Category Archives: toys

KITS Classic Baby Knits (worsted)

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I personally have an eye for the wild, weird & whimsical, but I also appreciate the balance and calm of the classics. The following are some worsted weight baby projects for the most discriminating eye (unless you make them in hellacious colours, in which case all bets are off). The suggested yarn, Berroco Vintage , is soft, washable, affordable, and comes in a broad selection of classic and adventurous colours. As always, we can substitute any of our baby-friendly worsted weight yarns. If you’re looking for some projects made with thinner yarn those will be up at bat next, but you can browse HERE.

Pre-Order

These kits are a special-order and we aren’t stocking them in the store on a regular basis, but you have the option to order them any time (they will be available to purchase as long as the manufacturer makes it available to us). That said, we keep  Berroco Vintage in stock all year and are always reordering, so if the yarn is in stock your kit will be available very quickly. Your kit will ship or be available for pick-up once it arrives, and we will contact you. If you need your kit for a specific date please let us know and we can find out if it’s feasible.  

Ivy

Simple and sweet, Ivy is a rectangular lace blanket that’s just the right size to become your little one’s favorite. The stitch pattern is both charted and written out, and is only 4 rows, making it a great choice for knitters who are new to lace.

Skill Level: Advanced Beginner

Skills: Cast on, cast off, knit, purl, reading a pattern, basic lace knitting, joining a new ball of yarn, weaving in ends, reading a chart (optional), using lifelines (optional).

Size

  • Approx 28½” wide x 30” long
  • For 33″ x 34″: add 20 sts to cast-on and 1 extra skein of yarn 
  • For 35″ x 37″: add 30 sts and 2 extra skeins of yarn
  • For 37.5″ x 38″: add 40 sts and 2 extra skeins of yarn 
  • For 40″ x 42″: add 50 sts and 3 extra skeins of yarn

Kit Includes

Kit DOES NOT Include

Notes

  • The pattern repeat is 10 sts, so to make your blanket narrower or wider you would add or remove stitches in denominations of 10. 
  • Each pattern repeat measures approximately 2.25″

Luca

Luca is a miniature gansey pullover with buttons at the neck for easy dressing. This pattern is knit in pieces and seamed together.

Skill Level: Intermediate to advanced-beginner

Skills: Cast on, cast off, knit, purl, reading a pattern, joining a new ball of yarn, weaving in ends, seaming (mattress stitch)

Size

  • 3(6, 9, 12, 18) months
  • To Fit Chest Size:  17(18-19-20-21)˝
  • Finished Chest – 20(21-22-23-24)˝
  • Finished Length – 9½(10-10½-11-11½)˝
  • This garment was designed with approximately 3” of ease.  Please take this into consideration when selecting your size.

Kit Includes

Kit DOES NOT Include

Battenberg Blanket

The Battenberg Baby Blanket is a classicly styled blanket, with a simple, elegant aesthetic. The stitch used has the appearance of complicated waves,  but it’s really just an easy ribbing that starts one stitch to the right every few rows. For an unusual touch, the edging is worked along the sides but doesn’t meet in the corners.

Skill Level: advanced-beginner 

Size: 35” wide x 42” long

Skills: following a pattern, pick-up & knit stitches, weaving in ends

Kit Includes:

Kit DOES NOT include:

Rabbit

With extra-long ears and a large pom-pom for a tail, Rabbit will fit right in with the rest of your little one’s menagerie of toys. This toy is knit in the round, mostly in one piece. Ears are sewn on, as is the pom-pom tail. 

Skill Level: advanced-beginner to intermediate

Skills:  knitting in the round on double-pointed needles, seaming (mattress stitch), picking up and knitting stitches, increasing (M1L & M1R), decreasing (K2tog & SSK), cable cast-on.

Size: approximately 10” around body x 11½” high (not including ears)

Kit Includes

Kit DOES NOT Include

Notes

Carrot

Whether your little one is a future gardener, chef or nature lover, he or she is sure to love this soft toy carrot. 

