Friday 30 August 2013

Fungi fun

So I couldn't just stop with the little guys.
No, I had to go bigger.



Much bigger.

Big enough to be a cushion, in fact.



Hope you like it.

If you'd like to make one of your very own, then the pattern is available in my Etsy shop, just over there in the left sidebar.



Go on.... 
Go on, go on, go on, go on, go on, go on, go on, go on ......

(sorry, had a Mrs Doyle from 'Father Ted' moment there)

Anyhoos, happy weekend to you all 

Sarah xx

Saturday 10 August 2013

Why did the Toadstool leave the party?


Because there wasn't mushroom  !!



Oh dear.
So sorry, but couldn't resist.

*ahem* Moving on....

Who wants to make a toadstool?
You do?
Yay!
I have two patterns for you. One for a teeny fungi, one for a slightly larger fungi.



Both are worked in the same way- amigurumi-style (in the round) from the top down, in one piece (I am a true lazy crocheter, as you should know by now, so no fiddly joining)

You will need:

Yarn of your choice and a hook to match (this is a great stash-buster, as you only need little bits)

I used RICO Creative Cotton and a 4mm hook

Stitch Marker

Toy stuffing

Tapestry (blunt needle)

Felt (for base)

PVA or similar glue


Stitches and Abbreviations:

I use US terms, so single crochet is the same as UK double crochet here.

Chain (ch)

Single crochet (sc)

Stitch (st)

Single Crochet 2 Together (sc2tog)




To single crochet 2 together:

Insert hook into next stitch.

Yarn over, pull up a loop. (2 loops on hook)

Insert hook into next stitch.

Yarn over, pull up a loop (3 loops on hook)

Yarn over and pull through all 3 loops.

 

PATTERN (small toadstool)

(beginning with top and working down)

1. 4sc in magic ring OR

ch2, 4sc in 2nd chain from hook.

2. (2sc in each sc) repeat around (8)

3. (Sc 1, 2sc in next sc) repeat around (12)

4. (Sc 2, 2sc in next sc) repeat around (16)

5. (Sc 3, 2sc in next sc) repeat around (20)

6. Sc 20

Stuff top of toadstool

7.CHANGE TO BASE COLOUR (Sc2tog) repeat around (10) 

8. (Sc2tog) repeat around (5)

9. 2sc in first st, sc 1, 2sc in next st, sc 1, 2sc in next st (8)

10. Sc 8

11. Sc 8

Stuff. Fasten off. Cut a circle of felt for the base (I used a button as a template) and stick on with PVA or similar craft glue.




PATTERN (slightly larger toadstool)

(beginning with top and working down)

1. 6sc in magic ring OR

ch2, 6sc in 2nd chain from hook.

2. (2sc in each sc) repeat around (12)

3. (Sc 1, 2sc in next sc) repeat around (18)

4. (Sc 2, 2sc in next sc) repeat around (24)

5. Sc 24

6. (Sc 3, 2sc in next sc) repeat around (30)

7. Sc 30

Stuff top of toadstool

8. CHANGE TO BASE COLOUR (Sc2tog) repeat around (15) 

9. (Sc2tog) x7, sc 1 (8)

10. Sc 8

11. (2sc in first sc, sc 1), repeat around (12)

12. Sc 12

13. Sc 12

Stuff. Fasten off. Cut a circle of felt for the base (I used a slightly bigger button as a template) and stick on with PVA or similar craft glue.




You could use them to decorate your shelves. 
You could use them to make bunting.
You could make a key-ring.
Or a mobile.
Or earrings.
Or *whispers* Christmas decorations  

Do enjoy making.
Happy week to you all!

Sarah xx

Sunday 4 August 2013

Summer strawberries

Ahhhhhhh, British summertime. 

Pimms and lemonade, BBQs, donkey rides at the seaside, Wimbledon, and of course, strawberries.
We seem to be surrounded by these juicy red fruits this time of year and blimmin' delicious they are too.



And so I dug out an old pattern and worked on it a little.
It is, in fact, a version of my mini Christmas trees pattern.  
[It struck me one day that part way through making my Nordic Pine, it looked like a strawberry- who'd have thought, eh?]



Anyhoos, here's the pattern, should you wish to make a few of these little beauties. 
You could make them into key/bag charms or fill them with emery to make pin cushions which sharpen your pointy-bits.

Use whichever yarn and matching hook you have to hand.



Crochet Strawberry

You will need:

Yarn of your choice and a hook to match. I used red for the fruit and green for the leaves

(I used RICO Creative Cotton and a 4mm hook)

Stitch Marker

Toy stuffing 

Embroidery thread (to stitch the seeds) and needle

Tapestry (blunt needle)

Felt (for face, optional)

 

Stitches and Abbreviations:

I use US terms, so single crochet is the same as UK double crochet here.

Single crochet (sc)

Stitches (sts)

Single Crochet 2 Together (sc2tog)

 

To single crochet 2 together:

Insert hook into next stitch.

Yarn over, pull up a loop. (2 loops on hook)

Insert hook into next stitch.

Yarn over, pull up a loop (3 loops on hook)

Yarn over and pull through all 3 loops.

 

PATTERN

1. 4 sc in magic ring OR

ch2, 4 sc in 2nd chain from hook.

2. (Sc 1, 2sc in next sc) repeat around (6)

3. (Sc 1, 2sc in next sc) repeat around (9)

4-5. Sc 9

6. (Sc 2, 2sc in next sc) repeat around (12)

7. Sc 12

8. (Sc 2, 2sc in next sc) repeat around (16)

9. (Sc 3, 2sc in next sc) repeat around (20)

10. (Sc 4, 2sc in next sc) repeat around (24)

11. Sc 24

12. (Sc2tog) repeat around (12)

13. Sc 12

Stuff

14. (Sc2tog) repeat around (6)

Fasten off

Stitch the seeds

Stitch the leaves


Enjoy making!

Sarah x