Owlies

Hoot Hoo!
I'm back again with another freebie for you all. I've had my eye on the crochet version of this pattern for a while now, it looked so simple and the end result is a fantastic whimsy looking toy. So when I needed an excuse to use up the ever growing stash of toy saftey eyes there was no doubt which pattern I would use, and so the little knitted owlies were born.

The original crochet pattern for little owlets was created by Brigitte Read over at Roman Sock she has gorgeous little creations and a few free crochet patterns for those you who crochet, that little mohair pomeranian is so sweet.

So on to the pattern, Iused 7.5mm eyes from enami eyes for this little fellow (colour: grass green). However please have a look at the link to where you can buy saftey eyes from on the net, there are loads of fantastic sellers out there, my other favourite being 6060 and suncatcher I think these little guys would look so cute with huge eyes so even going up to 8mm or 9mm would look great.
You can even use felt or buttons instead. Experiment, it's fun, plus these guys are so quick to knit you'll want to make loads of them. By the way this pattern only uses decreasing so if your a beginner and want to advance a little from a knit/purl square then try out this pattern.




Materials
• Set of 3.25mm needles (UK size 10, US size 3)
• Yarn needle
• Toy stuffing
• 7.5mm coloured safety eyes

Yarn colours
• Brown
• Beige

Yarn weight: Double knitting/ worsted weight

Gauge: not important but make it tight so stuffing doesn’t show through

Finished measurements: approx 2" tall and 2" wide

Click here for my abbreviation list

TOY SAFETY
Remember never use toy safety eyes on a toy intended for a child under 3 years old, they are a potential choking hazard, please embroider on any features so they cannot be easily removed by little fingers or gnashers!

Please click here for my copyright info


Head
CO 24 in brown
1-11. (Begin with purl) st-st 11 rows
12. *k2tog, k2* along (18sts)
13. purl
14. *k2tog, k1* along (12sts)
15. purl
16. *k2tog* along (6sts)

*NOTE this piece is sewn up so that the end toy has the wrong side (reverse stockinette stitch) side on the outside, so the end toy has a slight wavy look to it*

Cut yarn leaving a long yarn tail. With the wrong side on the outside use the long yarn tail to seam together the row ends up to the cast on stitches. Make sure the reverse stockinette stitch is on the outside and add your safety eyes (with the washer side in the 'right' stokinette stitch side) and stuff the head. Continue to sew the cast on stitches together and shape the ears with few stitches at each side. Photographs of how this is done can be seen on the original pattern.

Head Piece
CO 8 in beige
1-10. garter stitch for 10 rows
11. k2tog, k6 (7sts)
12. k2tog, k5 (6sts)
13. k2tog, k4 (5sts)
14. k2tog, k3 (4sts)
15. k2tog, k2 (3sts)
16. k2tog, k1 (2sts)
17. k2tog (1st)

Cut the yarn leaving a long yarn tail to sew the piece onto the head, starting with the cast on stitches placed at the back between the ears and then the point in between the two safety eyes, secure it down with the long yarn tail.

Go forth and mutliple these little guys, tiny turtles are so last year, Little owl armys are the way forward!

Wee Mouse

This little fellow was inspired by one of my favourite poems by a famous Scottish poet called Robert Burns, the poem is titled To a mouse.

In the poem it talks of how the mouse has been run out of his nest by a farm field being ploughed. the picture of the wee mouse shows how he has now made a new home in a caravan at the bottom of my gardern!

Truth be told this little mouse actually started out as a hamster when I sat down with my ball of scrap yarn to create. However the more I knit on the more I realised he actually looked like a little field mouse, and so Wee Mouse was created. As you may already know wee means tiny or very small in Scotland,

He knits up super quick even for those who aren't fast knitters, because he is only a tiny 3.5" tall. As usual knit on two straight needles but you'll be better using two dpns as the pattern calls for I-cord as well.

