Wool Wars

Go Go Gadget... crochet hook?

2008-11-15T11:52:00.005-05:00

After a successful trip to Stitches East, I decided to put some of the yarn I bought to immediate use.

This is a hand painted, hand spun merino wool. The yarn thickness is wildly variable throughout the hank, so this pattern didn't come out as clean looking as it could have.

Too bad they came out much too small for my ginormous hands (so they look a little funny). Next up, I will try gloves with fingers.

Newest craft love

2008-11-14T11:51:00.004-05:00

Ah, needle felting, how I love thee. You get your frustrations out while making something completely adorable. Stabby stabby!

This cute little Santa, made with a Lorna's Wool kit, went to my mom. His elf companion now sits with Gir on my boyfriend's desk.

I have also made a penguin. He didn't turn out quite as well since I had to make the core myself. This is definitely going to take some practice.

My very own pattern

2008-08-01T10:11:00.003-04:00

There is still very little time for crocheting right now. However, I am working on my first pattern. Well it is really my second (Gir was my first), but I didn't write my first pattern down. And now I don't remember what I did. I will have to look at the pictures I took to reconstruct Gir.

I plan to make a wide eyed kitty with a little hat and maybe a balloon. The eyes will have to be made from felt or clay to get the wide look. I also have no clue how to make the checkers in the hat look right. I may just make a solid color hat and add a crocheted bell to the end. If I decide to make the balloon too, this will make a great hanging decoration.

I am making the cat out of a magenta cotton yarn, the hat out of a cream cotton yarn, and the balloon out of an aqua cotton yarn (Lily brand Sugar'n Cream).

Finding the time to crochet

2008-07-18T08:56:00.002-04:00

I haven't been very good about keeping up with my crocheting. Life does tend to get in the way sometimes. I have been working on a pattern from this book for about 2 weeks. This weekend is it; I am going to finish the kitty doll.

All these ideas for new amigurumis are running around in my head, but I am one of those people who have to finish things in order. I figured out what I want to give my boyfriend's mom for Christmas. I'm going to crochet some little kittens and a little kitty blanket, then put it all in a nice basket. I think his mom will love it since she really likes cats.

I have also been asked to crochet a Scooby Doo. That one will be fun to figure out.

The finished Pookie

2008-07-07T16:54:00.003-04:00

I finished Pookie over the long weekend. I decided to knit him a little scarf because he looked so naked. Mary was quite content with the delay in receiving her toy when she found out I was making him a scarf. She carried him around in her shirt pocket (which happened to be the same color as the bear) all day.

I strictly followed the pattern this time (Gourmet Crochet - "How to Crochet Adorable Amigurumi"). I think the ears are too small, but everything else turned out much better than with poor Lester. I also stuffed this one enough so he's not so smooshy and deformable. Lester will be lonely in my bag without Pookie to keep him company.

Pookie Bear's Head

2008-06-29T20:45:00.005-04:00

I started working on another Lester no Feet. A coworker saw Lester and wanted one like him, but with feet. This time around I am using Lion Brand Micro Spun and a F hook.

He's coming along really well. It may not look like it, but his head is almost done. There are only 2 more rows to crochet, then I will start on his body.

I ordered some safety eyes today, but decided to go ahead and use pony beads for the eyes. This isn't for a child, and I don't think my coworker will try swallowing the small parts. Although I could be wrong on that one.

Gir is finally done!

2008-06-28T21:35:00.003-04:00

I finally finished Gir. While making his little feetsies, I figured out why I have been a stitch short. I keep skipping over the first stitch in the first round. It always gets covered up by the last stitch.

I gave him to my boyfriend, and he seems quite happy with his new stuffie, and will hopefully make all his coworkers jealous.

I think when I make Gir again, I will make the eyes bigger and change the placement of the head on the body.

Gir Doll

2008-06-22T20:10:00.005-04:00

Amigurumi #2

So I was making a mutant colored bear when I realized that I made the head far too oblong. I decided since it was green to make Gir in his doggie suit from Invader Zim.

So far I've only completed the head and the body, but I plan to have a finished doll sometime tomorrow. Because he's smallish, his arms and legs are creating a problem for me.

Gir is made from Red Heart brand worsted weight yarn, and a G-hook. He's stuffed with plain old fiberfill.

Lester No Feet

2008-06-22T17:26:00.002-04:00

Poor Lester. He's so small and helpless, and he has no feet.

My first attempt at amigurumi crocheting turned out really well (even if he does lack feet). I tried to follow a pattern, but that didn't actually work. Lester is part pattern, part my flailing around with a crochet hook.

He is made out of a lavender worsted weight yarn that is probably older than I am. His eyes are black pony beads, and his nose and mouth are embroidered. I was going cross-eyes by the time I got to his little arms, so he has no feet. He only measures about 3.5" from ear to bottom.