anna knits - knit bulldog update 2

Thanks to the Oscars - which had me sitting for a few hours - I was able to finish knitting and sewing together my knit bulldog last night!

I was vey nervous about sewing it together, but it turned out super cute!

Here is an idea of my sewing process:

This chart from Ravelry user Spookloops really helped me get the face, as well as looking at pictures uploaded by other users. 

I still need to add the collar, and perhaps a little T-shirt, but the hardest parts are over. See my progress and where I got the pattern here. 

anna knits - knit bulldog update 1

I've embarked on another knit dog from the book Knit Your Own Dog. I made a knit pug a few months ago, and while it was challenging, I was happy with the result. See my knit pug progress here, here, and here.

A few days ago, my bulldog looked like this:

Now he looks like this:

I just need to finish making the ears. Then all the parts will be done and I will be ready to sew and stuff.

There are a bunch of great posts about this pattern on Ravelry. Here is one of my favorites by Ravelry member justmichelle:

Overall it seems like it is going to be a challenge to put it all together. Wish me luck! 

knitting, etc. - knit sphere

After finishing my knit pug, I started to brainstorm an easier way. I decided on knitting a sphere that I can color like a pug. I found this free pattern for a knit sphere from the blog I Like Lemons.

I'm hoping to make one with faun and black, and add a smooched nose and curly tail.

I think they could make cute christmas ornaments!

anna knits - knit pug update 4

Here are 3 things I learned from assembling my knit pug from the book Knit Your Own Dog. I found the pattern to be pretty easy to follow, but there were still some things that were ambiguous. These are my tips:

1. Nose: Don't freak out about the nose. All you have to do is pinch the face together and fold it up to create the signature pug nose. Here is a video that demonstrates this technique.

2. Stuffing: I actually wish I had stuffed my pug a bit more, especially in the chest. The legs can also be liberally stuffed, since they are what keeps the pug standing. I used Fairfield Poly-Fil Premium Polyester Fiber stuffing. 

3. Seams: The seams were a challenge for me. I had never done mattress stitch before. I used this video to learn how to do the stitch, and then just went off pictures. I want to work more on this aspect if I make another pug. 

My next knit pug will definitely be a black pug, like this guy by hiro25neko.

anna knits - knit pug update 3

I finished my knit pug from the book Knit Your Own Dog.

Thanks to all the people on Ravelry who shared pictures of their knit pugs. It really helped with assembly, which was definitely the hardest part. I'll post some of my tips for assembly in my next post. Here's an idea of my process:

It is a little hard to get my knit pug to stand, so I'm thinking of turning him into a christmas ornament!

anna knits - knit pug update 2

Excuse me while I tie together some loose ends...

That's better...

This knit pug is taking a little longer than I had hoped, but I am in the final stretch. I hope to finish in the next day or two. Check back soon!

anna knits - knit pug update 1

A few weeks ago I shared a book called Knit Your Own Dog that I had gotten as a gift. I finally got around to starting my knit pug project - since my union jack tea cosy is on hold while I wait for more yarn to arrive - and wanted to share my progress.

I am using super small size 2US needles, but this yarn is very easy to work with. Here you see Rowan Yarn Cashsoft 4 Ply from Jimmy Beans Wool in Elite 451 and Black 422.

I have never knitted a toy before, and I am a little worried about putting it all together, but it is a fun project so far. I am even thinking about turning it into a little pug christmas ornament!

Next time I'll have to make an all black one like my parents' pug Maeby! She's a cute one. 

anna knits - knit your own dog

My Dad randomly saw a knitting book at a bookstore that he thought I would like, so he picked it up for me. Thanks, Dad! The book is Knit Your Own Dog by Sally Muir and Joanna Osborne. You can see some of the knitted dogs, and read more about the book at www.knityourowndog.com/uk/.

I quickly went online to order the yarn I need to knit up a pooch. For this project, I am using Rowan Yarn Cashsoft 4 Ply in Elite 451, Black 422, Mocha 417, and Eau de Nil 450, with size 2 needles.

I decided to start with a pug, because my dog growing up, Yoda, was a faun pug. 

Yoda Devine 1997-2011

I look forward to starting this project after I finish my Union Jack tea cosy!