Rawr!

I like to think I've been around the block a few times with this crafting lark. I'm not as green as I'm grass looking, nosiree.

I know the rules. If you've got an event coming up make sure you give yourself plenty of time to make either your knockout dress or the lovingly handmade gift. It just makes sense.

So how did I end up midway through December taking painkillers like tic tacs because my hands had formed twisted stumps from knitting based overuse? Cause knowing the rules is not the same as following them.

Plus I'm invincible.

Each spike is knit, stuffed with toy filling and stitched on to the jumper with that cute little tail. 

Though just look at how cute he is! If that's not worth an RSI I really don't know what is. The pattern is the Stegosaur hoodie by Jane Burns. I'd actually seen this back in November 2016 (you'd think this would be enough warning for a Christmas present in 2017, turns out no) and thought how adorable it would be on my little nephew.

This little dinosaur wants to run free!

For my very beginner knitter skills it's a really easy make despite a small melt down when I realised I couldn't remember the magic loop method and tried double point needles. Double point needles are hard core! I still have no idea how those darn things work. I'm magicloop4lyfe... you know once I remember the whole loop bit.

How cute is the moss stitch hem, cuffs and button bands

I found from the pattern that you do not need as many spikes as it tells you to use; plus deadlines meant I also didn't have time to make as many as instructed. I also needed a couple more balls of the main colour for the body. I used the instructed Cascade Yarns 220 Superwash in Silver Grey, Red Wine Heather, Lichen and Straw.

I'd always thought I hated wool but this stuff was a pleasure to work with. It didn't set my teeth on edge at all but please little man don't chew the sleeves. That may just push me over the edge.

Much better than this twisted monstrosity. Like I got a toddler with a fever dream to draw a jumper