Rascally Knubbelchen

I came across a photo on Ravelry of a Knubbelchen and thought, "That's it! That's what I'll make for little Phoebe and Luke!" Phoebe, age 2 1/2, and Luke, age 8 months, are our close friends' grandchildren. They would be arriving by plane from Washington, DC, on Sunday, June 14. Ken and I would be at the airport to deliver a car to the four passengers (Grammy, Mom, Phoebe, and Luke), and we would help with installing child safety seats in the extra car. I thought it would be fun to give Phoebe and Luke each a little, hand knitted Knubbelchen for their ride to their grandparents' house.

Best laid plans....

I started the first Knubbelchen on Tuesday, June 9, naively thinking I'd knit the little guy in a jiffy, then make the second one just as quickly.

Wrong. Although the pattern is well-written and simple enough, these little rascals are far from "quick."

I finished Knubbelchen #1 this morning, June 19. Phoebe and Luke have been in Maine for five full days.

While I think the little Knubbelchen is quite cute, he wasn't all that fun to knit. Fingering weight yarn. Size 2 needles. Get the picture?

What's worse, I didn't realize until after this Knubbelchen moved into our home that he and his  kind have a reputation for being quite mischievous.

I can believe it. First I found him in one of my new baskets, then he was on the mantel.

Minutes later he was snuggled on the floor with Molly.

It wasn't long before I spotted him on the deck, hiding in some potted geraniums.

Then he was checking out the basil. (Perhaps he enjoys the scent of basil as much as I do.)

This hiding spot gave me the biggest chuckle. He's in the tuberous begonia/sweet potato vine pot, and he thinks no one can see him.

I suspect this naughty Knubbelchen is here to stay. I suspect, also, that it will be quite awhile before Phoebe and Luke have their own Knubbelchen! Easy to knit, yes; quick to knit, no.