Pick up a free pheasant

A pheasant as a present - you need to make one for Christmas just so you can use the pun!
The link to your **FREE** pattern is here

AUCTION TIME

Hello - why is it that blogs (speaking for myself I'm ashamed to admit) get sooo neglected - I'm going to try and post once a week from now on (even written it in my diary)...
First up for this week (so far, so good!!) is to tell you about the auction I have for my one-off knitted Peter Rabbit: knitted in pure wool and alpaca yarn so it’s very pure and cuddly and very soft, he stands 30cms/ 12ins tall, stuffed with toy filling and is fitted with toy safety eyes although I would recommend that it is not suitable for a baby because of this.
The auction is open to everyone everywhere and you can place your bid in the comments section on my Instagram @dotpebbles_knits grid if you'd like to try and buy... 

 

Instagram

Plenty of Instagram inspiration for you @dotpebbles_knits  - plus I've a free kniting pattern coming your way next Friday 7th September.... It'll be something white...

Free today....

So sorry, but this is no longer free - you can still get the pattern though!
Look what I found in my garden!  - Ok, so I knit it - but you can too - it's June's #freebeefridayknits and it's a free pattern for today only - here's the link to Ravelry

FINISHED SIZE Similar to a hen’s egg!  
YARN    Small amount of any dk or sport yarn (or 4-ply, aran or chunky) depends how
               small or large you’d like your egg to be! I used Quince and Co. and Drops
               Lima from my stash
NEEDLES  For the yarn I used - 3.25mm/ size 3
EXTRAS     Toy filling or scraps fabric, yarn for stuffing

Cast on 4sts
Row 1 inc) Kfb into each stitch - 8sts
Row 2 K
Row 3 inc) [K1, kfb] 4 times - 12sts
Row 4 K
Row 5 inc) [K2, kfb] 4 times - 16sts
Row 6K
Row 7 inc) [K3, kfb] 4 times - 20sts
Rows 8 - 9 Garter stitch 2 rows.
Row 10 inc) [K4, kfb] 4 times - 24sts
Rows 11 - 12 Garter stitch 2 rows
Row 13 inc) [K7, kfb] 3 times - 27sts
Row 14 K
Row 15 inc) [K8, kfb] 3 times - 30sts
Rows 16 - 17 Garter stitch 2 rows
Row 18 inc) [K4, kfb] 6 times - 36sts
Row 19 K
Row 20 dec) [K4, skpo] 6 times - 30sts
Row 21 K
Row 22 dec) [K3, skpo] 6 times - 24sts
Rows 23 - 24 Garter stitch 2 rows
Row 25 dec) [K2, skpo] 6 times - 18sts
Row 26 K
Row 27 dec) [K1, skpo] 6 times - 12sts
Row 28 K
Row 29 dec) K2 tog 6 times - 6sts
Cut the yarn leaving a length that’s long enough to use for the seam, thread the end through the stitches and pull up to gather the stitches together.

TO MAKE UP
This was the easiest way I found it to sew up:
Wrap the egg around the stuffing then sew up the seam - matching the shaping - working mattress seam - you can add a little more stuffing as you near the end of the seaming if it needs it.
Mould the completed egg with your hands to create that perfect egg shape.
Decorate your eggs at will - I simply embroidered on a few straight stitches radiating around some French knots and or some lazy daisy-ish flowers @dotpebbles_knits 'my stories'
- but really anything goes... they look lovely plain too!

Rabbits!

I'd like to say Spring-time bunny but somehow Spring still seems a very long way off - anyway... here's a bunny of sorts - free today only - before rabbit run, rabbit, runs... Pattern is here

... a little free squirrel

as part of my once a month free pattern aka #freebeefridayknits 
but only free for a day - grab the pattern here - Ravelry

 

A little light squirrel painting...

I had a beautiful wooden box of water colours given to me for my 50th (last July!) - time I got them out...

A bird in the hand...

is always a good thing - especially if it's a free pattern - which it is.... because today it's #freebeefridayknits January! 
Pick up your pattern here - but remember it's only free for a day!
Oh... and Happy Friday!