The last hints of summer, and I decided to photograph the one and only sunflower in that I managed to grow in my garden. Huge amount of slugs and snails this year. As I was doing this a bumble bee arrived looking for pollen, and I got these shots. I had to get up very close to the bee, and I was a bit worried I was going to get my nose stung.
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.
