Pairs of Booties.

Last Friaday my aunt asked me to make her a pair of booties. Well, not to herself but her girlfriends newborn daughter. 

As the last time I attempted to make a pair for the aunts son it was not quite a success (one pair was way too small and another fit quite snug). I then quickly made a third pair that was more like it but the design was not as far as fancy as I would have prefered.

This was that. Now she warned me that I’d  make them bigger. As I remembered how small they were!? Well, 9-10 centimetres was set to be the size. 

I started googleing and this was one of the patterns I had seen several times on Pinterest and on All About Ami blog that I follow. 

I like the style and shape a lot. I used Katia Pima Cotton yarn and a 4mm hook . It’s incredibly soft and I would think rather warm too. I added a pair of wooden buttons and sew them on with some hot pink thread. Including the search for the right pattern I finished them about 4 hours later.

Then I recieved a picture of what my aunt actually had in mind. It was more like a classic-vintage-lacy-mary-janey style of baby girls booties. I used this pattern as a base and added a bit from myself and here’s the result. They remind me of cotton candy, somehow. 

The materials are Bio-Baumwolle eco-cotton and some rahter mysterious brand of yarn that basically just says “100% cotton” on the band for the details which is actually not bad at all to use. Again I added a pair of buttons – this time a matching pink colour. Somehow these ones took me a lot more time than the last ones, more like about 6h.

I posted them last night and am not quite sure she has recieved them yet. We’ll hear. 

***

Eelmine reede mu tädi palus mul teha paari papusid oma sõbranna tütrele. Kuna viimane kord oli natuke ebaõnnestunud (kui ma tema enda pojale tegin paari liiga väikseid ja paari väga parajaid papusid). Tookord tegin siis veel ruttu kolmanda paari lisaks ka, aga nood ei olnud nii edevad. Tegelikult ma siis väga edevaid vist poleks väga osanudki, ha!

Seekord sain igatahes hoiatatud, teha suurem paar. Mitte, et ma oleks mäletanud, kui väikesed need liiga väikesed olid!? 9-10cm öeldi ette, peaks sobima.

Hakkasin googeldama ja leidsin ühe kifti mustri, mis oli mulle varemgi Pinterestis ja All About Ami blogis silma jäänud.

Minu meelest on nad nii mõnusa kujuga. Nagu päris väikesed saapakesed sellised, erilised. Kasutasin Katia Pima Cotton lõnga. See on selline ülipehme puuvillane lõng ja mulle tundub, et ka üpris soe. Panin sinna külge veel ka paar mustrilist puidust nööpi ja õmblesin nad erkroosa niidiga kinni. Ma olin väga üllatunud, kui avastasin, et olin nad koos mustrite otsimisega umbes 4-5 tunniga valmis saanud. (:

Pärast seda sain pildi, mida tädi ise oli mõelnud papude all. Rohkem selline traditsioonlisem-pitsisem-mannavahusem versioon. Võtsin ette ühe mustri ja tegin selle järgi põhja, ülejäänu lisasin omaloominguna. Lõppkokkuvõttes päris suhkruvatt näevad välja ju! (:

Viimaste tegemisel kasutasin Bio-Baumwolle ökopuuvilla (ka mõnus pehme, aga mitte päris selline, nagu pima). See on selline rohkem vormi hoidvam materjal ja sobib nendele kingakeste taolistele hõljuvatele papukestele hästi. Detailide tegemisel kasutasin tundmatu tootja 100% puuvillast lõnga. Selle lõnga vööl polegi väga muud rohkemat infot. Aga iseenesest tundub ka käes täitsa mõnsa. 

Lõpuks lisasin veel paari lihtsaid roosasid nööpe. Kokku kulus nende peale tunduvalt rohkem aega, sest pidin vahepeal ka paar korda üles harutama – läks vussi. Oma 6h läks vist küll.

Ei teagi, kas see postisaadetis on nüüd saajani jõudnud või, kuidas nad ka tegelikult sobivad – eks kuuleb!

Naturally crochet lace collar.

One day when I was not quite with my stash but had about half a skein of Rowan Purelife organic cotton yarn in Oak Bark and a 2.75mm crochet hook. I decided I have to find a pattern that could be done with such limited supplies. Off I went googleing and found this rather  fun collar pattern by Lulu Loves.

