it's fun to share - new collaborative knitted dinosaurs!

pink dino blue dino

 
Aren't they gorgeous? I created the pattern using pictures drawn by the talented MissBiss of Etsy shop bissandpieces, 

Each dinosaur (also known as bisosaurus!) is about 4 inches (10cm high) and designed to match Biss's new baby cards,

 "it's a boy" and 

"it's a girl"

I developed a new-to-me technique to knit them because I wanted to make them as child-friendly (ie indestructible) as possible. The head, body and tail are knitted all in one piece on double pointed needles, then I threaded my yarn right through the body  and started knitting the first arm on the opposite side to the ball  - does that make sense? - leaving the poor dinosaur hanging from the needles! Then once the first arm was finished, I started again on the other side - so the arms are attached by the yarn through the body, as well as being stitched on securely.

I don't have much time for knitting right now as it's nearly house moving time yet again, so for now there is just one of each in stock.

pink dino blue dino

Work in progress #part 3

First of all, I'd like to say a BIG thank you to everyone who has commented on part 1 and part 2. This has been quite a leap out of my comfort zone in several ways, not least of course is that it is a long way from meerkats!

Reading your suggestions and opinions has really helped. Nicole's comment yesterday "go for odd" made me rethink my basic "framing" idea, because I think I was subconsciously trying to make it look like a "proper" frame, which is why I was anxious about wood length and joining at the corners.



So I've added crochet "struts" to attach the knit to the wood and reduced to 2 pieces of driftwood because it's the weight of the wood that draws out the lacing - I can't do that sideways!



I like the way the zigzaggyness (new technical term) of the crochet echoes the waves and the seagulls and the roof of the beach hut :-)



Thanks for helping me work this out!

What a knitwit!

Oh my poor neglected blog! I've been besieged with orders lately, a fabulous state of affairs, but don't you just wish the holiday shopping season could spread out more evenly?

If you're wanting a Niftyknits creation (available from Zibbet Etsy or Folksy) I strongly recommend ordering sooner rather than later, especially if you want something knitted to order. The UK post office thinks I'm ok shipping to the States as late as the 10th December, but I'm not sure I believe them! Check the dates for shipping from the UK here.

And if you have never heard Arthur Askey's "I'm a little knitwit"...then you are in for a treat!

Hey diddle diddle...

Did you know I've crocheted some clocks? It seemed like a good idea at the time! I've decided to list them exclusively on Zibbet, they're definitely one-of-a-kind as I don't think I've got the *time* to do them again!

Nursery Rhyme Time


Spring Meadow Time

Two more clocks still to come! If you fancy your own Zibbet shop, please use my referral link by clicking here. Thank you!

Sassy...a shaggy dog's tale

I've been working on a commission for DoodyPops for AAAAGESSS, but finally we're ready to show the world!



First, may I introduce the subject of much head-scratching and deep thought:

Miss Sassy - a hairy little dog (if ever there was one) belonging to DoodyPops and Mr DoodyPops.

She is a Cairn /Chihuahua mix and is about 8 lbs now - was 5 lbs when we got her.
She was returned to her breeder and was put outside to live in the backyard with a wolf Hybrid in North Carolina.



A friend of a friend had a backyard that backed up to this breeder's backyard and got to know Sassy .....then it got bitterly cold one winter and she put out a plea for someone to adopt her. We already had 3 dogs, but there was something about her photos. I kept asking my husband Mark...and finally he was so worried about her he said yes.

We worked feverishly with a rescue group to get her on the doggie 'underground railroad" from NC to PA after the flight option fell through. These wonderful people each take a leg of a journey each weekend and help get the dogs to their forever homes. We did a few after adopting Sassy and its very rewarding.



When we got our little Sassy- she was much smaller than we had thought from the photos! She had looked sort of like a tall cairn. But she is really a large chihuahua size, well as I said 8 lbs.

Now the good part! When we picked her up, we met the driver at a McDonalds so I had a soda and offered Sassy a sip to try to win her over. Big Mistake. The carbonation made her sneeze and she gave me quite a dirty look. I think she holds it against me a little still, as Mark is her favorite.



Favorite doesn't really define it though. I mean, she adores him. I have never ever seen a dog fawn over someone they way she does him. She flea bites his beard area to 'groom' him. He can do anything to her, hold her like a baby, clean her eyes, cut her nails,........while she will growl at me for just having the nerve to walk past her! HA! She will snuggle with me though, but still growls if I pet her. Its not a bad growl- she just talks that way.

We lengthened her name to Sassafrass by the way, but we can see how she earned her first name.

Until recently, when my other dog Nicky decided to help wake Sassy up, Sassy would sleep in EVERY day! Till noon! Now she drags herself outside first thing to sunbathe on some rocks... my husband wants me to put sunscreen on her nippies. As if I could get near them! As you can see she is quite a little character.


She looks like several animals all moshed together. I see raccoon, lemur, veiled lizard (because she has a ruff of longer fur around her neck)....and Kramer from Seinfeld.





Of course the question now is...can I bear to part with mini-Sassy?

Pop back tomorrow to meet Doodypops

We have a winner!

Thank you to all who entered my giveaway! I asked everyone to choose their favourite item from my folksy shop, and also say which piece of knitted jewellery they'd like to win. Some of you only chose the jewellery - but then if that *is* your favourite piece, it's still valid.

I counted up 30 entries, and set rndom.org to work:






Entry number 2 is **jolicious**
She said...




My favourite non-meerkat item in your Folksy shop is this pin cushion



I like the colours and the little pot!

I would like to win the pink corsage featured in your blog entry. It's really pretty and I have just the jacket for it!



Send me your address Jolicious, and confirm this is the corsage you have chosen, and it will be on its way. Anyone who entered and was disappointed is welcome to convo me for a reduced rate on any Folksy knitted jewellery item in my shop.

Knitted Jewellery Giveaway!

Well - actually some is crocheted, but I think you'll forgive me.

Stop waffling Nifty - what do you win?



Your prize will be whichever jewellery item you choose from my Folksy shop, www.niftyknits.folksy.com



HOW do you win?

Seemples! Leave a comment telling me (1) your favourite not-a-meerkat item from my Folksy shop and (2) the jewellery item you would like if you win. Don't forget to leave a way for me to contact you.



***Please note there is way more jewellery in my shop than is shown here!***

Good luck - I'll draw the prize on Wednesday. Open to all - Folksy is now open to buyers from outside the UK, but not yet for overseas sellers. I *love* overseas buyers!

***COMPETITION NOW CLOSED, I'M BUSY CHECKING ENTRIES***

Time is ticking away....

tomorrow I will (with the aid of random.org) announce the winner of my meerkat giveaway.

To stick with our meerkat madness theme - I am proud to introduce the newest member of the niftyknits knitted meerkat mob:

Meerkat Time!



Yes, it really is a knitted meerkat with a clock in his tummy :-)

He had to have a spot of surgical intervention to allow for battery changing, but he was heavily sedated and it didn't hurt a bit.



Whatever next?