I have a confession to make: I have only soldiered on in my sock attempts to prepare myself for some Opal yarn in the Harry Potter colorways. They come out in the fall, sometime before the movie. Since I've decided that I must possess them all, I feel a little obligated to actually make them into something. Though the prospect of just keeping the lovely skeins around (or having them framed) is quite appealing to me :-)
This got me thinking about the role the HP series has played in my knitting. After reading the books and having myself sorted (via sortinghat.com or something like that) into Slytherin I decided that I must have a scarf. [Side Note: Again, I'm not a bad person; though I suspect that my ambition can sometimes set my moral compass spinning, it does find itself again eventually.] I put aside the fact that I seldom visit latitudes North of, oh, Southern California or so, and sought out a Slytherin scarf for myself.
When I finally found a store selling them I couldn't bring myself to pay some $27 dollars for it. The USC bookstore sold a lovely Gryffindor 'SC scarf that fall for the bargain price of $10 and I caved, but it still wasn't the same. I felt like I was misrepresenting myself by wearing it to the movie premier. Weird huh? I found plenty of other things in WhimsicAlley to amuse me for hours on end (including a quill pen and ink, and a Dark Mark temporary tattoo), but the crafty part of my brain was whirring along at full tilt. "How are scarves made? They look woven together, not sewn up patches of color. Gee, I wonder how they do that. OH, knitting would do that ... right?" is how my internal monologue went. TO THE INTERNET!
After some brief googling I discovered that people can, in fact, knit these things themselves! I dashed out to Michaels, bought a skein of green and one of grey and a pair of needles. I had no regard for the type of yarn, it's gauge, or even the size of the needles really, so you probably know how this turned out. I worked diligently on my very first project and once I had mastered the Knit and Purl stitches (and realized that Knitting on BOTH sides means you end up with garter stitch) the scarf seemed to fly off the needles. Of course I was using US 10s (because 10 sounded like a nice round number at the time). I was very proud of my efforts, but not so much of the scarf. I had picked up reading a few knitting related sites and had learned so much that, despite the lacklustre scarf, I was hooked (or knitted, rather, as this isn't crochet afterall).
The scarf eventually ended up being ripped out and used to make Salazar the Bear. And I've never gotten around to making myself a proper Slytherin scarf either, but this doesn't trouble me much anymore because of a) the climate I live in and b) the fact that my halloween costume robe is Gryffindor too. [Side Note: this is because I could not find a suitable green lining fabric last year to save my life, but red was everywhere and on sale!]
Speaking of Sal though, I've found that his neck is a bit floppy which makes him look as if he's puzzled by something. Rather than busy myself with reinforcing his neck I decided to take a page out of Nearly Headless Nick's book and make him a scarf to hold his head up instead, haha! I took the book scarf pattern as it was originally posted and just kept knitting it until it was long enough for Sal. I'll have him try it on when I get home. [Imagine him with his head cocked to the side as if to say "For me?"]
Showing posts with label Salazar the Bear. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Salazar the Bear. Show all posts
Saturday, June 7, 2008
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Teddy Bear Toy
"Teddy isn't difficult to knit, but he is constructed as a toy so it's important that you follow the finishing instructions carefully to give him neat seams and well-filled proportions."
Measurements: Finished teddy is approximately 18" tall
You will need: Two skeins of 3.5 oz Sirdar Cossack Chunky (shade 084)
I used a skein of Simply Soft in Hunter Green and another partial skein in Heather Grey instead.
Pair of size 10.5 (6.5 mm) knitting needles
washable polyester toy stuffing
2 Buttons for eyes (I liked the snap-on eyes better)
Wool embroidery yarn in black
28" strong cotton tape
Gauge: 12.5 sts and 18 rows to 4" over St st on size 10.5 (6.5mm) needles, or the size required to give the correct gauge.
