トトロはここです (Totoro is here!)

Hurrah! Totoro is now finished, and I have a free pattern for him. He'll be off soon to become someone's Christmas pressie, and it will be sad to see him go. Of course, you can make your own and keep him forever.

Is it just me, or is there a horrible moment in almost every project where you think "Augh, this looks awful!" And then somehow it turns out looking okay at the end? Just part of the process I suppose.

Scandinavian Inspiration

I found some yarn today in our little local wool shop (which, by the way, is wonderful, although the website is a little basic). I was actually looking for yarn to make Totoro (from the film), but ended up with some balls which aren't really the 'correct' colours. But then I thought, why do they need to be the 'right' colours? What is a 'correct' colour anyway?

I think sometimes that design can be led by materials as well as other inspirations. Now my Totoro will be Scandinavian-style, which I'm quite excited about! I think I may have been influenced somewhat by Brella's wonderful Norwegian Totoro mittens, which are just adorable. I don't knit though, so I can't make them... Yet.

Anyway, here are the yarns I chose. They are Louisa Harding 'Thistle', which is a lovely Alpaca/Merino blend.