Rebecca Danger

Magnus Ragnar the Victorious Viking {A Free Knitting Pattern with Cedar House Yarns}

Hey friends! Guess what....today is a very exciting day. I have a FREE, full-sized knitting pattern for you guys! Are you excited? I am. Wait, did I already say I was excited?

So, my friend Jen started a yarn company last year, Cedar House Yarns, and as soon as I found out, I knew we needed to do a project together. So she sent me a pile of yarn, and this is what I turned it into. I have written the whole pattern into this post, but you can also download it through the link at the bottom of this page. Just keep scrolling to find it.

Please be sure to go check out and buy some of her yarn, her colors are beautifully saturated and rich, and the bases are lovely to work with and feel great as they slide through you fingers. www.cedarhouseyarns.com The little viking was knit with her Sapling Sock Sprouts, which are only eight bucks a piece. I love it!

Here, we, go!

Magnus Ragnar the Victorious Viking Knitting Pattern

A Little Bit About Magnus Ragnar

Magnus Ragnar is named after Jen of Cedar House Yarns son. She and I have been friends for years and so when I found out she had started a yarn company, I knew we needed to collaborate. And when I thought collaborate, I immediately thought Viking since her son is Magnus Ragnar.

So, to celebrate yarn Magnus, here is a Viking poem (written by Magnus Ragnar's dad and Jen's husband, Eric the Red). In case you are not versed in Viking culture, to "go Viking" means to sail on a longship, a creation nearly synonymous with Viking culture.

Magnus has gone Viking

From wind and wave striking

His deeds sung in glory

His ancestors tell the story

Seafaring to victory

His name, sealed in history

Magnus has gone Viking

Materials

Yarn

80-110 yards of yarn for the shirt and pants (A)

50-75 yards of skin color yarn for face, nose, ears, hands, and thumbs (B)

75-100 yards of yarn for hat, boots, belt (C)

50-75 yards of yarn for tunic (D)

70-100 yards of yarn for beard and hair (E)

15-25 yards of scrap white or gray yarn for hat base and horn (F) Alternately I used the same color as the body.

Needles

40” circular needle (for Magic Loop Method) in a size about 2 sizes smaller than those recommended for your yarn (example: yarn says U.S. size 8, use a size 6, or maybe even 5 instead)

40” circular needle (for Magic Loop Method) 1 size larger than your main needle (for Tunic, creates a slightly looser fabric for a part where stuffing wont show through)

Gauge

One of the greatest things about knitting toys is gauge doesn’t matter! For those of you who detest gauging as much as me, this is the perfect project for you. Simply use smaller needles than those recommended for your yarn to create a tighter knit fabric so that the stuffing doesn’t show through. My rule of thumb is to go down 2 or 3 needle sizes from the smallest size recommended for your yarn. This also means this pattern can be worked in any size of yarn! Try sock yarn for little nugget gnome, or worsted for a medium gnome great for tucking places in your house, or bulky for a big gnome perfect for hugs.

Notions

Scissors, tapestry needle, safety eyes/buttons/scrap yarn for eyes, stuffing, 15 removable stitch markers, or 14 removable markers and one not removable (to mark beginning of round), yarn holders (optional), row counter (optional, but very helpful), pins for making up (optional), Celtic knit button (3) for belt (optional, determine size based on the finished size of your viking).

Notes

Make a Loop:

1. Knit the next stitch, hold the stitch on the needle LH needle and do not transfer it to the RH needle (as to finish the st). 
2. Bring the working yarn forward between the two needles.
3. Move your thumb to where the yarn comes between the needles. Wrap the working yarn around you thumb, and run it back between the two needles, setting yourself up to work the next stitch on your RH needle.
4. Knit the same stitch you knitted before looping, and transfer to the RH needle to complete the stitch

Note: This version of loop stitch will add an extra stitch every time you make a loop, which will be evened out with the rest of the stitch pattern.

If the making a loop part seems confusing you can check out the videos on youtube.com (Here’s one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGKlbG_tHjI). Just remember the version here is a modified version and only the loop making part is the same. 

Modified Loop Stitch

R1: (Make a loop, K2tog) around

R2: (K2tog, Make a Loop) around

Repeat these two rounds to create your stitch.

Directions

Knit the Body

The body is knit entirely in A.

Using A and Turkish Cast On, CO 36 sts (18 loops). PM to indicate beg of rnd and join to begin knitting the body in the round using Magic Loop Method:

R1: Knit all sts from Turkish Cast On (36 total Sts)

Stop and place removable stitch markers in center of CO row below 7th and 11th sts in CO row (this marks where legs will be picked up).

