Yoda Complete

I finally finished the Yoda from the Clone Wars cartoon.

Here's all the parts in your Yoda kit. Please note that some part you have may have been substituted for a part of similar shape or color but different from the picture shown to the right... Looks kind like C3P0 did when he was in pieces...

Yoda must be powerful with the Force. He doesn't even need feet to stand... I created the feet and a hoodie for the little guy to complete the ensemble. And, just in case you have to ask, (it's not like any one else has asked or even prodded me to say you know you should have made...) I did not make a light saber or a walking stick. It's only Yoda. No other attachments... Batteries not included (or needed...)

And one last note from Yoda...

Continuing Yoda

Been trying to find time to work on the Yoda from the Clone Wars cartoon.

	I finally got the ears on. I have to say they turned out great! I knit a triangle with a flat side (called a right triangle by those with smarts.) Then I rolled each edge over tightly rolled foam and stitched them down. Added a bump in front of where the ear canal should be. 'Really' smart people call the bump the tragus. {I had to look it up. Me not that smart.} Cool name -- TRAGUS!
	This is the long row of triangles that form the hair. I had to do a few trials to find a procedure that worked right. The final was: CO 10 ** Turn K10 Turn K10, CO 6 Turn K16 Turn K16, CO 3 Turn BO 3, K16 Turn K16 Turn BO6, K10 Turn K10 Turn BO 8, K2 Turn K2, CO 8 Repeat from ** Until nap-time... Make smaller ones on the end. Use your best judgment. I did...
	I stitched on the hair and realized I'd seen this somewhere else. Not just the movies or the cartoon, but somewhere closer.
	Yoda has my hair line. He's such a lucky guy!!!! I'm just glad I don't have ears like his. It'd be hard getting in the car...

I have the arms done and part of the shirt, but I'll save that for next time.

Bo Peep

Another of the Mouse Characters from Alan Dart.
His patterns are a hit with the kids at my church.
The girls I made it for owns the hand turning the mouse.

Creating Yoda

This project will be an actual size replica of Yoda from the Clone Wars cartoon.

	I decided to start with the hand to judge size and see if I should start this project at all. There is no pattern. I'm just taking it one part at a time. I like the knuckles. I added a purl row on the outside to show the bend.
	This is the foam fore the inside of the head. I make puppets so this wasn't a hard part. Just some contact cement and some foam. The problem with contact cement: Don't buy the plastic container of it and leave it in the car (on its side and in the summer) to see a movie, before you go home. The cement will expand, seep out and pool on the back seat of your car. Not only does this raise the blood pressure, but the smell doesn't leave the car for a few days. Like driving under the influence is bad enough...
	A few weeks go by and ... viola! A great start. Very happy with the eyes. Under each feature in the face are layers of foam. This is starting to look like the intended ... what is Yoda? According to Wikipedia: "Unknown Species". I would list him as a frankozian. ;)
	After adding the brow and nose, I feel the force. This is turning out way better than I expected. Stay tuned for the rest of the adventure....

Mutt-astic Sweater

This sweater is on my mom's dog Murphy. She showed me the one she made in crochet and I had to make one for him in knit.
It hugs him a little snug, but I think it fits him well. I've got some bigger stuff I've been working on for a while so that's coming up soon.
Sorry, it's been a while...

Monkey Finger Puppet

I made this for a mom. She had a son in the hospital, saw one like it and asked if I could make a similar toy. This is what I came up with. I wrote the pattern for it in case someone would want one for themselves.

Monkey Finger Puppet
Body:
CO 18st in Brown and join in the Round on 3 DPNs
K 14 rows
(K4, K2tog) 3 times (15st)
K 1 Row
(K3, K2tog) 3 times (12st)
K 1 Row
(K2, K2tog) 3 times (9st)
(K1, K2tog) 3 times (6st)
Cut Yarn, stitch through remaining 6 stitches, and pull tight. Tie off and weave in ends.

Arms (2 needed):
Make I-cord with Brown (using the 3 stitches method) 8 Rows long.
Embroider with Light Brown “palms” on one end of each of the Arms.

Ears (2 needed):
Make I-cord with Light Brown (using the 3 stitches method) 7 Rows long.

