“Little Holiday Knits” is a collection of quick-to-knit patterns that are perfect for last-minute gifts, stocking stuffers, or household decorations.

The bluebells scarf is a modern, chunky knit scarf pattern derived from a vintage lace stitch pattern. What was once intended to be a dainty lace design for a baby garment has been reimagined as a sturdy textured design on a gorgeous wool scarf. Bluebells is knit on size US8 (5mm) knitting needles with a bulky weight wool yarn. You will need to...

For some reason the idea of a coffee cozy that had a face really cracked me up, so I made it a reality. I used Knit Picks Wool of the Andes worsted but you could use any worsted yarn here, just be careful with your gauge because you don’t want it to fall off the cup, or be too small to fit on it. The stockinette panel in the white section is fo...

African penguin is the sixth and final pattern in the Summer of Sea Creatures 2020. This year we are highlighting endangered species. Please join us in knitting and raising awareness about these animals. Tag me @yarnigans or #summerofseacreatures on instagram. Thanks for joining me again for this fifth year of summer of sea creatures!*

Beluga Sturgeon is the fifth pattern in the Summer of Sea Creatures 2020. This year we are highlighting endangered species. Please join us in knitting and raising awareness about these animals. Tag me @yarnigans or #summerofseacreatures on instagram. Thanks for joining me again for this fifth year of summer of sea creatures!*

Sea Otter is the fourth pattern in the Summer of Sea Creatures 2020. This year we are highlighting endangered species. Please join us in knitting and raising awareness about these animals. Tag me @yarnigans or #summerofseacreatures on instagram. Thanks for joining me again for this fifth year of summer of sea creatures!

Orange Roughy is the third pattern in the Summer of Sea Creatures 2020. This year we are highlighting endangered species. Please join us in knitting and raising awareness about these animals. Tag me @yarnigans or #summerofseacreatures on instagram. Thanks for joining me again for this fifth year of summer of sea creatures!

Vaquita is the second pattern in the Summer of Sea Creatures 2020. This year we are highlighting endangered species. Please join us in knitting and raising awareness about these animals. Tag me @yarnigans or #summerofseacreatures on instagram. Thanks for joining me again for this fifth year of summer of sea creatures!

Albatross is the first pattern in the Summer of Sea Creatures 2020. This year we are highlighting endangered species. Please join us in knitting and raising awareness about these animals. Tag me @yarnigans or #summerofseacreatures on instagram. Thanks for joining me again for this fifth year of summer of sea creatures!

These little black noses are kind of hard to find at the moment, but Britni @ Specialty Shoppe is currently shipping orders. She has the 14mm and 15mm noses in several colors:

The Lunar New Year in 2020 brings us into the Year of the Rat!

Clara is a lovely little fawn toy perfect for gifting during the holiday season, or for keeping all to yourself. Her body is knitted with a sweet little cable pattern down the front, and a faux-layering technique makes it look as though she’s actually wearing a sweater, when it’s really all knitted in one piece. Her long, skinny arms and legs a...

Orca is the sixth and final pattern in the Summer of Sea Creatures series for 2019. Our theme this year is “The Biggest Animals in the Ocean.” Real orcas grow to over 20 feet long! Our adorable little orca is just under 2 feet. If you want a whale that’s going to use a little less of your polyfil stash, consider making him in a thinner weight y...

Whale Shark is the fifth pattern in the Summer of Sea Creatures series for 2019.

Giant Sea Star is the fourth pattern in the Summer of Sea Creatures series for 2019. Our theme this year is “The Biggest Animals in the Ocean.” Real giant sea stars are over 2 feet wide! Our sea star is the only one of the series to be knitted in worsted weight yarn, but he would work just as well on super bulky and size 11 needles, if you were...

Manta Ray is the third pattern in the Summer of Sea Creatures series for 2019. Our theme this year is “The Biggest Animals in the Ocean.” Real manta rays can get up to 33 feet wide! Our manta ray is about 18” wide. He’s got an interesting construction that will keep your attention, but he’s a quick project.

Giant Squid is the second pattern in the Summer of Sea Creatures series for 2019. Our theme this year is “The Biggest Animals in the Ocean.”

