Remember my failed experiment with super-tiny knitting? This time I got it right!
Using lace-weight yarn (Shadow Tonal from Knit Picks) and size 000 (1.25 mm) needles….
I ended up with an itty-bitty elephant! He’s about half an inch tall, which is about half as big as the original Tiny Elephant.
Just look how HUGE Tiny Elephant looks now in this actual-size photo. (He is feeling just a tiny bit less special now.)
Once I had the right material and tools, the itty-bitty knitting was actually a breeze! I could only find the #000 needles in 8-inch length (I got my set online from Angelika’s Yarn Store)—at first I thought they would be awkward to use, but the needles balanced nicely in my hands, and the extra length seemed helpful for keeping the micro-stitches from slipping off the ends.
The hardest part was picking up stitches for the ears and feet. This can be tricky even when working in a larger scale, so I knew I just had to be very patient and keep trying until I got it right. It probably took a little less than twice as long to knit the itty-bitty guy than it took to knit the original Tiny version.
Give it a try if you have a little time, patience, and decent eyesight (or just a willingness to do a lot of squinting)!
OMG, so adorable! I need to try this ASAP!
Picking up stitches is always hard for me, so I use a crochet hook in addition. Could a tiny lace hook help?
awesome! I knew those itty-bitty needles were good for something besides lace and socks.
Would using a craft magnifying glass help do you think?
OMG! I had a hard enough time making the original tiny elephant. What a little cutie pie! You are a yarn magician:)
what do you reckon your gauge (sts-per-inch) is with the Shadow laceweight and #000 needles?
I’ve dabbled in tinny-tahny knitting recently and could’ve really used the craft-magnifier idea – I’ll get one and see how much easier it is! At my age, it’s not the hand-dexterity I lack, it’s the eyesight. ;~)
~ hb33 ~
Wow!! That takes some skill, I doubt I can even make the original tiny elephant let alone his tiny twin :)
holy wow! the tiny is mind blowing! i am glad to see they both know bob’s secret “hand” shake too… :D love!
He is incredible!
that is sooo cute :)
NOBODY SNEEZE!! His cutie self will blow away!
awww, they are both so adorable!! that last picture is amazing.
Very cute. I have a set of 0000 that I don’t get to use very often. I’m always afraid of losing them!
WoW! That is so awesome! And so cute! I love your patterns!
Anna, haha, “Just look how HUGE Tiny Elephant looks now ” – it’s hilarious! Tell Tiny I think he is still cute and tiny!
That is incredibly tiny. I’ve been complaining about knitting with bulky stuff today — I think I need to knit something tiny very soon.
Aww, it’s the big sis and the little sis :)
so cute!!! i can’t wait to try!!
So cute!! Itty Itty Bitty!! I just want to squish it, its so cute! Those 1.25mm knitting needles look like sewing needles! :) I love it!
This is possible cuteness overload but I love it hahaha… OMG OMG can I request something?? I would love to see a mama quail followed by her tiny baby quails!! You have crazy skill!
i am in l<3ve!you think something couldn't BE any cuter and then blammo- it's ubermini :D i have been wanting to get super tiny needles since Coraline came out- soon soon soon i will give this try.
Anna,
you definitely have more patience that I do. I still have half a lace weight shawl stashed somewhere in my closet, but I have no intention of ever returning to it!