Above you can see how I've been occupying myself the past couple of evenings - still working my way through the new pattern book. I'm so impressed with the clever way the shaping has been achieved in these patterns - it is fascinating to see the piece evolve as you knit it.
However, there are a couple of things I would change or do differently next time round - the snail's shell isn't big enough for my liking - if he was real he wouldn't fit in there, it's like me trying to live in a dolls house! I do love the way the body is made with a little mantle all round the edge - I did consider just leaving him as a slug!!
And I followed the ant pattern to the letter and didn't discover until the assemby instructions about putting pipe cleaners in the legs - I'd already sewn and attached them by then, so had to make do with posting some jewellery wire through very carefully, which isn't the best method of doing it - certainly not child friendly! But you learn as you go along, and next time will be easier.
I've reached fatigue point with these now - time to give them a rest for a while. So I'm making a top for myself again instead.
On the art front, I gave myself an enforced break last week - no painting, no sketching (apart from a couple of hasty drawings at the zoo) as I felt I was a bit burnt out - the zebra picture should not have caused that many problems. So this week I have started a commissioned portrait with fresh eyes and enthusiasm and can't wait to get on with it instead of feeling like it is a chore.
