Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends

Yeah, it's another non-book origin, but there are books available.

Suggested Books:

Any Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends book

Suggested Pattern:

• Bloo Mittens from Craftster.com
  

"Fox in Socks" by Dr. Seuss

Suggested Book:

Fox in Socks by Dr. Suess

Suggested Patterns:

Any child's sock pattern. List of free sock patterns:

• Striped Childs Sock by Claudia Dunitz (Size 2T)
• Basic Child's Pattern by Leah's Socknitting Page (Size 1 - 3 shoe)
• Children's Socks I from Jack Frost Two-Needle Socks, Book 57 (age 2 to 10 yrs)
• Better Than Booties Baby Socks by Ann Budd (Newborns)

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - Crochet

Sometimes there are patterns that are just too cute to pass up - even though they're not knitted. When I saw these on CRAFT: blog, I knew that I had to post here.

TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES!

Suggested Book:

Any TMNT book you can find.

Suggested Pattern:

• All the little guys Free from a Craftser post by atsuko (Crochet, Free)

"I Wish that I Had Duck Feet" by Dr. Seuss

Suggested book:

I Wish that I Had Duck Feet by Dr. Seuss

Duck feet in a row
Originally uploaded by Gothknits

Suggested Patterns:

• Duck Feet - 50 Baby Bootees to Knit by Zoe Mellor

• Just Ducky Hat & Just Ducky Slipper Socks (free pattern) by P2designs.com

Possum

This pattern is just so cute, I had to share - BECAUSE IT'S FREE!!

Suggested books:

Anything with a possum!

Suggested Pattern:

• Possum Love by rupestur
  
  Look at his schnoz!
  

"Where the Wild Things Are" by Maurice Sendak

What child didn't want to be Max at some time or another in their lives?

Suggested Book:

Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

Suggested Patterns:

• King of the Wild Things crown by Little Turtle Knits (Pattern Cost: $6.00)
  
  

Side note: Of course, you can customize your crown to be any color. Holly made a crown and paired it with a princess book.

How about a cat hat?

• fluffyhelen's Kitty Hat pattern:

Yarn: Any white chunky yarn.
Needles: US 10 .5 (6.5 mm)

Cast on 30 stitches (You will have to adjust the number of cast on stitches to fit a child's head.)

Rows one and two: Knit one, purl one across.
Rows three and four: Purl one, knit one across.
Row five and six: Knit one, purl one across

Then knit stockinette (knit 1 row, purl 1 row) for about 10 inches.

Then another 6 rows of moss stitch. - or

Rows one and two: Knit one, purl one across.
Rows three and four: Purl one, knit one across.
Row five and six: Knit one, purl one across

Bind off in pattern.

So it looks like a long scarf basically. Then fold it over and sew it up so the moss stitch forms a "band" around the bottom of the hat. Put it on your head and the ears form naturally.

-------------

• Or, knit the official Kittyville hat in white if you're looking for some ear coverage.
• Wild Thing by Hope Furno (Free, Crochet)
  
  

Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer

Suggested Books/Gifts:

Any Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer product (again, I know it's not a book, but it's still a cute gift idea)

Suggested Pattern:


Rudy by CiD Hanscom Designs ($6.25 + shipping)

"Duck for President" by Doreen Cronin and Betsy Lewin

Suggested Books:
Duck for President by Doreen Cronin and Betsy Lewin

Click, Clack, Quackity-Quack: An Alphabetical Adventure by Doreen Cronin and Betsy Lewin

Suggested Patterns:

Sunny the Duck (Crochet - $3.00) (Of course, you use white yarn instead of yellow)

Duck - Knitted Toys: 21 Easy-to-Knit Patterns for Irresistible Soft Toys by Fiona McTague (Book)

Duck Family from Jean Greenhowe's Knitted Animals

"Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type" by Doreen Cronin (Author), Betsy Lewin (Illustrator)

These books have become modern day classics.

Suggested Books:

• Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin and Betsy Lewin
  

• Dooby, Dooby, Moo by Doreen Cronin and Betsy Lewin
  

Suggested Patterns:

Why not knit a washcloth or a a stuffed cow to go along with it?

