elephant in the works

I've been working on an idea for a new pattern for a few months now. Back in the Spring, I knit a custom toy for an acquaintance, and I loved the finished toy so much that I knew I had to publish the pattern. You can see this toy in the photo below: a Scraps Chaps style elephant! People had been asking me for a long time to design an elephant, but there are so many elephant patterns out there, it took me a while to come up with an idea for one that would be all Fuzzy Mitten style.

However, while I love the scrappy look of that elephant, I thought I would try something a little different for the actual pattern. My original inspiration for the Scraps Chaps was Noro yarn, with it's interesting texture and beautiful long colour changes. However, that yarn always seemed too pricey to use for a toy, so I came up with the alternative of using yarn scraps. But now there are several other companies with similar yarns at a more affordable price, specifically Knit Picks Chroma yarn.

So, I ordered myself a ball, in the Midwinter colourway, which seemed perfect for an elephant. Sneaking in bits of knitting time here and there (this is a real challenge with a toddler and baby in the house), I've finally managed to knit up all the pieces. They're just waiting for a larger chunk of time for me to put the toy together.

So now I need to decide if that is all the pattern will include, i.e. an elephant knit in your choice of worsted weight yarn. Or, if I want to include something else with the toy. Usually my patterns come with a clothing outfit, and since the Scraps Chaps don't fit my other clothing patterns, this would be a good choice. But I have too many ideas, and I'm just not sure what you'd like! I've drawn sketches for a raglan cardigan, a shawl-collar coat, a shrug, and a shawl. But I'm open to other suggestions.

On the other hand, I have a couple other ideas floating around. Maybe I should write it up with more sizes, with the original Scraps Chaps style being medium (about 12" tall), plus larger and smaller sizes knit with thicker and thinner yarns. Or perhaps I should include other animals in the pattern, like how the Scraps Chaps comes with instructions for a rabbit, dog, and lion.

Since this is all rather a bit complicated to put in a poll, I'll just let you leave a comment with the option you'd like best. Now, of course I won't be able to please everyone, since I'm just looking for one good idea to include with the elephant pattern. Perhaps the weight of opinion will point me to the most popular choice, or perhaps I'll come up with something all on my own (that's happened before - but I do value your input anyway). Anyway, I will let you know when I've decided, and if all goes well, the pattern should be ready by the end of the summer!

home again

We are slowly getting settled in at home after a long vacation to visit my family. There are so many things to take care of after a month away (hello giant weeds in my garden!) If you are waiting for a reply to an email, I will be getting to those this afternoon and tomorrow, baby-permitting.

Pookies on Knit Picks

I'm a little late posting about this here, but if you haven't heard, the Pookies pattern is now available through Knit Picks. Overall, it's the same as the version I released on Ravelry, with just some added instructions for knitters who may not be familiar with my patterns. Most of the extra tips etc. can be found here through my hints and tutorials.

Working with the Knit Picks Independent Designer Program was a great experience, and I would love to work on more patterns with them! However, at the moment my life is full of feeding a chubby baby, keeping up with a busy toddler, tending a growing garden, planning a long vacation to my family in BC, and many other things. Sadly, knitting has fallen far down on my list of priorities. However, we should be back here more regularly at the end of the summer, when I hope to share all these fun experiences with you. And, who know, maybe even a cute toy or two!

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

over-flowing inbox

If you've been trying to contact me, I'm starting to go through my inbox today. However, estimating by the amount of email there, and how much time I have on the computer, it could take me a week or two to get through everything. Your patience is greatly appreciated.

Update (2:47 pm): I've replied to most of the messages in my email inbox, as well as Etsy messages. However, Ravelry messages will have to wait until tomorrow, as I have an upset baby to care for. (I wish there was some way to get all my messages in one place!)

Until then, look at the cute baby in knitted things! (the vest and slippers are both improvised designs, and made with some Knit Picks sock yarn I dyed a couple years ago)

welcome home

20110326: Welcome home, Kyr from Kay Ryabitsev on Vimeo.