cm tall including trunk. The trunk can be a wine cork or cut from a tree branch. Embellish with ribbon, a string of beads, button polka dots, and/or simple embroidery.

The tree knits up quick. Once felted, they are even more fun to embellish. Simple and sweet!

The tree toppers are stick pins from Just Another Button Company. I sell them either individually or in sets of 5, so you can mix and match. The whimsical pins are the crowning touch!

Let the season of good tidings begin!

Happy knitting!

a 'how to' video

N is for Noel, Just Pins

I recently posted on my Facebook page a video demonstrating how Just Another Button Company makes the clay buttons and pins, as shown above on my woolly holiday ornament. Just in case you didn't see it there I am posting it here. It is fascinating to watch, a little slow but it speeds up near the end. A lot goes into the making of those simple buttons and pins. You get a new appreciation of them after watching this video.

I have for sale a nice selection of pins and several sizes and styles of bee buttons available in my Etsy Shoppe. Hope you enjoy the video!

Happy knitting!

halloween BOO pins

black pumpkins

I found these wonderful pins, perfect for my black pumpkins! The set consists of 5 pins, the black star is missing from this photo. They add such a whimsical touch, the finishing touch.

The 'boo' pins are available on my Etsy shoppe: Marie Mayhew Designs. Come check them out!

Now all this little frightful pumpkin needs is a few polka dots or curly cues, don't you think?

Happy knitting!

gettin' in the pumpkin mood

harvest pumpkin

I have been writing a book, have I mentioned that before? The book's distribution is scheduled for next spring, but first we have to go through winter again. Argh! But I digress here.

I have been busy writing, revising patterns, and taking photos for this book and looked up to notice the leaves changing color already. Pumpkin time! Have you felted a pumpkin today?

'Fright Night' Just Pins

The pumpkin in the photo was knit using Berroco Ultra alpaca yarn. It felts beautifully. I left a long tail at the end of the stem and let it felt like that. The attached vine look is what resulted. The pins are from Just Another Button Company, their 'Fright Night' set, are they not perfect for this pumpkin? I have one set available for sale still in my Etsy shoppe, but can get more.

I am in the works for selling a limited supply of black pumpkin kits this fall. A black pumpkin with a funky green stem and brown florist's wire for a curly vine. And either white felt or yarn to needle felt "BOO!" on its front. I will keep you posted. Don't have a photo yet, still working on the sample, but soon.

Happy knitting!

woolly sheep pin cushion

woolly sheep

Last week I started a Woolly Sheep knit-a-long on my Ravelry group, that's woolly something, and the photo above is the end result. I like my little guy!

I used yarns from my stash, Berroco Ultra alpaca worsted weight yarns, but after felting I don't think the cream was Berroco at all, only the black yarn. It didn't brush out nicely with my nap riser brush like it should have. I am not good at marking my yarns as I should. Oh well!

one in every family

To embellish over my disappointment in how the cream felted, I created a curly-cue pattern using 3-inch strands of 2-ply yarn and needle felting them onto the sheep. It is a little putzy, but worth the effort! The occasional dots here and there are embroidered french knots using the same yarn as the curls as well as to stitch the nose. FYI, I only embellished the sheep's front!

The pins are from Just Another Button Company and they are called 'button box'. The colors match perfectly! Another set of pins that would look equally as cute on my sheep are thematically called 'one in every family'.

I am starting a KAL (knit-a-long) of my Woolly Snowman starting hopefully today!

Happy knitting!

Snowman Season!

We received a dump-load of snow here in Minnesota, and it is finally starting to look a bit like Christmas. The stuff for snowman making is upon us. Actually, it needs to warm up just a bit first!

But everyday is 'snowman' weather for the Woolly Snowman! The snowman above was knit for a client. Just before mailing it off, I stuck a few of the decorative pins into his hat. Isn't he cute? The pins, above, come in a set of five: 4 snowflakes and one cardinal, thus the name, 'Snow Bird'. I love these whimsical pins!

Most of my samples are still in Colorado at a trunk show. But when they return I will demonstrate a few other ideas for using these and other winter-y pins!

Happy knitting!

Fun New Items!

'N is for Noel'

I just added a bunch of new pins, such as the set above, to my Etsy Shoppe. They are decorative pins used to adorn a favorite pin cushion or in my case, a favorite woolly item. These pins come from one of my favorite companies, Just Another Button Company.

Each set includes five pins. Each pin measures about 2-inches high (including pin) by 1/2-inch wide.

The pins are first created out of clay, built into canes and then reduced and cut into each individual shape resulting in precise consistency and detailing. They are sturdy and solid pins.

In the next several weeks, I want to show several ideas on how to use these pins on your own woolly projects adding that further whimsical detail. Stay tuned!

Happy knitting!

woolly beehive skep

The third newest pattern! They are all at the printers and will be available September 1st, 2012. I am excited to share them all with you.

This little beehive has so many possibilities. I will be showing more samples in the next few weeks after the patterns are released. Stay tuned!

The beehive pattern comes in two sizes: small and large. The small felted beehive measures about 3-1/2 inches tall and the large, about 5-inches tall.

In the olden days, beehive skeps were baskets made of grass or straw. They were used for housing a colony of bees as they produced their honeycomb. Now you can knit and felt a whimsical small or large beehive as a tribute to the hardest - the honey bee!

Speaking of honey bees, I am going to be selling the bee pins and buttons, as shown above, on my Etsy shoppe. I love these bee pins! They come from Just Another Button Company. Each pin and button is made from polymer clay with whimsical detailing. Stay tuned!

Happy knitting & felting!