Skill Level: advanced-beginner to intermediate

Skills:  knitting in the round on double-pointed needles, cast-on (provisional), seaming (mattress stitch), increasing (M1L & M1R), decreasing (K2tog & SSK), grafting (kitchener stitch).

Size: approximately 8” around (at widest point) x 12” long (including leaves)

Kit Includes

Kit DOES NOT Include

Notes

NEW Floss & Rock Knitting Dolls

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Floss & Rock Knitting Doll Assortment

Floss & Rock Knitting Dolls

Floss & Rock knitting dolls are a great way to keep kids busy and help them develop their fine motor skills. They also make great little gifts! Each doll comes in a pretty box with a mini knitting needle, 6 colours of yarn and instructions. Made of painted wood, ages 6+. Great for use with Worsted, DK and Sport weight yarns.

Great yarns for use with knitting dolls:

 

 

PROJECT Big Mike

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burger_medium2.jpg

Photo: Brandi Simons

Big Mike

I think my client Adrienne just introduced me to my soul mate, Big Mike. Big Mike hails from Huge & Huggable Mochimochi, and we’re going to have to continue to get to know each other better before we commit (I have to acquire the book), but I really feel like he’s the ‘one’. It;s no surprise that I’d fall hard for him, I’ve always felt pretty sentimental about Claes Oldenberg’s ‘Floor Burger’, it’s one of my must-sees on every visit to the Art Gallery of Ontario. I’ll probably use Berroco Vintage Chunky, it’s the right tension and it wears well, and that’s important because this dude is gonna received a LOT of hugs!

Size

  • 14″ (35.5cm) wide and 10″ (25.5cm) tall

Materials

 

FREEBIE XL Sock Monkey

Large Monkey 1

Mr. & Mrs. Sock Monkey

Go big or go home with an extra special, extra large toy sock monkey! Use machine soft, washable, and pretty Berroco Vintage Chunky. The pattern is free, and it’s knit in the round – which means less seams!

Size

Height: 35″ (89cm)

Materials

 

Shop Online Button Turquoise 250w

 

Monkey Colour COMBOS

 

Holiday Gifts for Kids, Teens + Up

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Boye Loom Sets 
Long Loom Set, Round Loom Set, Assorted Loom Set.
Each set contains 4 looms (assorted set has 3 round + 1 long), hook, darning needle, instructions. $23.97 ea. 



Boye Scarf Loom + Medium Round Loom (hat size)
Each set contains loom, hook, darning needle, instructions. $11.97 ea.




Clover Weaving Sticks
Available in sizes small or large. 
Each set contains 6 birch weaving sticks, darning needle, instructions. Watch a how-to video on Youtube HERE. $24.97 ea.




Alex Cool Spool Knitting Kit
Kit contains 5 skeins of yarn, wood french knitting spool, 6 buttons, pony beads, 2 hair elastics, 2 hair clips, instructions. Ages 5 and up. $13.97 ea.



Alex Loop ‘n Loom Kit
Kit contains 180 loops, loom, yarn, crochet hook, darning needle, instructions. Ages 5 and up. $28.97 ea.



Alex Loop ‘n Loom Refills
Contains 108 loops ~ $13.97 ea.



Alex Knot-A-Quilt Kit
Kit contains 48 squares of 100% polyester fleece, instructions. Ages 6 and up. $36.97 ea.



Boye Bloom Loom
Set comes with loom, darning needle & instructions. Yarn not included. $5.97 ea.



Boye Jumbo Spool Knitter
Set comes with double ended jumbo spool, hook, darning needle, instructions. Yarn not included. $7.97 ea.



Lion Brand Knitting Spool
Contains wood knitting spool, hook, instructions. $9.97.



Embellish Knit Automatic Spool Knitter Kit
Makes edgings, applique, frogs, fringe, knots, braids, handles, and straps. 
Kit contains machine, weighted clip, tapestry needle, practice yarn, instructions, patterns and techniques. Ideal for lightweight yarns (worsted and thinner). Ages 8 and up. $20.97 ea. 



