How to create soft and cuddly monster

Few weeks ago, my child draw a picture. It was a very specific drawing, with many details. Then I was asked to knit this monster. As always I couldn't say no. We picked the color and yarn.
I took my knitting needles and began to experiment.

 I always wonder if I can capture the vision of the artist. If I can translate the two dimensional drawing into the three dimensional knitted toy. I must have done a good job, since I have received several hugs and kisses in exchange for a new toy to play with.

We named him (or her?) Loopy.

In a sense this is what design is about. Translate an idea or a vision into an actual product.

Now, I have some more drawings. And of course  more monsters to knit.

Thank you for visiting.

Knitting Pattern for Jiggle

         

Jiggle
by Stana D.S.

Finished Toy size: approximately 8” (20cm) tall

Yarn: You will need less than a ball of yarn in sport to medium worsted weight. Also you will need small amount of red yarn for mouth and black embroidery yarn for embroidering the eyes.

Recommended Needles size: Double pointed needles US #3/3.25mm (set of 5)

Notions:

Yarn needle, crochet hook, scissors, stitch marker, polyester fiberfill (1 small bag), stitch holders,two safety eyes,small piece of red felt for heart.

Abbreviations: KFB = Knit in front and back of the same st, this creates 2sts from 1st.

SSK= slip st, slip st and knit the 2sts together, this decrease 2sts to 1st.

Gauge: will vary with the yarn used.

INSTRUCTIONS:

Body:

With the main color yarn and one double pointed needles cast on 15sts.
Row 1: Knit 15, then turn the work upside down, with second and third needle pick up and knit 15sts along the cast on edge. Place a stitch marker on the first st., and continue working in the round. (30sts total)
Row 2: *KFB, Knit 13, KFB; repeat from * around (34sts total)
Row 3: *KFB, Knit 15, KFB; repeat from * around (38sts total)
Row 4: *KFB, Knit 17, KFB; repeat from * around (42sts total)
Row 5: *KFB, Knit 19, KFB; repeat from * around (46sts total)
Row 6: *KFB, Knit 21, KFB; repeat from * around (50sts total)
Row 7: Purl around (50sts total)
Row 8 - 56: Knit around 49 rows (50sts total). Stuff the body with fiberfill. At this point transfer the last 9sts in the row onto a stitch holder.
Row 57: Knit first 9sts, and transfer them onto the stitch holder. Knit and cast off the next 7sts from the front and 7sts from the back of your work, using the method of 3 needles bind off. Divide the remaining 18sts onto 3 or 4 needle and continue in the round with these 18sts.
Row 58 - 67: Knit around 10 rows (18sts total). Insert the safety eye at this point if using them.
Row 68: SSK all around (9sts total)
Row 69: Knit around (9sts total). Finish stuffing the top of Jiggle's head. Cut the yarn, leaving long enough tail and thread the end on a yarn needle. Pull the end through the remaining stitches on needles, gather up and close the hole, stitch to secure.
Transfer the 18sts from the stitch holders onto DPN and reattach the yarn, leaving long enough tail. Repeat the Rows 58 -  69 for the second top part of Jiggle's body.  With the long tail from the reattached yarn sew up and secure the openings on the top of Jiggle's body.

Lips: With two double pointed needles, cast on 4sts in red yarn.

Row 1: Knit 4, then turn the work upside down, with second needle pick up and knit 4 sts along the cast on edge.

Row 2: Knit around, 4 sts per needle, (8sts total)

Row 3: *KFB, knit 2, KFB, repeat from * around, (12sts total)

Row 4: Knit and cast off from both double pointed needles at the same time. Cut the yarn, leaving long enough tail, and thread the end on a yarn needle. Sew the lips on the face of Jiggle using the picture as a guide.  

Finishing: If not using the safety eyes, embroider the eyes, using the picture as a guide. Also you can cut out the heart shape from the red felt and sew it onto the Jiggle's chest.

Copyright: This pattern was design and written by Stana D. S. The pattern is for personal use only. The finished items may not be sold for profit, except for charity purposes. Please acknowledge the author.

Thank you.

Rumbling Of the Soul

This post is not a typical one for this blog.

 Mostly my blog Stana's Critters Etc. is all about knitting and Knitting Patterns. The most favorite posts are those that are actual Knitting Patterns, and that's fine with me. I enjoy when other people make something that I have designed and created. It's actually very satisfying to see other people's project and interpretations of my designs and ideas. To see how much joy the knitted critters can bring to their recipients.