Material

Materials
• Set of 3.25mm needles (UK size 10, US size 3)
• Yarn needle
• Toy stuffing
• Pink embroidery thread
• 5mm safety eyes or black yarn/thread

Yarn colours
• Brown
• Beige

Yarn weight: Double knitting/ worsted weight

Gauge: not important but make it tight so stuffing doesn’t show through

Finished measurements: approx 3.5" tall

Click here for my abbreviation list

TOY SAFETY
Remember never use toy safety eyes on a toy intended for a child under 3 years old, they are a potential choking hazard, please embroider on any features so they cannot be easily removed by little fingers or gnashers!

Please click here for my copyright info

Head
CO 6 in brown
1. purl
2. *kfb* along(12sts)
3. purl
4. *kfb, k1* along(18sts)
5. purl
6. knit
7. purl
8. *k2tog,k1* along(12sts)
9. purl
10. knit
11. purl
12. *k2tog* along(6sts)

Cut yarn, leaving a long tail. Draw tail through remaining stitches and pull tightly and secure. Use tail to mattress stitch row ends closed stopping halfway to add eyes and embroider on a nose and fill with stuffing. Close remaining opening and secure any loose yarn ends.

Body
CO 6 in brown
1. purl
2. *kfb* along (12sts)
3. purl
4. *kfb,k1* along (18sts)
5-13. Begin with purl and st-st 9 rows
14. *k2tog* along (9sts)
15. BO

BO remaining stitches leaving a long tail. Use tail to mattress stitch the body closed stopping halfway to fill with stuffing. Continue to mattress stitch until you reach the cast on stitches. Draw the yarn through the cast off stitches, pull tightly and secure. Weave in any leftover yarn ends.

Arms
CO 4 in brown
1-5. i-cord for 5 rows

Cut a long yarn tail and draw it through the remaining stitches,leave the remaining yarn tail to attach arms to body.

Legs
CO 6 in brown
1-7. Begin with purl and st-st 7 rows

Cut yarn leaving a long yarn tail to mattress stitch the row end together. Continue up to the cast on stitches, then draw through all the cast on stitches to give a drawstring effect, pull tightly and secure and leave a long tail to sew onto body.

Ears
CO 3 on brown
1. purl
2. *kfb* along (6sts)
3. purl
4. BO leaving a long yarn tail

Fold the ear in half width wise and stitch from the BO stitches down to the CO stitches. Leave a long yarn tail to attach to head.


Tail
CO 2 in beige
1-9. I-cord for 9 rows

Cut a long yarn tail and draw it through the remaining stitches,leave the remaining yarn tail to attach arms to body.

If you knit up a wee mouse please post your pictures on the knitted toy box flickr group or if your a member of Ravelry put it on your project page so I can have a peek. I'd love to see the secret lives of your little mice.
Happy knitting everyone
Raynor x

Sugar Bunny

This pattern has been in my free project pipeline for a long time. The original is a very popular crochet rabbit from the Lions Brand website known as Best Bunny, I think this finished toy is adorable and so sweet hence why I've re-named it as the Sugar Bunny.
This toy was a huge hit with my one year old, she swiped it as soon as I had finished it off. however my two year old also wanted to give it hugs so it looks like i'll have to be knitting up more already. At least it has the official child seal of approval!
As always I love seeing the variety of toys people come up from my patterns so I'd love to see these adorable little bunnies knit in a whole array of colours, and remember to show off you work on the knitted toy box group.

