Category: amigurumi

Monkeying around

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I keep meaning to post an update here, and my lack of photographic skillz scuppers me every single time. I finally finished the monkey I was making for my friend’s son, and so he was packed off with the elephant I’d already made for their daughter.

While my photos of him were a bit rubbish, I was really pleased with the way he turned out. Actually, he was my best yet in that style I think. I didn’t follow a pattern for the arms and legs, but used this pattern (as ever) for the head. I always change the face as i kinda like them not looking exactly the same, and this ones face came out really nicely (even if i do say so myself). I did try a couple of different mouth positions, now i think of it. Little things like a mouth too high or too low can really change the character. This wee chap looks quite young, but bright eyed and hopeful, I think.

Z's monkey

I posted them off just after the first lot of snow (but before the second) and they got to their destination in record time. The mum and dad loved them – now they’re packed away until Christmas, to be given to the kids.

I’ve finished a bunch of other stuff too so will try and take some pictures over the next few days, if I can. Mostly I want nice pictures of my broomstick lace scarf which I finally finished! More of that another day.

New home for a tatted primrose

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You know how it is when you’re reading someone’s blog, and you find yourself with a spare 5 minutes, and then suddenly you’re off elsewhere peeking into someone else’s life? In the summer I was reading Attic24‘s colourful crochet blog, and had a wander through the links in the side bar. I came across the Little Pink Room – and actually, you know what made me love it? It was this post talking about the messy bits in houses that you never see through the window of the internet.

It made me smile, mainly as I’d just been wracked with jealousy over the sofa in this post. It’s sort of nice to know that other people’s houses aren’t as perfect as you might think, and that y’know… Your own house might not be brilliant, but there’s *some* bits of it that are ok, and sometimes that just has to be enough.

Anyway. To cut a long story short, I chatted on email to A, the owner of the room(s) and the blog in question. She’d never seen tatting in real life, and as a tatter that tats and has no idea what to do with it, I said I’d post her some.

Tatted flowers 2

I made the middle bit of a Mary Konior Primrose path doily – mainly thinking that it’s the sort of size you could so something with, rather than it being an end in itself. I thought it might be more useful.

Anyway – it’s found a lovely new home! How exceptionally nice! And, A, you are more than welcome.

In other news, I’ve been making toys for the children of my old flatmates. I met the children a few weeks ago and have been desperately trying to get these finished ever since…

B's elephant

I wanted to make something I could count on working, so yes, it’s another elephant – the fifth! Such a good pattern though, and fun to make – all except sewing the head on, which almost reduces me to tears every time. It’s *really* annoying and fiddley.

I’m also getting close to finishing a monkey – yes another one…

Z's monkey

I quite like this little chap. That’s the second mouth – I’m really picky with mouths and eye placement – it makes a massive difference to the final character. The first was too serious. A bit grown up. This one feels a bit more friendly, and just a tiny bit cheeky – a bit like the little chap he’ll be living with.

And work continues on the broomstick lace scarf. How it’s taking so long i just don’t know. Every other comment I read from other people who’ve made it seems to make out like they practically finished it before they started. Still. It’ll be nice when it’s done – and oddly, I’m still enjoying making it.

scarf ongoing

And finally – for any UK tatters out there – I ordered a book of snowflakes from Roseground and they’ve sold out. They even went to a fair to try and buy more in person and their suppliers had sold out too. I asked it I could swap it for a different book of snowflakes and they have none of that left either! So it sounds like there’s a blizzard of tatted snowflakes on the way this winter.

In the meantime, I’ve ordered Jon’s Tatted Snowflake collection as I’m taking a wee break and I wanted some small but interesting little things to make on the journey. If I can remember how to work a SCMR, all will be well. I’ll let you know.

Finished elephant!

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Ever get that feeling that you’re always rushing about but never seem to get anywhere? That’s me I think, at the moment. Just posting this now, as this wee lady will be with her new owner before the day is out.

