The first animal isn't actually in the book, except as pieces of various other animals. I had searched for a pattern for a pelican only to find crochet patterns and I don't know how to crochet. After collaborating with Tina and Timmie, knitting gurus, we decided on the flamingo body, and wings and feet from the blue footed booby found in the book. The beak was kind of extemporaneous. He landed rather clumsily in the bird bath in the front yard!
Next was the puffin. Following this pattern was easy. His black wings and cap are sewn on after knitting the body.
The lizard is knit from wonderfully soft EZC Nautika yarn from Gate City Yarns. The collared lizard really does have these beautiful blue and greens colors on his body and gold head. Green scales on his back are done in duplicate stitch.
The turtle is the most recent addition to the zoo. The brown hand-spun wool for his shell is from Rising Meadow Farm in Liberty. Ever year I buy wool there, right off of the sheep! This rich brown is the natural color of the sheep. Tina from Gate City Yarns picked out the green for his head, feet and tail.
There is also a lighter green for his plastron (that's biologist speak for the bottom shell). On the underside the shell was attached so that openings were left to tuck in the appendages. His head, feet and tail can be pushed back into his shell, protecting him from some predators!
Three animals from the book plus the pelican have been a source of great amusement and satisfaction. It doesn't take long to complete an animal and they do bring a smile to your face!
Now I have to decide who's next...beluga, frog, platypus?? They are all so cute!
2 votes for the beluga. These are awesome, Mom.
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