Monday, May 30, 2011

The Things We Do For Friends

Before I go ahead with sharing this blog, I would just like to apologize for my long absence. It has been a super busy and difficult spring for our family. So glad that summer has arrived. Now it's time to get on with life and especially.... with knitting... 

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.