R2: (KFB, K16, KFB) twice (40 sts) 

R3: Knit all sts

R4: (KFB, K18, KFB) twice (44 sts) 

R5: Knit all sts

R6: (KFB, K20, KFB) twice (48 sts)

R7-R37: Knit all sts.

After R37, stop and place a removable stitch marker in 4th, 21st, 27th, and 46th sts of rnd 37. These markers will be where you pick up sts for arms.

R38 & R39: Knit all sts 

R40: (K1, SSK, K18, K2tog, K1) twice (44 sts)

R41: Knit all sts

R42: (K1, SSK, K16, K2tog, K1) twice (40 sts)

R43: Knit all sts. After R43, stop and place a removable stitch marker in 3rd, 18th, 23rd, and 38 sts of rnd 43. These markers will be where you pick up sts for the head.

placing markers for head

R44: (SSK, K16, K2tog) twice (36 sts)

Cut your yarn, leaving an 18” or longer tail. Stuff the body now. Once the body is stuffed, use the Kitchener Stitch to close up the top of the body. You will want to add your last bits of stuffing as you finish closing up the seam.

Knit The Head

The head is knit entirely in skin color.

To Knit Separately, CO 32 sts, then just knit all sts of R1 and work rest of pattern as written.

R1: Using B color and starting in marker from st #3 on R43, PU 16 sts, 1 per stitch to marker in st #18. Then, flip to other end of your needle tip, and heading opposite direction (toward first st picked up), PU same 16 sts starting in st #23 and working towards st #38. You will now have 32 sts on your needles. First st picked up is first st of rnd. PM to indicate beg of rnd and beg to work in rnd using Magic Loop Method:

R2-R20: Knit all sts. Place removable st markers as you work:

R9: PM in sts 1 & 17 to mark for ears

R10: PM in sts 7 & 10 to mark for nose

R12: PM in sts 7 & 10 to mark for nose

R17: PM in sts 16 & 32 to make for ears

R21: (K1, SSK, K10, K2tog, K1) twice (28 sts)

R22: Knit all sts

R23: (K1, SSK, K8, K2tog, K1) twice (24 sts)

R24: (K1, SSK, K6, K2tog, K1) twice (20 sts)

R25: (K1, SSK, K4, K2tog, K1) twice (16 sts)

Stuff the head now. Add eyes using the nose markers to help determine where they should go. Cut your yarn, leaving an 18” or longer tail and use the Kitchener Stitch to close up the top of the head. Alternately you can place the live sts on waste yarn and wait until you have knit the ears and nose before you attach the eyes. Once the eyes are in place, you can slip the sts back to your needles and close the head then. 

Knit the Nose

Nose is knit entirely in B.

To Knit Separately, CO 10 sts, then just knit all sts of R1 and work rest of pattern as written and whipstitch to the face once finished.

R1: Using B and starting with marked st 7 on R10 of the head, PU 4 sts, 1 stitch per stitch across the face. Next, PU 1 sts from R11 of the head, in line with the last stitch picked up from R10. Then, flip to other end of your needle tip, move up 1 round to marked st #10 from R12 of the head, and PU the same 4 sts 1 round up, toward first st picked up. Finally, PU 1 st from R11, in line with the last st picked up on R12. You will now have 10 sts on your needles. First st picked up is first st of rnd. PM to indicate beg of rnd and beg to work in rnd using Magic Loop Method:

R2:-R5: Knit all sts

R6: K2tog five times around (5 sts)

Lightly stuff the nose. Cut your yarn and using a tapestry needle, pull it through the remaining sts to close up the nose

Knit the Left Ear

Ears are knit entirely in B.

To Knit Separately, CO 18 sts, then just knit all sts of R1 and work rest of pattern as written.

R1: Using B and starting with marked st #1 on R9 of the head, PU 9 sts, 1 stitch per round towards the top of the head. Then, flip to other end of your needle tip, move over 1 stitch to marked st #32 from R17 of the head, and PU the same 9 sts 1 stitch over, heading toward first st picked up. You will now have 18 sts on your needles. First st picked up is first st of rnd. PM to indicate beg of rnd and beg to work in rnd using Magic Loop Method.

R2-R4: Knit all sts

R5: K2tog nine times around (9 sts)

Stuff ears as desired (samples are unstuffed). Cut your yarn and using a tapestry needle, pull it through the remaining sts to close up the ear.

Knit the Right Ear

Repeat above instructions starting in marked st #17 from R9 of the head and moving toward marked st #16 from R17 of the head to make the second ear.

