07-29-2025

I have knit the 2 front legs and have already used 42g or 63 yards of yarn (Twill). By the time I’ve knit the back legs, I’ll be almost out of this yarn. I had planned to use it for the face too and the rainbow for the body. I’m very bummed out. I would’ve dyed more at the same time. Not sure if I’ll continue now.

09-10-2025

I ended up dyeing two more skeins of twill. Hopefully it is close enough in color to match the first. Haven’t been very motivated to knit this.

09-22-2025

So I started on the short rows for the butt the other day. Somehow managed to drop a stitch. I don’t know how. Not sure if it is because of the shadow wraps. I’ve done german short rows many times without problems. I ripped it all back. I guess it’s back to the drawing board.

09-27-2025

I did not enjoy the shadow wraps. It stretches out the stitch and doesn’t look as good as german short rows.

Also, started rainbow yarn on the torso and it is transitioning too slowly. There’s only 29 rows to the body and it is mostly orange/yellow/green and the green is super long. Anyway, I think I’m going to rip it back and redo. Maybe I’ll start on the other end of my yarn ball to get more colors and more rainbow-ness.

I thought this was going to be a straightforward knit and it is turning out to be rough. I’ve knit many stuffies and this one just isn’t going well.

10-13-2025

Finished knitting body. I had to rip it back because the yarn had miles of green and it was making my lion mostly green when he needs to be rainbow. I reknit from the other end of the yarn ball and now it looks appropriately rainbow.

12-19-2025

Finished. Seamed together and everything. Photos tomorrow.

12-23-2025

I remembered that Gracie likes her animals to have a mouth. So I added one before giving the lion to her.

12-27-2025

Gave Gracie her Lion on Christmas day. It was not her Christmas gift. She asked for it so long ago. Took me 6 months to complete. I just wasn’t motivated. She had been asking me every time she saw me, if I had finished the lion. Each time I had to say, “Not yet!”

She seemed to really like him. I think we settled on the name Ross, but not sure. That was because someone, I think her mom, said he looks like Bob Ross. So I suggested the name Bob and she said no. I suggested Ross and she nodded. We’ll see if the name sticks. Gracie seemed to like his tail a lot. Glad he has one.

Gracie held him all while opening her gifts, much to her grandmother’s dismay, who kept telling her to put the lion down. Anyway, I consider it a successful knit when the recipient is so happy with the outcome.