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  • November 13, 2024

    Knit the Show: Knitting Patterns from Outlander

    Knit the Show: Knitting Patterns from Outlander

    The highly-anticipated sixth season of Outlander came out this month and what better way to celebrate it than knitting your own Outlandish pieces to wear! Whether it be a gift to a fellow Outlander fan or to wrap up for yourself, we have a few Outlander-inspired patterns just for you.

     
     

    One of Claire’s most iconic wardrobe staples is her shawl. This intermediate knitting pattern (by @handylittleme) is made with chunky earth-toned yarns and the simple techniques of knit, purl, and yarn over. This piece can be used to layer over shirts and dresses, and makes a great addition to your winter wardrobe.

    Here are the supplies you’ll need:

     
     

    If you’re more of a crocheter than a knitter, or if you want to get into crocheting, then here is an alternative to the shawl pattern. This crocheted triangle shawl (by @handylittleme) is easy and beginner-friendly.

    Here are the supplies you’ll need:

     

    Another staple of Claire’s wardrobe are her fingerless mittens. This quick pattern (by @handylittleme) takes two hours to make, consists of only knits and purls and is knit flat so it’s perfect for beginner knitters. Whether you are time-travelling through the craigh na dun or going on a stroll in the forest, these gloves are the perfect addition to your wardrobe.

    Here are the supplies you’ll need:

     

    “Like mother like daughter” as they say; an iconic piece worn by Outlander's mother and daughter duo Claire and Brianna is a chunky cowl/scarf. This infinity scarf pattern (by @handylittleme) is made for beginners and requires few supplies. Use some earthy tones, like browns or greens, to create a wardrobe staple that can be styled with anything, or go with a pop of colour for a statement piece! A trick to bulking up your yarn to make this chunky knit scarf is to double up on your piece of yarn!

    Here are the supplies you’ll need:

     

    For more supplies, visit our website https://www.crafty-llama.com/.

     

    All patterns and photos courtesy to @happylittleme. Check out @handylittleme for more Outlander-inspired knitting and crochet patterns.

     

    We would love to see your finished projects, so if you make any of these, be sure to tag us on Instagram (@craftyllamauk)!

     

    Good luck and happy knitting, Sassenachs!

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  • November 13, 2024

    10 Free Easy Knitting Ideas for Beginners

    10 Free Easy Knitting Ideas for Beginners

    Are you a beginner looking for inspiration for your next knitting idea or project? If so, you’ve come to the right place! It can be a frustrating task filtering through page upon page, trying to find a pattern suited to your preferences and experience level. Don’t worry because we’re here to help. As a beginner, it goes without saying that smaller projects will be quicker and easier to complete, which is a sensible idea for building up your knitting knowledge and ability. Below you will find a curated list of fantastic free knitting ideas to help guide you in the right direction for your next knitting project.

     

    Coasters offer a perfect, simple knitting project for beginners to get started with. Small, quick, and easy, knitting a coaster can help you learn the basic stitches required for knitting, most importantly knit and purl, and for practicing stitch definition. This project takes around 3-60 minutes to complete.

    Pattern Designer: Nimble Needle

    Knitting your own clothing should provide a unique sense of pride and achievement. After all, who else gets to enjoy the spoils of their work so closely? Like the coaster pattern above, a knitted hat is a great starting point for beginners. Knitting a hat should take between one and three hours, depending on your speed and confidence. For this project, you’ll need double pointed needles (DPNs), circular flyer needles, stitch markers, and yarn (preferably worsted).

     

    The size of your needles, yarn, and project measurements will vary depending on how big your hat will be.

    Pattern Designer: Becciebcreative

    Keep your hands warm without losing any dexterity with these wonderful fingerless mittens. The simple design of these fingerless mittens makes them perfect for beginner knitters, as well as anyone who wants to keep their hands warm. Mittens can be worn without stopping you from using your mobile phone, playing an instrument, or even knitting your next pair!

