This Pattern is Retired…but you can (probably) get it in November

I have a lot of patterns! But I also get overwhelmed if I have to deal with them all at once. So I’ve picked 12 of my favorites (the Core Collection) to keep around. Then every few months, I decide on a theme or a technique and make a handful of related patterns (the Rotating Collection) available for a little while (then they go away again).

The other patterns are retired and are not generally available. However, because I know some folks will want them, I make many of the retired patterns available for a few weeks every November. If you want me to tell you when they’re back, subscribe to the mailing list or patreon, and I’ll let you know!

• If you see the buy buttons on this page, you’ve caught it on one of the days it’s available!
• If you don’t see the buy buttons on this page, it’s not currently available.
• If you want to hear when the retired patterns are available (most likely in November), subscribe to the mailing list or patreon, or keep an eye on my instagram.

Does anyone actually need these? Nope. Not at all. Not one single person. They are completely absurd and serve absolutely no practical purpose whatsoever.

But is there someone out there who wants them? Who will be delighted by them? Who will have their day made better by them? Who will be amused to no end by them? I sort of suspect the answer is a resounding yes!

And if that person is you (or someone you make things for), I invite you to join me in embracing the absurd and enjoying a small indulgence.

What to do with the sweet, silly little things:

• String them on ribbon or twine and use them as bunting or a garland or a mobile
• Use them as party favors or table decorations at your next party
• Add some catnip and use them as a cat toy (be sure to read the notes in the pattern about stuffing and sprinkles if you’re giving them to pets or kids)
• Add them to your favorite kiddo’s play kitchen (be sure to read the notes in the pattern about stuffing and sprinkles if you’re giving them to pets or kids)
• Fill them with dried beans or rice and use them as microwaveable hand warmers (be sure to read the notes in the pattern if you’re putting them in the microwave).
• Add a rattle insert and use one as a baby toy (be sure to read the notes in the pattern about stuffing and sprinkles if you’re giving them to pets or kids)
• Use them as pattern weights on your next sewing project
• Use them as a pin cushion

Your imagination is the limit here. I suspect you already have a whole host of ideas for exactly how you could use a few of these!

The pattern is tremendously detailed and holds your hand every step of the way. The hardest decision will be what flavor to make!

The knitting is easy. It’s almost all stockinette in the round with just a few carefully placed increases and decreases and one tiny graft at the end to make it take shape.

You don’t need any special equipment to make them, just yarn, whatever needles you like for working in the round (circs or dpns as you prefer), and something to stuff them with (I used weighted pellets, but stuffing works great too). And if you want sprinkles, you’ll want either beads or embroidery floss. I’ve got a big blog post over here with links to all the stuff I used if you want to read more.

And just in case you’re feeling a bit nervous, the pattern includes a lengthy photo tutorial to walk you through every step of the process (including the bit where you pop it into shape and feel like an absolute wizard). There are all sorts of helpful tips on everything from how to cast on to what to fill them with to how to block them to when to weave in your ends. It’s almost absurdly detailed, but it really does mean you can totally make these!