Doodely-Doo
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!
April 8th, 2009 at 11:01 am
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.
April 8th, 2009 at 11:25 am
How freaking cute! Love, Love, Love it!
April 8th, 2009 at 11:27 am
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.
April 8th, 2009 at 12:17 pm
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!
April 8th, 2009 at 1:22 pm
Do you need another test knitter? And what’s your time frame?
April 8th, 2009 at 2:10 pm
I love your rooster!! So precious!
April 8th, 2009 at 2:38 pm
Oh my, that is adorable! I love the tail fathers too. I wish I wasn’t too late to test knit it!
April 8th, 2009 at 3:08 pm
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!!
April 8th, 2009 at 4:24 pm
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.
April 8th, 2009 at 4:59 pm
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!
April 8th, 2009 at 7:58 pm
OMG, that is too cute!!!
April 8th, 2009 at 9:08 pm
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!
April 9th, 2009 at 12:50 am
Such a jaunty cockscomb, and what thighs he has! LOVE! WANT! I know I want to knit this for myself!
April 9th, 2009 at 5:42 am
He looks fantastic – so cute! Honestly, if we weren’t on a money-saving drive at the moment I’d be sooo tempted!
April 9th, 2009 at 8:36 am
I LOVE Mr. Rooster! And Congratulations on reCooPing your start-up costs.
I can’t wait to see what else you might make!
April 9th, 2009 at 9:14 am
Another beautiful creation. I love it!
April 9th, 2009 at 12:32 pm
Fantastic first month! Glad you got your test knitters so quickly.
April 9th, 2009 at 1:02 pm
I love the rooster. As my students say, you are the BOMB!! He may be my favorite. I love the bunny a lot, too.
April 9th, 2009 at 8:58 pm
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.
April 9th, 2009 at 11:48 pm
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.
April 10th, 2009 at 10:17 am
So cute! It reminds me of the rooster in Chicken Run – one of my favorite movies!
April 11th, 2009 at 11:43 pm
Oh the chicken is so cute! I think he’s my new favorite.
April 12th, 2009 at 9:40 pm
Wow I just love this rooster so much!!
April 13th, 2009 at 2:59 pm
I would love to test knit it too! Am I too late?
April 22nd, 2009 at 11:16 am
oh my – the rooster is fabulous! I think he’s my favorite thus far, and sooo worth all the fiddling he took.
April 24th, 2009 at 9:06 pm
You should name some of the chickens after your testers ;-D
April 28th, 2009 at 6:52 am
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.