Oliver’s 1st birthday - This is the first project in a long time that I can’t wait to finish, usually I’m happy to take my time. I’m glad it’s so fun, since I have a real deadline this time :)
C1: Pumpkin
C2: Army Green
C3: Extra Creme Cafe
C4: Ruby
C5: Black
C6: Aran
4/16/15: These definitely grew a little during the blocking, mostly lengthwise. However it did grow a little in the waistband too and because of the elastic it now has some extra fabric there. I think it’ll be fine. Still totally love them, would definitely make them again! Trying to decide if I need to add grommets around the eyelet holes for the drawstring, and also what to use for drawstring. I don’t want it to be too bulky so I’m thinking icord is out…maybe a shoelace?
4/13/15: The eyes! The eyes are awesome. I modeled my face choices after Craftstina’s project because I liked the cute face more than the angry looking eyes. I’ll load a picture of my graph.
4/12/15: Well, this sat for a week while I worked on a mindless shawl that wound up requiring some thinking :) Finished the teeth today! Love it!
4/5/15: Finished leg 2! And grafted the crotch! Legs match, both stripes and length! So far so good :) Thanks tricksyknitter for a great tutorial on eliminating the gap on the sides of the graft.
3/29/15: Finished leg 1! Once I’d gotten through the first 3 I wished I’d done them a little thicker, but didn’t wish it enough to tink back and restart. I decided to go a little longer on the stripes and did a total of 58 rows instead of just 50. It added about 1” extra, which I think will help balance out the extra I did in the main body. I chose to do ribbing as other people had since I’m positive these will be too long - but I’d rather do the extra length now to make them last longer (I hope!) I knit 1 row around in C3, then did 20 rows of k2, p2 ribbing (with 51 stitches this left p1 at the very end of each row). I used JSSBO. Lay them flat and measured - they’re about 18” from waistband to bottom of leg cuff. Waistband to crotch is about 9”.
3/25/15: Made the split for the legs. I originally was going to try to knit them 2-at-a-time on magic loop, but it got too complicated within the first couple rows, before even introducing additional colors. Decided to do them one at a time, hopefully I don’t have a stressful day that changes my tension on one of them! Still using magic loop instead of dpn’s to try to avoid laddering.
Already forgot 1st row 5 decrease, have to tink back a couple rows…
I’m doing colors as follows:
2 rows black (C5)
5 rows pumpkin (C1)
2 rows black (C5)
5 rows army green (C2)
Repeating 4 times, then C5 one more time, total of 58 rows, 8 stripes of alternating C1 & C2 with C5 in between.
Props to Craftsy for the reminder on jogless stripes!
3/24/15: Got through the mouth shortrows (C4)! I was a little confused about the closing of the gap between the main color and the first short row stitch but figured it out after a little trial and error. So cute! I was unsure if the total measurement before starting the increases should be taken from the front or over the short rows, but I figured probably the front to be safe. I think I went a little longer than I should have, approximately 17cm instead of 15, but I don’t think it’s that important. They’ll just sit higher on his waist :)
3/23/15: Knit 22 rows on US 6 for front of the waistband before picking up the provisional cast on edge and knitting them together (row 23). I joined about 1/3 of the stitches, then threaded my 2” wide elastic through to give myself a better idea of how much I needed. Cut the elastic & sewed it together. I cut the elastic to match the waistband, not be smaller, as I wanted it to stretch outwards without being too tight. That’s why I added the eyelets for a drawstring - that way if they’re too loose to start they can use a drawstring to hold them up and then the elastic as he grows.
Switched to C3, knit 1 more row as 108 stitches because I forgot to increase, then increased to 112 on next row.
3/21/15: Cast of on 108 stitches using provisional crochet cast on, US 5. Joined in the round, knit 14 rows. I’m following sarahlv’s suggestion for the elastic waistband, but also adding a drawstring for extra security. I added 2 drawstring holes on the 15th row as follows: k5, k2tog, double yo, ssk, knit to last 9 stitches, k2tog, double yo, ssk, k5. Next time I think I’d do them a little closer together. On the next row I kfb in the double yo’s to add 2 stitches back in on each side. Knit 6 more rows in C1, then changed to C2, knit 1 row - 23 total rows for inside of waistband.
Purl 1 row.
Next row changed to US 6 for outside of waistband.
Notes on amount of yarn used each portion:
Inside of waistband - 35g C1 remaining, approximately 41 yards used
Outside of waistband - 29g C2 remaining, approximately 57 yards used
Monster mouth - 47g C4 remaining, approximately 6 yards used
Body before legs - 9g C3 remaining, approximately 112 yards used
Stripes - approximately 30 yards of C5 used, between main colors
Approximately 40 yards of C1 & C2 used each, main colors