Trending in 2019 – Gnome Knitting Patterns

Gnomes are trending in 2019
Gnomes are trending in 2019

How can you resist a cute gnome?

There are lots of toy knitting patterns to choose from. Bed time to Easter themed gnomes are popular. You can make your own with our gnome knitting patterns.

Our gnome patterns are especially good if you find it difficult to make faces as once the nose is made, there is no further detail. This makes them easy to finish off.

All gnome patterns are available as immediate download or leaflet posted to you wherever you are in the world.

£4.49 Download
£4.99 Leaflet

A Stitch of Luck and a Pot of Gold—Meet Paddy O'Pots All Ready for St Patrick's Day

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Knit-wizardry and completely spellbinding!   A Halloween Special Pattern

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£10.00

Go Big or Go Gnome This Week With a Collection of 3 Super Gnome Knitting Patterns.

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£4.49 Download
£4.99 Leaflet

Ho-Ho-Ho. It is Christmas Season Now With a Very Jolly Santa Knitting Pattern

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£4.99 Leaflet

Caught in the act of being adorable! Knit Burglar Bill, a playful character soft toy perfect for storytelling and fun.

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£4.99 Leaflet

You Will Bat First and No Umpire Needed! A Great Cricketer Soft Toy Knitting Pattern.

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£4.99 Leaflet

An ever popular gnome but smaller! Meet Short and Sweet Bed Time Gnome - A little sister of a knitting pattern.

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£4.99 Leaflet

'Ello, 'Ello, 'Ello, what's all this then? It is only a knitted policeman pattern

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7 Unicorn Knitting Patterns

7 UNICORN KNITTING PATTERNS

Unicorns are the cutest of all mythical creatures. Knit a unicorn with any of these cute knitting patterns.

We have unicorns for all occastions, if it is for bed with the pyjama case or one of our squishy toys, any of these toy knitting patterns will make a great gift.

Click on the pattern title to take you to that pattern page.

unicorn knitting pattern

Stardust the Unicorn Knitting Pattern

Stardust stands up and will ride around the room. Knitted in pink and white, she is small enough for little hands but cute with just enough knitted detail. Make it on 3mm needles and double knitting yarn.

Skylar the Unicorn knitting pattern

Skylar the Unicorn Knitting Pattern

Skylar has style and is a modern unicorn. She has a hoodie and a curly perm hair do too. Make her in pink and white for an extra different take on a unicorn.

Unicorn Little Sweetie Knitting Pattern

This little sweetie is a little treat. She has a ring body so a small chocolate egg will sit nicely in her back. A great alternative present for Easter.

Suki the Unicorn Pyjama Case Knitting Pattern

Made in chunky yarn, Suki the Unicorn Pyjama case can host a pair of child’s pyjamas or nightie in her belly. she will sit on your little one’s bed just waiting for bed time.

Unicorn Baggles Knitting Pattern

Are you looking for a gift bag with a difference? This is a Baggle. The unicorn head moves up and down on the handle to allow lots of goodies into her belly.

Unicorn knitting pattern

Unicorn Toilet Roll Cover Knitting Pattern

Another cute addition to any house. She will sit in the littlest room and look after the toilet paper roll in her belly until it is needed. Lots of fun and a definite conversation starter.

unicorn knitting pattern

Sprinkle Unicorn Knitting Pattern

Sprinkle is large and squishy. She is the largest of our unicorns so you can really get your knitting needles going. A sweet soft toy cute enough for a gift to any litttle girl.

Find Unicorn Knitting Patterns Here

Even More Patterns

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A scaly situation! Reggie the Reptile Boy is a fun and unique knitted soft toy pattern, half boy, half reptile, all charm.

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It's all a bit Quackers here.  Knit a Duck on a Shelf with this toy knitting pattern.  He has loooong legs and a big green bow.

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£4.99 Leaflet

Cuddles the Cat is here to curl up in your arms, ready for snuggles. This soft toy knitting pattern is great for cat lovers, gift-making, or anyone who enjoys crafting cute companions.

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£6.99

Every pup is a hero, and now you can knit two. This fun and cuddly knitting pattern is perfect for hero lovers and soft toy collectors.

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£4.49 Download
£4.99 Leaflet

Rule the knitting world with this fun project! The King at Bedtime is a playful pattern for a royal snooze.

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£4.99 Leaflet

Whooo needs a place to store pyjamas? This adorable owl pyjama case knitting pattern is a fun and practical way to keep bedtime tidy. A perfect project for owl lovers and cozy nights

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A quick guide – How to download and use your knitting pattern.

how to use your downloaded knitting pattern(2)
how to download and use your pdf knitting pattern

It’s really convenient that you can get your knitting pattern instantly. Click pay and an email drops into your inbox with a link to your pattern. Great.

This quick guide should help you to get the best from your online knitting pattern and should help with any pitfalls that you may fall into when using it.

