<3 the vikings

I ordered this mobile for Lev's bedroom this morning. I've wanted it for a while, since I love all of Herzensart's work, but I had so many other important things to spend money on. But she's having a sale, so I went for it! I really wish I could afford one of her dolls (I <3 Vikings!). I've thought of approaching her about a swap, but don't have the courage yet. She also has a lovely blog, which I enjoy reading whenever Lev gives me a bit of time to myself.

I'm glad you all liked the video! There's another part to why we chose the name Fuzzy Mitten, but I'll have to let him explain it, because it involves puns in Russian. I've watched the video a few more times myself since posting it. The mother's enormous fur hat just kills me. I teased Mr. Mitten by saying I would get one like that for myself, when we visit his family in Russia some day. Really, though, I can't see myself walking around Montreal in a fur hat twice the size of my head :)

Now I must be off, to try getting a few photos of all the toys I've been knitting lately. I just finished a Scraps Chaps kitty last night, destined for my Etsy shop. (to make a kitty, I knit the legs, arms, body, and lion's head, plus the ears and tail from the Tiger pattern).

chicken pants

I found these films via another blog I read and contribute to. I <3 them, seriously. If someone local could help me make videos like this, they would be my BFF!

Episode 1



Episode 2



Episode 3

hint #5

Another very talented toy maker just posted a super useful tutorial for putting toys together. She has nice clear pictures of a few different stitches I use regularly. The only comments I might make are that on the vertical mattress stitch, I leave the line of sewn stitches looser so it looks just like another row of knit stitches (I use this stitch for the tops of bunny feet). I also attach the toy limbs so they are jointed, rather than fixed in place, but the technique you use really depends on how you want the finished toy to look.



This simple diagram shows how I attach the limbs, although the stitches across the tops of the limbs are horizontal, not vertical as they appear in the drawing (drawing horizontal stitches is a little hard in 2-D). I run the yarn through each limb 2-4 times, depending on how much loving I think the toy might get :)

imagining monsters

I was reading blogs today, and came across another softie maker mentioned on the PlushYou! blog. I thought her monsters were so great, I wanted to blog about them too, even if I am a day late for monster-related stuff. I really wanted to use a picture of one of her toys to go with the post, so I checked on Flickr, but nobody will let me use one! It's not like I'm trying to steal the pictures, or anything nefarious like that. Maybe if I had taken the time to write to the toy maker, and ask her for a photo to go with the post, she would be been okay with it. But there would go any spontaneity in my writing.

So you will just have to imagine these monsters: cool, multi-coloured, small to huge, big buggy eyes, jagged teeth, claws and all. It has planted the seed of cute, knitted monsters of my own. Maybe someday...



If you want to have a look at her stuff, rather than imagining it, you can go to her website.