Designing and re-designing

Hello,

This is just a random posting about designing and ideas... I like designing new patterns as much as I love knitting old ones. Desingning knitting patterns is EASY, getting a new idea and then drawing your idea down is not hard at all. I have a few booklets of ideas and designs and random sketches of stuff I want to make. Having a sketch book is necessary :)
The hard part in making patterns is the knitting according to your design. Where to add stitches, where to decrease them, where to change colors etc... etc... And here comes the part I don't like, knitting and re-knitting the same piece over and over again is just a pain in the neck. But in order to achieve the result you want, it is one of the things you have to learn while designing and modifying patterns. In Finland we have a saying: No one is a blacksmith at the moment of birth. (Well that's the general idea of the saying). All in all turning good ideas into a pattern needs work and patience.

Best wishes!

-Minttusuklaa

ps. And sometimes when I have an idea of a design and it is too hard for me to knit, I leave it be and after some time (and after learning a few new skills) I return to my sketch book and try knitting it again. Like the boots of my winter bear or the legs of  my Seagull pattern (in Ravelry)

Winter bear *free pattern*

Hello all,

New year, new pattern? I was at my grandparent's place last week and had great time! This little winter teddy started as Zackie Zebra, while I was testing my old pattern. But you can see what happened when I was using blue yarn?

Winter bear (size about 20cm/8inches)

You need:

Any colour cotton yarn you like ( I used blue DK yarn)
A pair off 3mm needles
Safety eyes
Stuffing and tapesry needle
Oddments of colourful yarns you like for accesories (I used green and yellow DK yarn)

Legs (make 2):
In blue, Cast on 8sts, P1 row.
Next row: K1, *m1, k1*, repeat to the end. P1 row
Next row: K1, m1, k6, m1, k1, m1, k6, m1, k1. P1 row.
Next row: K6, skpo twice, k2tog twice, k5.
Next row: P5, p2tog twice, p6
Next row:K5, k2tog, k6
St-st making stripes of two rows for 15 rows. Cast off.
Sew the back seam of the legs and stuff firmly.

Body and Head:
With blue cast on 21sts. P1 row.
Next row: K1, *m1, k4* repeat to the end. P1row.
Next row: K1, *m1, k5* repeat to the end. P1 row.
Next row: K1, *m1, k6* repeat to the end. (36 sts)
St-st 13rows.

Next row: *k2tog, k4* repeat to the end. P1row.
Next row: *k2tog, k3* repeat to the end. P1 row.
Next row: *K2tog, k1* to the end. P1 row

Next row: K1, *m1, k1* to the end. (31sts)

Next row: K1, *m1, k3* to the end.

St-st 15 rows.

Next row: K1, *k2tog, k3*, to the end. P1 row.

Next row: *K1, k2tog* to the end. P1 row.

Next row: K2tog to the end.

Break off the yarn and pull yarn through the stitches that left to the needle.. Sew the back seam (and add safety eyes before stuffing). Stuff firmly. Cut a yarn and circle it around, just below the head's 1^st increase row. Pull yarn tightly and knot tightly. This will give the head more shape. Attach legs to the bottom of the body and sew them in their place. Secure all yarnendings well.

Arms (make 2):
Cast on 10 sts with blue.
Begin with P row, st-st 15 rows.
Next row: K2, *m1, k2* to the end.

St-st 5 rows.

K2tog to the end.
Break off the yarn and pull yarn through the stitches that left to the needle. Sew the seam and stuff the arms. Attach arms to the body just below the neck. Cut a yarn and circle it around, just below the hands increase row. Pull yarn tightly and knot tightly, doig this will give your bear hands.

Ears (make 2):

Cast on 7 sts.

G-st 2 rows.

Next row: k2tog, k3, k2 tog.

Next row: k2tog, k1, k2tog.

Break off the yarn and pull yarn through the stitches that left to the needle. Sew ears to the top of the head.

Accesories:

Boots (make 2):

In yellow, Cast on 10sts, P1 row.
Next row: K1, *m1, k1*, repeat to the end. P1 row
Next row: K1, m1, k8, m1, k1, m1, k9. P1 row. (22 sts)

Next row: K6, skpo twice, k2, k2tog twice, k6.
Next row: P6, p2tog, p2, p2tog, p6.
Next row:K6, skpo, k2tog, k6.

Next row: P6, p2tog, p6.

St-st 6 rows. Cast off.

Finishing: Sew the bottom and back seam of the boots and insert legs to boots. I sew shoelaces and secured them tightly to give boots some shape and that the boots won't fall off.

Beanie:

Cast on 40 sts.

G-st for 4 rows.

Begin with K row st-st 12 rows.

Next row: K2tog to the end (20sts). P1 row

Next row: K2tog to the end (10sts).

Break off the yarn and pull yarn through the stitches that left to the needle.

Sew the back seam of the beanie and secure yarn endings. You can an add a pompom or a bow.

Scarf:

Cast on 5 sts. G-st for 25cm /10 inches. Cast off.

And that's it! Your little bear is ready!

-Minttusuklaa

ps. (This pattern isn't tested, so please tell me if you find any errors or something is unclear. I try to answer asap)

pps. I don't hate comments :)

Copyright: Minttusuklaa

You can sell toys made from this pattern, but don't sell the pattern itself or claim it as your own.