Ravelympics Day 11: Lamby

Yep! Its a Lamb! Isn't he cute?

This was a pretty fun pattern to make.

It only took me a couple of evenings to create. I knit my Lamb from the Itty Bitty Knits book,

but you can also find this pattern for free online here in Petite Purls magazine.

What knitter doesn't love a knitted lamb?

My daughter loves him too.. especially since she didn't have to

wait a long time for him to be done.

I used Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Astrakhan for his nubbly woolly body, and O-wool Balance for his legs and face. The combination makes for quite a cuddly little toy. I love the boucle texture of the Astrakhan yarn but it was sort of a pain to knit with on such a tight gauge. The results were well worth it though! I think that the textured body really makes him extra special.

His I-cord legs are stuffed with pieces of a plastic drinking straw to make them rigid so that he can stand. I think that I made my legs a little too long, so Lamby is not so great on his feet. My daughter helps him though.. :)

Well.. its 11 days into the "Ravelympics" and I have 2 out of 3 toys completed!

Don't Francis and Lamby look so cute together on my daughter's shelf?

I've been working very hard on my Ravelympics projects and I'm glad that I'm ahead of the game. I didn't plan the end of this month very well.. and now I have Stitches West, the Ravelympics and a new podcast episode due all at the same time! Ahh!

What exactly was I thinking?

Ravelympics Day 10: Halfway There

I am almost done with "Ravelympics" toy #2!
I just have 2 more legs to attach and a face, ears and tail to knit.

I think I might be able to finish it tonight!

This little guy is from one of my favorite toy books, "Itty Bitty Toys".

Anyone know what kind of animal this one is?

Ravelympics Day 9: Onto The Next..

I've started my next "Ravelympics" toy!

Working with this soft boucle yarn is a welcome change

from the thin cotton I was using for Francis.

I think that this new little animal will work up awfully fast!

Meanwhile.. my daughter is having a lot of fun with her new turkey friend.

I love the way Francis the Turkey turned out..

but I don't think I would ever want to knit him again.

The pattern was a bit fiddly with lots of pieces, sewing, intarsia and woven in ends.

Was it worth it? Yes! Was it fun? Not exactly. :)

Ravelympics Day 8: Meet Francis

On my last "Ravelympics" post, many of you guessed what kind of creature I was knitting up. Great guesses! Many of you thought I was making a chicken or an ostrich.. and one of you guessed that I was making a kiwi. :)

But only one of you (Christina) guessed correctly.

Its a...

Turkey!

And isn't he so funny and ugly-cute?! I love how fat he is.

We have a lot of Wild Turkeys around where we live.

They really are ugly things in real life, but fun to watch and listen to.

This "Francis Turkey" pattern is from the book

The Organic Cotton Kids Collection put out by Rowan yarns.

All the patterns in this collection are super adorable, and all use Rowan purelife organic cotton.

This book seriously has some of the cutest toy patterns I've seen.

If you like Francis you will love the other patterns too.

But more about Francis tomorrow.. its getting late and he's off to roost...

Tea Leaves Cardigan

My Tea Leaves Cardigan is done, and I absolutely love it! It fits great!

The only thing I'd change about the pattern is the buttonband. I would

definitely pick up fewer stitches next time.

This current buttonband could use some shortening.

I might fix it one of these days.. if I feel like it... maybe.

This cardigan is super cozy and wonderful, one that I will wear often for sure!

What? You want one too?

Well the...

beautiful pattern is found here. Soft madelinetosh yarn is found here. Fabulous lightweight buttons are found here.

Ravelympics Day 7: Legs!

He has legs! And don't you just love those knobby knees?

Any guesses yet to what kind of little creature I'm knitting for the Ravelympics?

Ravelympics Day 6: I-cords

This little toy that I am making for the "Ravelympics" requires many knitted I-cords.
So that's what I was doing today. I-cords. And lots of them.

I-cord trivia: Do you know why they are called I-cords?

Answer: Elizabeth Zimmerman named these little knitted tubes "Idiot Cords" in honor of her accidental discovery of the simple technique. "I-cord" for short. :)

So there you have it... an idiotic mistake turned knitting invention!

Learn how to knit one HERE with this video tutorial.

Ravelympics Day 5: Blank Canvas

After a few hours of work...and some wool stuffing...

...I've got this nice plump animal body.

A perfect blank canvas for all sorts of knitted body parts to be sewn onto.

I feel like I'm finally making progress now.

Ravelympics Day 4: Steaming and Seaming

Today I am doing some ironing and sewing up.
I've learned that finishing work isn't so terrible when you do it
as you go rather than leaving it all for the end.

Ravelympics Day 3: Little Helping Hands

This is what I've created since yesterday. And Yes.
Little intarsia pieces like this take awhile when knitting with 4-ply cotton on size 1 needles!

I can see that just getting this little guy knit up
for the ravelympics is going to be a challenge in itself.

The funny thing about knitting up these toys is
seeing my daughter's reaction during the process.
She is always talking about her new toys, and questioning my speed and knitting ability.

"Mom! Are you done with my toy yet?"
"What is that thing?"
"Why are you making it like that?"


...Can't wait until she's a teenager.. :)