Well, hi there! Did you all enjoy a nice Thanksgiving last week? Or at least have a nice week if you aren’t here in the US? We spent a lot of time packing up orders and shipping them out last weekend but there was also plenty of time for relaxing and knitting. I actually finished up quite a few projects but I’ll share those with you on Friday. Today it’s time to talk a bit about knitted toys and other small items that are quick and fun to knit and perfect for last minute gifts. And of course, another contest for some yummy yarn.
There are so many great patterns for toys and fun little things, I’ll just post a few of my favorites. FIrst up, how about a flock of Button Bunnies? Designed by Stefanie Goodwin Ritter, they’ll knit up fast in some yummy worsted weight yarn, maybe some super soft Malabrigo Merino?
Or, how about Elijah the sweet little elephant designed by Ysolda Teague? This would be a great gift for a special little one on your list. I especially like the idea of knitting this in a gorgeous luxury yarn like Canopy Worsted from The Fibre Company.
You could also consider knitting a gift for your own toys. In my case, this would be my iPad. I admit that I have a love of technology by my iPad is my one true love. I hate being without it. Oddly enough, I didn’t even really want one but I received it as a gift and instantly became addicted. So, this year, I think my iPad is going to receive a gift of it’s own. I love this Cabled iPad Sleeve by Emily Nimz. Like a little sweater for your technology!
So, those are just a few of my favorites. This week’s contest is for 3 skeins of Canopy Worsted, your choice of color from any that are in stock, and the Elijah pattern. Just leave a comment on what your favorite non-garment pattern is, practical or not. Or if you think the idea of knitting something you can’t wear is silly, that’s fine too. You can just say that! We’re easy around here.
And just a quick reminder, today is the last day of the site wide sale but Cascade is on clearance and the prices will remain reduced until everything is gone. It’s a great time to stock up on some lovely basics for your stash.
That Elijah elephant is absolutely adorable. I’ve never knit a toy, but with six kids, I really should hop to it. He’d be at the top of my list! Rav amchart
I like to knit dishcloths and tissue box covers. The elephant is the college mascot of the University of Alabama. My nephew graduated from there in 2010 and is expecting his first child next summer, Elijah would make a perfect gift to knit for the baby.
Love the little elephant! Lots of babies due in our family so this could be just the perfect thing!
Non-garment knitting: I made a pillow out of Quince Osprey yarn and it looks lovely on my couch. But I do look at it sometimes and think, “Too bad no one is wearing that beautiful yarn!”.
I love Elijah. I have had plans to make him and a couple of fish for my daughter for a while. She loves knitted toys, but I always get distracted by clothing. These would make great summer projects.
I’ve made mice toys for my cats; they love them! I also made this stuffed unicorn (http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/fluffy-unicorn). It’s adorable! Now to decide which grandbaby will find it under the tree for Christmas. Or maybe I should just make Elijah and then I won’t have to choose!
I have not done any toys but I would really like to do one of the monsters from the book of knitted monsters. I have the book, the filling, the yarn and the needles but the only thing I am missing is time, but I should do one at least before the end of the year!
I have had him in my queue for a long time, but my daughter simply loves bunnies, and the button bunnies are so cute! Elijah has a very sweet look about him…like he’s shy. Love it!
I like to knit scrubbies and tiwashis.
Elijah is a great pattern, as is the Bunny Blanket Buddy
My favorite non-wearable to knit is dishcloths. Nearly instant knitting gratification. I love Ysolda’s patterns and Elijah is one of my favorites.
I have knit my MIL a coffee cup cozy, and she really likes it. It was my first try, and I wasn’t sure the particular design I chose would work really well, but apparently it does. I will make more of them! I also find dishcloths good to knit- I am all about the practical, for sure
I love, love, love “Owls Two Ways” – owls are the best!!!
I have always wanted to knit Elijah but since I don’t have anyone small enough to justify him, I haven’t done it yet… although I would appreciate him to no end but is it silly to make myself a stuffie? You know what, I don’t care – I want to make Elijah for me and finish him with a luxurious satin bow… that would be heavenly!! I’ll consider it my birthday present to me.
I think he’s adorable and I would like one too! Not silly at all.
Elijah is soooo cute! I am in the finishing stages of knitting a second Sock Giraffe. http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/sock-giraffe
I also have knit a lot of penguins, a duck, a guinea pig and lots of water bottle cozies. I also knit clothing items.
ok–my youngest just turned 8 last week and the only thing she wanted from me was a knitted chameleon! I wasn’t sure i could do it but i did and she’s so happy. it wasn’t fun every minute but it was totally worth it!
Just finished a bunch of wash cloths for my new grandson. Elijah would be perfect for him
I love to knit toys (giraffe and monkey and caterpillar especially) and spa cloths for all my friends.
I love Elijah and who wouldn’t love to receive such a cute elephant.
My favorite non-clothing item has to be dishcloths…knitted or crocheted. They are quick & easy!
I love to knit bracelets, I don’t even use a pattern, I just knit some I cord, use a bead and think up an interesting closure using the bead. They’re fun to wear!
My favorite non-garments are afghans, especially the Ripple Afghan!
Do dolls clothes count as non-garments? I love dressing my grandchildren’s dolls or making them toys. I’ve made Jean Greenhowe’s elephant several time and I’d LOVE to make Elijah.
Thanks for a terrific contest.
What an adorable elephant! So hard to pick just one… love little bears and bunnies and lambies, baby blankies, but when I saw this, decided this had to be the fav for the the moment — http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/dog-tea-cosy
Lately my favorite thing to make that is not wearable would be dishcloths or this bag (http://www.ravelry.com/projects/19vesperstreet/nigh-duck).
The elephant is adorable and would make great Christmas gifts!
