Meet Huggy

 

Meet Huggy.

He is the new friend of my boss's son. I know this because my boss texted me a picture of her son holding Huggy (as the monkey was named as soon as the son saw it).  Apparently since getting the monkey the night before he hadn't let the stuffy go and was planning to bring it to school later that week for sharing circle.

The picture of Huggy at his new home warmed my heart.  This little boy, who is in Grade 1, and his whole family have been having a long spring.  Without sharing details that aren't mine to share, the family has been having a tough time and there was really nothing I could do to help them, (other than be an awesome employee).  But I wanted to do something more and this is what I came up with.

I love when the things I make are loved.  Whether it is a dishcloth for my Grannie or socks for my mom, it gives me a warm fuzzy feeling to see the things I make in tatters because they have been used and appreciated. I think that is part of what appeals to me about knitting/crocheting/weaving/spinning is that the art I make is usable and is ultimately consumed by use.  I can't imagine what amateur painters, sculptors, and others do with all the things they make.

Well Huggy, welcome to the world; I'm so glad you are so well loved.  And if you want I will make you more bowties in other colors.

_____________________________________

Project: Huggy the Monkey and Huggy's Bowtie

Pattern: Owen by the Monkey by Stacy Trock of FreshStitches

Yarn: KnitPicks Brava Worsted in Umber Heather, Camel Heather and Red

FO: Toys for Toshie

For a knitter (or any sort of fiber artist) there is nothing quite like an appreciative recipient, and I think Tosh might have been the most appreciative recipient yet.

On Christmas morning she opened up her three little stuffed animals and she has been playing with them ever since.  The inspiration to make toys came from a Craftsy class with the amigurumi designer Stacey Trock of Fresh Stitches.  I don't have any small children in my life, and Toshie really needed some cute toys.

I'm really enjoying make the toys, I prefer the look of knitted toys, but honestly I am having tons and tons of fun crocheting these little critters and I'm developing a whole stash of Brava worsted to make a variety of creatures and monsters.  This is a change for me, I'm really not a fan of acrylic yarn, but it was the right thing for this project and at such an affordable price and great hand it is a great change of pace from super-pricey, but worth it, fancy blended hand-dyed yarns.

And it's not only me who has been inspired by these little toys, my mom has even picked back up a crochet hook.  She wants to start crocheting again to help strengthen her hands, she is an extremely talented gardener (check out her Tower Hill Heritage Garden page to see just a small portion of the work she does in our little town) but she wants to make sure her hands stay as nimble as can be as she works them very hard.  Crochet is her preferred craft (over knitting) and by switching her over to a knife hold (from a pencil) hold she has been able to get restarted.  She crocheted a bit before I was born (which is longer ago that either of us is willing to admit) but it's not something she had kept up with.  However, there is nothing like a cute toy and a cute puppy to inspire a crocheter to get back to her hooks.

- Details -

Project Names: Toshie Birdie, Toshie Bear, and Reindeer for Toshie

Pattern: Amigurumi Blue Bird, Amigurumi Teddy Bear and Amigurumi Deer all by Stacey Trock for the Amigurumi: Woodland Animals Craftsy Class

Recipient: Toshie, the cute white puppy

Yarn: KnitPicks Brava in a variety of colors

Modifications:

• No major mods, just color changes based on the yarns I had
• Embroidered eyes - I figured with a puppy chewing on them, I was better off embroidering on eyes with black yarn, than installing non-child-safe eyes.

New Skills:

• Making amigurumi
• Crocheting spirals
• Attaching pieces
• Embroidering eyes

Feedback:

• Yarn: I was surprised and delighted by the KnitPicks Brava.  While I had heard good things about it, it has been perfect for this type of project, and has already stood up to much wear and tear without any sign.
• Pattern: Craftsy is an interesting platform, and the patterns are well written, so it is a great way to learn more about the technique and get patterns I'm likely to use again.

Re-Crochet?: Very likely, I've already had requests for more birds, as they are perfect for little dogs, they are like soft balls that don't roll away under couches.

FO: First Scarf

While as a knitter I'm many eons beyond my first scarf, but now that I have a loom I get to experience a whole new series of firsts, including a first scarf.

It is a total mess (my selveges SUCK) and not the kind of colors I like to wear, but oh is it ever exciting.  When I look at the scarf I see possibilities, all the color combinations, the different possible textures, and a whole new way to use fibers, especially my handspun yarns that I find too overwhelming (or short) to knit into anything I might wear.

I learned so much while weaving this first scarf, you can almost see the learning curve in the scarf itself.  The edges are too loose, then too tight and then just about right, the picks are too close, then too far then just about right.  The motion of moving the heddle got smoother, the way I place the shuttle so that the yarn comes off smoothly became more natural.

I am excited to make more cloth, I already have my next project started, using up some mercerized cotton I bought back in university (which was more than a few years ago, although not that many).  I am going to try to make it into a cowl, I will sew it to itself, we will see how it goes!

- Details -

Project Name: First Scarf

Draft: Cricket Scarf from Cricket Loom Pattern Booklet (came with the loom)

Recipient: Not Sure, I'm not sure I would wear it, but it is my first woven item so I will probably keep it in the bucket.

Yarn: Brown Sheep Nature Spun Worsted

Modifications:

• I used the remainder of the green yarn for weft, but I was still a bit short, so I think I was doing more picks than designed for the pattern.

New Skills:

• Warping
• Weaving
• Balanced Weave
• All of it!

Feedback:

• Yarn - Meh, It came with the kit so I used it, but I would rather use KnitPicks Wool of the Andes if I am going to get a standard wooly worsted I want the color selection available in WotA (and WotA Tweed and Tonal ...)

Re-Weave?:  I'm sure there are lots of plain weave scarves in my future, so technically yes, but I won't be using these colors or yarns again.