Knitch Magazine

Title:

Author: Tina Barrett

Date Published: October 2011

Review Date: December 12, 2011

Who is this book for?

Dinosaurs are so bizarre that they could have stepped right out of an Arthur Rackham illustrated fairy-tale, and that may be why children and adults alike are drawn to them. Strange and scary with long tails, short limbs, big mouths and sharp teeth, these prehistoric creatures are perpetually fascinating. Tina Barrett, a well-known UK designer, and author of Knits for Dogs & Cats, Natural Knits for Babies & Toddlers, and Natural Crochet for Babies & Toddlers, indulged her young daughter’s obsession with dinosaurs by knitting 15 imaginatively creative soft form sculptures. With just enough realism to clearly identify each species, but with freewheeling use of color and fiber, the delightful toys were a hit with everyone who met them. Pressed to share her pets with a wider public, Tina presents her friends in Knitted Dinosaurs, 15 Prehistoric Pals to Knit from Scratch. It is a complete guide to the entire menagerie. The easy and quick-to-knit models require only a skein or two of yarn and some basic toy-making skills. Whether you knit them for yourself or a lucky child, you are sure to become “dino-obsessed” with this new book.

What Yarn Does it Feature?

The dinosaurs are all knit using small bits of DK weight (light worsted that works up to 21 - 24 stitches over 4 inches on about a size 5 to 7 needle) or chunky weight (12 – 15 stitches on a size 9 to 11 needle). The yarns are knit to a fairly tight gauge using much smaller than expected needles. When the knitted “skins” are stuffed, cheerfully fierce dinosaurs emerge to the knitter’s (and child’s) delight. The author wisely challenges readers to dig into their stash and remainder bins to come up with their own color combinations, but resolute imitators can refer to the instructions and yarn source guide for exact reproductions. Some of the dinosaurs have fins; others have scales, horns, stripes or spots. Follow Tina’s guide or use those odd yards of too-dear-to-toss remainder yarn to create a totally original version.

What's Inside

Starting with a photo album of all 15 dinosaurs playfully posed, you will be introduced to the whole collection of cuddly demons. The dinosaurs are described with details intended to instill knowledge about each dinosaur and how it was adapted for life on our once hostile planet. You can’t help but develop a fondness for these ancient creatures that slithered and clambered through pre-history. The “did you know” fun facts and pronunciation guide will make you seem like an expert on each animal. Did you know, for example, that pterodactyls ate fish from the surface of the ocean and scavenged dead animals on land? Young children who are captivated by dinosaurs can recite detailed facts about each species and easily pronounce all those impossible-sounding names, so the knitter had better be prepared to create just enough realism to pass the scrutiny for acceptability. Tina Barrett’s replicas aren’t quite scale models; she employs color, textured stitches, bobbles, fiber and embroidery to create an illusion of reality. Short horns, plated back and knotted tail give the anklyosaurus a comically demonic look. Twin rows of bumpy scales in a contrasting color create a benignly friendly look for the stegosaurus, and the ferocious T-Rex is made sociable with a short fringed ridge along his back and yawning pink mouth filled with felt teeth.

Using It

The step-by-step instructions allow you to recreate any of the 15 dinosaurs exactly as shown. The toys are knit in several parts, then stuffed and assembled. The process is not as time-consuming as you may think, and knitting the body, arms and legs gives you time to get to know each creature, letting its personality emerge as you make on the fly design choices. As the author states, no one really knows what color the dinosaurs were, so let your imagination run wild in creating colorful toys. Dinosaurs could easily have been as brightly colored as tropical birds, striped or even multicolored. Use textured stitches like bobbles or fibers like bits of eyelash yarn to add detail. Sew or glue on felt pieces and buttons to create facial details, fangs, and other features. Learn how to join the limbs so that the arms and legs can move in a walking motion. Finally, there are hints on how to wash a well-loved toy.

Best Advice

Dinosaurs were remarkable beings so different from our world, yet they lived and breathed. Imagine what they must have been like and then use your needles and some spare yarn to knit one for yourself or a child, or to donate to your local charity or children’s hospital.

Recommendation

Knitters often look for ways to use up their stashes of yarn or ways to use odd bits of treasured yarn. Knitted Dinosaurs is a guide to knitting toys that can be of any color or fiber. These out-of-the-box projects are an invitation to explore expressive knitting. They are a relaxing way to use your knitting skill. They don’t have to fit to size or even be realistic. Free yourself from rigid patterns and knit up some wild and wonderful creatures just for fun. Before you know it, you may have knit all 15 dinosaurs.

Overall Recommendation

I rate this book #8.