Use It Up: A is for Anteater

The very first Use It Up submission we received was submitted the same day as our challenge. Kilani was fast! Here is her Use it Up story:

I don't really use Pinterest (I know I know, blasphemy!), but I follow tons of DIY blogs and go to several annual indie craft fairs. I haven't had many Pinstrosities, but I think that's probably because I never follow tutorials properly anyway and expect the worst!

I am doing a craft challenge this year, Iron Craft (http://www.justcraftyenough.com/) and I am also about to become unemployed. The Use It Up challenge is perfect since I am suddenly very much on a budget! 

Iron Craft sets a theme every two weeks and this "mission" was something to do with the letter A. I am learning to knit on DPNs so I was super excited to make a pair of armwarmers for this challenge. Then I realized that based on the amount of yarn I had left it would be armwarmer. Singular. Back to the drawing board!

As my husband describes it I stomped around the house angrily going through craft books for A-inspiration. I didn't want to make any of the amigurumi patterns! I didn't want to make armwarmers anymore! What kind of jewelry starts with A?! Then I remembered some critters I loved at a recent craft fair. This little guy isn't on Pinterest, but his friends are. 

https://www.etsy.com/transaction/64937452? (the photo is small as the item has sold already, but you can get the idea in the thumbnail)

http://www.pinterest.com/tigerflight/tigerflight/

I freehanded a pattern on some drawing paper, and I cut up an old sweater I'd been saving for just such an occasion. I pinned him up and laid out his legs to trace onto some felt for his 3D belly. (I've never made a plushy so I wasn't sure how that was going to work! Beginners luck!) I had a set of plushy eyes in my notions box and plenty of embroidery floss for ants.

Voila! From frustration to inspiration to experimentation. I give you... A for Anteater!