Ewok Test : Teeny Tinny Little Bear

I finally got around to try out the yarn I purchased for the star wars character knitting project I am going to embark on. Since I did not just want to make a felted blob I decided to knit up a tinny little bear. He was very easy and fast to put together. I think overall it took me about 3 hours (embroidery, felting and all).

The felting process was great. I am very happy with what I got and with how much control I had over it. I soaked him in hot water and then just rubbed parts I wanted to felt between my fingers. Worked out great. I got the result I wanted and I am ready to start the Ewoks now.... Well almost at least. First I need to finish the socks I started on my US#3 Double Pointed needles. For now here is a picture of my tinny 2inch Bear. That has already been adopted by my husband and is sitting on the X-Box to fully dry off...

For those interested in making their own tinny bear here is how to:

Material: left over brown worsted weight yarn, feltable (I used Knit Picks "Wool of the Andes" in Chestnut), scraps of black for embroidered features, scraps of white, and some pink felt for the inside of the ears. A pair of Straight US size 3 (3.25 mm) needles. Tapestry needle.

Body: Cast on 5st, (kfb) 5 times, purl all, (Kfb K1) 5 times, purl all, (Kfb K2) 5 times, purl all, (kfb K3) 5 times, purl all, (kfb K4) 5 times, Stocking net for 9 rows, (ssk k4) 5 times, purl all, (ssk k3) 5 times, purl all, (ssk K2) 5 times, purl all, (ssk K1) 5 times, purl all, (ssk) 5 times, pull yarn through all stitches. --> sew together and stuff.

Arms: Cast on 6 stitches, knit stocking net for 5 rows, ssk 3 times, pull yarn through all stitches --> sew together

Legs: cast on 10 stitches, Knit stocking net for 3 rows, ssk 5 times, pull yarn through all stitches --> sew together

Ears: cast on 5 stitches, purl all, ssk k1 k2tog, pull yarn through all stitches, cut little felt insert that will fit and sew to the wrong side.

Finish: Sew arms and legs to body. Pull yarn ends from arms and feet to back where you want the tail and make a tight big knot (this is going to be the tail), felt in hot water, let dry, sew on ears, embroider face.

I am sure you can also knit him in the round (which would save you a lot of seaming).

Lots of Bordeaux and Wonky Turtles...

Keeping myself busy this weekend was a really easy task. I knitted two projects and finished them. Project on is what I call my Bordeaux Spring Thaw. It is a small shawlette that fits perfectly around my neck and locks great with my leather jacket... And this time I am definitely going to keep the shawl.

I also knitted a pair of fingerless gloves in the same yarn a few weeks ago which I gave away... (as most of my knitted items)

And then there is of course the Turtle. This was a request and it had to be green and pink. So I made the top part of the shell pink and purple which turned into a beautiful flower. The rest of it is knit in two different shades of green and two different yarn weights (dark green is a worsted, light green is a DK which I doubled). The reason I call her wonky is because of all the seed stitch used for her shell.

The pattern for the turtle can be found in Fiona McTague's Book "Knitted Toys". The shawl pattern is available on Ravelry by Cheri McEwen "Spring Thaw Shawl" and the Fingerless Gloves a worked after a pattern by Laura Peveler called "Leafy Fingerless Gloves".