Pattern for Intermediate Knitters - Add-on to Elephant in a China Cup
Yarn: 50 yards of any worsted weight yarn (double-strand thinner yarn) in two different colors (or more) for each toy. Needle: US size 4 dpns - gauge is not important, use needles 3 sizes smaller than weight suggests. Work body, head and ears as described in “Elephant in a China Cup'. You can choose to use a different color for the head (see Stories about Ganesha). You may also want to embroider a bindi on Ganesha's forehead for good luck. The Sugar Bowl is created the same way as the China Cup. Two handles are optional.You can choose to use a different color for the handles.
Lid
CO 4 on 2 dpns (2 each) and join in the round to make an I-cord. If you have chosen to make handles in a different color, start with the color used for the handles. Knit 3 rds. Switch to color of the bowl. R4: (kl, ml) repeat, add third dpn. R5: Knit all sts. R6: (kl, ml) repeat to end of rnd. R7: Knit all sts. R8: (k2, ml) repeat to end of rnd. R9-II: Knit all sts. R12: BO and use tail to sew lid along the top of the bowl with a couple of whipstitches right behind Ganesha's head. Weave in all ends. Abbreviations CO: Cast on st(s): stitch(es) R/rnd: round k: knit P: purl dpn: double pointed needle k2tog: knit two together m: make a stitch slk: slip st knitwise slp: slip st purlwise
Stories about Ganesha
Ganesha has been represented with the head of an elephant since the early stages of his appearance in Indian art. Puranic myths provide many explanations for how he got his elephant head.While some texts say that Ganesha was born with an elephant head, he acquires the head later in most stories.The most recurrent motif in these stories is that Ganesha was created by Parvati using clay to protect her and Shiva beheaded him when Ganesha came between Shiva and Parvati. Shiva then replaced Ganesha's original head with that of an elephant. Details of the battle and where the replacement head came from vary from source to source. Another story says that Ganesha was created directly by Shiva's laughter. Because Shiva considered Ganesha too alluring, he gave him the head of an elephant and a protruding belly. [wikipedia 2014 on Ganesha] Hence the legendary sweet tooth and his being right at home in a sugar bowl. My thanks go to Gillian for test-knitting, to Michele for tech editing, and to the staff of the Utah Museum of Fine Arts for inspiring me to knit Ganesha. @ Sandra Ronca Designs - all rights reserved. For non-commercial purposes only. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted without prior permission.
