Creative Friday

Unicorn Pegasus pattern available from here, here and here.

This week I have been working on a custom unicorn pegasus order for someone in the USA. She is finally finished and is already winging her way across the ocean to her new home...

Have a wonderful weekend everyone and thank you for sharing here:)

 

To add this button to your blog, right click on it and 'save picture as' to your photos. Then add it as a gadget / picture to your blog on your blog's design page with a link to my blog address:)

Welcome to Creative Friday!

Thank you so much to everyone who shares the love and posts their links to their amazing work:) Please feel free to post your links to anything you have created and would like to share, it can be a recipe, sewing tutorial, knitting tutorial, felting, crochet, crafts, art, spinning, weaving, working with fibre, photography, poetry...etc...

I also love to hear from you, so if you have a moment, please leave a comment:) Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful talent with us! Just add the name of your blog to the widget and then add your blog link with the http:// at the beginning of your link address:) I have added a Creative Friday button on the sidebar of my blog, please feel free to add it to your blog for Creative Friday and link it to http://www.naturalsuburbia.blogspot.com/ so others can find this space and share their creativity too:)

1. I have started a Creative Friday Flickr Group where you can post your beautiful photos that you link to each Creative Friday, to join the group, please go here.

2. If you would be so kind as to link back to Natural Suburbia in your blog post that would be lovely:)

Have a wonderful day,
xo
Linda

 

Mamma4earth Patterns, an Important Announcement

 

Mamma4earth will be 4 years old in a few months and I have loved every part of building this business. There is something I have been wanting to announce regarding my patterns. I thought this would be the best place to write it down so here we go.

As far as my patterns are concerned, once you buy a pattern, the pattern cannot be resold but you CAN sell items knitted from my patterns in your handmade shops and at craft markets. If you would like to sell the items you have knitted from my patterns, there is one stipulation that I must ask of you please. Could you credit me, Linda Dawkins, Mamma4earth as the designer of the patterns and link to my Etsy shop in your listings, www.mamma4earth.etsy.com or on your tags when you sell your items. Production line manufacturing and selling of my knitted toys is not allowed however.

Someone did write to me regarding the selling of toys made from my patterns, they didn't leave a name or email address for me to contact them. I hope you see this post and know that you can sell the toys knitted from my patterns:) This also applies to my free patterns on my blog now too, please don't resell my free patterns but you CAN knit and sell the items from the patterns and credit me as the designer:) I will slowly be going through all the patterns on my blog and adding this message.

I really love designing animal and flower patterns, I have gained so much joy from doing so and I would love for them to also bring you joy by selling your knitted toys, if you wish to do so:)

Thank you for reading my message, I really appreciate all the wonderful support you give me concerning my patterns.

Mamma4earth Giveaway!

Maureen and Shanti over at Twig and Toadstool are hosting a lovely giveaway for me. 

I am giving away:

One knitted African Elephant and 

5 Mamma4earth patterns of you choice

So pop over to Twig and Toadstool to enter:)

xo

Linda

Strawberry Knitting Pattern and Yarn Along

I have been wanting to knit a little strawberry for ages!
So here it is, knitted from yarn scraps, I have knitted it in the magic loop technique, or DPNs would work just as well too:)

Materials:
Red and green oddments of yarn
4mm circular needles
Merino stuffing
Sewing up needle
4mm DPNs to knit the stalk i-cord

Pattern:
Cast on 4 stitches and join for knitting in the round.
Round 1:Knit
Round 2: Kfb all stitches. (8 stitches)
Round 3: Kfb all stitches. (16 stitches)
Round 4: Knit
Round 5: (Knit 2, kfb) across the round, knit 1. (21 stitches)
Round 6: Knit
Round 7: Knit
Round 8: Knit
Round 9: (Knit 2, knit 2 together) across the round, knit 1 on the end. (16 stitches)
Round 10: Knit.
Round 11: (Knit 2, knit 2 together) across the round. (12 stitches)
Round 12: Knit
Round 13: (Knit 1, knit 2 together) across the round. (8 stitches)
Round 14: Knit
Start stuffing your strawberry now.
Round 15: (Knit 1, knit 2 together) across the round, knit 1 stitch on the end. (6 stitches)
Cut thread, thread needle and put stitches on the sewing needle, make sure you have stuffed the strawberry sufficiently, pull the stitches tight.
Finish off.
Sew in any ends.