Knit the Left Arm

To Knit Separately, CO 14 sts, then just knit all sts of R1 and work rest of pattern as written.

R1: Using A and starting with marked st #46 on R37 of the body, PU 7 sts, 1 stitch per stitch toward marked st #4. Then, flip to other end of your needle tip, move up 1 round and PU the same 7 sts 1 round up, toward first st picked up. You will now have 14 sts on your needles. Be sure the beg of the round is to the back of the body for correct thumb placement. First st picked up is first st of rnd. PM to indicate beg of rnd and beg to work in rnd using Magic Loop Method.

R2-R54: Using A, knit all sts

R55 & R56: Switch to B. Knit all sts. You will remain in B to the end of the arm.

R57: (KFB, K5, KFB) twice (18 sts)

R58: K8, PM, KFB, KFB, PM, K8 to end of round (20 sts)

R59: Knit to marker, SM, KFB, knit to 1 before marker, KFB, SM, knit to end of round (22 sts)

R60: Knit to marker, SM, KFB, knit to 1 before marker, KFB, SM, knit to end of round (24 sts)

R61: K8, remove marker, k1, place next 6 sts on waste yarn. Pulling yarn across gap, k1, remove marker, knit last 8 sts to the end of the round. 6 sts on waste yarn for thumb, 18 sts rem on needles.

R62-R71: Knit all sts. 

R72: (K1, SSK, K3, K2tog, K1) twice (14 sts)

Cut your yarn, leaving an 18” or longer tail. Stuff the hand now. Use the Kitchener Stitch to close the hand.

Knit the Thumb

Thumb is knit entirely in B.

To Knit Separately, CO 10 sts, then just knit all sts of R1 (don’t add any where you PU in R1) and work rest of pattern as written.

Place 6 sts from waste yarn onto needles. Starting on outside of thumb (away from palm), work in rnd using Magic Loop Method:

R1: K3, PU 2 from join between thumb and palm, slide sts to cable, PU 2 additional sts from same spot, K3 to end of rnd (10 sts)

R2-R7: Knit all sts

R8: K2tog five times (5 sts)

Lightly stuff the thumb. Cut your yarn and using a tapestry needle, pull it through the remaining sts to close up the thumb.

Knit the Right Arm

Repeat above instructions starting in marked st #27 and moving toward marked st #21 from R37 of the body to make the second arm. Be sure beginning of the round is to the back of the arm for correct thumb placement. Be sure to knit the second thumb as well.

Knit the Left Leg

To Knit Separately, CO 18 sts, then just knit all sts of R1 and work rest of pattern as written.

R1: Using A and starting in marked st #7 from the base of the body, PU 7 sts toward the outside edge of the body. Then, PU 2 more sts from the increase rounds up the side of the body (look for the “bar” from the KFB’s). Next, using the other end of your needle tip, begin at marked st #7 again, move towards the front of the body 1 stitch and PU the same 9 sts 1 stitch forward, toward first st picked up. You will now have 18 sts on your needles. First st picked up is first st of the round, beginning of round will be to the outside of the body. Be sure the beginning of the round is to the back of body for correct heel and foot placement. PM to indicate beg of rnd and beg to work in rnd using Magic Loop Method.

R2-R35: Using A, knit all sts

R36: Knit all sts in C. You will remain in C to the end of the foot.

R37-R42: Repeat R1 & R2 of Modified Loop Stitch (see notes)

R43-R62: Knit all sts

Begin the heel by working just the first 9 sts of the round, and holding the last 9 sts of the round on the cable of your needle.

Row 1: Sl1, knit to end. Turn.

Row 2: Sl1, purl to end. Turn.

Repeat Rows 1 & 2 three more times until 8 total rows have been worked. You will end with a purl row. 

R1 of foot: Knit across 9 heel sts once more. Using the same needle tip, PU 6 sts from the gusset edge. Flip to the other needle tip and knit the 9 held sts. Using the same needle tip, PU 6 sts from the gusset edge. You'll now have 30 total sts and a new beginning of round with the next st to be knitted, PM to indicate beginning of round.

R2: K9, K2tog twice, K13, SSK twice (26 sts)

R3: Knit all sts

R4: K9, K2tog twice, K9, SSK twice (22 sts)

R5-R20: Knit all sts

R21: (K1, K2tog five times) twice (12 sts)

Stuff the foot now. Cut your yarn and using a tapestry needle, pull it through the remaining sts to close up the foot.

