Patterns for Christmas Beanies available on Etsy

The knitting patterns for the Christmas Beanies are now available in the Funky Orange Etsy store.

They are quick to knit and a great way to use up oddments of feltable wool.

The pattern collection is available as a pdf document that is emailed as soon as Paypal confirm payment. The pdf is accompanied by a step-by-step photo tutorial for many common knitting stitches used to provide shaping.

Hence it is an ideal project for a beginner who has mastered the basics of knitting and wants to expand their skills.

Two of the techniques used in the pattern are also presented on this blog as step-by-step tutorials. More will be added regularly.

'Make 1' Tutorial

'Make 1' is a common method of increasing stitches in knitting. It is usually abbreviated to 'm1' in knitting patterns.
Step 1: Identify the loop that lies between the needles.

In this case the loop is the white horizontal line that is circled.
Step 2: Pick up the loop.

Insert the left hand needle from front to back underneath the loop and pick the loop up onto the left hand needle.
Step 3: Knit the loop.

Knit into the back of the loop. Knitting into the back of the loop rather than the front twists the new stitch as it is knitted.
Step 4: The final result.

Twisting the new stitch means that there is not a hole in the work.

I-Cord Tutorial

Step 1: Cast on

You will need two double pointed needles. On to one of these needles cast on the number of stitches called for in the pattern. This is usually between 3-6 stitches. However the Funky Orange Felted Snowman Beanie pattern uses a 2 stitch I-Cord for the nose and the Funky Orange witch hat pattern knits 10 stitches as an I-Cord.
Step 2: First row

Knit 1 row of these stitches as you would normally knit, that is from the left hand needle to the right hand needle, but do NOT turn the work at the end of the row.
Step 3: Sliding the stitches

Now all the stitches are on the right-hand needle and the yarn comes from the left-most stitch.

Slide the stitches from the left hand end of the needle to the right hand end. The needle holding the stitches now becomes the left-hand needle.
Step 4: Knit a row

Bring the yarn round the BACK of the work pulling it tightly and knit the stitches as you would normally knit them, that is from the left hand needle to the right hand needle. Again do NOT turn the work at the end of the row. The difference between normal knitting and knitting an I-Cord is that the work is never turned and that the yarn comes from the stitch at the left hand end, not the stitch at the right-hand end.
Step 5: Repeat until long enough

Repeat steps 3 and 4 until the I-Cord is the desired length. Cast off in the normal way.

Christmas Felted Beanies arriving soon!

I've been designing these little guys . I'm really happy with the way that they turned out. My favourite is Rudolf, although he was also the hardest to design.

They are all knitted and then carefully hand felted before finishing details like eyes, hats, glasses etc. are added.

The 'secret Santa' was a last minute bit of fun. Both the elf and Santa do actually have bodies just like the snowman's but their oversize beards hide them completely when you see them from the front.

The beards are actually my favourite part. They are made using loop stitches and are felted so that the loops are firmly held.

Full details of the techniques used in the patterns such as the loop stitches will be included with the pattern along with bags of photos to keep everyone straight.

The patterns themselves have been written but are getting the final check over before they are published. They will be added to both the Etsy and DaWanda FunkyOrange stores within the next 2-3 days.

Initially they will be available in English. If there is enough demand French and German editions will also be published.

Welcome to the Funky Orange crafting blog!

Welcome to Funky Orange Needles!

This blog is designed to complement the Funky Orange Etsy store and Funky Orange Dawanda store where both patterns and finished items are available.

Tutorials for knitting and crochet techniques used in Funky Orange patterns will be posted in the near future as well as news abot new and up-coming patterns.

Free patterns will also be posted here soon.

You can find more photos in my Flickr photostream.

If you like what you see here, I would love you to link to this blog from your site. If you do this please let me know with a message in the comments and I will happily link to your site as well!