Little people—that’s what we would call these dolls. These cheerful four were the very first generation, the originals that started it all.
They’re small, simple, and don’t have faces—and apparently, that’s never bothered a single child. On the contrary, it lets them come alive in a child’s imagination: they can laugh, cry, or talk however the child wants.
Of course, they wouldn’t be the last; many more little people would follow, each with their own personality and quirks.
The very first doll I ever made was this little one. I didn’t have a pattern—just a rough idea in my head—and I ended up unraveling it more times than I can even count, trying to get it just right.
M came up with the name, and that was that: the little Pangolin finally had an identity. Most of the other dolls I made over the years went off to new homes, but Pangolin stayed with us. Even now, years later, the Pangolin is still here, a little reminder of where it all began.
I think part of me will always have a soft spot for Pangolin—the one that started the whole obsession.
… it’s (finally) cold enough for wrist warmers!
Don’t get me wrong—I’m definitely not a huge fan of cold weather, but there’s something I really love about knitting wrist warmers. They’re quick to make, so you can finish a pair in no time, and they’re just so much fun to play around with. You can go simple or get creative—add a thumb hole or leave it out, try cables or keep it plain, mix colors or textures. They’re small projects, but somehow so satisfying to make and even more satisfying to wear.
I proudly present the Rat Race scarf—probably my favorite of all the Morehouse Farm scarves I’ve made so far. Unlike the others, this one is knitted not crocheted. I added a lining (or “rat bellies”) and joined it to the top of the scarf. It gives the whole scarf more structure and keeps the rats from curling up on the sides.
I love it and so does my boy.
Morehouse Farm has some seriously amazing patterns! So far, I’ve made a few of their animal scarves – the alligator, the rat race scarf, and the cat wrap – and I really liked making them. The instructions are really clear, and once you get the hang of their approach to increases and decreases, they’re not too tricky to follow.
For the white one, I came up with my own twist: I added a “belly” by knitting a plain second scarf without the scales, then joined the two halves together with single crochet. It gave the scarf a whole new dimension and made it extra fun to wear.
I made the two cat scarves for my boss’s little girls, and I think they totally loved them. One of them even set up a little spot for her cat on the pillow at bedtime—it was the cutest thing!
The cat scarves were presents for my boss’s little girls, and I think they liked them. One of them even set up a little spot for her cat on her pillow at bedtime—it was the cutest thing!