Face:
CO 7st in Light Brown
Knit 4 rows
BO by K2TBL place stitch back on the left needle and K2TBL. Repeat.
This will leave a ridge for the brow above the eyes.

Nose:
CO 18st in Light Brown and join in the Round on 3 DPNs
K 9 Rows
Cut Yarn, stitch through 18 stitches, and pull tight. Tie off and weave in ends.
Using the Starting Yarn Pick Up the CO rows and pulltight. Tie off and weave in ends.

Tail:
Make I-cord with Brown (using the 3 stitches method) 8 Rows long.

To Make up:
Stitch the Face in place then stitch the Nose in place on the bottom row of the face. Take each end of the I-cord for the Ears and stitch them in place on both sides of the head forming loops. Stitch the Arms in place and the tail. Embroider the nose holes and eyes with a long strand of Black. Do the same for the mouth using a long strand of Pink.

Happy Face...

When you go to Starbucks and have something in a bag, a special something for someone, you think, "This is a great thing. I'm going to give something to someone. I must be special. All the time I spent making this special something special, just so I can make someone happy. All the worry over will this work? ... or maybe this?... or that?" Then the moment arrives and that special someone comes in and sees that special something and ... you receive a gift so much more special than that which was given. A spontaneous gift... so much better than the worry and the hope that what I made will make someone happy. The smile that takes over a face and is given to you as a thank you ... there is no gift better. I received this (See Picture) and that is awesome!!!

A Sock, a Bear, and a Note...

After many weeks I have finally finished another pair of socks for myself. The pattern can be found here: hedgerow socks as a pdf. I adjusted the pattern by adding the Fleegle Heel, which is an easy heel. I like to sock, but I hope it shrinks a little in the wash. I made it a little loose. (Gauge gets you every time!)



I was asked to make a bear for a awesome little girl I have met at my knitting group. The bear pattern: Harry Bear Pattern is an awesome pattern. I added a lot of embellishments, because I think it makes the bear look great. It turned out way better than I expected. I will be giving it to her tonight.
The eyes are something I came up with. I made seven stitches around where the eyes should be then, stitched from the corners of those seven to the center of the eye. It looked like a wagon wheel with seven spokes. Then, I weaved yarn from the center out (over and under the spokes). You have to have a odd number of spokes or the weave doesn't happen . Then, I tied a french knot for the pupil and added a highlight with some white.

Note: Dear Mr. Tommy, Thank you for making my mouse with the sack of berries. I have a lot of fun with it. All the mice and the fox are in my bedroom on my windowsill. Some of my friends have said they would like mice of their own. We have all played with the mice and loved it! I've never had stuffed animals like these before. They are the best! I think you are the best friend anybody could have in the world. I love you, Savannah

Don't that just beat all!

Please let this be the last mouse...

I have hopes. I have dreams. I want this to be the last mouse. I love making toys for the kids I know, but I like to learn new things. The kids see one toy and they all have to have the same thing, but with different colors. And I've noticed that they are keeping count on who has the latest and who has the most. I havn't been keeping track... I'm sure I'm in trouble somewhere with someone.





The little girl that got this one was very happy. I'm working on a bear right now with a blue dress. She looks great so far. So come back soon for the video.

The Alligator & the Elephant (Alli & Ele)

Here’s a set I made from Alan Dart’s ‘Noah’s Ark’ pattern. I changed the legs on the elephant. His were very thin using drinking straws for the insides. I just added some extra stitches and overstuffed mine. I’m very happy with the picture. Blue plastic bag makes a great water edge! Almost looks too real!

Alli:

Ele:

This was a hard pattern to come up with. I made each shape separately, then hooked the loops together with a crochet hook (around the black Pentagons)and stitched through the loops between the white polygons. Here's the pattern, I you want to try it.




Knitted Soccer Ball by Tommy Smith

Black Pentagon (make 12):

CO 5 sts and join in the round

K 1 row (If you used the Long-Tail Cast On Skip this row)

KFB into every stitch [10 sts]

K 1 Row

(K1 YO K1) x5 [15 sts]

(K1 KTBL K1) x5 - this twists the YO from the previous row

K 1 Row

Cut yarn leaving a long tail. Using a tapestry needle and the tail from the beginning Cast On, thread through remaining live stitches on the needle. Do not pull tight this will be removed later.

