Monday, October 03, 2016

Butterfly & Cocoon ~ Making Issue 2: Fauna

Hi, Knitters,
I am sitting in the airport in Vancouver with a bit of time to kill so I thought I would write a brief post about my latest pattern release. I am proud to announce that the next issue of Carrie Bostick Hoge's Making Magazine is now available for pre-order. 

Click here to find out more about Making Magazine Issue 2: Fauna! Issue 1 sold out quickly, you can pre-order a copy. The magazine has seventeen knitting patterns but there is so much more like sewing, embroidery, baking and more.

My new design that is in the magazine is called Butterfly and Cocoon. The pattern is only available in the print magazine at this time. In March the pattern will be available for download in my Ravelry pattern shop.



The other knit designers include Melanie Berg, Norah Gaughan, Carrie Bostick Hoge, Karen Templer, Ashley Yousling, Mary Jane Mucklestone, Carol Sunday, Cal Patch, Jenny Gordy, Bristol Ivy, Cecily Glowik-McDonald and Beatrice Dahlen. 

It's quite a line up. 

Photo by Carrie Bostick Hoge

Here is my introduction to the pattern:

Late summer into early fall is a completely magical time here in Wisconsin. On my daily hikes through the prairies with grasses towering over my head, and around nearby ponds surrounded by milkweed, the terrain is intoxicating. These natural habitats offer a huge variety of fauna-watching including wild turkeys, deer, chipmunks, herons, cranes, birds galore and my favorite, the butterflies. Oh the butterflies! To see their beautiful, airy wings flitting about in abundance from plant to plant has added so much to my daily excursions. Each walk in the fading heat of the season is a heady experience.

Butterfly and Cocoon is a knitted tribute to these beautiful, delicate creatures. The sweet Butterfly and Cocoon are both worked seamlessly from the bottom-up, picking up stitches for the wings and antennae after the body is knitted. This makes for a slick and fun knit. Children will love to tuck the winged friend into its very own cocoon for a rest or nap and take it out again when it’s time to fly! The loop on the top of the cocoon hood is perfect for hanging on a hook, backpack or most definitely on a little finger for toting along on adventures in the wild. 

Photo by Carrie Bostick Hoge


Knitting

October 2016


Sport / 5 ply (12 wpi) ?

6 stitches = 1 inch
in stockinette stitch

US 3 - 3.25 mm
US 5 - 3.75 mm

200 yards (183 m)

5½" tall
Finished measurements
5½” (14 cm) tall
Yarn
Chickadee by Quince & Co.
(100% American wool; 50 grams / 181 yards)
• 1 skein each (only small amounts of each color are used) in the following color ways:
Sample 1: Kumlien’s Gull (A), Egret (B), Shell (C), Split Pea (D)
Sample 2: Clay (A), Chanterelle (B), Aleutian (C), Honey (D)
Sample 3: Iceland (A), Petal (B), Lupine (C), Pomegranate (D)
OR
50 yards (46 meters) or less of each color in sport weight yarn
Notions
• Tapestry needle
• Removable stitch markers
• Fiberfill
• Safety eyes, size 4.5 mm (see Notes)
• Black embroidery floss
• Waste yarn
Gauge
6½ sts = 1” (2.5 cm) in stockinette stitch with smaller needles
6 sts = 1” (2.5 cm) in stockinette stitch with larger needles
Notes
Butterfly is worked in the round from the bottom up and stuffed as you go. Face detail, wings, and antennae are added after. Cocoon is worked from the bottom up in the round, then bound off at beginning of hood and continued in garter stitch. Top of hood is grafted, with stitches kept live at center of hood to make I-cord loop.
Warning: Safety eyes are considered a choking hazard for young children and infants. Embroider eyes if this is a concern.

Photo by Carrie Bostick Hoge

This is one of my all-time favorite toy designs. I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed creating it.


The following photos are my early shots of the Butterfly and Cocoon. 

I was so excited about the finished design that I had to quickly knit up two more versions!


The beautiful Quince & Co. Chickadee yarn never fails. It's so beautiful. Finding four colors to combine is so easy with the Quince colorways. 


Love the hood with the loop for hooking on a little finger.



The entire project is knit from the bottom-up and in one piece. The wings and antennae are picked up and knit on to the body. 



Going home is always a good feeling. I'll be back soon with more.
xo ~ susan

15 comments:

Leanne Coppola said...

These are the cutest little butterflies I have ever seen. I fell in love with them as soon as you posted them the other day on IG. adorable!!!!!! I will have to knit up a few.

Anonymous said...

These are cute - of course as it's a Susan B. Anderson design. I can see chubby, baby fingers gripping one and gumming it. I also like how you note its construction; it frustrates me so when a pattern doesn't mention it.

Ana said...

Susan, this is the BEST! My favorite part? The simple little grin. Ana

Addie said...

Oh man... my sons would LOVE these!

Debsnubs said...

These sure soooo cute, can't wait for the pattern to come out, my granddaughter will love this.☺️

Anne said...

These are so sweet! I may have to make one-or a few! Or a whole flock!
By the way-the gauge in the Ravelry top section looks like maybe a typo?

Kimmy said...

You have the BEST ideas. The butterfly in cocoon could not be cuter! It's always fun seeing what your creative mind comes up with next. Hugs from Kimmy

tamalady said...

That's adorable!

zab said...

Ohhhh! So cute! I love it!

Reneelynn said...

so these use double pt. needles? will the mag. be available in any stores? these are cute and my grand daughter would just love 1 or 2!!

Susan B. Anderson said...

Reneelynn,
The project uses double-pointed needles, however it could be easily adapted to magic loop. Yes, the magazine is available in yarn shops. To find out where to purchase or to pre-order online go to Makingzine.com.

xo, susan

All Knit Up Designs said...

A family friend is having a baby girl and I think she'll be getting some butterflies! These are adorable and would be really easy to embroider the face on! Can't wait for the magazine!

Reneelynn said...

Thank you Susan!!

BSmith said...

How adorable can you get!!??!! These are the sweetest thing! These will definitely be on my needles in the new year( currently working on one of three sweaters for family Christmas gifts!)!! My nieces will have so much fun with these!
Thank you, Susan, for your wonderful patterns!! You are AMAZING!!

Anonymous said...

These are incredibly adorable!