Green Top:
Cast on 4 stitches, join for knitting in the round.
Round 1: Knit
Round 2: kfb into all stitches. (8 stitches)
Round 3: Knit
Round 4: kfb all  stitches. (16 stitches)
Round 5: Knit
Round 6: (Knit 1, kfb) across the round. (24 stitches)
Round 7: Knit 3, ***turn, purl 3, turn, knit 1, knit 2 together, turn, purl 2 together, turn, put the first stitch from the left needle over onto the right needle.
Pick up 2 stitches along the left side of the knitting on the right needle.
Cast them off by knitting them across onto the right needle one by one and passing the right stitch over each knitted stitch.
Place the right needle's stitch on the left needle and knit 2 stitches together, knit 2.***
Knit from *** to ***

Continue to knit this way until all the stitches have been knitted.
Cast off the last 2 stitches down the side of the little leaf, finish off and sew in ends.

The strawberry and its green fringed cap.

Sew the green cap onto the strawberry.
With 2 double pointed size 4mm needles, pick up 2 stitches on the top of the green cap and knit a small i-cord for a stalk.

This pattern is for personal use only.

Joining in today with Ginny's Yarn Along.

Enjoy!
Linda

A New Pattern for a Dolphin called Sifiso and a Giveaway

I had some time this morning to take out my knitting needles and knit a new pattern I've been thinking about. Richard took the boys to visit their sisters at a scout camp that they are attending for the weekend. It's called Kon-tiki, there are over 800 scouts attending this camp and they are building water rafts, it is amazing to see!

So, I poured a cup of tea, took out my trusty iPad and started knitting and typing.

Some dolphin facts:
Dolphins aren't fish, they are mammals, warm blooded, give birth to live young and feed their calves milk. They breathe air through a blow hole on the top of their body unlike fish who have gills on the sides of their neck area. Dolphins are very social and swim together in large groups called pods. They are very intelligent creatures.

I have named this dolphin Sifiso, translated from the Zulu language, it means 'Hope'.

His body is knitted in 1 piece and the flippers and fin are knitted separately and sewn on.
The eyes are needle felted on with a felting needle and fleece or you could sew them on with yarn and a needle. He measures 7 inches from his snout to the end of his tail, and he is 4 inches tall.

You can find his pattern in my Etsy shop.

I will be giving away 1 dolphin pattern to 1 blog reader, just leave a comment if you would like to win his pattern. I will announce the winner here on Monday:)


Congratulations to:

K May 27, 2012 7:06 PM

Would I like it? Ha! Does a fish like water? Does a dolphin love to jump? He's beautiful. BEAUTIFUL.

Have a wonderful weekend.
Linda

Ellie the Knitted Elephant and a Small Giveaway

Meet Ellie, she is my new elephant design, I have designed an elephant previously, but I wasn't too excited about the overall shape, so I thought about it for quite a while and then came up with new design. I have knitted her in an aran weight wool with 4mm needles. She is knitted flat with increasing and decreasing, a fairly easy pattern. The tusks are knitted as i-cords and the eyes are needle felted on.
Her height is 5 inches and 7 inches from trunk to tail.
I have also knitted this pattern in a thicker chunky wool and she knits up twice the size!

Ellie's pattern is avaliable on my Mamma4earth Etsy Shop for sale.

Giveaway:
I am giving away 2 Ellie elephant patterns to 2 readers, just leave a comment below and make sure to check back here on Tuesday to see if you have won:) 

Winners:
Congratulations to:

fleurecheApr 2, 2012 12:29 PM

So lovely! What a great pattern! : )

and

 

~KrisApr 1, 2012 11:21 PM

what a lovely pattern! She looks so sweet!
thanks for the chance at your giveaway!

Hope you are having a peaceful Sunday.
Linda

Petunia Pig Knitting Pattern (Medium Size) and a Giveaway

Today I have been redesigning my pig knitting pattern, while some people enjoy knitting my large pig pattern, other people like to knit piggies that are the same scale as the other farm animals that I have on my shop, so I have redesigned a medium size pig pattern and her name is Petunia. She's quite different from my larger pig pattern, she is also knitted flat and in stocking stitch.

You can find her on my Mamma4earth Etsy Shop and if you would like to buy an immediate download you can get that from my Ravelry Store or my Craftsy Store.

