Scarlet Kingsnake.

As much as I really don’ like snakes I made another one (not sure I have shown you the first one, though).

I got inspired by some totally irrelevant colour schemes and I think it turned out pretty good.

I first thought about the coral snake  but I also remembered from somewhere it had a rather similar looking ‘friend’. The only differnece in between was that one of them was venomous. After a bit of googleing I found out about the scarlet kingsnake and decided to make it. I looked nice and was not venomous and I could easily make it life-size (if not bigger). They are really tiny!

How you make the differnece is the coral snake (venomous) has yellow between black and the scarlet kingsnake (non-venomous) has black between yellow.

I used Hjertegarn Blend Bamboo yarn in black, Drops Cotton Viscose in dark red and a rather unknown brand of cotton in yellow. Plus the 6mm safety eyes and this time some pipe-cleaners style wires for the filling. I think I used six of some slimmer ones. I braided the ends so they won’t stick out and pushed them in. It’s a bit more stiff than I estimated but It works and can be folded or bended the way you like. I worked it with my 1.75mm hook.

Again, I really don’t like snakes so much but this one turned out quite adorable. Plus the Chinese New year as The Year of Snake is arriving so I think it’s more than appropriate. (:

Kuigi mulle maod väga ei meeldi, on see juba teine, mille ma valmis olen teinud (ei mäleta, kas Teile esimest üldse näitasin?).

Selle ajendiks oli üks üsna asjasse mittepuutuv värvikombinatsioon, mis viis mõtte esimesena korallmaole.  Samas meenus mulle ka, et on veel üks sarnane madu, kelle nime ma ei mäleta. Erinevus seisnes selles, et üks on mürgine, teine mitte. Googeldasin natuke ja leidsin, tegu loomaga, kelle inglise keelne nimetus on ‘scarlet kingsnake‘. Eesti keeles oleks nagu kuningmadu,  aga selle otsinguga tuli midagi muud.

Tahtsin kindlasti teha mitte-mürgise mao ja seepärast siis otsustasin viimase kasuks. Kuna nad on ka üsna pisikesed, tekkis võimalus teha ta elusuuruses (kui mitte suureamanagi).

Vahet saab neil kahel teha põhiliselt selle järgi, et mürgisel on must kollaste vahel ja mitte-mürgisel kollane mustade vahel, lihtne!

Lõngaks kasutasin Hjertegarn Blend Bamboo musta, Drops Cotton Viscose punast ning üsna tundmatu tootja kollast puuvillast lõnga. Lisasin ka 6mm turvasilmad ning täidiseks panin seekord need pudeliharja-tüüpi traadid, mida erinevateks meisterdamisteks kasutatakse. Kui õigesti mäletan panin 6 sellist lühema karvaga neid kokku, põimisin otsad ja murdsin tagasi, et nad läbi ussi naha ei tuleks ja sutskasin sisse. Tuli välja natuke kangem kui plaanisin, aga saab painutada ja väänata küll.

Heegeldamiseks kasutasin 1.75mm nõela.

Kuigi mulle tõesti päriselus maod väga ei meeldi, tuli ta üsna kift välja lõppkokkuvõttes. Kuna saabumas on ka Hiina uus aasta – mao aasta, siis sobib siia veel eriti hästi. (:

Knit owl.

This year I had been an online community member long enough to participate in a year-long work-along. Last year when I joined it had already started a few months ago and they didn’t let me join. I might have mentioned it and recalled my own little challenge but I didn’t finish it.

As well as I didn’t finish my Blogtoberfest. I missed the dates and later was a little bummed about it and just didn’t feel like blogging. I had my topics and thoughts but just couldn’t sit down and write.

There have been some happenings that I plan on covering, all of them.

First of all the work-along. Last year it was all different colours each month. This year it’s 12 different crafts:

1 – knitting

2 – crochet

3 – beading

4 – paper crafts

5 – two types of crafting combined (free of choice)

6 – weaving/braiding/pleating

7 – embroidery

8 – sewing

9 – painting/coloring

10 – carving/modelling/ceramics

11 – felting/shrinkage

12 – Christmas crafts

I feel this one is more of a challenge than the last year’s. That I could have crocheted 12 different amigurumies and that could have done perfectly but this year I have to try different kinds of crafts that of some I might have never done before. Tempting. I hope I won’t miss anything. After all all the themes are open and I could start planning and practicing right away.

