Woodland Fox Knitting Pattern Review

I knitted this little fox a bit ago. I saw the pattern and just had to make it. The pattern is Woodland Fox by Susan B. Anderson. Sooo Cute! I love this little guy! He's going to go with a little baby quilt I'm making. (I'll show you that later. Have to gift it before I show it.)

I have made some knitted softies as part of a class she has on Craftsy (search Wee Ones), but that was during my blogging hiatus. I really like her patterns. Very clever. The online class was awesome. Video tutorials throughout. Super helpful. If you want to learn more about making softies, I'd recommend you enroll in that before starting with this pattern. Her patterns in that class are super cute, and I think easier than this little guy. She has a blog you may be interested in, if you would like to learn more about her.

NOTE: As I was perusing her blog, I noticed she has a giveaway going on right now for little kits to make some of her critters. But you have to get over there and leave a comment in the next couple of days to enter. So, get on over there!

Here he is from the side. Love his little tail. It's an interesting construction strategy for this. The white chest area is a flap you knit, then knit the body, then flip up the flap and sew it down. You pick up stitches to make the ears, arms, feet, and tail. The little orange below the ears and under the chin is another little flap you knit and then pull and stitch down.

Here he is in my had for size. He's a nice little size. I like that his eyes, nose, and mouth, are knitted or stitched so there are no little parts to come of and choke poor baby.

I would say you need intermediate knitting skills to make this. Some of it's a little fiddly, because you're working so small. You have to pick up stitches in a few places. You also have to know some special cast-on techniques. I had to "google" one, but I found it on You Tube okay and was able to do it without any trouble. The head is made as a separate element to the body, and you have to sew them together. That is fine, but I really didn't have a sense of how to orient the head when putting it on (because the face isn't made yet). I think I had it canted forward just a bit too far, becasue I really had to stretch the orange flap that goes across the back of the head and under the chin. (This will make more sense to you if you make it.) If I make it again (and I have enough yarn to do so), I will tilt the head back a bit further so I don't have to stretch that so much.

But, overall, it was fun to make. As I saw things start taking shape, it was so cute, I had to smile and giggle. In fact, here's a photo I took as I was making it.

I just had to make him peek in and say "hi!" He doesn't have arms, feet, or tail yet, but I just couldn't stand it. Haha!

Like I said, I will make this again. I also have her pattern for the owl. You can find that here. I will make that one, too. Just for fun. I want to get the hedgehog as well. I love him!

I recommend this pattern. Lots of fun. But not for a beginner. If you are a beginner, I'd stay away from this. You need a few, more advanced skills to make this, and you have to make a few inferences in the pattern. No problem for an intermediate knitter, but not the beginner.

This fox says, "Over and out."

Mama Pea

Stephanie

Full Disclosure: I purchased this pattern myself, as well as all the supplies. I do not know the pattern writer.