Andrew the Yorkie

I was all set to do a bit of an intro post to my sewing when I hit a bit of a snag. When I went to add the pictures to my post on my lunch break, my brand new work computer wouldn't read my memory card. I've no clue if it's the computer or my card reader so I'll have to try it out on my ibook when I get home. So instead of sewing it's going to be a knitting project today.

 

Let me introduce Andrew!

 

 

 

 

 

Andrew was named after the yorkshire terrier in Mary Poppins. He is my second attempt at knitting a toy. I made him to enter into the Big E fair last year, and happily he came home with a red second place ribbon. (He's a winning pooch!) He was a very easy knit, but as is usual with other Alan Dart patterns I've done the assembly takes a bit of work. Most of the problems I think just came trying to understand exactly which parts of the finished pieces he's referring to. Once you have that straight it's not that bad.

 

Here's a few pictures of Andrew while being assembled. Before he had legs I was a bit worried that he was looking a bit like a duck.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some particulars on Andrew:

 

Pattern - Yorkshire Terrier by Alan Dart

 

Did it look like the original photo/drawing once you were done knitting it?

I think so. My seaming isn't quite as clean as the one in the picture, but the fringe fur hides a multitude of sins.

 

 

Were the instructions easy to follow?

For the most part.  The knitting instructions were very easy to follow.  The assembly instructions were a bit harder to follow.   I found it wasn't always clear which part of the finished piece Alan was referring to particularly putting the head and muzzle together.  I just had to sit and rationalize it out.  The head was really the worst part.

 

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?

Overall I really liked the pattern.  If I was to do this pattern again, I would make some changes with the leg construction.  The straws I used were a bit big and didn't fit well through the knit body of the dog.  Smaller diameter straws would have been better.  Also the pattern calls to work only cm of the straw up into the body.  More is definitely necessarily.  I'd work as straw as possible into the body.

What yarn was used?

Sirdar Bonus DK in Walnut for the body

Sirdar Silky Look in Peppercorn for the fringe fur

Unknown remnant black yarn for the nose

Any pattern changes made?

I didn't like the knit ribbon on the dog's head.  I used a small piece of red ribbon instead.

Would you knit it again or recommend it to others?

I would definitely recommend it to others.  I doubt I would knit it again though.  I'd prefer to try a new Alan Dart pattern.

 

Comments

[Susan]

It does look like a duck in that photo before the rest of the parts are added! I've never heard of Alan Dart, but seems like he's worth investigating.

[Christina]

I really have had a lot of fun knitting Alan's patterns. It's a nice change of pace from socks, sweaters and stuff like that.

[Alexandra]

Andrew looks Great! I'm almost finished this Alan Dart Project and encountered the same problems with the legs not standing straight...I inserted a wooden skewers at about half lenght of each leg and pushed them up into the body, seems to be more solid this way. Hope mine looks as cute as yours when i'm done :-)

[Christina]

@Alexandra I think wooden skewers are a great idea. Whatever is used definitely needs to be more inside the body than what the pattern calls for. Let me know how yours turns out!

[Rachel Wallis]

I have just bought this pattern, and would like to knit it for my parents who lost their beloved yorkie a few years ago. I am a little confused with the pattern, how do you get the hairstrands onto the body? Any help or advice on this would be very welcome. I am just about to start and am struggling to get hold of the silky look wool - do you know of any good substitute ? many thanks

[Christina]

@Rachel Wallis - So sorry I didn't reply to this earlier, but with the holidays I hadn't checked my blog e-mail account. I used a crochet hook to get the "hairs onto the body. I folded the lengths in half and then used the hook to pull the loop where it's folded in half through a stitch on the body. (Just a little bit). Then I pulled the strands through the loop and tightened it down to the body.

I'm not sure on a substitute for the silky look. I had ordered mine from a shop in the UK. I would think that any fingering weight yarn would work, just be sure to pick something that has a bit of weight to it. It will help it hang better.