I'm not sure if you have heard about Craftsy yet, but I have to share with you how wonderful they are over there! They have just opened their platform to selling patterns and not just knitting and crochet patterns, all patterns. The greatest part about this is that there are no listing and selling fees, it's free! So if you are a designer or just looking for patterns to make, do go and have a look see:)

***~~~Giveaway~~~***
Winners: Congratulations to:

sarah in the woodsFeb 11, 2012 12:02 PM

Love it! Thanks for the Craftsy link. I hadn't heard of it yet.
P.S. Would you mind emailing me privately at slj4981 at g mail dot com. Thanks.

MichelleFeb 11, 2012 09:33 AM

Absolutely adorable! My daughter loves the story of the three little pigs, this would be fun to make for her, thank you for creating!

I am giving away 2 Pig Knitting Patterns, if you would like to enter, just leave a comment on this blog post and I will announce the winner on Monday. Please make sure that I have a way to contact you and do check back here to see if you have won. I will also announce the winners on my Twitter page. For more entries you can Tweet or Facebook the giveaway and do let me know you have done so by leaving more comments:)
xo

Copper the Red Fox Pattern and a Giveaway

Thank you so much for you wonderful words about Copper the Red Fox, I appreciate your kindness so much!! He is my favourite pattern design so far and I love him! He is standing here next to my computer as I type.

I have had so many emails asking when his pattern will be ready, I am so happy to tell you that I finished the pattern this morning and it is available in my shop now:)

Giveaway:
Because this is a new pattern I always like to give one away to a reader:)
To enter, just leave a comment here in this post, remember, if you are reading this in Google reader, you need to go to my blog to leave a comment to be counted by the random generator. I would hate for anyone to be left out.
I will announce the winner here in this blog post on Monday the 26th of December.

Winner:
Congratulations to Valarie! Thank you so much for entering:)

Valarie:

He's just adorable. You captured him beautifully. Merry Christmas to you dear Linda and your family. We're up here in a very cold Canada with our family. It's snowy and just beautiful. Hope all is wonderful and warm at your place.

Have a wonderful day and a beautiful Christmas tomorrow.
Love
Linda and Family

Clover, the Farmyard Cow Knitting Pattern & Giveaway

I would love for you to meet Clover, the Farmyard Cow. I have just finished making her and couldn't wait to share her here with you:) Can't you just imagine her grazing in a lush green field somewhere?

Once knitted up, Clover measures: 5.5 inches from hoof to horn tip and 7.5 inches from snout to tail.

Clover's pattern is knitted flat and in one piece with size 4mm needles. The pattern has increasing, decreasing and I-cords. The eyes and snout are needle felted on with a felting needle.

The black spots are knitted separately and sewn on once Clover has been stuffed.

Her pattern is available in my Mamma4earth Etsy shop now and will soon be available for instant download in my Ravelry Pattern Store too.

There is also a Mamma4earth Ravelry Group where you can post photos of your lovely creations too:)

Giveaway:
I am giving away one Clover pattern to one Blog reader.
If you would like to win an emailed pattern for Clover, please leave a comment in this post and I will announce the winner on Wednesday:)
If you are reading this post in Google reader, to enter this giveaway, you will need to go to my blog here to enter, or the random generator won't be able to see your entry.

Winner:
Star faerymother said...
Cows are my very favourite animals here on the farm, so yes please.
December 20, 2011 8:52 AM

Congratulations!! Please could you send me your email address and I will email your Clover Cow Pattern off to you:)

From myself and Clover, have a wonderful day
xo

A Humble Announcement...

I am so excited to humbly announce, that today, I had my 1000th sale on my Mamma4earth Etsy shop! My little shop has been around and growing since 2008. It is a very special part of my life and it gives me the opportunity to create toys and design patterns to send out into the world, this makes me happy.

Pattern Special:

I have decided, that for the next few days, I am going to have a special on all my pattern sales.

I am giving away one free pattern per pattern order, ie. if you buy one pattern, you will get one free pattern, if you buy more than one pattern per order, you will still get one free pattern for that entire order:) 

All you have to do is write '1000' in your checkout invoice and also tell me which additional pattern you would like me to send you.

This Mamma4earth special will run from now until Saturday the 24th of December.

Happy knitting and a heartfelt thank you to all those who support our little shop.

See you tomorrow for Creative Friday

xo

Linda

          

            

         

Pig Knitting Pattern and a Giveaway

I just wanted to share my knew little treasure with you:)

I really think her name should be Truffles, she is bulky and plump just like a pig should be and she is a nice size to carry around 5.5 inches tall 8 inches from tail to snout. I have knitted her in a hand spun yarn, about an aran to chunky weight.

