Tag: Yarn

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Where the Wild Things Are Amigurumi

About two months before Jack’s second birthday I started thinking about themes, and Where the Wild Things Are seemed perfect. He is definitely a wild thing!  I had also really been missing crafting. When I stumbled upon a wild thing amigurumi pattern, I knew I had to make it. The main pattern is here; however, I did not want to glue on felt eyes and teeth. This, after all, would eventually be a toy for a rough and tumble two-year-old.  The edits I made to the pattern can be found below. Enjoy!

Materials for Eyes and Teeth:

  • US Size E Crochet Hook (4 mm)
  • Tapestry needle
  • Red Heart Super Saver in Bright Yellow (Y)
  • Red Heart Super Saver in Black (B)
  • Red Heart Super Saver in White (W)


 

Stitches Used for Eyes and Teeth:

Original Pattern:

Unnamed Monster Pattern

Directions for Eyes and Teeth:

Eyes (make 2):

Row 1:  With B, ch 3, 6 sc in first ch, cut yarn and leave extra for sewing

Row 1:  With Y, ch 4, 6 dc hdc in first ch, cut yarn and leave extra for sewing

Center black semi-circle along flat edge of yellow semi-circle and sew on.

Sew eyes on instead of gluing felt accord to the directions in the original pattern.

Teeth:

Row 1:  With W, sl st to face near cap just below eye as shown in the picture below, p, (sl st, p, sl st) into face curving halfway between nose and beard, the curving back up to just below other eye.  End with final sl st of pattern.

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Purple and Gold Multiplicity

I decided to knit a Multiplicity purse for my sister since I loved mine so much. (See my posts about Multiplicity 1 and Multiplicity 2 for the others I made.) I chose a royal purple and mustard yellow, a play on her school colors of purple and gold. The only thing I didn’t like about mine is that it didn’t close. I knit button holes into the main pocket this time and loved the product!



Difficulty: Moderate

Time Required: 12 Movies

Overall Experience: Excellent

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Cowboys Mason Jar Koozie

I haven’t written a blog post in forever. A lot of that is that it takes a lot of effort to figure out a pattern I improvised from pictures after I already gave away the actual product. I’ve been lazy. I decided to play catch up just sharing what I’ve been making. If someone wants the pattern, I am more than willing to share!

First up: a Dallas Cowboys mason jar koozie. I actually did not love how this turned out. I was knitting at a friends’ child’s birthday party and their neighbor asked if I could make them a mason jar koozie with the Cowboys logo. I said sure. I figured out a pattern for the letters, but it was really wide. Knitting with number 2 needles and worsted weight yarn (which is ridiculously tight if you know knitting) the letters went more than halfway around the jar. The only way I was going to get the letters on the front was to use super fine yarn. That would have been a crazy number of stitches, and I would have to buy new yarn instead of using stash yarn. Considering I had already spent a lot of time ripping out my work to even get the letters mostly on the front half of the jar, I really didn’t want to go through any more effort. Next I tried several different crochet star patterns, none of which were pointy enough.  Lastly, the letters ended up too low. I’m a perfectionist. Here is how it turn out. Not my best work.   

  
   

Difficulty: Easy

Time Required: 6 Movies (Due to a lot of ripping out)

Overall Experience: Meh

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Baby Baseball Hat

In honor of Craig Biggio being elected for the baseball hall of fame today, I will finish my summer of baby hats (I know…  I’m super behind.  Other hats included:  Chappy Newsboy Cap, Lacey Summer Baby Cap, Elmo Inspired Baby Hat, and Emory Beanie.) with my baby baseball hat.  Some friends of mine are huge Astros fans, so when they had a baby I naturally wanted to make them a baseball hat.  I had seen pictures of hats I liked, but couldn’t find a pattern.  I ended up remaking the Chappy Newsboy Cap with same alterations.  Instead of single crocheting in the front and back loops, I single crocheted in both loops to give a smoother texture.  I crocheted the hat in white with a red brim and embroidered baseball stitching over the white.  It turned out super cute!

