Tuesday 31 January 2012

My Patterns for Sale? - I Think Not

I've recently been notified that one of my FREE patterns is available for sale on another website!!!!

I love designing and making things and part of the pleasure in this is sharing the patterns with everyone and seeing the results of their work, especially on Ravelry. 

I make no financial profit from my patterns so I don't think anyone else should exploit my time and effort by offering for sale what I give FREELY. 

If you ever come across one of my patterns for sale on another site, please let me know. 

On a happier note, here is a picture of Parky the Polar Bear. 

Parky the Polar Bear
He was made by Linda Kennedy from my Arthur the Polar Bear pattern.  Great job Linda. 

Friday 27 January 2012

Paddington Bear Pattern

“Please look after this Bear”
Mr and Mrs Brown first met Paddington on a railway platform. In fact, that was how he came to have such an unusual name for a bear, for Paddington was the name of the station.
From A Bear Called by Paddington by Michael Bond

For my Paddington I used:
100g balls of double knitting yarn (Sirdar Country Style) in brown, navy and red
3 mm and 3.50 mm crochet hooks (US sizes D and E)
Notions – toy stuffing, safety eyes, 3 toggles, black embroidery floss.

The pattern is available as a PDF Download.

UK crochet terms used
dc (UK) = sc (American)

Finished size – approximately 29 cm (11 ½ inches) tall.

To supplement the pattern, I've updated this post on 9th January 2015 to now include photos of Paddington without his clothes on!  - to show how he is constructed.  I hope these pictures will be helpful.





Previously the pattern was included in this post but to save space and to look less cluttered I have removed the text of the pattern.  The pattern can be accessed through the PDF link.  It is also available as a free download on Ravelry, HERE.

Tuesday 24 January 2012

Paddington Bear

Ever since I was little I have loved Paddington Bear from the books by Michael Bond. 

Here are all my treasured books (did they really only only 3 shillings?  - that's 15 pence in new money).

And the adorable illustrations by Peggy Fortnam.



Here are some other pics of the wonderful, well-intentioned but accident-prone bear. 




For Christmas, just for laughs the girls bought me a Paddington Bear jigsaw, and this got me thinking -

So I decided to make my very own Paddington. 

I think he's wonderful - obviously I'm biased, but I do feel proud of him. 

I'm just putting the finishing touches to writing up the pattern and then I'll share it with you.

Friday 20 January 2012

Another Card and Audrey

Here's a picture of a card I made for a friend's birthday. 

Delicate shades of pink and beige - very dainty. 

I've just finished watching an Audrey Hepburn DVD (whilst knitting, of course) - Paris When It Sizzles. 

It was a Christmas present and I've only just remembered I had it!! 

The film doesn't seem to have had very good reviews but I really enjoyed it - I think it has to be watched with tongue in cheek - it is very much a parody of the film business.  I thought it was very funny and Audrey as always is delightful.

I always feel I should smarten myself up when watching an Audrey film - elegance is a definite requirement.

Thursday 19 January 2012

Good Luck Grace

Grace has exams starting today - so lots of luck to her - looking forward to meeting up again when they are over. 

Here is the card I made for her. 

To anyone else out there faced with exams at the moment - I hope they go well.

Monday 16 January 2012

Sneaky Peek

It's 10 days since I last published a post - doesn't time fly when you are completely distracted!  I've been fiddling around and researching more of my family tree - it is so addictive. 

Obviously I'm still making - knitting and crocheting as usual.  Just so that you don't think I've fallen a sleep I thought I would let you have a little sneaky peek at what I'm working on at the moment -

Such a cute bear - and he's not finished yet.  The completed version and pattern will follow soon.

Friday 6 January 2012

Putting Christmas Away

I was all excited yesterday - because I thought it was the day all the Christmas decorations came down.  I started taking them down but when I was told it I was a day early I had to stop - so I defrosted the freezer instead!

Don't get me wrong - as you know I love Christmas - but once New Year has passed, the decorations start to look tired and it's time to move on.  More importantly - I want my table back!  When the tree goes up, my table has to move out to make room for it.  I miss my table - my "work station" - the place where I am organised. 

But today it is back. 

So it's goodbye tree (see you in 11 months time)...

And welcome back table...

With Eve's 18th birthday rapidly approaching - I need my table more than ever to make sure I have everything organised for the big event!

Tuesday 3 January 2012

Some Knitted Christmas Surprises

Getting up-to-date at last!  Here are some photos of some of the surprises I knitted for my girls. 

Firstly, I sat these mice on their pillows on Christmas Eve night with a label saying "Twas the night before Christmas..." and then I put a special message for each of them in the mouse's stocking. 

The mice are based on a pattern by Alan Dart, you can see some of his amazing patterns here

I gave each mouse a lovely long night cap and a colourful stocking.

Each mouse is about 4 inches high - so cute - I'm really happy with these. 

This globe, I made for Grace. 

It's knitted in the round and is quite challenging but great fun to make. 

Details of the pattern can be seen at the Ravelry pattern page, here.   

Monday 2 January 2012

I Remembered the Camera

On my early morning walks I occasionally wander down to the beach.  It's not a very exciting beach - no cliffs or rock pools - just lots and lots of sand - and of course the Iron Men. 

Inevitably I always think when I'm at the beach - I should have brought the camera with me!

Yesterday was just such a morning. The beach was almost deserted - just me, one dog-walker and the iron men.  It was a beautiful misty morning - so peaceful.  

So this morning I made sure I had my camera with me.  The lovely peacefulness of yesterday was gone - it was freezing cold with a very strong wind off the sea - but I did take some photos. 

This next one is looking south to the docks of Liverpool - you can see the Liver Building between the 2nd and 3rd wind turbines from the right. 

I didn't stay long on the beach - even the gulls were struggling with the wind - but at least I remembered the camera. 

Sunday 1 January 2012

Happy New Year

A very Happy New Year to everyone. 

I hope this year brings you lots of pleasant surprises and plenty of contentment. 

I enjoy this time of the year - the calm after the storm of activity associated with Christmas.  Now is the time to get organised and plan ahead.  I still haven't shared with you all the things I made for Christmas - I'll try and rectify this in the next few posts. 

In the meantime, here's a special little knitting project I've been working on since Christmas Day. 

Fifty years ago I was given a lovely doll for Christmas - I called her Wendy and I still treasure her - so to celebrate her 50th birthday I've made her a lovely new coat, hat and shoes.



My Mum gave me some knitting leaflets she no longer wanted and among them was this one. 

"Best of Friends: 12 fun outfits for your favourite doll and Teddy" - perfect, just what I needed. 

Wendy is very pleased with her new outfit. 

There was another leaflet with some knitted outfits for Action Man - I may make some of these next!!