If you look really closely you can see that the yarn has subtle colour variations from a little lighter to a little darker. On the picture they seem a little like shadows or texture but the yarn really is like that. I didn’t notice at first when I bought the yarn or used up the first part (it was in a pattern where it was hard to tell)  but I really like it.

I embellished it with a wooden button. I tryed crocheting one at first but that looked too gigantic and not very flattering.

As the pattern was really easy I recommend it for all of you. Even if you don’t crochet much. You only have to know three stitches to finish it and it takes really little time and effort. Also suitable for someone like me who just can’t keep themselves working on row after row in a blanket for example. I have made some but they take time as I have to take breaks or work on something else in between. 

I haven’t really had a chance wearing it yet but I’ll find an outfit to fit it soon enough.

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.

 

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!

5/31 – Tiny White Totoro.

Here’s a tiny white Totoro. So small and kawaii, the pattern is from Ravelry. I used Bio-Baumwolle eco-cotton, safety eyes, fibrefill and small amounts of felt under the eyes. The eyes are 6mm so you can tell how tiny it is. I also added a chain for making it into a key holder/charm. I also gifted it away for Trump. It looked like she liked it a lot too! (:

I also made a huge blue totoro but that one is yet to be pictured. It’s so big that it won’t fit in my self made lightbox. I should show you guys that too, maybe even a DIY some day, what do you think? I wanted to make a grey Totoro as well but as the blue one is kind of big in its size in the relevance to the white one I don’t dare – it should be ginormous!

I have thought about making more keychains. What shape would you like to see?

I remembered another bunny commission as well – this time in purple as for one colour.

Graduation Owlie.

This one is another project that I forgot to take pictures of before packing it in or giving it away. I made it for my brother when he graduated university in June. I like the simple shape of it although I altered it as the original pattern was kind ow weird for me. It asked for crocheting the top half (in green) then finishing off and making the bottom half (in brown) and then I should have sewn it all together. I didn’t see the point so I made it all in one piece. I like it!

I added the green tassel as I think this was their schools colour – on the logos, occur etc.

I asked my lil’ bro to take a pictures and so he sent me a couple. I quite like this as a birdie on a twig or smth. I can’t make anything like this in my place as I have no plants – had some herbs and tomatoes in the summer but those are out for now.

I also made it as a part of our local Isetegija craft forum challenge (see the banner that says “TK ÖÖKULL”). I have not quite understood why the owl theme is so popular lately but this one seemed kawaii enough to make. I used Bio-Baumwolle eco-cotton yarn and safety eyes. It feels so soft in hand and the fibrefill makes it so squishable.

What do you think of owls as so popular design element everyone seems to like lately?

Kokeshi Doll: Free Pattern.

Hi everyone!

I thought I should give a try on a photographed tutorial on an amigurumi pattern. As an introduction I chose a traditional Japanese kokeshi doll. It’s made of 100% bio-cotton yarn but you can use any you like. Just remember to take a hook a bit smaller than recommended.

In addition you can use safety eyes but I opted for embroidered ones. You can also find any ways you like for decorating her hair and kimono, for example embroidery. I really don’t want to put any markings here actually.

The work goes in spiral so I suggest to use a marker (for example a piece of contrasting yarn) and move it at the beginning of each row.

All suggestions are welcome I’m not even sure if the pictures are in any help but I would sure like to know!

If you make your own kokeshi doll I would love you to share it here!

Amigurumi Kokeshi Doll by AmiCrafter

you need: 

white yarn for head

any colour yarn for the kimono

black yarn for hair

small amounts of black and red embroidery floss for the face

crochet hook a bit small for the yarn

large eyed blunt needle

some fibrefill

optional:

safety eyes

pellets for the bottom of the body for her to stand up better – if I had any I would have probably used them!

decorations for the hair and kimono 

HEAD and BODY.

Use WHITE yarn.

round1:  single crochet (sc) 6 into magic circle, place marker.

round2: sc 2 in each stitch (12 stitches in total), move marker.

round3: *sc 2 in one, sc* repeat between ** around (18), move marker.

round4: *sc 2 in one, 2 sc* repeat between ** around (24), move marker.

round5-9: sc around (24), move marker.

if you use safety-eyes place them now. it’s easier if you have the hair ready first, though.

round10: *sc 2 together, 2 sc* repeat between ** around (18), move marker.

round11: *sc 2 together, sc*repeat between ** around (12), move marker.

add fibrefill

round12: sc around (12), for the last stitch, as you can see on the picture, I have left it incomplete. change the yarn for the kimono colour and pull the last loop through with it so the colours will stay in line. Move the marker.

