Thursday, 29 July 2021

Just Checking In Socks - your perfect summer knit!


Looking for a new project for the summer holidays? Look no further! The Just Checking In Socks are here!

The Just Checking In Socks might look fancy, but they are actually really simple! The socks use a simple method involving a little bit of surface crochet or chain-stitch embroidery that requires minimal effort for maximum effect. Hate sewing and crochet? I’ve also included instructions on how to add the stripes using a simple intarsia technique.

The pattern is written for seven sizes, with finished circumferences ranging from 13 cm (5.25 in) to 28 cm (11.25 in). The socks should be worn with approximately 2.5 cm (1 in) of negative ease.

The socks are knitted from the cuff down, starting with a 1 x 1 ribbed cuff, and have a familiar heel flap and gusset construction, with a slipped stitch heel flap for reinforcement. The foot length of the socks is adjustable to fit, and the socks are finished with a Kitchener-free toe (perfect if you’re like me and can’t concentrate on Kitchener stitch if there’s too much background noise!).


The horizontal stripes are created as the sock is knitted, with purl columns. Once you’ve finished knitting the sock, you use surface crochet or embroidery to add the vertical stripes. If you prefer, you can add the vertical stripes as you knit using basic intarsia.

The pattern is written to be needle-neutral and can be knitted using either the magic-loop technique, short circulars or DPNs, depending on your individual preference. The pattern also features helpful hints for beginners.


What colour will your first pair be?

Ready to cast on now? You can get the pattern on Ravelry* or PayHip, and if you use the code STRIPE you’ll get 15% off (valid until 11.59pm BST, Thursday 5th August 2021).

*Ravelry link. May cause issues for people with photosensitivity; proceed with caution

Wednesday, 14 July 2021

What's at number 1?! Vikki Bird Designs' Top 10

This week I'm bringing you the second half of my Top 10 patterns. Which one will be number 1? Missed part one? You can find it on my blog

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Let’s start with number 5? It’s… Fluffy White Clouds – the crochet version!

I am *not* a crochet designer, so this pattern was a bit of a gamble, but it’s one that paid off. My knitted Fluffy White Clouds pattern had been very successful, but I had had emails from crocheters asking whether it would be possible to put a crochet version together, so I wrote up this mini-corner-to-corner version. The pattern includes charts, full written instructions for all the colour changes, and a complete tutorial, which has made it one of my bestsellers.

https://www.lovecrafts.com/en-us/p/fluffy-white-clouds-the-crochet-version-crochet-pattern-by-vikki-bird

https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/fluffy-white-clouds-crochet (Rav link, may cause issues for people with photosensitivity, proceed with caution)

 

At number 4, we have… Nature’s Way Baby Blanket!

Nature’s Way Baby Blanket was my first intarsia blanket and it’s where my love of intarsia design started. Each of the motifs in the blanket is something personal to me - my favourite is the snail, which is your favourite?

https://www.lovecrafts.com/en-gb/p/natures-way-baby-blanket-knitting-pattern-by-vikki-bird

https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/natures-way-baby-blanket (Rav link, may cause issues for people with photosensitivity, proceed with caution)

 

Into the Top 3! At number 3, it’s… Elephant Parade!

Elephant Parade was originally published in Knit Now magazine (I am forever grateful to them for accepting my designs as a new designer), and is inspired by a book I had as a child that has a ribbon running through it with a family of elephants on. A lot of my designs are inspired by books – if I’m not knitting, I’m usually reading!

https://www.lovecrafts.com/en-gb/p/elephant-parade-knitting-pattern-by-vikki-bird

https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/elephant-parade-2 (Rav link, may cause issues for people with photosensitivity, proceed with caution)

 

At number 2, it’s… Fluffy White Clouds!

Fluffy White Clouds is my perfect baby blanket: clouds drifting across a perfect blue sky. The colour palette is soothing, and the knitting is so much fun. I love intarsia! I made this blanket for my eldest daughter, and my youngest got to use it too! I’m surprised this one is at number 2 as I thought it was number 1! There’s only a handful between numbers 1 and 2…

https://www.lovecrafts.com/en-gb/p/fluffy-white-clouds-knitting-pattern-by-vikki-bird

https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/fluffy-white-clouds (Rav link, may cause issues for people with photosensitivity, proceed with caution)

 

Finally, in top position, we have… Rudi!

