Page 6 – Knitting by Post

Toy Making, We Love to Knit

How to Sew Eyes to a Knitted Toy

Posted on 18 December 201913 February 2025 by Editorial Team

One of the most asked questions is how to attach eyes to a knitted toy. This little visual guide is here to help. Finishing a knitted toy off is probably the most important part of making toys as the face is what gives your creation a personality.

We start where the head has been made and stuffed. A small button nose has been added. We are going to sew eyes just above the nose. If you are not sure where to place your eyes, adding eyes close to the nose will make the face look complete.

attach eyes to a knitted toy 1 — Thread a needle with black yarn. Use the same thickness black yarn as you have made your toy with. Put a knot in one end. Insert the needle into your work in a random place and bring the needle out again where you will place the bottom of the first eye.

attach eyes to a knitted toy 2 — Pull the thread through and make sure the knot gets stuck in the stuffing inside the head. If it pulls through and doesn’t get stuck, do it again with a larger knot.

attach eyes to a knitted toy 3 — Re-insert the needle two stitches above the bottom of the eye, where the top of the eye will go and bring the needle out again at the base of the eye. Pull the yarn through.

attach eyes to a knitted toy 4 — Insert the needle once more at the top of the eye so that it has two threads of yarn to one eye. Bring the needle out again at the top of the second eye. Pull it through.

attach eyes to a knitted toy 5 — Insert the needle two stitches below at the bottom of the eye and bring the needle out at the top again to begin to make the second eye. Pull the yarn through.

attach eyes to a knitted toy 6 — Place the needle back in at the bottom of the second eye but this time bring the needle out in a random place and pull it through.

attach eyes to a knitted toy 7 — Now we are going to secure the end of the work inside the head. Re-insert the needle back into the same spot that the yarn came through and bring the needle out again in another random spot.

attach eyes to a knitted toy 8 — Then go back again with the thread so the yarn is going back upon itself inside the toy stuffing.

attach eyes to a knitted toy 9 — Repeat this process 3 or 4 times. This will stop the end of the thread from un-ravelling. Snip the end and push the end back into the head so it can’t be seen.

attach eyes to a knitted toy 10 — Finished eyes. Well done!

attach eyes to a knitted toy 11 — The Finished Toy.

If you liked this tutorial, you can also see how we sew a nose to a knitted toy.

Knitting, We Love to Knit

A Yorkshire Gansey Girl in Bridlington

Posted on 10 November 201926 February 2024 by Editorial Team

In 2015 a statue was unveiled to acknowledge the long history of fishing and knitting in this Yorkshire town. Still a fishing town today, the residents of Bridlington in Yorkshire have a long tradition of earning a living from the sea.

What is a Gansey?

A Gansey is a traditional sweater or jumper hand knitted from wool. It is denseley knitted to provide protection from the extreme elements when the men were at sea fishing.

A Gansey is warm and protective against the elements and traditionally made in dark blue. The families of fishermen would knit the garment on land for the men to wear at sea.

Patterns for these intricate jumpers were passed down and memorised by knitters instead of writing down. The sweater was made in one piece and had no seams so its construction method made sure there were no room for draughts at all.

Cables and other knitted decoration can be incorporated into a Gansey to provide extra density to the garment. There are some lovely examples of intricately designed patterns. You can see more information here from a Gansey maker just up the road at Flamborough

What is Gansey Girl?

Gansey Girl was designed by Steve Carvill. She is made of bronze and was unveiled in 2015 in the town of Bridlington and she currently sits at the head of the harbour looking out to sea. She was created with the consultation of local fishing families in Bridlington and is a statue of a young lady knitting a Gansey for her husband.

You can see her at any time by walking down to the harbour. Enjoy an ice cream and a waffle and a traditional seaside day out. If you have a love of knitting, she is worth a visit as she is acknowledgment, celebration and recognition of knitters from years gone by.

You can find the statue here
North Pier Harbour, Bridlington YO15 2NS, England
She is close to the mooring for the Yorkshire Belle in the harbour.

Knitting, Toy Making, We Love to Knit

A to Z of Toy Knitting Patterns

Posted on 24 October 201929 March 2025 by Editorial Team

There is such a large selection of toy knitting patterns at Knitting by Post that an A to Z is in order. Pick from a large array of patterns, there is lots to choose from.

We have compiled a fun list of patterns for your to browse through and enjoy. Have you got enough to complete your own A to Z list?

A is for Alpaca.

B is for Bearwick family of bears.

cat knitting pattern sitting down in pinks double knitting yarn 3mm needles pdf or leaflets

C is for Cat

D is for Dolly

E is for Elephant

F is for Fairy

G is for Gnome

H is for Hippo

I is for Ice Cream

J is for 'Jarmas, or Pyjama Cases

pig pyjama case in chunky knitting pattern

K is for Koala

L is for Lifeboat Man

M is for Mouse

N is for New Baby

O is for Owl

P is for Penguin

Toy pinky the penguin knittig pattern soft toy with pom-pom hat

Q is for Cute (well it is a bit cheating !)

