The aforementioned cute gift.
I made this for my mom. She reads my blog, but I can post it here now since my six-year-old couldn’t hold out any more, so we had “Grandma Christmas” today.
This is a “pocket creature,” based on the pattern from Knitty. The idea is that it holds a little bag of rice and lavender, which can be removed and heated in the microwave, then put back inside the body of the creature. You keep it in a pocket to keep your hands warm.
Here it is with its innards out.
After reading various craft boards, I decided that flaxseed and lavender would work better than rice and lavender. It does seem to hold the heat better and not have a ricey smell. However, while the inner pouch does warm up nicely, not too much of that heat gets transferred to the outside of the creature, so it’s a bit of a wash as a handwarmer. But, MAN does it smell like lavender, which makes it great as a potpourri/sachet item. And you can always pop the inner pouch in the microwave again if you really want to disperse the scent.
I also sprang for the recommended yarn, Karabella Aurora 8, even though it’s a little luxe. I’m glad I did – this is easily the softest machine-washable wool I’ve ever laid hands on. And I’ve got plenty left for other projects. I picked up stitches for one of the arms a little differently than its mate, so it looks like it’s perpetually waving, but I think that just adds to its charm.
I’ll definitely be making this again. I’m not keen on strong lavender smells, as mentioned earlier, but I was thinking that peppermint or chamomile or cinnamon/gingerbready smells might be good. All in all, a success.
Cute.
Cute.
Agreed.
Agreed.
How long to knit one? I think I might need to pop a few of these together for the weekend festivities. Maybe.
Very adorable.
How long to knit one? I think I might need to pop a few of these together for the weekend festivities. Maybe.
Very adorable.
It really didn’t take long at all, but since it wasn’t mindless knitting (had to count for color changes, increase and decrease for the base, make little yarn-overs for arm and tail holes) I couldn’t knit it at stoplights. Making it just one color would make it cheaper and quicker. You could totally do a few for the weekend, if you don’t have a lot of other wrapping or shopping to do.
Umm… not that I would knit at stoplights. That would be wrong.
I got the flaxseed (uncooked non-instant rice works too) and lavender at a whole foods store, and some cotton fabric for the bag from a fabric store. Handy tip – even though the pattern says it’s good if the bag of stuff is a little floppy, I thought I’d go ahead and fill it. Using that bag, it looked like my little monster was in Alien and something was gonna pop through its stomach. I redid the bag as directed and it fit much better. So yes, six teaspoons total looks like about the right amount.
It really didn’t take long at all, but since it wasn’t mindless knitting (had to count for color changes, increase and decrease for the base, make little yarn-overs for arm and tail holes) I couldn’t knit it at stoplights. Making it just one color would make it cheaper and quicker. You could totally do a few for the weekend, if you don’t have a lot of other wrapping or shopping to do.
Umm… not that I would knit at stoplights. That would be wrong.
I got the flaxseed (uncooked non-instant rice works too) and lavender at a whole foods store, and some cotton fabric for the bag from a fabric store. Handy tip – even though the pattern says it’s good if the bag of stuff is a little floppy, I thought I’d go ahead and fill it. Using that bag, it looked like my little monster was in Alien and something was gonna pop through its stomach. I redid the bag as directed and it fit much better. So yes, six teaspoons total looks like about the right amount.
Not only do I love the pocket critter … but I wanted to say I LOVE this icon of yours. Who did it? Cause it is perfect!
Not only do I love the pocket critter … but I wanted to say I LOVE this icon of yours. Who did it? Cause it is perfect!
It’s a do-it-yourself site. You pick from dozens of noses, hairstyles, etc.
http://illustmaker.abi-station.com/index_en.shtml
It’s a do-it-yourself site. You pick from dozens of noses, hairstyles, etc.
http://illustmaker.abi-station.com/index_en.shtml