Elephant profile

The photo’s aren’t great (I really hate taking photos), but I should really be wrapping her up and heading off, so they’re better than nothing! I was very pleased with the way she turned out actually, even if I do say so myself. I used a bigger hook (3mm) and the stitches are much more even than ones I’ve made before. Despite the rush she came together really well – even sewing on her head wasn’t *too* painful for either of us.

finished elephant

I really hope she’s well received… I read this great post the other day which mentions the fact that after making a gift for someone, you get so excited at the thought of giving it to them, you’re kind of unprepared for the massively underwhelmed response. I know that feeling. It’s very sad. So all you can do is make the very best thing you can, put all the love into it you can, and know that you’ve done your best job. There’s no accounting for other people sometimes…

Which actually sounds like I’m expecting total disaster – I’m not at all, but y’know. I am pleased with how nicely she’s come out though. Makes me want to make another one!

Have a great weekend.

UPDATE: she got the best response *ever*. In fact, I’m still smiling now 🙂

Elephant racing

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Things are still pretty busy on the work front, and so I’ve been getting into work earlier. This means standing with your head in someone’s armpit on the overground and the underground as they’re packed in the mornings – and this in turn means it’s not the ideal tatting scenario. (I can tatt like this – but look what happened last time!) Also I’m itching to make a few new things – and that means I need room to read a pattern, which is tricky. So, I’ve been reading where possible, or studying the finer points of other people’s ear hair. You know how it is. (Or if you’re lucky, maybe you don’t.)

An elephant's head

Ages ago I promised someone I’d make them an elephant for their birthday. They’re birthday is *next weekend* and so today I thought I really should get a move on. There’s a lot going on this week and I’ll never have time to finish it in the evenings. Why didn’t I start it ages ago? Silly me.

Anyway, I’ve made a head, arms and legs. I actually started with the arms and legs first as they’re the least exciting bit and it’s good to get them done. Also, as I’m so bad at sewing, I like to do as much as I can as I go along, to tuck the ends inside. I made the ears before I started the head too, so I could sew them as I went.

Deflated elephant

Poor wee thing. I’ll start on her body next – I might just get this done – if not sewn up – tonight. I think I’m using a different hook to last time. I have a feeling last time I used a 2.5mm and this is a 3mm – its a bit odd, as the stitches look completely different. Anyway. It’s all neat and tidy, which is a good thing, as I really worry that I’ll give things to people and they’ll be really embarrassed about how rubbish it is.

I think if i make another one, I might modify the pattern ever so slightly. I think I made a mistake on the first one – which resulted in the trunk having the tiniest upturn at the end, and it looks really nice. It would be easy to do, just need to add in maybe one decrease a couple of rows in. Having said that, I need to finish this one first, which I shall go and do now…

Finished

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I finished this wee lady earlier this week. Or at least I finished sewing her together. Today I’ve just been hunting for scarf ribbon in the collection I seem to’ve acquired over the past few years. I was going to make a shawl, but I don’t really have any yarn the right colour – lots of colours gets lost in the grey of the skin or overpowered by the colour of the dress. I went through my ribbon stash, was about to opt for something else and then remembered this. It’s not perfect, but it should be ok. (sorry for the not very well styled photo).

Here she is with her older sister too. Not sure how she ended up with a slightly thicker trunk… You might be able to spot that I did the front loop /back loop stitches this time – as per the pattern. I like it. Makes the arms and legs look more defined.

Not been  the best of weekends. Problems with my neck and shoulder again. I feel bad for not writing up the poor new elephant as nicely as she deserves, but I think it’s better to quite while I’m ahead.

WIP

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In a rush! (About to go out), and very tired. I stayed up far too late working on this. It’s for a friend’s daughter – actually, he asked for a Little ‘un but his daughter is very young, and the small ones are a bit fragile – I wasn’t sure she’d last that long. This one is wool and cotton – that Rowan Siena cotton is really vibrant, and I thought the colours might be more interesting than the more muted version for a little girl.