    Pattern Designer: Simple Knitting

    Making a miniature clothing item for a toy doll is a great way of learning the techniques required to create a life-sized, wearable version in the future. A smaller outfit minimises the chances of making any mistakes, potentially saving previous time once you feel ready to move onto a full-sized version. Being so small, it also provides an opportunity for you to use any scrap yarn you might have left over from other knitting projects!

    Pattern Designer: Roving Crafters

    A knitted bag for your knitting supplies, what a genius idea! This project is a must to stash all of your knitting accessories into a stylish bag, suitable for leaving at home or taking on the go. This knitted bag design can be used for any purpose, but be mindful not to overfill it with weight items - it can only hold so much weight!

     

    While this bag is a little more complex than other projects mentioned above, it’s still a great beginners project to ease yourself into the realm of knitting bags. It’s also nice to have a project that results in something so versatile and can be used in day-to-day life.

    Pattern Designer: Simple Knitting

    Dishcloths are an easy knit for beginners and handy to have around when the dishes need doing (as long as you don’t mind getting your project dirty!). These copycat dishcloths resemble traditional dishcloths, even including the stockinette band at each end. Before you start this project, make sure that you use an absorbent yarn; cotton yarns are the best option. If you’re looking to use a blended yarn, try a cotton/soy blend, which will make your dishcloth easier on your hands when in use.

    Pattern Designer: Leah Michelle Designs

    This chunky scarf is a great way to develop and advance your skills from a beginner to more intermediate knitting patterns. However, this project isn’t as busy as it looks! The pattern requires a chunky yarn, making it easier to stitch and giving you a better understanding of the process. A stylish and affordable project, it should take beginners around three hours to complete.

    Pattern Designer: Jen Reilly

    When it’s cold and windy there’s nothing better than wrapping yourself up with a knitted cowl. Cowls are an alternative to shawls or scarves, ideal for when you need to throw something on quickly without the worry of losing it to a gust of wind. A cowl is also the perfect knitting project for beginners because they’re seamless, meaning that no sewing is required. They’re also knitted in the round with circular needles and can be made to fit any size.

    Pattern Designer: Ashley Lillis

    Chunky blankets are becoming increasingly popular, especially during the colder months. Not only do these fun-to-make blankets keep you nice and warm, they’re also quick and easy to create, thanks to using bigger needles and bigger yarn. Chunky blankets are a great way to introduce family and friends to knitting; using super chunky yarn even means that no needles are needed, just use your arms to get started on a super fun project that even children can join in on!

    Pattern Designer: BHooked

     

    Finally, we have these cosy (and stylish!) leg warmers. Just like the previous nine patterns, they’re easy to make and could come in super handy during the winter months. The idea behind this pattern is the simplicity of their design. Once finished, wear your brand new leg warmers over your jeans, leggings, on bare legs, or tucked into winter boots, the possibilities are endless!

    Pattern Designer: Made by Marni

    If you’ve found this blog helpful and give any of these festive patterns a go, tag Crafty Llama on Instagram so we can see your amazing beginners knitting projects. Check out our Knitting Shop if you need to add any supplies to your project bag and bring these wonderful ideas to life.

     

    Happy knitting!

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  • November 13, 2024

    A Beginner's Guide to Amigurumi

    A Beginner's Guide to Amigurumi

    What is Amigurumi?

    A Guide On How to Make Your Own Amigurumi

     

    If you are a knitter or a crocheter you may be familiar with the word ‘amigurumi’, but what exactly is it?

     

    Amigurumi is the art of crocheting or knitted stuffed toys. The word itself is a combination of two Japanese words, ‘ami’ (編), which means “crocheted or knitted”, and ‘nuigurumi’ (ぬいぐるみ), meaning “(sewn) stuffed doll”.

     

    The art of amigurumi became significantly popular in Japan during the 1980s and has been a staple of kawaii culture ever since. With very few resources required to complete most projects, amigurumi is easy to pick up; you only need to know a few simple stitches to create a wide range of projects. An amigurumi craze spread to the Western world in the 2000s and has since become one of the most popular crafts projects ever. You can choose to make amigurumi by knitting or crocheting, though crocheted amigurumi is generally considered the easier option to master.