Checking you have the right software

All Knitting by Post downloads are in PDF format. This is a widely used file type for documents on the internet. A PDF file cannot be shown by itself and needs some reader software to make the file appear on your computer or device.

You may already have some software on your computer that allows you to read PDF documents as most devices come with a reader installed. If so, that’s great, you don’t need to install any other software.

adobe pdf logo

Adobe is a software company and they originally created the PDF file format. If you cannot read your knitting pattern, it may be that you don’t have the right software. You can get a reader for your computer or device by downloading it from by using the link below. Adobe Acrobat Reader is the reader that will be most reliable and give you the best results.

https://get.adobe.com/uk/reader/otherversions/

Downloading your knitting pattern

Now you have the correct software, the next thing to note is that there are two places to get your download knitting pattern. You can download directly from the website after you pay. You do need to have setup a user account and not use the ‘guest’ login for this to work. If this is the case, you will be directed to your account and download section after payment.

You will also receive two emails after you purchase, one is the email to confirm your order and you will also receive an email with your download details on them.

IMPORTANT : If you don’t receive an email with your download, please check your spam or trash folder, sometimes it ends up there because it is an automated system.

Check the second email that you receive. You will see something like this

Your order is complete screenshot

Click on the link under the “Download” column and your download will begin.

Where your download goes after you click on the link is entirely up to the type of device that you are using. This is not under the control of Knitting by Post. We provide the download PDF file but your device will save it depending on either the default settings or any changes you have told your device to make.

Where has my pattern gone?.. is a very common question that we get asked but the answer is dependent upon your device and out of our control. Here is some general advice.

Usually, to help you out, your device will open the file after you click the download link and show you the knitting pattern. It makes the assumption that you want to look at it right away and so it pops up for you to look at it.

Where your computer, tablet or smartphone saves your file so you can use it later, entirely depends upon your device and settings. Even if you view your file, it is likely that your device has stored the file somewhere too. Are you using a SmartPhone, tablet or computer?

Android SmartPhone / tablet

Android devices have a download folder on the phone and if you haven’t changed where to save them, you can find them there. You will have a files app. Go into there, click on your phone and then the downloads folder. Here is a guide that may help if you can’t find it.

https://www.cnet.com/how-to/how-to-find-downloaded-files-on-android/

Apple devices

If you have an Apple device, the download folder should be where your files go. Again if you have changed this, they will go to the location that it changed to. Here is a guide for Apple users

https://support.apple.com/en-gb/guide/safari/download-items-from-the-web-sfri40598/mac

PC Computer

Downloads go into the download folder. Here is a guide to setting the location to save your files to.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/help/4026331/microsoft-edge-change-the-downloads-folder-location

DON’T FORGET – If you can’t find your file later, you can either go back into your email and download it again from the Knitting by Post website or you can go into the My Account section of the website and get it from there too.

But… My knitting pattern looks odd

Here is some general help for you to troubleshoot your device.

If your knitting pattern doesn’t look right after you look at it on your computer, it is possible to do some troubleshooting to sort it out. Examples of display problems can be duplicated pages, instructions in the wrong order or no display at all. This is likely to be a problem with your device and not the knitting pattern itself. If you are not sure, you can drop us a message at shop@knittingbypost.com if you think that we should check the file.

  1. If you are using the Adobe Reader, you can reset your display settings for the internet. Here is a link that may help you to do this
    https://helpx.adobe.com/uk/acrobat/kb/cant-view-pdf-web.html
  2. Try to view the file using another device – if you are using a SmartPhone, try it on a computer instead.
  3. Make sure you are using the most up to date PDF reader on your device. Download any updates and try it again.
  4. If you have another PDF reader on your device, try to read your file with that instead.
  5. Restart your device and try again
  6. Delete any temporary internet files on your device.

So what else do I need to know?

Now you should have your download and be able to open it up to look at it. Next we are going to look at some of the common pitfalls of using a PDF document that you may fall into when reading a Knitting by Post knitting pattern.

All Knitting by Post knitting patterns are laid out in “Magazine Style”. This means that each page of the knitting pattern has 2 columns

Magasine layout for pages

The pattern is read from top left, to the bottom of the page and then back to the top to read the right hand column. This may not be obvious, especially if you zoom in and read the pattern on a phone or tablet that has a small screen.

So why do we do this?

It is to save paper. Knitting patterns can be really long as they involve lots of instructions and pictures. We want to save as much paper as possible.

Printing your knitting pattern

You may decide to print out your knitting pattern. There are a couple of things to remember when printing.

Print your PDF document using the default options. Don’t make any changes to the printing options – some options can change the layout of your knitting pattern, it can move pictures and in some instances change the order of the knitting pattern. This is the last thing that you want when you are trying to knit, the pattern may not make sense.

Examples of changing the default options are – Printing multiple pages on one page to help save paper. Changing the paper size (All patterns are A4 size – a standard UK paper size). Removing the images and printing the text only. There could be other options too that may affect the print.