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Difficulty:  Easy

Time Required:  2 Movies

Overall Experience:  Good

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Deep V Hoodie

I asked for Vogue Knitting for Christmas and loved a pattern that showed up in the very first issue I received.  I like to make complicated things, but I tend to wear simple garments in mostly solid colors.  I like it when they are a little different from what you see everyday.  While not something I would love making, this hoodie was definitely something I would love wearing.  It knit up pretty quickly on No 8 needles.  I love the end product.  This is probably going to be my new favorite garment this fall.

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Difficulty:  Easy

Time Required:  Many Movies

Overall Experience:  Good

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Elmo Inspired Baby Hat

Note:  I have created a second version of this hat with a simpler eyes and nose pattern (that I think looks a little better) and no mouth.  Check it out here.

To continue my summer of baby hats (see Chappy Newsboy Caps and Lacey Summer Baby Cap), one of my coworkers had a baby (or rather his wife did).  They also have a toddler at home that loves Elmo.  I decided to rework my Oscar the Grouch hat for a newborn size and make an Elmo hat for their toddler.  I was rewarded with adorable pictures and videos of both babies the next day.  The Elmo hat was a huge hit!  I love that he liked it so much.  Usually when I make things, I don’t know if the item just sits in a drawer (meaning I wasted hours of my life) or is loved by the recipient.  The later makes me happy.  🙂

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Disclaimer:  Feel free to make this pattern for your personal use, for your platypus, for charity, or to sell.  The only thing I ask is that you please do not sell it on Etsy.  If you are interested in purchasing a hat from my Etsy store, you may do so here.

Gauge:  9 stitches x 13 rows = 2 in Stockinette

This hat was about 16 inches in circumference when finished.  It is quite stretchy and will stretch several inches.

Materials:

  • 5 Size US 7 double pointed needles
  • US Size G Crochet Hook
  • Tapestry needle
  • Vanna’s Choice yarn in Scarlet (R)
  • Vanna’s Choice yarn in Black (B)
  • Vanna’s Choice yarn in White (W)
  • Vanna’s Choice yarn in Terracotta (O)



Stitches Used:

Instructions:

Cast on 72 with R and distribute evenly on four needles

R1-R7:  Knitting in round, KR 72

R8:  KR 28, KB 16, KR 28

R9:  KR 26, KB 20, KR 26

R10:  KR 25, KB 22, KR 25

R11-R12:  KR 24, KB 24, KR 24

R13:  KR 23, KB26, KR 23

Continuing only in R:

R14-R34:  K 72

R35:  (K4, k2tog, ssk, K4) six times

R36:  K60

R37:  (K3, k2tog, ssk, K3) six times

R38:  K48

R39:  (K2, k2tog, ssk, K2) six times

R40:  K36

R41:  (K, k2tog, ssk, K) six times

R42:  K24

R43:  (k2tog, ssk) six times

Cut the yarn with several spare inches.  Thread a tapestry needle and pull yarn through all 12 stitches on needles.  Work in ends.

Note:  For alternative eye and nose pattern that has a more even eye iris, check out this post.

Eyes (make 2):

R1:  With B use magic ring technique to start round, ch 1, sc 8, sl st to first sc.  Cut yarn and work in ends. (8 stitches)

Continue with W

R2:  2 sc in first stitch from R1 and in each sc around, sl st to first sc (16 stitches)

R3:  Ch 1, sc in same stitch as sl st, sc in next stitch * 2 sc in next stitch, 1 sc in next 2 stitches, repeat from * 2 more times, 2 sc in last stitch, sl st to first sc (20 stitches)

R4-R6:  Ch 1, sc in each stitch around, sl st to first sc (20 stitches)

R7:  Ch 1, sc in same stitch as sl st, sc in next stitch * sc2tog, 1 sc in next 2 stitches, repeat from * 2 more times, sc2tog, sl st to first sc (16 stitches)

R8:  Ch 1, sc2tog around, sl st to first sc (8 stitches)

R9:  Ch 1, sc four together by slipping hook under the stitch from the row below, wrapping the yarn, and pulling a loop through, slip hook under next stitch and pull another loop, repeat until you have done this four times and there are five loops on your hook, yarn over and pull loop through all five loops, sc last four stitches together using the same method, sl st to first stitch (2 stitches)

Cut yarn and work in ends.

