Elliot Bear - Bear #5

This is my 5th Bear, Elliot. I decided to try double knitting him, but wasn't really able to dk the entire body because of need to leave holes for the arm placement. I made the sweater using red heart "crayon" self striping yarn, but wasn't thinking it through completely because I had to dig into the ball of yarn to get two strands the same to knit him up so the front and back would be the same; however, this caused a more striped look than the "pattern" that the yarn is supposed to make.

He is also larger than the bears knit on dpns or knit flat and seamed.

Danny Bear: Mother Bear Project (Bear #4)

This is my third bear. Danny Bear. I decided to try making him from the top down. It worked out fine, but I don't really care to cast on for the second leg. The invisible cast on, Judy Becker's magic cast on, really looks great at the head. I'm still having some issues with the face and since I knit the top of the overalls in intarsia I can see a bit of the carried color, but mostly at the arm seams. Picking up at the arms wasn't as neat either which was due to having two yarns at the end of every row. If I hadn't made the last of each row at the top of the overalls fur color (trying to accent the bib look) I think the edges would have been cleaner and been easier to pick up from.

Tearing down the dog house

Tearing down the dog house
Originally uploaded by Marni-

We finally got around to tearing down the dog house. This picture began our 5th attempt to rock the dog house off its foundation. I wanted a video to send to FIL since he helped build it.

When we had 4 dogs this was their mansion with carpet, drywall, ceiling panels, a full size window, 2 doggie doors, 1 human door and a heater for the winter. Dudley was the last dog to pass last summer.

It's now a pile of 2x4's, plywood and roofing material.

Dr Daly isn't Convinced

Yes, that’s right Dr. Daly isn’t really convinced that I have an injury that is causing me pain. Sheesh. Ok, he must think I come here just for his analogies. Rather than the usual “Walk across this 5’ room” detection, I went outside and walked way down the sidewalk and back. Although I’ve never seen myself limping, I sure feel like I am. I told him that my back has been sore for several days now probably due to the way I’m shifting my weight funny to swing that left leg forward. My left hip flexor is being over worked too. Returned to work with no restrictions.

Mother Bear Project; Albert

I suppose I don't have to name them, but I can... so I did. This one I've named Albert. He was knit in the round starting with the head and using Judy Becker's magic cast on to create a no seam start. I knitted down a bit leaving openings for the arms and added the face (thank you Jan for that suggestion!). I continued down to the crotch where one leg is put on waste yarn and the other is knitted down to the end of the paw. I added both arms finishing them with the last 2 rounds k2tog then pulling the yarn through the remaining stitches for the rounded paw look. I then stuffed him before picking up for the 2nd leg. After knitting about 2/3 of the second leg I stuffed him some more down into the last leg as I knitted it and finished the feet with a Kitchener stitch after some more stuffing. There will be a gap in the crotch that has to be seemed up, and it's a good spot to add additional stuffing if need be. Knit a scarf and attach it and sew down the ears. Wallah!

If you want the pattern as it is originally posted knitted flat, folded and seemed up you can get it at DIY Knitty Gritty.