But there is more to me, than knitting. Usually, I try to keep it out of the way, but today I feel like sharing this other part of me with you, my readers.  As a perpetual student in the field of Creative Writing I take various writing classes, and this spring I took a poetry class. It was interesting class and even though I do not consider myself a poet I enjoyed it. I must have done something right because the professor asked for a signed copy of my work titled "Voices of Babel". It's a visual poem with words in several languages repeating the same words "My journey through life from birth to death". The professor even suggested to me that I should submit the work. But the world of aspiring writers is filled with endless piles of rejection letters and unreplied query letters. Once in a while I feel so helpless that I want to give up, but it's like with the knitting, once you started you cannot stop. You may leave it aside for a while, but you always return to it.  I would like to end this post with another poem from the portfolio I created during the poetry class. The portfolio was titled Journeys and I hope that you will all enjoy the journeys you have ahead.

Thank you for visiting.

I walk alone

To visit the place

Where I buried

My dream

Monkey business

A mom to be, has a thing for monkeys.  The nursery theme is monkeys.
Yet, nobody knows if the baby will also enjoy  monkeys. Is it important at this point?
What to do?

A small knitted monkey to make the mom to be happy.

Thank you for visiting.

Knitting Pattern for Wormie

Wormie by Stana D.S.

Finished toy size: 6" (15cm)
Yarn: Approximately 180g of yarn in medium weight. I have used various remnants of yarn, all in similar thickness and weight. Small ball of white yarn (for body, arms, and eyes), small amount of red yarn (for lips), and small amount of black yarn (for eyes).
Recommended Needle Size: DPN US#3/3.25mm (set of 4). Or use your preferred needles for knitting in the round. Also the tool for making the tubes, or you can do the I-cord technique.
Notions: Yarn needle, scissors, stitch marker, polyester fiberfill (1 small bag), the spool for making the tubes, crochet hook.
Abbreviations: KFB = Knit in front and back of the same st, it creates 2sts from 1st.
SSK = Slip st, slip st and knit the 2sts together. This decrease 2sts to 1st.
I-cord = the stitches are knitted from one needle to second needle, do not turn the needle with sts around, just push the sts to the beginning of the needle and knit again. This technique makes tube.

INSTRUCTIONS: Wormie is knitted in the rounds, start at the bottom of the body. The eyes, arms and lips are knitted separately and sewn on.  The colorful loops are made separately (whichever method you prefer - I-cord or on the spool) and sewn onto the body.

Tubes: With the DPN cast on 4sts and I-cord the tubes. Or if using the spool make the tubes on the spool. Use various colors of yarn, the length of stripes should be random, or if preferred the same length. You will need approximately 6 -7 tubes in the length of about 3meters (120") each, this depends on how big the loops will be when you will sew them onto Wormie's body.
Body:
With the yarn and three DPN cast on 6sts (2sts per needle). Place the stitch marker on the first st and begin working in the round.
Row 1: Knit around (6sts total)
Row 2: KFB all around, 4sts per needle (12sts total)
Row 3: Knit around (12sts total)
Row 4: KFB all around, 8sts per needle (24sts total)
Row 5: Knit around (24sts total)
Row 6: *KFB, Knit 1; repeat from * around, 12sts per needle (36sts total)
Row 7: Knit around (36sts total)
Row 8: *KFB, Knit 2; repeat from * around, 16sts per needle (48sts total)
Row 9 - 22: Knit around (48sts total)
Row 23: *SSK, Knit 6; repeat from * around, 14sts per needle (42sts total)
Row 24 - 26: Knit around (42sts total)
Row 27: *SSK, Knit 5; repeat from * around, 12sts per needle (36sts total)
Row 28 - 30: Knit around (36sts total)
Row 31: *SSK, Knit 4; repeat from * around, 10sts per needle (30sts total)
Row 32 - 34: Knit around (30sts total). Thread the tail from the cast on sts on a yarn needle. Stitch through all of the cast on stitches, pull up tight to close the hole, stitch to secure. Begin to stuff the body with fiberfill.
Row 35: *SSK, Knit 1; repeat from * around (20sts total)
Row 36: Knit around (20 sts total)
Row 37: *SSK, Knit 1; repeat from * around, the last will be SSK (13sts total)
Row 38: Knit around (13sts total). Finish stuffing the Wormie. Cut the yarn, leaving long enough tail, and thread the end on a yarn needle. Pull the end through the remaining stitches on needles, gather up and close the hole, stitch to secure.