Another pattern from early in my design days. I designed Rudi in the days when Christmas jumpers were a bit of a joke – think Mark Darcy in Bridget Jone’s Diary – the sort of thing your mum made you wear. Now everyone owns a Christmas jumper, and this one has become a firm favourite!

https://www.lovecrafts.com/en-gb/p/rudi-knitting-pattern-by-vikki-bird

https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/rudi (Rav link, may cause issues for people with photosensitivity, proceed with caution)

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Want to browse my patterns? You can find them all on Ravelry (Rav link, may cause issues for people with photosensitivity, proceed with caution) and LoveCrafts. Sign up to my newsletter to get 10% off on Ravelry!

Thursday, 8 July 2021

Vikki Bird Designs' Top 10: numbers 6-10

Ever wondered what my Top 10 best sellers are? Wonder no more, because I'm going to share that with you over the next couple of weeks! Today I’m going to show you numbers 6-10, and next week I’ll pop by and share number 1-5. Which pattern is your favourite?

 

What’s at number 10? It’s… Chunky Christmas Pudding Hat!

Turns out it’s not just me that leaves their Christmas knitting to the last minute. This pattern always sells a few copies just before Christmas. It’s quick and easy, the perfect Christmas knit! It fits sizes from baby to large adult.

https://www.lovecrafts.com/en-gb/p/chunky-christmas-pudding-hat-knitting-pattern-by-vikki-bird

https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/chunky-christmas-pudding-hat (Rav link, may cause issues for people with photosensitivity, proceed with caution)

 

In at number 9! It’s… Vroom, Vroom, Beep, Beep!

I designed this blanket for a friend’s son a long time ago now! I was inspired by all the diecast toy cars my son carried everywhere as a toddler. This blanket is certainly a lot softer on the feet than those cars!!!

https://www.lovecrafts.com/en-gb/p/vroom-vroom-beep-beep-knitting-pattern-by-vikki-bird

https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/vroom-vroom-beep-beep (Rav link, may cause issues for people with photosensitivity, proceed with caution)

 

At number 8, we have… Christmas Pudding Hat!

This was my *first* pattern. I designed it for my then-toddler son because I wanted to knit him a Christmas pudding hat, but couldn’t find one I loved. I’ve made many of these hats for friends and family – it’s a pattern I go back to again and again. It fits sizes from baby to large adult.

https://www.lovecrafts.com/en-gb/p/christmas-pudding-hat-knitting-pattern-by-vikki-bird

https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/christmas-pudding-hat-8 (Rav link, may cause issues for people with photosensitivity, proceed with caution)

 

It’s one of my favourites at number 7… Apple for Teacher Hat!

Do you ever have periods when everyone you know is pregnant? I designed this hat during one of those phases of my life, and knitted this hat for all the babies that arrived one summer. It’s a great quick knit and makes a fabulous gift!

https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/apple-for-teacher (Rav link, may cause issues for people with photosensitivity, proceed with caution)

https://www.lovecrafts.com/en-us/p/apple-for-teacher-knitting-pattern-by-vikki-bird

 

Last one for today… at number 6, it’s… Siren Song Socks!

It’s entirely possible that you thought a sock pattern might appear before number 6 in the Top 10, but believe it or not, this is the *only* sock pattern in my Top 10! The Siren Song Socks pattern works well in any style of sock yarn – speckled, variegated, solid, semi-solid or striped, which explains its popularity! If you have a special skein of sock yarn, why not give it a try?

https://www.lovecrafts.com/en-gb/p/siren-song-socks-knitting-pattern-by-vikki-bird

https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/siren-song-socks (Rav link, may cause issues for people with photosensitivity, proceed with caution)

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Want to browse my patterns? You can find them all on Ravelry (Rav link, may cause issues for people with photosensitivity, proceed with caution) and LoveCrafts. Sign up to my newsletter to get 10% off on Ravelry!