White Hexagon (Make 20):

CO 6 sts and join in the round

K 1 row (If you used the Long-Tail Cast On Skip this row)

KFB into every stitch [12 sts]

K 1 Row

(K1 YO K1) x6 [18 sts]

(K1 KTBL K1) x6 - this twists the YO from the previous row

K 1 Row

Cut yarn leaving a long tail. Using a tapestry needle and the tail from the beginning Cast On, thread through remaining live stitches on the needle. We will call this the safety yarn. Do not pull tight this will be removed later.

Finish:

To finish, place a Black Pentagon in the center of 5 White Hexagons. Using a crochet hook, pick up one loop from the edge of the Black Pentagon (at the end of your last stitch) and pick up one loop from the edge of a White Hexagon. Pull the loop from the White Hexagon through the loop from the Black Pentagon. This will leave the loop from the White hexagon on the crochet hook. Now hook the next loop on the Black Pentagon and pull it through the loop on the needle. Continue this until 3 loops from each color have been captured. Pick up another White Hexagon and continue the procedure for 3 more loops. Repeat until the Black Pentagon is surrounded with the 5 White Hexagons. Use the long tail to secure this loop. The safety yarn can be removed from the Black Pentagon.

Using the diagram below, connect all your pieces. Remove the safety yarn when the Hexagon or Pentagon is fully attached. Before you finish the last row, stuff with filling.

I won’t say this is an easy pattern, but knitting should challenge you sometimes!

Castle Mouse

Video of the latest Mouse from Alan Dart's pattern. I got a new camera. It's a Flip.
I have been impressed with it so far. Back to the mouse: I used a bamboo skewer for the pole and I put a gold bead on the end. The pattern on his shirt is stitched in after the fact. This was my third time doing that method and I still need practice, but it still looks nice. I now have another request for the Nanny mouse. So pictures or video will soon come!!!

Mom's Sock (with the Fleegle Heel)

I got this yarn on a trip to Stitches South. It was free! Universal Yarn hosted the trip and they had prizes for everyone. This is Universal Yarn Bamboo Sock . I got it free but the price online is cheap, and I have enough to make a set of footies.

Mom liked them a lot. It's so good to see someone enjoy a pair of hand knit socks. She was surprised by how good they felt on her feet.

The pattern was a standard sock design: size 2 needles, loosely CO 64 ( I used long tail and size 3 needles for this) , make 2 inches of 2 x 2 ribbing and start the pattern. The pattern is a odd basket weave I found in a pattern book that worked for 64 stitches. Then the good part:

The Fleegle Heel!

I am so impressed with this style of heel that I don't think I will ever knit a different style. I have been so frustrated with the Short Row Heel and I never liked the Heel Flap. I have finally found the heel for me! It is comfortable and there are NO HOLES!!!!!!
Now I have to find the best toe and I can settle back and be happy with my socks.

A Spider For My Brother

I'm not sure why he wanted it, but I'm always up to a challenge. You can't see it clearly in the photo: there's a heart on the Black Widows back instead of the usual hourglass. It was a final change that I jokingly suggested and he said it would be cool and different.
I put pipe cleaners in the legs to give them the ability to pose And the eyes are beads I sewed in with standard thread. I warned my brother that this wasn't a kids toy (may cause choking hazard.)
The picture was taken by my cell phone and edited with picnik. Its a free photo editing site one of my youth kids told me about. I like it.

The Mice

The Mice are from Simply Knitting. I was asked to make one that was brown with white spots on the back. I hope this is what was wanted. I'm very pleased with the Princess. The different colors are perfect and the little rose was a great addition. The bow on her tail was a suggestion from a friend. I have more mice (a prince in armor and a nurse with babies). I will post them soon!

This is a rhino for a great friend of mine. I recycled a sweater from Goodwill and I used a pattern from The World Of Knitted Toys. by Kath Dalmeny. Her patterns are knitted flat and I just don't like knitting that way. And the patterns turn out huge. So, I used size 2 needles and It turned out great! 