Cow Washcloth by Tricotine's Designs ($2.00)

Cow - Kids' Country Knits by Debbie Bliss

Curious George

Have a Curious George fan? Why not knit him/her a felted yellow hat or a cheeky little monkey?

Suggested Books: Any Curious George book

Pattern suggestions:

• Felt Hat (AC-1) by Bev Galeskas (Fiber Trends) (not a free pattern)

(Thanks, Holly (Ravelry ID:hjdong) for this great idea!)

• Cheeky Monkey by Fiona McTague found in Knitted Toys: 21 Easy-to-Knit Patterns for Irresistible Soft Toys (Hardcover)

(Note: This photo was taken off the Amazon site and was knitted by K. Love.)

The three little kittens

Eva from Toronto knitted up three little kittens based on Jess Hutchinson's Kate pattern.

She knitted these with Bernat Cottontots Solid. (Very cute!)

Pattern: Kate by Jess Hutchinson from Knitty.com (free)

Book: Any nursery rhyme book with the three little kittens in it.

"Everybody Loves Wubbzy" by Sonia Sander

Nick Jr. has a show called Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! which is a favorite with my five year old. Of course Nickolodeon is pumping out books now. Bronx Girl Knits has written a great quick pattern for a Wubbzy of your very own!

Pattern: Wubbzy by Bronx Girl Knits

Books:

• Everybody Loves Wubbzy
• Ms. Fix-It
• Kooky Carry-Along Coloring Kit
• Master of Disguise
• Wonderful Wuzzleburg
  

"My Neighbor Totoro" by Noriko Hidaka, Chika Sakamoto, Shigesato Itoi, and Sumi Shimamoto

Okay, I know, Totoro isn't a children's book, but it is loved and there are some cute patterns available on-line if you wanted to pair them together with the movie.

Crochet (Amigurumi) Blue Totoro by heavens_hellcat

Crochet White Totoro by heavens_hellcat

Soot Sprites by Sara_Dippity

Top Down Bonnet by by Adrian Bizilia from Hello Yarn

"Today I Will Fly" by Mo Willems

elephantpiggie
Originally uploaded by blackraynecloud

Blackrayne has embraced the idea of Children's Lit 'n Knit. She knitted an elephant and a pig to be paired with the Mo Willems book Today I Will Fly!

I don't know if she's going to write out the patterns, but they are terrific, aren't they?

"The Hat" by Jan Brett

This would be to pair a scandinavian style sock with animals shown in Jan Brett's book The Hat.

This could be done with a stocking pattern.

Animals:

• Dog
• Goose
• Pig
• Cat
• Hen
• Pony

"The Mitten" by Jan Brett

Okay, I love all things by Jan Brett. Her stuff is simply luscious and I think this potential project can lend itself to more of her titles.

This idea came from my sister-in-law, who is a former Kindergarden/First Grade teacher. She really has a knack for coming up with great kids gifts.

She suggested that I make a hedgehog complete with an oversized white mitten with a zipper to store it in. Pair this with Jan Brett's book, The Mitten.

I'm thinking that I can make up some small animals that match up with all the animals in the book. They would then store inside the oversized white mitten - perhaps even add a strap to the mitten to make it easy to take with you on trips. Or even make the mitten into a backpack - which could be more boy friendly. I have to give a big shout out to the people who created Dora the Explorer. My daughter LOVES wearing backpacks and has ever since she started watching TV.

As soon as I have various patterns written/knitted, I'll post them here.

List of animals in book:

• Bear
• Mouse
• Owl
• White Rabbit
• Mole
• Badger
• Fox
• Hedgehog

ETA: Julie Williams of Little Cotton Rabbits fame wrote a great hedgehog pattern (Cost: $1.33) that would be a great pairing for any of Jan Brett's hedgehog based books.

"Captain Underpants" by Dav Pilkey

Captain Underpants
Originally uploaded by civilgrrl

I have a 7 year old nephew and had no idea what to make him for his birthday. Boy gifts for me are difficult to figure out. I have a sister and a daughter, so boyhood is something I know nothing about.

On one of my visits, I noticed him reading Dav Pilkey's Captain Underpants. So I had to make one.

One year later, my nephew still carries around his CU! What better endorsement for knowing it was a great gift.
Pattern: CivilBitch (That's my informal website)

Suggested books: Any of the Captain Underpants books by Dave Pilkey