#WIDN: custom knit alligator

very recently, i designed a large knit alligator toy as a commission for a dear friend who intends to give it as a baby gift. It’s always an honor when I’m asked to make custom knits! i feel simultaneously flattered that someone likes my designs enough to support my work and so excited for the challenge of being trusted to design something great. as someone who grew up loving stuffed animals, there’s something extra special about designing for a baby and creating something that they will hopefully love for years to come. 

pattern: elisemade original design, 2017

yarn: patons classic worsted wool in aran & lion brand heartland in joshua tree

i tried to keep the design as simple as possible by knitting flat the head/torso/tail in two continuous pieces, the back and the underside. i knit the four legs separately, using the same idea of seaming together two flat-knit pieces. the texture on the back is from simple variations of knit/purl stitches across a row.

i knit a flat piece in pink and black wool in the same shape as the head and seamed it to the inside to create the "open" mouth.

the eyes are simply 2 flat knit pieces (white eye and green lid) seamed to the face and puffed up to make them 3D, and i used a tapestry needle to embroider the iris and pupil.

to make the teeth, i cut a narrow wave pattern down the middle of an approximately  2x11” strip of felt. the two halves became the top and bottom teeth and i simply hand-stitched them to the edge of the mouth.

finished dimensions are approximately 12x24". 

i'm very pleased with the way he turned out! what do you think of my knit alligator design? check out my knit toys page if you'd like to see more photos! 

if you'd like to commission a custom toy, please email me at elisemade@gmail.com <3