Paddington Jumper – available in Knit Now 147

Once in a while, Knit Now ask me to design a character knit for them. I love working with characters, trying to transfer the essence of the character to my grid of stitches. These patterns are very much get-me-while-you-can, because once the print issue has sold out, the patterns are no longer available, and I often get disappointed knitters contacting me to ask how they can get hold of a copy of a pattern they missed. 

A few years ago (2018!!! Which is longer ago than I realised!), Knit Now published my children’s Paddington Jumper in a supplement to the main magazine, and since then I have had at least one email a month asking where knitters can get hold of the pattern, only to have to tell them that they’ve missed their chance and their best bet is to see if anyone is selling the supplement on ebay… until now…

I am delighted to announce that Knit Now have re-published the pattern in Knit Now issue 147! Which means you can get your hands on the pattern and knit your very own Paddington Bear jumper. 

Even better, the pattern is included in digital copies of the magazine, so even if you don’t get manage to get hold of a paper copy, you can still knit the pattern.*

The original jumper is knitted in Patons Extrafine Merino DK, but some of the colours have been discontinued since the pattern was originally published. Debbie Bliss Rialto DK** is a very close alternative; if you prefer acrylic, why not try Stylecraft Special DK,** which comes in a huge array of colours. If you are substituting yarn, do remember to check the yardage.

Knit Now issue 147 is available in the UK now; the issue goes off-sale on Wednesday 2nd November 2022. Print copies can also be ordered via CraftStash, while stocks last.

All images copyright Practical Publishing.

*Missed your chance to pick up a print copy? You can buy the issue online here.

**Affiliate link.

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Waiting for your magazine to arrive, but want to get started with the planning? Here are the pattern details:

Yarn used
Patons Merino Extrafine DK
5 (5, 6, 7, 8) balls in Baby Blue 152 (MC)
1 ball each in Camel 105 (CC1), Chesnut 111 (CC2), Royal 151 (CC3), Black 00199 (CC4), Sundance 120 (CC5), and Cherry 131 (CC6)

About the yarn
DK; 120 m per 50 g ball; 100% extra-fine Merino wool

Tension
22 sts x 30 rows = 10 cm measured over St st on larger needles

Needles used
4 mm straight
3.5 mm straight
3.5 mm circular, 40 cm

Other supplies
Yarn bobbins (optional)
2 stitch markers
Tapestry needle

Sizing
2 (4, 6, 8, 10) years, designed to fit with 5 cm positive ease

Finished measurements
Chest circumference: 60 (67, 71, 74.5, 78) cm
Length to underarm: 25 (26.5, 28, 32, 24) cm
Back length: 40 (42.5, 44.5, 50, 54) cm
Sleeve length: 21.5 (26.5, 29, 31.5, 34.5) cm

New designs: Paddington Bear jumper and Tessellate baby blanket

Hello! I hope this post finds you well. After the 'mini beast from the East' at the weekend (does that make anyone else think there might have been a ladybird invasion? Rest assured, it was just a bit more snow), it finally feels like spring might be on its way – there's a possibility that I might be able to leave the house without a coat on this afternoon!

I have two new patterns to share with you today, both from the latest issue of Knit Now magazine (Issue 86), which is goes on sale today. This issue of Knit Now magazine is the annual British issue, which celebrates British yarns and British designers – every pattern featured in the magazine is designed by a British designer, and every yarn featured has a strong British link, whether it is fully manufactured in Britain or is produced by a British company.

First up we have a pattern that I have been itching to share with you for ages: the Paddington jumper. Paddington Bear, a bear who travels from Peru to London in search of a new life and new adventures, is one of my childhood favourites and one that has a different incarnation for each new generation: for me it was the books and television series, while for the latest generation it is the Paddington movies (Paddington 2 was out at the end of last year, and is excellent). I was delighted when I was asked by Knit Now to design a jumper featuring the famous bear and this is what I came up with: Paddington in his classic duffle coat and hat, carrying his suitcase.

