giraffe division

  

Phildar coat and giraffe toy from Tricotez Calin #2
coat in Phildar Pegase, toy in Phildar Licorne and Lambswool

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I've been so sick this week. Got sick on Saturday and I knew I couldn't handle any serious knitting this weekend, so I brought a small stuffed animal project to Knitsmiths on Sunday.

This is all I managed at Knitsmiths and I've done very little since then. I tried a little of the duplicate stitch, but it required more concentration than I could muster with sinus pain and stomach cramps. If I ever feel well enough to continue with this little giraffe guy, he's going to be pretty cute though, I think. I've never done a stuffed animal before, so I've joined the Zoo-Along to give me some inspiration and support. Such fun little projects!

And here's something that'll make you sick. My yarn that I waited so long for to finish the cardi raye doesn't match what I already have. I suppose that's what I get for not ordering enough the first time. So I sent out a desperate message: "be your best friend if you have Plaisance Piscine in my dye lot." And that is why Kimberly is my new best friend! So until I see her at Knitsmiths next Sunday, it's back to the cardi wait-ing game. Not that I could knit right now anyway.

I'm feeling better, but my little giraffe has broken out in spots!

At first I found the duplicate stitch to be pretty slow going, but after a while I got the hang of it. Especially after one of my fellow Knitsmiths reminded me that no one will ever see the wrong side of the work, cause it'll be all stuffed and sewn up. Oh yeah! That makes the thought of weaving in all those ends slightly less paralyzing.

Here's Mr. Spots, with duplicate stitch all done, ends woven in, and seams begun.

Wanna see the inside? Thanks to Gina, who brought some stuffing for me to Knitsmiths, stuffing is already underway!

Note: for those who have asked or are thinking of asking, the giraffe toy pattern is from Phildar's Tricotez Calin #2 (spring/summer 2002). It's an out of print French pattern book and unfortunately, I've never seen any back issues of Phildar patterns available anywhere. It's not a difficult pattern to recreate though. The shape's pretty clear and you could place the stripes and spots wherever you like. Julia also suggested that this Fiber Trends llama pattern could be easily adapted to make a cute giraffe. She's made one and will post her pattern mods soon!

Took the boys to Chuck E Cheese this week. No special occasion, I'm just that kind of mom. Okay, the boys have hit the terrible twos big time and Chuck E Cheese seemed like a small price to pay for a day full of smiles and free of fighting. The kiddie arcade games were just perfect for the boys. Since they have the attention span of gnats. We tried out every one, several at the same time even. It went pretty much like this: hop on, insert token, hop off five seconds later while ride is still going, hop on another, insert token, repeat.

Luckily, the "photo ride" snaps a picture of your little one early on in the ride, so we got a good shot of St's first seconds of interest and fascination.

B however was too quick for Chuck. "Got to get oooouuuuuuttttttt".

So much for the mouse. And on to the giraffe....

(If you're a friend of mine, are expecting a baby, and your last name is a color, stop reading now please.)

And in another what won't we do for our kids and other people's babies moment, I'm putting the last finishing touches on the giraffe stuffed animal. Man, it's a lot of work making a little baby toy. But just look at its cute little tail! So worth it.

Finished the little giraffe toy over the weekend.

I showed it to the boys before I wrapped it up for my friends' baby shower. Had to make sure it was recognizable to kids, you know.

They're saying "giwaffe!"

Mom- and Dad-to-be liked it too. So it was a great success all around!

You don't mind if I start another project, do you? I know I'm supposed to be making tea sets and sleeves, but some projects will insist upon having deadlines.

Here's a start to the next baby sweater. This one is nice and simple and nice and small. In other words, it's flying off my needles! Kerrie and I are both making this one and hers is progressing just as quickly. It's the 20 second knitalong - better keep your eyes peeled next week, or you just may miss it!

The best knitting I've done in weeks was on the Peter Pan bus down to New York this weekend. With eight hours of travel knitting time, I managed to finish knitting all the pieces of the phildar baby sweater.

And I knit the little intarsia patch at Knitsmiths on Sunday.

I plan to start sewing this one up with my advanced beginning knitting students tonight!

PS - Check out how far Kerrie's gotten on hers. The 20 second knitalong is living up to its name!

The phildar baby sweater is quickly taking shape. I was worried about all the seaming in such a dark yarn - it's wicked hard to see those seams! - but surprisingly, I haven't had any problems at all. I'm seaming blind, but since the stitches are so even (after some necessary and extreme steam blocking), I can't help but dig out the right loops. It's like I'm just zipping up the sides.

 
mister bear models the unfinished sweater

I will be slowing down from my original 20 second knitalong pace, though. Mostly to avoid getting to all that embroidery and backstitch seaming on the giraffe patch, I think. Mike's Hard Lemonade just recommended itself as the perfect source of liquid courage for the final finishing. Look what was written on the inside of the cap from my bottle earlier this week.

okay, Mike, it's a date!

Now, let's check out Kerrie's progress, shall we? --> this way

We here at the blue blog baby sweater factory have officially been shamed back to the production lines by the super-productivity of others. First of all, it's closing in on the end of summer and everyone I know who is pregnant is just about to pop! Then I saw fellow Knitsmith, Gina, who has just finished four baby sweaters in the last couple of months for friends who are expecting (unfortunately I didn't have my camera with me when I saw her - but trust me, FOUR!). Okay, okay, I gotta pick up that phildar coat and finish it up.

a little duplicate stitch

and blanket stitch too

Now I just have to sew the giraffe patch on the back. So riddle me this, if a cow says moo, and a duck says quack, what does a giraffe say? "Finish me!"

sewing r2 back together again

sewing on the giraffe patch

...to the Phildar giraffe coat. Finally finished and sent off to the happy new parents.

Once I heard it was going to be a girl, I went ahead and did the blanket stitch trim in a more feminine lilac color. And I actually really like the navy for a little girl.

Of course, I absolutely love the giraffe! I'm such a sucker for these Phildar giraffes. In typical Phildar baby knits fashion, it's all about the finishing touches. They're a lot of work, but they do make all the difference.

Hey, I wish I had a coat like this!

(As always, specific project info like pattern and yarn details are at the top of the archive page for this project. Just click on the time stamp and page up from there.)

Send pictures of adorable baby looking cute with hand-knitted gift.