     

    Things to Consider When Knitting/Crocheting Amigurumi

    How to progress from beginner to advanced amigurumi

     

    If you’re a beginner when it comes to amigurumi, we recommend starting on a smaller project that uses a heavier weight yarn, such as 8-ply, and a larger hook size, ideally 3.5mm or 4mm. There are amigurumi pattern designs for almost anything you can think of, from animals and objects, to your favourite pop culture icons. Here are our compilations of our favourite Star Wars amigurumi and dinosaur amigurumi patterns. Most patterns should provide you with details on the size and requirements for completing your project.

     

    Starting your first-ever amigurumi project may seem like a daunting task, but perseverance is key to the arts of knitting and crochet, and amigurumi is no different!

     

    Polyester, wool, or cotton are the most popular choice of materials for stuffing amigurumi projects, but any other material can be used if you have a different preference. Create a tight gauge using smaller hooks and tighter stitches, such as a single crochet or double half crochet, to prevent the stuffing from showing through it.

    Now you have a good understanding of what amigurumi is, and how you can approach your first project, here are some of the resources you’ll need to get started!

    • Something to stuff your amigurumi project with; polyester, cotton, or wool are ideal

    • Safety eyes or buttons (or you can stitch in the eyes yourself)

    Practice makes perfect when it comes to mastering amigurumi. But don’t worry, you won’t be a beginner for long! Check out the Crafty Llama YouTube channel for further tips, tricks, and tutorials on how to knit and crochet different patterns.

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  • November 13, 2024

    5 Knitting Patterns for Valentine's Day

    5 Knitting Patterns for Valentine's Day

    February - a month of love and atonement that brings us Valentine’s Day to celebrate relationships, expressions of love, and, of course, romance. What better way to express your love for those closest to you than making them a unique knitted gift, delivered straight from the heart! Invest your love into making decorative items for around the house, or gifts to send to friends and family. Here are five of our favourite Valentine’s Day knitting ideas:

     

    Express your love with this cute knitted heart pattern. They can be made in large or small sizes (or both, if you’re making them for the Grinch), but it’s better for beginners to start with the larger design as it’s easier to knit. Hang these hearts around the house as a garland or create a pin to wear your heart on your sleeve.

    Pattern Designer: Juanamac

    Spruce up your home with this lovely knitted heart pillow case cover. Completing a project like this gives you more than just a fulfilling sense of achievement, you also get to enjoy the results of your work every time you put your feet up! Simply choose two different yarn colours and knit away, you’ll have a unique hand-made item to enjoy (or gift) in no time.

    Pattern Designer: Drops Design

    Keep your loved ones warm inside with a coffee cup cosy, a valuable gift for the coldest months of the year! This cup cosy is very fitting, keeping hot drinks hotter for longer. The heart-shaped pattern shown is made using cable stitch to give the knit an added vibrant dimension. The pattern itself can be completed using plain or variegated yarn using circular needles. Your Valentine’s Day gift is sorted if you have an avid coffee lover in your life!

    Pattern Designer: Thaddeus Nelson

     

    A knitted bookmark is the perfect project for absolute beginners. It’s also a wonderful gift for book lovers, especially a love-themed bookmark like this. The pattern can be knitted into a string of as many hearts as you need, or as a single heart to create a hanging ornament. The intricate detail of the hearts, and the red ribbon that runs through them, makes this a truly exquisite gift.

    Pattern Designer: Judy Gibson

     

    Is Valentine’s Day complete without a beautiful red rose? This pattern is perfect for knitting a single rose or whole bouquet in a variety of colours.

    Pattern Designer: Kristen McDonnell

    If you’ve found this blog helpful and give any of these Valentine’s Day knitting patterns a go, tag Crafty Llama on Instagram so we can see your loving creations too. Check out our Knitting Shop if you need to add any supplies to your project bag and bring these wonderful patterns to life.

     

    Happy knitting!

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