Purchase Scottish Penguin Glen Pattern
On Monday I sat down very decisively to work on something happy. Meet the newest member of my penguin fold – a little Scottish penguin named Glen. When I shared the initial sketch, Kris asked what a penguin keeps in his sporran. As I was sewing, I thought of a little story.
Glen had always loved wearing his kilt, but the other little penguins made fun of him. Instead of changing himself to fit in with the others, he spent his days roaming the hills and dales alone, having his own adventures. Although he was happy to go about on his own, he sometimes wished he had a friend with him. During one of his excursions, he found a new hill. As he walked up the hill slowly – he was a little penguin after all – it started getting colder and darker. Rain clouds covered the sun and very soon, strong gusts of wind started blowing him all over the place.
He hurried up the hillside and found an old broken ruin there. The hill was in a remote area and the entrances to the ruin were all overgrown with brambles. He took a little knife out of his sporran to clear a path so he could get in without spoiling his clothes. As he was cutting the brambles, something pink plopped down along with a few Thistle flowers. He loved Thistle. When he bent down to pick up the flowers and put them in his little sporran, he found a small pink stone among them. By this time, big raindrops had started pelting down on him. He hurried into the ruin to sit inside a big stone fireplace. There he sat, thumbing the stone and looking at the sky, waiting for the rain to let up a little.
Purchase Little Penguin Polaris Pattern
A flash of lightning, and he suddenly found himself elsewhere, facing two other penguins. One was dressed in woolens and the other in Viking clothing. They were as surprised to see him as he was them. After a little awkward introduction, Glen learned their names were Polaris and Olaf. He also found out that they had been lonely penguins too, before they met each other. Polaris loved his matching woolens, he had quite a few sets.
Purchase Viking Penguin Olaf Pattern
As for Olaf, not only did he love his Viking clothes, he also insisted on having horns on his helmet even though he was told Viking helmets didn’t have horns. He thought the horns made him look very mighty and formidable. They both welcomed Glen with open arms.
Polaris gave Glen a little snowflake that sparkled in the moonlight. Olaf gave him a little fire-stone which glowed in the dark. Glen remembered the thistles in his sporran and gave each of his new friends a thistle. He showed them his pink stone too. All three wondered if rain and thunder somehow activated the stone and if there were more penguins like them. For now though, they were delighted to have found each other. Sometimes you just have to look a little farther to find what you are looking for.
The photos were taken by me in Scotland. I took the photo of the Thistles in the mountains standing outside, buffeted by wind gusts of 40 – 50 mph. It was quite a difficult task, and I feel like I brought a little Scottish spirit home with me captured in that photo.
Purchase Scottish Penguin Glen Pattern
Glen doesn’t always like to wear his tie or his belt buckle. So I included additional sections in the pattern for easier piecing without the tie and the belt buckle.
Since I always get asked about pattern links, here are links to all three penguin quilt patterns –
Scottish Penguin Glen – The newest member!
They are a happy bunch, aren’t they! I love them!
Have a crafty week,
-Soma
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34 thoughts on “Scottish Penguin Glen”
Lalka Crochetka October 24, 2017 at 04:51
it is most lovely collection of penguins I have seen recently! each of them is full of character and each of them is cute!
Ness October 14, 2017 at 14:09
What a great collection of penguins and a lovely story to go with them.
Kay Davies October 13, 2017 at 11:01
Oh, how wonderful! I love Glen, and the others are adorable, too, but can’t hold a candle to a Scot. (My ancestry makes me say that!)
The story you wrote about Glen and his new friends is perfect…perhaps you should write a children’s book about this darling trio. And do include that fabulous thistle photo! I love it.
Thanks, too, for a walk down memory lane. I’ve visited Scotland twice and would go there again despite the rain, which causes me physical pain…because it’s worth it, SO worth it.
Thank you again.
Kay
An Unfittie’s Guide to Adventurous Travel
Tu-Na Quilts October 12, 2017 at 18:09
Wonderful story to introduce Glen. Great looking penguin blocks.
betty - NZ October 12, 2017 at 15:01
Gorgeous creations and such a cute story, too!
Julie October 12, 2017 at 14:50
I adored everything about this post. Your penguins, your Scottish photos and your story. Such a delightful read. Thanks for linking to Sew, Stitch, Snap, SHARE.
Maureen October 11, 2017 at 19:52
These penguins look as if they are so much fun to stitch! Love the Scottish penguin.
Denise October 11, 2017 at 19:08
Lol, I would buy this book, so cute. And I love Glen.
BillieBee October 11, 2017 at 13:54
These are sooooooooo cute!
