This is an amazing pattern. The attention to the small details is amazing. It isn’t just the ingenious shapes that form together, it is the wonderful details that really make this an superb pattern. It takes a lot to impress me. This is more than a lot. :)

Gonna take a while to write out all the charts, but I cannot knit fast if I am reading from charts. Worth it, to me, because I zip zip zip through if I don’t have to stop to read a chart. I am always amazed that some people can knit and chart read-my heroes! :)

The chart for the tortoise starts on row 1 but in the notation portion it says 0.

I usually never rate a pattern until I am finished-BUT I have done enough of the animals as well as sewn them together to see that it works-brilliantly. Definitely a 5-star-I’d give it an extra one if I could.

3-20-15: Finally bit the bullet and bought this pattern. I keep seeing it pop up every once in a while, and it’s so intriguing. I’m going to bide my time and find a color scheme I really like-it can make or break this project IMO.
An easy way to play with colors is to use photoshop and use the ‘replace colors’ you can toggle around and watch the hues slowly change. FUN I think, the reason that this is so complicated is because there are three colors….I don’t like using three colors because you always wind up with a color you don’t like to get it to flow properly if you use the color wheel anyhow.

3-21-14: I had a dream about this blanket. Not kidding. I have no idea what kind of yarn I want to use for this-I am teetering between sport and worsted….but I’m also thinking I’d love to attempt some sort of clothing item in fingering. This may turn into another love affair project if I am not careful. I couldn’t help myself-I started to try out a fish on some junk yarn (had to test out my written instruction)-so far he is super awesome and is a fun knit!

later that day: finished the fishy, I used a junky worsted I had and I rather like the size…not too big but not too small-I don’t want this to take me forever, so I am thinking on using that type of yarn. The written worked like a charm so I’m tickled pink, that this will be a very VERY fun project! :)

3-22-15: I’ve gotten through a test run using junk yarns of the fish and the bird now using my written instruction. I am amazed at the wonderful detail that really brings these things to life. They are not just blobs of yarn, each piece is a work of art. So glad I decided to give this a whirl. I think…I have decided on the color scheme. I am leaning between the first three sample photos of colors on my project page….they are all in order of my favorites from most to least.

I started on the turtle as well, about halfway with him. I like that he is a little less intricate, so this will be a really nice project to work on-not boring and then a few little ‘breaks.’ I’ve not had much experience using a lot of slip stitches in my knitting before, so the turtle has been interesting, seeing how that works up.

3-24-15: I think I picked my yarn. I bought some today, hoping it will look nice. It is acrylic though. :( I wasn’t planning on steeking (although I have always wanted to try it) because I want to have the ends of the blanket misshapen (hashtagfreeformloverproblems) so the fact that you shouldn’t steek acrylic isn’t an issue for me. I wanted a wool blend, but I did the math, and I don’t think I can financially handle that nice yarn I wanted. I’ll make up a few animals and see how they are-if I am not happy I will save up and splurge. My LYS is actually closed right now anyhow as they are moving-and won’t be in the new location for a few weeks, and I refuse to buy yarn on line. I need to touchy feely it…

3-25-15: I started using the acrylic last night….I actually don’t hate it…we’ll see how it looks with three sewn together…Later that day-I managed to get a bird and a fish done in my yarn and I sewed them together. O.M.G. I am far more pleased with my yarn choice than I thought I was going to be!

3-27-15: I’m zipping along, so SO glad I wrote out the instruction. I just have to triple check the duck before I send on my written to Jana (just in case anyone else has use of them).

3-28: I’ve gotten a few more animals done. Love this pattern. :) I’m sewing them together as I complete them. I HATE sewing, but don’t mind it if it is a little bit at a time, so I think, for me, that is the way to go. I’ll cringe if I have to sew them all up at one time. :)

4-3-15: I’ve been plugging away-bouncing between this and the mkal I’m participating in, working up a silly little crochet design I’ve had floating in my head, and mentally preparing a knitting design….I’m almost done with a complete ‘circle’ and am crazy giddy. Just need one more tortoise for that milestone…only a gazillion more to go! haha! I love how, with each piece added, it seems to just come more and more alive….I really am enjoying working on this. :)

4-11-15: Still plugging away, averaging an animal or two a day-if I am lucky. This is for sure a long haul project for me….but it is not losing my interest. Love these little animals, and watching them come to live is quite amazing. :)

4-15-15: Yesterday, I got home from karate (where I was able to complete a fish and start a bird) with dd, and hubby had this really sad look in his eyes….He called a family meeting and explained how he burned the garden. I HATE when we have to burn (that is how my great grampy died so I get a little unreasonable about it) so I was already flipping out-I don’t ever want him burning when I am not home….When he finally cut to the chase it was explained how he heard squeaking coming from the garden (70 feet x 90 feet of burning grass) and he found a tiny baby bunny crawling out of the blaze. He scooped it up and inspected it for burns and it looked OK, so he put it in the chicken coop for me to deal with.

I ran out there and looked for his nest and found another bunny crawling around (with a little singed hair but nothing damaging his skin thank god) and he was right next to his nest. Thankfully, a garden burn is really quick-it doesn’t keep burning and smoldering-more like a big POOF and done. He crawled back in his little nest and I had ds grab his little brother and we stuck him in there too. Hopefully mama will not be scared of the burn smell-they are usually pretty good mamas

5-20-15: No, I haven’t forgot about this awesome project. I just still have mom here and I cannot count with her around. She has these random outbursts of screaming fits (usually directed at the television) that demand my attention. I keep losing count with her around. Instead of glaring at her and messing up my knitting I am only going to work on mindless things until she goes back home. Which, unfortunately, won’t be until her physical therapy is done-most likely not until August??? UUGHHH!!!

7-20-15: YEAHH! MOM IS GONE!!! Oh my gosh. I thought she’d never leave!!! I picked this up again last night and loved every moment of it! :)

8-14-15: Still trying to do at least one animal every few days…I’ve had an epiphany. This is going to be the awesomest cape ever. :)