If you have to use non-default options, check carefully after you have printed against the pattern that you see on the screen and make sure it is still in order and makes sense before you start knitting.

Hopefully, you will download and use your knitting pattern without any issues or problems. If you do have trouble, hopefully this guide will get you going in the right direction.




How to Read a Knitting Pattern

how to read a knitting pattern

Knitting patterns can seem daunting the first time you look at them, they are written in a code with lots of commas and brackets and look like gobbeldygook. How could you possibly make that lovely toy from something that doesn’t make any sense?

A little knowledge can go a long way and at Knitting by Post we try to make our toy knitting patterns as easy to read as possible. Here is some advice for the best ways to read a Knitting by Post knitting pattern.

It’s all about Abbreviations

All knitting patterns are shortened, it is a way of saving paper so that you don’t have reems and reems of it for one small toy. If you can substitute the shortened words for the longer ones, you will soon understand the pattern better. There are lots of common abbreviations such as “k” which means knit a stitch. This is used on most knitting patterns.

Here are the most common abbriviations we use

  • k – knit
  • p – purl
  • sts – stitches
  • tog – together
  • inc – increase

Let’s have an example. A row on a pattern may say …
Next: (k1, inc1) to end (12 sts)

There are lots of abbreviations on just this one line, let’s explain further.
The word “Next” is literally that. It means complete this bit after the bit that comes before it on the row above.

We will come back to the bracket. Next is the “k” or knit. This means knit one stitch. Usually there will be a number after the letter k. So for example, if the pattern says k4 it means to knit 4 stitches.

After the knit stitch is the “inc1” instruction. The abbreviation “inc” is short for increase. This means that you begin with one stitch on the left needle and when you have completed the stitch, you have two stitches on the right needle. You do this by knitting into the front of the stitch as normal, but don’t remove the stitch from the left needle as you would normally do. Next take the right needle and knit again into the back of the same stitch. Then let the left stitch fall off the needle as normal. You will have made one extra stitch on the right needle (Assumption :You are a right handed knitter)

Back to the brackets “(“. The opening bracket will always have a closing bracket “)”, they come as a pair and if you look further along the example row it is the case here. The closing bracket is after the phrase “inc1”.


Brackets with instructions inside them are repeating sections. In this example, it means repeat the k1, inc1 repeatedly to the end of the row. The words immediately after the brackets will tell you how many times to repeat the stitches. In the example, it says “to end”, so continue repeating the instruction inside the bracket to the end. If you were to write this out in long hand, easy to understand English then it would look like this.

knit1, knit into the front and back of the stitch, knit1, knit into the front and back of the stitch knit1, knit into the front and back of the stitch knit1, knit into the front and back of the stitch”

Can you see how a knitting pattern would be huge if it was written like this? It would also be really difficult to follow too.

Next on the row is “(12 sts)”. The number of stitches (sts) at the end of a row show you how many stitches there should be on your needle after you have completed the row. It helps you to check your work as you go and make sure you haven’t gone wrong somewhere.

Watch out though! There is no universal abbreviation dictionary so something like “kfb” (knit into the front and back of the stitch) is the same as inc1 (increase 1 by knitting into the front and back of the stitch) It may change from designer to designer and pattern to pattern. Always check the abbreviations before you begin so you have a good understanding as you go.

If you can understand the basic knitting abbreviations then you will be able to read any knitting pattern and knit anything you want to. Good Luck.

Customer Makes for February 2019

Our customers are exceptionally tallented. Here is a selection of some of the knitting patterns they used to make toys with. They were shared with us on social media in February 2019.

Sue Tipple says “This is one of my personal favourites”

Get Bumble Baby knitting pattern here

£4.49 Download
£4.99 Leaflet

Buzz into a new knitting project with Bumble Baby! This soft toy bee knitting pattern is a delightful handmade gift

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Hayley Borley says “Custard finally sewn up? “

Get Custard the Rabbit knitting pattern here

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£4.99 Leaflet

Eggsercise those needles and make Custard the Rabbit.  Hop-Hop along and get this cute bunny knitting pattern.

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Ernie Carter made Dangle the Carrot

Get Dangle the Carrot knitting pattern here

£4.49 Download
£4.99 Leaflet

Here is a little rabbit in a carrot sleeping bag.  A quick and easy Easter knitting pattern.

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Janet Firmin made

Get Clucky the Hen knitting pattern here

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£4.99 Leaflet

Clucky the Hen is waddling around the place.  She has room in her wings for lots of chocolate surprises.  Knit one with this leaflet or PDF knitting pattern.

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Pauline Mackinney is a rising star.  She made this bunny

Get Baby Bunny knitting pattern here

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£4.99 Leaflet

This Baby Bunny is ready for cuddles! A soft and adorable knitting pattern, perfect for Easter gifts, nurseries, or baby showers.

