Monday, October 20, 2014

Fun Pillow Project

Do you remember back at the beginning of the year when I started the Rainbow Pansy blanket for C? And do you remember how I said I wasn't a big project type. Turns out I was right. I made four spiral squares and a number of the pansy squares, then they sat there for months. C found them and asked what about my blanket? What to do? A trip to the fabric store later, here was my solution. Rainbow Pillow!


I joined the four squares I had making a 24 in by 24 in square and put a little border around it. Then I cut a square of fabric and zipped around it with my perforating rotatory blade and crochet fabric the the back of the squares on three sides. I stuffed in a 24 by 24 in pillow and closed up the other side. I went around the border one more time and viola!


C picked out the rainbow butterflies. Of course there was fighting over it with the younger one, so back to the store for another pillow. Since I didn't feel up to making squares for one of the sides I just crocheted two pieces of fabric together and added a border again. Why not just sew it you ask? Well my machine is packed away and old. This was actually easier. So W got a construction pillow.


They are hits and have saved my couch pillows from being floor jumping pillows. The kids have also come up with other creative using for them, one being holding the pillows in front of them and running at each other as fast as their little legs can go.

I know I didn't really put in details, but this was more just a idea post. If you want details let me know.

Happy Stitches!
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Sunday, October 19, 2014

Amigurumi Person - Pattern

In the past few months I have made a number of dolls for my kids or other family members. I've been tweaking the pattern each time, but I think I've come up with a good pattern for a person now. I'm writing the pattern without any color changes for clothes, though I will make a note in the row where clothes might be started if desired.


Materials
Worsted weight yarn
Hook F (3.75mm)
stitch marker
Embroidery thread for face features (if desired)
Safety eyes (if desired)

Abbreviations
ch - chain
st(s) - stitches
sl st - slip stitch
sc  - single crochet
hdc - half double crochet
dc - double crochet
sc2tog - single crochet 2 together
dc2tog - double crochet 2 together
dc3tog - double crochet 3 together
BLO - back loop only

Note: work done in joined rounds until head, then change to continuous rounds
Legs (make 2)
ch 11
R1 - in 2nd ch from hook 2sc, sc 5, hdc 3, 5hdc in last ch, working opposite side of ch hdc 3, sc 5, 2sc, sl st in first sc (25 sts)
R2 - ch 1, 2sc x 2, sc 8, 2hdc x 2, hdc, 2hdc x 2, sc 8, 2sc x 2, sl st to first sc (33 sts)
R3 - ch 1, sc around in BLO, sl st to first sc (33 sts)
R4 - ch 1, sc around, sl st to first sc (33 sts)
R5 - ch 1, sc 12, sc2tog, dc2tog, dc3tog, dc2tog, sc2tog, sc 10, sl st to first sc (27 sts) end ballet shoes here
R6 - ch 1, sc 11, sc2tog, dc3tog, sc2tog, sc 9, sl st to first sc (23 sts)
R7 - ch1, sc 10, dc2tog, dc, dc2tog, sc 8, sl st to first sc (21 sts)
R8 - ch 1, sc 9, sc2tog, sc, sc2tog, sc 7, sl st to first sc (19 sts)  end shoes here
Stuff foot
R9-10 - ch 1, sc around, sl st to first sc (19 sts)
R11 - ch 1, sc 10, sc2tog, sc 7, sl st to first sc (18 sts) end boots here
R12-26 - ch 1, sc around, sl st to first sc (18 sts)
Add stuffing to leg
R27 - ch 1, 2sc, sc 8, 2sc, sc 8, sl st to first sc (20 sts)
R28-35 - ch 1, sc around, sl st to first sc (20 sts)
Fasten off, stuff almost to top of leg



Body
place legs together, find where the legs touch in the middle, this is where you will connect the legs together



R1 - sl st  4 middle sts of each leg together, continuing only on left leg, sc in next st, sc 15 around leg, continue to first open st on right leg, sc 16, sl st to first sc (32 sts)


R2-9 - ch 1, sc around, sl st to first sc (32 sts) end pants here
Stuff rest of each leg and some of body
R10 - ch 1, sc 8, 2sc, sc 15, 2sc, sc 7, sl st to first sc (34 sts)
R11-26 - ch 1, sc around, sl st to first sc (34 sts)
R27 - ch 1, sc 11, sc2tog, sc 15, sc2tog, sc 4, sl st to first sc (32 sts)
Remember to add your safety eyes if you are using them!
R28 - ch 1, sc 8, sc2tog, sc 3, sc2tog, sc 9, sc2tog, sc 3, sc2tog, sc, sl st to first sc (28 sts)
R29 - ch 1, sc 8, sc2tog, sc, sc2tog, sc 9, sc2tog, sc, sc2tog, sc, sl st to first sc (24 sts)
R30 - ch 1, sc 7, sc2tog, sc, sc2tog, sc 7, sc2tog, sc, sc2tog, sl st to first sc (20 sts)
R31 - ch 1, sc 8, sc2tog, sc 8, sc2tog, sl st to first sc (18 sts) end shirt here
Stuff rest of body
DO NOT FASTEN OFF

Head (continue from body, start continuous rounds, placing stitch marker at the beginning stitch of each round)
R1 - ch 1, *sc, sc2tog* x 6 (12 sts)
R2 - *sc, 2sc* x 6 (18 sts)
R3 - *sc 2, 2sc* x 6 (24 sts)
R4 - *sc 3, 2sc* x 6 (30 sts)
R5 - *sc 4, 2sc* x 6 (36 sts)
R6 - *sc 5, 2sc* x 6 (42 sts)
R7 - *sc 6, 2sc* x 6 (48 sts)
Stuff neck tightly
R8-15 - sc around (48 sts)
R16 - *sc 6, sc2tog* x 6 (42 sts)
R17 - *sc 5, sc2tog* x 6 (36 sts)
R18 - *sc 4, sc2tog* x 6 (30 sts)
R19 - *sc 3, sc2tog* x 6 (24 sts)
R20 - *sc 2, sc2tog* x 6 (18 sts)
Stuff rest of head
R21 - *sc, sc2tog* x 6 (12 sts)
R22 - sc2tog x 6 (6 sts)
Fasten off


