Flying pig...away!

I thought I'd have a break from the endless skirt and do something cute and fun. And it being ANZAC day all the shops are shut. Except the pubs :-)
Anyway, this was even quicker that my easter bunny! Very sweet and it naturally sits on it's bum once you've stuffed it which I thought looked really good too.
I decided to give it felt wings since I thought if I gave it wings in the same yarn as it's body that they wouldn't stand out as much and I think these are MUCH cuter!
So cute! I'm so impressed with myself :-D

Test Knitting...

Seems the best idea to try and do something useful with the enormous amount of stuff I seem to churn out. On Ravelry there is a group called Free Pattern Testers. On their forum you can chose a pattern that's kind of advertised on their board and you can get (potentially) a new pattern for free which you knit up and then provide concise feedback and good photos. Seems like a good deal to me. So far I've signed up for a baby poncho for a 3 mth old and an adult beanie. I have till May 3rd.
So far I've done one practise poncho because it's the only way I can figure out how much yardage I use.

It is a very unusual shape but rather appealing.. The pattern is very well written. The one I'm doing proper is a much nicer colour, I swear!

Haven't got any pics of the hat yet. I've only just started that. Another excellent and interesting pattern :)

Okay, Pattern Completed!

I said I'd make up a sheet with a photo for the ridiculously-named knitted undies...
...And I have!

Cotton Undies

Notions:

1 - 2 Cotton Yarn 50g

3.75mm circular needles

Yarn needle

Gauge:

6 stitches x 8 rows = 1”

Sizes:

S (M, L, XL)

CO 68 (80, 92, 104)

Purl first row.

Work in Stockinette for 16 rows (measures 2 inches)

BO 23 (26, 29, 32) stitches at the beginning of each row twice.

16 (20, 24, 28) stitches remain.

BO 1 stitch at each end of the needle every 4 rows, 4 times.

8 (12, 16, 20) stitches remain.

Work even for 12 rows.

CO 1 stitch at each end of the needle every other row, 40 (48, 56, 64) times.

Until you have 48 (60, 72, 84) stitches.

CO 2 stitches at end of the needle every other row 5 times.

Until you have 68 (80, 92, 104) stitches.

Work even for 16 rows (measures 2 inches)

BO

Pick up and bind of 96 (136, 150, 164) stitches along each leg edge.

Stitch together hip band.

Pick up and bind off 136 (160, 184, 208) stitches from the waist.

Optional Crotch Insert:

CO 16 (20, 24, 28) stitches.

Work in stockinette stitch.

BO 1 stitch at each end of needle 4 times, leaving 8 (12,16,20) stitches.

Work even for 12 rows.

CO 1 stitch at each end of the needle every 4 rows, 4 times.

BO

Stitch insert into crotch of the undies.

This is a copy of saltonyourwound.tripod.com/basic_panda_food_panty.html pattern. Just to present the pattern with an example of the knitted item for all of us who are visually orientated J

Isn't that better? Now I can see how it's supposed to look (these are knit in XL) but I can tell you the picking up of stitches and then binding them off next really stabilizes the legs and waist. Sadly to the point that I can't get my fat topped legs into them :(But now I have somewhere to go from. Other modifications I made from the original patter was to knit the waist 10 rows longer both back and front. So 26 rows instead of 16. And when the bind off for the legs begin instead of casting off the 32 stitches I halved it and bound them off over 4 rows at 16 stitches each row. That's about all. I like the way they turned out even though I can't wear them. It at least gives me a point to work out how to knit undies with a bit more give in the legs and waist. But it's a well written pattern. Excellent :)

Here's a thought!

I've been leafing through my OBSENE pile of knitting magazines since it really seems criminal to have so many resourses and not use them more effectively, when I had a thought!
Quite often I look through them all and think "Oh, I like that! Oh! And that!" but when I go to find the darn thing later on I can't remember what the pattern's called or the magazine it's in! So frustrating!!!
So I think I'll take a pic of the pattern when I see one I like and put it here and that way I'll at least have a visual starting point to go from if I ever decide at a later date to give it a go!!
Maybe a picture of the cover too :)

I hate patterns with no picture!

I do! I want a picture with a pattern that the designer has made or had made so I know what they think it should look like! Otherwise how am I supposed to know I'm doing it right??

I mean, really? There's nothing here! Even the name seems oddly random! Anyway I'm going to knit this and make up a pattern sheet myself WITH a photo! If nothing else it'll help me document the changes I've done so far and be a guide should I want to do it again but different. Quite pleased with what I have so far though :-)