manta ray hand puppet

[firecat]

I made a toy for my nephew's 3d birthday. Despite his getting a mountain of other gifts, including a doll house and an OLPC computer, he actually played with the puppet a few times without being prompted, which made me happy.

Here's the Ravelry page for those of you who have drunk the Koolaid:
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/firecat/manta-ray

It's based on Manta Ray by Brigitte Read on the roman sock blog.
Size G hook
Yarn: The underside is bulky wool handspun by kiyowaramiyuki. The topside is Plymouth Outback Wool, colorway "Multibright". Both were acquired at yarn swaps.

Pattern modifications:

* I embroidered on eyes rather than sewing on safety eyes (didn't have any safety eyes, and thought it would be safer for a 3 year old)
* I didn't use internal pipecleaners (again, thought they might not be entirely safe for a 3-year-old)
* The crochetwork was kind of open and I thought stuffing would show. So I made it into a handpuppet rather than stuffing. There is a side benefit that it is more interactive this way.
* I attached the two halves with single crochet rather than sewing. (I suck at sewing.)
* I crocheted the mouth piece rather than sewing in a piece of felt. (I suck at sewing.)







This might be my last crochet project, since I discovered while doing it that I'm now faster at knitting than crochet.

Comments

[ona-tangent.livejournal.com]

I love it! That is so cute!

[aquaeri.livejournal.com]

I'm pretty sure I knit faster than I crochet, but I tend to switch between techniques depending on the qualities I think the project needs. And I have to remember to join ravelry. I think I'm having problems about the user name thing.

[liveavatar.livejournal.com]

Who's a cute little manta ray? Who's a cute little manta ray? Yes, you are. Oh yes you are! :)

PS - Just noticed your journal's name change. :) :) :)

[ailbhe]

SO COOL. Also, impressed that you realise that playing with it without prompting is the key. That's a big deal!

[epi-lj.livejournal.com]

That is adorable! :)

[jinian.livejournal.com]

Here comes the manta ray!

[dr-brat.livejournal.com]

I *love* that puppet!

I knit faster than I crochet because I can't crochet. Or I should say, haven't taken the time to relearn it, which I should do, since some knitted patterns have really cool crochet edging.

[mjlayman.livejournal.com]

I always embroider features rather than sew things on. Kids are just too good at taking stuff off. That's a cute pattern!

[dandelion-diva.livejournal.com]

That's so cute and cuddly and just nifty. :)

[chickenwitch.livejournal.com]

Very cute! Great gift for a three year old.

[demonspawnmom.livejournal.com]

That's one cool, gorgeous manta ray!