Jean Greenhowe Designs Official Website - Jean Greenhowe free knitting patterns, knitted dolls, toys

These little characters are all based upon the easiest of patterns. The main piece is just a garter stitch tube, with one half pushed inside the other half. This double knitted thickness and the stretchiness of garter stitch holds a chocolate egg securely in place, until it is squeezed out.

The addition of wings, ears etc transform the main piece into four versions – Chick, Duck, Bunny and Mouse. From our postbag we know that knitters are always looking for simple Easter patterns, so I’m sure these designs will be very popular.

The main piece with egg inside measures 6cm [2⅜in] from the base to the top end and only bits of yarn are required.

Click here to download the Easter Egg Treats free pattern.
Please remember to adjust the settings on your printer to obtain the best quality it can provide. You will need to have Adobe Reader (Version 5, or later) installed on your PC in order to download this pattern. If you do not have Adobe Reader as specified, you can download a free copy from
here

Introducing William, the cute and cuddly knitted Snowman. It's guaranteed that the children will love him to bits and no doubt he will find a home in the toybox instead of being stored away in the Christmas box. I'm sure that knitters will also enjoy his company, re-creating lots of Williams all year round.

Real life snowmen are fun for a while, but they always melt away. William is a friend forever and a snowman for all seasons. I can never resist giving my dolls rosy cheeks - including snowmen!

William measures 24cm [9½in] high, not including the bobble on his cap and only small amounts of yarn and stuffing are required.

Click here to download the Toybox Snowman free pattern.
Please remember to adjust the settings on your printer to obtain the best quality it can provide. You will need to have Adobe Reader (version 5 or later) installed on your PC in order to download this pattern. If you do not have Adobe Reader as specified, you can download a free copy from
here

This quintet of cute characters couldn't be quicker or easier to make from scraps of yarn and stuffing. They are knitted in garter stitch (no increases or decreases) and with one nifty stitch they stand up by themselves, like magic!

Moreover, children can join in the knitting. The smallest size only has 12 stitches and 19 rows and they are all worked on 4mm [No 8, USA 6] knitting needles - perfect for beginner knitters, grown-ups included. Even the arms are easy-peasy, just one cast on/cast off piece, which is threaded through the body.

There are instructions for five sizes ranging from 4.5cm [1¾in] to 7.5cm [3in] in height. You can knit them all year round, providing lots of amusing treats for the 31st of October.

Click here to download the Halloween Ghosties free pattern.
Please remember to adjust the settings on your printer to obtain the best quality it can provide. You will need to have Adobe Reader (version 5 or later) installed on your PC in order to download this pattern. If you do not have Adobe Reader as specified, you can download a free copy from here

Jean Greenhowe's Novelty Eggs

These amusing eggs-in-egg-cups have a dual purpose. The basic pattern is a pocket, designed to hold a small chocolate Easter egg. Guaranteed to please youngsters and oldies alike, the pocket turns an inexpensive sweet treat into something special.

The pattern includes instructions for a knitted egg. This also fits snugly inside the pocket, which transforms these whimsical characters into all-year-round mascots or miniature keepsakes.

In addition, there are patterns for cute hats and headwear, eight different versions, so you will be spoilt for choice. Only requiring scraps of yarn these designs can be knitted up in no time at all, perfect for quick gifts and charity fund-raising.

The basic design measures 6cm (2⅜in) in height, without the hats etc.

Click here to download the Novelty Eggs free pattern.
Please remember to adjust the settings on your printer to obtain the best quality it can provide. You will need to have Adobe Reader (version 5 or later) installed on your PC in order to download this pattern. If you do not have Adobe Reader as specified, you can download a free copy from
here

Jean Greenhowe's Mini Christmas Stockings

These charming Christmas stockings are quick and easy to make and they can be used in a variety of ways. Here are some suggestions.

Stuff them softly for tree decorations or add some small candies to please the children.

