That is good to know, will knit it up and see how it goes. if it gets softer my son will get it. I have plans to make more than one anyway.
Alligator Scarf KAL?
I am patiently waiting for my kit - should be here by Thursday. And, not so patiently waiting for my Raverly invite. I know, 4000+ before to go and they are doing the best they can. :shrug:
About the kit: I’m hoping that it’s superwash if it’s Merino, otherwise it will felt…which might be interesting - but not what I wanted! I love the baby croc’s too. I may order one, but use a much softer yarn. I can understand it might be hard to make a soft, 3-D effect, but I don’t like scratchy yarn!
So while I wait for both, I’m :knitting: a Messenger bag from “Knitting for Peace” by B. Christiansen.
I’m a new knitter, and the alligator scarf is my 3rd project (after a garter stitch scarf and learning to purl on some wrist warmers). I wasn’t going to start something this complicated, but I got a request for “something unusual” in a scarf. Can’t say that alligators are the usual!
Mine’s in the Moss color (aka “Everglades” - you can see what the “real” gator color names are by mousing over the square of color on their website).
Fortunately, the pattern’s actually turning out to be pretty straightforward - if a bit time consuming for me. I’m into the repeats of the “main body” section now, and each repeat’s taking me about an hour (including any backtracking when I get it wrong - which usually happens at least once each repeat).
Are there any rules to a Knitalong besides …well …knitting?
Not much, except to post your progress occasionally or if you get “stuck” due to a problem with the pattern. I better get busy! I stopped working on it when I got to the main body.
Now that we have some people who will be knitting it, I need to get on the stick!
Hi Knit-sibs,
I just my notice that the Croc is on my doorstep, but I’m stuck at work until 7 p.m. 
Love the progress you are making. I was kind of hoping we got to knit it from the tail forward (I don’t know that I’ll like the big :flirt: watching me).
I’ll post pictures when, sigh, I get home. Can’t wait to get it on my needles.
Oh, has anyone bought or knit the baby crocs?
I haven’t knit the baby croc yet, but I have the pattern! I splurged and got the whole critter book. Now I’m poor - but I’ll have years of entertainment. Not to mention lots of gifts for the next 3 years of aunthood!
I am curious about the critter book. Did it look good? I was toying with getting it as well.
My croc has eyes now, and he is looking at my kids… they all want one! (which is an improvement after I got half way through the head and realized I forgot to knit the even rows…doh…)
I fell in love with 4 of the designs, and figured that if I bought 2 kits, it’d cost about as much as buying the whole book. So I decided to do it!
The “book” itself is actually a thin 3-ring binder. The patterns are printouts inside plastic page protectors. You can take them out and sit them next to you, or rearrange the sheets in the book so your current project is in front.
The advantage is that you can buy the patterns, but choose any yarn you want for them. The disadvantage is that it’s still a lot more expensive for a single pattern than a kit would be, so it only pays off if you want to make several different critters and/or use an alternate yarn.
My experience, as a beginning knitter, is that the patterns (keeping in mind that I’ve only worked on the alligator so far) are straightforward and easy to understand. I had to look up a couple of basic stitches in a knitting-techniques book to clarify how to set them up, but experienced knitters shouldn’t have that problem.
So! If you want a coffee table book, this isn’t it; this is ONLY a set of patterns being sold as a group. On the other hand, if you like knitting fun things for kids (or playful adults), it should be a great resource for that - and I know I’m enjoying using it to learn several new stitch types (increase, decrease, etc.).
hi–
i’m very much a beginner knitter…i know how to knit and purl <grin>…but i LOVE the look of the alligator scarf. is it achievable??? or will i kill the gator? lol!
betsey
Ooh, me too, Betsey!
I think it’s achievable - since that’s what I knew, going in. The pattern is very specific about how to do the increases, and Morehouse included a picture for the step they use to create the eyes. I had to rip & repeat a few things (especially with the eyes), but it all made sense after a try or three, and now I’m halfway done.
Mostly the pattern involves knitting and increasing, which you get really good at after a few repeats.
thanks Mariposa! i think i’m going to order the kit…it’s just way too cute!! (and, they have the gator yarn on sale as well…maybe pick up more…)
betsey
Where did you see the gator yarn on sale? Is it on their site?
I’ve only seen it in conjunction with the kit.
Later…
Duhh! I just found the yarn on their sale page after getting an email from them saying the sale had been extended!
Stonington, now you can order just the pattern!
Go to the pattern page at the Morehouse Farm website and you’ll see it.
[FONT=Comic Sans MS][SIZE=3][COLOR=blue]Lageelady, thanks so much! 
The grands will love these :woot: [/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Comic Sans MS][SIZE=3][COLOR=blue]anne[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Comic Sans MS][SIZE=3][COLOR=blue]sebago, me [/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
Hi,
Well, I got my gator and must say I like their packaging. I wound one of the hanks and am very dismayed at the amount of “field debris” in it. As a handspinner, I know how hard it is to clean fleece well.
So, after trying it a bit, I tore it out and (gasp!) will use Red Heart. I will save the gator wool for felting. My next one will be Cascade. I love their feel and colors.
How do I insert pictures? It wants a URL, I don’t have one for them.
I’m on Raverly now - NaloMeli.
Thanks!
NaloMeli What I do is: Save Photo on computer and use paint to resize it so KH will accept the Photo. Then at the top of this page click POST REPLY (won’t work if you click reply button after each message) type in message then click on the Paper Clip looking thing and it gives you the option to browse for a picture in your files on your computer, select file and upload. click on the paper clip again and it will show up as a little icon to the side on the screen click and insert.
I don’t know if this is a long winded way of doing it, but it works for me so i am sticking with it.
Okay - here’s the box with pattern and yarn, and what I decided to use since the lagoon, though lovely, was way too rough. Look at that little nose!!
You are quick. is the red heart the same thickness as the gator yarn or are you using smaller needles. looks good so far. I do like the blue gator yarn shame it did not work out. Have to say I am not thrilled with the yarn either but somebody suggested that it might be softer once it has been washed.
Yeah - the yarn has good qualities, but I’m going to use something different next time myself. This hasn’t been bad, but picking little bits out of the wool is tedious, and mine keeps untwirling/splitting. I think I’m spoiled by Karabella.
On the happy side, I’m finally halfway through the body!! Just finished winding my 2nd hank into a ball this morning. How’s everyone else’s project going?
I’m on the second set of increases on the main body I think. Would have to retrieve it from another room to be sure, but it’s getting there.