Flora & Fairies: A Complete Guide to Susan B. Anderson’s Pattern #36–38

There is something undeniably enchanting about a knitting pattern that manages to feel both timeless and fresh at the same time. Susan B. Anderson’s Flora & Fairies pattern collection, numbered #36 through #38 in her lineup, does exactly that. Whether you are a longtime admirer of her work or someone just discovering her designs for the first time, this collection offers a creative, joyful knitting experience that is well worth exploring in detail. From the whimsical fairy dolls to the delicate floral embellishments that bring each character to life, this pattern set has captured the hearts of knitters around the world — and for very good reason.

In this guide, we are going to take a deep dive into what makes the Flora & Fairies patterns so special, who they are designed for, what materials and skills you will need, how to approach the construction, and why this collection continues to be one of the most beloved in Susan B. Anderson’s extensive catalog. Whether you are making these for a child in your life, gifting them to a collector, or simply knitting for the pure delight of it, you will find plenty of useful guidance here.

Who Is Susan B. Anderson?

Before we get into the specifics of the Flora & Fairies pattern, it helps to understand a little about the designer behind it. Susan B. Anderson is a Wisconsin-based knitting author and designer who has built a devoted following over many years through her approachable style, detailed instructions, and an unmistakable warmth that comes through in every project she creates. She is the author of several beloved knitting books, including titles focused on toys, stuffed animals, and imaginative characters.

What sets Susan apart from many other knitwear designers is her commitment to clarity. Her patterns are known for being exceptionally well-written, with step-by-step guidance that helps knitters of varying skill levels feel confident throughout the process. She also has a deep love for color and texture, and that passion is evident in her Flora & Fairies collection.

Her patterns are available through her website as well as through Ravelry, and she has an active community of knitters who share their finished projects, ask questions, and inspire one another to try new colorways and variations.

What Is the Flora & Fairies Pattern Collection?

The Flora & Fairies collection, patterns #36 through #38, is a set of knitted fairy doll designs that each carry their own botanical personality. Each fairy is associated with a specific flower or plant motif, giving the collection a cohesive garden-inspired identity while keeping each individual doll distinct and charming.

Pattern #36 introduces the first fairy in the series, laying the foundation for the construction technique used across all three dolls. Pattern #37 and pattern #38 build on that foundation with their own unique color palettes, floral embellishments, and small design details that give each fairy her individual character. Together, the three patterns form a set that looks beautiful displayed together, making them a wonderful gift collection or a satisfying personal project for knitters who love themed series.

Each fairy is a soft, cuddly toy doll that is appropriate for children and decorative use alike. They are knitted primarily in the round using double-pointed needles or a short circular needle, and they are stuffed with fiberfill to give them a soft, huggable quality. The faces are embroidered, and the wings, when included, are typically worked separately and sewn on.

Materials You Will Need

One of the reasons Susan B. Anderson’s patterns tend to be so accessible is that she keeps the materials list practical without sacrificing quality or outcome. For the Flora & Fairies patterns, you will generally need the following:

Yarn: The patterns call for a smooth, worsted-weight yarn in multiple colors. Susan often recommends Cascade 220 or a similar 100% wool yarn, as the fiber takes embroidery and finishing work particularly well. You will need small amounts of several colors — a skin tone for the body, a main color for the outfit, and accent colors for the floral details. If you want to make all three fairies, buying a selection of coordinating colors in advance is a smart approach.

Needles: Double-pointed needles in the appropriate size (typically US size 3 or 4, or 3.25mm to 3.5mm) are the standard for these small-scale toys. Some knitters prefer using a 9-inch circular needle for the body sections, which can be more comfortable for magic loop knitting enthusiasts.

Stuffing: Polyester fiberfill is the go-to stuffing material, and you will want enough to give the dolls a firm but squeezable finish. Avoid overstuffing, which can cause the knitted fabric to stretch and show gaps, but do make sure the doll has enough structure to hold its shape over time.

Notions: You will need a yarn needle for seaming and embroidery, stitch markers, scissors, and small amounts of embroidery floss or a thin yarn for the facial features. Some knitters like to use safety eyes for a different look, though the embroidered eyes that Susan recommends give the fairies their signature soft, handcrafted appearance.

Skill Level and Who These Patterns Are For

Susan B. Anderson typically describes her fairy and doll patterns as intermediate level, which in practical terms means they are absolutely achievable for anyone who is comfortable with the basics of knitting in the round. You should be at ease with knitting, purling, increases, decreases, and the basics of small-scale construction before diving in.

That said, these patterns are not intimidating. The instructions are thorough, and Susan has a gift for explaining construction in a way that makes each step feel logical and manageable. If you have made a stuffed animal or a small toy before — even using a different designer’s pattern — you will find that the Flora & Fairies patterns feel familiar and intuitive.

For beginners who are set on making these fairies, consider working through one or two simpler toy patterns first to build your confidence with knitting in the round on double-pointed needles and with basic shaping techniques. Once you have those skills under your belt, you will be well-prepared to take on Flora & Fairies with great results.

These patterns are also ideal for knitters who love making handmade gifts. A set of three fairies makes a stunning gift for a child’s birthday or holiday, and they are also popular among adults who collect handcrafted toys or who simply appreciate the artistry involved in making something this detailed entirely from yarn.

Understanding the Construction

The construction method used in Susan B. Anderson’s fairy patterns is one of her trademarks. She builds her dolls from the top down in most cases, starting with the head and working through the body, legs, and arms in a way that minimizes the number of seams. This approach results in a neater finish and makes the knitting process feel like a continuous, satisfying journey rather than a patchwork of separate pieces.

