Some reparations...

Since I've been a slacker posting here, I was thinking I'd just finally post the Chubby Checker pattern for free. So here you go!



Chubby Checker
Difficulty - Intermediate

SIZE
One size

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Length: 75 inches
Width: approx. 7 inches

MATERIALS
[MC] Lion Wool [100% wool; 158 yd per 85 g skein]; color: Dark Teal; 2 skeins
[CC] Patons Classic Wool Merino [100% wool; 223 yd per 100 g skein]; color: Heather; 2 skeins
1 set US 8/5.0 mm straight needles

Notions required: cable needle; yarn needle

GAUGE
18 sts/16 rows = 4" in stockinette stitch

PATTERN

Pattern notes
C2FMC – slip next 2 MC st to cable needle and hold to front of work. K 2 st in CC. K 2 MC st from cable needle.
C2FCC – slip next 2 CC st to cable needle and hold to front of work. K 2 st in MC. K 2 CC st from cable needle.

Directions
Starting with MC, CO 2 st. Switch to CC and CO 2 st. Alternate 2 st each of MC and CC across until you have 32 st.
Row 1 (WS): P 2 in CC, P2 in MC.
Row 2: C2FMC across.
Row 3: P 2 in MC, P2 in CC.
Row 4: C2FCC across.
Repeat rows 1-4 75 times. BO.

FINISHING
Weave in ends.
Block to measurements.

The Dreaded Percy

Perhaps you don't hang out in the same shadowy corners of the interwebs that I do. Perhaps you have not yet encountered the phenomenon that is Princess Tomato and the Salad Kingdom, and it's breakout star, Percy the Persimmon.

If not, you may feel compelled to keep surfing, and I can't say I blame you. This is probably not the pattern for you. Go on your merry way, and we will never speak of this again. However, if you do lurk the same corners of the tubes, or maybe just have a soft spot for obscure D-list 8-bit characters and anthropomorphic vegetable matter, then come on in, the water's fine.



Percy the Persimmon

Materials:
Patons Classic Wool (100% Wool)
[MC] New Denim, 1 skein
[CC1] Aran, 1 skein
[CC2] Currant, 1 skein

US size 3/3.25 mm dpn, set of 5
Polyfil stuffing
Black thread
Green felt
Two 1/4 inch buttons

Gauge: 30 st over 4 inches in stockinette st

Notes: I found it easiest to start stuffing each part as it was completed. The legs were stuffed after the first few rounds of the body were knit, then started stuffing the body when I got to the color change. He should feel firm but kinda squishy, like an overripe fruit (BA-DUM CHING!)

Many thanks to my Festivus giftee, Garrison, for getting the gauge I'd neglected to measure before sending Percy off to him.

Directions:

Leg (Make 2):
In CC2, CO 6 st. Div between 3 needles
*Rounds 1 & 2: K
Round 3: K1, K1F&B across
Rounds 4-9: Repeat from * twice
Round 10: K. Switch to MC.
Rounds 11-31: K
BO

Body:
Pick up st from BO ends of legs as follows:
1st needle: PU 5 sts from ea leg
2nd needle: PU 9 st from 2nd leg after 1st needle
3rd needle: PU last 5 st from 2nd leg after 2nd needle, PU 5 st from 1st leg
4th needle: PU last 9 st from 1st leg after 3rd needle
*Note* All BO sts from both legs should be picked up. The 5 st picked up from the 1st leg on the 3rd needle should be the next sts on that leg after the 5 picked up on the 1st needle. Basically you're making a crotch. Try not to think about that too hard.

*Round 1: K
Round 2: K to last st. M1, K1.
Round 3: 1st needle: K1, M1, k to last st, M1, K1. Rep for 2nd and 3rd needles. 4th needle: K1, M1, k to end.
Rounds 4-9: Repeat from *
Rounds 10-26: K. Switch to CC1
Rounds 27-34: K.
Round 35: K to last 2 sts, SKP
Round 36: 1st needle: K2Tog, K to last 2 sts on needles, SKP. Rep for 2nd and 3rd needles. 4th needle: K2Tog, K to end
Rounds 37 & 38: K
Rounds 39-41: Rep last 3 rounds
Round 42: Rep round 36
Round 44-49: Rep last 2 rounds 3 times
Round 50: K - 21 sts remain on needles. Switch to CC2
Round 51: K
Round 52: K to last st, M1, K1
Round 53: 1st needle: K1, M1, K to last st, M1, K1. Rep for 2nd and 3rd needle. 4th needle: K1, M1, K to end
Rounds 54-55: K1, M1, K to last st, M1, K1 on all needles
Round 56: Rep round 52
Round 57: Rep round 53
Rounds 58-59: Rep last 2 rounds
Rounds 60-63: K
Round 64: K to last 2 sts, SKP
Round 65: 1st needle: K2Tog, K to last 2 sts on needle, SKP. Rep for 2nd and 3rd needle. 4th needle: K2Tog to end
Round 66: K
Round 67-69: Rep last 3 rounds
Rounds 70-79: Rep rounds 64 & 65 5 times.
Cut yarn, leaving about a 4 in tail. Finish stuffing doll. Using tapestry needle, draw tail through live stitches to draw top closed.

