Here you will find information about some of the Herdy designs by Janice Anderson. If you have a question regarding a technique described here, or a technique from one of our patterns which we have not described, please do not hesitate to contact us by email (theauldwoollyalliance [at] gmail [dot] com). We will do our best to help you.
Quick access to:- Dimple Stitch: it produces an exaggerated texture which, when knitted in a chunky yarn, looks a bit like puffy sheep fleece; which is why Janice chose to use it to design Herdy Rucksack. To help any struggling Herdy knitters we have included a tutorial on working the ‘gathering stitch’ used in the pattern.
- Herdy Cushion: photographic guides for assembly and facial features.
- Herdy Rucksack: photographic guides for assembly, construction and facial features.
- Herdy Hot Water Bottle Cover: photographic guides for assembly, construction and facial features.
Herdy Cushion
Details of where to buy the Herdy Cushion Knitting Kit can be found on Janice’s design page on the blog. Here are a few photographs to help with assembly and embroidery of facial features.
Picture shows inside seams of envelope closure.
Stitching guide for nose and mouth.
Stitching guide for eyes.
Herdy Rucksack
Details of where to buy the Herdy Rucksack Knitting Kit can be found on Janice’s design page on the blog. Here are a few photographs to help with assembly and embroidery of facial features.
Close up of Herdy head attached to flap closure.
Stitching guide for nose and mouth.
Stitching guide for eyes.
Detail of closure. Shows the gathered opening with twisted cord tie, and the flap in a raised position.
Close up view of strap attachment.
Close up of foot position and attachment.
Back view showing position of straps.
Picture shows twisted cord threading through back of rucksack and positioning of straps.
Herdy Hot Water Bottle Cover
Details of where to download the pattern for the Herdy Hot Water Bottle Cover can be found on Janice’s design page on the blog. Here are a few photographs to help with assembly and embroidery of facial features.
Herdy Hot Water Bottle Cover-Front View
Hot Water Bottle Cover-Back View
Herdy Hot Water Bottle Cover-shows close up of texture stitch
Herdy Hot Water Bottle Cover-Back View, showing opening,
Herdy’s Face-showing stitching of features
Hi,
I’m currently making the hot water bottle and am a bit stuck making it up. I’m concerned the bottle won’t go in once I’ve sewn it all up – does it go through the neck?
Yours looks great by the way, I felt liking giving up as it’s been a bit of a slog but this has inspired me!
Hello Emily,
I am sorry that you have found the pattern a bit tricky, it is very hard trying to explain things fully when you have limited print space. If you look at photographs 2 and 4 you will see the opening. The idea is: the base of the bottle pushes through this large opening and the top (where you fill it) pushes up through the cuff. The cuff is left open so that you can fill the bottle once it is inside the cover. I used a standard sized bottle and had no problems. Sometimes the bottle is not completely flat at the base and may have a solid rubber piece that protrudes beyond the fillable area. If that is the case you may need to trim this with sharp scissors to make it fit nicely inside the cover. Hope this helps, Janice
That’s really helpful, thanks Janice. I’ve finished it now, it’s not as good as yours mind! 🙂
I am sure it will be just grand. Will you be posting the finished cover on your Ravelry project page?
Hello, I’m so confused with making up the pattern, specifically the legs. I’m worries I didn’t knit them correctly, as they look like mini hats when I see them up and not twisted candy.
Please help!
Thank you!
Hello,
I am happy to help and will contact you via your email address. 🙂
Hi there
Just attempting the herdy rucksack and am struggling a bit … May I ask a quick question – instructions for “Rucksack Body” at row 5 & 7 states “knit”. I have knitted row 5, purled row 6 then knitted row 7. Moving on to row 8 I am attempting to gather however as my three previous rows are simply knit and purl stitches (and therefore do not have any slip stitches) I do not have the 3 strands available from below. Should I have read that rows 5,6 and 7 should be as rows 2 and 3 (I.e. With slip stitches)?
