Wabbity pattern

The all singing, all dancing Wabbity pattern (includes hat and jumper instructions) is now available as a free pdf download on Ravelry. So far, this is the only design I've uploaded to my Ravelry page, but I hope, one day, there will be others…. Rather spookily an image of an unknown (to me) woman appears on my page. She is wearing a hat that is said to be designed by me, but it is not, how did that happen?

Elizabeth,
x.

Free Wabbity pattern

A while back, I promised to share my pattern for making a Wabbity, however I haven't been able to do so until now as the pattern was licensed to Knitting Magazine. The full pattern is quite long, so I'm trying (but failing miserably in the 'how to upload a pdf pattern' bit) to create a Ravelry page just in case you'd like the all singing and dancing version (including clothes). The concept is really pretty simple though, so below is a modified version of the pattern, which will produce a chubby little chap like this one.

If you want to make a fatter or slimmer version, simply add fewer, or more, knitted rounds between the increase and decrease rounds.

You will need… 
A set of 2.5mm dpns
Toy filling
Kidsilk haze, combined with Angora Merino by Regia gives a lovely tweedy effect. Half a ball of each will be plenty for one Wabbity.
Knitter's sewing needle.
Scraps of yarn for the eyes, whiskers and tail

Method…
- Cast on 3sts and leave a very long tail. Divide between 3dpns, and being careful not to twist your stitches, M1, K1 3 times (6sts).
- M1, K2 3 times (9sts).
- Knit 1 round
- M1, K3 3 times (12sts)
- M1, K4 3 times (15sts)
- Knit 1 round
- M1, K5 3 times (18sts)
- M1, K6 3 times (21sts)
- M1, K7 3 times (24sts)

Tip: Keep going in this manner to make a larger Wabbity, or knit fewer increase rounds if you want a smaller Wabbity.

- Purl 1 round
- On needle 1, M1, knit to last stitch and make another stitch. Repeat on other 2 needles (30sts)
- Knit 1 round
- Repeat last two rounds twice more (42sts)
- Knit 2 rounds
- Repeat the increase round (48sts)
- Knit 3 rounds
- Repeat the increase round, followed by a knit round 3 more times (60sts)
- Knit 2 rounds
Now start to decrease, and as you do so, fill the body with toy stuffing.
- K2tog, knit to last 2sts on first needle, K2tog. Repeat on other dpns (54sts)
- Knit 1 round
- Repeat last 2 rows until 36sts remain
- Knit 4 rounds
- Dec 1 round as above (30sts)
- Knit 4 rounds
- Dec 1 round as above (24sts)
- Knit 1 round
- Repeat last 2 rounds once more (18sts)
- Knit 3 rounds
- K2tog 9 times, then K2tog once more (8sts)

Divide for ears…
- Place 4 sts on a holder
- On other 4sts knit 1 round
- M1, K2 twice (6sts)
- Knit 2 rounds
- M1, K2 3 times (9sts)
- Knit 2 rounds
- M1, K3 3 times (12sts)
- Knit 3 rounds
- M1, K4 3 times (15sts)
- Knit 4 rounds
- K2tog, knit 3 (12sts)
- Knit 3 rounds
- K2tog, knit 2 (9sts)
- Knit 2 rounds
- K2tog, knit 1 (6sts)
- Knit 2 rounds
- K2tog 3 times
- K3tog, cut tail and bring tail through loop, then sew in end.

To finish…
Use scraps of yarn or embroidery threads to make the eyes and whiskers. Make a pom pom from scraps and sew it to the body using the initial cast on tail. Give your Wabbity a name and perhaps make him/her a friend–Wabbitys like company!

Feel free to email if anything doesn't make sense, and if you do knit a Wabbity, I'd love to see a picture. Happy knitting!

Elizabeth,
x.

PS: I'll let you know as soon as the full pattern is available on Ravelry.

Chuffed to bits!

I've just received the April edition of Knitting Magazine, and am thrilled that one of my Wabbitys has made it on to the cover. Okay–so Wabbity is positioned right where you place your thumb, and you need a telescope to see him, but he's there nevertheless!