I used my size 5 knitting needles and never looked back. I'm not opposed to calculating the gauge, but it didn't seem to matter. And besides, I wanted a bit smaller bear anyway.
Abbreviations: ssp = Slip the first st, then the 2nd st knitwise, return the sts to left needle, take right needle behind to insert it into 2nd, then first st and p2tog.
Head: Left Side- cast on 12 sts. Beg with a k row, work 4 rows St st.
Ears (Make 2): Cast on 18 sts. Beg with a k row, work 4 rows in St st.
Body: Left Half: Cast on 13 sts.
Legs: Left Outer Leg: Cast on 16 sts. Beg with a k row, work 6 rows in St st.
Left Inner Leg: Reversing all shapings, work to match left outer leg.
Right Outer Leg: As left inner leg.
Soles: Make 2: [If you're using contrasting colors, this should be your alternate color] Cast on 5 sts. Work in st st, inc 1 st as before at each end of first and 2nd rows. 9 sts. Work 9 rows in St st. Dec one st as before at each end of next 2 rows. 5 sts. Bind off.
Arms: Left Outer Arm: Cast on 3 sts. Work in St st. (Inc 1 st at each end of next row and 1 st at beg of foll row) twice. 9 sts. Inc 1 st at beg of next and foll RS row. 11 sts. Purl 1 row.[If you're using contrasting colors, this should be your main color]
Left Inner Arm: Reversing all shapings, work to match left outer arm. [If you're using contrasting colors, this should be your alternate color]
Right Outer Arm: As left inner arm. [If you're using contrasting colors, this should be your main color]
To Finish:
Leaving a gap at bound-off edges, join sides of body and inner and outer arms and legs. Set in soles. Stuff arms and legs firmly and close gaps. Stuff lower half of body. Thread a large darning needle with a 16" length of tape. Pin one end of tape to top back seam. Bring needle out of body at left leg position, take through stitches and top of left inner leg, thread tape through body and out at right leg position, take through stitches at top of right inner leg and back into body. Undo pin, pull tape to close legs to body, and knot tape firmly. Stuff top of body and, using remaining tape, join arms in the same way. Complete body stuffing, gather bound-off edges, pull tight and secure.
Join left and right sides of head at chin, insert cast-on point of gusset at nose and sew sides of head to gusset. Stuff head firmly, filling out nose and neck well. Gather neck edge, pull tight and secure. Sew head onto body, tilting the work at an angle for ease. Using thread, embroider nose and mouth. Use black thread to sew through holes in one button, leaving long ends. Thread a sharp darning needle with one end, place button in left eye position and sew on, taking each end diagonally through head and out slightly apart at right ear position. Pull ends to pull button into head, knot and darn in. Sew on right eye button as before. Sew on ears.
Measurements: Finished teddy is approximately 18" tall
You will need: Two skeins of 3.5 oz Sirdar Cossack Chunky (shade 084)
I used a skein of Simply Soft in Hunter Green and another partial skein in Heather Grey instead.
Pair of size 10.5 (6.5 mm) knitting needles
washable polyester toy stuffing
2 Buttons for eyes (I liked the snap-on eyes better)
Wool embroidery yarn in black
28" strong cotton tape
Gauge: 12.5 sts and 18 rows to 4" over St st on size 10.5 (6.5mm) needles, or the size required to give the correct gauge.
I used my size 5 knitting needles and never looked back. I'm not opposed to calculating the gauge, but it didn't seem to matter. And besides, I wanted a bit smaller bear anyway.
Abbreviations: ssp = Slip the first st, then the 2nd st knitwise, return the sts to left needle, take right needle behind to insert it into 2nd, then first st and p2tog.
Head: Left Side- cast on 12 sts. Beg with a k row, work 4 rows St st.
- 5th row: (RS) Inc in first st, k to end. 13 sts. Purl 1 row.
- 7th row: Inc in first st, k to last 2 sts, inc in next st, k1. 15 sts.