Little ‘un

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So, after the complete joy of finishing elephant number one (who, weirdly, is much loved but still nameless) I decided I should make another one. You know, just to see if the first one was a fluke, and to indulge my odd habit of making the same thing in different thread for no apparent reason.
I only really have one other thread for this kind of thing, and that’s some crochet cotton I bought online. I’ve got three colours, beige, white and dusty pink – and thus elephant number two had no choice, she was to be made those colours, or nothing.
I’ve used this thread before – I made a monkey with it, but what I found amazing this time is that if I’d made her any smaller, the backs of the safety eyes wouldn’t fit in her head. Poor wee thing. She really is quite small.
As I’ve mentioned before, the pattern for this is really nice. I made the head in super quick time – you know when you’re on a roll and just want to get things made?
I dawdled a bit with the rest, mainly as I’m still having a few neck/shoulder issues and I’m trying not to do stuff for too long. I was going to add two buttons to her dress – hence the slightly odd positioning of the one you can see, but even though that button is weeny, there still wasn’t much room for another.
I spent a silly amount of time choosing ribbon for her scarf. She was really rooting for bright red with white dots, but could I find that style ribbon thin enough? No, I could not – thanks for asking. She quite likes this daisy pattern though, and so we’re sticking with it for now.
I actually went ribbon shopping in Liberty (as well as John Lewis), and an assistant came over and squealed a bit when she saw her. As she very kindly helped me look, she asked if I would be selling her. I was bowled over with flattery, but I did say that she’d be about £300 at the rate I crochet and I wasn’t sure anyone had quite that much money to spend on… Well…
What exactly *is* she? Well. Half way through making her, I’d decided she should be called Atish, which I know is a boys name, but sounded like a good name for a shrew. (Atish Shrew! Bless you, etc). But she’s a kind of babyelephantyshrewymousey kind of thing, of course! I’m rather offended you couldn’t tell.

Some things are so hard to photograph

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Like this wee lady for example:

Honestly! If she wasn’t snuffling at the camera, the camera was misbehaving in low light. I swear I’d post a lot more if I could just get a decent photo of some of the things I’d been doing. Anyway – a baby mousiephant. More when I’ve got a better shot!

Speedy Elephants

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I’ve had a few problems with my neck / shoulder / arm. It actually looks like the problem is in my neck, trapping nerves and transferring the pain down my arm, occasionally making my fingers go numb too. I’ve had it on and off for the past year, but it’s been more consistently painful, and much worse for the past week or so.

I had a horrible feeling the/a doctor would tell me not to crochet any more so decided to make this at speed, so at least it was done… And isn’t she cute! I made her last weekend on and off, just before things really kicked in.

Crocheted Elephant

This is the pattern, available on Etsy. It’s very easy to follow, and there’s some nice details. In the end, as I was trying out the invisible decrease, I didn’t do some of the back-loop stitches, which would’ve made the pads of the feet and arms more defined. I only mention it incase the pattern author should see this and get annoyed that I’d ignored her very good instructions! As I had the pink yarn I thought I might aswell use it for the feet/arms. It might be the pink that makes this look a wee bit like a cross between a mouse and an elephant when you see it in real life.

It was a also good excuse to use one of the teeny buttons I bought at Ally Pally Knitting and Stitching show last year too. Not really needed, but the buttons are so nice it’s great to use them on *something*. I was going to put two on there, but it was an after thought and I couldn’t get the needle down far enough without puling out stitches.

She has a scarf of course, as I suck a bit at sewing on heads to bodies. i didn’t do a terrible job actually, but she looks kinda nice with a scarf anyway.  Unusually, she doesn’t really have a name – but she’s clearly a girl, whereas most of the monkeys I make are usually boys.

( This monkey is really a boy – I’ve taken his hat off, and he does seem very grateful. He’s accessory-less, and and I think that’s the way he likes it).

Knitted Amigurumi

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I have a few things to blog about, by no daylight time to take any pictures! I’ve been making a few tiny tiny things which will make more sense with photos, but in the meantime I stumbled across Dangercrafts. They sell fantastic patterns for knitted toys, like this:

and this

I can’t actually knit (more of a crochet girl), but they’re so nice, I thought I should share, just incase you can. (Because, y’know, you probably *should*)

In the meantime, I’m trying to think of a bigger crochet project to make. Like an afghan or a blanket – but… I dunno. Not a hexagon one or a ripple one, because as nice as they are, they wont really go with our house. (Not that I know what would, actually…) Also I made a hexagon the other day and managed to make it with one side too many, which was rather impressive…

I was thinking about making this though – because it is beautiful:

This is made by Yarn Theory, on Flickr. She did a fantastic job – and its actually much nicer than the one shown in the pattern. So we shall see. If you have any suggestion dear lone reader, let me know. Thanks!