Continue with DRESS COLOUR yarn.

round 13: *sc 2 in one, sc* repeat between ** around (18), move marker.

round 14:  sc around (18), move marker.

round 15: *sc 2 in one, 2 sc* repeat between ** around (24), move marker.

round 16 – 19: sc around (24), move marker.

round 20: *sc 2 together, 2 sc* repeat between ** around (18), move marker.

round 21 – 25: sc around (18), move marker.

round 26: through back loops only: *sc 2 together, sc* repeat between ** around (12), move marker. this creates a corner to the bottom so she could stand up better.

 

round 27: sc 2 together around (6), finish off, leave tail for sewing the tail. During that try to pull the tiny hole tight. 

THE HAIR.

round1:  single crochet (sc) 6 into magic circle, place marker.

round2: sc 2 in each stitch (12), move marker.

round3: *sc 2 in one, sc* repeat between ** around (18), move marker.

round4: *sc 2 in one, 2 sc* repeat between ** around (24), move marker.

round 5 – 8: sc around (24), move marker.

round 9: sc 14, chain 1, turn. from here on it goes in rows. I’ll continue the numbering but state how it goes. 

row 10 – 13: sc 14, chain 1, turn.

In the end of row 13 continue to the sides of the rows and sc 4, sc 10 on the 8th round, sc 4 on the other sides of rows 10-13. finish off, weave in tails.

THE BUN.

round1:  single crochet (sc) 6 into magic circle, place marker.

round2: sc 2 in each stitch (12), move marker.

round 3-4: sc around (12).

finish off, leave long tail for sewing on the hair piece, stuff with fibrefill.

use large-eyed blunt needle and sew the 12 stitches of the last round of the bun onto the 12 stitches of the second round of the hair piece.

I completed the hair with a simple bow.

THE FACE. 

to embroider he face take a long enough piece of black embroidery floss, make a knot in the tail and put it in the back of her head (which will be under her hair afterwards).

try on the hair and look for the best place for the eyes.

do the same with a piece of red embroidery floss and her lips.

bring the tail ends back in behind her hair.

make a knot in the other ends as well. tuck the ends in, I used the help of the back of my crochet hook.

The rest is really up to you – decorate the hair and kimono according to your taste.

Ewok.

EWOK

This is the second Star Wars character I made. His name is Ewok and that’s basically all I know. It was also part of the combo I gifted for my big brother. As a bonus the tutorial of making the spear is also added here.

It was most fun making him. I studied the pictures hard and tried to find a way to compliment him the most. I think he is quite recognizable.

The special thing was crating the spear. I searched for some perfect tiny pebbles and used up a couple of toothpicks and some thread. It really turned out better than I had hoped.

The pattern is in US terminology and the measures are in metric.

Feel free to use this pattern refer back. I would love to see how your Ewoks turned out!

You need:

• Brown (furry) yarn
• Orange yarn (I used it a bit finer than on the body but with the same hook)
• Beige yarn (for his hands and toes)
• Toy eyes
• Toy animal nose
• A small craft/paper ball for his head (approx 2cm in diameter)
• stuffing
• Crochet hook – a bit smaller than you would normally use with the kind of yarn you choose (I used a 3mm hook with a yarn that recommended 4-5mm hook)
• Large-eyed blunt needle

Abbreviations:

• Sc – single crochet
• Sl st – slip stitch
• Ch – chain stitch
• 1+1 – two stitches into one stitch, increase
• 2-1 – crochet two stitches together, decrease
• Dc – double crochet
• Trc – triple crochet
• 3dc puff – crochet 3 dc’s into one stitch but pull the last yarn through all of them so there would be no increase
• 3trc puff – crochet 3trc’s into one stitch but pull the last yarn through all of them so there would be no increase
• ** – repeat between the marks
• BLO – back loops only
• FO – finish off
• (0) – total stitches in round/row

Head/body

With brown:

1. Sc 6 in a circle
2. *1+1sc*repeat around (12)
3. *sc, 1+1sc* repeat around (18)
4. *2sc, 1+1sc* repeat around (24)
5. 24sc
6. 24sc
7. *2sc, 2-1sc* repeat around (18)

Insert ball.

