Last time we talked I was going to work on the blue sweater, Short Raglan, with the braided hem. I tried, I even knitted a full skirt to it, but somehow it just does not seem right. It is as if there is too much in the fabric for me to get grip of. There are the cables in the raglan shaping, there are the purls rows at the hem and then the braids and the fact that it is so wide and short. I took it to pieces and worked also on the sleeves but so far nothing has felt right. I had to put it away, I am not sure if I am going to rip it all and knit something else with the yarn at some other time, or if I will yet try to fix it.
While
pondering about the blue sweater, I was not paying attention and my knitting
enthusiasm got buried in a pile of snow and I was afraid that I had lost it
completely, and that I would have to wait for the snow to melt before I saw it
again. I was lucky and it did surface but something had happened to it during
the days of absence. It seems as if I am not able to do anything else with my
needles but to knit… cats.
The
yellow one was the first.
And then this brown one that reminds me of the tortoiseshell colorway. I have made little tweaks on the body from the previous one to the next and I still don’t have it quite right, but it is getting there. I am quite happy with this brown body now.
The head has been pretty much the same all the time, but the body has given me a lot to think about. The cat is filled with wool, that is sculpted little bit with felting needle. It is not too hard but the cats have some weight and it is as if they have bone structure. I really like the way they feel and like the thought of them being all wool, except for the nose, that is of cotton – you know, the nose should feel little cool, little different from the rest, so cotton fabric was the best option for it ;-)
And then this brown one that reminds me of the tortoiseshell colorway. I have made little tweaks on the body from the previous one to the next and I still don’t have it quite right, but it is getting there. I am quite happy with this brown body now.
The head has been pretty much the same all the time, but the body has given me a lot to think about. The cat is filled with wool, that is sculpted little bit with felting needle. It is not too hard but the cats have some weight and it is as if they have bone structure. I really like the way they feel and like the thought of them being all wool, except for the nose, that is of cotton – you know, the nose should feel little cool, little different from the rest, so cotton fabric was the best option for it ;-)
The
cardigans need some thought too, everyone is little bit different and once I get
the body the way it should be, then I will most likely get the cardigan too. I
took lots of pictures for you to see the embroidery on the faces and body.
It
has been interesting to go through the stash to find an odd ball of yarn and
then to see how it works. Some yarns have been better than others. This white
gave me a lot of grief, I thought it would work well, being all wool and still
having lots of grease in it, but somehow it was way too stiff and stubborn, and
I could not mold it the way I wanted.
I
am not sure where I am going with these cats… nor do I know how many I need make
but right now, this feels like the perfect way to knit away these cold and dark
January days. It might be freezing outside but these little woolly cats make it
all bearable and mellow and - much lighter.
Lene
I really love the cats, they are absolutely wonderful!
ReplyDeleteThese are darling and I love the nose made from cotton :-D.
ReplyDeleteAdorable.
ReplyDeleteWonderful cats!
ReplyDeleteIf I had a child or grandchild, I would be begging to buy one of these! The white one has such a lovely halo.
ReplyDeleteOh, Lene, those are adorable! And that's a word I don't throw around casually. Are you going to share the pattern somewhere, maybe on Ravelry?
ReplyDeleteAfter months of not knitting (cross stitch obsession) I started three projects in December and January: a chevron shawl from stash yarn, a pair of toe-up socks in a color called "Route 66" with lots of bright turquoise, and a pink "Pussy Hat." Haven't finished any, but all are "close!"
Oh, and I re-started a long term project, too. But it's not needlework, and thus off topic. There's just something about the end of the year and the beginning of the new one, and this year in particular with transitions and uncertainty, that just seems to say "Hurry! Hurry! DO something!" to me.
These are some of the cutest things I've ever seen. Thank you so much. Being from the US, I desperately needed something to make me smile. (I have some "inauguration blues" going on) These are perfect.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
Me too.
DeleteAbsolutely adorable!
ReplyDeleteI love them! My first thought was that my twins (age 5) would be thrilled with cats like this. They carry around their "loveys" and sleep with them and make up games with them, and these cats seem perfect for it..I can just imagine how much fun they would be.
ReplyDeleteHope you release a pattern, as these are the cutest cats I've ever seen!
ReplyDeleteI love these little kitties!! hard to judge the size but perhaps they could be a Christmas ornament? I hope you will make a pattern for these and put it on Ravelry,I will buy it!! Thanks for sharing and Happy New Year.
ReplyDeleteThese kitties are wonderful! I love them. Each one makes me smile.
ReplyDeleteLove the kitties.
ReplyDeleteBut about the sweater, why don't you frog it and use the yarn to make something felted - maybe slippers or a bag?
So many sweet little cats !!!
ReplyDeleteThese delightful kitties make me smile. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteoh, lovely!
ReplyDeleteI love your kitty cats! I have spent all of January making art dolls that are crochet & polymer clay. Why? asks my practical mother. I don't know why! lol
ReplyDeleteThose cats are darling. Their faces are a work of art. Thank you for sharing them with us.
ReplyDeleteI love your cats. They put a smile on my face as soon as I opened your blog. Your creativity is amazing. Thank you for sharing with us.
ReplyDeleteLove all the creatures you produce while you are hibernating! Your blog is always a delight! Renée
ReplyDeleteI love those cats! I do hope you'll share the pattern sometime.
ReplyDeleteOMGosh! I love them!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful !
ReplyDeleteThese cats are beautiful right down to their sweet faces. Would that my hands and brain could pick up needles and yarn to be this creative. You inspire me!
ReplyDeleteannie
These are wonderful! Now I am wondering how I can recreate these! Thank you for sharing your inspiration.
ReplyDeleteYour kitties are adorable. I hope you consider making a sweet kitty with sweater pattern. If not, I truly enjoy seeing them on your blog. They make me smile!
ReplyDeleteSo good to see you back. With cat. I love them.
ReplyDeleteO! A smile on a grey day. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteJust purrfect!!
ReplyDeleteThey're all adorable, love them all!
ReplyDelete