Ladybirds Designed by Sylvia Leake
Use these lovely ladybird motifs to make striking, colourful Fair Isle borders or to cover your garment in ladybirds! They look great on hats, scarves, sweaters, cardigans, cushion/pillow covers, throws, tea and egg cosies and anything else you can think of. Individual ladybirds, or pairs of ladybirds, would look effective on mittens, pockets, tops for babies or patches which could then be appliquéd onto garments. The ladybirds are designed to be knitted over stocking stitch using only two colours in a row.
Knitting Chart
1 ladybird: 7 stitches x 15 rows
2 ladybirds: 16 stitches x 15 rows, allowing for 1 stitch to the right of each ladybird. This design is also suitable for machine knitters using 24 stitch punchcard or electronic machines. Punch cards or program pattern from chart(s) before beginning to knit, changing colour(s) in your yarn feeder as indicated on charts.
2 crawling ladybirds: 24 stitches x 16 rows
Repeat pattern for 3 rows of ladybirds: 24 stitches x 47 rows. Rows of ladybirds can be knitted using Fair Isle - when working Fair Isle carry yarns across back of work and weave yarn not in use along the back of work, catching it in on every other stitch. Substitute red and use different colours for each row of ladybirds to make the pattern more colourful. Change the background colour (use stripes of different colours) to add more interest.
Intarsia and stranding over small number of stitches, could be used for individual or pairs of ladybirds. Use separate balls or bobbins as required, twisting yarns when changing colour to avoid a hole. when working from chart read odd rows (knit) from right to left and even rows (purl) from left to right.
A small number of ladybirds could be added Using Swiss Darning (Duplicate Stitch). Motifs are embroidered after knitting is complete - working with a tapestry needle and following the line of the stitches to cover either one single stitch or a group of stitches completely, with a chosen yarn. Use the same yarn as garment or one thicker, never use a finer yarn. 1 forward facing ladybird: 10 stitches x 16 rows
Spots can be added in black yarn, however you will then have three colours in the row! This 'block' pattern can be added to your garment to break up bands of different colours - use the repeat pattern for 2 rows before and 2 rows after your colour change (see photograph on page I for guidance).
Ladybird about to fly: 11 stitches x 17 rows
Pattern repeat: 24 stitches x 4 rows 2 'blocks' (1below and 1 above colour change): 4 stitches x 4 rows Sylvia Leake 2011 This design is for personal use for profit.
