silky seal pattern

I have a new pattern available for the holidays: a sweet, cuddly seal toy! A slightly different version of this pattern was published a couple years ago, but I've updated it, and you can get it for free until the end of the year (December 31, 2018).

The original toy was knit with Berroco Modern Cotton (in colour 1623), which my 7-year old tells me is very soft and snugly. He's added the toy to the menagerie on his bed, and I regularly find the seal tucked under his chin in the morning. For the second toy, I wanted to try making a smaller size with DK weight yarn, because I know this weight is more common than worsted in some places. I improvised with yarn from my stash, holding together one strand of wool/arcylic sport weight yarn, with one strand of mohair/silk lace yarn. The result gives a lovely soft halo, and both yarns are relatively easy to find in most yarn shops. If you can find a fuzzy DK yarn, even easier for you!

While the head and body are fairly easy to knit, the flippers require some concentration. They are small, though, and quickly accomplished. The sewing-up may test your skills a bit, but a fuzzy yarn is especially forgiving of slightly messy seams. Make your seal extra adorable with oversized black safety eyes! Once the pieces are finished, the final toy comes together quickly, with only the head and front flippers to attach. For an extra cozy seal, you can add a little scarf cut from felt, or knit one from the instructions below. This isn't shown in the pattern photos, but is so easy, I'm sure you can manage ;-)

Simple Garter Stitch Scarf for a toy
Materials: 8-10 g of DK or worsted weight yarn, pair of 3.5 mm (for DK) or 4.5 mm (for worsted) straight knitting needles, tapestry needle
Gauge: not really important, as long as you like it

Cast on 8 sts. Knit in garter stitch until scarf measures 30 cm (12"), or desired length. Cut yarn, and weave in yarn ends. Optional: add a fringe at each end by knotting on extra lengths of yarn.

change of pace

Thanks for joining me! Are you comfortable? Have you got a nice cup of tea or coffee, or maybe some hot chocolate? I have a bunch of news to share with you.

First, I recently updated my much-loved Owl Tuque pattern. It now includes 6 sizes, from newborn to adult large, so you can knit one for anyone on your gift list. The pattern works well in a variety of yarns, as long as you choose a solid or heathered colour that isn't too dark. I knit one for myself from Cascade Eco-Duo (undyed wool/alpaca) and I get compliments on it all the time!

Yes, that's me. It's hard to photograph a hat on your own head.

Second, I had another pattern published in Knit Now magazine last week: Ursula the Polar Bear. I took advantage of the different venue to try something a little different. She's knit all in the round, and while her shape is a bit unusual, she's really very cuddly! Plus, her cozy red pullover is the perfect attire for this cold season. If your local shops carry the magazine, it comes with the yarn to make her. 

Hi!

Third, I have a new pattern coming soon, hopefully next week! As many of you probably guessed, the new design is for a yeti and big-foot (sasquatch), with a couple of really cute accessories. They look quite different from my other designs, but are still a fairly easy knit. You make the toy with chunky/bulky yarn on 5 mm needles, so the knitting goes really fast. Even the assembly is somewhat easier than my usual toys.

Buddies :)

I've also started work on a little holiday pattern, which will be offered free here. That should be ready around the beginning of December. If you can't wait, try one of my patterns from previous years: mini pookies, inuk and seal, or holiday mice.

You need to knit these, right?

And about some more personal news: my older son, Lev, started kindergarten this Fall. He loves school, and seems to be doing well so far. However, his new schedule and the demands of school have reduced the time I have to work. In addition, I've decided that my younger son, Kyr, would benefit from some extra time at home with me (and maybe I want to enjoy these years before he goes off to school too). So he's only attending pre-school 3 days a week now. Both of these together mean that I had to rethink what I want to do, regarding work on new designs, blog posts, tutorials, and everything else that goes into keeping Fuzzy Mitten going. 

My boys

So, once this year's holiday pattern is published, the pace of things is going to change over the next year and a half. I've decided to use this time to work on a longer-term project I've had in mind for a while: a third self-published collection of patterns. This will (mostly) free me from the pressure of deadlines, as well as allowing me to share my work with you as it progresses. The book will feature my Scraps Chaps designs, which have always been some of my favourites. The original three will get an update, I'll add 3 more animals to the 9 already published, and I'll design a range of outfits and accessories for the toys to wear. I hope you're as excited about this as I am!