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Julie Roberts says
“Knitting by post playful cat,my cousin who’s a teacher asked for a ginger cat for world book day,he’s called Hamish ?”
Get Playful Cat knitting pattern here

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£4.99 Leaflet

Knit a cat that’s always in a playful mood! This fun soft toy knitting pattern captures a kitten’s mischievous charm.

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Helen Chick Morris created Elephant Ballerina

Get Elephant Ballerina knitting pattern here

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£4.99 Leaflet

This ballerina elephant is on her tip toes ready for her pirouettes.  Her tu-tu is fixed to her waist and she is complete with ballet slippers.  Make your own with this original knitting pattern.

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Sharon Gray has “another one finished”

Get Toby the Chocolate Egg Dog knitting pattern here

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£4.99 Leaflet

Here is Toby, he is an original, novelty dog knitting pattern. He will hold a chocolate egg in his belly and looks sweet too. A brilliant idea for an Easter gift.

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Catherine Allen says “Made this for my great-niece who has her first wobbly tooth xx”

Get My Fairy Lady knitting pattern here

£4.49 Download
£4.99 Leaflet

Sprinkle some fairy magic into your knitting with this adorable soft toy doll. A lovely handmade project for little dreamers.

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Jean Allen Edgar says “A mother’s gift “

Get A Mother’s Gift knitting pattern here

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£4.99 Leaflet

This mother and child knitting pattern is a small easy and quick to knit character all ready for the coming festive season or as a new baby or Christening gift.

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FREE Reindeer Bauble Knitting Pattern

free reindeer bauble knitting pattern
free reindeer bauble knitting pattern

Yarn : Oddments of double knitting light brown, dark brown, red and black.  Small amount of toy stuffing.
Needles : 3mm single pointed needles
Abbreviations : k – knit, p – purl, st – stitch, st-st – stocking stitch (k1row, p1row),  tog – together, inc—increase by knitting into the front and back of the stitch. 
Tension : 26sts x 33rows = 10cm x 10cm in stocking stitch
Dimensions :  Approx. 7cm wide

It is possible to substitute yarn and needles for similar ones if all materials aren’t available.

Bauble—Make 1
With light brown, cast on 8 sts
Purl 1 row
next: increase into every stitch (16 sts)
Purl 1 row
next: (k1, inc1) to end (24 sts)
Purl 1 row
next: (k2, inc1) to end (32 sts)
Starting with a purl row, st-st 3 rows
Change to dark brown, st-st 12 rows
Next: (k2, k2tog) to end (24 sts)
Purl 1 row
Next: (k1, k2tog) to end (16 sts)
Purl 1 row
Next: (k2tog) to end (8 sts)
Draw thread through the remaining stitches and pull tight

Sew down the row ends of the bauble.  Add stuffing and seal.  The seam is at the centre back.

Nose—Make 1
With red, cast on cast on 7 sts
Purl 1 row
Next: increase into every stitch (14 sts)
Stocking stitch 3 rows
Next: knit 2 together to end (7 sts)
Draw thread through the remaining stitches and pull tight

Sew down the row ends, then fold flat with the bound off stitches in the centre front.   Attach nose to the centre of the reindeer’s face.  Sew a smile in black under the nose and two eyes in black 2 sts apart above the nose.

Ears—make 2
With dark brown, cast on 5 sts
knit 3 rows
Next: k2tog, k1, k2tog (3 sts)
knit 1 row
Draw thread through the remaining stitches and pull tight

Catch the bottom of the ear together so it is folded in half.  Attach ear to the top of the reindeer head slightly forward of the centre leaving room for the antlers.

Antlers—Make 2
With light brown, cast on 10 sts
Starting with a purl row, st-st 3 rows
Next: knit 5, turn and work with these 5 sts only
starting with a purl row, st-st 7 rows
Next: k2tog, k1, k2tog (3 sts)
Draw thread through the remaining stitches and pull tight
Reattach yarn to remaining stitches and st-st 4 rows
Next: k2tog, k1, k2tog (3 sts)
Draw thread through the remaining stitches and pull tight

Fold the antlers so there is a long and a short antler.   Sew down the row ends.  Attach to the top of the bauble, one at each side.

Add a loop of yarn to the top centre of the head so it can be hung.

Free Reindeer bauble knitting pattern

Another Sweet Reindeer

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£4.99 Leaflet

OhDeer is a little cutie.  He is a smaller design than our other reindeer so he will knit up quick and will be good for little hands.  Make yours now with this pattern.

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Even More Patterns

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There’s gnome one quite like Gnorma! This adorable knitting pattern creates a cute gnome soft toy, perfect for Christmas, gardens, or craft fairs.

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£4.99 Leaflet

Snow Joker is a cute little hybrid.  He is half joker and half snowball.  He has a 4 pointed hat and boots to keep him warm this winter.   Knit him in any double knitting yarn and 3mm knitting needles.

