Watch out for penguins!
The penguins are finished. I had planned to make two for my niece, the penguin fan, but when the first one was ready, and my younger daughter saw it and fell in love with it, I couldn’t help myself, and I made a third. Already when knitting the first penguin I thought about how the pattern could be altered to make the sewing easier. But since my niece was about to get two penguins, I made no alterations on those but knitted them exactly as the pattern called for. Sofia’s penguin got the alterations, and I must admit it made assembling the penguin a lot easier and faster.
I washed and blocked the pieces for the two first penguins, making the mistake to put all the pieces in the washer to get the water away in the centrifuge. A good idea, except the fact that all the pieces had their ends free, not woven in. Look at this mess. It took me quite a while to sort it out, but I managed to get all ends saved for the sewing.
The wings are knitted as a flat piece. Again, in order not to have to sew the edges together, I used the magic loop method to knit them. The wings are, as you can see on the picture, much flatter, and, in my opinion, a bit more penguin like.
Project details:
Pattern: Pasha the penguin from Knitty, by Alexandra Virgiel.
Yarn: Black: Novita Seitsemän veljestä, white: Regia silk held doubled, yellow: Jamieson Spindrift held doubled.
Needles: 4 mm dpns and circular needles.
Alterations: Two without, one with, look above.
The penguin pattern is all in all an enjoyable one. The penguins are formed with short row knitting, something I like a lot (it’s only when it comes to short row toes and heels I’m more sceptical) and increases and decreases. I think they have a nice chubby body, and they are very huggable. Sofia’s penguin has already made trip to the archipelago, and been a constant bed time companion, and I’ve got reports that my niece is quite fond of her penguins too. She looked very happy when she got them, and hugged them with her whole small body. She’s a lovely child, not only because she loves my penguins. She is just so cute and huggable herself, like three and half years old only can be.
Comments
Oooooooooooo, they look adorebale!!! So nice !!
You did a nice 'job' .
I'll show it to my daughters.
Posted by: Tijm | June 24, 2007 10:56 AM
really cute! i don't think i could make three in a row like that myself, but i can imagine how great it feels to see how much all that work is loved and appreciated.
and with that regia silk for the white, they probably have very soft tummies!
Posted by: jody | June 24, 2007 03:41 PM
Ohhh my gosh!!! Those are too cute. I think I just have to knit one for a child.
Posted by: Maureen | June 24, 2007 05:05 PM
Maud, these are just adorable. Wonderful job, and very sweet gift. I hope you have a truly lovely day.
Jewels
Posted by: Jewels | June 24, 2007 05:05 PM
Very cute little penguins, and your modifications are great!
Posted by: Octopus Knits | June 24, 2007 06:21 PM
I love them! I need to make some penguins myself!
Posted by: Nanette | June 24, 2007 09:28 PM
Hur söta som helst!
Posted by: Annelie | June 24, 2007 09:51 PM
OMGosh! Those are adorable! :)
Posted by: Romi | June 25, 2007 01:50 AM
So darn cute! I should knit some for my kiddos.
Posted by: tiennie | June 25, 2007 01:52 AM
they are adorable. i now have them on my to knit next list!
Posted by: lisa | June 25, 2007 02:02 PM
Hi Maud, just visiting my dearest blogs, so popping in to send a loving hello to you. Just finished supper, and Papa is in the pool with the little ones while I nurse my precious baby girl. I hope you had a wonderful day, sweet lady.
Jewels
Posted by: Jewels | June 26, 2007 02:28 AM
Hi Maud, just visiting my dearest blogs, so popping in to send a loving hello to you. Just finished supper, and Papa is in the pool with the little ones while I nurse my precious baby girl. I hope you had a wonderful day, sweet lady.
Jewels
Posted by: Jewels | June 26, 2007 02:28 AM
The penguins are adorable!
Posted by: Sheila | June 26, 2007 03:52 AM
They are too cute. And now you have to let them go. Sniff.
Posted by: Angelika | June 26, 2007 04:40 AM
Adorable!!! I just love penguins!!
Posted by: Cathy | June 26, 2007 05:04 AM
I am surprised you could stop at three penguins. They are sooooo cute!
Posted by: Brenda | June 26, 2007 12:59 PM
Hi Maud :o) Just popped in, so thought I'd say a quick hello. I'm sure you're busy, off making more peguins! Maud, the bad news, here, is......holding back a sniffle.....my peonies are d-e-a-d! Be sure and feel sorry for me, okay :o)
Warmly, Jewels
Posted by: Jewels | June 27, 2007 11:44 PM
Fantastiska!
Posted by: Monica | June 28, 2007 07:14 PM
Adorable!
Posted by: Katarina | June 29, 2007 12:34 PM
:)
Posted by: mewril | July 12, 2007 12:04 PM