Bonnie in VA October 9, 2017 at 18:52
Great penguin with a fun backstory!
AnnieO October 9, 2017 at 11:37
I adore your wee fantasy story about Glen and his friends! So fun. The Seaside Highland Games are about to take place here in my town next weekend. Many a sporran will be spotted but nay penguins, only Pelicans.
Marie-OR October 9, 2017 at 09:25
The penguins are adorable! I absolutely LOVE the thistle photo.
Lady Fi October 9, 2017 at 08:33
Your penguins are adorable!
Janine @ Rainbow Hare October 9, 2017 at 06:44
These penguins are fantastic, Soma, and your story is wonderful! I so much enjoyed it. Should these penguins happen to have any more adventures, I do hope you’ll share them with us, Janine :D
Villroses hage October 9, 2017 at 04:42
Cute! And I know the Thistle is the national flower of Scotland.
Jesh StG October 8, 2017 at 18:36
Thank you for your comment on Seasons. So true, all the violence and negativity can get one down. Art is a great way to combat that! Love the series of penquins that is developing! Your captures of Scotland are quite beautiful! Thanks for sharing the purple thistle and the rock -still standing with All Seasons!
Have a great and artsy week:)
Anne October 8, 2017 at 01:37
I love penguins and I love your little family. Your story is adorable how they all get to meet and give each other little gifts.
#sundaysnap
Cheryl Brickey October 7, 2017 at 18:54
So cute! I love the penguin in the quilt and the sporran! I went to Carnegie Mellon University for college and our flower was the thistle and as part of the Kiltie band we all wore kilts and sporrans :) I just joined a round robin and I think that he needs to be my center!
Mary October 7, 2017 at 14:08
OMGosh…..those are so cute and I love your story to go along with them. You could be your own author and illustrator.
Carol October 7, 2017 at 08:09
Oh my he’s adorable and I love the story too.
Susie October 7, 2017 at 07:05
What a delightful story about your newest little penguin! I love the story, the pattern, and your PHOTOS are STUNNING !
Now I want to go to see the ruins and countryside in Scotland!! You have the gift of weaving the different arts together into an adventure, so that I feelas if I had been there myself for a few moments in time, Soma! ( the LRW )
Susan October 6, 2017 at 08:36
Cute little story and penguins. Will be looking forward to more “chapters” and penguins in the future. Love the thistle picture.I am surprised the thistle didn’t blur by moving in that kind of wind.
nrs October 6, 2017 at 08:25
OMG, I love love love your story of the penguins. It made my Friday morning. Thank you for sharing.
Robyn Vaughan October 5, 2017 at 16:50
Adore your penguins and your story. Ever thought of making a fabric book out of these, for a young relative, along with the story? Maybe a quilt with the story printed on plain blocks next to the penguins.
Kim Sharman October 5, 2017 at 14:13
Oh, how magically whimsical is your story of your little penguins, Glen, Polaris and Olaf, Soma. AND oh, how clever is your new pattern of your little Scottish penguin, Glen. So happy these three little guys met each other. The world is a far more beautiful place when shared with beautiful friends.
Cindy October 5, 2017 at 12:43
The penguins are adorable, and what a delightful little story!
Andrea H October 5, 2017 at 12:37
Soma, Those are adorable penguin patterns! You are such a creative storyteller. I’ll definitely be coming back to take a closer look at these little guys.
Dixie October 5, 2017 at 11:53
Scottish Glen and his friends are so sweet. Love their story too!
My the Scottish thistles are pretty.
Lori Smanski October 5, 2017 at 11:05
these are adorable. I love the story you gave them.
Kim October 5, 2017 at 10:38
Oh, lovely! Love your photo of the broch on Lewis, hope to see more photos of your trip!
krislovesfabric October 5, 2017 at 07:37
Evan and I enjoyed your story very much. He is on Fall break and we needed respite as we are going through college application/visit and scholarship stuff…we were getting testy with each other :) Evan is impressed you used the same fabric for his belt, tie and sporran to be coordinated. I am impressed that that thistle can thrive in such high winds. We are both impressed with all Glen is able to stuff in that tiny sporran! And that he walks up such steep hills, lol! Thanks for sharing those gorgeous photos!
Yanicka Hachez October 5, 2017 at 07:32
Oh my this is absolutely adorable!!!!!
Wendy @ September Violets October 5, 2017 at 05:42
This was a fun little story to read about the penguins Soma. You should consider adding it to your patterns ;) Wee Glen is adorable. I thought you were going to say he had a kipper in his sporran, but I guess that wouldn’t keep too well!
Patty October 5, 2017 at 04:45
Great story and these are just totally adorable.