Blue Whale is the first pattern in the Summer of Sea Creatures series for 2019. Our theme this year is “The Biggest Animals in the Ocean.”Please join us on instagram by tagging your project photos #summerofseacreatures

This squishy, cuddly fox is the perfect small project to start off the knitting season right. I’m pretty sure everyone has at least one person in their lives who would love to have one of these lovelies. Emerson is knitted in the round in pieces and sewn together. You need only very small amounts of black and white yarn, but the fox’s main colo...

The Arctic Puffin’s body is knitted in a few pieces: first, the black head, then, the white face. The face is sewn onto the front of the head and the eyes attached; the body is knitted and stuffed. Then the white belly is made flat and sewn on. Lastly, the beak and legs are made separately and sewn on. There are a few extra steps on this one, b...

The polar bear is knitted in the round, starting at the nose and working toward the rump. The legs are worked separately and sewn on. I used worsted weight yarn and size 3 needles, but gauge is not super important here.

The Walrus is knitted in the round, starting at the nose and working toward the tail. The fins are knitted separately and sewn on. I used aran weight yarn and size 6 needles, but you could go down to worsted if that’s what you have handy.

The narwhal is knitted in the round, starting at the nose and working toward the tail. The fins and horn are knitted separately and sewn on. I used worsted weight yarn and size 5 needles, but gauge is not super important here.

The harp seal is knitted in the round, starting at the nose and working toward the tail. The fins are knitted separately and sewn on. I used sport weight yarn and size 3 needles, but you could go up to worsted or aran yarn if that’s what you have handy. You can keep it in a very tight gauge on 3’s or move up to a size 5 or 6 needle. Feel free t...

Owlentines are a perfect little something to get you in the Valentine’s day spirit. The pattern has minimal shaping and details, making it perfect for that hard-to-wrangle novelty yarn in your stash. Or- as you can see in the pictures- it also looks pretty darn cute in worsted weight wool. You will need to be able to knit in the round and know ...

I like my fingerless mitts extra long, extra wooly, and with just a little bit of interesting colorwork. The Snow, Dear! Mitts fit the bill and they are a quick knit, to boot.

Helgi the Dragon is the third pattern in the Yarnigans Fantasy Forest series. He’s 14” tall and knitted in a rather loose gauge for a toy, so he’s quite floppy and soft. Much of the dragon is worked in the round on double pointed needles, but his wings and spikes on his back are knitted flat, separately, and sewn on. This pattern requires a kno...

The seahorse is worked from the end of its nose to the tip of its tail in the round. Short rows give the seahorse its shape, and knitting on the wrong side while doing short rows instead of purling gives him his banded look. The seahorse gets a bit fiddly at times, but stick with it, and you’ll be pleased with the result.

The jellyfish is knitted in the round, from the top down. There is a little light stranded colorwork involved here. I didn’t write out a chart because it just didn’t seem necessary. The instructions use counted stitches instead. You could always leave out the second color if you find it intimidating, or use a variegated yarn to give your jelly ...

The shark is worked from the front of the face back to the tail. The body is shaped by increases and decreases, and it’s worked in the round on double pointed needles.

The stingray is worked from the tip of the tail forward to the nose. The body is shaped by decreases, and it’s worked in two flat pieces: the top with the bobbles to shape the eyes, and the bottom. This pattern requires you to be able to work a variety of increases and decreases.

Ah, simple sea star. No, they aren’t particularly cute and cuddly, but there’s nothing so thrilling as going for a snorkel and finding a giant, brightly colored star waiting to greet you in the sand.

“Kaikaina” means little sister, and this is the little sister pattern to my pattern “Kailani the Mermaid.” Kaikaina is a little shorter and a little stouter than Kailani, but she’s downright adorable. The pattern directs you to knit Kaikaina from the top down on double pointed needles, guides you through attaching her hair with step-by-step pho...

This pattern is free and always will be. I hope it inspires you. Invite over some friends you haven’t seen in awhile and knit Little Kindnesses together with scraps from your stash. Knit a Little Kindness for someone and drop it in the mail for them with a nice card to let them know you’re thinking of them. Take your neighbor a Little Kindness ...

Felicity the Cat is the second pattern in the Yarnigans Fantasy Forest series. She’s 14” tall and knitted in a rather loose gauge for a toy, so she’s quite floppy and soft. She is worked in the round, and the pattern includes instructions for making either a solid color cat or a striped tabby. This pattern requires a knowledge of knitting in th...