Eye balls (make 2):
With the yarn and three DPN cast on 9sts (3sts per needle). Place the stitch marker on the first st and begin working in the round.
Row 1: Knit around (9sts total)
Row 2: *KFB, Knit 2; repeat from * around, 4sts per needle (12sts total)
Row 3: * KFB, Knit 3; repeat from * around, 5sts per needle (15sts total)
Row 4: Knit around (15sts total). Change the yarn to the black yarn.
Row 5 - 6: Knit around (15sts total)
Row 7: *SSK, Knit 3; repeat from * around, 4sts per needle (12sts total)
Row 8: Knit around (12sts total). Thread the tail from the cast on sts on a yarn needle. Stitch through all of the cast on stitches, pull up tight to close the hole, stitch to secure. Begin to stuff the eye ball with fiberfill.
Row 9: *SSK, Knit 2; repeat from * around, 3sts per needle (9sts total)
Row 10: Knit around (9sts total). Finish stuffing the eye ball. Cut the yarn, leaving long enough tail, and thread the end on a yarn needle. Pull the end through the remaining stitches on needles, gather up and close the hole, stitch to secure.  Sew the eye ball on Wormie's head using the picture as a guide. Repeat for the second eye ball.

Arms (make 2):
With the yarn and two DPN cast on 6sts (sts per needle). Place the stitch marker on the first st and begin working in the round.
Row 1 - 20: Knit around (6sts total)
Row 21: KFB around, 6sts per needle (12sts total) Divide the sts for 3 fingers, each finger has 4sts. You will need the first 2sts and the last 2sts for the first finger. Leave the remaining sts on a stitch holder. Continue working in the round with 4sts for the first finger
Row 22 - 24: Knit around (4sts total)
Row 25: Knit around (4sts total) Finish stuffing the finger. Cut the yarn, leaving long tail, and thread the end on a yarn needle. Pull the end through the remaining stitches on needles, gather up and close the hole, stitch to secure. Reattach the yarn and continue with the second finger. Use the next 2sts from the front and 2sts from the back of the arm. Repeat the rows 22 - 25 for all other fingers. Weave in all the ends.
Thread the tail from the cast on sts on a yarn needle and sew the arm on the body of Wormie using the picture as a guide. Repeat for the second arm.

Lips: With the red yarn and DPN cast on 4sts.
I-cord 4rows. Continue knitting in the rounds.
Row 5: SSK around (8sts total)
Row 6: Knit around (8sts total)
Row 7: *SSK, Knit 1; repeat from * around (12sts total)
Row 8: Knit around (12sts total)
Row 9: *SSK, Knit 1; repeat from * around (18sts total)
Row 9: Knit around (18sts total)
Row 10: Knit and cast off all sts. Cut of the yarn and leave long enough tail. Sew the cast off sts to create the pucker up lips all around Wormie's lips, weave in the end. Thread the tail from cast on sts on a needle and sew the lips onto Wormie's body using the picture as a guide.

Finishing: Take the first tube and start sewing it onto the Wormie's body. Stitch through the tube to secure the beginning onto the body, make a small loop and secure the loop by sewing it to Wormie's body. Keep continue to make the small loops and sewing it to the Wormie's body. Start at the top of Wormie's head and work around his eyes, lips, and arms. Continue until you cover the entire body with loops. I was sewing the loops onto the body in the rounds. Finish the loops on the bottom, by creating the four loops that make it easier for Wormie to stand. See the picture as a guide. 

Copyright: This pattern was design and written by Stana D.S. The pattern is for personal use only. The finished items may not be sold for profit, except for charity purposes. Please acknowledge the author. Thank you.



Knitting Pattern for Toadie

Toadie
 by Stana D.S.
Finished toy size: 5" (13cm)
Yarn: Less than a ball of a funky colored yarn in medium weight.
Recommended Needle Size: DPN US#3/3.25mm (set of 4). Or use your preferred needles for knitting in the round.
Notions: Yarn needle, scissors, stitch marker, polyester fiberfill (1 small bag), small amount of white yarn for the eyes, small amount of black embroidery yarn.
Abbreviations: KFB = Knit in front and back of the same st, it creates 2sts from 1st. SSK = Slip st, slip st and knit the 2sts together. This decrease 2sts to 1st.

