Chibi Doll

From Avid Crafter'...

Here is the Chibi doll I made from this pattern by One Red Robin. I found the fabrics in the remnants at Frangipani Fabrics and the felt is from my stash. She's quite simple to make, with just a little bit of hand sewing and tricky sections of machine sewing. The little owl in the pocket was hardest to get right because the ears wouldn't play fair. The stuffing had to be done right so it would fit in the pocket too.

She is currently living in our lounge room and is yet to be named. If anyone has an idea I'd love to hear it! Choosing names is so hard.

Another Amigurumi for the Collection

From Crocheted Flo...

Here is my next little crochet project finished. This time I found a delightful amigurumi hedgehog to make. This pattern was purchased from Julia's Etsy shop - Oleander. I like the technique Julia used to create the spiky look and she had plenty of photos included in her pattern to show how this was done. The pattern had a craft nose as well as craft eyes but I didn't have any. I quite like her without a craft nose but I will try putting a nose on the next one I crochet.

From Crocheted Flo...

One day soon I will have to be brave and try creating my own unique critter but for now I am really enjoying trying out all the patterns that I have discovered searching through Esty.

Back In the Land of Broadband

Yippee we have our broadband connection back in action. Curses on modems that choose to become disfunctional.

At last I can add the photos of the tortoises blogged about in the last post.

From Crocheted Flo...

Here are the little cuties posing on the fence. They were so easy to make and very addictive. The best bit is that they don't take long to finish. Check out the pattern in Lis Tan-Chaong's Etsy shop - Simple Arts Planet. I was really excited when she asked if she could post a picture of my tortoises on her blog.

I am keen to make some more as gifts for my niece and nephew and am trying to think of a couple of books to go with them.

Computer Hassles!!!

Sorry for the break in posts. We have been crafting but have temporarily lost our broadband connection! SOB! Hopefully it will not be too long before this glitch is sorted. Uploading photos is just sooo sllooowww with dial up that we have decided to wait for a return to broadband.

A few bags have been sewn, a little doll has been constructed, another owl has taken up residence and a few tortoises have come along as well. The bags are very simple drawstring bags that fit a rectangular ice-cream container inside. Tortoises are a crochet pattern purchased from Lis Tan-Chaong's Etsy shop - Simple Arts Planet and were great fun to make.

Pictures of these crafting projects will come soon.

Ta-Da

From Avid Crafter'...

I have finished my crocheted scarf just in time for winter! I was given the kit for my birthday and as it is such a long time since I learned to crochet I am amazed that I've finished it so quickly and easily. 3 months may seem like a long time to finish a project but it's quite quick for me!

This scarf is made by doing loops of chain and joining them together in a way that almost looks like fish-scales in the instructions but the weight of the wool stretches it out a little. There is a little beaded fringe of loops at either end. I think it's a good pattern to do again sometime.

Bravely Sharing My Own Pattern

Having had so much fun re-discovering crochet by making all those different owls I decided it was time to share my own pattern. I created these flowers for some beanies that I knitted a couple of years ago. I needed a little something to add to the beanies that were destined to go as presents to the girls in the family. The beanie pattern was a very simple one with a nice wide fold up brim. The flowers were attached to the brim of each beanie with a brooch pin so that the beanie could be worn plain if desired. I didn't take any photos of the beanies at the time so I will have to take some one day soon. I found the beanie pattern on the web but cannot remember where. I have also attached the flowers to a hairband and just used them as a brooch.

From Crocheted Flo...

Crocheted Flower Pattern

4 chain to make a loop
Round 1: 5 single crochet into loop and slip stitch to 1st single crochet to join, 1 ch
Round 2: ( single crochet, 3ch, 1 single crochet) into 1 single crochet. Repeat 5 more times to form 6 petals. The last petal will be formed in the joining stitch of the first round. Slip stitch to first sc to join, 1 chain.


Round 3: [(1 sc, 2hdc, 2dc, 1trc, 2dc, 2hdc, 1sc) into 3 chain loop. Skip 2 sc]. Repeat 5 more times to form 6 petals. Slip stitch to first sc to finish.


Stitch in the ends. Photos are also in my Picasa album - Crocheted Flowers
Please let me know if these instructions make sense or not by adding a comment.

Have you looked at the photos and gone "?? - the hook is the wrong way - has she flipped the photos?". No I haven't flipped the photos - I am a leftie and all my crochet goes in the opposite direction. I taught myself how to crochet after watching my Mum. She is right handed so I just must have looked at what she was doing and done it in the opposite direction. I could never pick up something of hers to finish and she could never finish something of mine. This showed up so much when we both spent lots of time making Granny squares.

I think all the abbreviations in my pattern are correct for the US versions of stitch names. Here is a link I found to a simple chart with the comparison between US and UK stitch names.

Even More Owls

From All Things Owl

From All Things Owl

From All Things Owl

Making these owls had been great fun and incredibly addictive. I am lucky my Mum is a collector of all things owl so that they all have a home to go to. Up first today is Wise White Owl Oakley. This pattern was created by Amy from her Etsy shop. I used slightly thicker wool which was off-white with a slight fleck and I really liked the end result.

The second little owl shown sitting in a tree was from a pattern by Jenifer Spangenberg. Check out her Etsy shop.

Last photo shows the little mottled grey baby united with his mother. I blogged about this earlier. This mother and baby set is staying put in my house to guard the bookcase.

I just love Etsy. There are so many creative, talented people showcasing their work.

Mobile Phone Socks

From Avid Crafter'...

Here are the mobile phone socks I have made. The one on the left is mine and made from a 4 ply rainbow wool and blue fluffy wool combined. The rainbow shows through on the inside. The one on the right is my Mum's and made from an 8 ply alpaca wool. It's beautiful and soft. I made up the pattern through trial and error with a bit of help from a pattern in a magazine for a similar sock. There is a moss-stitch band at the top and bottom to stop it curling up. As a finishing touch, a clip is attached to one corner so the sock can be clipped to a belt loop on a pair of jeans.
Mum's isn't quite finished as she wants a button of similar to hold it shut. My phone sometimes falls out in my bag if it's not upright.

Holidays and a to-do list

I feel rather guilty. No crafting has been done for ages.

That should change now though because . . . it's the school holidays. YAY! Two weeks to do as much crafting as I like, not to mention some sleeping in!
On the to-do list is: finish my brown knitted bag, block and sew up a phone sock for my mum, do some cross-stitch and stock up on my card supplies. Wow, that list is much shorter than it usually is, that means I'll be able to start something new!