A bit about me

"Welcome to my website!

As always, a huge thank you to all you toymakers who get in touch with such encouraging and flattering comments about my work.

Here's what I've done so far!"

Books (as co-author)

  • KID'S CLOTHES. Co-author with Lynn Cardy (1982).
  • MATERNITY CLOTHES. Co-author with Lynn Cardy (1983).
  • THE WITCH'S HANDBOOK by Malcolm Bird. Advisor on gardening, cookery and knitting chapters. (1984-2006, twenty-nine editions throughout the world).

Books (as author)

  • THE CHRISTMAS HANDBOOK illustrated by Malcolm Bird (1986-1989, twelve editions throughout the world).
  • THE PARTY HANDBOOK illustrated by Malcolm Bird (1990 UK Pavilion).
  • THE MAGIC HANDBOOK illustrated by Malcolm Bird (1992 UK Pavilion, USA Chronicle).
  • MAKING SOFT TOYS (UK Simon and Schuster, USA Chronicle Books).

Television

  • 1984 TV AM. RUB A DUB TUB. Children's programme produced by Anne Wood of Ragdoll Productions. Designed and demonstrated craft items on 36 programmes.
  • 1985/6/7/9 CHANNEL FOUR. POB'S PROGRAMME. Children's programme produced by Anne Wood of Ragdoll Productions. Designed and demonstrated craft items on 52 programmes. There are two videos (POB AND FRIENDS and POB'S PLAYTIME) which include some of these. To accompany this series, three magazines (POB'S PLAYTIME, POB'S PAPER and POB'S NEWS) gave instructions for the craft makes in comic strip form illustrated by Malcolm Bird.

Magazines and newspapers

  • Contributed craft features (involving knitting, rugmaking, embroidery, toymaking, papercraft, fabric painting, soft sculpture, patchwork, applique, etc.) to many magazines including: BUSY NEEDLES; START TO FINISH; SHOW ME HOW; GET KNITTING (all published by Marshall Cavendish); CREATIVE HANDS; COUNTRY LOOK (published by Eaglemoss Publications); ESSENTIALS; FAMILY CIRCLE; HONEY; LIVING; LOOK NOW; MOTHER; WOMAN; WOMAN'S REALM; (all published by IPC). JACKIE; BLUE JEANS; PATCHES; (all published by D.C. Thomson). PRIMA (published by G and J.). In each case he designed and made the item, and supplied patterns and full instructions for use in the magazine. He is currently the resident toy designer for WOMAN'S WEEKLY, with knitted toy features appearing monthly in SIMPLY KNITTING.

Licensed toys

Has designed knitting patterns of the following licensed character toy collections:

  • FLINTSTONES
  • PADDINGTON BEAR
  • BEATRIX POTTER
  • RUPERT BEAR
  • POWER RANGERS
  • MAGIC ROUNDABOUT
  • TOP CAT
  • YOGI BEAR
  • TOM AND JERRY
  • SCOOBY DOO
  • PINGU
  • DENNIS THE MENACE
  • WIND IN THE WILLOWS
  • WALLACE AND GROMIT
  • THOMAS THE TANK ENGINE
  • MR MEN AND LITTLE MISSES
  • TOTS TV
  • SOOTY
  • BARNEY
  • NODDY
  • WOMBLES
  • POSTMAN PAT
  • MUFFIN THE MULE
  • SHAUN THE SHEEP