INSTRUCTIONS: Toadie is knitted in the rounds, start at the bottom of the body. The eyes, arms and legs are knitted separately and sewn on.
Body:
With the yarn and three DPN cast on 6sts (2sts per needle). Place the stitch marker on the first st and begin working in the round.
Row 1: Knit around (6sts total)
Row 2: KFB all around, 4sts per needle (12sts total)
Row 3: Knit around (12sts total)
Row 4: KFB all around, 8sts per needle (24sts total)
Row 5: Knit around (24sts total)
Row 6: *KFB, Knit 1; repeat from * around, 12sts per needle (36sts total)
Row 7: Knit around (36sts total)
Row 8: *KFB, Knit 2; repeat from * around, 16sts per needle (48sts total)
Row 9 - 22: Knit around (48sts total)
Row 23: *SSK, Knit 6; repeat from * around, 14sts per needle (42sts total)
Row 24 - 26: Knit around (42sts total)
Row 27: *SSK, Knit 5; repeat from * around, 12sts per needle (36sts total)
Row 28 - 30: Knit around (36sts total)
Row 31: *SSK, Knit 4; repeat from * around, 10sts per needle (30sts total)
Row 32 - 34: Knit around (30sts total). Thread the tail from the cast on sts on a yarn needle. Stitch through all of the cast on stitches, pull up tight to close the hole, stitch to secure. Begin to stuff the body with fiberfill.
Row 35: *SSK, Knit 1; repeat from * around (20sts total)
Row 36: Knit around (20 sts total)
Row 37: *SSK, Knit 1; repeat from * around, the last will be SSK (13sts total)
Row 38: Knit around (13sts total). Finish stuffing the Toadie. Cut the yarn, leaving long enough tail, and thread the end on a yarn needle. Pull the end through the remaining stitches on needles, gather up and close the hole, stitch to secure.

Eye balls (make 2):
With the yarn and three DPN cast on 9sts (3sts per needle). Place the stitch marker on the first st and begin working in the round.
Row 1: Knit around (9sts total)
Row 2: *KFB, Knit 2; repeat from * around, 4sts per needle (12sts total)
Row 3: * KFB, Knit 3; repeat from * around, 5sts per needle (15sts total)
Row 4: Knit around (15sts total). Change the yarn to the white yarn.
Row 5 - 6: Knit around (15sts total)
Row 7: *SSK, Knit 3; repeat from * around, 4sts per needle (12sts total)
Row 8: Knit around (12sts total). Thread the tail from the cast on sts on a yarn needle. Stitch through all of the cast on stitches, pull up tight to close the hole, stitch to secure. Begin to stuff the eye ball with fiberfill.
Row 9: *SSK, Knit 2; repeat from * around, 3sts per needle (9sts total)
Row 10: Knit around (9sts total). Finish stuffing the eye ball. Cut the yarn, leaving long enough tail, and thread the end on a yarn needle. Pull the end through the remaining stitches on needles, gather up and close the hole, stitch to secure. With the black embroidery yarn embroider the pupil on the eye ball, using the picture as a guide. Sew the eye ball on Toadie's head using the picture as a guide. Repeat for the second eye ball.

Arms (make 2):
With the yarn and two DPN cast on 6sts (sts per needle). Place the stitch marker on the first st and begin working in the round.
Row 1 - 20: Knit around (6sts total)
Row 21: KFB around, 6sts per needle (12sts total) Divide the sts for 3 fingers, each finger has 4sts. You will need the first 2sts and the last 2sts for the first finger. Leave the remaining sts on a stitch holder. Continue working in the round with 4sts for the first finger
Row 22 - 24: Knit around (4sts total)
Row 25: Knit around (4sts total) Finish stuffing the finger. Cut the yarn, leaving long tail, and thread the end on a yarn needle. Pull the end through the remaining stitches on needles, gather up and close the hole, stitch to secure. Reattach the yarn and continue with the second finger. Use the next 2sts from the front and 2sts from the back of the arm. Repeat the rows 22 - 25 for all other fingers. Weave in all the ends.
Thread the tail from the cast on sts on a yarn needle and sew the arm on the body of Toadie using the picture as a guide. Repeat for the second arm.

Legs (make 2):
With the yarn and two DPN cast on 6sts (2sts per needle). Place the stitch marker on the first st and begin working in the round.
Row 1 - 20: Knit around (6sts total)
Row 21: KFB around, 6sts per needle (12sts total)
Row 22 - 24: Knit around (12sts total)
Row 25: SSK all around (6sts total) Lightly stuff the feet part of leg. Cut the yarn, leaving long enough tail, thread the tail on a yarn needle and stitch to secure. Thread the tail from the cast on sts on a yarn needle and sew the leg on the body of Toadie using the picture as a guide. Repeat for the second leg.

Finishing: With the black embroidery yarn embroider the mouth on Toadie's head using the picture as a guide.
Copyright: This pattern was design and written by Stana D.S. The pattern is for personal use only. The finished items may not be sold for profit, except for charity purposes. Please acknowledge the author. Thank you.

More of the Baby Stuff

This is the collection of photographer's props that I have been working on for a while.

Any baby dressed in the matching set of the hat and the diaper cover will be adorable.

It's a work in progress......


Thank you for visiting.