Something a Little Different - meet Oscar Ook 🦧

The making of an orangutan - suggested by David Venus

Jul 14, 2024

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Dear ape and knitting people,

Recently over in Notes

David Venus

suggested I make an orangutan/orangutang/orang-utan (there is no consensus on how to spell it). So this is the visual story of how Oscar Ook came into being. Firstly I needed to find a pattern and finding one I felt gave enough character was a task in itself. But find one I did, it’s actually a tea-cosy pattern but easily converted (as the pattern writer noted). The pattern and yarn required meant this was always going to be a bigger end product than the frog. I started with the intent to make the pattern as written and see how I could change it afterwards to make it smaller. The trouble with smaller is finding yarn that will work. For the uninitiated, thicker yarns need thicker needles make bigger products. Thinner yarns are not always available in the fluffiness required for fur etc.

So I started

Orange fluffy fur being knitted up into two round shapes. — The start

It was hilarious making up tribbles. My personal Facebook page and Notes enjoyed the Star-trek jokes that ensued. I decided to put armature inside him so he is slightly posable, the pattern didn’t allow for this so I had to improvise. I’d like to say I have photos but, alas, I don’t. Anyhow I made his face next. He has lovely deep brown safety eyes, and I needed to experiment with the position of eye brows and mouth etc. I’m sure there are many expressions I could have stumbled upon but slightly bemused seems to have won out.

A knitted face applied to the smallest round, which is balanced on the largest round. Knitted in orange fluffy yarn for the rounds, and brown yarn for the face. — The face

Then the arms and legs, and the palms of the hands were made. At this point I had to go away for a few days and decided not to take knitting with me. I wanted to spend what energy I had being present for my friends as much as possible (though due to my ME/CFS I was quite quiet.) So I parked him quietly on the window ledge and left.

Once back all I needed to door was knit ten digits, add them to the palms, sort out how to add the armature, add the right amount of stuffing around said armature, add the hands to the arms and then sew on the head. Just a small bit of work.

Adding various items of anatomy to the body — All made up.

It was then time to find him a home and where better than looking after my Terry Pratchett books. He was in heaven.

A stuffed toy orangutan in a bookcase with Terry Pratchett books and ornaments. — The Librarian in his element

I hope you have enjoyed this photo story of the making of Oscar. So that’s me signing off for now, till next time. If you have any suggestions for photo opportunities for either Oscar or Frog and Toad, or any ideas for other animals you’d like to see let me know below.

If you have enjoyed my ramblings I’d love for you to click the ❤️. It pleases the social algorithm, lets others know there’s something interesting here, as well as letting me know you liked it and giving me a little virtual hug. Without virtual hugs I have been know to get sad 😜. Shares are good too and a comment buoys me up even more 😁 A comment of what you liked, what you didn’t etc would be most gratefully appreciated.

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