OU MIGHT THINK THAT KNITTING would be the last thing on my mind in an Australian summer, but with Christmas coming up it is a great time to see what sort of toys can be made.
The idea for a knitted thurible arose about ten years ago with my sons fascination with the thurifer at Mass. They would swing just about anything around in imitation. One particular wooden push-a-long duck was sadly battered to pieces. Having a background in knitted toys, I imagined a thurible in acrylic yarn and fibrefill. At first I used crochet, as it was easier – you can see the first pattern here. It went pretty well, and I made a few as back ups and then as gifts.
More recently I had another go knitting thuribles which could be opened. Instead of stuffing I’m using rolled brims to hold the round shape. Mostly I have been knitting on the fly, but the last time I kept notes. The pattern is now up on ravelry: How to knit a flying saucer thurible and if knitting is not your thing, you can buy the thurible at Cozy House Curios.
The photo shows some vigorous testing by a friend’s sons. Results were good. One feature (or bug) is that having removable knitted charcoal, while a cute idea, does tend to result in the charcoal being launched with a sling shot action. I do offer to sew the charcoal in place, or maybe I can make some sort of button closure mechanism. More prototypes to come!
This week I stumbled across these Fr Peter Cutouts. Priest and altar boy paper dolls from 1943. So far my boys have colored them and cut them out. The next step is to glue them onto card – which would have been easier had they not cut them out first, but that’s how you learn, isn’t it?
