One of the endearing traits of crafters is that we jump at the chance to give handmade gifts to the loved ones: friends, family, co-workers. On the other hand, there is a great big flaw with this tender quality: we can't say no. If you are among the many talented individuals who have the ability to make a handmade gift, and end up overwhelmed and way behind on your "To-Make" lists (especially during the holiday season), then you know exactly what I am talking about.
About two months ago, an old college friend asked me to make a knitted toy each for her adorable twin boys. When they were born, I had the intention of making them something but never seemed to get around to putting anything together. So when she emailed me requesting two toys, I jumped at the chance. It seemed like fate! How wonderful, I thought, that I'd get the opportunity to do a kind deed, order new yarn and knit unfamiliar patterns all at the same time - I thought I'd just about died and gone to heaven.
But then it all got out of hand. I had made a few mistakes here. First, at the time I was working on about a half a dozen different projects. My plate was full. Second, I sent my friend dozens of scanned pictures of projects she could choose from, instead of me just picking cute projects I know I'd enjoy making. Unfortunately, she chose toys that I really didn't like and as I later found out (Third), were patterns that were vaguely written. Ugh.
Oh well. Thankfully, they turned out well. I made the Cheeky Monkey and the Dotty Dog from Zoe Miller's Knitted Toys: 25 Fresh and Fabulous Designs.
The monkey was very easy to make and seam together. The embroidered mouth and eyes were a first for me. So at least I learned a new skill. The dog, on the other hand, was like torture. Knitting the 7 different body parts was simple enough, plus I really like the yarn I used, Knit Pick's Shine Sport. However, the ears on the project page were cut-out pieces of felt embroidered together. I really didn't care for that look, so I knitted the ears myself after seeing a fellow ravelry knitter had done the same.
To my old friends, Sarah and Brian, despite all of my complaining about the project, I am truly happy that I was finally able to make something for your sweet boys. Next time? I'm picking the patterns and it will be a surprise!
Here are my instructions on how to knit the Dotty Dog's ears:
Key:
CO- cast on
sts- stitches
st st - stockinette stitch
kfb- knit through the front and back loop of the stitch (increasing 1 st)
ssk- slip, slip, knit (slip the next 2 sts knit-wise and then knit those 2 sts together)
k2tog - knit 2 sts together
(Make 2 Ears)
CO 8 sts using the main color yarn of your project.
Rows 1-5: knit straight using st st (beginning with a purl row)
Row 6: kfb, knit to last 2 sts, kfb, k1 (10 sts)
Rows 7-11: knit straight using st st (beginning with a purl row)
Row 12: kfb, knit to last 2 sts, kfb, k1 (12 sts)
Rows 13-17: knit straight using st st (beginning with a purl row)
Row 18: kfb, knit to last 2 sts, kfb, k1 (14 sts)
Rows 19-23: knit straight using st st (beginning with a purl row)
Row 24: kfb, knit to last 2 sts, kfb, k1 (16 sts)
Row 25: purl
Row 26: knit
Row 27: purl
Row 28: k1, ssk, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1 (14 sts)
Row 29: purl
Row 30: k1, ssk, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1(12 sts)
Row 31: purl:
Row 32: k1, ssk, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1 (10sts)
Change color of yarn to a contrasting color.
Row 33: purl
Row 34: kfb, knit to last 2 sts, kfb, k1(12 sts)
Row 35: purl
Row 36: kfb, knit to last 2 sts, kfb, k1 (14 sts)
Row 37: purl
Row 38: knit
Row 39: purl
Row 40: kfb, knit to last 2 sts, kfb, k1 (16 sts)
Rows 41-45 knit straight using st st (beginning with a purl row)
Row 46: kfb, knit to last 2 sts, kfb, k1(14 sts)
Rows 47-51 knit straight using st st (beginning with a purl row)
Row 52: kfb, knit to last 2 sts, kfb, k1(12 sts)
Rows 53-57 knit straight using st st (beginning with a purl row)
Row 58: kfb, knit to last 2 sts, kfb, k1(10 sts)
Rows 59-63 knit straight using st st (beginning with a purl row)
Row 64: kfb, knit to last 2 sts, kfb, k1(8 sts)
Bind off sts. Block ears flat then seam up sides using mattress seam.
