Guest post #2: Toby Milo and his Top 10 knits

It was inevitable that with the attention I was giving Lily while she was writing her blog post, that Toby would decide to write one too. Or rather, he decided to pull all his woollens out of his cupboard, strew them around his room, drag a pile of them down to the living room and then dictate his list to his father. Thanks Andy for taking his rather random notes down. 

Toby's choices were probably not so much a surprise but he still did make some comments that I found  interesting. Toby is an unusual six year old boy in that he loves wearing woollens. I think he may have been a sheep in a previous life, he likes them so much. Generally, he's not as sensitive to yarn choices as Lily is. He doesn't not wear something if the yarn is a bit rough, he just works his way around it, as you'll notice from his comments. Only once did he actually comment on the feel of the yarn. 

One thing that did surprise me is how much he loves buttons (hmm, maybe this boy was a knitter in a past life?). Notice how often he mentions buttons in his comments. He also really likes textures, colour and those small details, which is interesting. I am currently rewriting a pattern that I had planned to release a few years ago and I'm about to knit a new sample. One of the elements I had planned to add was some additional texture/stitch pattern to the yoke, as it just felt like it needed something a bit more. This observation has pretty much sealed it. 

This little lad with his cute list has ignited an urge for me to knit some more clothes for this sweet munchkin to continue to feed his love of woollies. I am going to knit him something super special ❤︎.

Number one: Ziggy

I love that this has a hood. I like the zig zags down the front and that the shape is comfortable.

Knit in Red Riding Hood Yarns 'Belle' Supewash DK/8ply

Number two: Griffin

I like the design because, hmmm, that's hard - because, umm..... it has rainbow of lots of different colours! I like the hood and pocket too. 

I wish there were sleeves.

(Georgie: That comment about sleeves really blew me away and really surprised me. I'm not sure he'd leave something on that's knit out of an Aran weight yarn if it had sleeves! Not in our climate!)

Knit in Noro Kureyon

Number three: Michael

I like it because the lines down one side are really cool. I also like the type of buttons.

Knit in Red Riding Hood Yarns 'Belle' Superwash DK/8ply

Number four: Milo

Next is the milo. I like it very much because it's the first thing that Mum made me. You need to wear something under it because it's really, really itchy!

(Georgie: I think he means the first pattern I wrote for him. As this milo certainly isn't the first one I knit for him! Actually, a milo wasn't even the first thing I knit for him, but he wouldn't know that.) 

Knit in Noro Silk Garden (Yes, a 10ply yarn for this 8ply pattern. I modified it for an 18 stitch tension. This is what happens when you order yarn online late at night. Sometimes, what arrives isn't quite what you meant to order!)

Number five: Beear

I like all the colours on the neck bit and I like how you can use it as a school jumper.

Knit in Skeinz Vintage Premium NZ DK

Number six: Chocolate Brownie (unreleased and this is Toby's name not mine)

I like the neck on Chocolate Brownie because umm, all the colours make it really stand out with the brown. I love the little end bit and how it curls up.

Knit in WOOLganics Organic Merino DK/8ply

Number seven: Gidday

I like how the buttons are up near the neck part and I like how it is at the end of the sleeves - yeah, the grey and red bit. 

Knit in White Gum Wool Ethical Superfine Merino 8ply

Number eight: Wallaby

It gets on my list because I love the bit where the buttons are - the knotty bit.

Knit in Skeinz Silver Lining DK

Number nine: Tobias

I like this because of the neck bit. It doesn't just cover your body, it covers the neck bit. And I also like the buttons.

Knit in WOOLganics Organic Merino 8ply/DK

Number ten: Zig Vest

I like it because it doesn't have sleeves.

Knit in Celia's Basket Organic 10.