Knitted nest and eggs

Spring is in the air and it's the time of year that I love knitting little nests and eggs - they make lovely spring decorations for your home, or you can substitute the knitted eggs for chocolate ones, and you have the perfect Easter treat!

If you'd like to knit a nest and eggs, the pattern is in my book Knitted Birds, published by Search Press. There may also be a nest or two in my Etsy shop if they haven't flown off to a new home already (not that nests can fly, but you know what I mean).

Blackbird

This little knitted blackbirds is still one of my favourites to knit - the pattern is in my book Knitted Birds, if you fancy making one yourself. At this time of year the blackbirds in my garden seem more friendly than usual and come right up to my feet some days, when I go out to top up the bird feeders. I throw them a handful of suet pieces onto the grass and then have to wait for them to finish, otherwise the seagulls come and eat it.

Knitted Birds book - it's here!

This is my book, Knitted Birds! It contains over 30 knitting patterns and instructions for all kinds of birds, along with information on the materials, tools and techniques you'll need.

Whether you want to make a robin to perch on your Christmas tree, an owl to overlook your breakfast nook, or a whole family of ducks to decorate your desk, these beautiful birds are fun to make and display, whether you are a beginner or a more experienced knitter.

All birds are knitted flat on a single pair of needles. There's no knitting in the round or using four needles!

Patterns include: a family of mallard ducks and ducklings, song thrush, blue tit, canada goose, blackbirds, mute swan and cygnets, a family of barn owls, avocet, lapwing, puffin, collared dove, magpie, oystercatcher, osprey, kingfishers, hoopoe, pheasant, snowy owls, woodpecker, robin, sparrow, seagull, raven and tufted duck. There's also patterns for nests and eggs! Some birds have wire legs, and detailed instructions are included on how to make these, along with templates for beaks.

I'm so happy with how the book turned out! Search Press did a wonderful job and created a large and beautiful, glossy paperback. It's 128 pages long, and full of stunning photography.

The Knitted Birds book is £12.99, and if you live in the UK, for a limited time, shipping is free! If you are in the USA, Canada, Europe, or anywhere else in the world, air mail shipping is just £5, making a total of £17.99.

If you'd like to own a copy of Knitted Birds, the PayPal button is below... Please use the drop-down box to choose your shipping option.

Knitted Birds book

UK free shipping £12.99 GBP Rest of the World shipping £17.99 GBP

If you'd like a signed copy, let me know when you place your order.

A peek at my Knitted Birds book

So excited, I've just received the advance copy of my book from Search Press - it looks amazing! And so cute...

Knitted mute swan is just checking to see whether he has been included (he has, don't worry).

The book will be available in August!

Knitted blackbird

I've decided to make a limited number of knitted birds for sale on Etsy, in the run-up to my Knitted Birds book being published by Search Press in September. So here's the first one who is currently available for adoption on Etsy - a handsome male knitted blackbird.

He's approximately 20cm long from tip of the tail to tip of the felt beak. If you'd like to knit one of your own, he will be one of the patterns in my Knitted Birds book!

Knitted Collared Dove

I dodged the showers today to visit the local park so I could take some photos of my latest bird, a little knitted collared dove. Signs of spring starting to show all around: a small pool of yellow croci, hopeful-looking buds on the tree branches and - my favourite - bird twitterings and flutterings as the local avian residents start to stretch their wings.

I was particularly delighted when I sat down on a bench to take a photo of my bird, and heard the distinctive coo-coo-coo of a real life collared dove in one of the nearby trees, very loud and very close. It felt like a little seal of approval from the natural world. Thanks, collared dove!

Collared doves have a very sweet expression. I think it's the contrast between that pretty buff/grey plumage and the beady black eye that helps. People don't tend to like pigeons (I do, though) but collared doves are different.

This little dove is destined for my book of bird knitting patterns, which is going to published by Search Press next year.

Tufted ducks

Belated happy new year to you all - I have been working hard on new patterns for my Etsy shop, and my book of knitted birds, which is going to be published by Search Press next year. It's going to be a very exciting 2014 here at Knit for Victory.

Here's a couple of little knitted tufted ducks enjoying the new year sunshine and wondering who's going to be next off the needles. Clue: it's a bird, but not a British one.

My bird book!

Here's some rather exciting news: the knitted birds are going to have their own book! I am absolutely delighted to announce that Search Press will be publishing my very first knitting book in 2015.

I can't wait to get started working on the knitting patterns for this book, and will keep you all updated here with any news!

If you have any favourite British birds that I haven't knitted yet, let me know - you never know, they might end up in the book.