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Free Pattern: Seamus the Owl

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Seamus owl Natural SuburbiaIt’s so fun to me to read blogs from the other side of the world. While we’re sweltering up here, they’re freezing down there. At least they’re freezing on Johannesburg, South Africa, where Linda of Natural Suburbia lives and knits. She says it’s been downright frigid there lately, and to cheer herself up she knit a wee little owl.

Seamus the Owl was worked in homespun on size 4 mm (that would be 6 US) knitting needles, so if you didn’t have any homespun lying around you could use a lightish medium weight yarn and it would work out just fine.

He’s worked in a tube, then the bottom is cinched off and the top sewn to make his ears. Tufts of yarn embellish his ears, wings are knit and sewn on and his eyes and beak are needle felted on.

This is a pretty easy project with a lot of cute details that’s sure to bring a smile to your face whether you’re enduring hot or cold weather (or actually like the temperature where you are!).

[Photo by Natural Suburbia.]

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Comments

  2. My network does not allow me to visit South Africa. Is there any way to get this pattern? (Seamus the Owl)

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Knit a Garter Stitch Blanket with a Twist

When I first started knitting again after a long absence from the craft (which has now been almost 25 years ago!) I really didn’t like garter stitch that much. I found it super boring, somehow even more boring than knitting stockinette stitch in the round, even though it’s exactly the same thing.

Over the years I’ve softened my opinion, and even grown to like garter stitch. There’s nothing wrong with being plain, and actually the texture of garter stitch is more interesting than stockinette.

Also there are fun things you can do with garter stitch to make it more interesting if you want to, such as adding stripes, working on the bias, or doing fun effects to change the look.

That’s the way with the Bernat Twist My Way Garter Knit Blanket. Using combinations of casting on and binding off creates what they call a Swiss cheese effect along two sides of the blanket. This is a lot of fun in the self-striping ombre yarn they chose for the pattern, but it would also be fun in a solid color or making your own stripes.

Despite the dramatic effect, this pattern is rated easy. It’s worked from side to side (if you consider the “cheesy” edges the top and bottom) and has an eight-row repeat that involves binding off and then casting on again to make the holes. They’re kind of like giant buttonholes.

Once you get the hang of it it’s a pretty easy repeat to remember, and it will be smooth knitting as big as you want to make it.

You can download this pattern from the Yarnspirations website for free, or you can buy a kit direct from them that includes the yarn you need (and knitting needles if you need those, too). Bernat Sport Ombre Twist, which is what is used in the pattern, comes in 12 self patterning colors and is a DK weight acrylic yarn.

[Photo: Yarnspirations]