- 8th row: Inc in first st, p to end. 16 sts.
- 9th and 10th rows: As 7th and 8th rows. 19 sts.
- 11th row: K to last 2 sts, inc in next st, k1. 20sts.
- 12th row: As 8th row. 21 sts.
- 13th row: As 11th row. 22 sts. Purl 1 row.
- 15th row: As 11th row. Work 9 rows in St st.**
- 25th row: (RS) K1, k2tog, k to end. 22 sts.
- 26th row: Bind off 8 sts, p to end. 14 sts.
- 27th row: As 25th row. 13 sts. Purl 1 row.
- 29th row: K1, k2tog, k to last 3 sts, sl1-k1-psso, k1. 11 sts. Purl 1 row.
- 31st row: As 29th row. 9 sts. Purl 1 row. Bind off.
- 25th row: (RS) Bind off 8 sts, k to last 3 sts, sl1-k1-psso, k1. 14 sts. Purl 1 row.
- 27th row: K to last 3 sts, sl1-k1-psso, k1. 13 sts. Complete as left side.
- 1st row: (RS) (Inc in next st) twice. 4 sts. Purl 1 row.
- 3rd row: (Inc in next st, k1) twice. 6 sts. Work 9 rows in St st.
- Inc row: (RS) Inc in first st, k to last 2 sts, inc in next st, k1. 8 sts.
- Dec row: K1, k2tog, k to last 3 sts, sl1-k1-psso, k1. 12 sts.
Ears (Make 2): Cast on 18 sts. Beg with a k row, work 4 rows in St st.
- Next row: (RS) K1, (K2tog), sl1-k1-psso) twice, k1. 6 sts.
Body: Left Half: Cast on 13 sts.
- 1st row: Inc in first st, k to last 2 sts, inc in next st, k1.
- 2nd row: Inc in first st, p to last 2 sts, inc in next st, p1.
- Inc in this way at each end of next 3 rows. 23 sts. Purl 1 row. Inc as before at the end of next 3 RS rows. 26 sts.
- Work 13 rows in St st.
- Dec row: (RS) K1, k2tog, k to last 3 sts, sl1-k1-psso, k1. 24 sts.
- Dec in this way at each end of 2 foll 4th rows and next 2 RS rows. 16 sts.
- Now dec 1 st at the end of the next 3 RS rows. 13 sts. Purl 1 row. Bind off.
Legs: Left Outer Leg: Cast on 16 sts. Beg with a k row, work 6 rows in St st.
- 7th row: (RS) K to last 3 sts, sl1-k1-psso, k1.
- 8th row: P1, ssp, p to end.
- 9th, 10th, and 11th rows: As 7th, 8th, and 7th rows. 11 sts. Purl 1 row.
- 13th row: (RS) K1, k2tog, k to last 2 sts, inc in next st, k1
- Work last 2 rows 3 more times. Purl 1 row.
- Inc row: (RS) Inc in first st, k to last 2 sts, inc in next st, k1. 13 sts.
- Inc in this way at each end of 2 foll RS rows. 17 sts.
- Work 9 rows in St st.
- Dec row: (RS) K1, k2tog, k to last 3 sts, sl1-k1-psso, k1.
- Dec in this way at each end of next 3 RS rows.
- Last row: (WS) P1, ssp, p to last 3 sts, p2tog, p1. 7 sts. Bind off.
Left Inner Leg: Reversing all shapings, work to match left outer leg.
Right Outer Leg: As left inner leg.
Soles: Make 2: [If you're using contrasting colors, this should be your alternate color] Cast on 5 sts. Work in st st, inc 1 st as before at each end of first and 2nd rows. 9 sts. Work 9 rows in St st. Dec one st as before at each end of next 2 rows. 5 sts. Bind off.