The jumper is knitted in DK weight yarn (Patons Merino Extrafine DK*), and sized to fit ages 2–10. The jumper is knitted in pieces from the bottom up with the Paddington motif incorporated using the intarsia technique. The neckline is knitted on in the round after the shoulders have been seamed. Extra detailing is added at the end using embroidery.

My second pattern in this issue of Knit Now is the Tessellate baby blanket. Unusually for me, this pattern is completely suitable for beginners. All you need to be able to do is knit garter stitch, work simple increases and decreases, and pick up stitches!

The blanket is a bold, high contrast design, inspired by patchwork and quilting. The blanket features a strong geometric design created using simple two colour squares that are knitted on the diagonal. The squares are sewn together at the end and finished with a border in a contrast colour.

The Tessellate baby blanket is knitted in Three Bears Yarn Affection 100% Cotton Aran, which is spun in Lancashire by English Fine Cottons.

Issue 86 of Knit Now magazine is available now from newsagents and supermarkets in the UK. Copies may also be purchased from MoreMags. Please note that the pattern for the Paddington jumper is only included in UK editions, not digital or international editions.

As ever, I would love to see if you knit any of my designs. The easiest way to share is to create a project page on Ravelry,** or to post a photo on Instagram and tag me (@vikkibirddesigns).

Happy knitting!

*Affiliate link.

**Ravelry is a forum for fibre crafts. Membership is free.

All images copyright Practical Publishing.

Yarning Along: Scrappy socks and slow shawls

So, last weekend's sleet and cold became SNOW! I always get a little excited about snow, but only when I don't have to go out in it. Unfortunately, as the snow fell during the week, I did still have to chauffeur the kids about and get on with all the usual activities. The kids loved it though. It was daughter's first time seeing it, and she was in her element. It's warmed up again now, but I think we're all hoping for a bit of snow later in the month...

This weekend we started our Christmas activities with our visit to Santa. Both the kids were really excited, and it was lovely and festive. I'm not totally sure we're going to manage to keep the festive feeling carrying on for the whole of December, but I am aiming to spread our festive activities out over the month so we don't all get burnt out. This week I'm taking my daughter to the under-5s show at our local theatre, and I'm at least as excited about it as she is! And this weekend we're off to Newcastle to see Fenwick's Christmas window (a North East tradition). This year's window is Paddington-themed, so we're going to make a day of it and see the new Paddington film at the same time.

We are now well into Advent, and this year I have an extra special advent calendar. A friend on Instagram organised an Advent swap, so I put together a parcel for someone and they put a parcel together for me. Every morning I get to open a tiny package containing 5 g of sock yarn and some little extras. I had originally planned to add the yarn to my sock yarn blanket, but had a last minute change of plan and cast on some scrappy socks. I am not totally ok with scrappy socks though, so have striped the yarn with a cream to minimise the risk of major clashes. I am up to Day 4 on one sock and Day 3 with the other, and have turned one heel, and so far have beautifully coordinated socks. I am now a little behind (mostly because of the extra knitting required for the heels) and am not keen on the yarns from Days 5 and 6 with what I have already knitted, so I'm not quite sure what I'm going to do next. I suspect I'll make a second pair of socks and everything else will end up in the sock yarn blanket. Do you have a yarn advent calendar? What are you doing with your yarn?

My other major work in progress is my Red Katana shawl and it is SO SLOW! I have no idea why. The pattern is pretty straight forward, but I have had to write myself a cheat sheet and cross off each row as I work it (having pulled the whole thing out twice already). I think I am starting to get a little faster, but I don't see myself finishing any time soon! I'm knitting my Red Katana shawl as part of the Indie Design Gift-A-Long, a knit and crochet along that is running on Ravelry until the end of the year. For more details and to take part, head to the Ravelry group.*

Last week I asked if anyone had any recommendations for Christmas books. Well, on Friday I went to Waterstones and browsed their festive reads table and came home with The Christmasaurus. Yes it's a children's book, but I am a third of the way through and am enjoying every second. So much so that my son and I are reading it together too. A definite Christmas book recommendation!

As ever, linking up with Rachel for Yarning Along.

*Ravelry link. You need to be logged into Ravelry for this link to work.