Minions everywhere.....

Field trip

I was asked to knit some minions. It was a nice distraction from all of the other knitting that I have been working on in the past few weeks.

I just couldn't help it, I had to assemble the entire group together for a nice picture. It reminds me of a class on a field trip.

The patterns for both version of minions are available on my blog for free:
Minions part 1
Minions part 2
Minions evil version

Of course, now I am thinking about other minion inspired things that I have knitted and wrote the patterns:
Tablet cover
Tablet cover evil version
Phone Cover
Hat (both versions)

What else will I knit? I have few ideas......

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Reading and knitting.....

Reading and knitting are two of my favorite things to do. If I could I would rather be knitting instead of house chores, but that is living in a dreamland rather than reality.

Anyway, I love our local library. We are very frequent visitors and know the librarians by their name. During the summer the children section of the library offers summer reading program. Children are encouraged to read and for every book they read or every hour they read they receive a raffle ticket. Local families and businesses donate prizes and children can place their raffle tickets to containers next to the prices on display. Each week the winners are randomly picked and the recipients receive their price.

Every year I donate some of my knitted toys. This year I gave two Miranda's the owl in pink and blue as well as Owlie tablet and phone cover. The other day we visited the library and the container next to my Miranda was filled with raffle tickets. It is a great feeling to see how many avid readers are in the library, and even more how many of the readers want to own my knitted Miranda.

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Knitting Pattern for Marnie, Miranda, Matilda, and Max (Birds)

Marnie, Miranda, Matilda, and Max

These adorable birds are knitted in the round. With beaks and wings knitted separately and sewn on later.
For this group of birds I have used one skein of Bernat Softee Baby Sport DK weight 310yards/283m per 120g/4.25oz – 1 ball in Prince Pebbles #31201.
Finished toys size: Marnie and Max approximately 5” (15cm), Miranda approximately 8” (20cm) tall, Matilda approximately 9.5” (24 cm) long and 9” (23cm) height.
Yarn usage:
Marnie and Max: Approximately 46-50 yards of yarn, approximately 1.5 - 2 yards each of soft peach color medium weight yarn for the beak.
Matilda: Approximately 137 -145 yards of yarn, approximately 2.5 yards of soft peach color medium weight yarn for the beak.
Miranda: Approximately 73 - 80 yards of yarn, and 2 – 2.5 yards of soft peach color for beak.
Also you will need safety eyes or buttons for the eyes and polyester fiberfill for stuffing.
to buy the knitting pattern click here or purchase it on Ravelry.



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Fun in the Sun....

Snowballs

Do you remember  my post from March 2014 about 101 knitted snowballs?

Today was the perfect day. The sky was blue, with few white puffy clouds, and sun shining down on us. The temperature was around 80 Fahrenheit  (about 26 Celsius), perhaps a bit on the warmer side, but still it was the perfect day to have a good snowball throwing party.


Bags with snowman picture (purchased after the holidays at 90% off the original price) held the party favors (snowballs) for everyone to take home.

Snowball Party

After everyone arrived the biggest snowball fight erupted. Even the adults participated.

Battlefield

As you can see the snowballs were everywhere.

We all agreed that a good snowball fight is perfect  anytime, especially when shared with friends.

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Birds

Marnie, Miranda, Matilda and Max

All of these birds were knitted from one skein of yarn.
You may wonder why did I do that. Use only one skein of yarn. I have always been curious about how many toys you can knit using one skein of yarn without doing the same type of toy over and over. The yarn I have used for this project is Bernat Softee Baby Sport DK weight 310yards/283m per 120g/4.25oz – 1 ball in Prince Pebbles #31201. I liked the color combination.

The patterns are test knitted at the moment and will be available sometime later this month.

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Monster Al and his Friends

Monster Al and his friends

I have few ongoing projects that I work on at the moment.

One of them is my Book Project.
After I received the enormous box of yarn from Cascade Yarn company  I had to basically start over again, because all of the patterns will be knitted with their yarn. I am looking for the right publisher and I hope to find one. But in case that will not happen I will make the entire collection as an e-book and individual patterns as well. I am hoping to have it all done later this year.

Another project that I work on at the moment is looking for a publisher for my story Monster Al and his Friends. My thesis advisor made me promise to do that and submit my story. It is disheartening to look for a children's book publisher that would be willing to take on board an unknown author. Second option that is suggested by many - go and find a literary agent seems to be as difficult as the first scenario. I would like to remain optimistic and believe that there is a good end to this journey.

My first story about Monster Al (which I posted on my blog about a year ago) has find quite a few readers.

Maybe that is the way to do it.
What do you think?

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Knitting Pattern for Jelly, the dachshund

Jelly, the dachshund

My latest knitting pattern for the newest knitted toy, Jelly the dachshund.

Finished toy size:  approximately 15" (38cm) including tail.
Yarn: Dream in Color Classy Worsted 100% Superwash Merino Wool  250yards per 4oz.
1 skein in Tea Party # 04
You will use about 160 – 170 yards.  About 15 yards of yarn for the collar. Small amount of black yarn for the eyes, nose, and mouth.


The knitting pattern is available to purchase by clicking on this button or on Ravelry.



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