Kangaroo Family Pattern

I showed you a taster of my new pattern a few weeks ago, but it has taken me a while to get to the finished stage. The kangaroo is very much in the style of some of my other knits, as he is not huge. Finished kangaroo is about 4 inches tall. So not a cuddly toy, more like a little model, that you could keep in your pocket or attach to a school bag. 

I have tried really hard to make the kangaroos realistic, but am knitting a few now in brighter colours, just for fun. My starting point for this pattern was my only magazine published pattern, which is called Australian Animals, and was published in an Australian craft magazine calledd Homespun. These were really miniature animals, which could be used as pendants.

I have spent so much time looking and thinking about kangaroos in the last few weeks, so I may have another go at scaling up, to make a really cuddly kangaroo that a child could take to bed. 

I realise the news may have slightly moved on from the terrible fires in Australia, but I am going to send 100% of any sales from this, and my previous Australian Animals, to a charity called Australian Wildlife Conservancy. Please message me if you would like to use my pattern to make kangaroos to support this or other Australian wildlife charities.

This pattern uses a lot of my usual techniques. Pieces are knitted flat, there is a little icord knitting, and some short rows. A good point is it does not take a lot of wool, 9g for the whole family. The pattern will be available on ravelry, Etsy and LoveKnitting later today.

I am in the country, and most of my stash is in London, so there may not be very much knitting for a while. I did put four 100g skeins of bulky wool, 12ply, in my bag. Would love you to suggest what I could make with this. I don't think there is enough for a garment, but I would like to make something that uses all the colours, as they look so great together. I also put in my little box of embroidery threads, so that might also be an idea for some alternative crafting.

I am thinking of you, and remember crafting is a really good way to relax. I am lucky to have a garden here, and we have been very busy planting, which I will update you about in a week or two. Or if you can't get out, why not start writing that novel that you have been thinking about writing for years?  I am trying to think positive. How lucky we are to have the internet. How nature may to benefitting from us being indoors. How resourceful and adaptable mankind can be.

Just a reminder that there is still plenty of time left to join in my Ginx Woolly Linx party for March. Click on the photo above or at the top of the page to find the party. I would love to see what you have been working on this month.