I have not quite planned what I would do on every month but I’m considering using a certain theme that goes through all of them. Not sure how it would work out but we’ll see. First of all let’s hope I won’t miss a month! (:

I have also already participated in two more common work-alongs that last a month or two in general. One of which I joined because I planned on doing something like that for the year challenge but they said I can’t submit one work in several subjects. I have reconsidered the idea and am really hopeful about reaching it. It’s a rather large project.

Enough of the chit-chat on with what I wanted to write about. I am working on a knit project on  which I use a rather unusual type of yarn. I am a slow knitter and this makes it at least three times as slow. So I wanted to make sure I didn’t miss the first month of the challenge and grabbed a bunch of double-pointed needles and a nice chunky yarn.

I’m not sure why I made it an owl. I started thinking about while I was already working on it. I googled some knit plushies and an owl seemed a safe option form me to actually finish. I wasn’t sure about the result but in the end I’m quite pleased. There are some quirky spots but that’s OK.

I used Drops Ice and Steinbach Wolle Ahoi with some additional buttons and fiberfill. I used 5mm dp knitting needles.

What would you do on each month of this type of crafty year I’m on? Any guesses on what I might be on?

Yule Goat.

Here is another kind of a secret project I worked on. It was for a local craft forums Advent Calendar (no 14). The pattern is in Estonian but I could translate it if anyone would be interested. I shall write down some translations, perhaps they would help (or maybe just confuse a bit more):

vr – magic circle (as said)

ks – single crochet (US terminology)

as – chain

aass – slip stitch

(x) – number of stitches on the round

*…* – repeat from between

2ks ühte – 2 single crochet in one stitch (increase)

2ks kokku – single crochet 2 together (decrease)

ringi lõpuni – around

lisa täidis – add stuffing

 

 

 

 

There have been a couple of other things up but one I forgot to photograph before shipping it away and the other one is up and coming. I have lots of WIPs. I should try and finish more of them. I also got the first feedback about one of my patterns. There will be some referrings. Coming soon.

 

19/31 – Bloo.

These are the things I have been working on lately. It was a colour-swap and my recipient asked for blue. First it was hard as I had practically no blue yarn at home. I gess I’m just the blue kind of girl.

Anywho. Another thing I was worried about was what else should I make becouse I didn’t want her to get just a box full of amigurumies. That would have been so expected and boring. I’m not saying that the final combo is anything particulary interesting but hey – I gave it a shot. At least its kind of variated.

First I made the pieces for the kitchen as she described it’s colour-sceme as  a hint. The potholders are from Drops Ice and Red Heart Eco-Cotton Blend  as the embellishments (shilouette of a sock on one and lettering “Sokike” on another as for her forum name which means “socky”).

Next I used Debbie Bliss Ecobaby Fair Trade yarn with Rowan Classic Luxury Cotton to make the coasters. I made them in two-coloured spirals. First I added a mustard trim but them removed it as it didn’t fit in my opinion. Looks cleaner and more blue without it.

The third item is the (store bought) towel decorated with swedish weaving. My second work but this time on a different fabric. This one has much larger squares on it so I had to use a bit bulkier yarn as well. I used Bio-Baumwolle organic cotton which is one of my favourites. For the trim I choose a much finer Cotton yarn (I never knew the actual company that procuces it – just says “Cotton” on the label – weird). The trim is from a book 200 Crochet Flowers, Embellishments and Trims and the swedish weaving pattern is from Undukas’ workshop handout.

Next I took on the amigurumies. The cat is made of  Drops Paris and Schachenmayr SMC Cotton Linen with 2.75mm hook. It’s important to use at least one size smaller hook than recommended because you don’t want the stuffing to show in the holes. For the dog I used the same Debbie Bliss Ecobaby Fair Trade yarn and added Schachenmayr SMC Catania. This time I used a 1.75mm hook. For both of them I used safety eyes and fibrefill. The cat got the free sample eyes that were the only ones I had. I think they fit perfectly. The dog has a safety nose but the cat has an embroidered one with some whiskers.

To write of the pattern, both of the creatures have the same body/head that my rabbits do. I lengthened the limbs and tail for the cat and shortened the ears. The tail is a totally different piece. For the dog the limbs are actually same as the rabbits, but I lenthened the tail and shortened again the ears (but not as much as the cats). If this even makes sence. Can you tell the similarities?