Knit the Right Leg

Repeat these instructions starting in marked st #12 from the base of the body and moving toward the outside of the body, then moving forward and picking up the same 9 sts 1 st forward to make sure the beginning of the round is to the back of the body again to make the second leg. Beginning of the round will be to the inside of the leg. 

Knit the Tunic

Tunic is knit entirely in D.

Using D, CO 52 sts onto your larger needle. PM to indicate beg of rnd and join to begin knitting the tunic in the round using Magic Loop Method:

R1-R3: (K1, P1) around

R4-R43: Knit all sts

Divide for Top:

Row 1: K8, K2tog twice, K1. Turn (11 sts)

Row 2: P11. Turn

Row 3: K6, K2tog twice, K1. Turn (9 sts)

Row 4: P9. Turn

Row 5: K4, K2tog twice, K1. Turn (7 sts)

Row 6: P7. Turn

Row 7: K2, K2tog twice, K1. Turn (5 sts)

Row 8: P5. Turn

Row 9: K5. Turn

Row 10: P5. Turn

Cut your yarn leaving a long tail for Kitchener Stitch and place these 5 sts on waste yarn or a yarn holder.

Move to the next 13 sts: Start at the inside next edge (the next st to be worked before you turned after R43)

Row 1: K1, SSK twice, K8. Turn (11 sts)

Row 2: P11. Turn

Row 3: K1, SSK twice, K6. Turn (9 sts)

Row 4: P9. Turn

Row 5: K1, SSK twice, K4. Turn (7 sts)

Row 6: P7. Turn

Row 7: K1, SSK twice, K2. Turn (5 sts)

Row 8: P5. Turn

Row 9: K5. Turn

Row 10: P5. Turn

Cut your yarn leaving a long tail for Kitchener Stitch and place these 5 sts on waste yarn or a yarn holder.

Move to the remaining 26 sts from R43:

Row 1: K1, SSK, K20, K2tog, K1. Turn (24 sts)

Row 2: Purl all sts. Turn

Row 3-Row 8: Work all sts in Stockinette St.

Row 9: Knit all sts. Turn

Row 10: P1, P2tog tbl, P3, BO next 12 sts, P3, P2tog, P1. (5 sts per side remain, 12 sts bound off in center)

Place sts of shoulders onto one needle tip, with sts from back on the second needle tip. Cut your yarn and use kitchener st to attach each shoulder to the back of the tunic, using the ends you left when you did the front shoulders (you may have to slip your sts around on your needles or use a second needle to set this up to work correctly).

Knit the Hat

Using F, CO 36 sts. PM to indicate beg of rnd and join to begin knitting the hat in the round using Magic Loop Method:

R1: (K1, P1) around

R2: (P1, K1) around

R3 & R4: Repeat R1 & R2

R5: Repeat R1 once more

R6-R17: Switch to C and knit all sts. You will remain in C to the top of the hat. Stop and place removable markers as you work:

R7: PM in sts 1 & 19 to mark for horns.

R14: PM in sts 18 & 36 to mark for horns.

R18: (K2, K2tog) around (27 sts)

R19: Knit all sts

R20: (K1, K2tog) around (18 sts)

R21: Knit all sts

R22: K2tog around (9 sts)

Cut your yarn and pull it through the remaining sts to close the hat.

Knit the Left Horn

Horns are knit entirely in F.

To Knit Separately, CO 16 sts, then just knit all sts of R1 and work rest of pattern as written.

R1: Using F and starting with marked st #1 on R7 of the hat, PU 8 sts, 1 stitch per round towards the top of the hat. Then, flip to other end of your needle tip, move over 1 stitch to marked st #36 from R14 of the head, and PU the same 8 sts 1 stitch over, heading toward first st picked up. You will now have 16 sts on your needles. First st picked up is first st of rnd, be sure the beginning of the round is towards the bottom of the hat for correct horn shaping. PM to indicate beg of rnd and beg to work in rnd using Magic Loop Method.

R2 & R3: Knit all sts

R4: SSK, knit to last 2 sts, K2tog (14 sts)

R5: Knit all sts

R6: SSK, knit to last 2 sts, K2tog (12 sts)

R7: Knit all sts

R8: SSK, knit to last 2 sts, K2tog (10 sts)

R9: Knit all sts

R10: SSK, knit to last 2 sts, K2tog (8 sts)

R11: Knit all sts

R12: SSK, knit to last 2 sts, K2tog (6 sts)

R13: Knit all sts

R14: SSK, knit to last 2 sts, K2tog (4 sts)

R15: Knit all sts

You can stuff the horns as you wish, the small samples are unstuffed, the large samples are lightly stuffed. If you do wish to stuff the horns, begin stuffing around R9. Once stuffed, cut your yarn and using a tapestry needle, pull it through the remaining sts to close up the horn.

