Another Mission (I mean play mat) Completed

The baby isn't due for a long time, but I still have something finished to give.  I accomplished this goal last night (or rather should I say, early this morning at 1:30).  I am so crazy about getting something done once I have started it. I just can't wait to see the final results.

I had a difficult time finding the materials I needed to make the arches for this mat.  I have been trying to come up with the best thing to use to make the arches flexible and still be strong enough to support the weight of the animals.  I thought I had it all figured out before by using pcv piping and foam insulation, which I covered with a material sleeve.  The last set I made, however, was not as flexible as the ones that I used before.  I found out last night that it was because I used a thicker, larger diameter piping last time than before.  I was able to locate the best one last night.  I brought it home, and of course, had to start in right away.  Things moved along pretty smoothly until I tried to push the piping into the sleeve.  It was about a quarter of an inch too tight.  I had to take the seams out and sew them looser.  I was happy when the first one went in like a charm.  However, the second sleeve was still slightly too tight and it was hard to push it through.  It wouldn't be as difficult to just push the piping through, but I line the piping with the foam, and that stretches, and sometimes tears, as I push it through.  If it had not been for this, the mat would have been completed a little sooner.  I was too frustrated to call it a night, so I kept at it until it was finished and I had taken pictures of everything. Here are the results of my labor of love for my friend's grand baby to come.

This shows the mat without the arches attached.  This is a forest mat, so I tried to use as many animals as I could to represent the forest.  I'm sure this many animals would never be at the same place in reality, but with baby things, anything is a go.  The only animal I actually made was the duck. The rest are from a printed fleece material.

This shows the completed set with the animals hanging from the arches.

I came up with this idea with my last arched play mat set of the zoo.  I didn't actually attach that set to the crib, but I realized it could be done to be used as a mobile.  I think it is really a cute alternative for using the arches.

Frankie Frog is perfect for a forest scene. He looks ready to jump into the heart of any baby that will have him.

Sammy Squirrel is too cute to just show from the front.  He needs to show his amazing tail.

Sammy Squirrel is ready for a nut.

Rosy Rabbit waves, "Hello!" with her hand and her ear.

Rosy is a little plump. She must have eaten too many of Mr. Gregor's carrots. This shot is meant to show her bushy tail.

Bobby Bear is one happy little fellow. Nothing to be afraid of with this little brown bear.

Suzie Skunk has a crooked smile, but she doesn't seem to mind a bit.

Suzie wanted you to see her magnificent stripe.

Yes, I know, I get a little crazy with making my characters sound real, but to me, they are real.  I love making these little animals, and never really tire of making them over and over.  I am happy to have several different patterns for animals.  I try to use the same pattern designs for sets, but with this one, I did not have a rabbit, and I really wanted to make one.  I used a different pattern for Rosy Rabbit.  If I had thought of it, I could have just used the same pattern as the other animals and just used the different pattern for making the ears.  All of these animals' heads and bodies are exactly the same, with the heads being larger than the bodies.  The faces, ears, and tails are really the only things that change.  Even the legs are made the same (except for Frankie Frog), and they all have the same belly.  I could have done that with the rabbit, but I didn't really realize it until I had made most of them.  I made the rabbit second.  If I had made it later, I probably would have done it. I did think to make a belly for her like the other animals, so that she would fit in better with them.

Now what will I do?  I haven't decided yet, but I'm sure I will be back at it soon.

Twin Sweaters & Hats

I finished the elephant hats and cable/ribbed sweaters for the twin boys that my friend's daughter is expecting.  I had a little fun with the hats because they were crocheted.  I have not done any crocheting in a very long time (something like at least thirty years ago), and when I did do it, it was very simple and only a few things.  I was confident that I could do the hats, because they were only done with single crochet. My gauge was not correct, but I think it will do.  A newborn hat should be twelve inches circumference and these are just that.  I made one like the pattern said, and it just looked too little, so I did two more for the twins and adjusted a little with the size of needles. Also, the pattern called for the elephant to be done in the same color yarn as the rest of the hat. After doing the first hat that way, I thought it might look better to alternate the color of the elephant with a different shade of blue.  Since I made a light blue and a medium blue colored hat, I reversed the color of the elephant on each hat.  I think they look cute that way, but now, as I look at all three hats as a picture, the one that is all the same color sort of looks more like a real elephant.  Oh well, they are what they are and I have already sewed them, packaged them, and sent them on their way. They will have to do.

The sweaters are called cable/ribbed, but they are not really cabled.  They are a mock cable, done by doing a twisted stitch.  It is faster to do than real cable, and the effect is quite unique.

Twin sets

This blue is a closer color for the medium blue set. The one above is too dark.

This, too, is a little too dark.  It looks more like the one below.

This is the first hat that is too small. I will donate it to the hospital probably for a premie.

Each of the elephants has a tail like this one, except that they are also the alternate color as the hat.

I was worried that I would not have anything else to do again, but a friend is keeping me busy.  There is tale of another baby to be born.  I am getting on that right away, even though there are months to go before it will be born.  I want to make another play mat.  This time, it will probably be a forest mat.  I have only done one of those before, so that will probably be the one.  I really like a lot of the animals that go with that set.

The final Noah's Ark play mat is finally done.  I am happy to have both of the ark mats completed, as well as the zoo mat I made for my other friend.  As with all my projects, I like doing them, but I like more having them completed.  Here we go with this set.

Mat with toys all bundled safely inside.

This shows the toy animals all tucked nicely together inside the ark.

Here are all the mates together on the mat.

Flossy the Fish.

Terry the Turtle.

Mary the Monkey.

Gerry the Giraffe.

Lanny the Lion.

Dolly the Dove.

I know I have said this before, and I am saying it again, but it will probably never happen.  I plan to take a break from knitting for a while.  I feel like I need to do it, but it just never lasts long.  I seem to get another order to make something, or I just get itchy fingers and need to start something new.  I do need to get back to that quilt I am making for Keeping America Warm, but I am not too motivated to do it right now.