Frankie's Knitted Stuff
Well, you've got to have a postbox for all those Christmas Cards, haven't you? This little box is English so it has to be red but you could knit it in any appropriate colour, depending on where you live. You will need some DK weight yarn in red, dark grey and cream and 3.25 mm / US size 3 needles. I used Stylecraft Special DK (295 m / 100g) in Lipstick for the postbox and Sirdar Country Style DK (155 m / 50g), shade 411, Cream for the label and shade 395, Anthracite for the letter slot and the post.
The Knitting
Using red yarn and the cable method, cast on six stitches. Knit two rows. Now work eight rows in stocking stitch, beginning with a knit row. Cast off. The postbox should measure about 2 x 3 cm (3% x 114"). The garter stitch ridge goes at the top. Using cream yarn, embroider the label. Bring your needle up in the middle of the front of the postbox, one stitch below the garter stitch ridge. Then make a straight stitch, three stitches high. Work two more straight stitches on each side of this central stitch, keeping them close together and trying to make them the same length (five stitches all together). Now neaten the top and bottom of the label with two horizontal straight stitches. The slit for the letters is worked in dark grey yarn and is two straight stitches worked over three stitches, immediately below the garter stitch ridge. Pin the postbox to the back wall below the sign and, using ginger thread, sew it down all round the edges. Work through the top layer of knitting only. Using dark grey yarn, sew three or four long straight stitches for the post. If you make a small stitch at the bottom of each long stitch it will stop you pulling the stitches too tight and distorting the wall.
Frankie Brown, 2014. My patterns are for personal use only and should not be used to knit items for sale. Please do not use them for teaching purposes without my permission.
