Christmas Knitting Shop
Are you looking for that perfect gift for a new baby? Do you want to make something personal and unique? we have lots of baby knitting patterns that can help. From quick knits that you can make in an hour to heirloom toys that you can decorate and personalise. There’s something for everyone here.
Even More Patterns
£4.99 Leaflet
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
Bear with me, this could get grizzly. Here is our take on a sweet little Valentine's Day bear knitting pattern, complete with a squishy heart.
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Daisy Chains and Daisy Purls Too. Downloadable Knitted Daisy in a Pot Pattern
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£4.99 Leaflet
Wrap your gifts in something clever with this fox gift bag knitting pattern. A fun and reusable alternative to traditional wrapping.
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£4.99 Leaflet
Hop to it! It is Easter Soon. Here is Bun Bunny With a Little Cupcake Jacket and Ears.
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£4.99 Leaflet
Knit up a teddy that never lets go. This bear comforter is a thoughtful and practical handmade gift that brings warmth and comfort to children.
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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.
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.
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.
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Stardust the Unicorn Knitting Pattern
£4.49 Download
£4.99 Leaflet
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.
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Skylar the Unicorn Knitting Pattern
£4.49 Download
£4.99 Leaflet
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.
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Unicorn Little Sweetie Knitting Pattern
£4.49 Download
£4.99 Leaflet
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.
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Suki the Unicorn Pyjama Case Knitting Pattern
£4.49 Download
£4.99 Leaflet
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.
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Unicorn Baggles Gift Bag Knitting Pattern
£4.49 Download
£4.99 Leaflet
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.
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Unicorn Toilet Roll Cover Knitting Pattern
£4.49 Download
£4.99 Leaflet
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.
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Sprinkle the Unicorn Knitting Pattern
£4.49 Download
£4.99 Leaflet
Find Unicorn Knitting Patterns Here
Even More Patterns
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He is blue and beautiful too. Here is River the Bear. Make him now with this cute pattern.
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£4.99 Leaflet
Another First From Knitting by Post. A Knitted Gift Box For A Special Occasion!
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£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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£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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£4.99 Leaflet
Here is our doctor knitting pattern. He is in full scrubs and is wearing a face mask too. He is ready for his shift at the hospital.
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£9.99 Leaflet
A festive tradition in yarn! Knit the second half of your Christmas nativity scene with this pattern booklet.
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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 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
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.
- 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 - Try to view the file using another device – if you are using a SmartPhone, try it on a computer instead.
- Make sure you are using the most up to date PDF reader on your device. Download any updates and try it again.
- If you have another PDF reader on your device, try to read your file with that instead.
- Restart your device and try again
- 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
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.
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.
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
£4.99 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
£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
£4.99 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
£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
£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
£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
£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
£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
£4.99 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
£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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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.
Another Sweet Reindeer
£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.
This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product pageEven More Patterns
£4.99 Leaflet
This reindeer isn’t flying anywhere—he’s here to hold your doors in place! A charming Christmas-themed knitting pattern.
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Beau, Belle, Boo, and Bess are all wrapped up for Christmas! Follow their second adventure in this festive booklet, filled with holiday spirit and bear-sized fun.
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£4.99 Leaflet
Make Your Christmas Table Sparkle With Elf and Reindeer Crackers
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£4.99 Leaflet
Tusk Me If You Need a Hug - This adorable elephant pattern is always ready.
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£4.99 Leaflet
Ding Dong. Here is the Third Knitted Bell Pattern from The Christmas Bells Collection. Elf is Ready to Go.
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£4.99 Leaflet
Knitting pattern instructions to knit a little Dog Comforter Blanket
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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.
Dog Hero
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 pageEven More Patterns
£4.99 Leaflet
Yawn, that's our sleepy cat knitting pattern. All ready for bed time. She has an eye mask, nightie and slippers. That makes her sophisti-CAT-ed.
