Knitted toy books

[susandennis]

Looking for knitted toy patterns, I recently ordered three books. I kept my orders to used books and tried not to pay too much. Good thing cause I didn't get much.

Keep in mind, I am a seam Nazi. If I have to sew, it had better be minimal or no go. The fish pattern I created, needs sewing only to close up the mouth. The teddy bears I make are nearly in one piece. I do have to sew on the ears but that's it.

So I was looking for toys that need no sewing.

Knitted Toys by Fiona McTague had a few patterns that were minimal sew but not many and the instructions were lacking the big picture. If you follow step by step, I suspect you get there but I best love at least a sentence or two about construction. I can quickly tell, when a pattern says 'legs, make 4' or 'hands' make 2' - that there will be sewing.

This book as the best photos of the three. And I might make the pig on page 59.

Toy Knits by Debbie Bliss also has a possible pig option. This book has all the photos in front and the instructions in back. Not good. And no overviews. And lots of sewing. This has lots of garter stitch animals which is interesting.

World of Knitted Toys by Kath Dalmeny has more patterns and pictures than the other two but also lots of sewing. The kangaroos are cute and the turtle is inviting but only the snake is new sewing and that's just boring.

So I struck out with these three. I'll keep looking.

Comments

[dizzdvl.livejournal.com]

Did the kitty have too much sewing? Because I really want a kitty and I'm going to have to beg a knitter to make it for me.

[susandennis]

If the one you are talking about is in those three books then yes, too much sewing.

[susandennis]

You might list what you want on http://www.etsy.com/alchemy/ - I'm sure there are tons of knitters there who would make it for you.

[dizzdvl.livejournal.com]

Oooh! Thank you!

[alice-q.livejournal.com]

Ravelry has a Knitted Toys group and forum. You could probably ask there for recommendations for minimal-seaming toy patterns.

[susandennis]

That's a very good suggestion, thank you. I looked through the patterns there but have never perused the forums. I will!

[alice-q.livejournal.com]

Yeah, well, the forums are an acquired taste and time-waster. But there's a lot of good information up there, including pointers to free patterns and the like.

[porcinea.livejournal.com]

You won't like Zoe Mellor's book, either. The toys are fresh and cute, but *everything* is seamed. The toy mice are in 3 parts!!! It's crazy. I'm considering reworking them into in-the-round and picked-up-stitches instead of sewn pieces, but that's also kind of crazy.

I Do Not Seam. Period.

[susandennis]

Thank you!! That's another one off my list.

I've kind of sated my fix with the fish pattern I created for now. Next time it comes back, I am - as someone here so kindly suggested - going to go to the Ravelry forums and ask specifically for toys with no seams. You and I can't be the only people on the face of this earth with this issue. Can we???