This is my 'real' knitted FO.  I've done several scarves, hats and baby booties but I decided to move on up in the difficulity area.  This sweater is the Long Shawl-Collar Coat from the Hollywood Knits Style.  I substituted the yarn.  It calls for 16 balls of Suss Mohair (about $136).  I just can't afford that right now!  So, I went cheap and used Red Heart Light and Lofty in Colorado Multi.  I swatched and got guage using my size 10 needles.  The pattern was easy to follow and I was very pleased with the experience overall.

I learned a very important lesson about substituting yarn though.  The light and lofty apparently has more give or elasticity to it.  I got it knitted and seamed up.  When I put it on to test the fit, I found it stretches so much!  It's a lot bigger than I expected.  When I was knitting my measurements were correct but now that it's done it's so large!  I made it for my Mother for Christmas.  She's a smaller size than me.  I'm the model in the pictures below and you can see how it fits.  It should be tight on me.  Oh well, she can wear it as a coat instead of as a sweater.

Oh, and two more things I did differently.  The pattern length was 17" but since my Mom would probably never wear something that long, I modified it and made it 13" long instead.  I also didn't use the goofy pin that the book used, I used buttons.  With all the problems it has, I'm still pretty proud of my first "real" knitted garment.

Onward with the pictures.

Thanks guys!  I guess I'm too critical of my own work.  It obviously looks like a dog but just not Chelsea (the real dog).   My husband says it looks "cute" which means he doesn't like it personally but he knows others will.

onemosphere-yes, Chelsea is a Chesapeake Retriever.  When she sees cows (no, actually when she just smells cows) she wants to run out and herd them.  She's an odd one but my dad and stepmother love her to death.

KCGal-Thanks!  I hope they do appriciate it.  They can buy almost anything they want but this will be something from the heart and handcrafted.

Have a wonderful holiday all!

[you]

My father and stepmother make plenty of money.  They've been the most frustrating every year to find a gift for.  If they want something, they buy it throughout the year.  But, their weakness is that they have a dog.  The dog is the center of their life.  So, one of their gifts this year is going to be an ornament I made out of polymer clay.  I tried my hardest to get it looking like the real thing.  I don't think it looks very much like the real dog.  Tell me what you think.

The dog and me


The ornament


Another view

What about a panta?  I haven't made one myself yet but they look pretty quick and easy.

Thanks all!  I had a great time making them.  I'm glad they came out recognizable.

Diane B-I couldn't have done the polymer Shaun without the help of your great website.  And yes, I did knit the sweater by hand.  Compared to the other Christmas gifts I've been knitting, Shaun's little sweater was a breeze.

My husband and I recently made my mother-in-law watch the Wallace and Grommit shorts before allowing her to see the feature film.  The MIL couldn't stop talking about Shaun the Sheep and how cute he was.  I decided to create a Shaun the Sheep ornament for her.

I made one out of polymer clay (aluminium foil base) and the other one is made from felt, stuffed with a knitted sweater.  I'm going to keep one and give the other to her.  I think they turned out really well.

On with the pics...
http://www.craftster.org/pictures/uploads/26817/Shaun_and_Shaun.jpg
Both of them hanging together. (No christmas tree for me this year)

http://www.craftster.org/pictures/uploads/26817/Stuffed_Shaun.jpg
Stuffed Shaun Closeup

http://www.craftster.org/pictures/uploads/26817/Polymer_Shaun.jpg
Polymer Shaun Closeup

I'm using firefox and the buy buttons showed up just fine. I agree about scrolling down the page to find the button though.  Maybe move it up higher so it's just below the big picture of the item?

I just want to say that it's amazing looking at all this beautiful artwork.
I live in Oklahoma and it's illegal to tattoo here.  I met a guy at work about 3 years ago that did tattooing at a shop in Houston before he moved to Oklahoma.  I worked with him and he did my tattoo in his kitchen.  I made sure he stayed sterile and used new needles.  All in all,  I am very pleased with his work.  The lines that go out towards my side are a little jumpy. Every time he would work on my side, my leg would twitch, just like when you rub a dog's tummy.   I found out the hard way too that I am allergic to A&D Ointment too.  I had the worst hives for the first few days.  It took me a while to figure out it was the ointment that was doing it.

Anyway, on to the pics.

Here'e mine.

The entire thing just after it was done


Closeup of the words
 

I wasn't sure what to expect when I read your title.  Your earrings are great!  Other shapes like stars would be cute too.  Was this a quick project?

[Wow]

Wow!  You must tell him the internet thinks his art is fantastic!  I love the bag.  Is the handle made out of a denim material?  Does the character have a name?