The Head and Face: The fairy’s head is typically the starting point. It is worked in the round from the top, increased to the full circumference of the head, and then decreased down to the neck. Stuffing is added before closing, and the facial features — the embroidered eyes, the tiny nose, and the suggestion of a smile — are added at the finishing stage. The face is one of the most personal parts of the process, and knitters often find that this is where the doll truly comes to life.

The Body and Outfit: The body is worked in one continuous piece below the head, with the dress or outfit built into the construction. The color changes that define the floral and botanical theme are worked directly into the knitting, and any additional embroidery or embellishments are added afterward. Susan’s colorwork in these patterns tends to be simple but effective — stripes, color blocks, and simple motifs rather than complex stranded patterns, which keeps the knitting enjoyable rather than stressful.

The Arms and Legs: These are worked separately and then attached to the body. The arms are typically simple tubes with a mitten-shaped hand worked at the end, while the legs are similarly straightforward. The key is getting the placement right when you sew them on, as this has a significant impact on how the finished fairy looks and poses.

The Wings: If the pattern includes wings — and most of the Flora & Fairies designs do — they are typically worked flat and then sewn onto the back. Susan often uses a simple lace or eyelet stitch for the wings, which creates a delicate, translucent effect that really sells the fairy aesthetic.

The Floral Embellishments: This is where the Flora & Fairies series truly distinguishes itself. Each pattern includes instructions for small knitted or embroidered flowers that are attached to the fairy’s hair, outfit, or wings. These flowers are what give each fairy her botanical identity, and they are genuinely delightful to make. The construction is simple — small petals worked in the round or as individual pieces — but the effect is charming and impressive.

Tips for Success

Making the most of a Susan B. Anderson pattern is largely about preparation and patience. Here are some practical tips to help your Flora & Fairies project go as smoothly as possible.

Swatch first. Because these dolls are knitted at a fairly tight gauge to prevent the stuffing from showing through, gauge matters more here than it might in a garment project. A few minutes spent swatching can save you from disappointment later.

Use stitch markers liberally. With small-scale knitting in the round, it is easy to lose your place. Use stitch markers to mark the beginning of the round and any key shaping points so that you can track your progress without having to count every stitch.

Take your time with the face. The embroidered face is the most emotionally significant part of the doll. Practice the placement on a scrap of knitted fabric before committing to the doll itself. Small adjustments in the spacing of the eyes or the curve of the mouth can make a significant difference in the doll’s expression.

Photograph your progress. The Flora & Fairies community on Ravelry and Instagram is wonderfully active. Sharing your work-in-progress photos is a great way to stay motivated, get encouragement, and see how other knitters are interpreting the colorways.

Don’t rush the finishing. The seaming, the attachment of the arms and legs, and the addition of the floral embellishments all benefit from a slow, careful approach. These details are what elevate the finished doll from good to truly wonderful.

Colorway Inspiration

One of the great joys of working with the Flora & Fairies patterns is choosing your own color palette. Susan’s original colorways are beautiful and serve as an excellent guide, but the patterns lend themselves brilliantly to personal interpretation.

Think about the botanical theme of each fairy and let that inspire your color choices. Soft lavender and sage green for a lavender fairy, deep rose and cream for a rose fairy, golden yellow and forest green for a sunflower-inspired version. The possibilities are genuinely endless, and the relatively small amount of yarn required for each doll means that this is a wonderful opportunity to use up your stash or to experiment with colors you might not otherwise commit to.

If you are making the full set of three fairies as a gift, consider building a cohesive palette across all three dolls so that they look beautiful displayed together while still maintaining their individual identities.

Why This Pattern Collection Endures

The Flora & Fairies collection has been in Susan B. Anderson’s lineup for years, and it continues to be a favorite for a reason. It sits at a sweet intersection of accessibility and artistry, offering enough challenge to keep an experienced knitter engaged while remaining approachable enough not to discourage someone who is relatively new to toy knitting.

There is also something deeply satisfying about the finished objects. These are not just toys — they are handcrafted objects with real personality and charm. The floral details, the soft expressions, and the overall whimsy of the design make them objects that people genuinely cherish. They get displayed on shelves, tucked into children’s beds, gifted at baby showers, and kept for years as beloved keepsakes.

Susan B. Anderson’s ability to create patterns that produce this kind of result — objects that feel meaningful rather than merely functional — is a genuine talent, and the Flora & Fairies collection is one of the best expressions of it.

Where to Find the Pattern

The Flora & Fairies patterns #36 through #38 are available for purchase directly through Susan B. Anderson’s website at susanbanderson.com, as well as through her Ravelry store. Each pattern is sold individually, though purchasing the full set makes sense if you plan to knit all three fairies. The patterns are digital downloads, so you will have them immediately after purchase and can print them out or work from a screen as you prefer.

If you are new to Susan’s work, buying all three patterns and working through them in order is a wonderful introduction to her design style. By the time you finish the third fairy, you will understand why so many knitters return to her patterns again and again.

Final Thoughts

The Flora & Fairies pattern collection by Susan B. Anderson represents everything that is wonderful about handcraft knitting: clear, thoughtful instructions, beautiful design, meaningful finished objects, and the kind of creative joy that comes from making something entirely by hand. Patterns #36 through #38 are a cohesive, charming set that rewards the time and attention you put into them with finished dolls that are genuinely lovely.

Whether you are picking up your needles for a quiet evening project, preparing a handmade gift for someone special, or working your way through Susan’s full pattern library, Flora & Fairies belongs on your list. Cast on, take your time, and enjoy every stitch of the journey.