61
Join the mustard yarn and
work in stocking stitch for
six rows, starting with a purl row.62
Change to light blue yarn and
work in stocking stitch for six
rows, then work two rows in mustard.63
Begin decreasing for the top
of the hat as follows, continuing
in six-row colour stripes as set: (Knit
fi ve, knit two together) seven times,
knit one – 43 stitches.64
Work three rows, then on
the next row, (knit four, knit
two together) seven times, knit one- 36 stitches.
65
Work three rows of stocking
stitch, then on the next row,
(knit three, knit two together) seven
times, knit one – 29 stitches.66
Work three rows of stocking
stitch, then in the next row,
(knit two, knit two together) seven
times, knit one – 22 stitches.67
Work three rows of stocking
stitch, then in the next row,
(knit one, knit two together) seven
times – 15 stitches.68
Work three rows, then in the
next row, (knit two together)
seven times – eight stitches.69
Cut the yarn leaving a long tail.
Thread the tail onto a large
bodkin and thread it through the
remaining stitches on the knitting
needle. Remove the knitting needle,
pull up the stitches tightly and fasten
it off, but don’t cut the end yet. Stitch
the row end edges of the hat together
and weave in the ends.70
For the knitted bobble, cast
on 10 stitches in mid grey.
Purl the fi rst row.71
Knit the second row,
increasing in every stitch
(20 stitches) and then work six rows
of stocking stitch, starting with a
purl row.72
Purl two together to the end
of the following row. Cut the
yarn, leaving a long tail. Thread the
yarn through the remaining stitches
with the bodkin, remove the knitting
needle and pull up the stitches
tightly. Fasten the thread and sew
the bobble seam closed neatly.73
Gather around the cast-on
opening, stuff the bobble
lightly with fi bre fi ll and pull up the
gathers to close. Stitch the bobble
to the pointy end of the hat.74
Put the hat on the piglet’s
head. Simone says that you
can fold back the cuff of the hat at
the reverse stocking stitch row if you
wish, but she preferred to leave hers
fl at. Pin the ears to each side of the
head on top of the hat near the edge
of the cuff, with the caramel sides
at the back. Curve the bottom edges
slightly towards the front and stitch
them in place securely through the
hat and head.75
Fold the bobble end of the hat
towards the back and hold it
in place with a few stitches.
Body76
Match the body shapes, right
sides together, and sew around
them, leaving the opening and
bottom dart unstitched.77
Fold the bottom of the body,
right sides together, so the
edges of the dart match and machine
stitch them together. Turn the body
right side out through the opening
and ease out all the seams gently.
Stuff the body fi rmly with fi bre fi ll
and close the opening neatly.78
Make a little indent in the head
fi lling at the opening and pushSIMONE GOODING
How often do you design a new doll or softie,
do you think? I seem to be always working,
planning new things. My creative mind just
churns over all the time. I make lots of notes
and sometimes preliminary sketches so I can
remember ideas for later. I don’t seem to be
able to sew as fast as the ideas come.
Do you have the new design completely
formulated in your head before committing
it to paper and fabric? The initial idea alwaysseems to change as the process goes along –
new ideas come or something doesn’t happen
as anticipated, and I like that challenge.
Sometimes, the toy just seems to come to life
right in front of me. I’m very fussy about
ticking quite a few boxes for a toy.
Do you avidly follow other designers online
and in magazines? There are a couple of
creative folk I follow and really admire. They
are creative in many diff ering ways. There are
a few knitters, vintage enthusiasts, illustrators
and foragers, too. I’m inspired by all of them
in diff erent ways.
What is your least favourite part of
designing and making a project? I really find
it hard to make multiples of the same design.
It makes me feel a bit like a factory, churning
out the same toy over and over again. I have
made a few of my toys as ready mades, in
small batches, but I try to keep this to
exclusive limited releases.
Have you been stitching since you were a
child? Yes, I have always been very creative- stitching, sewing, knitting, drawing, making.
Do you remember your very first craft
‘triumph’? If so, what was it and did you keep
it? When I was about 11 or 12, I knitted a
purple jumper for my Belle Snoopy doll.
I worked so hard to knit all the components.
I just loved it and still have it to this day.
(It’s so funny that I made it in purple, because
I REALLY don’t like purple!)
Do you do your creative crafting in solitude
or do you prefer to be surrounded by others?
I am a bit of a quiet type; I really like to be in
quiet when I work. This can be a challenge
with four children in a small house, but I seem
to be able to find the balance.
What products can’t you resist buying in
patchwork and haberdashery stores? I love
beautiful ribbon. I’m very fussy about what
I buy and, if I can get it, I prefer vintage
ribbon. I also love the basics when it comes
to fabric – a gorgeous pinstripe in pastel
tones is usually pretty hard to pass up.
Have you got an unfulfilled stitching dream?
I am really keen to move into book design. I
have so many great ideas for felt animal books.
I love to draw my toys, so the book would also
have illustrations of each critter to help bring
them to life. I see each animal incorporating a
few different media – felt, yarn, linen. I love the
idea of all those beautiful textures and muted
heathered tones working together.Gett ing to know ...