Sunday 6 September 2015

Teddy Pumpkin Sweater





Summers over - what summer we had here in dear old blighty - and my thoughts have turned to patterns for the coming seasons.  So first up here is a cute little pumpkin sweater for Ted  for Halloween.  

The sweater is knit in double knitting yarn and takes about 75g of main colour with small amounts of orange, black and green.  

The pumpkin motif is made using the intarsia (colour block) method and if anyone is new to this here is a great tutorial

Intarsia for dummies      



I've also used a duplicate stitch for decorating the mouth, eyes, nose and mouth here's another link for this technique      duplicate stitch you tube


Please let me know if you find and mistakes on the pattern or have any queries. And when you've made the sweater please put a photo on Ravelry and link to my pattern.  Thanks



Pattern Teddy Pumpkin Sweater




Measurements:   to fit 15/16” Teddy Bear
Actual measurements:  Chest 16”, Length centre back 7”, Sleeve seam 3”
Materials: 75g double knitting yarn in main colour, oddments of orange yarn and small amount of black and green for motif ,  Needles size 3.25mm and 4mm, small button
Tension: 24sts - 30 rows to 10cm (4in) in stocking stitch using no 4mm needles (or the size required to give correct tension.             
Abbreviations:  k: knit, p: purl, Ss: stocking stitch (one row knit, one row purl), inc: increase, dc: decrease, beg: beginning, sts: stitches, tog: together, yon: yarn on needle
Note:  When knitting the motif, use a separate length of main colour yarn at each side of the motif to prevent lengths of yarn across the back of knitting.  Twist yarn when changing colour.
Back
Using smaller needles and main, cast 46sts
Work 6 rows k1, p1 rib, inc 1st at end of last row   (47sts)
Change to larger needles *
Work 22 rows ss   (adjust length here if you want)
Armhole shaping
Next row:  Cast off 3sts at beg of next 2 rows 
Work 22 rows ss
Cast off 8sts at beg of next 2 rows
Fasten off yarn, leave 25sts on holder

Front

As back to *
Work 6 rows ss
Follow chart for pumpkin motif, centre at front At the same time work armhole shaping on row 17 of chart

Armhole shaping

Next row:  Cast off 3sts at beg of next 2 rows 
Work 8 rows ss
Shape neck
Next row:  k 13 turn
Continue for left front
** Dec 1st at neck edge on next 5 rows   (8sts)
Work 8 rows ss   Cast off.  Fasten off yarn
 Right font neck shaping
With right side facing, slip centre 15sts onto holder.  Re-join yarn and k 13sts
Work as left front from **

Sleeves (make 2)

Using smaller needles cast on 38sts
Work 4 rows k1, p1 rib, inc 1 stich at each end of last row    (40sts)
Change to larger needles
Work 20 rows ss, place a marker at each end of row 16 
Cast off loosely

Neckband

Join left shoulder seam
Using smaller needles and with right side facing knit 25sts across back, pick up and knit 14sts down left front, knit 15sts at centre front, pick up and knit 14sts up right front.     (68sts)
Work 4 rows k1, p1 rib.
Cast off loosely in rib ( I use a size larger needle)

To Finish

Join right shoulder seam
Join sleeve seam to markers
Sew in sleeves evenly placing centre of sleeves to shoulder seams.
Sew in all ends

Decorating Motif

Using black and  duplicate stitch embroider mouth, nose and eyes as on chart, and 
using green make stalk as chart.



Thursday 9 April 2015

Teddy knitted dress and shoes





This is an easy knitting pattern for a dress and shoes.  The dress skirt has a 4 row pattern. changing to garter stitch (every row knit) for the bodice.  The shoes were inspired by some little bootees I made for my grandson a while ago.  I had a bit of a fuss to get the right size for the sole of the shoe as teddy bears paws are large and round!  I tried lots of different ways to edge the shoe - knitting a hem was way too fiddly and difficult to explain in a written pattern.  I don't usually add any crochet in what is essentially a knitting pattern, but couldn't figure out another way to make a neat edge.  If you don't crochet, maybe you could top stitch round the edge just to make it stand out a bit which makes the shoes less like babies bootees.....  I added the strap and then thought - what about little slip on shoes so made the motifs which I think works quite well.
The pattern fits my 15" Lil Cub build a bear well and should be ok for small bears if you work a few less rows.  If you have a larger bear its easy enough to add a few more stitches and adjust the pattern.
A few notes on Tension:  I used budget yarn for this pattern which is great for dolls and teddy clothes but it tends to be a bit thicker than other double knit. Check your tension and measure your bear to make sure the dress fits.  The shoes should fit most Build a Bears.  
The actual measurement of the dress is 8" from hem to shoulder and 16" around chest.  