Arms: Left Outer Arm: Cast on 3 sts. Work in St st. (Inc 1 st at each end of next row and 1 st at beg of foll row) twice. 9 sts. Inc 1 st at beg of next and foll RS row. 11 sts. Purl 1 row.[If you're using contrasting colors, this should be your main color]
- Next row: (RS) Inc in first st, k to last 3 sts, sl1-k1-psso, k1.
- Work last 2 rows 3 times more. Work 3 rows in St st. Purl 1 row.
- Next row: (RS) K1, k2tog, k to last 2 sts, inc in next st, k1.
- Work last 2 rows twice more. Work 5 rows in St st.
- Dec as before at each end of next 4 rows. 5 sts. Bind off.
Left Inner Arm: Reversing all shapings, work to match left outer arm. [If you're using contrasting colors, this should be your alternate color]
Right Outer Arm: As left inner arm. [If you're using contrasting colors, this should be your main color]
To Finish:
Leaving a gap at bound-off edges, join sides of body and inner and outer arms and legs. Set in soles. Stuff arms and legs firmly and close gaps. Stuff lower half of body. Thread a large darning needle with a 16" length of tape. Pin one end of tape to top back seam. Bring needle out of body at left leg position, take through stitches and top of left inner leg, thread tape through body and out at right leg position, take through stitches at top of right inner leg and back into body. Undo pin, pull tape to close legs to body, and knot tape firmly. Stuff top of body and, using remaining tape, join arms in the same way. Complete body stuffing, gather bound-off edges, pull tight and secure.
Join left and right sides of head at chin, insert cast-on point of gusset at nose and sew sides of head to gusset. Stuff head firmly, filling out nose and neck well. Gather neck edge, pull tight and secure. Sew head onto body, tilting the work at an angle for ease. Using thread, embroider nose and mouth. Use black thread to sew through holes in one button, leaving long ends. Thread a sharp darning needle with one end, place button in left eye position and sew on, taking each end diagonally through head and out slightly apart at right ear position. Pull ends to pull button into head, knot and darn in. Sew on right eye button as before. Sew on ears.
Salazar the Bear
See, I told you that I had Slytherin leanings. And no, I don't think it makes me a bad person. It also doesn't make me one of the emo/hot topic crowd either. Anyways, meet Salazar:
He's a knit bear in Hunter Green and Heather Grey Simply Soft yarn. He's 15" standing up, has two snap-on button eyes, and loves long walks on the beach. His ears hadn't been sewn on until just now because I had to get a new yarn needle (the old one broke while I was doing his nose details, darn bear). He languished in the BIN OF UNFINISHED KNITS for months before he finally got ears and paw details and even a mouth!
He looks pretty happy to be out of the bin, don't you think?
Sal's pattern was quite a project, though it is ranked as Beginner in the book that it came from [Readers Digest The Complete Knitting Set]. It's a bit finicky for me, so he probably won't have any bear buddies any time soon. Want to make one for yourself? Here's the pattern I used!
You can use any colors you want to though. Make yourself a Godric, Helga, or Rowena out of contrasting house colors. Or I suppose you could make a regular bear too, but I think this was more fun!
He's a knit bear in Hunter Green and Heather Grey Simply Soft yarn. He's 15" standing up, has two snap-on button eyes, and loves long walks on the beach. His ears hadn't been sewn on until just now because I had to get a new yarn needle (the old one broke while I was doing his nose details, darn bear). He languished in the BIN OF UNFINISHED KNITS for months before he finally got ears and paw details and even a mouth!
He looks pretty happy to be out of the bin, don't you think?Sal's pattern was quite a project, though it is ranked as Beginner in the book that it came from [Readers Digest The Complete Knitting Set]. It's a bit finicky for me, so he probably won't have any bear buddies any time soon. Want to make one for yourself? Here's the pattern I used!
You can use any colors you want to though. Make yourself a Godric, Helga, or Rowena out of contrasting house colors. Or I suppose you could make a regular bear too, but I think this was more fun!
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