This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
£4.99 Leaflet
Knit up some Christmas magic with these tiny festive friends. Perfect for ornaments, stockings, and the tree. Bring some Christmas joy.
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Deck the halls—and the fireplace! Knit 4 unique Christmas stockings with this must-have festive knitting pattern collection.
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£4.99 Leaflet
Eco warrior and all round good guy. Here is green Santa in a twist on the popular red outfit.
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£4.99 Leaflet
This lion pyjama case is as cuddly as it is useful. A soft and functional knitting project that makes a great gift or bedtime buddy.
This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
£4.99 Leaflet
Reindeer are a sure sign that Christmas is coming. You can knit our cuddly Reindeer Chocolate Orange cover with this pattern.
This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
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)
More out of this world patterns
£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.
This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
£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.
This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product pageEven More Patterns
£4.99 Leaflet
A cracking good project! Knit your own Humpty Dumpty soft toy with this fun nursery rhyme-inspired pattern
This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
£4.99 Leaflet
A paws-itively perfect bedtime buddy! Knit Buddy the Sleepy Puppy, a soft and cuddly dog toy.
This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
£4.99 Leaflet
A reindeer that’s perfect for cuddles! This Christmas soft toy pattern is a festive knitting project, great for handmade gifts.
This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
£4.99 Leaflet
Gnome matter the size, this baby gnome is adorable! A sweet and easy soft toy knitting pattern that pairs perfectly with Gnorma and Gnorman.
This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
£4.99 Leaflet
UnBEARably Good Bear Knitting Pattern. It is a Bear with egg sized pockets !
This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
£4.99 Leaflet
Knit a pug with plenty of personality! This adorable soft toy pattern features a hoodie and a cheeky little tongue sticking out.
This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
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.
- 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.
£3.99DOWNLOAD ONLY. Knitting pattern instructions to knit a Mole Pyjama Case.
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£4.99 LeafletJust a hand full of a little knitted dog. Nothing RUFF here.
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£4.99 LeafletTwirl it Your Way, It's The Purr-fect Project. Do a Little Pirouette With Your Knitting Needles
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£4.99 LeafletEwe’ll love every stitch of this adorable sheep knitting pattern. Curly is soft, squishy, and the perfect woolly friend to add to any handmade collection.
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£4.99 LeafletBearWick mum bear is here. Knit the mum of our family of four with this knitting pattern.
This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page - 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!
- 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-planNew
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£4.99 LeafletTooth Be Told, She is a Purly White Fairy Soft Toy Pattern.
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£2.49Tiny Gnome, Tiny Price - a Knibbles Classic Toy Knitting Pattern.
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£4.99 LeafletTusk Me If You Need a Hug - This adorable elephant pattern is always ready.
This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page - 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. - 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
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.
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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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This rabbit hand puppet is all ears and ready for fun. A delightful knitting pattern for kids, puppet shows, or anyone who loves a little hoppy entertainment.
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Run, run as fast as you can, you can’t catch this gingerbread man, but you can knit him. A sweet and festive project perfect for Christmas decorations and gifts
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Kick off your next project with this football-themed knitting pattern! Knit your own sporty boy and girl soft toys.
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Keep pyjamas tucked away in the safest spot—a hippo’s belly. This fun knitting pattern is great for bedtime routines, gifts, or just adding a playful touch to a room.
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This cute little animal is small for tiny hands. Knit one in your favourite baby colour.
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This little duck is sweet inside and out! A fun and creative knitting pattern designed to hold a small chocolate egg or treat.
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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
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
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
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.
- Lay the stocking on a table with the right side down on the table.
- 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.
- Fold the cast off edge (white) down to the partially cast off part (Contrast colour) and sew them together.
- Then, take the white toe and ankle and sew the seams together. (see diagram)
- You should be able to see the shape of the stocking now. Sew the rest of the seams together to complete the shape.
Here are some suggestions to customise your stocking …..
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…
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
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