Two little pumpkins, one cabled and one ribbed, are sure to become some of your favorite autumn decorations. I adore these pumpkins in a natural white cotton yarn, but you could make them in orange for a more classic pumpkin look. These are knitted in the round, but a very quick project. Make a couple to take as host gifts for Thanksgiving dinn...

Nilla the Unicorn is the first pattern in the Yarnigans Fantasy Forest series. She’s 14” tall and knitted in a rather loose gauge for a toy, so she’s quite floppy and soft. She is worked in the round, and the pattern includes a detailed photo tutorial for working up and attaching her mane and tail. This pattern requires a knowledge of knitting ...

Octopus is a quick knit with an interesting construction. He doesn’t require much finishing and the absence of embroidered details makes him an especially easy softie. Variegated and self-striping yarns would be a great choice for him. Gauge isn’t important, you just want to be sure your stuffing doesn’t show through the stitches.

The little puffer fish is knitted up in colors that I thought were pretty close to nature, but to be honest, I think he would look great in just about any combination of colors. You could even leave out his stripes altogether for a super quick knit. He works up so fast, you’ll have a whole school in no time at all. This fish is knitted on doubl...

The playful dolphin! It’s always an exciting experience to spot a pod of them offshore while you’re on the beach. This dolphin is knitted on double pointed size US 5 needles and shaped with simple increases and decreases, and a few short rows. As with all Yarnigans patterns, the dolphin can be sized up or down by using thicker or thinner yarn a...

There are few sea creatures more exciting to spot out in the wild than the elusive sea turtle. This one is a precious little creature, with intricate color work on the back of her shell, she could be made in any colors your heart desires and still look absolutely wonderful.

Manatees have been my favorite sea creature for a long time. How could anyone not love a manatee? They’re round and gentle and way cuter than any other ocean creature. This manatee is a wonderfully huggable little beast, knitted in the round on size US 3 double pointed needles from worsted weight gray yarn. I used around half the skein, exact y...

Spring will be here before you know it. Start knitting little rabbits now to fill the Easter baskets of all the little people you know. Bonus- when knitted on these small size needles, these tiny rabbits fit into large plastic Easter eggs.

“Farmer’s Market” is a collection of five vegetable knitting patterns, all packaged together in a 15-page pdf e-book. Included in “Farmer’s Market” are the following patterns:

As the weather gets colder and the holidays get closer, I wanted to write a pattern for a quick but impressive-looking accessory for quick gift giving. Since it is made from super thick Cascade Lana Grande, the November Cabled hat knits up in a jiff, but the wide cables make it look elegant and involved. One size is super stretchy and fits near...

What could be sweeter than a simple little baby elf doll? Knitted in the round from the top of the head down, with a sweet little removable stocking cap, Acorn the elf is a classic-style toy that could bring out the kid in anyone. Acorn was inspired by old Christmas specials-- the kind

Chester is knitted in the round on a set of four US size 5 double pointed needles from Lion Brand “Luxe Fur” yarn or a comparable chunky-weight textured yarn. His nose is embroidered on and he has 13mm black acrylic safety eyes. You will need two balls of the “Luxe Fur” for Chester, a small amount of white yarn for his tail, a small amount of p...

The Quiet Little Mouse is an updated version of one of my very first patterns- changed and changed again over the years to be the cutest little mouse it can be. This pattern is knitted in the round, so you will want to be able to do that, as well as have a basic knowledge of increasing and decreasing stitches. I’ve included instructions for kni...

A gingerbread man is a holiday classic, and knitting him is sure to get you in the mood for wintertime baking and fun. This gingerbread man, however, comes with a twist: knitted in a different color, with a few added details, he becomes a classic-style doll, perfect for peeking out of a stocking on Christmas morning.

“What will we call him?”

Olwyn is knitted in the round on a set of four US size 3 double pointed needles. You will need worsted weight wool yarn in gray (or desired color), polyester fiberfill stuffing, and either a pair of 6mm black acrylic safety eyes or a very small amount of black yarn to embroider on the eyes. The finished toy will be approximately 7 inches tall.