R is for Rabbit

Toy santa on boxing day relaxing soft toy plushie knitting pattern christmas

S is for Santa

T is for Toilet Roll Cover

bog dog toilet roll cover knitting pattern

U is for Unicorn

V is for Valentines Day

W is for Wedding Day

X is for Xmas

santa doorstop knitting pattern christmas

Y is for Yellow

Z is for Zebra

Knitting, We Love to Knit

Hobbies and Interests

Posted on 28 September 201926 February 2024 by Editorial Team

A Detailed Look at Knitting as a Hobby

You need something to do in your spare time but you are not sure what to do. Do you flit from one hobby to another thinking that you are broadening your horisons but don’t seem to find a good fit?

Lots of people feel like this and lots turn to knitting as a hobby and a pastime. So why knit? What is the appeal of knitting? Is it still an old ladies hobby?

It is true that knitting has been around for hundreds of years. You only have to visit your local charity shop to find a great big pile of knitting patterns that were created in the 1960s or 1970s. All out of date and made using yarn you have never heard of.

The truth is though that knitting has seen a resurgance in popularity over the past 10-15 years. There are huge numbers of designers making contemporary designs for everyone to enjoy. Yes, you might need the internet to get hold of these designs but they are out there and lots of them are fantastic.

When I started designing knitted toys in 2010 in a serious way, there were just two mainstream toy makers that had even scratched the surface of what is possible. They were Jean Greenhowe – who has since retired and Alan Dart

All other toy designs that I had come across were from people with a sewing background and made flat with lots of seams and lots of sewing. I soon realised that this was not how to design toys and make it fun.

Fast forward 10 years and the Knitting by Post designs are contemporary, modern and fun to make. I realise that some people like knitting with a physical pattern so I publish leaflets or you can download and use an electronic device to keep and read your patterns.

I publish new knitting patterns every week. Do you want to know what we are up to? Here is our most recent knitted design…

Yummy Tummy Dalmatian Knitting Pattern £4.49 Download
£4.99 Leaflet

If you are putting some thought into taking up knitting as a hobby, there are lots of reasons to begin.

It is Easy to Get Knitting.

All you need is any old ball of wool, some knitting needles and either someone to give you an hour of their time to show you the basics or a fish about on Youtube for a good video. Everything you need to start will be for sale on your high street. No need for expensive equipment or huge amounts of training. Get the basics and make a start.

Health Benefits to Knitting

There are many health benefits, I find that I am more relaxed during and after an hour knitting. It lowers your blood pressure, the stress melts away and it keeps the mind active too.

Knitting Can be Done Anywhere

It is a portable hobby, so you can take your needles out if you have a day out, or you have a long journey. It is also a good hobby if you are recouperating or ill too, you don’t need to be active and up on your feet to knit.

Large or Small Project? It’s up to You

Do you have a short attention span? Or do you prefer your projects to take weeks to months? Either way, it doesn’t matter. Most toys that I design are short projects that you can make in a weekend or you could knit a larger toy that has lots of components and can take weeks. Pick the project that suits your attention span.

One of the shortest and easiest knitting patterns

Folded Doggy Knitting Pattern
Rated 4.96 out of 5 based on 47 customer ratings
£4.49 Download
£4.99 Leaflet

One of the longest and large knits

Santa on Boxing Day Knitting Pattern
Rated 5.00 out of 5 based on 7 customer ratings
£6.99

Gifting is Great

What are you going to make? Something for you or someone special? A lot of people get knitting for a reason. A baby on the way is a popular reason to take up knitting, Christmas and Easter are also popular times of the year. I try to plan all our new pattern releases so you will have lots of time to plan and make in time for your special occasion.

Family and friends love something knitted. It is a personalised gift and will be cherished for many years. You make it with love and it will be received the same.

Knitting isn’t the pasttime it was 50 years ago, yarns, patterns and knitting techniques have moved on. I would encourage you to start and you will not look back!

Browse More Patterns

Knitting

100 Baby Gifts to Knit in a Weekend

Posted on 22 September 201929 March 2025 by Editorial Team

Discover 100 baby gifts to knit in a weekend. Create handmade toys, keepsakes, and practical items with quick and easy knitting patterns.

What is a Gansey?

What is Gansey Girl?

A Detailed Look at Knitting as a Hobby

It is Easy to Get Knitting.

Health Benefits to Knitting

Knitting Can be Done Anywhere

Large or Small Project? It’s up to You

Gifting is Great

Small Front Bow Piece – Make 1

Large Back Bow Piece – Make 1

Back Ribbon Piece – Make 1

Even More Patterns

Pug the Dog Knitting Pattern

Bruce the Dog Knitting Pattern

Buster the Dog Pyjama Case Knitting Pattern

Scrumpy the Dog Knitting Pattern

Bonfire the Dog Knitting Pattern

Bed Time Dog Knitting Pattern

Toby the Chocolate Egg Dog Knitting Pattern

Folded Doggy Knitting Pattern

Doggy Heroes Knitting Pattern

Even More Patterns

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