WIP Wednsday

On the needles today I have.....

... Nothing!

That's right, nothing, nada, zip!

After my post about my huge pile of WIPS a few weeks ago and a few comments about how I don't like having too many I have been on a big finishing streak. I have some ends to sew in and a lining to make but nothing actally on the go as far as knitting is concerned.

Of course I have my forever project of a sock yarn blanket. It has grown a bit since I last shared it so I thought a new picture is in order.



Still a long way to go, but I have some more yarns for it thanks to the A-Z sock project. It is now too big to fit on the large sheet of white card I use for my photos, so you get to see my dining room floor. I guess that makes it about A1 paper size along its longest edge at the minute.

I also still have my orange spinning project, but I am happy to have that on the go for whenever I feel like doing a little spinning. It is helping me to avoid breaking into my tour de fleece stash and filling the spindle and bobbins I have emptied in preparation.

Fishy Wishy

Great for using up scraps of yarn. This pattern is based on Frida the Fish by Lion Brand Yarn but converted to work in the round and with different fins.
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Yarn weight and needle size do not matter for this project, use needles which give a dense fabric to stop the stuffing coming through. Thicker yarns will give a bigger fish. The fish in the photo is made from double knit yarn and is about 10cm/4" long.

To make a fishy wishy you need:
Small amount of yarn in your choice of weight plus contrasting colour for fins.
Needles of appropriate size (see above)
Stuffing
Tapestry needle
Safety eyes/googly eyes/embroidery thread

If making for a pet or child make sure eyes and fins are firmly and safely attached/worked.

Top fin:
Cast on 30 sts loosely (single cast on works well)
*k3tog, p3tog* repeat to end
*k1, p1* repeat to end for 3 rows
Cast off

Side fin (make 2):
Cast on 15 sts loosely
*k3tog, p3tog* repeat to end
p1, k1, p1, k1, p1
k1, p1, k1, p1, k1
p1, k1, p1, k1, p1
k1, p1, k1, p1, k1
Cast off

Body:
Cast on 9 sts leaving a 15cm/6" tail of yarn and divide over 3 dpns (3 sts on each).
k all sts
Increases:
Round 1: kfb first stitch on needle, k to last stitch, kfb. Repeat on needles 2 & 3.
Round 2: K all sts
Repeat rows 1 & 2 to 57sts or desired size
k all sts for 5 rounds
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Decreases:
Round 1: k2tog, k to last 2 sts on needles, ssk. Repeat on needles 2 & 3.
Round 2: k all sts
Repeat rows 1 & 2 to 27 sts.
Stop and add eyes, sew on fins. Use cast on tail to close hole at mouth end. Begin stuffing the body.
Continue with decrease rounds to 9 sts, adding stuffing as you go.

Tail: (worked on 9sts from body)
k1, kfb, k1. Repeat on needles 2 & 3.
*k1, p1* repeat around
*kfb, p1* repeat around
*k2, p1* repeat around
*k2, pfb* repeat around
*k2, p2* repeat around. Repeat until tail is desired length.
Cast off leaving a 15cm/6" tail.
Thread yarn tail onto a tapestry needle and work yarn through tail fabric to point where the body and tail meet. Use tail to tighten join and ensure no stuffing can escape. Work yarn end into fabric and trim.

Attach eyes and fins if not already done.

Why Fishy Wishy? Because of this :D. Feel free to dance around waving your completed fishy as you listen.