Frankie's Knitted Stuff
This pattern uses my knitted alphabet, published in six patterns. For those who don't have the alphabet patterns I have included instructions for the letters used in this pattern at the end. Any of the letters can be stuffed to make soft letters and they can be joined together to make words or names for decorations. I decided to knit the word Rainbow when I realised it had seven letters so I could use the colours of the rainbow: Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo and Violet. Or, if you prefer, ‘Richard Of York Gave Battle In Vain'. That's how I remember it anyway. I used mostly Stylecraft Special DK yarn (298m / 50g) and 3mm / US size 21/2 needles. The whole word measures about 12cm tall and 56cm wide (41/2" × 22").
You will need to make two of each letter, then sew them together and stuff them. When joining sections of letters take care not to make the joining seam too tight or it will not stretch with the rest of the knitting when the letters are stuffed. You may also find that you need to darn the round corners after stuffing as all those short rows can cause the stuffing to show through. When all the letters are finished sew them together where they touch.
Next I tried knitting the letters in stripes for the word Joy. I used red and cream double knitting weight yarn (Cygnet Superwash Merino DK, 104m / 50g) and 3.25mm / US size 3 needles. The word measures about 13cm tall and 26cm wide (5" x 10").
I worked in two row stripes, keeping the cream yarn at the front. This will be the wrong side so the edge on the right side will be mostly red. I changed colour after casting on and before casting Off. Working in stripes presents a few problems when knitting short rows.
Round Corners
Work in two row stripes with one exception. The two rows worked on one stitch only should be worked in the same colour as the previous two rows (worked on three stitches). A complete round corner, worked in two colours, A and B, would thus be: K1, (P1, K1) twice, w&t, K1, (P1, K1) twice. 5(A) K1, P1, K1,w&t,K1, P1, K1.3(B)K1,w&t,K1.1(B)K1, P1, K1, w&t, K1, P1, K1. 3(A) K1, (P1, K1) twice, w&t, K1, (P1, K1) twice. 5(B) Work two rows on all 7 stitches as normal. 7(A) K1, (P1, K1) twice, w&t, K1, (P1, K1) twice. 5(B) K1, P1, K1, w&t, K1, P1, K1. 3(A) K1, w&t, K1. 1(A) K1, P1, K1,W&t,K1, P1, K1.3(B)K1, (P1, K1) twice, w&t, K1, (P1, K1) twice. 5(A)
Letter Y
The central section is worked after an odd number of rows which means changing colour in the middle of two short rows. So, working in two colours A and B and having worked Row 25 in A: A K1, P1, K1, w&t, bring yarn to front. BK1, P1, K1, BK1, (P1, K1) twice, w&t, bring yarn to front. A K1, (P1, K1) twice. A K1, P1, K1, w&t, bring yarn to front. BK1, P1, K1. BK1, (P1, K1) twice. w&t, bring yarn to front. A K1, (P1, K1) twice. The next row, the first of the next 25 will be worked in A and then you will be back to the normal stripe pattern. The yarn should be brought to the front when changing colours during the above section as this is the wrong side. The same problem occurs in working the last part of the top section of the Y where, again, short rows are worked after an odd number of rows. Work 16 of the 17 rows and then change colour and follow these instructions: A K1, (P1, K1) three times, carrying yarn B across the row (wrap B round A after each purl stitch, the front is the wrong side). A K1, w&t, K1. BK1, P1, K1, w&t, K1, P1, K1. A K1, (P1, K1) twice, w&t, K1, (P1, K1) twice.
Letter Q
The round corners should be worked in stripes as described above. I also made this letter slightly shorter and narrower for this word so that it would fit between the J and the Y. This is the smaller version, just for this word. Cast on 7 stitches. 20 rows. Round corner. 8 rows. Round corner. 22 rows. Round corner. 8 rows. Round corner.
Cast off in pattern and join the edges. ① Frankie Brown, 2012.
Patterns for the Letters used in ‘Soft Letters'
R
Work in moss stitch.
Cast on 7 stitches. 40 rows. Sharp corner. 6 rows. Round corner. 4 rows. Round corner. 4 rows. Cast off in pattern and join the cast off edge to the upright. For the leg cast on 7 stitches. K1, (P1, K1) twice,w&t, K1, (P1, K1) twice. 5 20rows. Cast off in pattern and sew the cast off edge to the curve.
A
Work in moss stitch.
Cast on 7 stitches. 40 rows. Round corner. 10 rows. Round corner. 40 rows. Cast off in pattern. The cross bar is 8 rows, worked on 7 sts. Sew this to the main part of the letter, just above halfway up.
I
Work in moss stitch. Cast on 7 stitches. 50 rows. Cast off in pattern.
N
Work in moss stitch. The two uprights are 50 rows, worked on 7 stitches.
Work the middle section loosely: Cast on 12 stitches. Row 1: Kf&b, P1, (K1, P1) four times, K2tog. Row 2: P2tog, K1, (P1, K1) four times, kf&b. Work these two rows ten times (20 rows in all). Cast off in pattern, beginning K1, P1. Sew the middle section between the two uprights.
