I am happy and relieved to share the news that I finally sat down with the original pattern for the Dinosaur Hood and tackled the wee beastie. I am amazed given how many errors I found in it that anyone managed to make one before. But it was one of the first things I had ever written out to share, so I can be gentle with the glib knitter I was back then.
It seems to have developed some kind of mystique, given its unavailability. Lately the emails come daily (it's cold out I guess), asking for a notification when it surfaced again, and even for the original no matter how impaired by bad math it was. There was one woman who sent me several emails begging for it in any condition, telling me an affecting story of how it was the only thing in the world that would do for her son. So of course, when I sent it to her, there was not even a glimmer of thanks from her end of the intertubes. I have to laugh a little.
I have in the year since I originally removed it to fix the problems, developed a sense of humor about how people can be a little absent minded about the manners over the internet, because a lot of people do expect things (especially kid's patterns) to be free, and many of the requests I had were hardly polite. I hoped the worst of them were because of the bluntness of Google translate. Ultimately, I decided that since it was something I had given away before, and that I would love to be free of the frequent emails, here it is finally, still for free. You're welcome. ❤
Oh THANK YOU for your generous gift! I hope I have a grandchild someday for whom I can knit this. My eldest son was a dionsaur fan, knew the names and eating habits of them all. As a child he would have adored this. When he was in first grade, I made him a dinosaur suit for Halloween, it turned out pretty ok and he even slept in it. So thank you again.
Posted by: Barbara | January 20, 2012 at 08:56 PM
That's adorable! I bet it would be wonderful in an adult size, too. Thanks!
Posted by: Katie K | January 20, 2012 at 09:38 PM
Oh, this is so adorable and your timing is wonderful! There's a little man whose birthday is coming up shortly who would LOVE this. Thank you, thank you, thank you for the perfect "fun auntie" gift for this year. (And since this world is full of nudges who don't seem to think that manners matter any more, I'll say their thank yous for them - though I'm not sure they even deserve it.) Keep up the great work!
Posted by: Tracy | January 20, 2012 at 11:18 PM
Thank you for offering your pattern for free! How sad that manners are often forgotten, and that talents and time are taken for granted.
Posted by: Joan | January 20, 2012 at 11:45 PM
Madam, thank you. You are kind, and gentle, and thoroughly wonderful. And generous. And talented.
Thank you!
Susan in Las Vegas
Posted by: Susan Williams | January 20, 2012 at 11:54 PM
Thankyou for this, I have a little grandson who might like this in about six months time. It's the middle of summer in Aust at the moment, so there won't be any knitting for quite a while. You seem very philosophical about that sort of 'gimmee gimmee, I want it Now!' attitude; I might not be as kind.
Posted by: mereth | January 21, 2012 at 03:27 AM
I know several large children who would love this, I reckon I can scale it for a 35 year old 5 year old
:p
Posted by: Joanne cross | January 21, 2012 at 04:16 AM
Many thanks! This is one hat that any child will keep on his /her head ... and that I will be proud to knit. I do appreciate you taking time to update your wonderful pattern for us. - Lynn in Pittsburgh
Posted by: Lynn | January 21, 2012 at 07:03 AM
When my oldest (now 21) was about 5, I made him a fleece dinosaur costume for Halloween. It had a full body with a stuffed tail, and a separate hood that looked about like your knitted dinosaur hood. My son loved that dinosaur costume so much that he wore it to bed for the longest time!
I have to download the pattern! Even if I don't make it now for him, I can definitely file it away for future use when grandchildren come along. (For the record, I hope that will be SEVERAL years!) Thank you for a great pattern!
Posted by: Kim | January 21, 2012 at 07:36 AM
I made several of the original pattern. Those children loved it! I'm happy more children will have the opportunity.
Posted by: Judy | January 21, 2012 at 07:59 AM
I think this is just delightful! Thank you so much for a such a fun pattern!
Posted by: Bonney | January 21, 2012 at 08:59 AM
Thank you - my grandson is a year and a half so this is just in time!
Posted by: Trudy | January 21, 2012 at 09:06 AM
Here am I, saying thank you!
Posted by: Mary K. in Rockport | January 21, 2012 at 09:57 AM
I know a little boy hurting loss of a greatgrandmother; this won't replace her, but it will delight him. Thank you for a generous gift.
Posted by: judithio | January 21, 2012 at 10:03 AM
Oh Yippppieeeee! Thank you so much! I have been wanting to do this project for ages. And how very generous of you to do it for free! Bless you. Now off to the stash....
Posted by: Syd | January 21, 2012 at 10:05 AM
I have to laugh a little, too, but still so often end up scratching my head and, just, "WOW!"
Thank you. ; )
Posted by: Vicki | January 21, 2012 at 10:19 AM
Thank you
Posted by: Gaynor | January 21, 2012 at 11:34 AM
Thank you for your generosity in the face of, well, rottenness! I'm wondering if my little boys will want this....although they aren't little anymore! I'll ask them when they come in from snow blowing (the 13 yr old...gotta love a boy wo begs to snowplow before the snow is done!) and fencing (not til late, he is squad leader and traveling with his HS fencing team)
Posted by: Colleen | January 21, 2012 at 11:55 AM
So gracious. I don't even have plans to knit it, but thanks!
;-)
Posted by: Lynn in Tucson | January 21, 2012 at 12:06 PM
Thank you for sharing this with us. I hope one day to make this for my nephew, assuming he isn't done to death by all the cute hats I am making for him as an infant!
Posted by: Kit | January 21, 2012 at 12:19 PM
oooo I love it! :)
Posted by: carolyn | January 21, 2012 at 12:42 PM
Its a cutie, for sure. I think its very good of you to move past others rudeness and just be yourself....which is a very generous person. I noticed that you received many kind comments on this post and maybe that will cancel out all the bad. Have a great weekend!
Posted by: april | January 22, 2012 at 02:19 PM
Thanks for the hat pattern. And thanks for offering other free patterns. I can tweat patterns but have difficulty creating them. For the dinosaur hat, i envision a matching grey set minus the red crest with a tabard (rectangle with a cast on, cast off boat neck). Now we have a dinosaur/dragon/ knight set in "chain maille". Perhaps a stuffed i-cord sword. Hopefully the 3 1/2 yr old nephew will see it as "way cool". If I make the dinosaur hat adult size, I could enable his dad to be the "yet to be slain dragon", or perhaps a pal to help the young knight on his quest. Thanks again from Auntie M and Ben
Posted by: Mickey | January 22, 2012 at 04:54 PM
Thank you very much for the pattern! I have two grandsons that will appreciate this hat!
Posted by: Ann | January 22, 2012 at 10:02 PM
Thank you!
Posted by: bookfanatic | January 22, 2012 at 10:21 PM