Nose:

R1:  With O use magic ring technique to start round, ch 1, sc 8, sl st to first sc (8 stitches)

R2:  2 sc in first stitch from R1 and in each sc around, sl st to first sc (16 stitches)

R3:  Ch 1, sc in same stitch as sl st, sc in next stitch * 2 sc in next stitch, 1 sc in next 2 stitches, repeat from * 2 more times, 2 sc in last stitch, sl st to first sc (20 stitches)

R4-R10:  Ch 1, sc in each stitch around, sl st to first sc (20 stitches)

R11:  Ch 1, sc in same stitch as sl st, sc in next stitch * sc2tog, 1 sc in next 2 stitches, repeat from * 2 more times, sc2tog, sl st to first sc (16 stitches)

R12:  Ch 1, sc2tog around, sl st to first sc (8 stitches)

R13:  Ch 1, sc four together by slipping hook under the stitch from the row below, wrapping the yarn, and pulling a loop through, slip hook under next stitch and pull another loop, repeat until you have done this four times and there are five loops on your hook, yarn over and pull loop through all five loops, sc last four stitches together using the same method, sl st to first stitch (2 stitches)

Cut yarn and work in ends.

Using a picture of Elmo as inspiration, tack the eyes and nose onto the hat using a tapestry needle and yarn.  I would also suggest tacking the eyes and nose to each other.

Difficulty:  Moderate

Time Required:  2 Movies

Overall Experience:  Excellent

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Lacey Summer Baby Cap

As mentioned in my previous post, I have a lot of friends who have had babies lately.  Next up:  the Halas.  The Halas have an awesome adoption story that I would not do justice.  Check out the story on their blog.  I simply made a hat for their beautiful baby girl, Evie.

I recently purchased a new book, Luxury Yarn One-Skein Wonders, and wanted to make something out of it.  I combined Alpaca and Silk Baby Cap with the flower from Angora Baby Bunny Cap.  I also added some pearl details to the flower.  It turned out so precious!

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Difficulty:  Moderate

Time Required:  One movie

Overall Experience:  Excellent

 

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Chappy Newsboy Caps

I have sooooo many friends that have had babies in the last couple of months.  I need to catch up on baby hat posts.  First up:  the Bergs.  The Bergs are leaders in my Sunday School class.  They have a toddler, and they welcome a new baby at the end of June.  I wanted to make matching hats for both of their boys, and chose Chappy Newsboy Caps from Ravelry.  The hats turned out so sweet that I adapted a preemie hat to add to our preemie collection.  The hat features a half-double crochet pattern worked through alternating front and back loops that gives the hat a really fun texture.  I’ll have to start using that stitch more often!

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Preemie Hat Adaption:

Make the hat following the newborn pattern with the following changes:

Skip Round 6

Skip Rounds 12 and 13

Round 15:  Instead of sc 16, sc 12

Round 17:  Instead of sc 12, sc 8

Round 19:  Slip stitch instead of sc around

 

Difficulty:  Challenging; while the stitches themselves aren’t difficult, paying attention to the front loop/back loop instructions is challenging.

Time Required:  One movie

Overall Experience:  Excellent

 

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Felted Soap

The same friend that taught me to make homemade soap in May taught me to make felted soap a couple of weeks ago.  (This post is way behind!)  Making felted soap is actually super easy and makes a great fun, creative gift.  I didn’t take picture during the process, but there are already some great tutorials on how to do it.  Frugal Kiwi breaks the process up into two parts:  how to wet felt the soap and how to needle felt a design on top.  I used a piece of my friend’s amazing homemade soap, wet felted in a natural off white fiber, then needle felted a cat and ball of yarn on top.  The only real variation from what Fugal Kiwi describes is that we used bubble wrap to create friction rather than a sushi bamboo mat.  I had a great experience.  If you are looking for a new, easy craft, I would definitely recommend making felted soap!

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Difficulty:  Wet Felting-Easy, Needle Felting-Moderate

Time Required:  30 minutes

Overall Experience:  Excellent