About Knitting by Post
Knitting by Post started in the Winter of 2012 with just one knitting pattern design. Since then we have created hundreds of toy designs in an easy to understand format. We just love toys and knitting is part of who we are. With over 50 years experience and two full time designers we work hard to bring you new designs regularly.
All of our designs have been created with love and from scratch. We use materials that you can find on any high street so no need for expensive yarns. We don’t sell haberdashery with our patterns so you can really pick and choose how you want to knit your items.
It is a tricky question to answer as you may find something easy that I would find difficult.
We try to provide as much information as possible before you start a project. On every listing is a set of skills required. Generally it is casting on and off as well as knit and purl and increase and decrease.
We try to keep all the language simple and consistent when designing patterns so that you can understand them easily.
Some knitting patterns are shorter than others, so if you are a beginner, or you want to use up some of your stash, you might want to try our folded doggy pattern. He isn’t stuffed and the only sewing is on the nose and eyes.
For longer projects, try one of our pet beds, they are several balls each pattern and you can really get your needles going with them.
We get lots of really good feedback from our customers. Here is a page with the latest 50 comments so you can see for yourself. We also have a reviews section on every listing so you can see what is being said.
There are lots of things that make us stand out from the crowd, here are some of them.
- We are constantly developing new knitting patterns and they are published regularly – so make sure you check back soon!
- All patterns are designed by hand, not computer generated
- Patterns are easy to read and understand
- We tell you on the sale listing what materials you will require and also the skills needed
- All printed patterns are professionally printed
- You can get in touch with the designer of all of our patterns and ask questions
- Make suggestions, we love to hear them
- All patterns are double knitting or chunky – you can find the materials on any high street
- Our patterns make great presents
That’s easy, just click on the Contact Us and start typing
All knitting patterns sold by Knitting by Post are protected under UK copyright. You may not sell or duplicate any pattern that you receive. This includes making photocopies or distributing PDF files.
Click here for an article on the GOV.UK website about copyright relating specifically to knitting patterns.
All of our patterns are in English and have UK terms.Unfortunately we don’t supply patterns in other languages.
Placing an Order
All printed patterns are sent by Royal Mail post. It is 99p for any number of patterns to UK mainland addresses. UK Postage is FREE over £12. This means that you can save on postage when ordering a number of patterns.
At this time we are not offering post to countries outside of the UK
Yes, absolutely. Most of our knitting patterns are available in PDF e-Pattern format. When you look on the listing page, change the selection near the picture to “Download PDF File” and the website will know to email the pattern to you after payment.
If the pattern isn’t available to download then the listing will say so.
Yes, absolutely. Most of our knitting patterns are available in printed leaflet format. When you look on the listing page, the drop down box near the picture will say Leaflet by default. If not, change it to Leaflet and the website will know that you want a printed copy and add postage to the cost too.
If the pattern isn’t available as a leaflet then the listing will say so.
After payment is received, an email is triggered automatically with a download link. This is an automated process, so if you don’t receive it within a few minutes, please check your spam or trash folder to see if it has appeared in there. If you still haven’t received your pattern then please get in touch and we will be happy to help.
It’s possible to send us a cheque for your order. Please make payable to Knitting by Post, Unit 1J, South Mill, White Rose Mills, Holmfield, Halifax, HX3 6SN. Please state inside the envelope which patterns you would like as well as the address to send them to.
All knitting patterns are dispatched by Royal Mail post. This means that if you are in the UK it will usually take 2-3 working days after it has been posted. This isn’t a guaranteed service offered by Royal Mail and can take up to 7 days.
Here is a link to Royal Mail with more details
Sorry, but we are currently not sending any post overseas from the UK.
If you order a download PDF file, you will receive an email just after payment with a link to your download. If you don’t receive your email, please check your spam or trash folder as it can appear there sometimes.
