Tag Archives: my patterns

R is for Rabbit

Today there will be two posts. Each post will have a question. I’m asking this question first, because the other one tends to distract people.

Since you last heard from me, we took an impromptu trip to Atlanta. Michael had to go up for a Thing and Ellie had packed the stroller so I could push her to visit Gran and Pop. I figured it would be faster (and less strenuous) if we all just rode in the Jeep together. The extra knitting time to finally finish the first of the New Guys was a bonus.

he naps well

Long Tall Bunny takes a nap.

He’s 16″ tall in bulky yarn and stuffed to be floppy. Knit in the round with minimal seaming, the only tricky bit might be the grafting at the top of the arms and legs. His ears have short rows, but there is nothing to them if you trust me blindly and do exactly what the written directions say.

smooch

Think he’s cute? Wait until you see the cat.

Who’s up for a test knit? The pattern should be ready for you on Friday. I would LOVE to have all notes in by June 20 – Rabbit probably takes between 6-7 hours to knit. You’ll need about 170 yards of a bulky yarn (Prototype Rabbits are in Sprout) to make one like the picture. But if you want to try him out in worsted, that would be great! I’d like to know how big he turns out. Test knitters who complete the project and send me notes in a timely fashion will receive a copy of the finished pattern and (since this guy is more work than my usual) a modest thank you package for your time.

I’ll need five knitters. As always, Faithful Readers, y’all get the first grab.

**Test Knitter Slots are filled! If you didn’t get a chance to test the Rabbit, there are more critters in the Yarn Miracle pattern queue!**

Something New

Any toe-up sock knitters out there?

white yarn and dpns

I’m working on something new. (it’s not a sock)

I’ve got two related questions that I hope y’all can help me with:

Is there a toe-up cast on (besides provisional) that doesn’t require circular needles?

What do you think is the easiest (and easiest to explain) toe-up cast on?

I’ve got a way to do what I need to do, but I think that some kind of closed cast-on would be a much more elegant way to do it. The trick is that I don’t want to require people to have a second set of needles for these toys and I don’t want to force people to wrap their heads around a complex technique that takes a page to explain and might scare people away.

Toy knitting should be fun! Toy knitting should not make you cry and tear your hair.

Any ideas?

Valentine’s is for…Sweets

I have a sweet nothing for you.

The Sweeties pattern is free all day for my blog readers! Leave a comment on this post (something like “I don’t know how I have lived without this pattern!” or “MINE MINE!”) with a viable email address and I will attach the PDF to my reply.

three young ladies

These Young Ladies are in the shop.

I’ll close comments about this time tomorrow morning so you can have time to tell your friends.

Or don’t tell them and make them jealous. Your call.

Now go eat some chocolate. That’s what Valentine’s Day is all about right?

Sweeties

A sweet nothing for Valentines’ Day.

holding hands

Awww, they’re holding hands!

You can make Sweeties as individual dolls or link them together in a paper doll chain.

in pink

Style their hair all kinds of ways. They are easy-going like that.

Knit to gauge, Sweeties are 5.5″ from head to bobble foot.

blondie

Your only limitations are the colors of your worsted scraps.

Fiddly, fast and fun. Pattern available February 1, 2011.

Something New

I’m working on something.

It’s a little nothing something that is taking TOO MUCH TIME.

I’ll show you next week and I’ll need another test knitter. Don’t commit until you see the pictures – this is by far the fiddliest thing I’ve ever made.

Decorated

After two Christmases of Good Intentions, Ellie’s Smitten garland is finally on her mantle.

garland

I got the studio light out for this one – it’s DARK on the back of the house.

It’s hung on plain stocking holders (WalMart really came through for me this year) and is stuffed with 24 tiny wooden ornaments that I’ve had since she was on the inside (I’ve been planning this for a while). This morning, Ellie pulled out the first ornament and hung it on her tiny tree. Then she took it off and repositioned it half a dozen times.

heh

Christmas is Early

I’m afraid that my gift to you this year has some assembly required.

on the mantle

Surprise! It’s a garland!

Smitten (a Holiday Garland) is now available as a free download at KnitPicks.com.

I knit a mitten a day for most of October. After I memorized the pattern (around mitten number 6), they took me about an hour each. Marcia, my Top Secret Test Knitter, says that her first one took about twice that long – but she was correcting my mistakes at the same time. Long Story Short: If you want 24, it’s time to get started!

mitten stack

This was my “Guess what’s next?” picture that I never posted.

If you don’t need an advent calendar, put letters on the mittens and spell something festive or seasonal like “Let it snow!” Or use them for ornaments. Or money holders. They are about 4.5″ from finger tip to cuff so small toys, treats or jewelry will fit neatly inside.

toy inside

Bendy doll by Princess Nimble Thimble.

Happy holidays! If you make something with the pattern, I’d love to see it in the Smitten Flickr Group.