Between the eternity that it took the chicken yarn to get here and the Easter Bunny Making Frenzy*, I finished the rooster just last night.
He was worth the wait.
Now it’s time to type up the chicken pattern! This is the first time I have ever made a for-pay pattern, so I think it would be a good idea if some willing individuals give it a try before I demand money for it. Is anybody up for some test knitting?
I am especially happy with his tail feathers.
I will not lie to you, this pattern is fiddly. Knitting in the round, grafting and i-cord making are required. This is not a beginning knitter’s toy pattern. Test knitters need about 120 yards of some kind of worsted (that is being generous, I’ll be more exact on the next chicken), and then a small amount of two other colors. One is for the feet and beak and the other for the comb and wattle (and i-cord for the rooster tail). And some stuffing (I do not recommend breadcrumbs for this particular chicken). The only thing I can offer guinea pigs in return is a pretty, lazar printed, finished pattern in a nice plastic sleeve. I think I only need two or three people, so please let me know if you are interested.
In non-toy knitting (I swear it still happens), the V-neck has made zero progress although the last cold snap happened last night. I also need to get serious about my youngest cousin’s graduation socks. I’ve picked chocolate Lorna’s Laces and wound it. Now I just need to pick a pattern. I’ve got a little more than a month. I hope this doesn’t interfere with my Kitten Knitting and the half finished bear in my basket.
*Toy sales this month have netted $25 for BARC** and a pair of sandals for Ellie. My start-up expenses have been recouped (reCOOPed hahaha) so I think this counts as a venture worthy of reinvestment.
**I send $5 from each sale to our local Humane Society.
**UPDATE**
I’ve got my Test Knitters! Thank you so much!
I LOVE his tailfeathers! The rest of him is cute, too…but those tailfeathers are sweet! I hope you will be home on Saturday. A small contribution to your etsy shop efforts is on its way (us business women need to stick together!)…along with some birthday salutations and some things I couldn’t resist buying for Miss Ellie.
How freaking cute! Love, Love, Love it!
Oh, I would *love* to test knit this for you! I’m already used to fiddly patterns (I’ve been doing toy test knitting for another designer as well) so that doesn’t worry me at all.
I would be very happy to be a test knitter!!! I’ve also knit a lot of toys (mostly by Alan Dart) and you already know I adore chickens!!! Just let me know!
Do you need another test knitter? And what’s your time frame?
I love your rooster!! So precious!
Oh my, that is adorable! I love the tail fathers too. I wish I wasn’t too late to test knit it!
I just can’t wait to see what you “hatch” next!
I wish I had the skill to be a test knitter for you! It really is adorable!!
Since I am a “Lady of Leisure” for the time being, I have more than enough time on my hands and would gladly test knit for you if need be.
Sweet! I have knitted for years – but not a toy. If you would like someone to test your pattern without previous “toy” knowledge but likes fiddly stuff, loves knitting in the round, doesn’t mind grafting or i-cord… I’m available!
OMG, that is too cute!!!
That is just adorable! I’d love to be able to test knit for you too but I’m nursing a thumb injury at the moment…. I’ll be in line to buy the pattern though!
Such a jaunty cockscomb, and what thighs he has! LOVE! WANT! I know I want to knit this for myself!
He looks fantastic – so cute! Honestly, if we weren’t on a money-saving drive at the moment I’d be sooo tempted!
I LOVE Mr. Rooster! And Congratulations on reCooPing your start-up costs.
I can’t wait to see what else you might make!
Another beautiful creation. I love it!
Fantastic first month! Glad you got your test knitters so quickly.
I love the rooster. As my students say, you are the BOMB!! He may be my favorite. I love the bunny a lot, too.
Oh man, I am so bummed I missed the test knitter website. I will definitely be buying this pattern once you have it available. My mom is a rooster-collecting *freak* – and I have never knitted her anything because she is just too picky. I’ve never thought she would like anything I might make. But a rooster, I think she could get onboard with. It is so awesome.
You really outdid yourself, Emily, he is adorable!
I think it’s so neat that you are contributing part of your pattern proceeds to a worthy cause.
So cute! It reminds me of the rooster in Chicken Run – one of my favorite movies!
Oh the chicken is so cute! I think he’s my new favorite.
Wow I just love this rooster so much!!
I would love to test knit it too! Am I too late?
oh my – the rooster is fabulous! I think he’s my favorite thus far, and sooo worth all the fiddling he took.
You should name some of the chickens after your testers ;-D
I have knitting some dolls from jean greenhowe. I would love to knit your roster so much.please send me your knitting pattern.
in my country ,I don’t found many toy knitting pattern.please send to me if you have patterns.