Arms (done in joined rounds) (make 2)
ch 3
R1 - in 2nd ch from hook 2sc, 4sc in next (last) ch, working on opposite side of ch, 2sc, sl st to first sc (8 sts)
R2 - ch 1, sc, 2sc x 2, sc 2, 2sc x 2, sc, sl st to first sc (12 sts)
R3 - ch 1, sc, 2sc, *sc 2, 2sc* x 3, sc, sl st to first sc (16 sts)
R4-8 - ch 1, sc around, sl st to first sc (16 sts)  Hands end here
R9 - ch 1, sc2tog, sc 6, sc2tog, sc 6, sl st to first sc (14 sts)
Stuff hands
R10-27 - ch 1, sc around, sl st to first sc (14 sts)
Stuff rest of arm
R28-30 - sl st 4, sc, hdc 7, sc, sl st
                Note: make sure to keep the sl sts loose so you can easily work into them
Fasten off, leaving long tail to sew to body.


Sew arms on around R29 and R30 of body.


This is the basic body for a amigurumi person. You can add hair and facial features many ways. I have found good hair tutorials here at EssHaych and here at K and J Dolls, or use your favorite way.

I hope you have fun making this with your own colors and embellishments. This is the ballerina I made for my niece.



This pattern is for personal use only. If you would like to sell a finished product, please credit me for the design. Happy Stitches!

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Thursday, October 2, 2014

Little Witch - Pattern

I meant to get this little gal up yesterday for the first day of October, but I was having a lazy day and didn't feel like typing.
Anyway, Happy October! Are you getting ready for Halloween yet? Well if you are here is a little cheery witch to help you along. She is the same size as my Little Scarecrow and made pretty much the same way. I've added a few accessories with her for a little more fun.


Materials
Worsted weight yarn, multiple colors
Hook G (4.00 mm)
Stitch marker
Stuffing
Yarn needle
Embroidery thread for embellishments

Abbreviations
ch - chain
sl st - slip stitch
sc  - single crochet
hdc - half double crochet
sc2tog - single crochet two together
BLO - back loop only
FLO - front loop only

Note: Worked in continuous rounds, place stitch marker in the first stitch of round, moving it up each round to mark the beginning of the round.

Body and Head
with purple or black, ch 2
R1 - 6sc in first ch (6 sts)
R2 - 2sc in each sc (12 sts)
R3 - *sc, 2sc* x 6 (18 sts)
R4 - *sc 2, 2sc* x 6 (24 sts)
R5 - *sc 3, 2sc* x 6 (30 sts)
R6 - *sc 4, 2sc* x 6 (36 sts)
R7 - in BLO sc around (36 sts)
R8-9 - sc around (36 sts)
R10 - *sc 7, sc2tog* x 4 (32 sts)
R11 - sc around (32 sts)
R12 - *sc 6, sc2tog* x 4 (28 sts)
R13 - sc around (28 sts)
R14 - *sc 5, sc2tog* x 4 (24 sts)
R15 - sc around (24 sts)
R16 - *sc 4, sc2tog* x 4 (20 sts)
R17 - sc around (20 sts)
R18 - *sc 3, sc2tog* x 4 (16 sts)
R19 - sc around (16 sts)
Stuff the body
R20 - *sc 2, sc2tog* x 4 (12 sts)
R21 - sc around (12 sts)
R22 - change to flesh color, *sc, 2sc* x 6 (18 sts)
R23 - *sc 2, 2sc* x 6 (24 sts)
R24-27 - sc around (24 sts)
R28 - *sc 2, sc2tog* x 6 (18 sts)
R29 - *sc, sc2tog* x 6 (12 sts)
Stuff the rest of the body and head
R30 - sc2tog x 6 (6 sts)
Fasten off


Arms

with flesh color, ch 2
R1 - 4sc in first ch (4 sts)
R2 - 2sc in each sc (8 sts)
R3 - sc around (8 sts)
R4-9 - change to dress color, sc around (8 sts)
Fasten off, leaving long tail for sewing
Stuff lightly and sew to body, I attached them around R19.


Hat

with same color as dress, ch 2
R1 - 6sc in first ch (6 sts)
R2 - sc around (6 sts)
R3 - *sc, 2sc* x 3 (9 sts)
R4 - sc around (9 sts)
R5 - *sc 2, 2sc* x 3 (12 sts)
R6 - sc around (12 sts)
R7 - *sc 3, 2sc* x 3 (15 sts)
R8 - sc around (15 sts)
R9 - *sc 4, 2sc* x 3 (18 sts)
R10 - sc around (18 sts)
R11 - in FLO sc around (18 sts)
R12 - *hdc 2, 2hdc* x 6 (24 sts)
R13 - *hdc 3, 2hdc* x 6 (30 sts)
Fasten off, leaving long tail for sewing

Before sewing the hat on the head I added a little bit of hair. I used a hair tutorial from EssHaych. It is the same method I used for the adding the hay around the Little Scarecrow. I left the top round bare since the hat will cover that part of the head.


 Once you have the hair on, sew the hat to the head. I lightly stuffed it to give it some stiffness.


 Add a face and there you go, a little witch to help celebrate the holiday season.



This pattern is for personal use only. If you would like to sell a finished product, please credit me for the design. Happy Stitches!
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