The Bear -Yellow

This little yellow bear is a patten from Jean Greenhowe's Toy Collection

I made it for a wonderful frriend of mine.
I do believe she liked it!

This wasn't a hard knit. I just had to adjust for knitting in the round. instead of knitting flat and sewing together.

1st Commissioned Work

I made this for a friend (at a price) to give his wife for Christmas. I used the Diagonal Lace Scarf pattern and added a squared design to the beginning and end of the scarf. I do hope his wife likes it. It was the first project I used the lace blocking wires on. They are awesome. I need to make a blocking station next.

As to the price I charged, I think we all know there is no way I would get back the hours in any monetary amount. I basically doubled the the yarn cost. I'm so cheap.

Mom's Scarf

Not the best picture. This was made using the Falling Water Lace Scarf pattern. I just skipped one of the repeats. I had only bought one ball of yarn (it was a little pricey.) Mom liked it and that is all that matters.

The Fox Pattern:
Needles: US#6 and US#2
MC = Red
OC = White




Head:
Starting with US#6 and MC
CO 6 stiches and join in the round
(K1 M1 K2) 2x
K 1 Row
(K1 M1 K1) 4x
K1 Row
Repeat last two rows until you have 38 stitches
K 10 Rows
K[16] K2tog K2 K2tog K[16]
K 1 Row
Repeat last two rows decreasing numbers in [ ] by 1
each Row until you have 26 stitches
K 1 Row
K11 M1 K4 M1 K11
K 4 Rows
(K1 K2tog K8 K2tog K1) 2x
K 1 Row
(K1 K2tog K6 K2tog K1) 2x
K 1 Row
K5 (K2tog) 2x K2 (K2tog) 2x K5
K 1 Row
K3 (K2tog) 2x K2 (K2tog) 2x K3
K 2 Rows
(K2 M1 K3 M1 K1) 2x
(K2 M1 K5 M1 K1) 2x
K 4 Rows
(K2tog) 2x K12 (K2tog) 2x
(K2tog) 2x K8 (K2tog) 2x
K 1 Row
Stuff the body with cotton
Break off MC and join in OC
K2 Rows
(K1 K2tog K2tog K) x2
Break off OC
Using a darning needle, run remaining thread thru loops and tie off

Front Legs:
Starting with US#2 and OC
CO 6 stiches and join in the round
K 7 Rows
Break off OC and join in MC
K 2 Rows
(K1 M1 K1) 3x
K 10 Rows
(K1 M1 K1 M1 K1) 3x ***
K 12 Rows
BO and stuff the legs with cotton (these will need to be firm)

Back Legs:
Knit like Front Legs to ***
K 3 Rows
(K2 M1 K2 M1 K1) 3x
K 10 Rows
BO and stuff the legs with cotton (these will need to be firm)

Tail:
Starting with US#2 and MC
CO 9 stitches and join in the round
K 3 Rows
(K2 M1 K1) 3x
K 2 Rows
(K2 M1 K2 M1) 3x
K 13 Rows
(K3 M1 K3 M1) 3x
K 3 Rows
Break off MC and join in OC
K 3 Rows
(K1 K2tog K1) 6x
K 1 Row
(K1 K2 tog) 6x
K 1 Row
(K2tog) 6x
K1 Row
BO and stuff with cotton.

Ears:
Starting with US#2 and MC
CO 7 stitches
Starting with a Knit Row in Stockinette, K 5 Rows
P2tog P3 P2tog
K 1 Row
P2tog P1 P2tog
K1 row
P3tog
Break off MC
Using a darning needle, run remaining thread thru loops and tie off

With US#2 and OC
CO 5 stitches
Starting with a Knit Row in Stockinette, K 4 Rows
K2tog K1 K2tog
P 1 Row
K3tog
Break off OC
Using a darning needle, run remaining thread thru loops and tie off

Place WS together and sew along outer edge in MC

To Finish:
Sew the legs, tail and ears where you think they should be using MC

Using Black yarn make the eyes, nose, and mouth.


I used Black yarn to make the
Pads and Claws for the feet.






Also I used OC and stitched over
the existing stitches on the chest
to give the fox some chest hair.