Yes, they're serious, and yes, they've even provided a How To on knitting turtle necks and booties for what may eventually be a terrible move for the penguin race. (After all, we're talking style and survival here, folks, as no penguin is going to take another seriously if he's wearing what the store has dubbed "penguin pajamas" ... especially after he tries to convince everyone that turtle necks are actually coming back.)
A How To after the jump ...
If you're interested in helping out, you could toss a few coins to the WWF to help out the other animals that are probably a lot less cute than penguins and probably need food and a bath more than a pair of knit booties.
But if you're really bent on donating a penguin sweater anthropomorph-izing another wild animal, the New Zealand yarn store has provided the following how-to:
Note: The store recommends you use 100 percent wool yarn (no word on whether the weight of the sweater affects the mobility of the penguin, or whether donors will be given any sort of assurance that their donated sweaters ended up on penguins and not on New Zealand's next Top Model).
Materials:
1 pair 3.25mm, 1 pair of 3.75mm needles
1 set of 3.25mm dpn's or circular
(a good sense of humor)
Method:
1. Cast on 36 stitches using 3.25 needles.K1, P1 to end of row.
2. Repeat this row 7 times.
3. Change to 3.75mm needles and K2, P2 rib.
4. Work 4 rows increasing at each end of every row. (44 sts) Continue until work measures 15 cms.
5. Decrease 1 st at each end of every row until 28 sts remain. Decrease 1 st. in middle of next row (27 sts.) Leave on needle. Make second side the same.
6. Transfer the 54 sts from both pieces to 3 of the set of 4 3.25mm needles.(18 sts on each.) and work a round neck in K1 P1 rib for 10 rows. Cast off.
6. Transfer the 54 sts from both pieces to 3 of the set of 4 3.25mm needles.(18 sts on each.) and work a round neck in K1 P1 rib for 10 rows. Cast off.
7. Stitch up sides to decreasing to 27sts (opening for flipper).
8 . Add elastic to the top and bottom to prevent the penguins getting out of them. Top: 15cm of elastic; bottom 17 cm (knots allowed). Flat elastic okay.
