FREE DESIGNS FOR MACHINE KNITTERS BY MAGGIE ANDREWS.

Most of my patterns are written for yarns using the British "ply" system.

Feel free to knit these patterns for yourself, friends and family. They are copyright. If you pass these patterns on to someone else, please pass on the credit as well. Do not pass them off as your own designs.

CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS made from empty yarn cones.

EASTER EGG BUNNY to fill with mini eggs.

SWEET SURPRISE SNOWMAN to fill with Xmas chocolates.

MINI CATS tiny cat mascots / lapel pins.

BABY HATS for Special Care Baby Units. To suit 2lb, 4lb, and 6lb babies.

CONE CHRISTMAS MANTELPIECE ORNAMENTS.

Any standard gauge machine. Ribber needed for angel's wings.

MATERIALS. Empty cones 17 cm tall with a top hole diameter of 3 cm. A small amount of soft toy stuffing. Glue or double sided sticky tape. Embroidery yarn or fabric paint for features. [I used Jones Tones]. Bramwell Fine 4 ply yarn, small amounts in colours as given for each item.

Santa. Red, white and skin colour yarn. You will also need a small amount of white fur fabric cut into 1 cm wide strips to trim Santa's suit and for his hair and beard, or you could use white knitted cord for the trim and an unravelled swatch for hair and beard and a novelty toy button. [I used a steam engine button]

Angel. White and skin colour yarn. You will also need a large curtain ring or similar for a halo, or you could make a circle of cord knitted with lurex, some doll hair or you could use an unravelled swatch for hair, and a miniature Xmas decoration. [I used sequins assembled on a pin]

Christmas tree. Green yarn. You will also need some knitting-in beads, or sequins with large holes, and a small star for the top.

Tension. Main tension 30 sts and 40 rsto 10 cm over st st = td 6. This is not really important.

Santa. Suit, make 2 pieces same.. With red yarn cast on 35 sts, rc000, k 8 rs. Dec 1 st on both sides on next and ev foll 8th r to 19 sts, k to rc68, cast off. Arms. With red yarn cast on 12 sts, k 40 rs. Change to skin colour, k 16 rs. Change to red, k 40 rs, cast off. With a piece of skin colour, tie tightly around centre of skin colour section and pull ends inside with a latch tool. Head. Rc000. With skin colour yarn work weaving cast on over 25 sts, k to rc35. Cut yarn leaving a 30 cm end. Thread end in a needle and thread needle through sts, remove from machine. Using end still in needle, sew gathering sts along adj edge and repeat with cast on end. Hat. With white cast on 20 sts, k 10 rs. Change to red, k 1 r. Set machine to hold. Push to hp end n opp carr ev r to 2 sts left in wp. Change to white, k 6 rs. Change to red, return 1 n to uwp opp carr ev r until all ns back in wp. Change to white, k 10 rs, cast off. Making up. Sew suit pieces together along the long sides, pull over cone and stick wide edge around bottom edge. Tuck small excess into top hole and stick down to inside. Seams go at centre front and back. Seam arms, insert a piece of soft wire into arms if liked. Sew ends of arm piece to sides of suit at top edge of cone. Stick or sew strips of fur fabric around bottom, around outside of top over arm ends and up centre front over seam. Put some toy stuffing in the centre of the head and pull up the ends to gather and close up, tie very tightly and secure ends. The head should be about the size of a table tennis ball. Satin stitch a blob for nose. Putting the join at the back, sew head to top of cone. Sew fur fabric or unravelled swatch across back of head for hair and around face for beard. Seam white sections at sides of hat and allow to roll. Sew hat on head. Sew button to hands. Add features with embroidery or fabric paint.

