Knitted Ornament Bears

Margaret O.: Originally Posted on Tuesday, November 22, 2011 9:05 PM

Christmas Tree Bears By: Little Cotton Rabbits Free Patterns  Adorable knitting projects can be made for Christmas too! Make these Christmas Tree Bears for special decoration this year. The kids will also love them. Estimated Cost: $11-$20 Time to complete: Weekend project Main Material: Yarn Skill Level: Intermediate  Materials needed:  2.25mm needles (size 1 US, UK/Canada 13) a pair of double pointed needles 2.25mm (size 1 US, UK/Canada 13) oddments of 4ply yarn in red and white oddments of bear coloured yarn (4ply or DK) a small circle of felt to reinforce the stitching on the face a short length of black yarn for embroidering the face small amount of toy stuffing / carded wool 6 inch length of ribbon a couple of lengths of strong yarn (knitting this pattern in thicker weight yarn and larger needle sizes will give a larger decoration) You can download a pdf to print out here: http://littlecottonrabbits.typepad.co.uk/files/christmas-tree-bears-from-little-cotton-rabbits.pdf Pattern: Cast on 20 stitches with red coloured yarn Rows 1&2: K all stitches Row 3: K2, (K1 white, K1 red) 9 times Row 4: P all stitches in red  continue in stocking stitch with red yarn for a further 6 rows. Cut the red yarn from work leaving a tail of 5 inches or so for seaming later. Row 11: Change to bear coloured yarn and work 8 rows of stocking stitch With a 6 inch long length of strong yarn (one that will not break) thread through the 20 stitches on  the needle slipping them off as you go (don’t yet tie off these ends). Take another 6 inch length of the strong yarn and pick up the loops from the back of the topmost row of red knitting, again leaving this loose for now. Now take your small circle of felt and place at the back of the work behind where you plan to embroider the face. Using the black yarn embroider a small nose in centre of face - I use 1 stitch across and 1 small stitch downwards. Now add the eyes (if you wish you can tie a small knot in the thread to make the eye stand out). Knot the black thread at the back of the work and tie ends securely trimming off the excess.     Take the length of ribbon, double it over and tie a knot in the end to form a loop. Pull the strong yarn ends at the very top of the work to start to gather in the top of the head. Thread the ribbon through the top gathered edge of the head with the loop on the outside and the knot inside the head. Tightly pull the yarn ends gathering in the top of head and tie off securely. Begin joining the seam down the back of the head using the cast off end of bear coloured yarn.    When you reach the bottom of the head take a small piece of stuffing and use to firmly stuff the head. Then take up the second pair of strong yarn ends and pull very tightly to gather in the neck - tie off securely and leave ends inside the body. Continue seaming down the rest of the body to the cast on edge. Stuff the body cavity and join the seam at the bottom of the dress (I pick up the stitch loops inside the body from the back of the second row up. This gives a nice flared out edge to the bottom of the dress). Now make the limbs (4 the same). Cast on 4 stitches with the double pointed needles and knit a short i-cord (Tutorial here - scroll down to find) of around 6 rows in length. Cut the work from the ball and thread the end through the stitches on the needle and then through the middle of the work - knotting it securely to the cast on tail - there are pictures for making the limbs over on my free pattern for teeny tiny toys here: http://littlecottonrabbits.typepad.co.uk/free_knitting_patterns/2008/12/christmas-tree-bears.html   Tutorial here: http://www.knittinghelp.com/videos/knitting-tips To make the bear ears cast on 3 stitches, knit 1 row, cast off 3. Tie cast on and cast off ends together tightly and join to the top of the head with a few stitches. Knot ends securely together and thread through the body before trimming excess. Take the first of the limbs and join to the body with a few stitches. Knot ends securely together and thread through the body before trimming off the excess. Repeat with the remaining limbs. And there you have a little, itty, bitty bear Christmas decoration, all ready for hanging on the tree! If you prefer you can make the dress extra long (around 12 rows) and not bother with the legs.  If you would like a rabbit instead of a bear please see my free pattern for teeny tiny toys for the rabbit ear instructions.  http://littlecottonrabbits.typepad.co.uk/free_knitting_patterns/2008/05/teenie-tinies.html Copyright © Julie Williams, 2008.  Sources: http://www.allfreechristmascrafts.com/Knit-Christmas-Ornaments/Christmas-Tree-Bears/ct/1 and http://littlecottonrabbits.typepad.co.uk/free_knitting_patterns/2008/12/christmas-tree-bears.html

Breast Cancer Awareness Ribbon

Breast Cancer Awareness Ribbon (Crochet)

