Introducing my new family member!

I have also been MIA recently but for a much different reason than JJ. I have been a busy little knitter! At my last post I mentioned that I would be straying from my normal scarf projects to make my first toy. Marmie visited and we took a trip to the store to purchase all the necessary tools for my monkey. I have been knitting away with teeny tiny little needles (size 3 and yes, I know that 3 is not very small but consider that previous to this I was only knitting with size 11.)

In addition to this I also ventured across the country for my first knitting lesson! I was planning on teaching a group of 3rd graders how to knit. Before I mention my monkey, let me give any of you considering teaching kids how to knit some pointers.

1. When you visit a website that tells you to teach kids to finger knit before using needles, follow that advice. (unless, of course, it is a one-on-one lesson.)
2. Draw diagrams to show kids exactly which holes to place their needles in. Again, this is for large group lessons.
3. If you do decide to skip the finger knitting, definitely start by casting on and knitting one row. (This is something that I actually did!)
4. Have something to give them when you are done because chances are they will have more tears and frustration than knitting. I wish I would have knit them each a back-up-swatch just in case.

All-in-all I would say the trip was successful. The kids did not learn how to knit but they got to see the process, learn a cute little phrase for remembering how to knit, and I got to see them again! Thanks CLCS for letting me visit!

I was in Boston last week because it was my Spring break. It was also a beautiful coincidence that I decided to start my previously mentioned Monkey Moo on this trip. Vacation is a great time to start knitting something! I had a lot of time to devote to my monkey. The head was the first part I made. I learned how to increase (thanks Marmie!), decrease (thanks Stitch n' Bitch!) and reviewed some other important techniques.

After the head I moved on to other body parts. I decided to postpone the mattress stitching to the end of the project because I didn't have the stuffing in Boston. After a few days I had the entire body finished and a deflated version of my monkey.


Then came the other new technique: mattress stitching. Thanks to a tutorial linked through the Monkey Moo page (http://mochimochiland.com/weblog/2008/03/mattress-stitch-tutorial-for-toys/) I was able to complete all the seams on my monkey and start to stuff him.


This morning I added the finishing touches: the eyes, eyebrows, nose, and attaching all the limbs! So here he is folks. Introducing for the very first time...Maggie's Monkey Moo!


I have to admit, I am having separation anxiety. I am not sure I can send this guy to his intended owner. I might just have to knit more! The other good news is that some folks were so impressed with my knitting that I now have more requests to knit things! Let the games begin!