Octopus Guard

This is my octopus. He won't eat you though...I don't think.

So this is one of those projects that started as a joke between me and the DH. We saw a video and then found the pattern, and it just had to happen! The DH is very picky about colors when it comes to knitting animals. In order to avoid his grumbling about the octopus being the wrong color for the next million years, I made him come to the yarn store with me.

I really like how it came out, though I would have liked to have found a yarn that was a bit more variegated so the octopus looked like he had some texture.  I would also have liked the underside of the tentacles to be a bit more textured as well, there must be some way to get some suckers, preferably without knitting bobbles. The pattern is really well written, and very easy to follow, I just have to knit pick.

I've gotten tons of compliments for him and a request to alter the pattern into a hat because who doesn't want to look like their head is getting eaten? I don't know if that alteration will ever happen. As it is, this guy ate around 800 yards, which is quite a bit for a future hat, but as a guardian of the window sill, he does a great job!

Here we go...

26,200 stitches, 1048 rows, 53 color changes, 106 ends to weave in.

Due to a Ravelry "competition," I have until July 31st to get it done. According to my math, I need to do 12 rows a day to make that goal. That should be pretty manageable,  but for the competition, I have a shawl to make at the same time, as well as at least three other projects.

 Swatches are required for the competition, so I'm got my mega row swatch (no I'm not going to share what the project is, we'll see if anyone- or everyone- figures it out before I'm done). The original pattern is over 66 stitches, but it was originally for a much larger man. I'm not 6'3" so I'm not going to wear a scarf that is a foot wide. Mine is going to be about 5 inches wide knit over 25 stitches.

I also have the swatch for the shawl. I'm going to be using some of my hand spun for the shawl. A while ago I spun about 8 ounces of a red mohair and gold merino yarn. Now I finally have the right project for it!

Here I have all the colors and yarns that I'm going to be using for these projects. It should work out quite nicely, and I'm excited to get started.

Since both are part of a competition, I have to submit a proposal and get it approved before I can start knitting. I'll also be dealing with different time zones, so even though the competition opens tomorrow, I probably won't be able to start these projects. But maybe I can get most of the way through one of the other projects I need to complete.


Now I just have to wait...