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£10.00

Duck, Rabbit andd 2 Gift Bags to Knit in one Booklet.  Spring is on the way !

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£4.99 Leaflet

We are really buzzy making some great patterns for you to knit.  Honey Bee Egg Holder Knitting Pattern

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£4.99 Leaflet

No carrots required—just your knitting needles. This rabbit doorstop is a fun and easy project that brings both charm and practicality to your space.

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£4.99 Leaflet

The first in a new series of smaller knitting patterns for little hands. Here is our Short and Sweet Raccoon.

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FREE Dog Finger Puppet Knitting Pattern

free dog finger puppet knitting pattern
free dog finger puppet knitting pattern

Abbreviations : k – knit. p – purl. st – stitch. tog-together. st-st – Stocking Stitch (k1row, p1row).  inc— increase. Knit into the front and the back of the stitch

Dog Finger Puppet
With 3mm single pointed needles and an oddment of brown, cast on 18 sts
Starting with a knit row, st-st 28 rows
Next: knit 2together to end
Draw thread through the remaining stitches and pull tight.

Sew down the row ends. Add a little stuffing to the head end and draw a thread around the neck to seal up the head.

Collar : With an oddment of pink, cast on 23 sts, cast off
Attach collar to the neck.

Ears make 2 : With an oddment of dark brown, cast on 4 sts
Knit 5 rows
Next: (knit 2 together) twice, cast off
Attach ears to either side of the head

Embroider eyes, nose and mouth with a little black yarn that has been split to make it thinner.
Allow the cast on rows to curl upwards.

Free finger puppet knitting pattern

Dog Hero

£6.99

Every pup is a hero, and now you can knit two. This fun and cuddly knitting pattern is perfect for hero lovers and soft toy collectors.

This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page

Even More Patterns

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£4.99 Leaflet

No need for wrapping paper—this Santa gift bag is ready to sleigh. A charming and practical Christmas knitting project perfect for gifting and craft stalls.

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£4.49 Download
£4.99 Leaflet

No need to chase yarn—this easy knitted cat soft toy is a must for feline lovers.

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£4.99 Leaflet

Prescribed: One knitted nurse soft toy! This adorable pattern is perfect for thank-you gifts or get-well surprises.

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£4.49 Download
£4.99 Leaflet

Knit an elephant that never forgets to keep things tidy. A lighthearted and practical bathroom decor project.

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£4.49 Download
£4.99 Leaflet

No baking required! Knit a festive birthday cake with this creative pattern—great for celebrations and unique handmade gifts.

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£4.49 Download
£4.99 Leaflet

A bug-tastic knitting pattern! Create a charming ladybird soft toy, perfect for little hands and nature lovers.

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FREE Rocket Knitting Pattern

free toy rocket knitting pattern
free toy rocket knitting pattern

Enjoy this lovely little rocket pattern. It can be made with any odds and ends that you have left. Make a rocket and three thrusters using the instructions below.

Materials : Oddments of blue and yellow double knitting. Small amount of cardboard. A little toy stuffing. 3mm single pointed needles.

Yarn and needles can be substituted for similar alternatives if these items aren’t available.

Abbreviations : k = knit, p = purl, tog = together, sts = stitches, inc = increase by knitting into the front and back of the stitch

Rocket – Make 1
With blue, cast on 8 sts
Purl 1 row
Next: increase into every stitch (16 sts)
Purl 1 row
Next: (k1, inc1) to end (24 sts)
Purl 1 row
Next: (k2, inc1) to end (32 sts)
Purl 3 rows
Sides of rocket, starting with a knit row, st
-st 9 rows
Change to yellow, st-st 4 rows
Change to blue, st-st 3 rows
Next: (k2, k2tog) to end (24 sts)
St-st 5 rows
Next: (k1, k2tog) to end (16 sts)
St-st 3 rows
Next: k2tog to end (8 sts)
Draw thread through the remaining stitches and pull tight
Sew down the row ends of the rocket.
Add toy stuffing and seal up.

Thrusters – Make 3
With blue, cast on 4 sts
Purl 1 row
Inc1, knit to last st, inc1
Complete the last 2 rows until there are 18 sts
Purl 1 row
Next: k7, (k2tog) twice, k7 (16 sts)
Purl 1 row
Next: k6, (k2tog) twice, k6 (14 sts)
Purl 1 row
Next: k5, (k2tog) twice, k5 (12 sts)
Purl 1 row
Next: k4, (k2tog) twice, k4 (10 sts)
Purl 1 row
Next: k3, (k2tog) twice, k3 (8 sts)
Purl 1 row
Cast off

Fold the thrusters in half. Take a little cardboard and trace around the shape. Insert the card inside and sew the edges together. Attach the thrusters to the outside of the rocket at one third intervals and so the bottom of the rocket is slightly above the ground. (see pic)

Free Rocket Knitting Pattern

More out of this world patterns

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£4.99 Leaflet

This is probably the cutest alien that you will ever see!   In orange, he is another easy knitting pattern from Knitting by Post.