Hope this makes sense…
Many thanks
Emma
Hello Emma, Just had a quick look at the pattern and your email to refresh my memory! The pattern instructions are correct as you are lifting up the strands that you made on rows 2, 3 and 4. If you have a look at the tutorial https://theauldwoollyalliance.wordpress.com/tutorials/#DimpleStitch you will find a instructions and pictures on how to work the stitch. Let me know how you get on and don’t hesitate to get on touch if you have any problems. Regards, Janice
We are knitting Herdy rucksack. We are on first body. We have knitted the pattern rows 5 times as instructed & have now come to leg shaping but cannot understand the instructions on Side 1 then Side 2 – rejoin yarn. We are really stuck on what we are supposed to be doing. Can you help please ? Thanks.
Hello Denise,
I have had a look at the pattern (It has been some time since I knit it myself!) and will reply today to your query via your email address.
Janice
Hello there,
I was so pleased to see Denise’s question as I find myself in the situation: possibly more so as I cannot fathom what you mean by “Side 1” and “Side2”. However the post/reply doesn’t reveal an explanation. Can you help please?
That apart, I am enjoying the project. The “dimple” stitch was something new learned. Thank you
Hello Anthony,
Apologies for the delay in replying to your query, I had not checked my email for a couple of days and just found your message this evening.
I will do my best to explain… The rucksack is knit from the top down, i.e. from the opening down to the feet. Where the pattern begins ‘Leg Shaping’, the first 4 rows of Side 1 shape the outer edges of both legs. On row 5 (where you are instructed to cast off 13 sts in the middle of the row) the division is made to separate the right and left legs (Or, to separate Side 1 and Side 2) Rows 6-10 complete Side 1 (Or, leg 1). For Side 2, return to the sts that still remain on needle and complete instructions for Side 2 (Or, leg 2).
The Herdy rucksack is a few years ago now and I hope my pattern writing skills have improved since then. Meanwhile, if you have any other queries, don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Kind regards,
Janice
Dear Janice
I don’t know if my first message got through, so please forgive me if I am repeating myself.
I am knitting the Herdy rucsac and am having difficulty understanding the Side 1 Side 2 part. Exactically the same difficulty as your previous correspondent, Denice Moore, (no relation), was experiencing, it would seem. Can you assist on this please?
On a positive note I am really enjoying the project so far and have learned at least one new technique along the way.
Thank you
Anthony
Hi Anthony, Sorry for the delay, please see reply above.
Thank you. I think it is my still developing “pattern fathoming” skills, (or lack of them), that is the problem rather than your pattern writing, but thank you anyway.
Your are welcome.
Hi Janice, I am desperate to find the free Herdy Hot Water Bottle Cover pattern! It has been removed from the Herdy web site. Can you assist?
Elizabeth (in San Francisco)
I think I may have overlooked this, please accept my apologies. The Hot Water Bottle, Rucksack, Sweater/Beanie and Cushion patterns are now all available for download of the Herdy website, price £1.
The hot water bottle pattern is available for free!
i have finished the herdy rucksack and find that the straps are extremely long, especially for a child. I am wondering about how the straps are used by a child. I also have a question about attaching the straps. Seems like when they are attached and things are in the rucksack, they pull and put a lot of strain on the rucksack at the point of attachment. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance
Hello Melissa,
Many apologies for my delayed reply. I am afraid the blog has been quite neglected recently which I hope you will understand by reading the last post.
When commissioned by Herdy to do the Rucksack design, the request was for an adult size, therefore the straps are long. Felting them as explained in the instructions will reduce the size and the stretch but for a child, you may need to knit shorter straps by reducing the number of stitches cast on.
If you are having problems with pulling at the strap attachment point I would suggest lining the bag with fabric (As suggested in Making Up section of the pattern). Then when attaching the straps (Which could also be lined.) sewing through to the fabric lining layer would reduce the strain on the knitting. The tutorial photographs here give a better idea of the positioning. Hope this helps,
Janice
Help! Trying to find the free download knitting pattern for Herdy hot water bottle cover.
Several listings say pattern is available now as a free download but when I click on the links either get a page error message or asking me to buy the pattern.
Can you email me the pattern please.
Hello Karen, The Hot Water Bottle is no longer free. It can be downloaded at the Herdy website https://www.herdy.co.uk/hot-water-bottle-knit-pattern-download.html, for £1. Hope that helps. Janice x