Wishful Knitting

This picture was taken just before packing this blanket up for its journey to Ohio. I made this for my friend's son's first birthday. Clearly they are fans of The OSU. I put the camera there to give an idea about the finished size...I think it was about 3.5 feet square. This was taken hanging over the edge of a twin size bed. Although the pattern is for a baby blanket, I usually make the blanket bigger- more of a toddler-size blanket. Here's a pic of the little fellow I made to go in the pocket. I just couldn't bring myself to create a Brutus Buckeye . A little lamb will have to do. Z gives him a christening kiss (even though it looks like she's trying to eat him) for the journey. I just really love this pattern- this is my third version. The pattern is the Bear Necessities Blanket from Vogue Baby Blankets . Instead of changing colors every row- I make the rows thicker- weaving in all the ends IS a bear! This time I made the pocket bigger. I used Encore Worst...

I realize this doesn't look like a cupcake. It looks more like a marshmallow wearing a night cap : ) It seems, however, none of that matters to the kids.

I made this for my fellow SnBer, Jan. I gifted it to her long ago, but I never put up the pictures. It was, as are most of the amigurumi projects, FUN! It's from the book in the side bar there- Ana Paula's. And it's made with mystery market yarn. Of course, my eldest daughter wanted to keep this little fellow. But he was created specifically for my friend. I told my daughter I would make her one, as she wants every project I make, but I haven't done so yet. It's on the list, I keep telling her. Good thing she doesn't know how long the list is : ) I think I will make the mini-cactus for her instead. I am currently working on an ice cream cone (for both girls) and after that I think she wants the apple. She's even requesting crocheted items for her stuffed toys. Apparently Bitty, who is my second daughter's lovey, needs an ice cream cone too. It's getting out of hand! Fear not sister of mine, Odd Fellow is on my mind again, and I do mean t...

My dear friend recently moved her family to the Washington, D.C. area. I thought it would be nice to send a softie to her kids so they would have a little something extra to hold onto during all these changes. Her little girl is named Ella, and here is her elephant. The pattern is from the fabulous Ana Paula's book- see side bar. I am tickled pink (ha, ha) with how she turned out. I had several hesitations with the trunk. Plus, she looked like a pig right up to the end. Finishing it was very fiddly and not fun at all. It will be a while before I make another one of these. I don't know how any crochet toy that I make will hold up to "play" from a little one. Her brother's bunny is waiting in the wings for his photo shoot.

Now that the latte is safely on the table of her new owner, it's blogg-able. The patterns are from Ana's book (see side bar)- and the recipient is my ever coffee-lovin', Seattle-livin' sister. Umm, sorry that the cupcake didn't come along for the ride, but there was no prying it out of H's hand! Most of the faces in the book have wide-set eyes. They look darling, but when I try to duplicate them, it doesn't seem to look as cute. I usually settle for closer-set eyes. The finishing is a bit labor intensive, more so on the larger critters. I bought felt here in Italy, but it can't be used for my purposes. It's about 1/2" thick! I should have told the store clerk that I didn't want it, but she went upstairs and then returned with 5 bolts of different colors, while I was shopping around. When I went over to the cutting table, she had most of it cut already, so I just bought it. Oh well. Maybe I'll come up with a use for it- doubtf...

These were my first projects from Ana Paula's book. It all started off so innocently, and now it's hard to stop! I have made several of these little cuties and they get rave reviews from the kids! Easy, cute, why not? I am still experimenting with the nose. The book calls for a nose made out of felt and sewn in place. I don't like how thin and flimsy the felt seems. The embroidery skills could use a little work, but I think that's the way to go.

Just look at that happy kid- I suppose this is what/who started me down the path of late nights and tingling digits. Seems I have gotten into the habit of making my girls a new stuffed toy every Easter. This year, she wanted a guinea pig. For weeks I tried to get her to change her mind, to no avail. I couldn't find a knitted pattern- in hindsight, I am sure I could have just come up with something, but instead, I found this site: Planet June . While I have tried basic crochet before (with the help of the Happy Hookers ), I hadn't tried anything like this before. So, I gave it a whirl- and, judging from the smiles, I think it went well. Lucky for me, Nanny-o has been here for Spring break to do the hard part...the faces! And, as usual, we have to do it late at night, the eve before Easter. Hey, it's tradition. It's when we do our best work! (heard that before?) Note the blue rooster pitcher filled with red wine : ) Thanks for your help Mumsey! The pattern is the...