So as promised some functional houses. … Although these houses are bookends, I think a single house would be very useful as a doorstop. They could also make a lovely toy. The pattern contains instructions for both style of house.

I fancy making some more so I could have a little row of colourful houses along side an imaginary canal.

They are knitted with doubleknit wool, and although there is some sewing up of seams, perhaps not as much as you would imagine. The pattern contains a diagram to help with the sewing up, and a picture to help you with embroidering the doors and windows. The pattern also contains a single pattern piece to make an inner lining from calico to contain the filling.

I have made the two houses different in roof shape and colour, but with enough similarities in style so that they look like a pair. The finished bookends are approximately 17cm by 9 cm by 9cm.

I wonder what books you will put between them …