Has it really been almost 6 years since I made these guys?

While the book will be my main project over the next 18 months, occasionally there will be new designs to anticipate. My work for Knit Now magazine will continue, with a new pattern every few months. As well, there will be another mystery knit-along next Spring. The mystery knit-alongs have become one of my favourite parts of this job, and I'm really looking forward to doing another one!

I hope you can understand that this change of pace means I will have less time to write here. When I started this blog several years ago, so many crafty people were writing about what they were making, their family life, their thoughts and challenges and dreams. But blogging has changed since then - I don't feel like I fit into this new version, and it's too hard for my little voice to be heard. I'll still write when I have exciting news, or a new tutorial, but I think that's it. However, I do hope to make time to reorganize things, so it's easier for you to find the most useful posts. If you want any other news about what I'm up to, try following me on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

It's been lovely, all of you, and I hope you stick around to see where this new path takes me.

big teddy update

After a ridiculously long time (I think I started the teddy over a year ago), we're now releasing the updated version of the Big Teddy. I loved the original the pattern, and the toy is still around here somewhere, although a bit ragged from too many kid and kitty snuggles. However, it was long past due for an updated format, and some minor changes to the shaping. I've also altered the overalls: garter stitch borders instead of seed stitch, and the straps button to the bib so the overalls are easier to put on.

I knit the toy from Lamb's Pride Bulky, in dark grey, and have about 10 g left. If you know you knit on the loose side, you might want to have a little more than 100 g for the toy, just in case (or use smaller needles). I used some beige worsted weight yarn held double to knit the nose. The overalls were knit with Knit Pick's Merino Bare worsted yarn that I dyed with food colouring.

As always, if you've purchased the original pattern, you can have a free copy of the update. If you bought it on Ravelry, you've already been sent a download link. If you bought it elsewhere, please email me with a proof of purchase (Lulu or Etsy receipt, or just a copy of the old pattern). I don't get a lot of time to answer email, so I hope you can be patient.

updates

It's been far too long between posts. I am sorry. I've been busy with life, and a little bit of knitting. Here is my most recent custom-made toy. I think she turned out especially well. I want to get some proper photos of her, before she heads off to the UK tomorrow.

Now that this one is out of the way, I'm going work on those pesky old patterns of mine, which have been waiting for an update for, oh gosh, years now! First up is the big teddy. I already had a new one knit months ago. I just couldn't find the motivation to get it put together. Today I got everything but the legs stuffed and assembled! I'm very pleased with how it looks. I'm always a bit surprised that my big toys aren't bigger, since they seem to take so much more work. I can only imagine the dedication to knit a really large toy - I'm truly a small project person, with only one adult sweater to my name!

Now I'm off to do a wee bit of yoga, and maybe read a chapter of The Secret Garden, before bed. Good night, my friends!

images from my week

Yet again delayed by a power-outage. Let's hope they don't become a weekly event. 

This past week was all about oatmeal (thank goodness, as I was getting hard-pressed to feed such a huge baby all on my own),

and finally getting the knitting part of the new pattern done. Now I just need that oatmeal face to take an extra-long nap so I can put these toys together!

 

In other news, we've finally (finally!) updated the Well-Dressed Bunny pattern. You get the newer version of the toy from Fuzzy Knits, plus redesigned outfits, and the new formatting styles. If you bought it on Ravelry, you've already been sent a new download link. If you bought it elsewhere, just email one of us a receipt so we can send you a copy.

no time for email

I totally overestimated the time I might have to answer my email these days! New babies do sleep a lot, so I thought I would have the chance to send those pattern updates, but I also have a 2-year old! Anyway, I've replied to all your emails this morning, so check your inbox for the new patterns if you requested an update (if you don't know what I'm talking about, check my previous post). Mr. Mitten was also kind enough to answer most of my Ravelry messages for me, since I never get time to look at those (hint, if you need to ask me something, email is much faster than Ravelry - it's such a time-suck to go on there, I try to avoid it).

