Simply Knitting - UK (2019-09)

KNITTERS’ WORLD

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A

s crafters,we’reofteninspiredbythegorgeousnaturethatsurroundsus

every day, but have you ever thought about making actual life-like knitted

replicas of your favourite creatures? Designer Claire Garland certainly has

• she creates amazing animal patterns under her company name, Dot Pebbles.
  For knitter Claire, who lives in Penzance, Cornwall with her family, the initial idea
  for the wild animal patterns was sparked by her love of the great outdoors and all it
  interesting inhabitants. “I had completed knitted pets books and wanted to design
  more animals,” says Claire. “Wild animals seemed the perfect progression.”
  Claire, who’s penned three books, originally fell in love with knitting after
  relearning the craft as an adult. “I decided to knit a doll with her very own set of
  clothes,”Clairetellsus,“andthat’swhatI did.It wasa verybasicandsimpleshape,
  butit workedreallywell.Fromthere,I justhada passiontokeepcreating!”
  Andkeepcreatingshedid– Clairesetaboutmakingherknittedwildlifedream
  a reality.Sheapproachedthedesignsasif shewerecreatinga sculpture:“Ilove
  needle-feltedanimalsandtheincredibleresemblancetorealanimalsit provides,
  butI didn’tgetonwiththefeltingprocess,”saysClaire.Witha desiretocreate

something on a larger scale, Claire attempted knitting the shape of the animals, trying

to create their bodies with shaping techniques. “I’d call the style ‘sculpturing knitting’,”

she adds.

Claire’spatternoeringconsistsofa roedeer,a buck,a squirrelandvarious

birds,rabbitsandmice.“Themallardandpheasantpatternsaredefinitelythemost

complicated,becauseI’veaddedmarkingswithinthepattern,soa littleintarsiais

involved,whichcanbequitetricky.”So,whichofClaire’spatternsisthesimplestto

create?“Theducklingandthebabybunnyrabbit– I’vehadnewknittersattempt

thesewithmuchsuccess,I’msopleasedtosay!”

UponenteringClaire’shouse,you’llfindherwonderfulcreationsdotted

around,exploringtherooms,perchedhighuponshelvesorsitting

observantlyonchairs.“Itreatthemlikerealpets!”laughsClaire.

Thereactiontothepatternshasbeenamazing,withClairereceivingan

abundanceofcompliments.“Ineverknewhowmuchpeopleadoredwild

animalsand,likeme,wantedtocreatethemforthemselves,”saysClaire.

“I’malsohumbledbypeopletellingmethedesignshavecausedthemto

rediscovertheirloveforknitting.It’swonderfultohear.”

ClairefeelsherfuturedesignsforDotPebbleswillinvolveaneven

greatervarietyofanimals.“Hundredsofthem!”shesays.“I’vehadsomany

requestsfordierentanimals,fromotterstollamas.I’dalsoliketodesign

morerabbits– youwouldn’tbelievehowmanybreedsofthemthereare!”

Wecan’twaittofindout,Claire!

ExploreClaire’sworldofknittedcreatures,andfinda fewfreepatterns,onher

blog, http://dotpebbles.blogspot.com

Claire with a handful of

her cuddly creations!

“I treat my

knitted animals

like real pets!”

Designer and author Claire Garland has knitted

a beautiful woodland world, populated with a

menagerie of life-like knitted wild animals

Claire poses her wild

animals around her house!

One of Claire’s

more complicated

patterns is for a

rare white buck

Claire’sloveofthe

outdoorsinspired

her wild creatures

Claire wants to write lots

more rabbit patterns

Written by Colette Earley.

The realistic shading

is created using

multiple yarn strands

These duckling and bunny

toys are suitable for

beginner knitters

Intarsia is used to

make the markings

on this handsome

male pheasant

Two of Claire’s creatures

enjoying the autumn view!

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