New blog!

My blog has outgrown its nest here, so I've decided to migrate! Find my new blog at www.knitforvictory.co.uk/blog/ and keep up with the knitted birds and their new adventures on my new website.

World Curlew Day

April 21st is World Curlew Day! Time to celebrate Europe's largest wading bird, and to think of ways that we can help this beautiful bird with the haunting cry; sadly they are in serious decline.

I designed this curlew knitting pattern for RSPB Shetland who are going to be celebrating their local curlews with events and knitted curlews in May. On Shetland they are known as "whaaps", so please meet Wendy the Whaap, the knitted curlew! If you'd like to knit Wendy, her pattern is available on Etsy, Ravelry and Love Knitting. She's made from beautiful Shetland DK wool from Jamiesons of Shetland.

Spring has sprung

"You alright up there, Steve?" Pippa the Pied Wagtail and Steve the Chaffinch are off exploring the spring blossom.

Beautiful birdie knit kits

Thanks so much for all the lovely feedback you've been giving me about my bird knit kits - it's all very much appreciated!

"Beautiful, well presented kit which will be a gift. It looks excellent and such a friendly seller. Thank you very much."

"Super fast delivery and great kit! I'm a knitting newbie but spent my whole Saturday crafting Sparky and I'm already looking at new wool for another one. Perfect, thank you!"

I'm so happy that people are enjoying knitting Jeff the Gull, Beneduck Cumberquack, Sparky the Budgie and the rest of the knit kit family. I'm going to be working on some new designs over the coming months, along with a very special kit that's a bit different from my usual ones - will be able to reveal all soon!

Steve the Chaffinch

Did you know that a chaffinch has an incredibly loud song, and you may well hear him before you see him? So if you're out and about and you hear some high-volume tweeting, it may well be Steve the Chaffinch!

Easter Chickens

You may remember these two Easter lovelies from Let's Knit magazine last year - little Easter chickens which are just big enough to hide a Creme Egg inside. Well, they're now available as a free download from Let's Knit. Simply register and then you can download your free Easter chickens knitting pattern! Have fun!

Rats

"Looks like that funny white stuff has melted - does that mean it's spring now?" The knitted rats are hopeful...

Cosy knitted budgies

So it looks like we may have snow forecast for tomorrow - time to cosy up with a cup of tea and some knitting! These knitted budgies are staying warm and happy inside so they can watch the snow through the window.

Pippa the Pied Wagtail

Here's Pippa the Pied wagtail, looking forward hopefully to spring - feels like it's just around the corner!

Beneduck Cumberquack

Beneduck Cumberquack is getting ready for spring!

Bill and Coo the pigeons

I knitted Bill the pigeon a girlfriend - her name is Coo!

RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch

It was the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch last weekend - time to take an hour to watch the birds in your garden, park, or local area - and enjoy a cup of tea (and in my case, a badly-made flapjack) while tallying up all the feathered visitors to your patch.

I was happy this year because all of my garden regulars turned up during my hour on Saturday morning - apart from a wren, who occasionally visits. So this year's visitor list was as follows: goldfinches, greenfinches, sparrows, starlings, pigeons, blue tits, great tits, a robin, a collared dove, a dunnock, and a herring gull! Great fun to do, and all the results help the RSPB monitor the UK's bird population over the years. If you'd like to register for next year's one, visit the RSPB website.

Bird knit kits

I'm so glad that people are enjoying my bird knit kits - I'm working on more at the moment and will keep adding to the collection throughout the year! Here's Bill the Pigeon, Jarvis Cockatiel and Sparky the Budgie.

Let's Knit Eric and Pablo!

These two trouble makers are yours to knit if you pick up a copy of the current issue of Let's Knit magazine! (March 2018). Meet Eric the flamingo and Pablo the toucan - both easy, fun knits to cheer up a wintery day with some colourful birdie cuddles!

Bill the Pigeon

Coo! Here's Bill the Pigeon - he's here to tell you that his pigeon knitting pattern and pigeon knit kit are now available in my Etsy shop, so you can knit a flock of Bills of your very own! The pattern is available as an instant download and the knit kit contains everything that you need to knit Bill, apart from needles - you also get a cute Pigeon Club badge!

Happy Christmas!

I'm going to be shutting my Etsy shop tomorrow (19th December) and re-opening again on 26th December. I'd like to wish you all a happy Christmas and thank you all so much for your support over the last year. I hope you all have a happy holiday period, and I'll be back soon with new knitted birds!

If you'd like to download any knitting patterns over the festive period, they will still be available from Ravelry and Love Knitting because, you know, digital downloads don't need a holiday...

Cockatiel knit kits!

Jarvis Cockatiel knit kits are here and ready to arrive on your doorstep with a cheery "hello!" from the postman. OK, I can't guarantee the last bit - but I can guarantee a box full of all the yarns, notions, stuffing and odds and ends that you need to knit a lovely cockatiel. And don't forget there's a clear knitting pattern and a fun cockatiel button badge too! Cockatiel knit kits are available from my Etsy shop and I'll be making and posting them all the way up the last Christmas posting date, unless I run out of badges first...

A Jeff is for life, not just for Christmas

There's lots of Jeff the Seagull knit kits going out in the post today to people who'll be finding Jeff in their Christmas stocking this year! And because his kit is only £10 plus postage, he makes a great Secret Santa gift, too. Just remember, Jeff is for life, not just for Christmas - along with all the yarn and notions you need to create a pair of gulls, you also receive a printed knitted pattern, so you can make as many Jeffs as you like, all year round!

Meet Noel the Partridge

Meet Noel the Partridge! He's a cute knitted partridge, who's ready to hop on your Christmas tree (or pear tree) and he'd make a great holiday season gift. He's 12cm tall, super friendly, and available as a knit kit or PDF pattern from Etsy, Ravelry and Love Knitting. The knit kit contains everything you need to knit Noel, apart from needles - and you also get a cute button badge of Noel and his much-loved pear.

Northern Cardinal knit kit

And the next knit kit is ready and waiting for your needles to work their magic! This is Bob, the Northern Cardinal. He's the perfect size to sit in your hand, and can't wait to come and live with you. He's easy to knit on a pair of 4mm knitting needles, and your knit kit will contain everything you need to make Bob, along with a cute Bob button badge. Grab your cardinal knit kit here in my Etsy shop, or download the pattern from Ravelry and Love Knitting!