Knit the Right Horn

Repeat above instructions starting in marked st #19 from R7 of the hat and moving toward marked st #36 from R14 of the hat to make the second horn.

Knit the Belt

Using C and Provisional Cast On, CO 6 sts. Do not join. 

Row 1-Row 100: Knit all sts

Alternately you can not keep track of rows but just knit until the belt first snuggly around your viking’s waist.

Slip prov CO sts to the second needle. Use 3 needle bind off to attach prov cast on sts to the end sts and make the belt into a circle. Be sure to bind off on wrong side. Add buttons to the belt as desired.

Knit the Beard

Beard is knit entirely in E.

Using E and Turkish Cast On, CO 40 sts (20 loops). PM to indicate beg of rnd and join to begin knitting the body in the round using Magic Loop Method:

R1: Knit all sts from Turkish Cast On (40 total Sts)

R2: (KFB, K18, KFB) twice (44 sts)

R3-R12: Knit all sts

R13: (K1, SSK, K16, K2tog, K1) twice (40 sts)

R14: Knit all sts

R15: (K1, SSK, K14, K2tog, K1) twice (36 sts)

R16: Knit all sts

R17: (K1, SSK, K12, K2tog, K1) twice (32 sts)

R18: Knit all sts

R19: (K1, SSK, K10, K2tog, K1) twice (28 sts)

R20: Knit all sts

R21: (K1, SSK, K8, K2tog, K1) twice (24 sts)

R22: Knit all sts

R23: (K1, SSK, K6, K2tog, K1) twice (20 sts)

R24: Knit all sts

R25: (K1, SSK, SSK, K2tog, K2tog) twice (12 sts)

R26: K2tog six times around (6 sts)

Cut your yarn and using a tapestry needle, pull it through the remaining sts to close up the beard.

Knit the Mustache

Mustache is knit entirely in E.

Using E, CO 6 sts. PM to indicate beg of rnd and join to begin knitting the hat in the round using Magic Loop Method:

R1-R5: Knit all sts

R6: K2, KFB twice, K2 to end of round (8 sts)

R7: Knit all sts

R8: SSK, K1, KFB twice, K1, K2tog (8 sts)

R9: Knit all sts

R10: K3, KFB twice, K3l to end of round (10 sts)

R11: Knit all sts

R12: K3, K2tog, SSK, K3 to end of round (8 sts)

R13: Knit all sts

R14: (SSK, K2tog) twice (4 sts)

R15: Knit all sts

R16: KFB all sts (8 sts)

R17: Knit all sts

R18: K3, KFB twice, K3 to end of round (10 sts)

R19: Knit all sts

R20: K3, K2tog, SSK, K3 to end of round (8 sts)

R21: Knit all sts

R22: KFB, K1, K2tog, SSK, K1, KFB (8 sts)

R23: Knit all sts

R24: K2, K2tog, SSK, K2 to end of round (6 sts)

R25-R30: Knit all sts

Cut your yarn and using a tapestry needle, pull it through the remaining sts to close up the mustache. Don't stuff. The dip in center goes up to nose. 

Finish Your Viking

If Knit Separately: Whipstitch arms, legs, nose and ears to the body using removable stitch markers for placement reference.

If Knit In One Piece: Weave in any remaining ends.

For both: Add eyes now if you didn't earlier. Pin beard to the face so the top edge of the beards just about lines up with the bottom edge of the ears. Use a running stitch to sew across the top edge up the beard, across the face and to the other ear. Pin the mustache in place right under the nose and use a running stitch to tack it in place (I like it so the ends are not sewn down and give the stache a little more dimension. Slip the tunic over the viking’s head and the belt onto his waist. 

To make hair like on my samples, you will want to cut a bunch (read, a bunch) of pieces of hair. For my small viking the pieces were 6” long. For my bigger viking they were 12” long. The finished size is really going to depend on how long you want the hair. You can cut a couple sample pieces before you decide.

To attach each hair, and yes the hair is added one piece at a time, I put a piece of hair into my tapestry needle, run the tapestry needle under the 2 loops of a stitch, drop the needle, find the center of the piece of hair, and then tie the hair in a square knot, knotting twice to hold the hair in place. Then I move on to the next hair and the next stitch, and do the whole thing over again. And again. And again.

