woolly snowman knit-a-long

woolly snowman

To help celebrate Woolly Snowman 2013, the 10-year anniversary of my Woolly Snowman pattern, I am conducting a KAL (knit-a-long).

I have bought my yarn and am ready to begin knitting today. On my Ravelry group, that's woolly something, I will share the details and tips along the way. Come join my group to stay in touch!

First off, I will be knitting my Woolly Snowbaby pattern but changing it out slightly. That is, I am going to make a large snowbaby using two strands of worsted and one strand of Frog Tree sport weight all carried together. I will use size 13 dps, rather than size 8. We'll see what the end result will be.

I am experimenting on the snowbaby because I am curious how the felting will turn out. I want to try it on the tall snowman pattern to create a LARGE one, door stopper-size. I will post plenty of photos along the way.

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!

a woolly knit-a-long

woolly sheep with curly locks

Attention all you Ravelry fans!

I am trying something new on my Ravelry group page, that's woolly something. We are going to attempt a knit-a-long there. We will knit & felt the Woolly Sheep pattern. You can create either a black-and-white version or an all-cream lamb, your choice.

We begin tomorrow, Thursday, February 7th, 2013. Sorry such short notice, but come and join right in, anytime. I will be sharing my new unpublished updates to this pattern: a new approach to the legs. If everybody likes them, I will be sharing them with the world at large later on.

All you need is the current pattern and some yarn. Have any questions? don't hesitate to ask. All my patterns are now available in PDF format on Ravelry.

Look forward to knitting along with you!

Happy knitting!

woolly santa ornament

woolly gnome & mushroom pattern

I created this santa gnome ornament over the holidays and just love him!

I used the same Woolly Gnome & Mushroom pattern. As you can see he is smaller than my usual gnome, a perfect size for the tree or wreath. I hung him along with my matroyshka doll ornament on my dining room chandelier -- decked with pine boughs, little glass pine cones and ball ornaments.

This gnome santa is made using Cascade 220 fingering weight red yarn and size 5 dps. I needle felted a bigger nose and used embroidery thread for the eyes. I knit the gnome’s hat’s brim with the cream yarn and once felted, needle felted a decorative trim on to give the brim a fur-like look. The beard is needle felted wool roving. No feet on this gnome.

I also stuffed him with woolly stuffing so it would hold its shape longer. Plus the stuffing allowed me to needle felt it afterwards into desired shape. I love woolly stuffing for that little trick alone!

It would be cute with a white jingle bell on top too.

Happy Knitting!

Yarns for Sale!

Frog Tree Brushed Suri - CREAM

I have been doing inventory these past few days, counting each and every ziplock bag, pattern and whatever else I can find that needs to be accounted for. In the process, I found several skeins of Frog Tree brushed suri. These skeins are leftovers from my Woolly Sheep Kit days.

I absolutely love this yarn! It is a fingering weight yarn that is perfect for carrying along with another feltable yarn to create soft and fuzzy little bunnies or sheep or owls, you name it. Don't be limited by only adding a cream yarn along with it. Use it with a grey worsted weight yarn and create a fuzzy variegated owl. Or along with a black worsted to create a little bigger grey-like kitty kat. The addition of Frog Tree's brushed suri doesn't distort the shape of whatever you are felting.

Speaking of black worsted yarns, I also found several skeins of Nature Spun worsted weight, #601 Pepper. This too is leftover from my Woolly Sheep Kit days.

Nature Spun worsted weight - BLACK

Both yarns are available on my Etsy shoppe for a limited time only. That is, until they sell out. Get them while they last!

Happy Knitting!

pdf-style patterns!

I am now starting to offer pdf-style patterns available on my Etsy shoppe. Soon, all of my patterns, except for the nest ornament kit, will be available both in booklet and pdf formats. I personally love the booklet format and the feel of a printed pattern in my hands. But not everyone is like me, thank goodness!

Many customers have contacted me over this past year, putting in their requests for a pdf-style pattern. I have listened, believe it or not! and they are now available. I am still formatting a few others but soon all of my patterns will be available PDF-style.

I will have all them available for sale on Ravelry soon as well. Stay tuned!

Come join my Ravelry group:  That's Woolly Something
Come 'like' my Facebook page:  Marie Mayhew Designs

Happy Knitting!

happy new year!

To help celebrate the dawning of a new year, I am offering FREE SHIPPING today (12/31/2012) and tomorrow (1/01/2013)! What better way to celebrate then with new patterns on their way!

When placing an order for patterns on my Etsy shoppe, enter the code: 2013PARTY to receive the free shipping coupon. If it doesn't work, just send me a message to let me know. I will make sure you receive your free shipping costs. I appreciate your business and want to say 'thank you'!

Happy New Year!

Happy Knitting!