Crafted Monsters

If you're a crafter and you love Halloween or monsters in general, hopefully you've already discovered the great selection of monster patterns!

Before Giftmas 2009, I discovered Danger Crafts on Etsy and all of her fabulous knitted monster patterns. I immediately ordered several, although I've only managed to knit one. She's on Ravelry, as well. (The benefit to ordering from Etsy is that you can order a collection and save a little money. The benefit to buying via Rav is that your purchases go into your library and stay there in case you lose them. Oh, and there are some freebies, too. I've made several Monster Chunks!)

There's a new book, too: Big Book of Knitted Monsters, The: Mischievous, Lovable Toys, which I am planning to order next paycheck.

Anyway. I knit Olivia here for my honorary niece, M. Olivia was pictured with a tutu (which I tried to make, but so failed at) and M was into ballet, so I thought she'd get a kick out of it, even though there ended up being no tutu. Well, she loves this toy. It's not necessarily connected, but now she's totally into monsters, so I've been happily planning another monster for her (no harm in planning way ahead when it comes to Giftmas knitting). I didn't have time to knit a monster for her this year, so I got her Little Monsters Cookbook instead.

Have some monster-loving kids in your life? Even big (adult) kids? You? Okay! In addition to Ms. Danger's patterns, check out:

• Knit
• KnitWit: 20 Projects for Beginners and Seasoned Knitters
• Amigurumi Knits: Patterns for 20 Cute Mini Knits (has a section of cryptozoological creatures, plus an Ant pattern, which would be marvelous for a Them! fan).
• Crochet
• If I ever learn now to crochet, I'm definitely getting Creepy Cute Crochet: Zombies, Ninjas, Robots, and More!
• Fabric
• Zombie Felties: How to Raise 16 Gruesome Felt Creatures from the Undead
• Make a Monster: 15 Easy-to-Make Fleecie Toys You'll Love to Sew
• Closet Monsters: Stitch Creatures You'll Love from Clothing You Don't
• Plush-O-Rama: Curious Creatures for Immature Adults
• Supplies: Buttons work, but safety eyes are extra special. I get plain black ones at the craft store (JoAnn Fabrics) and fancy colored ones at 6060's Etsy shop

Knit: Spider Scarf - Amazing

I promise, not all the content will be about knitting. But I do knit, and dye yarn, so it's natural that I'd get started with some posts that have many interests colliding. Really, whether or not you knit, you need to see this scarf:

(image used with permission from idyllicchick)

Details
Pattern: October is for Spinners
Download free pattern (PDF)
Ravelry Link
by Sharon Emery, co-owner of Hanks Yarn and Fiber in Gainesville, FL

I'm telling you: I don't even like spiders. And this is in my queue. I think it's brilliant.

In case you're wondering: you start knitting with several strands of laceweight yarn, on smaller needles. Then, as you go, you a) drop a strand of yarn, and b) go up a needle size, until you're working on the largest needles with a single strand.