To determine my hairline shape, I used the decrease stitches at the top of the head as a guide, then I made a circle around the top of the head, along down behind the ear, across a straight line of what I felt would be the bottom of the hairline, and back up behind the other ear. It came out like a “D” on its side. Then, I ran two rows of hair down the center of the “D”, right next to each other, along where I wanted the part. Again I put a piece of hair into each and every stitch of these two lines. 

Lots of work I know, but I think totally worth it for the gorgeous head full of luscious locks. You can chose to leave your viking bald if you prefer!

If you need help with anything in this pattern, check out my Frequent Questions page:

http://rebeccadanger.typepad.com/rebecca_danger/frequent-questions.html

If your question is not listed, leave a comment here below and I will get back to it as soon as I am able. You can also check out the Danger Crafts group on Ravelry.

Terms Used In This Pattern Can Be Found On My Blog: http://rebeccadanger.typepad.com/rebecca_danger/2012/01/knitting-pattern-terms.html

Samples Shown In This Pattern

Small Viking:

Sapling Sock Sprouts from Cedar House Yarn in Oyster (A & F), Toasted Marshmallow (B), Smoked Porter (C), Moss (D), and Robin Red-Breast (E)

9 mm safety eyes

Us Size 0 Needles

Approx. 12” tall

Large Viking:

Old Growth Worsted from Cedar House Yarn in Oyster (A & F), Toasted Marshmallow (B), Ink (C), A Land Far Away (D), and Ginger (E)

9 mm safety eyes

Us Size 4 Needles

Approx. 17” tall

Download Danger Crafts Magnus Viking Knitting Pattern

Here's a button to Pin:

Happy knitting friends!

Plans

Hey friends! How are you guys doing this week?

I had a lovely weekend filled with knitting. I knit with my friends down here in Everett for like 6 straight hours on Saturday afternoon. It was a lovely, fun time. Then, Shannon and Jane were down from Canada to do a trunk show at Tolt on Sunday afternoon. A couple of my favorite people at my favorite yarn shop? Yes please! My knitting friends came down from Bellingham (where I used to live) and we went out to enjoy the trunk show and get some knitting in. We of course stopped at a delicious bakery in Duvall on the way, since we were driving past it to get to Tolt. Then, after, we went out for some food, and while we were on our way to drop me back at home, Shannon started to text me and let me know about dinner plans, so I got dropped off by one group of friends and immediately turned around and went out to dinner and knitting with another lovely group of gals. What a fab couple of days!

I'm feeling excited and inspired to be back in my office here this morning, thanks to getting in so much knitting and friend time this weekend. I am planning to get my fox quilt top all finished, sandwiched, and quilted this week. Then I have big plans to get started on my next couple patterns! One of my best girlfriends from Bellingham has started dying beautiful yarn and brought some down for me to use in my next pattern, so I am itching to get knitting with it. I also really need to vacuum all the thread off the floor of my office and make a couple organizational things to keep everything together and in place in my office (I've got my eyes on this and these). And we have several beyond-the-normal doctors' appointments this week, which mean less crafty time. Big plans! We will see how the week goes. I am really just hoping to get the fox quilt done, since every time P sees me working on it he says, "I want that on my bed now." Also the vacuuming, since you know, the whole keeping sanitary conditions in your home thing.  I think I can at least do those two things!

How about you guys? Got any big crafty plans for the next few days? Or are we in the heart of the summer travel season and you are off to exciting adventures? Maybe knitting adventures?

Thanks for visiting me!

PS: You can keep up to date with my daily haps on instagram.

Listen!

Hey all! I got interviewed on a podcast for my sewing book! Did you even know I have a sewing book out? I haven't talked about it at all on here, bad author! It is called Baby Says Sew , and it came out super cute.

You can listen to it here: http://www.allpeoplequilt.com/magazines-more/quilting-podcast

Enjoy!

Hello! A Free Pattern, Another Free Pattern, And A Giveaway.

Hey guys! I am really excited to break the long blog silence with a free pattern and a giveaway! Actually, with a free pattern, a link to a SECOND free pattern, and a giveaway. Your Friday just got way better, huh? I know, I do what I can. Actually, this is all thanks to my awesome publisher, Martingale, so technically they are the ones doing what they can to make Friday better.

When I wrote Knit A Monster Nursery and turned it in, it ended up being way more projects than would fit in the allotted space. When I do things, I tend to over-do things, what can I say? Which is awesome news for you since a couple of those cut patterns are now available on their own for free. Yeah! Free is always good. Actually free is not always good, but in this case, free is very, very good!

I have this darling washcloth pattern for you:

 

Click Right Here To Download It.