Her pattern is available on my Mamma4earth Etsy Shop.

and

For immediate download in my Ravelry shop.

This pattern is quite easy, it is knitted in stocking stitch, with increasing and decreasing. I have knitted the tail as an i-cord. I have knitted with size 4mm straight needles and this pattern is flat. If you ever need to ask me a question about the pattern, I am just an email away.

The eyes have been needle felted on with fleece and a felting needle and she even has a curly tail!

Pig Pattern Giveaway:

If you would like to win a free pig pattern, just leave a comment below. There will be 3 winners, please leave a way for me to contact you. Winners will be announced in this blog post on Tuesday.

If you are reading this in a reader, please go to Natural Suburbia and leave a comment at the end of the post so that the random generator can pick up your comment entry:)

Congratulations to:

corazon said...

Such a lovely pig. I want to knit it!!!
Greetings from germany
Petra

Emma, Jon, Nicola, Josie and Danica said...
how cute thanks for sharing
November 29, 2011 10:18 AM

Hawthorn said...
Oh Linda - she is just too gorgeous, I would love to be able to make her for my boys (they love soft and squidgy) and I would love to make her for my sister in law (she loves things like that) and oh yes, I would love love love to make her for myself (ah now the truth comes out!!)
November 28, 2011 12:42 AM

Thank you all so much for your lovely words and for entering, I will email your patterns off in the morning:)

Have a wonderful week:)

~~Mamma4earth Christmas Giveaway~~

I have been wanting to offer a Mamma4earth giveaway for quite a while and because it will soon be Christmas, I thought these items would be just perfect and would also reach you in time:) This giveaway is open to everyone, worldwide.

The Giveaway consists of:

1. One South African knitted Lion

2. One knitted chicken

3. One Aardvark Pattern

4. One Unicorn Pegasus Pattern

5. One skein of Rainbow Yarn

South African Lion

 

Aardvark Pattern

 

Unicorn Pegasus Pattern

One skein of Rainbow Yarn

How to enter:

- Leave a comment in this post
For Additional Entries:

- Follow my blog

- Tweet about this giveaway

- Post on Facebook

- Blog about it:)

Each time you do any of the above, please return here and leave a comment to let me know and then you will have additional entries:)

If you are reading this post in Google Reader, please click on this link, it will take you to my blog and you will be able to leave a comment below the post.

Have a wonderful week everyone, comments will close on Sunday 27th of November. Please check back here to see if you have won.

The winner is :
CrochetBlogger

What a fun giveaway!! Your patterns are adorable

Congratulations!!! Please can you send me your postal details and I will pop your treasures in the post:)
Warmly
Linda

Aardvark Knitting Pattern and a Giveaway

        



       

      

          



This is my Aardvark knitting pattern, he is one of my favourite patterns and will only be available for sale for a limited time on Etsy and direct download from my Ravelry store as he will be published in my book soon and then he will be delisted from my shops:)

He is a sweet fella. Aardvarks live in Sub-Sahara Africa on the grasslands and bushland, they are solitary creatures and are nocturnal. Their closest relatives are the elephant shrew and elephant and they eat mainly termites and have a keen sense of smell.

Measurements when knitted: Approx 9 inches from muzzle to tail and 6 and a half inches tall.

This pattern is knitted flat with two 4mm / 6 US needles and is knitted in stocking stitch, there are increases and decreases. A fairly easy pattern. The pattern is 7 pages long with detailed instructions and photos and if there is anything that is not clear you can always email me:)

Giveaway:
I will be giving away 4 patterns to 4 readers:)
To enter:
Please leave a comment in this post.
For extra entries, please Follow, Tweet, Facebook or blog about this giveaway and do let me know by returning here and leaving extra comments.
I will announce the winners here in this blog post on Friday the 14th of October

Giveaway Winners:

1. African Babies Don't Cry said...


He is just too gorgeous... my son would love him!
Thank you for the giveaway.

2. DaffodilAngel said...


Love the aardvark and I am interested in your new book - will this be coming out soon and can we buy it online? Thanks for the opportunity. :)
October 12, 2011 3:20 PM

3. linny said...

What a cutie. Would love to win your Aardvark pattern.
lyn.robyn.smith@gmail.com
October 10, 2011 4:12 PM

4. Emma, Jon, Nicola, Josie and Danica said...

How original and how kind as always to share

Congratulations everyone!! I will be emailing your patterns off soon:)
 
PS. I made the soap and it worked wonderfully, it's still curing at the moment and I will blog all about it tomorrow:)