Turtle #1

Normally, I don't blog knitting which is about to be a present for someone. This time, I just can't help myself; this turtle is just delightful.

Other personal rules I've broken here:

• I don't make toys. Most of them are just too incredibly cutesy; and those that aren't are a bit disturbing...; this one just compelled me to knit him.
• I don't involve myself in any more sewing-up than can be helped and this tendency is increasing. There are 15 pieces to this thing, not including those little triangles you pick up and knit to finish the shell, once you've sewn the 7 hexagons together; and all the limbs need stuffing separately; and it's still delightful.
• I don't take finished knitting to KTog purely to wave it around; although sometimes I wear it so I can wave it around if anyone notices; this little chap was passed around the circle a couple of times tonight.

But the taking-to-KTog thing did have an ulterior motive. I didn't really want to be posing a turtle on Palace Green in front of the world's media, and that's the nearest stretch of grass I generally see while it's light; so I went to the Mill Pond to take a picture of this Pond Turtle. (Needless to say, nobody turned a hair.)

The shell for Turtle #2 is 6/7ths complete...

The pattern, by Carol Wood, can be found at her Etsy shop and provides far more enjoyment than anyone deserves for $6. You need 1 ball of Noro Kureyon, and 1 skein of Cascade 220 (I took a chance and bought 2 skeins for 3 turtles and I should be OK - each turtle takes about 60 grammes).

Fat Charlie is still on the needles, although he's getting there, and the Mystery Fair Isle just needs a button band making. I'm teaching a freeform knitting weekend at White House Arts on the weekend of October 18/19 though and really need to be concentrating my efforts on making more samples for it...