 How cute is this? It is also awesome for, hmm, don’t know how put it other than, booger cleanup. I use my samples now with Peanut and his mega snotty noses. I used Berroco Weekend Chunky for the yarn which with the cotton content means softness on tender noses, plus super washability. A must with little ones, right?

I will get the file up into the sidebar here soon with my other free patterns, but I am not feeling so smart with these computery things at the moment, so help will be sought once Mr Danger is home...

If that is not enough cuteness for you (which, how much is enough cuteness, really? Is it even possible? I vote no.) Hop on over to Martingale’s blog to get another free pattern, this cutie-pie burp cloth:

This thing, I just love it. Not only is it good for cleaning up baby, ahem, barf spit up, it is a great friend for baby too. And it looks so cute draped over your shoulder. Love!

AND, as if two cutie-patootie patterns on a Friday wasn’t enough for you, I have an ebook copy of Knit A Monster Nursery to giveaway to one of you guys. Is this like the best day ever, or what? To enter, comment below telling me who you would be knitting out of Monster Nursery for. If it is yourself, that is just fine, but really I want to hear about all those cute babies and toddlers in your lives. Martingale is also hosting a giveaway, so hop on over there and enter as well! You know, "enter early, enter often?" Or, just once on each of these, but it is the same, right?

If you don’t have a copy of Knit A Monster Nursery yet, remember, if you purchase your copy on ShopMartingale.com, you get not only the hard-copy version of the book, but the ebook sent straight to your inbox as well. Awesomesauce, right? This day just keeps getting better.

I will pick a winner using a random-number generator next Friday, so be sure to get entered before then. 

Alright guys, that was so much awesome I might just need to go take a nap now. So you guys go, get knitting and giveaway entering!

Have a good weekend all-

Meet Xavier Owl!

Calling all owl lovers! Meet my newest pattern, Xavier the Observant Owl:

Who doesn't love owls?! I think there is something in those big round eyes that just sucks us in. I see owls everywhere these days, in all different shapes, sizes, and colors. Especially since Peanut was born, owls seem to be the "It" item for babies these days! I wanted to do my own take of this popular critter, and I have to say I am very pleased with my final results! I can definitely see this guy sitting in the chair in your nursery, or snuggling with your kids. 

I did this guy as a one-piece knit, like I did with Bob. You have the option to pick up stitches for the limbs, or the directions also include how to knit all the pieces separately and sew them together at the end.

I'm particularly excited about this blue and orange guy since that orange color was custom dyed for me by The Wool Dispensary. I am carrying both of these colors of yarn in the delicious "Deadliest Poision" DK weight yarn in my etsy shop. If you think Xavier is cuddly, you should try knitting him in this Merino, Cashmere and Nylon blend for an even cuddlier toy that is extra durable with that added nylon. You can find the two colors together as a yarn bundle in my shop, or each color is available on its own as well.

Xavier is on sale for 4 bucks for the first month, and is available in my etsy shop, or on Ravelry. 

If you want to know where to get those GIANT safety eyes, I got mine here.

I hope you all love him as much as I do! Now go and have a hoot of a weekend as you work on your owls!

*****GIVEAWAY CLOSED*****A Needle Runs Through It Knitting Bag Giveaway!

I am so excited about this month's giveaway! I bought this awesome little bag from A Needle Runs Through It on etsy right before I headed to Tennessee a couple months ago. I am in love with this thing, and it seems to keep ending up in pictures on Instagram.

Well, after I ordered it, Maria-- maker of awesome skully knitting bag-- said she would be up for doing a giveaway, so I of course jumped at the chance! I have this awesome small boxy monster knitting bag (it says Monsters on it!), plus cool triangle bag with teeny tiny socks on it, to give away to one of you guys!

To get entered, just hop on over to Maria shop, A Needle Runs Through It, and come back here and leave a comment about which bag there is your favorite. I will draw a winner using random.org's random number generator next Wednesday, August 22nd, so be sure to get entered by then. 

Maria also sent me a tiny triangle bag, which is just perfect. Mine is filled with stitch markers, a tapestry needle, and a pair of folding scissors, and is now a must-take item when I go knit at Starbucks with the girls. I absolutely love it, thanks Maria!

Personally I am eyeing this amazing robot fabric in the large boxy bag size.....but since I ordered my first pair of Signature Needles today, I am probably cut off from knitting shopping for a while.

Good luck every one! If you don't win this bag, I really recommend ordering one of her bags. It is awesome for socks or other small projects, and really perfect for monster and toy knitting.