1. *1sc, 2-1sc* repeat around (12)
2. 12sc
3. *sc, 1+1sc* repeat around (18)
4. 18sc
5. *2sc, 1+1sc* repeat around (24)
6. – 19. 24sc

With beige (toes):

1.  BLO 4sc, 2-1sc, 2-1sc, 3dc puff, 2sc, 3dc puff, 2-1sc, 2-1sc, 4sc (20)
2. 3sc, 2-1sc, 2-1sc, 6sc, 2-1sc, 2-sc, 3sc (16)

Add stufing.

1. *2-1sc* repeta around (8)
2. 2sc, 2-1sc, 2sc, 2-1sc (6),

FO, weave in ends.

Hand (make two)

With beige (fingers):

1.  6sc

With brown:

1. – 8. 6sc

FO, leave ends as a stuffing in hands.

Hat/hood

With orange:

1. Sc 6 in a circle
2. *1+1sc*repeat around (12)
3. *sc, 1+1sc* repeat around (18)
4. *2sc, 1+1sc* repeat around (24)
5. *3sc, 1+1sc* repeat around (30)

From here on work in rows ( for the face opening)

1. 12sc, as, turn, 24sc, ch, turn, 12sc (24+24 – two rows in total)
2. 12sc, as, turn, 24sc, ch, turn, 12sc (24+24 – two rows in total)

Now in circles again:

1. 12sc, ch 6, 12sc (30)
2. *3sc, 2-1sc* repeta around (24)
3. 24sc

Now again in rows (the back flap part of the hat):

1. 6sc, ch, turn, 12sc, ch, turn, skip one sc, 5sc (23 stitches on last row, two rows in total)
2. 5sc, sl st, ch, turn, skip one sc, 9sc, sl st, ch, turn skip one sc, 4sc (20 stitches on last row, two rows in total)

Next row continues on the side of the back flap reaching to the front side of the hat:

1. 4sc, 4sc to the ends of previous rows, 12sc, ch, turn (20)
2. Skip one sc, 8sc, ch, turn (8)
3. 7sc, sl st, ch, turn (8)
4. Skip one sc, 6sc, sl st, ch, turn (7)
5. 5sc, ch, turn (5)
6. Skip one sc, 4sc, sl st, ch, turn (5)

Next row continues on the side of the front flap reaching to the back side of the hat and the last row ends at the front again:

1. Skip one sc, 3sc, 8sc to the ends of previous rows, 4sc (on the back flap)(15)
2. 16sc, 5sc on the side, sl st (22)

FO, weave in ends

Optional: Join yarn to the topp right corner of the face opening:

1. 6sc to the ends of the rows, 5sc, 6ksc to the ends of rows, 6sc, sl st into first stitch (23)

FO, weave in ends.

Ewok’s spear

• 2 toothpicks
• A bit of thread (greyish)
• Small stone/chip
• Superglue
• Tape
• Sharp knife/scissors

1. Cut one sharp end off of one toothpick and both from the other
2. Glue the two pieces together with flat ends
3. Wrap the connection with a tiny piece of tape
4. Wait a bit for the glue to dry
5. Stick the sharp end through Ewok’s hand so that the join would be right below it (sharp end at the topp)
6. Secure thread with glue to the join part
7. Cover the tape with thread (wrap)
8. Cut the thread and secure the ohter end also with glue (carefully not to stick fingers)
9. Secure the thread right above the hand
10. wrap a litte around there as the ohter side of the handle
11. secure ohter end with glue
12. glue the stone/chip to the sharp end of the spear
13. secure thread to the stone
14. wrap a bit of it around the stone like a fastening
15. secure last end with glue

PS! Please, let me know if there is any fouls in the pattern as it is not yet tested by anyone else.

PPS! Can anyone tell why this picture can’t be enlarged like in the previous posts?

Yoda the Jedi Master.

Here it is – my first amigurumi pattern! I would have liked to use black safety eyes but as I have found none small enough in Estonia I used what I had. I really like the way he came out as this really is my first personal pattern. I decided it was the time as for I had been making amigurumi from patterns about a year+ now.

I should note that this is an untested pattern. So if there is any kind of misunderstandings then just let me know and I’ll try to work that out. I am just really exited about posting my own real pattern for the first time. I hope someone else likes it as much as I do. You can use the pattern as many times as you like for personal use but I’d really appreciate a relating link etc to my blog here. Also I should probably tell that the pattern is in US terminology. I have not used many UK patterns so far and am not so familiar with their terminology so if you could tell me the stitches names in UK I could add them at least to the abbreviations.