If you order a leaflet, you will receive an A5 professionally printed leaflet – there are no photocopies or home printing here. Your pattern will come in an A5 do not bend envelope to protect it in the post. Your knitting pattern will be sent by Royal Mail standard post which takes 2-3 working days.
We also get asked why we sell at a very reasonable rate when others are much more expensive. We want to be fair to all our knitting customers and create a business for the future. By taking large margins from our patterns it won’t make anyone want to come back. It is tricky setting the prices so that everyone – including our customers benefit.
Knitting by Post is a small family business. We don’t sell yarn with our patterns so we can’t subsidise the cost of designing the pattern. You are free to buy any yarn that you like. We have to charge a price that reflects our outgoings but also allows for further pattern development too. Most of our patterns are about the price of a frothy coffee in a coffee shop which we consider to be reasonable and you will get many years of enjoyment from it.
By supporting Knitting by Post and buying our patterns, you are supporting a small business in the UK.
If you are on our mailing list – this means that you will get an email every week from us letting you know what is new.
Emails sent out like this are controlled by Sendinblue – they are specialised email company and don’t connect to the Knitting by Post website directly for orders.
If you haven’t placed an order with us before, you will need to either check out as a guest – i.e. don’t create an account at all, or create one on your first order. You can do this by following the check out instructions when you enter your address details. If you are having problems, you can always contact us about it.
Knitting
Yarn comes in lots of thicknesses. If you are in the UK, you will know that double knitting yarn is the most popular for making jumpers and hats etc. There is no international standard for yarn weight so it is called different things in other countries. Here are some of the terms that you may be familiar with
- Light Worsted
- Weight 3, Light
- 8 Ply
- You should get somewhere between 250 to 300 metres on a 100g ball (this may vary depending on density of the yarn)
There are two shades of yarn that we use for a flesh colour. It is a common question to be asked.
We use either
Hayfield Bonus Double Knitting – Biscuit (963)
Stylecraft Special Double Knitting – Toy (1844)
You are free to buy any yarn that you like. We don’t endorse any brand as we are independent of the yarn companies.
Generally though, yarn with a high acrylic content works well as you tend to get a consistent thickness throughout the ball. The yarn that we use in Double knitting balls and are generally around 300 metres per 100g and chunky is 150 metres per 100g.
Please experiment, use up the ends of balls or that odd bit of variegated that you have left. Try using chunky on a double knitting pattern, it will just turn out bigger. Have fun with your knitting and don’t stick to the rules on yarn.
Having smaller needles when knitting toys and items with stuffing makes the stitches and the gaps between smaller. The knitting is dense and it hides the stuffing behind your work.
We understand that a lot of knitters make items for sale and we want to acknowledge that. You may sell any item that you make for profit or for charity. There is one condition attached, that the finished items must be hand knitted and not mass produced in any way.
This is a concession that is made from the rights of the business and reserve the right to change this concession.
Please make sure when you make a knitted toy from Knitting by Post that it is appropriate for the person that you will give it to. As Knitting by Post has no control over the materials used (e.g. that the stuffing used is flame retardant) it is not possible to guarantee that they are suitable or safe for children or adults. If you are unsure then please err on the side of caution at all times.
There are European laws that cover knitted toys and CE safety testing. Read about it here. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/toy-manufacturers-and-their-responsibilities
Just for a little extra help, we have created a blog article to help you to get it put together. Click Here
Here is a guide with pictures that can help.How to attach a knitted head to the body of a toy.
Take the head and the body and place them on a table with the seam of both pieces upwards.
You could try putting a knitting needle through the body and head to help keep it in place. Take a double thickness of yarn on a sewing needle and tie it into one of the pieces. Sew in a zig zag style, into the body and then the head alternately and turn the pieces evenly as you go around from back to front and around again. Give the needle a tug as you go to keep it fairly tight and the neck will seal to the head. Attach tightly at the back of the head when you get round.
If it is still wobbly then you can go around again and maybe bring the yarn away from the centre a little more as you go.