I bought a super silky-soft cotton-silk-viscose yarn that’s name I can’t put a finger on . I have to check it out once I get to my stash called Gedfira Top Soft. I decided to make some christmas ornaments of it. I made four and decorated them with felt, filled with fibrefill. They are became so soft and squishy and have a subtle shine on them. Plus they are totally safe and kidproof. I packed them into an origami box.

The last but not least is the pillow. It developed between everything else. In the meantime when I was figuring out what else to make or just to rest from everything else. I used up a whole skein (apart from the amount used on the potholders) of Red Heart Eco-Cotton Blend yarn. The patterns for the flowers are again  from the 200 Crochet Flowers, Embellishments and Trims book. I love it, by the way (mine is in Estonian though).

It was my first attempt of freeform crochet. It had always looked intriguing but I didn’t have the guts to put my hands on one of my own. It wasn’t so bad. I also bought some velvet fabric and a 40x40cm pillow insert and made it into a proper pillow then added the crochet piece on it. I think it was my first real pillow as well apart from the chair-cushion that I made in elementary school.

I also added a little letter for Sokike describing what I made, from what, why and how.

Be sure to take a look at her blog (in Estonian) as well. She has so many adorable pictures of the stuff that was in the package and of the package itself as well. The pictures seen here also belong to her. I will take a look on mine later and decide wether to post them here as well or not.

I still haven’t taken photos of my green stuff. I tried yesterday but nothing good comes out photographing in the dark. I like natural light and I decided to wait for some daylight. I just haven’t been home during that kind of time lately. Last weekend I wasn’t at home either and the next one is also booked. Maybe I’ll manage to squeeze some in saturday morning – thumbs up for that!

Another secret project is also waitiong for proper pictures and another swap project needs to be finished by the end of the month.

Have you ever participated in any swaps? Did you find it hard to make a present for a total stranger? Let me know what you think of the bloo stuff.

17/31 – Giveaway to Be.

 

 

 

 

 

I thought I’d remind you and let all the new readers know, that I have a giveaway coming. I started it when I created my FB page and it will get done once it reaches 100 fans. One lucky fan will get a full-custom amiurumi for free. This means that once I have annouced the winner we’ll take a thought on the design and I’ll start making the piece. An awesome opportunity to get exactly what you want. I’ll work hard to get the recuested result.

The giveaway is international!

 

To win:

Like my Facebook page.

Share and invite more friends.

You can also share this post or use other ways in order to let people know.

 

Once the 100 fans is reached I will draw the lucky winner! 

68 down 32 more to go! (:

13/31 – A Pot of Flowers.

This is one of those patterns that I stepped on, saved it somewhere and one day just had to make. I didn’t follow the pattern just the day I discovered it (sometimes happens) but it stood there. Lately I have been wanting to make my own designs more although this one was finished quite a while ago. Maybe even in spring. Some patterns/designs just look so adorable that it makes me want the same kind of thing. Usually I try to make some specialities in there as to make it my own but as for this particular plant I almost accidentally used the originalish colour scheme as I used the yarns I had in my stash. The pattern is from Lion Brand but you have to register to see it (both the pattern and the registration are free).

I used 100% organic cotton yarns for the flowers, the yellow is 100% merised cotton and te leaves and ‘dirt’ just plain 100% cotton. The pot is 100% acrylic. The result was pretty much as I expected. I think every time I follow a pattern my expectations are pretty high. Not sure if the pattern was easy enough (to follow) or was it just pure luck – I ended up pretty much the same pot as on the picture I first looked at. Chuffed to bits about it!

I constantly remember or discover things I should make. I really hope the majority of them really gets done. It might take some time and effort but in the end I know I would be really pleased with myself if I manage to finish everything I plan.

As for the missed blog days it’s really going as I expected – not really active at weekends on that part. I am trying to stay off behind a computer as much as possible and the weekend let me do that a lot. It’s just a sporty interest for me to discover how many post I manage to make until the end of October (since 5th and not ‘pushing’ too much or making pointless posts). From then on I’ll see when I’ll finish my 31 posts that should have theoretically been fitted in one month. I’m looking forward to.