Inside, are a few more Wabbitys as well as the pattern for Hutch (he's the cover boy). For those who hate sewing up, this is the ideal pattern as it's knitted entirely in the round, and doesn't require a stitch from the very first cast on to the very last cast off for the body and ears. Even the accessories require minimal sewing!

You'll see that Hutch's Wabbity friends differ in shape/height/width (don't we all?), but once you have mastered the basic Wabbity pattern it's a cinch to scale up/down/out/in to your heart's desire. The same can be done with the jumper or apron and both are ideal for trying out new techniques. I don't know about you, but I hate accumulating piles of test swatches so always try to find a way to include them in a finished project instead of letting them gather dust at the bottom of my knitting bag.

Elizabeth,
x.

Male humour

My husband's attitude to knitting shops has greatly improved. Indeed, last Saturday, he asked to tag along when I went shopping, and even showed an interest in some of the contents of my favourite knitting shop. I was impressed that instead or calling everything wool, he rather knowledgeably called it yarn. I should have known it wouldn't last.

As I waited my turn to pay, Patrick asked what the woman in front of me was holding. I replied that  the aquamarine hued hank of wool was called a skein–in fact, to be precise, she was holding four skeins. Cue much shrugging of shoulders that reminded me of Mike Yarwood doing his best impression of Ted Heath, as Patrick, and another hapless husband exchanged glances and school boy sniggers.

However, as readers might have realised, I'm a sucker for a good pun and a bit of wordplay, so have to admit, I was almost (but not quite) as amused as Patrick. (We were careful to stifle our mirth in case the woman in front, heard us, and took offense). Afterwards, we re-imagined the scenario as a sketch by the Two Ronnies, with yarn substituted for the four candles/fork handles, and the scene, a knitting shop, not a hardware store. Naturally, the fabulous Ronnies would have to be played by the nearly as fabulous French & Saunders in their comic heyday.

As for my purchases, I bought some Rowan sienna 4 ply to make a jumper for one of my Wabbitys. And in case anyone takes offense at the bawdy tone of this post, here's Hutch, in his new jumper, which I hope, will go some way to making amends.

Elizabeth,
x.

Meet the Wabbitys

One of the great things about blogging is that it allows you to create a record of all the things you make. So, while I still have boxes of makes stuffed in cupboards and under the bed, I can at least try to be more organised about how I file any photos or patterns for them on my computer. At least, that's the plan.

Stewie Wabbity

Big Buck and Baby Hopper

Lucky Wabbity

Hey Presto!

Last year, I got rather fond of making these little chaps, which I decided to call Wabbitys, partly in an ironic nod to my tendency to pronounce 'r's as 'w's (just my luck to marry someone with a prominent 'r' in his name!). In total, I made about a dozen of them over the Summer, but then, rabbits do have a habit of multiplying. Each has a special talent which is reflected in their name, eg, Presto, is brilliant at magic tricks, while Lucky is great at getting in and out of scrapes. At one point, I got so ridiculously obsessed with them that I even drew up a family tree for the Wabbitys!

You might think that I designed this pattern because I love cuddly toys, but that's not the case, and I didn't have a rabbit when young. No, this pattern evolved simply because as much as I love knitting, I utterly loathe sewing up the knitted pieces. So for me, the joy of my Wabbitys is, that from cast on to cast off, there is absolutely no sewing involved as they are entirely knitted in the round–even the ears. All of which reminds me of how my favourite animated characters used to knit, and explains why I grew up with a false impression of how quick and easy knitting should be.

Gromit knits 

No-sew cherries

I wish all knitting could be this easy, so far the only other things I've managed to knit without the need for sewing are some cupcakes and cherries, and I'm currently working on a pattern for a mouse (which is really just an upside down rabbit). Of course there are always socks, which I do make a lot of, and perhaps one day, I'll build up to a Fair isle jumper where no sewing is required at all!

Elizabeth,
x.

PS: In a few weeks time (once work has calmed down) I'll upload a free Wabbity pattern so you can knit your own rabbit dynasty.