While it's been awfully quiet around here for the past month, my knitting needles have been busy! I have a new toy design for you, just in time for thinking about warmer weather and the cute baby animals that come with it. The new pattern is called "Flat Foot Floogie" (named by my so-serious husband) and is a lovey with both lamb and rabbit variations. A lovey is not a toy I'm very familiar with, but there seemed to be a lack of cute patterns for them, so I thought I would fill the gap for you.
The pattern is fairly basic and knit flat, but with some nice shaping to keep it interesting. You will need to know stockinette stitch, garter stitch, increasing, decreasing, and how to cast-on stitches at the end of the row. There is some sewing and finishing, but not as much as my usual toys. Plus, the heads are very similar to my other toy patterns, so you could easily make other animals into loveys. I would just recommend adding 2 rows to the stockinette section of the head, to make up for the gauge difference between worsted and chunky yarn. Because thicker yarns vary so much in gauge, the pattern also gives lengths for the yarn requirements. If you're in doubt, make sure you have enough meters or yards - this matters far more than the weight.
While I designed the toy mainly for babies, my two boys (who are 4 and 2) love the test samples I knit. But they both insist the toys are better with a rattle in the head. I made rattle inserts from plastic cosmetic sample jars, by placing a metal jingle-bell inside and then glueing the lid on. However, small ones are fairly cheap to buy on Etsy (just search for "rattle insert" under supplies).
You can now purchase the pattern on Ravelry, Craftsy, or Etsy. If you buy it on Etsy, you will have to wait for me to email the download link (although I'm working on a solution to this).
I cannot wait to make these!!! Thank you so much!!!
ReplyDeleteVery neat indeed, I love your designs. I hope you continue to work your patterns flat, I so dislike the trend for knitting in the round these days.
ReplyDeleteQuestion on upper body row two? What am I doing wrong? not enough stitches to (m1, k1) x 8
ReplyDeleteOops never mind. I was doing the M1 wrong. Brain freeze. Knitting too early in the morning!
ReplyDeleteUmmm.... I'm sorry but I think I should tell you that the Flat Foot Floogie is a song about a hooker with VD. "Google Search" is your friend and we should all use it more.
ReplyDeleteBut Debi Birkin released a pattern with a racial slur for a title so I guess you are in good company.
Meh, we did research this before we put this on the pattern, but decided not to care. It's an awesome tune and was my and my husband's favourite dance song while we were dating (in Keb' Mo's upbeat rendition, which he released on his Children's album "Big Wide Grin").
ReplyDeleteSo, just enjoy the song and the pattern!