B
Work in moss stitch. Cast on 7 stitches. K1, (P1, K1) twice, w&t, K1, (P1, K1) twice 1 row. Round corner. 2 rows. Half round corner. 8 rows. Sharp corner. 26 rows. Sharp corner. 10 rows. Round corner. 4 rows.
Round corner. Sew the cast off edge to the side and 8 rows. the cast on edge to the bottom curve.
Work in moss stitch.
W
Work in moss stitch. Cast on 7 stitches. 38 rows. Round corner. 2 rows. Half round corner. 2 rows.
K1, W&t, K1. 1 K1, P1, K1, w&t, K1, P1, K1. 3 K1, (P1, K1) twice, w&t, K1, (P1, K1) twice. 5 11 rows. (K1, P1) three times, w&t, (P1, K1) three times. 6 K1, (P1, K1) twice, w&t, K1, (P1, K1) twice. 5 (K1, P1) twice, w&t, (P1, K1) twice. 4 K1, P1, K1, w&t, K1, P1, K1. 3 K1, P1, w&t, P1, K1. 2 K1, w&t, K1. 1 K1, P1, K1, w&t, K1, P1, K1. 3 K1, (P1, K1) twice, w&t, K1, (P1, K1) twice. 5 K1, P1, K1, w&t, K1, P1, K1. 3 K1, (P1, K1) twice, W&t, K1, (P1, K1) twice. 5 K1, P1, K1, w&t, K1, P1, K1. 3 K1, W&t, K1. 1 K1, P1, W&t, P1, K1. 2 K1, P1, K1, w&t. K1, P1, K1. 3 (K1, P1) twice, W&t, (P1, K1) twice. 4 K1, (P1, K1) twice, w&t, K1, (P1, K1) twice. 5 (K1, P1) three times, w&t, (P1, K1) three times. 6 11 rows. K1, w&t, K1. 1 K1, P1, K1, w&t, K1, P1, K1. 3 K1, (P1, K1) twice, W&t, K1, (P1, K1) twice. 5 2 rows. Half round corner. 2 rows. Round corner. 38 rows. Cast off in pattern. Tighten the inside angles where the uprights join with a few stitches and join the straight section of the centre curve.
J
Work in moss stitch.
The cross bar is 36 rows, worked on 7 stitches. Sew across the top of the main piece.
Y
Work in moss stitch. The upright and one top section are worked in one, beginning at the top. Cast on 7 stitches. K1, (P1, K1) twice, W&t, K1, (P1, K1) twice. 5 25 rows. K1, P1, K1, w&t, K1, P1, K1. 3 K1, (P1, K1) twice, w&t, K1, (P1, K1) twice. 5 K1, P1, K1, w&t, K1, P1, K1. 3 K1, (P1, K1) twice, w&t, K1, (P1, K1) twice. 5 25 rows. Cast off in pattern. Cast on 7 stitches for the other top section. K1, (P1, K1) twice, W&t, K1, (P1, K1) twice. 5 17 rows. K1, W&t, K1. 1 K1, P1, K1, w&t, K1, P1, K1. 3 K1, (P1, K1) twice, W&t, K1, (P1, K1) twice. 5 Cast off and sew the cast off edge to the curved side of the main section. Here are the instructions for the sharp and round corners, stitch by stitch. The numbers on the right refer to the number of stitches worked which is a simpler way to remember the shaping.
Sharp Corner
(K1, P1) three times, w&t, (P1, K1) three times. 6 K1, (P1, K1) twice, w&t, K1, (P1, K1) twice. 5 (K1, P1) twice, w&t, (P1, K1) twice. 4 K1, P1, K1, W&t, K1, P1, K1. 3 K1, P1, w&t, P1, K1. 2 K1, w&t, K1. 1 K1, P1, w&t, P1, K1. 2 K1, P1, K1, w&t. K1, P1, K1. 3 (K1, P1) twice, w&t, (P1, K1) twice. 4 K1, (P1, K1) twice, W&t, K1, (P1, K1) twice. 5 (K1, P1) three times, w&t, (P1, K1) three times. 6
Round Corner
\*K1, (P1, K1) twice, w&t, K1, (P1, K1) twice. 5 K1, P1, K1, w&t, K1, P1, K1. 3 K1, W&t, K1. 1 K1, P1, K1, w&t, K1, P1, K1. 3 K1, (P1, K1) twice, w&t, K1, (P1, K1) twice.\*\* 5 Work two rows on all 7 stitches as normal. K1, (P1, K1) twice, w&t, K1, (P1, K1) twice. 5 K1, P1, K1, w&t, K1, P1, K1. 3 K1, W&t, K1. 1 K1, P1, K1, w&t, K1, P1, K1. 3 K1, (P1, K1) twice, w&t, K1, (P1, K1) twice. 5 A half round corner is the section from \* to \*\* only.
Abbreviations
st / sts stitch / stitches Kknit Ppurl sl1 slip one stitch pwise purlwise yf yarn forward, as if to purl yb yarn back, as if to knit w&t wrap and turn (explained in pattern) Frankie Brown, 2012. 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.
