Meet Stanley the Spider. Each year I try to make a toy mascot for the class that I have been working in at school. First there was Caterpillar Class, and they got a caterpillar and a butterfly. Next year was the rather daunting job of making a cricket for Cricket Class. And finally this year the delightful Spider Class.
I was going to try to knit a really realistic tarantula, but I couldn't find the right wool. That may come later. So Stanley is just your average sort of spider. He is quite easy to make. The body is knitted on two needles and in one piece. I thought that buttons would make cute little feet, although you could use beads. He is hung on a long piece of elastic thread, which has a big black bead on the end.
I was delighted that my one little ball of Rowan Fine Tweed wool (25g) was perfect to make two Stanleys, I haven't managed to take photographs of Stanley II yet, though he looks almost exactly the same. Although I am sure other makes of wool would work well, I really liked the texture and bumpiness from using this brand.
Stanley is looking a little glum I know, and that is because he has found out that from next year the classes are going to all change and be named after biblical trees. Perhaps it is just as well, as the prospect of knitting a Firefly was worrying me. Spider Class will become Palm Class, and I will be in Olive Class. I'm not quite sure how that is going to work as far as knitting class mascots is concerned.
So farewell to my lovely Spiders, and if you want to make a similar toy you will be able to find the pattern in my shop later tonight.
I've been so busy crafting for Christmas I have nothing very new to show this week. I am a bit craft-faired out, and am going to get back to making something just for the sheer fun of it next week.
So I just thought I would put together a compilation of all my minibeasts and bugs. Patterns for all the above are on ravelry (some for free), and on the others I have a Minibeast promotion: £1 off if you buy any two of the above patterns together.
Each class in my school is named after a mini-beast. The really nice thing is the children take that name up with them as they progress through the school. So most children will be in that class for seven years. Last year I was in Caterpillar Class, so you can probably imagine what I gave them as an end of year gift. I also gave them the butterfly to go with their caterpillar.
So it has been worrying me a bit, as this year I have been working in Cricket Class. Not an easy job to make a cricket. There are a few crochet patterns available for crickets and grasshoppers, but I couldn't find any knitting patterns. Perhaps I have been watching too much Apprentice, but clearly there is a gap in the market!
So last night I sat down and set about making Charlie the Cricket. I decided to just go for it, so I have made this first little fellow without making many notes. Really speeds up the process, and although he is going to be wrapped up, I had then to make a duplicate, this time writing down exactly what I did for the pattern.
I will probably make a few more. I've knitted him in a traditional cricket green, but a bit of reseach shows crickets come in many different shades.
Will anyone want to knit a cricket? He can be a pal for my stag beetle, which seems to appeal to certain type of small boy.
And for a sneak clue to the class I will be helping in September Click Here.
