Remember back when I told you that I was working on a Secret Design Project, and I hinted that it had something to do with this picture?
I can finally tell you what I was going on about. Way back in the spring, I was commissioned by Knit Picks to develop a set of special “shells” for Sheldon that they could sell on their website. They also asked me to rework the pattern so that it could be knit in Shine Worsted as well as Shine Sport (which is the yarn I used for the original pattern). And so I did that, and Super Sheldon was born. He looks just like Sheldon, only bigger.
Okay, this is where the pig comes in. In my middle school art class, we were required to make these clay pigs. Everyone’s pig followed essentially the same template, but we were supposed to customize our pigs so that every pig had a different outfit reflecting its unique character. There were basketball-playing pigs, ballerina pigs, and so forth. My pig, for reasons that I don’t remember, was dressed up as the Easter Bunny. No, really — see its little bonnet with bunny ears? And the eggs? And the Easter basket?
I saw my bunny pig while visiting my mom’s house at Christmas, and it gave me the idea to dress Sheldon up as other animals. Voila!
Knit Picks is selling the patterns and yarn together as a kit here. They also have some interviews with me and a very adorable photo gallery of the various animals in their natural habitats.
Which one is your favorite? I am very fond of the bat.
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Update: Knit Picks informs me that they have sold out of all the kits and will not be producing more. They will be releasing the individual patterns as free patterns starting soon (Feb. 2009), and they’ll have all of them released by spring.
I like the bat, too. The lion is really fancy looking!
Oh the cuteness. I like the bat too, but the lion is awfully cuddly.
Eeee! Those are so cute! I have a special soft spot for bats, so I think that’s my favorite too.
Thank you for the laugh of the day–Sheldon in costume is even more delightful than Sheldon au naturel.
There is something fundamentally absurd and quite funny about a turtle costumed as other creatures. Love them all.
Kathleen
The popcorn-stitch sheep nearly killed me. But I also like the bat.
I would knit the sheepy Sheldon for myself, but I loved seeing Sheldon s a lion – I think he’s adorable!
Is it still possible to buy the patterns for the additional shells? Knit Picks no longer has them available.
I, too, am looking for the patterns for the animal shells–I’m working up the courage to knit the career shells now, for which I have the pattern, but have never done two-stranded knitting before.
Thanks!
I sure hope they do release the patterns. I have wanted them forever and was dissappointed when I couldn’t find them on their site today. I called and they said they had no plans to make the kits again or publish the patterns. FINGERS CROSSED!!! Sheldon is GREAT! I have 1 and 3 more orders. thanks for all your work on this adorable buddy!!!
I’ve founded them here, with other outfits!! http://knitting-yarn.knitpicks.com/search?w=sheldon
Very great job Ruth, I’ll probably knit the lion!!
german support
is the pattern available in german?
thanks