Such a cute little elephant….new granddaughter would love it
ooh, I love that elephant!
I have knit hundreds of washcloths and scrubbies. Have made small bunnies, too.
I knit few non-clothing items but these are my favorite and so addictive!
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/mini-alien
I can knit one up quick and I use the cotton from pill bottles to stuff them. Instead of button eyes I french knot eyes on. My kids have several made from scraps. Elijah is adorable reminds me of an elephant I had as a child.
I love Elijah! He is so cute and would make a wonderful Christmas gift for my great-nephew.
Oh, I love Elijah! He is so adorable! I love to knit softies and bags. But I’m also a fan of dishcloths/washcloths–perfect way to try out a new stitch pattern.
I like knitting christmas ornaments…
nhsarab at yahoo dot com
Elijah is so cute. I’m not used to knitting for children, so I’ve been racking my brain about what to knit for my new nephew. For some reason, I hadn’t even considered knitted toys! Duh! He might be too young for toys now (he’s newborn), but he’ll grow!
As for my current favorite non-garment pattern, I just bought a pattern over the weekend for felted bunny slippers, called Hopsalot. I haven’t made them yet, but seeing the pattern made me smile. They’re adult-sized, by the way
I really like Happy Hipoo by Susan B Anderson
I’ve made a felted handbag, ipod socks and an ipad cover, but I’ve yet to knit a stuffed animal. Elijah is pretty darned cute, and I do have that grandbaby coming in May. . . .
I am in love with the Elijah pattern.
I don’t think I have a favorite non-garment pattern because I never knit them! Maybe I should…
I love Elijah! I’ll have fav him.
I just knit up some washcloths with a greyhound face and a greyhound body:
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/milehihounds/greyhound-portrait-dishcloth and http://www.ravelry.com/projects/milehihounds/italian-greyhound-greyhound-whippet-service-dog-washcloth.
My favorite non-garment pattern right now, is the felted flower bowl:
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/milehihounds/felted-flower-bowl-2.
I really like sheldon from knitty. Although I have never knitted it since I have no use for it.
Over the years I have made many non practical and toy knits, Norberta the dragon from knitty was adorable but a lot of sewing. My favorite has to be the ‘Little Birds’ pattern by Katie Startzman. It is a quick and fun construction and a well received gift by bird lovers…I made one for my MIL and she loved it! BTW, other non practical knitting I’ve done has included a rocketship, earth, piece of cake, head of garlic, ugly duckling, a snitch and a sushi roll TP cover! Lots of nonsense!
My fav non-wearable item to knit is kitty toys. I love to spoil my little buddy! Debbie H
gussek on Ravelry
I like knitting Korknisse and Ruffle Bottle Neck Sleeves, though I suppose those are garments for corks and wine bottles, just not people!
I do a lot of non-garment knitting. I was scared of garments when I first started and explored quite a lot of amigurumi crochet as well as toys. I love Hansi Singh knitted toys especially. My other favorite currently for non garment knitting is the Escher blankets Jana has published on Ravelry and justblocked.blogspot.com
I’m a huge elephant fan and actually my favorite non-garment to knit was this little guy: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/pears-the-elephant
I’ve always wanted to knit an Elijah!
I love knitted toys and amigurumi! Not everything needs to be wearable.
I love little knitted toys and monsters and such! I’m knitting baby clothes and toys at the moment and I think I should probably add an elephant. Every baby needs an elefant.
I recently knitted a little cat and am now knitting a monkey using this pattern: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/sock-monkee-21
I’ve made a couple of toys, but my favorite non-clothing item to make is flowers. I then sew on a jewelry pin to the back, and you’ve got a nice little adornment for a jacket or a bag!
Christmas stockings … hands (feet) down. okay, technically, they might be considered a “garment” but, really, they are not!
I love the Hippo by Susan B. Anderson…always a hit with the kiddos who receive them as gifts. Chubby Chirps by Rebecca Danger are great for using up little bits of yarn!
Elijah is adorable……when I was much, much younger I use to collect elephants! I ould have loved to have had him in my collection!
I love all of Rebecca Danger’s patterns and knitting stuffed animals in general. I just learned to crochet recently and I’m loving making crocheted flowers as well.
I haven’t done a lot of non-garment knitting, but I love and wish I could knit more blankets.
Elijah is to cute!
Some of my favorite and most requested non-garment knitting:
Icord headphones
Ipod necklace cozies
coffee cup sleeve cozies
Hugo is my favourite. What can I say… he’s adorable, a party animal and a good friend to everyone who respects him. Meet Hugo: http://www.ravelry.com/projects/Arjaaa/hugo-the-couch-potato-monster
Yarnbombing is my favorite thing to dream of doing and I am going to help with this proeject
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/107680882/parking-lot-video-tape-yarn-bomb
and combine two of my loves.
Great giveaway!! I like knitting cuddle mats for animals who are in shelters to have in their cages. It gives them something soft to lay on, and the cats like to knead on them. I also enjoy making toys for my cats filled with catnip!
oneofthehive on rav
My favorite non-garment knit that I’ve made is a pillow out of Rowan Denim yarn. Over the years, I’ve washed the cover quite a bit (thankful for the durability of cotton!) and now it’s a beautiful faded indigo and very, very soft.
Andreabrightside on ravelry
I haven’t knitted a non-garment item before but some of the softies out there are adorable! I really want to knit Hobbes (from Calvin and Hobbes of course)!!
I love the elephant. My favorite non-clothing item is bags/purses. I don’t think that’s clothing, is it?
I’ve enjoyed making coffee cozies. I have several of them already and want to make a bunch more to bring to church to share during coffee time! They’re a fun way to use up scraps of yarn and you can experiment with lots of different stitches. So it could be considered clothing for your coffee cup I guess!