A Knit-Filled Week

I am planning to be a knitting maniac this week! This just came for a work project:

And I started this yesterday for my personal project of the week, mine is in black, red, and cream:

Cecily's Shawl by Cecily Glowik MacDonald

I've got lots of good blog posts planned, too! It should be a great week. Hope all of yours are, too!

 

 

Knitty, knit, knit, knit, knit

I get the Yo Gabba Gabba song "Snacky, snack, snack, snack, snack" stuck in my head but with "Knit" instead a lot. Today is one of those times. I tried to find a youtube video of it, but apparently you are just going to need to be in the know and have watched Yo Gabba Gabba to know what I am talking about. If you don't know, consider me saving you from it: the only songs I ever get stuck in my head anymore are Yo Gabba Gabba songs.

So I am very excited because I ordered a new skirt last week and it got here yesterday. Very speedy like since it was coming from the UK! Got 15% off for signing up for their mailing list, too!

Source: us.dorothyperkins.com via Rebecca on Pinterest

 

I am in love! I decided yesterday it is the only thing I want to wear from now on. Since I have decided this, I immediately got looking on the internets for some good sweaters to knit to go with it. At least if I am going to wear the same skirt every day I can have a whole pile of different tops to go with it, right? I had pinned this a while back, so I started looking for some sweaters with a similar feel.

Source: simplyme091909.blogspot.com via Rebecca on Pinterest

 

I got these boots as a Christmas gift, so I am set on boots.

Source: dmusastore.com via Rebecca on Pinterest

 

I thought this free sweater pattern from Berroco had the right vibe going on.

 1. Image from Berroco.com   2. Image from Berroco.com, Weekend Color #5965   3. Image from Berroco.com, Weekend Color #5964

Since I like the texture of the cotton yarn in the outfit picture I thought Weekend would be a good choice for it. I've used it for several things and like it a lot: it is cottony without all the nightmares and unfun knitting of a cotton. Know what I mean? I also thought any of these on my to-knit list would look great with it:

1. Image from Knittingdaily.com   2. Image from Knitpicks.com   3. Image from Ravelry.com

Man, digging through my favs on Rav and all my pins on my To-Knit pinboard made me realize how many projects I want to make. Now the trick is getting off the computer and getting knitting or my sweater-making-productivity is going to stay at a virtual stand still!

Mmm, mmm, mmm

It is so snowy and freezy cold here today! I don't think it has made it out of the teens all day, which we just don't get around here. The ice and snow put me in the mood for some warm, yummy comfort food, so I decided to make some homemade mac and cheese. Thanks to Pinterest I thought this looked good so I gave it a try. Yum.

We didn't have any macaroni (we rarely eat pasta) and there was no way I was going to the grocery store. The street in front of my house is a large sheet of ice so I am staying indoors until this storm clears up. Although I am starting to get a little cabin fever I must admit. We had some spinach pasta, I don't know what type, it is like shorty, wavy fettucine, so that's what I used. All I can say is yum. Mr Danger agrees too. We sprinkled on a little of that pre-cooked, pre-crumbled bacon next to the baco's in the store, and that made it even better. Although, bacon seems to make everything better. Says the person who was vegetarian up until 2 years ago.

If you are looking for an excellent mac and cheese recipe, this is in the running for my favorite ever. And if you want it gluten free, it would be easy enough to sub in quinoa pasta or something like that.

And, as an added bonus, the camera was in the kitchen and Mr Danger managed to snap one of my favorite pictures of The Kid ever while I was cooking.

So, despite cabin fever, it was a great day. Which is good since I have been cranky for a good week or so now!

 

Crock Pot Yarn Tutorial

I LOVE my crock pot. To me there is nothing better than throwing a bunch of things in first thing in the morning and having yummy dinner in the evening. Plus you get good smells all day. My crock pot makes me feel like I actually know how to cook. I think half my food pins on pinterest are crock pot recipes. Sometimes, actually most of the time, I wish I could cook everything in there. I am considering freezing a bunch of crock pot recipes like this, and I like to hit up this website for ideas as well.

So, I feel like jumping up and doing a jig since I just found this tutorial on how to dye yarn in your crock pot. Gah! How flipping exciting is that? It looks as easy as cooking in the crockpot, too! I am going to have to try my hand at this for sure! Hmm, my knit girls did what I am calling a "Crafternoon" this weekend, maybe I will have to see if they want to get together and dye some yarn together in the crock pot! Whataya think, girls?

Dontcha just love this idea?! I hope I will see some crock pot monsters on Ravelry!