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£4.99 Leaflet

Here is Lunar, he is an astronaut all ready for space in his space suit.  He has his visor down and anti-gravity boots to keep him firmly on the moon.

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Even More Patterns

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£4.99 Leaflet

Make a splash with this adorable knitted duck! Perfect for spring, Easter, or any duck lover, this soft toy pattern is an easy and fun knit.

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£4.99 Leaflet

A little stitch with a lot of heart. This Forget Me Knot knitting project is perfect for newborn gifts or baby keepsakes.

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Knitting pattern instructions to knit Cerise in her little skirt and pom-pom hat.

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Knit your own fluffy best friend with Cracker the Old English Sheepdog! This pattern creates a lovable, shaggy companion that’s soft, huggable, and full of personality—no shedding included.

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Christmas Eve is toasty and ready for the winter. She has wrap round mittens, cosy scarf and big pom-pom hat. Dressed in festive red she even has stripey stockings.

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Knit a Path Through the Woods to Grannys House.  Red Riding Hood is Here.

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Start a Business Selling your Knitted Toys

Start a Business Selling your Knitted Toys

So you want to start a business knitting toys and selling them? It can be tricky knowing where to start. For a really small outlay it is possible to get going from your kitchen table. Knitting by Post started this way so we have experience of this.

There is so much to do and think about such as getting pricing right, deciding on the right toys to make, postage, sellers fees etc. This guide will hopefully help you to approach your new venture with a logical and ordered way.

  1. Product

    So first things first. What toys do you want to knit and sell? It might sound like an obvious thing to ask and you may well already know but getting a product wrong can stop a small business in it’s tracks.

    If you have an idea, look around on the internet and see what others are selling that is similar. If nobody else is doing it, then ask why not. It could be because there isn’t a market for it but more importantly it could be that you have stumbled on a good idea. The opposite is also true. If there are hundreds of people selling an item then it may be that there is too much competition for your knitted items and you will get lost among all the others.

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    This elegant swan comes with a surprise—she can hold a small chocolate egg in each wing! A unique and delightful knitting pattern.

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    Mooo-ve over and give me some room to dance!  I am a MooMoo in a TuTu knitting pattern and I can pirouette right onto your knitting needles.

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    Here is a little short and sweet turtle pattern for you to knit

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    Knitting pattern instructions to knit a little baby comforter blanket

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    Pawsibly the Cutest Bear Here. Valentine the Bear Knitting Pattern

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    Chocolate and Dogs Together.  What a Combo!  Knit a Dog Soft Toy With Chocolate Pockets.

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  2. Point of difference

    It may sound tricky, especially if you aren’t used to selling yourself or your knitting. What makes you different to the others that you have been looking at already? It could be that you offer a personal service or it could be that you want to use the best materials. Think carefully and then sing it from the tree tops when you get going. If you know what makes you different then you have an advantage over your competition but don’t forget to tell everyone!

  3. Pricing

    It is easy when selling knitted items to under value your work. Don’t do it! You could easily be out of pocket if you sell yourself short. You will also devalue what you are making. The opposite is to charge so much that you don’t sell anything. It is a tricky thing to do.

    There are lots of things to consider when selling your goods and the last thing you want is to be out of pocket. Get a piece of paper and write down exactly what each of the following is going to cost you.

    Materials
    Your raw materials per item. This could be yarn, toy stuffing, safety eyes.

    Your time
    Pay yourself the living wage. If something takes you 2 hours to make then add this to the price

    Costs of selling
    If you sell on a selling platform such as Etsy or Ebay then look carefully at their charges. They often charge a price to list an item and then a percentage of the selling cost on top too. Don’t forget to factor this in, it could wipe out your profit.

    Marketing and Advertising
    Don’t think that this is free. You may decide to sell using social media such as Facebook which is great but it takes up time that you could be knitting with. It is a trade off between advertising and social media marketing. You could put 0 in your budget to start with but you might find that this isn’t enough after a while.

    Shipping
    Include the price of boxes, wrapping, tape, labels as well as postage.

    Handling costs
    Do you go in the car to the post office? You need to price for this too

    Then there’s all the other boring stuff
    You need to factor in electricity while you are working. Wear and tear on your computer, internet access, liability insurance, any travel expenses such as picking up your raw materials. The list can go on.

    Get yourself a business plan. Even if you can’t fill it all in to start with, it is a written statement of what you want to do and what it is going to cost. Review it every week until you get going properly.
    https://www.gov.uk/write-business-plan

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    Knit One, Fetch Fun – A Dalmatian With A Hidden Treat In His Tummy.

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    From the Scottish hills to your knitting needles. Here is a Highland Cow soft toy that won't eat the flowers!

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    Egg-cellent Chocolate Hugs from a Cute Duck.  Easter Themed Knitting Pattern

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    A Tall Order For Treats.  The Giraffe Soft Toy Knitting Pattern That Keeps On Giving.