Materials
· Set of 3.25mm needles (UK size 10, US size 3)
· Yarn needle
· Toy stuffing

Yarn colours
· Cream
· Pink

Yarn weight: Double knitting/ worsted weight

Gauge: not important but make it tight so stuffing doesn’t show through

Finished measurements: approx 6" tall

Click here for my abbrevation list

HEAD
CO6 in cream
1. purl
2. Kfb (12sts)
3. Purl
4. *Kfb, k1* along (18st)
5. Purl
6. *Kfb, k2* along (24st)
7. Purl
8. *Kfb, k3* along (30st)
9-13. St-st 5 rows (start with purl)
14. *K2tog, k3* along (24st)
15. Purl
16. *K2tog, k2* along (18st)
17. Purl
18. *K2tog, k1* along (12st)
19. Purl
20. *K2tog* along (6st)

Cut yarn, leaving a long tail. Draw tail through remaining stitches and pull tightly and secure. Use tail to mattress stitch row ends closed stopping halfway to add eyes and embroider on a nose and fill with stuffing. Close remaining opening and secure any loose yarn ends.


BODY
CO 6 sts in cream
1. purl
2. *kfb* along (12sts)
3. purl
4. *k1, kfb* along (18sts)
5. purl
6. *k2, kfb* along (24sts)
7. purl
8. *k3, kfb* along (30sts)
9-13. St-St 5 rows (start with purl)
14. *K2tog, k3* along (24sts)
15. Purl
16. Knit
17. Purl
18. *K2tog, k2* along (18sts)
19. Purl
20. Knit
21. Purl
22. *K2tog, k1* along (12sts)
23. Purl
24. BO

BO remaining stitches leaving a long tail. Use tail to mattress stitch the body closed stopping halfway to fill with stuffing. Continue to mattress stitch until you reach the cast on stitches. Draw the yarn through the cast off stitches, pull tightly and secure. Weave in any leftover yarn ends.

EARS (make 2)
Cast on 4 in pink
1. purl
2. knit
3. purl
4. *Kfb, k1* along (6st)
5. purl
6. knit
7. purl
8. *Kfb, k2* along (8st)
9. purl
10. knit
11. purl
12. *Kfb, k3* along (10st)
13. purl
14. knit
15. purl
16. *Kfb, k4* along (12st)
17. purl
18. knit
19. purl
20. *Kfb, k5* along (14st)
21-29. (begin with purl) St-st 9 rows
30. BO (leaving a long yarn tail about 13")

Fold the ear in half width-wise so the row ends meet. use the long yarn tail to whipstich together all the row ends and then leave the long yarn tail to sew the BO stitches to the head.

LEGS (make 2)
CO 6 sts in cream
1-5. st-st for 5 rows (start with purl)
6. *kfb* along (12sts)
7. Purl
8. Knit
Change to pink
9. Purl
10. Knit
11. Purl
12. k2tog along (6sts)

Cut yarn leaving a long yarn tail to mattress stitch the row end together. Stop halfway and lightly fill with stuffing. Continue up to the cast on stitches, then leave a long tail to sew onto body.

ARMS (make 2)
Cast on 6 in cream
1-7. st-st 7 rows

Cut yarn leaving a long yarn tail to mattress stitch the row end together. Stop halfway and lightly fill with stuffing. Continue up to the cast on stitches, then draw through all the cast on stitches to give a drawstring effect, pull tightly and secure and leave a long tail to sew onto body.

TAIL
CO 6 sts in cream
1. purl
2. *kfb* along (12sts)
3. Purl
4. Knit
5. Purl
6. k2tog around (6sts)

Cut yarn, leaving a long tail. Draw tail through remaining stitches and pull tightly and secure. Use tail to mattress stitch row ends closed stopping halfway to fill with stuffing. Close remaining opening leaving a long tail to sew onto body.

♥ Raynor

Milk & Cookies

Ok apologies first off since it has been forever since I posted a pattern on this blog, I've had loads that I want to make into free patterns but being a bit of a procrastinator I never get around to it.
Anyway this is one of my original patterns that I no longer have for sale and it's just sitting away looking lonely as there is nobody to make these little guys. And oh do you want to make these because the only two words to describe them are SUPA KAWAII!!

