Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Introducing Oscar Dog!

August is a big month of knitting for others - lots of birthdays to cater for!

First up, our nephew is turning 2 on Saturday. I recently bought The Knitted Odd-Bod Bunch by Donna Wilson - a great book full of quirky fun knitted toys - mostly animals - all with very cool back stories!

This is just the first of what I am sure will be many projects from this book - I'd like you meet Oscar Dog!
"Oscar is a rare, stripy, sausage dog. Because he has been blessed with unusually good hearing, he can hear a person coming up to ten miles away and can sometimes hear what people are saying in the next room" (from the book!)
Details
Pattern:
Oscar Dog - knitted in the round, with only the ears made separately and sewn on afterwards. A very quick and easy knit!

Yarn: The pattern is originally done in worsted weight yarn. I chose 8ply cottons instead - because I had them in stash and for easy washing. 25g of Anchor Magicline (the variegated yarn) and 30g of generic 8ply cotton from Spotlight (the blue yarn). I did one row stripes (rather than two row stripes in the original pattern) as the variegated yarn is a bit "stronger" than I'd like when knit up, so the plain colour breaks it up.
Sticks: 3.5mm KP Harmony Options magic loop, plus a spare 3.5mm addi dpn for the bobble feet.
Time: Two days! 10-11 August 2009

Modifications: I made Oscar a little shorter than the pattern specified, and I made his nose in the round rather than flat - I do love to minimise seaming! I also crocheted around his ears for a neater edge.
A very nicely written pattern, although the bobble feet instructions are slightly misleading, as they suggest making 12 stitches for the bobble but only have you work six stitches. So I just made 6 stitches and worked those, and I think they turned out ok. The instructions for the tail shaping make such a cool shape!
He's a very well-trained littel fellow already - give him a tummy scritch, anyone?

16 comments:

Bells said...

oh he's fantastic! You got the balance of blue and stripes just perfectly and I really like the edging on the ears - it looks very neat and tidy.

I hope he's well loved!

m1k1 said...

He is so cute.

1funkyknitwit said...

Awwwhh this is too cute!!

You did a lovely job in the finishing Oscar has a very cute doggy face indeed I'm sure he's going to be super loved.

Sarah said...

Oh what a cool toy - I'm a bit reluctant about knitting toys becuase of the fiddliness but this sounds a fun knit as well as being a cute FO - might have to check that book out...

MadMad said...

Oh, wookie! Puppy tummy! Good boy!

What a great toy! I agree with Sarah, too - I've steered away because of fiddliness, but this sounds like a good one!

Gidgetknits said...

Having an Oscar would just make your day. I love that you've 'trained' him to roll over for a tummy scratch!

Geek Knitter said...

scritch scritch scritch

What a cutie, I really love his widdle tail!

Donna Lee said...

What a cutie! I like knitted toys and have made one or two. They are always much loved.
Oscar is just right for hugging

roxie said...

What is your sausage dog stuffed with? He's adorable! And being cotton, he'll be sooo huggable.

Ann said...

The dog is gorgeous & I love the colors. Anyone will love a cuddly dog like this.

missfee said...

Oh
I want to be 2 and have you as my Aunt

so cute and you have caught his personality to perfection

xxfee

TinkingBell said...

He is winderful - I must try and get that book

August is birthday month here too.....

DrK said...

aw whos a pwetty puppy?! soo cute. makes me want to go home and scritch the real things!

Anonymous said...

Hee! What a cutie he is.

Damn it, now you've got me thinking about knitted toys! I've avoided them not so much because of fiddliness, but because I know if I start I won't be able to stop. And my Rav-queue is ridiculously long as is... ;)

yoel said...

Awww...what a darlin' daschound! He looks very wise.

Linda said...

He is lovely! I would be tempted to make a long one as a draught excluder. I do very much like your FLS too as it is a fab colour and looks great on.