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!

Free Shipping Today

To celebrate the beginning of this year's holiday shopping, I am offering FREE shipping on all orders of patterns and kits today only, Friday, November 23rd, 2012!

Place an order before midnight (Central Time) on my Etsy Shoppe. When ready for check out, it will prompt you 'to apply coupon', enter: MAYHEW23.

Let me know if you have troubles. I will make sure you receive the free shipping.

Thanks again for your interest and support of my woolly patterns!

Happy knitting!

Happy Thanksgiving!

woolly candy corn knit in bulky weight yarn

Wishing you and your family a Happy Thanksgiving! Hope your day is filled with lots of family, friends and wonderful eats!


Happy knitting!

Varying Yarn Weights & Needle Sizes

Woolly Bird pattern

I have been teaching several workshops this fall on creating various ornaments using my patterns, such as the above pattern, Woolly Birds. The pattern calls for worsted weight yarn and size 10.5 needles.

What gets fun is if you change out the yarn weights and use the appropriate size needles for that weight, you get a whole other size bird without any changes to the pattern, such as a smaller bird--perfect ornament size!

When felting, the rule of thumb with needle sizes is go up about 2-3 sizes from what the yarn brand suggests. Below is a chart with the yarn weights and the needle sizes. So if you don't like the original size that my pattern creates, try something new!

Just remember though, if you change the finished size it will effect the embellishing instructions with the pattern. That is, if you make a smaller bird, that new size will need a smaller beak and so forth. But those changes can be very minor.

Don't be afraid to experiment! Let me know if you have any further questions. I am here to help!

Happy knitting!

Frog Tree Alpaca Yarns Available

Frog Tree Alpaca sport weight yarn

Frog Tree Yarns has given me several skeins of yarn to sell and to help promote my newest pattern, Woolly Bird Holiday Ornaments. The colors are the exact colors used on the pattern cover to make the cardinal, the owlet, the tufted-ear owl and the penguin chick.

I encourage you to check with your local yarn stores first to see if they carry Frog Tree sport weight yarns. If not, I have 10 skeins in each color available for sale on my Etsy site. When these skeins sell out that is it! 

So get them while they last!

Happy knitting!

New pattern available!

I can't believe it myself, but yes, I have another new pattern this year, Woolly Bird Holiday Ornaments! I am excited because they are so quick and easy to knit up and whimsical to embellish.

The birds call for alpaca sport weight yarn. That way after felting they can be vigorously brushed using the nap riser brush, to create fuzzy, soft little creatures! The perfect final touch to these little birds. The birds in the photo were knit using Frog Tree alpaca sport weight. One skein makes dozens of birds.

I actually timed the knitting process. Each bird took 15 minutes to knit up. The embellishing materials include many items found already in your craft bin: acrylic felt, embroidery floss, wool roving for the beaks and 20-gauge wire (found in any craft store) for the hooks. Don't be intimidated by the hooks, I give very detailed instructions and diagrams.

My favorite ornament? The cream owlet, of course! I love that simple little face! Which is your favorite bird ornament?

Word of caution, you will be making them for everyone this year!

Happy knitting!

Matilda the Witch

Matilda the Witch

NOTICE: As of January 1st, 2015 I have taken the Matilda the Witch gnome PDF off my website for downloading. My new book, Whimsical Woollies, is coming out in May and will have all the gnome adaptions in it. They are new and improved and all in one simple location. Thanks!

Matilda the Witch has been around for awhile, some of you may recognize her. What is new is a pdf download now available for easy access to these supplemental instructions.

Matilda is created using my Woolly Gnome & Mushroom pattern. This pdf gives you clear instructions on the yarn colors needed, how to needle felt the nose and chin, a template for the little felt bats and more! Contact me if you are interested in a PDF download.

Be sure to check out my website for other fun pdf downloads. My goal is to keep adding to this page and to keep the fun coming your way!

Look for my Woolly Santa pdf download, another adaptation of the Woolly Gnome & Mushroom pattern.

Happy knitting & felting!