Margaret O.: Originally Posted on Friday, October 14, 2011 12:57 PM

Breast Cancer Awareness Ribbon  Designed by: Cylinda Mathews  Materials: Sm amt 100% cotton thread, size 10 (Pink, White) Steel crochet hook size 8 USA (1.50 mm) Finishing Materials: Tapestry needle Sm safety pin Finished Size: 2" T Gauge: Not important to overall size Skill Level: Beginner - Medium Ribbon: (Using pink)  Row 1) Ch 33; dc in 5th ch from hook (1st 4 chs skipped count as first dc) (mark first dc), dc in next 8 ch, (2 dc in next ch) 10 times (mark 2nd dc of first 2 dc made with a different color marker), dc in last 10 ch: 40 dc. Mark this as the right side. Fasten off; secure ends. Edging: (Using white) Right side facing, join thread to first dc (first marked st) with a sl st; ch 1, sc in joining, sc in next 7 dc (bring opposite end of ribbon over top to overlap), (working in overlapped end), sc in next 7th dc on opposite end, sc in next 6 dc, ch 3, working on opposite side of row in free lps of foundation ch, sc in first ch, sc in next 7 ch, (working over top of ribbon), sc in next dc (marked st), sc in next 20 dc, (working over foundation ch), sc in next 8 ch, ch 3, sl st in first sc. Fasten off; secure ends. Finishing: Attach safety pin to back  Source: http://www.allfreecrochet.com/Pins/Breast-Cancer-Awareness-Brooch/ml/1

Knitting Techniques: Binding Off

Edited By Margaret C. Ostigny: Originally Posted on Saturday, November 13, 2010 8:17 PM

Binding Off: Intermediate and Advanced Techniques ____________________________________________________________________________ Binding Off: A Fitting End by Ann Budd At some point, all knitting must come to an end and the stitches must be removed from the needles. This can occur at the end of a project when all of the stitches are bound off, or along shaped edges, such as armholes and necklines. Over the centuries, knitters have devised a number of ways to secure the final row of knitting, while producing an edge that is elastic and flexible. Following are several ways to bind off stitches, each with advantages. For best results, all bind-offs should be worked with even tension to produce an elastic edge that will stretch with the knitted fabric below it. If worked too loosely, the edge will flair and look sloppy. Worked too tightly, the edge will fray and eventually break, especially along edges that are subject to stretching such as necklines. To prevent an overly tight bind-off, use a needle one (or more) sizes larger than the one used for the body of the project. End each of these bind-off techniques by cutting the yarn and pulling the tail through the last stitch. Standard Bind-Off This is the most common, and for many knitters, the only method for binding off. Use this method for edges that will be sewn into seams or finished in some way (such as stitches being picked up and knitted). Slip 1 stitch, *knit 1 stitch, insert left needle tip into first stitch on right needle (Step 1), pass this stitch over the second stitch (Step 2), and off the needle—1 stitch remains on right needle and 1 stitch has been bound off (Step 3). Repeat from *. Suspended Bind-Off This method is similar to the standard bind-off but produces a more elastic edge. Use this method when you want to ensure against a tight bind-off edge. Slip 1 stitch, knit 1 stitch, *insert left needle tip into first stitch on right needle and lift the first st over the second (Step 1), leaving the first stitch on the left needle, knit the next stitch (Step 2), then slip both stitches off the left needle—2 stitches remain on right needle and 1 stitch has been bound off (Step 3). Repeat from * until no stitches remain on left needle, then pass first st on right needle over the second.  Invisible Ribbed Bind-Off This method produces a rounded edge that is extremely elastic. It follows the k1, p1 rib and is ideal for neckbands. Work this bind-off with a tapestry needle. Cut the yarn three times the width of the knitting to be bound off, and thread onto a tapestry needle. Working from right to left, insert tapestry needle purl wise (from right to left) through the first (knit) stitch (Step 1) and pull the yarn through, bring the tapestry needle behind the knit stitch, insert it knit wise (from left to right) into the second (purl) stitch (Step 2) and pull the yarn through, *use the tapestry needle to slip the first knit stitch knit wise off the knitting needle, insert tapestry needle purl wise into the next knit stitch (Step 3) and pull the yarn through, slip the first stitch purl wise off the knitting needle, then bring the tapestry needle behind the knit stitch, insert it knit wise into the next purl stitch (Step 4), and pull the yarn through. Repeat from *. Sewn Bind-Off This method, popularized by Elizabeth Zimmermann, forms an exceedingly elastic edge (so it's great for toe-up socks!) that has a ropy appearance, much like a purl row. Work this bind-off with a tapestry needle. Cut the yarn three times the width of the knitting to be bound off, and thread onto a tapestry needle. Working from right to left, *insert tapestry needle purl wise (from right to left) through the first two stitches (Step 1) and pull the yarn through, bring the needle knit wise (from left to right) through first stitch (Step 2), pull the yarn through, and slip this stitch off the knitting needle. Repeat from *.    From: Knitting Daily (www.knittingdaily@interweave.com)       Mon, November 23, 2009 12:28:27 PM