I am getting a little knitting done these days. I got 75% of a vest knit for Lev, from this pattern. Only to decide in the end that my gauge was doing weird things, and it would be way too warm for him to wear much. So it will be frogged, and knit again in plain stockinette (the vest does have a nice shape, and the instructions will work even without the slip-stitch pattern and stripes). I also started a Big Teddy, since that pattern desperately needs to be updated. I decided to add a pinafore dress to the pattern, so you can make a girly bear too (it's simply a skirt attached to the overall bib and straps, so a super-simple change to the original).

And here's a video of our little family enjoying some time together!

2011-04-21: Flying and vocalizing from Kay Ryabitsev on Vimeo.

two updated patterns and a freebie

At long last, we've started to update some of my oldest patterns! Cold, rainy early-Spring days leave us lots of time to get a bit of computer work done during naps. We've started with the remaining few patterns from Fuzzy Knits, because I had edited those last year. Next we'll start on the other patterns hanging around from my first year of designing (these require re-knitting, so will take me more time).

The first two done were the Panda and Boyish Monkey. If you bought these on Ravelry, you've already been sent a link to the updated pattern. If you bought these elsewhere, you can email me a proof of purchase for an update. For Etsy purchases, I simply need your Etsy user-name. For Lulu purchases, you can forward me a copy of your Lulu or Paypal receipt, or attach a copy of the old pattern. I will try to respond as quickly as I can, but having a newborn does make it hard to check and answer my email promptly.

I've decided to retire the Girly Monkey pattern, as it overlaps with the Boyish Monkey too much, and I don't feel you should have to buy both. Since the Girly Monkey's dress is so simple, I've posted an updated version of the pattern below. Enjoy!

 Girly Dress

Materials: 20 g of DK or worsted weight yarn, pair of 4 mm (US size 6) knitting needles, tapestry needle, scrap yarn, buttons or ribbon (optional)
Gauge: 22 sts and 32 rows per 4" in stockinette
Size: 7 1/2" around, 4" long

Lace Pattern
Row 1: P 1 row.
Row 2: k1, [k3, yo, k2tog] x 6, k1.
Row 3: P 1 row.
Row 4: k1, [k3, skpo, yo] x 6, k1.

Back and Front (make 1 each)
CO 32 sts.
Row 1-21: Work in Lace Pattern.
Row 22: k1, [k2tog] x 15, k1. (17 sts)
Row 23-31: Work 9 rows in st st, slipping first stitch of each row.
Row 32: k4, bind off 9 sts (1 st rem on needle), k3. Or, bind off all sts.
Cut yarn and place live sts on scrap yarn.

Finishing
Once you have made both Front and Back, graft together shoulders, or sew shoulder seams if you bound off all sts. You can crochet or embroider around the neck opening to make it look nicer. The neck opening is small, but the head should be able to squish through. Alternatively, leave one shoulder open and attach a button and button-loop. Finally, sew the side seams from the hem to the decrease row (Row 22) and weave in all yarn ends. Embellish with buttons or ribbon if you like.

Abbreviations
CO = cast on
K = knit
k2tog = decrease 1 by knitting 2 stitches together
P = purl
skpo = decrease 1 by slipping 1 stitch, knitting next stitch, then passing slipped stitch over knit stitch
st or sts = stitch or stitches
st st = stockinette stitch
yo = yarn over

clarification

There seems to be a bit of confusion over the new Siamese Kitty pattern, so I'd like to clear that up so we all have fewer troubles as I update more of my original patterns.

If you bought the Siamese Kitty pattern or the "Fuzzy Knits" book (not "Festive Knits") from Lulu, you need to forward me a copy of the receipt so I know you purchased the pattern. The thank-you note or your order number won't work because Lulu doesn't let me see individual purchases. Sorry to be a bit pedantic, but it saves us all time and energy to get it straight :)

If you bought the Siamese Kitty pattern on Etsy, I should still have your original transaction notice, so I just need your Etsy username to look it up.

Only the new version of the pattern has been available on Ravelry, so anyone who bought it there doesn't need to worry :)

If you have any questions please leave a comment so we can clear up any other points here where everyone can see them.

Edit: Someone had the great idea that if you no longer have your receipt, just email me a copy of the old pattern. That way I know you bought the original.