Category Archives: knitting

Local Yarn Shop Virtual Tour & New Knitting Project

Visiting a local yarn shop and surrounding oneself with gorgeous yarns is balm for the soul. Come along for a local yarn shop virtual tour and get a sneak peak at my new stranded knitting project.

I haven’t been inside a local yarn shop in over a year. Of course, that’s not to say I haven’t purchased any yarn in that amount of time though. Online shopping just doesn’t compare to being in person and seeing all those gorgeous yarns up close and personal.

Being able to surround myself with those colorful, squishy balls of happiness did my soul a lot of good.

Continue reading →

The Best Knitted Toy Patterns for Beginners

Looking for a curated list of the best knitted toy patterns for beginners? Check out these adorable designs with links for where to find them all.

It can be frustrating to find beautiful knitted toy patterns only to discover that they are for more advanced knitters.

Maybe you’ve been looking for beginner designs but don’t even know where to start.

Well today is your lucky day, friend, because I’ve been on the hunt for the very best knitted toy patterns for beginners and I believe I have found them for you.

Just a note of caution: Knitting Toys can become addictive. Don’t say I didn’t warn you, lol.

Continue reading →

7 Tips for Knitting the Wild Rabbit Pattern by Dot Pebbles (Number 3 is a Game Changer)

Discover the magical world of Dot Pebbles, full of knitted flora and fauna designs. This is a challenging project for sure, but I’ve got 7 tips for knitting the Wild Rabbit pattern to help you make this realistic knitted bunny.

My first impression of wild rabbits was when my grandmother read Watership Down.

I can still see the cover of the popular book and how much she enjoyed the trials and triumphs of a warren of rabbits living in southern England.

In the late spring we see a lot of wild bunnies in our neck of the woods and Jersey-boy (our rescue dog) loves watching them hop and scurry at lightning speed.

I’m sure he hopes to catch one or two, but I think he’s finally realizing that his old legs are no match for those swift wild hares.

Continue reading →

Are Mary Jane’s Tearoom Knitted Toy Patterns Easy?

In Are Mary Jane’s Tearoom Knitted Toy Patterns Easy?, you will find the answer to this question, discover the magical world of this talented designer, learn what skills you need to make these toys and find the yarns I used for my own teddy bear.

Teddy bears occupy a very special place in my heart.

Ever since I was a little girl, I loved my own grandmother’s teddy bear collection. She didn’t have a large hoard of toys, but a small gathering of mostly handmade characters.

Each one is full of personality and I display them each Christmas above my antique piano. It’s a symbol of a simpler and sweeter time.

Continue reading →

Knitted Toys: Focus on the Face

In Knitted Toys: Focus on the Face, you will find helpful tips and tricks for your next special project. From positioning the ears, to stuffing the head, to embroidering the eyes and mouth, we will cover it all.

When it comes to knitted toys, I’ve adopted the attitude of getting the “Most Bang for My Buck” mentality.

While it would be ideal to spend gobs of time, attending to every little detail, ain’t nobody got time for that.

We all want to make beautiful toys, full of personality and charm, but we need to focus on what matters most. And that my friend, is the face.

Continue reading →
Frog and Toad Knitted Toy Pattern

Frog & Toad: A Knitted Toy Pattern Review

After reading Frog & Toad: A Knitted Toy Pattern Review you will have all the information you need to start your next toy knitting project. Find the yarn I used, the tutorials I depended on and the new material I used for stuffing these two amphibious friends.

I don’t remember the first time I saw this pattern, but I do remember when I decided that I had to make them.

Scrolling through Instagram, a photo of a pair of dapper amphibians stopped me in my tracks. I recognized the characters right away as Frog and Toad from the popular children’s books.

My own children loved the stories of these two friends and the adventures they had together. And I had to have them in my life in knitted form.

This post contains affiliate links and at no cost to you I may earn a teeny tiny commission if you choose to purchase them. Please know that I only recommend products I use and love! Thank you for supporting Le Petit Saint Crochet!

Continue reading →

Comparing Yarns for Hand Knit Toys

Finding the perfect yarns for hand knit toys can be challenging. In this post you will discover perfectly smooth yarns with beautiful stitch definition to gorgeous mohair blends for the perfect fuzzy toy. Check out this post for budget friendly to luxury recommendations and everything in between.

You guys.

Could there be anything more fun than comparing yarns for knitted toys?

I didn’t think so.

These days all I want to do is learn about yarn. I want to know everything about it, from sheep to skein and everything in between.

Recently I’ve been experimenting with new yarns and it has led me down a rabbit-hole of discovery and I’m not complaining one bit. Rabbits are good folk.

Continue reading →

A Girl’s Best Friend Hand-Knit Shawl Review [+Tips & Tricks]

A Girl’s Best Friend Shawl is a gorgeous pattern from Isabell Kraemer. You will find a full review, but more importantly tips and tricks for making your very own shawl.

I’m not a collector of yarn.

You would probably disagree with me if you saw my stash.

But stick with me for a moment while I explain.

99.99% of all the yarn I purchase is for a specific project(s). I find yarn I know I will use and then, when it goes on sale, I will buy quite a bit to “fill the larder” up, to use a cooking analogy.

I’m able to shop my own stash any time I’m ready to cast on something new.

But my last project broke all of my own carefully constructed rules.

Continue reading →

#WhyIMake 2020

Remember back in January when our biggest goals were to lose fifteen pounds, use up our overflowing yarn stash and spend less time watching Instagram stories?

Yeah, me too.

The year 2020 started innocently enough, but it has been nothing but an emotional rollercoaster for the entire world.

During this “season of stress”, folks are turning to hobbies to help relieve some of that pent up anxiety and energy.

Continue reading →

Hand-Dyed Yarn for Handmade Toys

Using hand-dyed yarn for handmade toys is a true gift. After reading this post you will not only fall in love with Timbercreek Farm, but find that hand-dyed yarn doesn’t have to bust the budget. I’m also sharing some yarny gifts all the way from Holland and a new Nativity Crochet-a-Long from Crochet To Play.

I was having a particularly tough day last month. Missing my son who had left for college and feeling weary from everything 2020 has thrown at us all.

I was surprised to find not one, but TWO packages sitting on my front porch.

I was expecting the one from a farm in Maryland, but the other had traveled all the way from Holland and was a total surprise.

Continue reading →