Pattern #4 Gromit's Blankie

I apologize for not getting this out sooner, the Xmas season was so busy for me! I have also been trying out new patterns and some were more successful than others. This one will be super for beginners I would rate it as very easy.

In the movie A Close Shave, the scene where Gromit is forced to leave the house and take shelter in the dog house, he grabs a blanket. This is my best representation of that blanket. It could be that it was just a piece of wool flannel with red wool stitching on the edging, but I think Gromit would prefer to knit something like this for himself. This is worked entirely in garter stitch, which I usually find a bit plain, but working this in stockinette leaves the blanket with a wrong side and right side that I didn't like. Moss stitch was too thin and not worth the extra effort. The garter gives the blanket a greater thickness and will thus be warmer. I know that Gromit's blanket was in grey, but as I am donating mine to a hospital for the NICU, I thought the blue and white would be more appropriate. In my image you can see a corner of the blanket with the blanket stitch edging.

Materials: I recommend 4 balls of Lionbrand's wool-ease in charcoal. You will also need one ball in red for the stitching. If you have sock wool lying around needing a use, you can use that too if you double strand it.

Size 6.0mm/10/4 circular knitting needles (I know I have previously articulated my distain for circulars, but there is really no getting around them here. It is the only practical way to handle 100 or more stitches.)

Gauge: 14 st = 10 cm (4") I list the gauge here but it is really not too important. It is a blanket and it being a little larger or smaller will not make much difference.

Pattern: This square blanket is knit corner-wise from edge to edge using increases and decreases. Increasing can leave you unsightly holes, but having them on the edge leaves a nice space for a crocheted or blanket stitched edge.

Co 3 stitches.

Row 1- Knit

Row 2- K1, yarn over (or forward as you prefer), K to end of row.

Repeat last row until 135 stitches (or to desired length)

Next row (Dec row) K1, K2tog, K across until 3 st remain, K2tog, K1

Repeat last row until 6 st remain

K2tog accross

BO 3 remaining st.

Sew in Ends.

Finishing: with large eye needle or size I/9 (5.5 mm) crochet hook and with the red wool blanket stitch or crochet though the spaces around the blanket to create the edging.

And Voila! Doggie Blanket!

Pattern #10 Preston's Cyberdog Sweater

This pattern was fashioned after the sweater in A Close Shave, when Preston is shaved and has his robotic self revealed. Since the sweater looks all gnarly in the movie, it is a great piece for beginners. The more slipped stitches and mysterious bumps the more authentic it will look.

Size: my pattern is for a small to medium sized dog. If you wanted to make it for a toy dog, you could just halve it like a recipe; doubling it for a med to large dog. But I think it would be better looking if you sized it down by needles and weight of yarn. For example, use a size 5 needle and sport weight yarn for a toy, and a size 13 needles and bulky weight yarn for a med to large dog.

Materials: I used some ugly tan colored stash yarn that was from an estate sale. It just happened to be the perfect color. Any worsted weight would do, but if you are going to buy, I would recommend Lion Brand fisherman's wool in Oatmeal.

Needles: size 7 American, or whatever gives you a gauge with 7 st x 12 rows= 2" square.

This pattern comes in 4 pieces; top, bottom, and legs. Top fits dog's back, bottom fits dog'stummy.

Directions: Cast on 26. Knit every row for 44 rows or 7". Break thread but leave on needle. Cast on 26 for Top.

row 1-2 Knit.

row 3-18 increase 2 stitches every row 6 times (k1,m1, knit until 2 st remain k1,m1,k last st)

then increase 1 st every row 10 times (k1, m1, knit until end of row).

There are now 46 st and you width should be roughly 13". Place a little bow of yarn here on each end if you like. It will help you to match up the bottom for sewing later.

Knit until piece measures 10", leaving one piece on each needle (top on one needle, bottom on the other) join bottom and knit across. You could bind them off and pick up stitches and use a circular needle, but as I am so attached to my chopstick needles I have decided to knit it in this manner.

Next row, k1, k2 tog

(beg in by purling) knit in stockinette st for 4 rows.

BO, no need to be loose.

Legs: cast on 20 st, k for 10 rows. BO, leave a long tail to fold in half and sew up sides.

Assembly: IF you've left long tails you can use these to sew everything up. I put the legs right under the collar, but you can place them anywhere on the sides to fit your dog. No need to be neat if you want it true to the original, and voila! Frankensweater!

Pattern #5 Skiing Appliance Scarf

You'll have to bear with me, I am rather new to all this blog stuff. I started this blog ( despite my ineptitude) because I had something I wanted to share. If you couldn't tell by the name of this blog, that I am a huge fan of Wallace and Gromit. I am also a knitter. I mean REALLY a knitter. I LOVE knitting! I do it anytime I have a chance to. If you live in Chicago you've probably seen me on the "El" or the bus having at it. Being such a compulsive knitter, I of course identified so much with Gromit. And there are are knitted items all over the movies, especially a close shave!
This Blog is the place where I would like to share my interpretations of the knit items I have seen in the Wallace and Gromit movies. They won't be perfect, and most of them will have tp be knit with yarn from my stash (times are too tight for me to indulge my yarn snobbery) but I hope you will enjoy them just the same.
So to begin I present you with pattern #5:

SKIING APPLIANCE SCARF (from a Grand Day Out)

I have interpreted this scarf to be a tube scarf to be knitted on two needles. This manner of knitting allows for double warmth, no curling, and no seam.

Materials: Size 7 (4.5mm) needles (as I am very fond of the needles I made from chinese takeout chopsticks and an electric pencil sharpener -sanded down with a nail file and rubbed down with a birthday candle- and insist on knitting everything I can with them!)
Any worsted weight yarn will do, but if you would like to treat yourself, I would recommend Lion Brand Cashmere blend in cream and black.
You'll probably need a crochet hook for the fringe too.

Instructions: Cast on 50 stitches. This will be double the width of the actual scarf. You can use any method, but I like the "thumb" method.
First and every row: *K 1, bring yarn to the front, slip 1 st purlwise, bring yarn to the back; repeat from * all across row. This will form a tube without needing a circular needle. You could knit this on a circular needle, but I myself prefer this method.
Work 5 rows in cream then five rows in black until piece measures 50 inches.
Bind off.
I usually carry up the unused color to avoid having ends, but I suppose since it is a tube, you could just drop the ends in the inside.
Add fringe as you like, and VOILA! scarf.