Bernat Softee Chunky Yarn
Looms & Spools need yarn! Bernat Softee Chunky is affordable, thick, easy for kids to work with, 100% synthetic, washable, comes in a rainbow of colours (and neutrals), and is made in Canada. It also makes great pom-poms (but that’s another blog post). $3.97 ea. 


You can find us at Knitomatic.com!

Crittery Gift Ideas


I do not know what these little guys are, but I like them, and I think other people who enjoy whimsical, silly and fun things will like them too.  Plus they are small, fast, and relatively cheap to make. I also think they would make excellent holiday decorations and/or ornaments.  An easy way to make them larger is up-size to a thicker yarn and corresponding needle: 


By the way, we sell safety eyes, stuffing and felt (the latter 2 are in the mail)

  Stripy

  Jiggle


Monster Chunks



You can find us at Knitomatic.com!



Novel Gift Knits: Animals

Knit Your Own Cat (save on vet bills)

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Knit Your Own Cat $17.97

Cat lovers and spinsters rejoice! It’s the highly anticipated follow-up book to Knit Your Own Dog. With easy-to-follow instructions for 16 distinct felines, Knit Your Own Cat is the irresistible guide to knitting the pet you’ve always wanted. Knit Your Own Cat is packed with knitting patterns for 16 different fanciful felines, from a pretty Persian to a sleek Siamese, from a cuddly kitten to a traditional tabby. The cats are surprisingly easy to make: With a few evenings of work, you can have a covetable companion for life. Each cat includes clear, step-by-step instructions for both knitting and assembling the parts. The cats can be knit into various positions such as standing, sitting, crouching, and curled up for a nap. You can add details like collars, bells, and bows. Photographs throughout show the finished cat from various angles, and each cat is accompanied by a description of its real-life temperament and physical characteristics. 

Cats include: Abyssinian, Bengal, Black Cat, Black White, British Shorthair, Burmese, Devon Rex, Kitten, Maine Coon, Orange, Persian, Ragdoll, Siamese, Tabby, Tortoiseshell, and Turkish Van.  

See a slideshow HERE. 

As always, you can find us at Knitomatic.com!

Big Snowy Owl

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Bird love. Is there anything happier than having a big, woolly bird around the house?



Big Snowy Owl
  • 2 skeins Cascade Magnum in main colour, bits in 3 other contrast colours
  • 10mm-24″ circular needles
  • 10mm double pointed needles
  • 1 jumbo stitch marker
  • lots of stuffing

As always, you can find us at Knitomatic.com!




Spring Holiday Inspiration Part 2: Easter

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Chubby Chirps
Rebecca Danger makes great toys, you may know her from books such as The Big Book of Knitted Monsters.  These toylets are not only free, but they can be made with bits of leftover yarn. If you want to make a bigger chirp, just use thicker yarn.



Bunny Nuggets
Bunny Nuggets are also a Rebecca Danger joint – the lady’s good. The same rules apply as the Chirps above, you can use leftover yarn, and the size depends on the thickness of yarn used.



Spring Chicks
Fuzzy Mitten is another talented crafter of toys and her Freebie chicks are a quick & easy Easter project. It’s actually really hard to find egg-yolk yellow mohair, but all you need is a bit of worsted weight, yellow yarn (Cascade 220 Superwash or Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran).


Lamb
Baaaaaaaaaaaaa! Fuzzy Mitten’s Laaaaaaaamb is adorable, Free, and if you wish you can purchase some simple clothing patterns for it (she also sells a second set of clothes, and a third and more elaborate set of outfits). 



Bunny Hat
This little puppy is just too cute to be true. My little piece of a niece may have one in her near future.  🙂 Aran weight yarn is applicable, I’ll use Malabrigo Worsted or  or Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran.


As always, you can find us at Knitomatic.com!