woolly snowman kits are here!

woolly snowman kits

My snowman kits are finally put together and available for sale!

The kit has all the makings for one large or small snowman, complete with pattern, yarn and more. I have included a clay carrot nose in each kit to give a different texture. I love the clay noses because they hold their shape year after year. The scarf is knit using Frog Tree alpaca yarns to create a soft and fuzzy neck warmer. You will definitely have some cream yarn leftover to start another snowman!

Don't forget to brush your snowman after felting with a nap riser brush. I have found that it softens the felted wool and fluffs up any yarn even if it doesn't have alpaca or mohair in it. It also helps to hide some of the imperfections from the felting process, especially when using creamier or whiter yarns. Nap riser brush is not included in the kit.

The snowman pattern, kit and nap riser brush are all available for sale on my Etsy shoppe: Marie Mayhew Designs Stop by for a visit!


To mark 10 years of woolly snowman making, I have created a gold sticker and placed it on each pattern sold this year. Thanks to all those that have knit & felt snowmen for the past 10 years. It's been woolly fun!

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!

The Year of the Woolly Snowman

Next year, 2013, will mark the 10 year anniversary of the Woolly Snowman pattern. I can't believe it has been that long!

To help celebrate the anniversary, I have created a special Facebook page. Still working on a clever name for the sight. Here I will have fun photos, ideas and quotes like this one, above, as a tribute to the snowman. In addition, I am encouraging others who have knit and felted a snowman or two to share their photos. Especially photos of their snowmen going new places, worldly travels, interesting sights. If we get enough photos, I would love to create a snowman calendar for the year 2014.

To mark the beginning of the year, I am now knitting and felting a HUGE snowman using bulky yarn and size 15 needles. Not life-size, but big enough to melt your heart. Stay tuned for photos.

Come 'like' my page to receive updates and to stay-in-touch.

https://www.facebook.com/woollysnowman

Happy knitting!