Pattern for Knitted Cup Cakes ( or Buns if your from Yorkshire !!)

Well a couple of weeks ago I blogged about these buns I had knitted for a birthday present , I've had a couple of request for the pattern I used , so I've decided to devote todays blog to the pattern .  The pattern was featured in ' Let's Knit ' issue 5 April 2008 and it's designer was Lynne Rowe. So due to the age of the pattern it may be hard to come by , so let me help you out !! I have made a few personal tweeks to the origonal  design and colour  and with a bit of creative flare so can you . The basic pattern is very easy to follow , so lets get you started .

 

So to get yourself started you will need :

Yarn ( per cake ) 25g of D.K.yarn in main colour (A) for case , 

10g of D.K. yarn for first contrast colour (B) for the cake ,

15g of D.K. yarn for the icing . (Add the last two quantities togeher if your doing the cake and icing area all in one colour )

Then small amounts of waste or stash yarn for decorating the buns .( if your like me you may have a bag of oddments that you can keep to hand ).

Needles: 3.75mm.

Small amount of toy stuffing .

Tapestry needle .

This image from the pattern shows you two different textured icings , I do tend to stick to the smooth ( stocking Stitch ) icing but I will cover both patterns .

Pattern 

Knit one piece per cake using these insructions;

With 3.75mm needles and yarn A , cast on 6 stitches 

Row 1 to 2 ; Knit 

Row 3: increase knitwise into every stitch (12sts)

Row 4 and every alternate row : K

Row 5:( increase knitwise , K1) repeat to end (18sts)

Row 7 : (increase knitwise , K1 )repeat to end (27sts)

Row 9 : (increase knitwise , K2) repeat to end (36sts)

Rows 11 to 19 (K1 , p1) repeat to end

Row 20 : Knit

Change to colour B to work on cake .

Starting with a knit row , work four rows in stocking stitch.

Change to colour C to work on the icing . There are two options which are Garter stitch icing ( textured) or Stocking stitch ( smooth ).

Garter stitch icing ( textured ) pattern.

Rows 25 to 26 : knit

Row 27: ( K4, K2tog) six times (30sts)

Row 28 and every alternate row : knit 

Row 29: (K3, K2tog) six times (24sts)

Row 31: (K2, K2tog) six times (18sts)

Row 33: (K1, K2tog) six times (12sts)

Row 35: (K2tog) six times (6 sts)

Cut the yarn, leaving a long tail . Thread through remaining six stitches . Pull tightly and Fasten off .

Stocking stitch icing ( smooth )

Row 25: Knit 

Row 26 and evry alternate row : purl

Row: 27 (k4 , k2tog ) six times (30sts)

Row: 29 (k3 , k2tog ) six times (24sts)

Row: 31 (k2 , K2tog) six times (18sts)

Row: 33 (k1 , K2tog) six times (12sts)

Row: 35 (k2tog) six times ( 6sts)

Cut yarn, leaving  long tail . Thread through the reamaining six stitches . Pull tightly and fasten off . 

Making up 

Sew the cake together ; start from the middle of the top of the icing , and work down to the botton of the case. Before sewing along the underside of the case, fasten off all the other yarns securely on the inside and trim ends . Stuff and shape the cake . when the cake is nice and plump, sew along the bottom of the case and tie off ends securely with matchng yarn . Decorate as desired .

( Pattern designed by Lynne Rowe )

As you can see button's work well as embellishments  ( I do avoid this decoration when they are intended for an under 3year old , due to choking hazard ).

I also like to play about with colour combinations to give different effects , as well as using contrasting yarns to give the effect of sprinkles . When doing the sprinkles I always leave a small opening in the base of the cake.

 That way you can work the yarn fom the inside and knot off inside the cake when the desired effect is created . Then finish by stitching up the cake base .

I have also in the past used textured yarns to create  intresting icings , yarns such as ' SIRDARS SNUGGLY , SNOWFLAKE' which gives a nice fluffy icing ( I use garter stitch pattern when using textured yarn ) . Or an eyelash style yarn works well for textured icing too !!

This pattern is fantastic if you have young family members who like to role play at shops , bakers or for that all essential dollies tea party . I have also used this for raising money at charity events , filling vintage cake stands up with lots of these cakes is always a winner !!

The best thing about these cakes is they are calorie free . So you can have as many as you want !

Thanks for popping by and ta ta for now . XX