Kailani is one of the sweetest little mermaids you will ever meet. She is knitted from the top down in the round, and would be the perfect playmate for an ocean-lover of any age. One of my favorite things about Kailani is that you can be really creative with the yarns you use for her-- thick, textured, odd-colored yarns are perfect for the high...

Alistair the Lion is a fun little friend, easily knit in a day despite the small size needles. His loopy mane makes him an impressive-looking project but is quick and easy to complete. Swap out his

Porter the Monkey is a friendly little fellow knitted in the round on small needles in worsted weight wool. His long, skinny arms and legs make him a floppy, acrobatic playmate. He is a little over 8 inches tall when finished-- the perfect size to carry along wherever you go. In the pictures, his facial features have been embroidered on to keep...

Theodore is a classically styled teddy bear with a twist-- he’s knitted out of super chunky yarn, making him an unbelievably quick yet substantial project. Cascade’s Lana Grande is my first choice for Theodore because it is soft, comes in beautiful colors, and wears very well, which is perfect for a toy that’s going to get lots of cuddles. Lion...

As silly as it seems to knit a stuffed sheep out of something other than wool yarn, I knew the second I came across the Lion Brand organic cotton I knew the texture of it would make for a great lamb. Any worsted yarn can be substituted, just make sure your gauge isn’t too loose. A heavy worsted works best on the size 5 needles, but you could al...

These 3 mini dolls -- a snowman, a gingerbread man, and a Christmas elf-- are a great holiday project when you want to make something with minimal effort and maximum impact. They are just as happy to sit on your mantle or hang on your tree as they are to be put into stockings for the Christmas enjoyment of little hands. If you prefer something ...

A doll pattern that can be customized to look how you want it to. Gauge is unimportant as long as your stuffing doesn’t fall out.

Mario the Hedgehog is filled with so much personality and charm that everyone who meets him just immediately falls in love. Mario is knitted in the round on a set of four US size 3 double pointed needles. His ears and feet can be either knitted on the same size needles or crocheted with a size G crochet hook. You will need worsted weight wool y...

As a mother of a little boy, I often feel guilty at the toy boxes full of girly toys that my son has gotten from my knitting pile. It’s not that the dolls and rabbits in dresses go unappreciated, but I was really starting to feel that I should come up a pattern that is more suitable for the toddler boy scene. I quickly came up with the idea of ...

Mr. Cupcake is a sweet little amigurumi crocheted character who is sure to please any recipient. He is crocheted in separate pieces and sewn together. Also included in the pattern are optional toppers for Mr. Cupcake: a strawberry and a cherry. If you don’t wish to do either, you could embroider sprinkles on his icing top. Gauge isn’t important...

This is a pattern for pants and a bow tie for Genevie the bunny, a pattern available in my ravelry shop and etsy shop. It’s knitted on a set of 4 US size 3 double pointed needles with worsted weight wool.

Genevie is a cute bunny in winter, but even cuter in spring with her Easter dress on! The pattern for Genevie herself is for sale in my ravelry pattern shop and my etsy shop, but this is a free pattern to go along with it.

Another sweater for Bjorn the Bear. This is knitted in a really fine yarn so that it hangs nicely on him.

A sweet little striped sweater for Bjorn the Bear (a Yarnigans pattern available through Ravelry).

Bjorn the Bear is a very quick little knit with a whole lot of character. Just the right size for little hands and easily customizable, Bjorn uses up less than a skein of worsted weight yarn and worked up on US size 3 double pointed needles. He is just the perfect toy to tuck into a stocking on Christmas morning or to sit on top of a baby showe...

A pocket-sized cuddly bird made with a tiny amount of textured yarn. A perfect quick gift!

Designed to use up scrap yarns, this bunny is a great and easily customizable toy crocheted in the round, amigurumi-style.

An adorable little knitted bunny with a removable hat and scarf to protect her in the cold winter months. The finished bunny is approximately 7.5” tall. Gauge is not important as long as the fabric is tight enough that stuffing won’t leak out. In addition to approximately 35 yards of white wool, you will need a small amount of contrasting color...

Note The old Yarnigans Blog went down when Vox went down permanently on September 30, 2010. Until I find a new home for my free patterns online, they will exist only as ravelry downloads. Sorry!

A fun little knitted bear! Quick to work up and a super sweet gift for anyone!