My book, Poppy’s House, is a love letter to precious time spent with the people we care about.
For me, this equals slow and peaceful summers in Newfoundland visiting my grandparents. We would bake bread, read, knit and walk by the sea. And, every time I had to leave I would cry for hours. Literally. One time I famously (in my family) spent an entire 700km car journey singing “Somewhere Out There” from An American Tale sobbing into the fogged up window.
My son has Worry Eater Doll – an adorable, monster-like toy with a pocket where he can place his worries for the monster to gobble up! I love this concept, but I also like the idea of a place to store and cuddle with happy memories like the ones I have of Newfoundland.
So here is a pattern for just that – a small house, based of the one featured in Poppy’s House (illustrated by Madeline Kloepper) – with a tiny pocket in the door in the front where you can either store a piece of paper with your favourite memory written on it, or symbolically place a memory in there as you talk or think.
I’ve made my house with a circular window on the top which requires knitting in the round with double pointed needles (or using the magic loop technique if you are familiar with this method). If you don’t want to bother with this step, feel free to cut some felt and sew on!
It's a great project for scrap yarn and while I recommend colours below to match the house in the book, you can of course choose any colours that you have or like!
I hope you enjoy this and fill your house with lots of lovely memories.
I would love to see yours! If you use this pattern do tag me on Instagram: @karlacourtney
Skills and abbreviations
Stitch (st/sts)
Knitting in the round (rnd/rnds) (optional, to create the circular window. If you want to skip this step you can use black and white felt cutouts for a similar look)
Materials required
NOTE: You can use any wool weight you like – however, DK, Worsted or Aran weights are recommended. Use needles that correspond to your wool label (likely 4mm-5.5mm).
30g yellow wool
25g grey wool
Small skeins of light brown, dark brown, black and white wools
Small skein colour of choice for the door (I used a pale brown with an olive green tinge)
Stuffing
Set of needles to correspond with your wool
3x double pointed needles (to shape the circular window)
Wool needle
Scissors
Front and back panels
Make 2
Cast on 24 sts of yellow wool
1st row: P2 yellow, P1 light brown, P2 yellow, P1 light brown, P1 yellow, P1 light brown, P8 yellow, P1 light brown, P1 yellow, P1 light brown, P2 yellow, P1 light brown, P2 yellow
2nd to 21st rows: Continue in stocking stitch (K1 row, P1 row) following the colour pattern of the 1st row and finishing after completing a P row.
You are finished with your yellow and brown wools and can introduce grey.
22nd row: S1 K1 Psso, K to the last 2 sts, K2tog
23rd row: P 1 row
Repeat rows 22-23 until there are only 4 sts left.
41st row: P1 row
42nd row: S1 K1 Psso, K2tog
Cut your working wool leaving around 16 cm. With a wool needle, pull this loose end through the remaining 2 sts.
Side panels
Make 2
Cast on 12 sts of yellow wool
1st row: P2 yellow, P1 light brown, P1 yellow, P1 light brown, P2 yellow, P1 light brown, P1 yellow, P1 light brown, P2 yellow
2nd to 21st rows: Continue in stocking stitch (K1 row, P1 row) following the colour pattern of the 1st row and finishing after completing a P row
Cast off
Roof panels
Make 2
Cast on 12 sts of grey wool
Starting with a P row, work 21 rows stocking stitch
Cast off
Base
Make 1
Cast on 24 sts of yellow wool
Starting with a P row, work 12 rows stocking stitch
Cast off
Door
Cast on 8 sts of your contrast wool you chose for the door
Work 16 rows stocking stitch (P1 row, K1 row)
Cast off
Circular window
Cast 8 sts of black wool onto a double-pointed needle
Redistribute these st across two double-pointed needles, 4-4, as pictured below:
With a third needle, start knitting in the round
1st rnd Inc1 in every st. You have added 8 sts and now have 16 sts
2nd rnd: K1 rnd
3rd rnd: Inc 1 in every other st. You have added 9 sts and now have 24
Cast off using white wool to create the frame effect
Make-up
Sew the circular window and door onto the front panel, as pictured below.
Note: do not sew the top of the door closed, as this will be your memory pocket!
Place your panels and base as pictured below. You have all of the panels, apart from the back panel. Sew the edges together, as pictured:
Stuff the house before sewing on the back panel:
Hide any loose wool ends inside the house – simply thread them with a yarn needle, poke them inside the house and out the opposite side, pull tightly, cut, and then let the yarn end snap back inside.
Enjoy!
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