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    A Sweet And Cuddly Bee Toy Knitting Pattern With A Hidden Pocket For Tasty Treats

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    A soft knitted bear that gives warm hugs and holds a chocolate orange. The Bear Chocolate Hugs knitting pattern is a fun and easy project, perfect for Easter or Christmas gifts . Easy to follow with step-by-step instructions.

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  4. Get the legal bits right

    There are three legal considerations if you are in the UK.

    You have 3 months to register with HMRC as a business after you begin trading. As you don’t have to do this straight away, it might be worth delaying until you have to register so you can try your ideas out and see if it works. Don’t forget to do it though!

    Liability insurance is an other must. If you plan to sell on craft stalls, you could get market traders insurance which is cheaper. Liability insurance in the UK is about £10 per month in 2019.

    Lastly there is CE testing. If you plan to sell knitted toys – and some novelty items then CE testing is a must. You can read the UK government guidance using the link below. Certification can be done at no financial cost and is self regulating.

  5. Start small

    Do you research, make one knitted piece, put it up for sale and see what happens. Rome wasn’t built in a day. Be patient, it will build over time.

After all that, don’t be put off by how much there is to do. Many successful businesses start this way. It takes hard work and many hours to start with without pay. You need to be prepared for that, nobody will give you something for nothing. If you get it right though it can lead to a successful small business and financial freedom for you.


Other information that you may find useful

Link to GOV.UK website for registering a business
https://www.gov.uk/set-up-business

CE Marking
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/ce-marking

Health and Safety Executive advice on CE Marking
http://www.hse.gov.uk/work-equipment-machinery/ce-mark-summary.htm


FREE Fairy House Knitting Pattern

free fairy house knitting pattern
free fairy house knitting pattern

The house is made with double knitting yarn, 3mm single pointed needles and small amount of toy stuffing. Although any yarn and needles will work. It is about 5cm tall when finished.

Abbreviations : k – knit. p – purl. st – stitch. tog-together. st-st – Stocking Stitch (k1row, p1row).  inc— increase. Knit into the front and the back of the stitch

House—Make 1
With white, cast on 8 sts
Purl 1 row
Next: increase into every stitch (16 sts)
Purl 1 row
Next: (k1, inc1) to end (24 sts)
Starting with a purl row, st-st 9 rows
Next: k2tog to end (12 sts)
Starting with a purl row, st-st 9 rows
Next: k2tog to end (6 sts)
Draw thread through the remaining
stitches and pull tight
Sew down the row ends, add stuffing and seal up.

Door—Make 1
With pink, cast on 8 sts
Purl 1 row
Next: increase into every stitch (16 sts)
Purl 3 rows
Next: k2tog to end (8 sts)
Draw thread through the remaining stitches and pull tight
Sew down the row ends and seal up.

Fold flat so the bound off stitches are in the centre of the piece and it is circular. Sew to the front of the house.

Roof—Make 1
With pink, cast on 24 sts
Starting with a purl row, st-st 3 rows
Next: k1, k2tog, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1
Complete the last 4 rows until 4 sts remain on the needle. Add a stitch marker at each end of row 14
Draw thread through the remaining stitches and pull tight

Sew down the row ends to the stitch markers. Leave the bottom open. Insert the narrow end of the house into the opening. Allow the lower rows to curl outward. Fold the pointed end of the roof over on to itself and secure with a stitch.

© Copyright 2019 Knitting by Post Ltd

Magical Fairies

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Sprinkle some fairy magic into your knitting with this adorable soft toy doll. A lovely handmade project for little dreamers.

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No fairy tale is complete without a little magic! This knitted boy fairy is the perfect partner to the classic fairy soft toy.

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Even More Patterns

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He is Purrrfection in a Knitting Pattern. Our cute moggie is yours to make.

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No cape needed—this Egg Hero is here to bring Easter joy! A playful and creative soft toy knitting project with a fun twist.

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Everyone loves Santa. Here he is in a jolly red outfit with a bit of a gnome style twist!

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This knitted duck and egg combo is egg-stra adorable. A great soft toy project for Easter handmade gifts and egg hunts

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Everyone loves a bunny. Here is our sleepy Candy Floss rabbit soft toy knitting pattern.

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Make Easter extra quack-tastic with this adorable knitted duckling soft toy pattern.

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FREE Little 2 Needle Stocking

free two needle stocking knitting pattern
free two needle stocking knitting pattern

Here is a two needle Christmas stocking.  It is a free pattern for you to use.

The stocking was made with 3mm single pointed needles and double knitting yarn.  The pattern will scale so you can use chunky or aran yarn as you prefer to make a bigger version.

