Pocket Creature 2 - my modifications to the pattern

I've got most of the second Pocket Creature done. I did the short row "cup", like I talked about, then used a combination of picking up stitches and casting on to start on the body. I liked that a lot better than all the sewing. Using these alterations, I didn't have to do any seaming at all. I ended up with a fatter body than on the first one, which I also like better. (I think the pattern calls for 24 stitches around. I had 32, and 24 around the fattest part of the head.) I ended up doing the neck as the pattern says, though I kind of fudged how and when I decreased and increased, because it wasn't worth the trouble to look up the pattern again. I used the same idea, anyway. The hair was made by threading 9 pieces of yarn through the little hole, where I cinched the remaining stitches together at the top of the head. Then I just tied them into a knot on the inside of the head, so they wouldn't come loose. The arms were made just like the tail, by threading through 3 strands of yarn (doubled to 6), then braiding. I like these arms a lot, and will probably use them as my default if I make more little creatures. I think the little braids will make it easier to really get your hands around the creature than fat icords will, and they're a lot less fiddly to make.


The flap, with short rows to create the cup. The flap is about 1.5" of 1x1 ribbing, as the pattern suggests. I did the short row turn just like on your standard sock heel, doing ssk k1 on RS rows, and p2 tog p1 on WS rows. I started out the short rows leaving 4 unworked stitches on either side of those first turns. That seemed to work fairly well.



Here is the finished bottom of the creature. After doing the above short row shaping, I knit a couple of rows, then did some decreases to create the ovalish thing. Nothing too exacting. I just did what seemed right.



Here's how the whole bottom setup looks, with the buttflap out. Plans for this weekend include stuffing the creature's butt like a Thanksgiving turkey. (I have a feeling this is going to be one of those posts that generates lots of "interesting" hits from unfortunate Google searches.)



Another reason I really like my method of creating the butt base is that this creature stands up a lot better than the other one. Not that it matters that much if it's just going to live in a pocket, but this feature means I will consider making some purely for decoration.

Any great face ideas? I'm still undecided for this little guy. I'm thinking it might be fun to see if I can find little pieces of felt for face parts. That would be less fiddly than buttons and embroidery, I think.

And as if this post weren't already picture heavy enough, I just need to show you how buried in snow we are:


Don't worry. We have bushes out front, so the snow really isn't up to the windows.