You will need: 100g double knit yarn, 25g double knit yarn and 2 small buttons if making two colour shoes,  No 3.25mm and 4mm needles, (US3 and 6) No 3.5 crochet hook
Tension: 22sts x 30 rows over 4” using no 4mm needles and pattern
Abreviations: k: knit, p: purl, tog: together, sts: stitches, yf: yarn forward, S1: slip one stitch, M1:  pick up loop between last and next st and work into the back of this loop.
Dc: double crochet (US single crochet), ch: chain


Dress

Back and front (both alike)
Using no 3.25 needles cast on 72sts
Work 6 rows in garter stitch (every row knit)
Change to no 4mm needles 
Work 2 rows stocking stitch (knit one row, purl one row)
Row 1: k2,p2 to end
Row 2: purl
Row 3: p2, k2 to end
Row 4: purl
These 4 rows form the pattern
Repeat pattern until work measures 4.5 ins ending on a wrong side

Next row:  (k2tog) across row (36sts)
Work 9 rows garter stitch
Shape armhole:
(right side facing)  Cast off 4sts at the beginning of next 2 rows.
Next row: k2tog, k to last 2sts, k2tog  (26sts)
Work 9 rows garter stitch
Neck shaping:
Next row: k8, cast off 10sts, k8
Turn, continue on 8sts:
Next row: k6, k2tog
Next row: k2tog, k5  (6sts)
Work 10 rows garter stitch  (check length of straps against your bear to ensure a good fit)
Cast off. Fasten off yarn leaving a tail for sewing seam.

Rejoin yarn to remaining 8sts wrong side facing.
Next row: k2tog, k6
Next row: k5, k2tog (6sts)
Work 10 rows garter stitch  
Cast off. Fasten off yarn leaving a tail for shoulder sewing seam.


To finish

Sew side seams
Sew shoulder seams
Fasten off all ends


Shoes with straps

Using no 3.25 needles cast on 28sts
Row 1: knit
Row 2: k1, m1, k12, m1, k2, m1, k12, m1 k1   (32sts)
Row 3: knit
Row 4: k2, m1, k12, m1, k4, m1, k12, m1 k2   (36sts)
Row 5: knit
Row 6: k3, m1, k12, m1, k6, m1, k12, m1 k3   (40sts)
Row 7: knit
Row 8: k4, m1, k12, m1, k8, m1, k12, m1 k4   (44sts)
Row 9: knit
Row 10: k5, m1, k12, m1, k10, m1, k12, m1 k5   (48sts)
Row 11: knit
Row 12: k6, m1, k12, m1, k12, m1, k12, m1 k6   (52sts)

Change to no 4mm needles  
Work 8 rows garter stitch
Shape  top
Row 1: k32, k2tog, turn   
Row 2: s1, k12, k2tog, turn
Row 3: s1, k12, k2tog, turn
Repeat rows 2 and 3  twice
Row:  8: s1, k12, k2tog, turn
Row 9 s1, k to end of row across all sts
Cast off  
Join foot and back seam

Strap
Using no 4mm needles cast on 3sts
Work 24 rows garter stitch
Next row:  k2tog, yf, k1
Knit 1 row
Cast off


Shoe Edging



Using no 3.5 crochet hook fold shoe along last row of sole (see picture) and beginning at centre back edge work a round of dc through loops.

Sew strap onto shoe as in photo, placing button hole on outer side of right and left shoe.  Sew on button to correspond with buttonhole.


Shoes with white sole and motif


Using white yarn, work as shoes above to end of row 12
Change to contrast yarn and continue to end.
Use white to complete edging.
Motif
With no 3.50 crochet hook and white yarn make 3ch, 6dc in 3rd ch from hook, slip stitch to top of 1st dc, (3ch, 1dc) to last dc, slip stitch in dc
Sew motifs on front of shoe and sew on button.  You can also make a motif and sew on dress to match shoes

Fasten off all ends

Finished Projects  on ravelry