I have no pictures of the WIP or the details but I will be happy to help you if there is anything mysterious written down. You can see the bigger picture by clicking on it, though.

Have fun making your own Yoda!

For YODA you’ll need:

• Green yarn
• Beige yarn
• Brown yarn (tiny bit for his belt)
• Toy eyes
• Stuffing
• A small craft/paper ball for his head (approx 2cm in diameter)
• Crochet hook – a bit smaller than you would normally use with the kind of yarn you choose (I used a 3mm hook with a yarn that recommended 4-5mm hook)
• Large-eyed blunt needle

Abbreviations:

• Sc – single crochet
• Sl st – slip stitch
• Ch – chain stitch
• 1+1 – two stitches into one stitch, increase
• 2-1 – crochet two stitches together, decrease
• Dc – double crochet
• Trc – triple crochet
• 3dc puff – crochet 3 dc’s into one stitch but pull the last yarn through all of them so there would be no increase
• 3trc puff – crochet 3trc’s into one stitch but pull the last yarn through all of them so there would be no increase
• ** – repeat between the marks
• BLO – back loops only
• FO – finish off
• (0) – total stitches in round/row

Head/body

With green (head):

1. Sc 6 in a circle
2. *1+1sc*repeat around (12)
3. *sc, 1+1sc* repeat around (18)
4. *2sc, 1+1sc* repeat around (24)
5. 24sc
6. 24sc
7. *2sc, 2-1sc* repeat around (18)

Insert ball.

1. *1sc, 2-1sc* repeat around (12)
2. 12sc

With beige (body):

1. *sc, 1+1sc* repeat around (18)
2. 18sc
3. 4sc, 1+1sc, 8sc, 1+1sc, 4sc (20)

With brown (belt):

1. 20sc

With beige:

1. 20sc
2. 4sc, 1+1sc, 1+1sc, 8sc, 1+1sc, 1+1sc, 4sc (24)
3. 24sc
4. 24sc

With green: (toes):

1. BLO 4sc, 2-1sc, 2-1sc, 3dc puff, 2sc, 3dc puff, 2-1sc, 2-1sc, 4sc (20)
2. 3sc, 2-1sc, 2-1sc, 6sc, 2-1sc, 2-1sc, 3sc (16)

Add stuffing.

1. *2-1sc* repeat around (8)
2. 2sc, 2-1sc, 2sc, 2-1sc (6)

FO, weave in ends

Ear (make two)

With green:

1. ch7
2. 2.       second from hook: sc, dc, 2 trc, dc, sc (6),

FO, leave long ends for sewing

Hand (make two)

With green (hand):

1. sc 6 into ring
2. 6 sc

With beige (sleeve):

1. -7. 6sc

FO, stuff the ends in for filling

Cloak (optional)

With beige:

1. Ch 14
2. Sc in second ch from hook, sc 12 (13)
3. 1+1sc, 11sc, 1+1sc (15) (increase in both ends)
4. Sc 15
5. 1+1sc, 13sc, 1+1sc (17)
6. Sc 17
7. 1+1sc, 15sc, 1+1sc (19)

Crochet up the side:

• Sc9
• Ch 7
• Sl st in other corner of cloak
• Sc on side
• Sl st 7 on the row of chains
• Sc on side
• Sl st 7 on row of sl sts’
• Sc9 down the other side
• FO, weave in ends

Lightsaber

You will need:

• (neon) green yarn/thread for the blade
• Grey yarn/thread for the handle
• Toothpick
• Super glue
• Sharp knife/scissors

1. Cut off the sharp ends of the toothpick
2. Attach green yarn on the pick with glue
3. Wind the yarn tightly around the pick until you have about 1cm uncovered
4. Glue yarn end on the toothpick
5. Attach gray yarn to the bare part
6. Wind the yarn around, covering the yarn ends
7. Add glue to the end of yarn, roll it around carefully, not to glue your fingers

Assembly:

1. Sew hands on both sides of the body
2. Sew ears on sides of the head
3. Add toy eyes
4. Make a few stitches around the eyes for eyelids
5. Stitch a mouth
6. Add cloak
7. Extend a hole in Yoda’s hand and put the Lightsaber in there