Angel. Dress, Using white, knit as Santa suit. Arms. With white cast on 12 sts, k 96 rs, cast off. With a piece of white, tie tightly around centre and pull ends inside with a latch tool. Head. Knit as Santa head. Dress trim. Bring to wp needle set up as follows. I = ns in wp, 0 = ns in nwp. II0I0II . Cast on, mt-1, k 2 rs. Set machine to hold. *Pull centre n to hp, k 4 rs. Return hp n to uwp, k 2 rs*. Repeat * to * until long enough to go around bottom of cone, up centre front and around top of cone. Cast off. Wings. Make 2. Bring to wp for fnr, 29 sts on mb and 28 sts on rb, mt-3/mt-3, k zig zag r. No circ rs, rc000, k 2 rs. Set mb to hold. Bring 3rd and ev foll 4th n on mb to hp, k 3 rs. Cancel hold, k 1 r. Rep last 4 rs to rc26. Arrange ns for 1 x 1 rib, mt-4/mt-4, k 10 rs. Trans rb sts to mb, cast off. Making up. Sew dress pieces together along long sides, pull over cone and stick wide edge around bottom edge. Tuck small excess into top hole and stick down to inside. Seams go at centre front and back. Seam arms, insert a piece of soft wire into arms if liked. Sew ends of arm piece to sides of dress at top edge of cone. Stick or sew trim around bottom, up centre front over seam and around outside of top over arm ends. Sew wings together along the 1 x 1 edges and sew to back seam. Put some toy stuffing in the centre of the head and pull up the ends to gather and close up, tie very tightly and secure ends. The head should be about the size of a table tennis ball. Putting the join at the back, sew head to top of cone. Sew doll hair or unravelled swatch to head. Sew halo to back of head. Sew miniature Xmas decoration to hands and secure to front trim. Add features with embroidery or fabric paint.

Xmas tree. Top of tree. Using green cast on 15 sts, k 2 rs. Set machine to hold. Push 1 n on carr side to hp ev r to 1 n left in wp. Return 1 n opp carr to uwp ev r to all ns in wp, k 2 rs. Cast off. Tuck frill to cover cone. [Purl side is right side] Beads are knitted in as you go but they can be sewn on afterwards if you prefer. Bring to wp 12 needles set up as follows. I = wp n. 0 = nwp n. 111001110111. Number these needles 1 to 12 starting at left. Cast on, mt-1, k 2 rs, rc000. Set machine to hold. Bring ns numbered 1, 2, 3, 7, 11, to hp, k 4 rs. Return hp ns to uwp, k 2 rs. Repeat the last 6 rs to rc18. Hang a knitting-in bead or large holed sequin onto end st at right, Repeat the last 18 rs until short edge of frill is long enough to cover cone when wrapped around it in a spiral fashion from botton to top. Cast off. Making up. Stuff top of tree and stick to top of cone. Starting at bottom of cone, stick short edge of frill to cone in a spiral fashion making sure the beads and sequins are on the outside and sew end to top of tree. Sew star to top of tree.

EASTER EGG BUNNY. You will need 4 ply yarn, an empty cone 6¾ inches tall., and some toy stuffing. You will also need scraps of other colours for features and a piece of ribbon.

Cut 3 x 1 m and 2 x ½ m length of yarn before you start. Use a suitable tension for the yarn. Cast on 80 sts with waste yarn and k a few rs, k 1 r with nylon cord. Main yarn k 20 rs. Pick up sts on nylon cord, k 1 r, bring alternate needles fully forward, lay 1 doubled long length of yarn across the needles, put weaving brushes into work, k1 r, cancel weaving brushes. *Knit 35 rows, bring alternate needles fully forward, lay 1 doubled long length of yarn across the needles, put weaving brushes into work, k 1 r, cancel weaving brushes*. Repeat * to *, [***] k 26 rs. Divide for ears, car, set machine to hold. Push 42 ns at left to hp. ** Cast off 2 sts at right, 36 ns in wp. Bring alternate needles to uwp, lay 1 doubled short length of yarn across the needles, put weaving brushes into work, k 1 r, cancel weaving brushes, k 25 rs.Transfer every alternate st to adj needle, push empty needles to nwp, mt-5 k 1 r. Cut yarn leaving a 20 cm end, thread end in needle and thread through stitches. Remove work from needles**.Return rem needles to wp. Cancel hold. Take carr to left. With a separate piece of yarn cast off 4 sts on the right. Reading left for right repeat ** to **.

