the Akamai Knitter

It all started with the hedgehog. Since the hedgehog didn’t turn out as planned, I decided I needed a corrective experience. Hence my foray to Isle Knits on Saturday where I bought a pattern and some yarn.

With the help of big needles and well written instructions, I knitted not only one fish, but two fish in two days. After all the She-Fish needed a He-Fish! And talk about instant gratification. Wowzah.

Pattern: Fiberspace Felted Fish

Needles: 10.5US

Yarn: Noro Kureyon in Color No. 154 (She-Fish) and I think Color No. 40 (He-Fish)

Started: 8/15/07

Finished: 8/16/07

No modifications.

The sample that I saw at Isle Knits had a more rounded mouth, but I couldn’t figure out how to sew the mouth shut and keep the shape. So I ended up with kissing fish. I don’t mind, I think they’re kind of cute that way.

I also didn’t felt them all the way down because I didn’t want them to shrink down any further. Plus, I like the faint stitch definition of the half-felted fabric.

The reason I’m not sure about the color for the He-Fish is because the yarn was just lying around the house without the ball band. If I had more suitable wool lying around, I might be tempted to make even more fish. That’s how much I love this pattern. :)

I think it’s safe to say that there are more soft toys are in my future. They make great weekend projects and they’re immensely satisfying.

I’m not sure what I’ll do with all of them as I’m not ready to start giving them away just yet. I’ve become really attached to all of them. Even the hedgehog or especially the hedgehog has a special place in my heart.

I guess I’m just a big kid at heart.

I had big plans to unveil my first every knitted toy today. Unfortunately the Hedgehog had other plans.

The knitting went fine. Actually, the knitting was spectacular. It only took me a couple of days to get it done. I started on Saturday and I was done on Sunday night.

Well, I have to admit there was a small misstep when I realized I didn’t have a contrasting yarn for his little paws. I managed to dig out some Noro Kureyon in a decent enough shade to rectify the matter. I’m not completely happy with the results, but this is just a minor detail.

The felting was a little nerve-wracking. I hadn’t felted anything in a few years, so it was like my felting cherry grew back and I was a felting virgin all over again.

At one point, the back wasn’t felting at the same rate as the front so I had to agitate by hand. That was not fun. Shelly, who was on the phone with me offering up support, can attest to that fact. A true friend appreciates colorful cussing in times of distress.

Still, it turned out all right in the end. Here’s Mr. Hedgehog in all his felted glory.

He looks pretty good right? Except for the fact that he’s a faceless hedgehog and all, everything looks like kosher. Until you turn him around that is.

When I turned him around, I found this.

I have a balding hedgehog. There are big swathes of scalp showing here, there, and everywhere. Believe me, it looks even worse in person.

It’s all my fault really. Instead of using the eyelash yarn Sue offered up, I insisted on another. I should have known that when you blatantly ignored the wisdom of your LYSO, you anger the knitting goddesses and end up with crap.

There is a remedy. I have some eyelash yarn left and I’ve been sewing it in. I cannot describe what a painful and tedious process this is though. I worked on it for hours yesterday and what do I have to show for it?

That’s only the top of his furry head. I haven’t even reached the halfway point. I figure this is my punishment for being a cocky-assed knitter with an attitude problem.

I’m afraid that I’ll also run out of yarn. This is a problem because I’m using two different eyelash yarns and I have no idea where to get more of the one with the snazzy copper glints. I bought it years ago from who knows where and the ball bands are missing. I see this as more punishment from the knitting goddesses. I can take it though.

No pain, no gain!

Never give up! Never surrender!

Some might question my sanity at this point. My reply is, “What sanity?” That went out the door after the first two hours of sewing in the eyelash yarn from hell.

I will have a fuzzy hedgehog. Even if it kills me.*

Bald is beautiful? I think not.

*You know, this might not just be my crazy talking. This might also be the after effects of watching “300” this past weekend. Boy, did that movie rock.