The little heart in the picture was created using the mochi mochi land free heart pattern which you can find by clicking here. Whilst your there have a look at Anna's other patterns both for free and for sale because she is an amazingly talented designer, I love the randomness of her work.

The milk also reminds me of milky the little carton from the Blur 'coffee and tv' music video, so if you know anyone who is a milky fan then knit one up for them.
My usual copyright blurb still stands for these little fellows, i.e go forth and multiply them, even sell them but show the love and don't sell the pattern.

So here's the pattern go and grab your needles and knit up the greatest love story ever told!

Materials
· Set of 3.25mm needles (UK size 10, US size 3)
· Yarn needle
· Toy Stuffing
· Scissors
· 5mm Toy safety eyes (optional)

Yarn colours
· Blue
· White
· Brown
· Scraps of black and pink yarn/thread if embroidering the eyes and mouth and cheeks

Yarn weight: Double knitting (DK)

Gauge: not important but make it tight so stuffing doesn’t show through

Finished measurements: Milk is approx. 6” tall, 3” wide
Cookie is approx 2” wide, 1” tall

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
MILK

Cast on 20 st in white
1. Purl
2-27. St-st for 26 rows
28. Purl
Change to blue yarn
29. Purl
Keep your work facing on the right side (do not turn)
Cast on 60 sts in blue (80sts)
30. *k19, p1* three times, k20
31. P20, *k1, p19* three times
32 -37. Repeat rows 30 and 31 three more times (8 rows in total)
Change to white yarn
38-39. Repeat rows 30 and 31
40-44. For the next 5 rows follow the pattern below (you may need to click on the picture to see the full chart)

White square: use white yarn
Blue square: use blue yarn
Red square: on an odd row indicates a purl, on an even row indicates a knit

45-66. Repeat rows 30 and 31 for 22 rows
67. Knit across

For the following rows the stitches in black indicate where the white yarn should be used and the stitches in blue indicate where the blue yarn should be used.

68. P1, k17, p2, k19, p1, p1, k17, p2, k20
69. P20, k2, p16, k1, p1, k1, p19, k2, p16, k1, p1
70. K1, p1, k16, p2, k19, p1, k1, p1, k16, p2, k20
71. P20, k1, p1, k1, p14, k1, p2, k1, p19, k1, p1, k1,p14, k1, p2
72. K3, p1, k12, p1, k2, p1, k19, p1, k3, p1, k12, p1, k2, p1, k20
73. P20, k1, p2, k1, p12, k1, p3, k1, p19, k1, p2, k1, p12, k1, p3
74. K4, p1, k10, p1, k3, p1, k19, p1, K4, p1, k10, p1, k3, p1, k20
75. P20, k1, p4, k1, p8, k1, p5, k1, p19, k1, p4, k1, p8, k1, p5
76. K5, p1, k8, p1, k4, p1, k19, p1, K5, p1, k8, p1, k4, p1, k20
77. P20, k1, p5, k1, p6, k1, p6, k1, p19, k1, p5, k1, p6, k1, p6
78. K7, p1, k4, p1, k6, p1, k19, p1, K7, p1, k4, p1, k6, p1, k20
79. P20, k1, p6, k1, p4, k1, p7, k1, p19, k1, p6, k1, p4, k1, p7
80. K8, p1, k2, p1, k7, p1, k19, p1, K8, p1, k2, p1, k7, p1, k20
81. P20, k1, p8, k2, p9, k1, p19, k1, p8, k2, p9
82. BO 60 st, p20 (20 sts)
Continue with all blue yarn
83-87. st-st 5 rows
88. Purl
89-93. st-st 5 rows
94. BO remaining stitches


COOKIE


Biscuit (make 2)
CO6 in brown
1.knit
2.*kfb* along(12sts)
3.knit
4.*kfb, k1* along (18sts)
5.knit
6.*kfb, k2* along (24sts)
7.knit
8.*kfb, k3* along (30sts)
9.knit
10.*kfb, k4* along (36sts)
11.knit
12.BO

Filling
Cast on 33 with white
1-3. Garter stitch 3 rows
4. BO

Seaming Schematics

Milk
The black dotted lines in the diagram represent areas which should be folded. The following steps should be carried out with the right side facing towards you. Use whip stitch for all the steps apart from step 7 where mattress stitch is used.