Abbreviations : k – knit. p – purl. st – stitch. tog-together. st-st – Stocking Stitch (k1row, p1row).  inc— increase. Knit into the front and the back of the stitch

Stocking—Make 1

Stocking Making Step 1

With white, cast on 32 sts
Next: (k1, p1) to end
Complete the last row 14 times in total
Change to main colour
Starting with a purl row, st-st 15 rows
Cast off 16 sts, knit to end (16 sts)

Top of foot
Starting with a purl row, st-st 15 rows

Stocking Making Step 2

Shape toe
Change to white
Next: k2tog, knit to last 2 sts, k2tog
Purl 1 row
Complete the last 2 rows until 6 sts remain on the needle

Next: inc1, knit to the last stitch, inc1
Purl 1 row
Complete the last 2 rows until there are 16 sts on the needle

Sole of foot
Change to main colour
Starting with a knit row, st-st 16 rows

Stocking Making Step 3

Shape ankle
Change to white
Next: k2tog, knit to last 2 sts, k2tog
Purl 1 row
Complete the last 2 rows until 6 sts remain on the needle
Next: inc1, knit to the last stitch, inc1
Purl 1 rowComplete the last 2 rows until there are 16 sts on the needle
Cast off

Assemble the stocking using the diagram for help.

  1. Lay the stocking on a table with the right side down on the table.
  2. Fold the widest part (with the rib)  in half along the length so you can see the right side of the top of the stocking.
  3. Fold the cast off edge (white) down to the partially cast off part (Contrast colour) and sew them together.
  4. Then, take the white toe and ankle and sew the seams together. (see diagram)
  5. You should be able to see the shape of the stocking now.   Sew the rest of the seams together to complete the shape.
Stocking Making Step 4
Assemble stocking
Stocking Making Step 5

Here are some suggestions to customise your stocking …..

Stocking Making Step 6

Make a knitted hanging loop
With your chosen colour, cast on 20 sts
Starting with a purl row, st-st 3 rows
Cast off.
Fold in half and attach both ends at the top of the stocking in a loop.

Make a twisted cord hanging loop

A twisted cord is made by taking three pieces of yarn approx. half a metre long and fastening one end to a static object for example a door handle. Take the other end of the yarn and twist several times. Then allow the yarn to fold in half upon itself and it will twist. Knot each end to stop the twist from unravelling. Cut to the length desired and attachto the top of the stocking in a loop.

Ribbon Loop

If you don’t want to knit a loop, use a small piece of ribbon to create a hanging loop.

Extra Decorations

It is possible to add other decorative items to the front of the stocking.   Here are some suggestions…

Stocking Making Step 7

Mittens – Make 2
With white, cast on 16 sts
Knit 2 rows
Change to your contrast colour
Next: k7, inc1, inc1, k7 (18 sts)
Purl 1 row
Next: k8, inc1, inc1, k8 (20 sts)
Purl 1 row
Next: k7, cast off 6 sts, k7 (14 sts)
Starting with a purl row, st-st 3 rows
Next: k2tog to end (7 sts)
Draw thread through the remaining stitches and pull tight
Sew down the row ends of each hand and across the thumb. Take the piece of ribbon and insert it into the glove at the side closest to the thumb and secure with a stitch.

Snowballs
With white, cast on 8 sts
Next: (k1, p1) to end
Next: increase into every stitch (16 sts)
Next: (k1, p1) to end
Knit 1 row
Complete the last 2 rows 2 times (4 rows)
Next: (k1, p1) to end
Next: k2tog to end (8 sts)
Draw thread through the remaining stitch-es and pull tight.
Sew down the row ends, add a little stuffing and seal up.

Attach the snowballs to the end of a twisted cord or ribbon as above and attach so it dangles from the front centre of the stocking.

Holly Leaves – Make 2
With green, cast on 2 sts
knit 1 row
*Next: inc1, inc1 (4 sts)
Next: inc1, k2, inc1 (6 sts)
Next: inc1, k4, inc1 (8 sts)
Next: k2tog, k4, k2tog (6 sts)
Next: k2tog, k2, k2tog (4 sts)
Next: k2tog, k2tog (2 sts)
Repeat all rows once more from *
Knit 1 row
Bind off both stitches

patterns

Customer Makes #4

A Completed Project by Alison Shuttleworth

Bedtime Gnome.

Made Using this Knitting Pattern

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Even gnomes need their rest! This Bed Time Gnome knitting pattern creates a cozy, nighttime-themed plushie.

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More Customer Makes Here

Even More Patterns

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No need to wish upon a star—this knitted unicorn is already full of magic! A fun and easy soft toy pattern for unicorn lovers.

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Knit a Path Through the Woods to Grannys House.  Red Riding Hood is Here.

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Bride and Groom knitting pattern in a gnome style.  A lovely gift for a wedding day.

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Here is our Sophisti-CAT. Carol has a removable dress and is ready to dance.

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Rule the knitting world with this fun project! The King at Bedtime is a playful pattern for a royal snooze.

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BearWick dad bear is here.  Knit the dad of our family of four with this knitting pattern.

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