Draw up cast off threads and with wrong side facing sew ear seams down to the cast off sts. Sew back head and body seam putting both ends of the woven threads to the right side. Sew cast off sts together at top of head. Turn to right side. Draw up weaving threads tightly at base of ears and tie securely. Stuff head down to the first woven thread, draw up tightly for neck and knot securely. Insert cone so that the narrow end is at the neck. Stuff around the cone with toy stuffing. Draw up the bottom weaving thread so it goes just under the bottom of the cone and knot securely. Draw up the other woven cord and knot securely. Flatten ears and sew sides together at the base. Pull all ends inside the knitting with a latch tool. Make a twisted or knitted cord and thread it through the bottom hem. Add features with embroidery or fabric paint. Tie a ribbon around neck. Fill cone with mini chocolate eggs. Draw up cord in hem and tie tightly. Add a gift tag if liked.

SWEET SURPRISE SNOWMAN. You will need 4 ply yarn in white, hat colour and scarf colour. Other oddments as for Easter Egg Bunny. Work with white as for Bunny to [***]. Knit 16 rs, change to hat colour, you could work a Fair Isle pattern or stripes if you like, knit 6 rs. Pick up sinker loops from first row knitted with hat colour, knit 10 rs. Transfer every alternate stitch to adjacent needle, push empty needles to non working position, mt-5, knit 2 rs.

Cut yarn leaving a 45 cm end, thread end in a needle and thread through stitches. Remove work from needles. Draw up cast off thread and with wrong side facing sew hat seam. Sew back head and body seam putting both ends of the woven threads to the right side. Turn to right side.

Stuff head down to the first woven thread, draw up tightly for neck and knot securely. Insert cone so that the narrow end is at the neck. Stuff around the cone with toy stuffing. Draw up the bottom weaving thread so it goes just underneath the bottom of the cone and knot securely. Pull all ends inside the knitting with a latch tool. Make a twisted or knitted cord and thread it through bottom hem.

Scarf. Cast on 10 sts in 1 x 1 rib, knit length required. Tie around neck. Add features with embroidery or fabric paint. Fill cone with colourful foil wrapped chocolates. Draw up cord in hem and tie tightly. Add a gift tag if liked.

MINI CAT MASCOT OR LAPEL PIN.

Body and head worked in 1 piece Cast on by weaving method 18 sts and k 3 rs. Decrease fully fashioned 1 st at ea end of next and ev foll 3rd r to 10 sts, k to rc 35. Increase 1 st fully fashioned at ea end of next and ev foll 3rd r to 18 sts, k to rc 50, cut yarn leaving a 12" end. Thread it in a needle, thread the needle through the stitches and remove work from machine.

Fold in half with wrong side outside and sew side seams. Turn to right side and push corners out sharply. Sew diagonally across corners to make ears. Stuff. Draw up cast on and cast off ends tightly, and knot them securely together. Tie a piece of yarn tightly round to form neck and secure ends. Tail e-wrap 3 sts, k 10 rs. Increase 1 st at ea end of next and ev foll 4th r to 9 sts, k to rc 20. Take off on a thread. Allow sides to roll inwards. Draw up cast off end and use to loosely oversew the 2 rolls together. Gently pull up this thread to form tail into a curve and sew to body. Add features with embroidery or fabric paint. Sew whiskers with sewing thread. Tie ribbon bow around neck. For a lapel pin, sew a safety pin to back.
 

 BABY HATS.

For low weight babies. This is a super stretchy hat. My local SCBU love them. Lemon hat in 2ply [5gms] Cream hat in 3ply [10gms] White hat in 4ply [20 gms] Size; to suit low weight babies of 2lb, 4lb, 6lb approx. Yarn 2ply, 3ply, 4ply Acrylic. Whatever size they come out they will fit some babies who need them. Standard gauge machine. Yarn used is British ply system.

Cast on 93 stitches in 1 x 1 rib with both end needles on the ribber. Tension dial 1/1, 2/2, 3/3 knit 28 rows. Set main bed to tuck to the right and knit to the left. Tension dial 2/2, 4/4, 5/5, knit 49 rows. Cancel tuck, tension dial 1/1, 2/2, 3/3 knit 2 rows. Transfer ribber stitches to the main bed needles that already have stitches on them. Return all empty needles to non working position. Tension dial 0/0, 0/0, 1/1, knit 2 rows. Take stitches off on a doubled length of yarn. Draw up and secure, sew seam making sure you sew the 1 x 1 rib on the opposite side so that you can turn it back.