Step 1.
Sew together the areas indicated by the red dotted lines.


Step 2.
Sew together the areas indicated by the red dotted lines.


Step3.
Sew together the areas indicated by the red dotted lines.


Step 4.
Sew together the areas indicated by the red dotted lines.


Step 5.
With the black dotted edges folded inwards, pin together the top edge of the white coloums and sew together.


Step 6.
Now take the extended blue flap and fold over the middle, then sew down both vertical edges. Then sew the horizontal edge against the diagonal edge as indicated by the red dotted lines


The top of the toy should now be looking like a folded milk carton top.
At this point you may like to add the facial features.

Step 7.
Sew together the two row ends indicated by the red dotted lines using mattress stitch for invisible seaming.


At this stage you may like to stuff the toy with polyester toy stuffing for a squishy effect or foam wadding so the finished toy has more structure.

Step 8.
Sew the remaining white edges to the bottom edges of the blue rows as indicated by the red dotted lines

Cookie
Step 1.
Sew together the row ends of the biscuit top


To achieve an invisible seam with garter stitch sew together using the following method:


Join the bottom loop of one row and join it to the top loop of the corresponding row. Follow the diagram for direction. Unlike the diagram the seam must be pulled together as it is worked.

Once the biscuit pieces have been seamed into circles, then attached facial features to one of the biscuit pieces.

Step 2.
Take the filling row and sew together the row ends to make a hoop.

Step 3.
Take the hoop and pin the cast on edge to the wrong side of the bottom biscuit piece. Sew the edges to the biscuit piece.

Step 4.
Take a small amount of polyester toy filling and place it in the little cup of the bottom biscuit and filling piece. A bird’s eye view of cookie should look like this:


Step 5.
Take the top biscuit piece with the face, top side up and pin it to the bind off edge of the filling hoop.
Sew the edges of the filling to the biscuit piece.

Other Information
• If you wish the toy to be for a child under 3 years old or for a pet, I strongly recommend that you embroider on any features to reduce any choking hazard.
• If you fill the whole milk with saftey stuffing the toy is very squishy and won't keep its shape for too long unless its only used for display, if you prefer it to have more ridity then filling it with blocks of foam may be better.
• For a variation on the milk try knitting it in pink for strawberry milk, yellow for banana milk or brown for chocolate milk.
♥ Raynor

Koala Baby

I've had parts of this pattern knit up for quite a while now but I put it to one side and completely forgot about it until I was rummaging through my knitted toy box today. I only needed to add limbs and ears to him and knew it would only take a few ours to knit up so I got cracking. I'm rather annoyed with myself that I didn't finish him sooner because he turned out so cute.

The pattern is a translation of this pattern, a crochet pattern designed by Tamie Snow of Roxycraft. So if you can crochet you should definitely checkout her site her patterns are great, and i love her sense of humour which she often puts into her patterns (which definitely do not suck!).

I also found this will be one of the very few free koala toy patterns out there, so I hope you all like him. Remember to add your pictures of your finished Koala's to the Knitted Toy Box flickr group, you know I love seeing you finished toys.




