The Alligator is Ready to Travel Down the Mississippi

For reasons relating to my sister Helen's and my peculiar senses of humor, I needed to make an alligator for Owen.

The first round was done in a yarn that shall not be named.  I was nearly finished when I realized that I hated the yarn.  I hated the yarn enough that I would even give the project to someone I despised.   Laughing maniacally, I ripped the project off the needles and dumped it in the trash.  No regrets.

Later that same day, I was looking for something in one of the many knitting bags that comprise my decor and I found some dark green Vintage Candiana left over from another project.   Grabbing needles, I set down to work.  

Parts of this project were an extreme challenge. My short rows needed a lot of work.  Each leg was done four or five times to get it right.

At one point, I visited the Knit Purl Hunter's short row tutorial on YouTube.  Watching that helped me get acceptable (but not perfect) short rows.   As I finished each limb, I felt as though I had won something.

Stuffing the 'gator was interesting.   The stuffing began through one of the back leg holes.   Getting the stuffing to be the way I wanted it to be took a little, but it was worth it.   Having to knit the last limb while a good part of the body was stuffed was not fun....

After this, I needed something soothing.   My carry project is a Yarn Harlot One Row scarf done in Malabrigo worsted from my stash.

My plan is to make this long enough so that the recipient can loop it around his neck and still have ample length to tuck it into his coat.

One of the wonderful things about using the Yarn Harlot's pattern is that you can keep knitting and knitting and knitting and only have to stop when you have your length or when there is enough left to bind off.  You can also, when you do your swatch - which you will - figure out how wide you really want the scarf and adjust your stitches easily...just use a multiple of four. On bad days, I can still manage counting to four.  

This pattern is great for highlighting variegated yarns.  I do think it is a great way to use those lovely skeins of yarn that one has to have because it was so beautiful for which there was no plan.  

My home project is a throw that is being made in Bernat Blanket.   While this yarn does not have a

lot of give, it makes a velvety cloth that feels good.  One of my friends needs a pop of color in his living room.  He is getting a purple throw to play off a lime green wall.  

When I did my swatch I was thinking about the pattern to use.  This yarn does not show well in a fussy pattern.   This time, I decided to do a 13 stitch rib.  So far, I am very much liking how this is turning out.  I have five skeins but may only need four.

As this is a fairly mindless project, it is a nice break from the alligator.

I will be doing a couple of baby gifts next. I have a pattern chosen for one of the projects...details to follow.