My Mom and I recently decided to join a knitting circle. This meant we both needed a knitting project. For my Mom it was easy, as she is busily at work with her beanies for babies and small children. For me, it was a little more of a challenge. In the arts and crafts arena, I’m busy with a painting that I’m recycling. More about that in another post. For this post, it’s the knitting that is important. As you can see from the title, the project became a beanie and waistcoat set that Teddy is currently modeling, but let’s break that down.
First step was deciding what to knit
A few weeks ago I completed knitting our toy turtle that I will be using when teaching about tortoises, turtles and our kids books “Tuvia Finds His Freedom“. Having just completed a toy, I thought about knitting another toy and went in search of a pattern. Time was marching on and in the free patterns I had not yet found the toy I wanted to knit. I did however, notice what seemed like an easy pattern for a beanie.
Step Two, starting the Beanie
Since Mom is knitting beanies, I thought I’d surprise her. I would not have to complete the beanie, just to get it started enough to have a project to knit at the knitting group. Well, I began knitting and discovered a need to adapt the pattern. Firstly the wool (yarn) that I had available was obviously thinner than that used in the pattern as the number of stitches to cast on just did not make sense. So I added some stitches and began the beanie.
It did not take too long when the beanie was almost complete. But, it did require sewing up, putting a pom-pom on the top and I thought it needed a nice flower too. The flower would finish it off perfectly.
Just then, my Mom came in and the beanie was no longer a surprise. However, Mom decided she’d complete the project and off she went to do just that.
Step Three, Teddy Models the Beanie
Well, the knitting project for the knitting group was now well on it’s way to being complete and that meant I’d have to consider another project. Oh dear! Not sure what to knit next, I got to work on my research for a landing page for our newsletter. It was the next item on my things to do list so why not keep plodding on until I decided what I would knit in the knitting group.
I was busily at work when there was a knock on the door. There was Mom with the completed beanie. It looked cute but I was not sure whether the item we had used to photograph the other beanies would work for this one too. Then I had an idea. What would Teddy look like with the beanie on?
As you can see in the image at the start of this post, Teddy looked so cute. But we both decided a waistcoat would be necessary.
Finally, I had my project for the knitting group. To knit the waistcoat that would co-ordinate with the beanie.
Step Four, Knitting the Waistcoat
Finally, Tuesday arrived, the day of our knitting group and now I had something to work on. However, I had not found a pattern and would have to come up with something myself.
We gathered our wool, a set of needles and went off to join the group. We had fun, met some lovely ladies and the waistcoat was well on its way to becoming something.
With the back complete, over the next few days, while doing other reading, I knitted up the two sections for the front. Yes, I do often knit while reading or watching a YouTube video. It’s I skill I discovered after a cousin mentioned that she knitted her jerseys while studying for exams. Not everyone can knit and read though. If you need to concentrate on your knitting, I would not advise multi-tasking. I also don’t recommend it for complicated patterns.
What do you think of Teddy, modeling the start of the beanie and waistcoat set? He looks a little serious but so cute, don’t you think?
Stay tuned for the article to take place after the next knitting group. I hope to put the waistcoat together. I’m thinking of crocheting a border on the inside edges. I think Teddy might just get to keep this beanie and waistcoat set? Doesn’t he look perfect for our treatment room?