Materials
· Set of 3.25mm needles (UK size 10, US size 3)
· Yarn needle
· Toy Stuffing
· Scissors
· 5mm Toy safety eyes

Yarn colours
· Grey
· White
· Scraps of black yarn/thread if embroidering the eyes and nose

Yarn weight: Double knitting (DK)

Gauge: not important but make it tight so stuffing doesn’t show through

Finished measurements: approx 4” tall and 3.5” wide

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Body
CO6
1. Purl
2. *Kfb* along(12sts)
3. Purl
4. *kfb, k1* along (18sts)
5. Purl
6. *Kfb* along (36sts)
7-21. (Begin with Purl) st-st for 15 rows
22. *k2tog * along (18sts)
23. BO

BO remaining stitches leaving a long tail. Use tail to mattress stitch the body closed stopping halfway to fill with stuffing. Continue to mattress stitch until you reach the cast on stitches. Draw the yarn through the cast off stitches, pull tightly and secure. Weave in any leftover yarn ends.

Head
CO6
1. purl
2. kfb every sts (12sts)
3. purl
4. * kfb, k1* along (18sts)
5. Purl
6. *kfb, k2* along (24sts)
7. Purl
8. *kfb, k3* along (30sts)
9-15. (Begin with purl) st-st 7 rows
16. *K2tog, k3* along (24sts)
17. Purl
18. *K2tog, k2* along (18sts)
19. Purl
20. *K2tog, k1* along (12sts)
21. Purl
22. *K2tog * along (6sts)

Cut yarn, leaving a long tail. Draw tail through remaining stitches and pull tightly and secure. At this stage you may want to add the safety eyes and embroider a nose. Use tail to mattress stitch row ends closed stopping halfway to fill with stuffing. Close remaining opening leaving a long tail to sew onto body.

Ears (make 2)
CO2 in white
1. purl
2. kfb,k1 (3sts)
3. purl
4. *kfb* along (6sts)
Change to grey
5. purl
6. *kfb* along (12sts)
7. purl
8. BO

Leave a long yarn tail to sew the ears to the head

Arms (make 2)
CO4
1. purl
2. *kfb* along (8st)
3. purl
4. *kfb, k1* along (12st)
5-9. (Begin with purl) st-st 5 rows
10. BO

Leave a long yarn tail to mattress stitch the row end together. Stop halfway and fill with stuffing. Continue up to the cast on stitches, then draw through all the cast on stitches to give a drawstring effect, pull tightly and secure and weave in any loose ends.

Legs (make 2)
CO4
1. purl
2. *kfb* along (8st)
3. purl
4. *kfb* along (16st)
5-9. (Begin with Purl) st-st 5 rows
10. BO

Leave a long yarn tail to mattress stitch the row end together. Stop halfway and fill with stuffing. Continue up to the cast on stitches, then draw through all the cast on stitches to give a drawstring effect, pull tightly and secure and weave in any loose ends.

Finishing

• Attach ears to each side of the head by whip stitching the row ends as cast on stitches of the ears along the head length-wise.


• Sew the head onto the BO neck edge of the body.


• Attach arms and legs with the BO stitches against the body.

* REMEMBER* Never give toys with safety eyes to small children under 3 years old or to pets as they are a choking hazard. If your toys are intended for either of these groups I advise you to embroider them on with thread or scrap yarn.

♥ Raynor

Free Pattern List

It's a little hard sifting through all the archives to find each free pattern page so I thought it would create a list page so you can find each pattern directly by name.

Zero the ghostly dog
Tiny turtle
Little hippo
Mini whale
Monkey Moo
Sweet little bird
Teenage mutant ninja turtles
Amigurumi lovebug
The golden snitch
Sleepy puppy
Koala baby
Milk & cookies
Sugar Bunny
Wee Mouse

Jelly Bums Competition

Hello my fellow toy knitters,
Some of you may know that I also have another blog about the patterns which I have for sale called Jelly Bums. Well I never usually mention it on here this blog as I like all the patterns on this blog to stay completely free. However I am running a competition on the Jelly Bums blog with the chance to win all the current Jelly Bums animal patterns plus the chance to choose the next Jelly Bums animal. there will also be prizes for second and third place winners.
So if you want to be in with the chance of winning then click here for more details on how to enter.
Good luck to everyone who enters.

♥Raynor