poll for potential new design

I have an idea for a new pattern, and I'd like to try something a little different. Anyone who has been reading here for a while knows that I also love sewing. In fact, I was sewing toys many years before I even learned how to knit! I would like to design a little toy that would also incorporate a bit of fabric, and some very basic hand-sewing. But before I get too excited about it, I want to make sure it's something you'd be interested in. I would likely also include a variation that wouldn't need the fabric and sewing, so don't worry if you've never sewn anything. Anyway, I'd appreciate your input, if you care to comment or vote in the poll on the sidebar (it will be open until Jan 17).

If I do end up going ahead with the design, I'll try to post progress reports (mostly in case I need a bit of help figuring out how best to write sewing instructions!)

holiday ornament poll

I'm beginning to design this year's free holiday ornament pattern. I've already decided on the basic style and shape, but it could be a variety of animals. I thought I would give my readers a chance to vote in a poll, so I can see which of my ideas would be most popular. If you have a moment, please vote in the poll over on the sidebar. Voting will be open until Nov. 20, but I may begin working on the design before that, since there isn't a lot of time left!

holiday pattern poll results

Thanks so much for all your ideas, and for participating in the poll. Although I had planned to just let your ideas and votes point me in the right direction, and let my creativity go from there, the mouse had such a clear majority I've decided to design that. There were lots of other interesting ideas, and lots of support for those too, so a few of them might get worked into future patterns.

I've got a little start on writing the pattern, and now it's time to get out my needles and yarn. If all goes well, the pattern should be ready for you within the next week. Just in time for you to make one or two for holiday decorating!

poll results

The results of my pattern format poll are pretty clear, so it looks like I'll be changing the patterns to include numbered rows. A little more work for me now, but I think it will make the patterns much easier to follow (for you and me!) I'm slowly working my way through the patterns from Fuzzy Knits, so I don't have to go back and change very much. So far I've done the Silly Duck and Siamese Kitty. The duck has been changed quite a bit, with different feet and a knitted bill, but somehow still looks similar to the old one. The kitty is just the same as before, but she now has a fancier dress, since I wanted something different from the bunny's pinafore dress. I might try taking a few photos to give you a hint of what they're like, since this blog has been a bit boring lately!

In baby news, Lev is growing well, and is generally being a very good baby since his daddy went back to work. We've started solid food again, and it seems to be sitting much better than when we tried it a couple weeks ago (it made him spit-up too much). He even remembered how to eat it off the spoon after a few tries. He's starting to figure out how to balance himself while sitting up, but only if he's distracted from flinging himself around! Today hasn't been going so well, though. He's teething badly again, and he gets his 6 month vaccinations today, so he's going to be a cranky-pants baby for the next day or two. At least the weather is nice, so perhaps a long walk is in order.

pattern format poll

Now that I'm working through the patterns for the new edition of Fuzzy Knits, I was wondering if I should change the instruction format a bit. I tried something new with Scraps Chaps, and I kind of like it. It's a little more work to start with, but helps me with the designing, and maybe it's easier for you to follow as well. Please vote in my poll and let me know!

help from my mom

I thought I would share with you two of the toys made by one of my test knitters - my mom! She was visiting when I first had the idea for the pattern, and listened patiently while I jabbered on about how I write patterns. I thought she might like to try out the pattern, and maybe wouldn't mind doing me a favour! I think her toys turned out pretty cute :) She said the feet are like big paws a puppy needs to grow into.


Also, I've been watching the poll for the last few days. The results don't seem to be changing much, and actually gave me a very god idea. I think what I'll do is sell the kits with just yarn and the pattern. I'll make up some tote bags and zip pouches, and list them separately. Then, if you buy a kit and a bag, I'll give you a discount on the total! How does that sound? That way you can buy the kit with the bag you want, or just the kit, or just the bag. It isn't much more work for me, I just need to take a few more photos.

poll for raggedy pals kits

I've put up a little poll for kits, since you mentioned lots of different options. So far, the options seem to be with a tote bag (like those I've made before), a zip pouch (my idea, like this), a drawstring pouch (for easy gift-giving), or no bag at all (to cut down on the cost). All of these would come with a printed pattern, enough yarn to make 1 toy, buttons for eyes, and some stuff to embellish the finished toy (like ribbon). I've put price estimates there, in case that helps you decide (the estimates are not final). Also, you can choose more than one answer to the poll, if you like. Hopefully this will give me a better idea of what people want, so I can make that, instead of trying to guess and have nobody buy the kits!

I went through my yarn stash the other day, and I have lots of parcel out into kits. I did have to order a little bit, though, since I was missing a couple things I used in my toys. Now I just need to wait for your answers to the poll, and see if I need to find time for sewing.

poll numero uno

If you look to the right there, you will see a poll. I've been thinking about the kits I make, and whether there was something else, something better, I could be doing with them. So, do you like the kits I've been offering so far, with a book, tote bag, and generally plain yarn to make one toy? I've been thinking that maybe most of you could find some plain yarn for the toy on your own, and would enjoy the hand-dyed yarn more. It would also be more fun for me, matching the yarn to the tote bags. Plus, it would make the kits a little more unique, rather than just coming with some generic brown wool. On the other hand, I could just offer the book and tote bag together, and let you get your own yarn. So please vote, and leave a comment if you have some other suggestion.

When I have a bit of time, I've been working on the fabric toys. I spent all morning one day last week, trying to design a different style of head, nearly ending up in tears. I think I'm missing some special gusset-designing gene, because I just can't get it. My new toy designing book was no help, either. Anyway, I eventually went back and modified a different head pattern.


You can see I have two more toys now. I'm not sure what the blue toy is, maybe another mouse. She doesn't even have a name yet. Neither does the polar bear. I really like him, not just because he's made of snuggly fleece, but also because I finally figured out how to make the nose wider. I also added a bit of black fleece for his nose, which actually made it slightly easier to sew in the head gusset, because I could tell where the point of the nose should be (if that makes any sense).

I really need to get started on more knit toys, though. I've used a bit of the yarn I dyed last week, and plan to make a few more outfits, and let them tell me what kind of toy I should make. Thanks, Amanda, for offering your ball winder, but I'm too impatient. Most of the yarn is already wound into balls, ready to use.