Last weekend I finished one tiny commission. It still needs capturing and possibly I will blog about it among some other similar makings which are all a follow-up to a previous design of mine. Any ideas?

Thought I’d remind you to also follow my blog and see if you like my Facebook page as well!

12/31 – drums!

Although some of the drums look kind of ‘chubby’ it’s one of the projects I’m most proud of. Probably because everithing that is not crochet here took me a long time to try, test, engineer and build up. It was a birthday present for an old friend who’s a drummer.

The green yarn is 100% acrylic, the white and grey are 100% cotton and the brown/beige and black are 100% organic cotton. The stands etc are made of toothpicks, superglue and hot glue – spray painted. In the stool and drums I also used some cardboard rounds to keep the surfaces flat. The drumsticks I also carved from toothpicks and spraypainted them red. The bottom piece is covered in felt. I took quite some time to put it all together. Although I’d like to have one of these my own I’m not yet ready to make another.

Maybe I should try making other kinds of musical instruments too?

Do you have any projects that you have made for someone else and then wanted it for your self as well? What did you do?

11/31 – mad.

I’m not feeling great at the moment. I’m kind of pissed of at my collegue to be honest. This was not the first time and I have to deal with it or else others would suffer.

I felt like this would be the perfect day for posting this sad little Coraline doll. I’m not happy how she turned out for a couple of reasons and I’m not yet ready to change them. Perhaps this time will come too.

The yarns I used are Steinbach Wolle Capri (100% merised cotton) and Diktas Miya (also 100% merised cotton). Who has seen the cartoon will probably understand the button eyes (I would have chosen another kind but these were the only black ones I had – one thing that I’m not chuffed about). As to say I put too much hair on her head and the legs look kind of small and weird as well.

I think it’s OK to show my not-so-great work as well. Sometimes things just don’t add up. Thtat’s the reason I have a few WIP unfinished for a while as well. I don’t want to mess up with them instead for them to be near perfect.

Maybe I should continue making up my own patterns as following others may not result as would have pictured? I used to make amigurumies only from patterns when I first started but today I really feel I am capable of making my own (there has been success at least with some).

Do you show your ‘bad’ work to public sometimes? Do you prefer using patterns or making up your own?

10/31 – Something Old.

I found out I hadn’t posted these little critters here yet. Maybe it’s because they are kind of tiny and weird. I made them all in same sort of acrylic yarn for quite some time ago now. The yarn feels some different kind of soft maybe a bit like microfiber. I also used different kinds of wiggly eyes. This was the time when I didn’t even have any safety eyes as I have seen none in the local shops.

The blue one is some sort of elephant, the green one is a frog with a creepy smile and the peach one is perhaps a mischevous pig-girl. As you can see I attached the chains on all of them so you could hang them on keys etc. There really is nothing much I can say about them. That might also have been the reason for not posting sooner. These creatures just are and there really is nothing more about that.

Do you like them? Should I make more of them tiny weirdos?

PS! Don’t forget to check out my Facebook page.

9/31 – a Little Mermaid.

Here it is. The other project I finshed during the sea-themed red-blue-white challenge. As usual I whipped up my own pattern. Let me know if you’d be interested in that as well.

The yarns are 100% cottn (some Indian, some organic and some just plain). I also used a couple of the wiggly eyes I had bought some time ago. I think I had never used them (maybe once). They looked fun but I just can’t find a place to put them so often. But that’s not so bad and I only have a few more pairs. I’m sure I’ll find a use for them in some time. As the eyes are glued on the doll is not suitable for small children who might want to eat them.

I know it actually is Monday already but sure somewhere (i.e. Hawaii) it’s still Sunday. Yesterday was just a busy day for me as I was  babysitting a 10-year-old and a 20-month-old since Saturday night. And last night after they had left a man called Felix Baumgartner decided to go to the edge of space and jump down to the Earth. I just’ couldn’t miss that. But well, excuses. We’ll see maybe I’ll post somehting else today.

Meanwhile I’m gathering some ideas for the various workalongs and swap’s I’m participating in. I also had a small commission for making a brooch. To be honest and give you guys a hint it kind of goes with the theme I’m thinking on putting up my next collection of amigurumies.

Also I’m sad cause I lost my brush for this signature seen here on the picture during the changing my HDD for a SSD. I thought I had it but it was the wrong one I didn’t like so much. I guess I’m going to have to try to make a new one.