Well, I didn't finish all my gifts back in the Fall because I had friends who I wouldn't see for a while (SOME people left the country!) so I had extra time. They're HUGE into Dr. Who. And you know what's easy to find? Dr. Who knit patterns! (as if the internet isn't already full of non-knit Dr. Who items).
So when I came across this gem on Ravelry, I had to make it. The instructions are well written, but I highly recommend using the .pdf format and not the .txt. Since it starts with 114 cast on stitches (DANGER - LARGE KNIT TOY ALARM going off) I scraped the knitting idea and found an easier (and smaller!) crocheted Dalek pattern which was a better size.
It started out OK... but I stalled out on Round 9. Sigh. It took another couple weeks of motivating myself into starting it again... luckily, that's when a snow storm hit! Hooray! Perfect excuse to not go outside and to craft =)
One of the many things I had to look up during this pattern was FPSC and this video helped a ton. Short, sweet, to the point. Not sure the purpose of that stitch in this pattern though. Maybe shaping purposes? The top part is where I used the FPSC stitch.
I now have a hand-puppet Dalek. EXTERMINATE!! RAAAAAA!
Once I got to the bobbles, I started making a mistake. Not really sure how I did it, but I went from 60 stitches to 30. Ugggggh!! I increased them during a gray round to get it up to 60 again, but it made an obvious mistake... I'm just going to pretend that Daleks are voluptuous and have curves now. OK? Ok.
The boy tried to make me feel better about it... "Just stuff it really well up top, then smooth it out." Well, that was a good plan, and did help some, but I think if I just did the stupid pattern correctly, I would have been fine.
When comparing it to the patten it's not *that* bad or different. There wasn't great explaination on how to crochet over or around the bobbles... hence my random pinching in round and losing stitches. I think.
But I prevailed! And found I don't like crocheting 4 stitches in a round. Ugh. But the plunger looks OK, the arm isn't great.
Not entirely happy, but not mad either.
The eye entertain mes as well as the dome lights on the top.
The curves aren't too noticable now.
My biggest complaint is how freakin' big he turned out to be. And this was the small pattern!! Ugh. I'm discouraged, so I'm not making a second one for a while, but knowing me, I'm going to revisit this pattern and conquer it properly. I tend to do multiples of a pattern... never one. Sigh.
Bailey was scared and hid by the couch. Shocking.
Domino wasn't too sure of this thing looking at her... so she got close.
Oh noooo! The Dalek EXTERMAKNITTED Domino!
Thoughts? I'll most likely make another one in a few months... maybe it'll be red... =)
UPDATE: I made a red one!
Pre-plungers, etc. Not a bad shape this time around!
I'm not happy with how droopy his eye is still. The arm and plunger look good though.
Face on he's cute! The eye still annoys me.
The dome lights and gun are fun.
UGGH IT STILL DROOPS
Thoughts?
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