Christmas Presents, and Knitting Teddy Bear Jumpers

[kniteracy]

I got lovely gifts this year from J and G, a beautiful stuffed puppy dog and a cool t-shirt with a monster on it. From the ESDs, I got a membership to the 2009 FilkCon (J got one too!) and a copy of Billy Bragg's The Progressive Patriot, which I've wanted to read for some time. F found me a historical novel that looks like a great read, khaosworks sent *SQUEE* a copy of the Mamma Mia DVD, and janewilliams20
sent the sweetest little bear ever. He can be popped in the microwave to soothe achy bits, or so his little note tells me, although I should not let him share the microwave with a curry.

My New Bear! From friend janewilliams20, this is a little microwaveable bear who is filled with lavender and other good things. He is a sweetie.

My New Puppy! From G and J, here is my huggable cuddly little puppy dog. He is very hugable.

My New Bear, in the jumper I knitted him tonight As part of my prep for a miniature jumper class I'm teaching at iKnit London, I designed and knitted this jumper tonight. It's constructed in traditional shirt style, but without a gusset. It was knitted in the round, in Wensleydale Aran, on 4.5mm addi circulars. I worked in the round to the underarm, knitted both sides flat to the shoulder, used a three needle bindoff (we'll graft in class, since the three-needle bindoff creates a ridge I don't like), picked up stitches for the sleeve, and knitted each sleeve down in the round. No seaming or sewing was necessary. :-) I used basic design notes from Priscilla Gibson-Roberts' KNITTING IN THE OLD WAY, with some research from other places. Mostly, I worked it as a standard percentage sweater and made it up as I went along.

Teddy Bear Jumper, completed in about three hours of knitting This will be the template for my teddy bear jumper class.

The Ravelry Project Page for this jumper includes a more-or-less complete pattern.

Comments

[hobbitblue.livejournal.com]

Awww, so cute - and the jumper's great, looks like an ideal project for class, I think it would take me quite a bit longer. I presume you don't have any guage issues switching from knitting in the round ot knitting flat? I knitted a bag to my own design, first on circs and then on straights for the flap and the flap is much looser and really stands out (to my eyes), though I guess it wouldn't show on a dark colour...

[telynor.livejournal.com]

Like most knitters, I knit more loosely on the flat than in the round. I do my best to choke up on the purl stitches to make it less noticeable, and mostly it works. ;) Patterning on the flat bits can help it look less noticeable.

[hobbitblue.livejournal.com]

Heh, not just me then :)

[bercilakslady.livejournal.com]

I knit my first sweater, for my now almost week old cousin, over the past month, and just finished it. I'm going to make my next one a little smaller than the baby sweater so it fits my little puppy.