Enclose two or three luxury chocolates for your party guests, then attach a small name card and they turn into novelty place markers.

Filled with small fabric bags of lavender, they make sweet scented sachets – delightful as gifts or for charity fund-raising.

Instead of the usual gift box, use a stocking as the ‘gift wrapping’ for a small present, such as jewellery.

Or simply hang some on a cord for Christmas bunting.

Each stocking only requires 5 grams [less than ¼ ounce] of yarn and measures 8.5cm [about 3¼in] in length.

Click here to download the Christmas Stockings free pattern.
Please remember to adjust the settings on your printer to obtain the best quality it can provide. You will need to have Adobe Reader (version 5 or later) installed on your PC in order to download this pattern. If you do not have Adobe Reader as specified, you can download a free copy from here

I hope you had fun with the Jiffyknit Appetisers and here is Part Two of the Party Treats, scrumptious Biscuits and Cakes to amuse your tea-time guests, while serving up the edible bakes.

This is how Jiffyknits began. In the late 1980s I developed a proposal for a hardback book of easy items for children to knit. This was set aside for a few years and when I returned to the project I completely changed tack. Because everyone learns to knit making garter stitch strips I decided to challenge myself - how many ideas could I come up with for making amazing and amusing things from garter stitch pieces? No increasing or decreasing allowed - just straight strips.

It turned into a marathon and Jiffyknits is the result which we published in 2000. I enjoyed creating these simple knits so much that I'm still producing new designs. And it seems unlikely that I'll ever get to the end of so many intriguing possibilities.

Click here to download the Tea Party Treats Part Two free pattern.
Please remember to adjust the settings on your printer to obtain the best quality it can provide. You will need to have Adobe Reader (version 5 or later) installed on your PC in order to download this pattern. If you do not have Adobe Reader as specified, you can download a free copy from here

After Jiffyknits was published in 2000 I had many more ideas for garter stitch strips and now have a file packed with new projects. Here are some of these unpublished goodies for you to download as free patterns.

Part One of the Party Treats features the Appetisers, yummy savoury finger food.

Many hostesses have entertained their guests by first serving up the Jiffyknits sandwiches, cakes and biscuits for afternoon tea. This caused much amusement because obviously knitted food is simply hilarious!

If you haven’t already discovered these delights visit the Jiffyknits pages on our website to find a cornucopia of garter stitch creations.

For those of you who are already Jiffyknitting, these new party treats can be added to your recipe book.

Click here to download the Tea Party Treats Part One free pattern.
Please remember to adjust the settings on your printer to obtain the best quality it can provide. You will need to have Adobe Reader (version 5 or later) installed on your PC in order to download this pattern. If you do not have Adobe Reader as specified, you can download a free copy from here

From our postbag we know that innumerable kind-hearted people knit my dolls and toys to raise much needed funds for charity and other worthwhile causes.

With this charity aspect in mind I have designed The Rainbow Babies as the first new and exclusive free pattern on our website. Ideal as fund-raisers, these sweet Babies are quick to knit and each one only requires 25 grams [less than 1 ounce] of yarn and the same amount of stuffing. The doll measures just 17cm [6¾ in] high without the cap. The feet, legs, body and head are knitted in one piece and the ‘babygrow’ garment is part of the doll. The only separately knitted pieces are the arms, cap and scarf.

You can make pink or brown Babies, but be sure to choose lovely bright colours for the rest of the design, in keeping with the rainbow theme. For extra play value I have also included a cosy rainbow pocket. Popped inside the pocket, every doll becomes part of the RAINBOW! The pocket measures 8cm by 9cm [3in by 3½in].

With your help I hope the Babies will create a beautiful RAINBOW all around the world.

Click here to download the Rainbow Babies free pattern. Please remember to adjust the settings on your printer to obtain the best quality it can provide. You will need to have Adobe Reader (version 5 or later) installed on your PC in order to download this pattern. If you do not have Adobe Reader as specified, you can download a free copy from here