Arms:
On one side of doll, about 1 in below neck line and centered between decreases, PU 16 sts in a circle, 4 on each needle.
K 8 rounds in CC1. Switch to CC2. K 7 rounds.
Next round: K2Tog at beginning of each needle.
Repeat last round until 4 sts remain. Cut yarn, and stuff arm. Using tapestry needle, draw tail through live stitches to draw top closed.
Repeat all steps on other side of doll for 2nd arm.

Finishing:
Duplicate st overall straps in MC as pictured.
Using thread, embroider mouth onto face and attach buttons for eyes as pictured.
Cut leaf pattern out of felt. Sew to top of head.

Leaf pattern
Should measure about 2 inches on each side.












Now, marvel in horror at what your hands have made flesh. Or, you know, cuddle him. Whatever floats your boat.

Post-Con costume showing off

Not a whole lot to this post, just showing off the finished products.

Supergirl:






With George Perez!

Miss Scarlett:


And I didn't manage to get a picture of my Ramona Flowers costume, but here's a picture of a set of random Ramonas, because Ramona was this year's Jack Sparrow/Storm Trooper/Jayne/Captain Hammer, so I think you get the gist:


Hooray! Now to start planning for next year!

Well that's just Super.

When I started doing con costuming, there was one thing I knew for sure: There was no way in hell I would ever end up doing a Supergirl costume.

At first glance, Supergirl was everything I disliked about Superman. Truth, justice, and the American Way, Mom, apple pie, and boy scouts, and any other opinions bedamned. Then she morphed into a teenage trollop with the unfortunate habit of fighting the Good Guys whenever they suggested she take a little responsibility along with those massive powers, or, alternatively, randomly turning evil with a little provocation.

But in the end, just as All-Star Superman had done for Supes, Wednesday Comics showed me that there could potentially be more to poor, maligned Kara Zor-El than short skirts and a bad party girl attitude. And that something more, specifically? Weapons grade quantities of cute. It certainly wasn't hurt by being written by the current Powergirl team, but as a take on the character I had never seen before, it really changed my mind about her.

This is all a long story to explain why this happened tonight:


This is closer to the DC Animated Universe version, but considering my limited funds this year, it was the easiest way to do it.

Naturally, a Super Pet will be making an appearance:


So that concludes our lesson in "never say never", because there's always some unbearable cute out there to trip you up!

It's been a minute since I updated, so I guess it's a good thing that I'm working on a new pattern.


It's a hanging fruit basket for the kitchen, and it's almost done. It's a pretty simple pattern, just short rows and yarn overs in kitchen cotton, but I think it looks pretty fabu.

I'm in the process of getting it attached to the hoops at the moment, and then I've got to get the actual chain to hang it from the ceiling with, but it was altogether a super quick project.

I'll post some better pictures once it's finished, which I promise will not be 3 months this time.

A Conundrum...

At some point, when you're trying to sell your crafty things, you come to a point where you're torn between selling something as you'd originally intended, or keeping it when it turns out much better than you'd thought. Like so:


I'd seen these pieces hanging next to each other in an endcap and thought how nifty they'd look in a necklace. The original intent was just to put it on Etsy, but now I kinda want to keep it all for my greedy little self. It's a lot more striking than I'd thought it would be, and I personally don't have a lot of impact jewelry.

Ultimately, tho, I'd probably never wear it, so as much as it pains me, it'll probably go up for sale. Hopefully, someone will have a better home for it.

Hey kids! Santa brought me a nifty netbook, so now I'll be able to update every once it a while! Hooray!

To celebrate, I bring you a pattern I made this time last year for Knitty. They didn't want it, but maybe you will!

Thusly, I present the Chubby Checker scarf (link goes to Etsy).



Yes, you have to pay for it (sorry), but it's probably the best pattern I've done yet, and it's pretty kickass-awesome.

That said, toodles until next time (which should be much sooner!)