Moggy

Hello, you lovely lot!

As you know, things have been a bit busy here, but I thought it was about time for a free pattern.

So here's Moggy.

She's my new doorstop. 

And why would I want to make a new doorstop, you wonder?

Well, I have this little dog called Lola. She is a year old now and very, very cute.

But Lola can be a bad doggy.

See? That's my old doorstop.

Anyhoos, I thought I'd reuse the filling and the bag of sand to make another.

This is an easy project; Moggy is crocheted in continuous rounds of single crochet (UK doubles) in amigurumi-style. I used some leftover chunky yarn from my stash, so she worked up quickly, too. 

You could use any yarn to make yours.

Moggy Doorstop

You'll need:

Yarn and hook to match (I used Sublime Chunky Merino x2 50g balls and a 6.5mm hook)

Polyester toy filling/ a bag of sand/ rice to add weight

Stitch marker

2x 13mm safety eyes

Length of contrasting yarn for nose

Ribbon

Stitches and Abbreviations:

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

Chain (ch)

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

Starting from the bottom and working up

Make 6 sc in magic ring OR

ch2, 6 sc in 2nd chain from hook.

1. 2sc in each sc (12 sts)

2. 2sc in each sc (24)

3. Sc 24

4. (Sc 1, 2scs in next st) repeat around (36)

5. Sc 36

6. (Sc 3, 2scs in next st) repeat around (45)

7. (Sc 2, 2scs in next st) repeat around (60)

8-21. Sc 60

22. (Sc 2, sc2tog) repeat around (45) 

Begin stuffing /add your bag of sand

23. (Sc 3, sc2tog) repeat around (36)

24. (Sc 1, sc2tog) repeat around (24)

25. Sc 24

26. (Sc 1, 2scs in next st) repeat around (36)

27-28. Sc 36

29. (Sc 5, 2scs in next st) repeat around (42)

30-33. Sc 42

34. (Sc 5, sc2tog) repeat around (36)

35-36. Sc 36

Ear 1

To make the ears, you will work both 'halves' of the head separately

37. Sc 9, make 1 sc stitch across to the other side (see photo), then sc 8  back to the stitch marker 18)

Add eyes and stitch nose. 

Stuff as you go.

38. Sc2tog, sc 5, sc2tog, sc2tog, sc 5, sc2tog (14)

39. Sc2tog, sc 4, sc2tog, sc 6 (12)

40. Sc2tog, sc 3, sc2tog, sc 5 (10)

41. Sc2tog around (5)

Sew closed.

Ear 2

Repeat rows 37-41

You will have a slight gap between the ears, which can be sewn closed at the end.

Tail

Make 6 sc in magic ring OR

ch2, 6 sc in 2nd chain from hook.

1. (Sc 1, 2scs in next st) repeat around (9)

2. Sc 9

3. (Sc 2, 2scs in next st) repeat around (12)

4. Sc 12

5. (Sc 1, 2scs in next st) repeat around (18)

6-9. Sc18

10. (Sc 1, sc2tog) repeat around (12)

11. Sc 12

12. (Sc2, sc2tog) repeat around (9)

13-14. Sc9

Fasten off, leaving 30cm tail for sewing on later.
Stuff

Finishing off

Sew the tail to the side of the body.

Add a ribbon to your Moggy's neck.

Sew the gap between the ears closed.

There you go- your very own Moggy doorstop.

Mine will have a new home upstairs, well away from the bad doggy...

Have a great week, everyone xx

CAL Episode 5: The Finale

Ok, doll makers. You are my patient friends who have been waiting and waiting, so without further ado, let's give them finished.

Firstly, I MUST point you in the direction of the most amazing crochet doll maker:
Beth at By Hook, By Hand. She publishes loads of free patterns for dolls and clothes and is where I learned to make dolls and their hair. DO go and visit her- she has patterns for all types of dolls and the most amazing wig-making tutorial too.


Hair

Ok, this is what you do:

With your chosen hair yarn and with the same hook, you need to crochet the same pattern as the original head and repeat until you have a snug fitting cap which covers the area where you want hair on your doll.



I used 2 strands together of a thinnish yarn to make mine. You could experiment with mohair or other fluffy yarn, too. 

Round 1
5 sc in magic ring OR
Ch 2, 5s c in 2nd chain from hook. (5 sts)

Round 2
2 sc in each sc (10 sts)

Round 3
(1 sc, 2 sc in next sc) repeat around (15 sts)

Round 4
(2 sc, 2 sc in next sc) repeat around (20 sts)

Round 5
(3 sc, 2 sc in next sc) repeat around (25 sts)

Round 6
(4 sc, 2 sc in next sc) repeat around (30 sts)

Round 7
(5 sc, 2 sc in next sc) repeat around (35 sts)

Round 8
(6 sc, 2 sc in next sc) repeat around (40 sts)

Rounds 9- ?
Sc 40

Repeat until you have enough of the head covered, then turn out the right way.
This makes a wig cap and means that you don't get bald patches on your doll. (Don't sew onto the head just yet)

Here's how I made my doll's hairstyle (bunches/pigtails), but you could do whatever you want here- be creative and have a try. Anything you don't like can be easily changed, so don't worry.

You now need to wind lengths of yarn for the hair itself. Decide on roughly the length you'll need and then choose a book of the same size to wind the yarn around. Remember to opt for slightly longer hair than you think- you can always trim it later. 



Cut the yarn at one end only- this gives you double the length.



For bunches/pigtails, I found the best method is to surround the edges of the wig cap first.
Push your crochet hook through the V of the stitch:



Hook the yarn and pull through: 



Now pull the tails of the yarn through the loop and tighten the knot.





That's it.
Repeat around the edge.



Now to make the centre-parting.
Make a chain the length of your wig from the middle of the forehead to back of the wig cap.



Lie the chain in front of you.
You will add the lengths of hair, as you did for the wig cap, but ONLY through the top loops of the V.



Work along the top row.



Turn around.
Now work the hair through the (now) top loops again.



Hair (nearly) done!
Ok, we're on the home stretch now:
Get yourself a long length of cotton and a sharp needle and stitch the wig cap to the head. Make sure it fits tightly and go round a couple of times.
Then stitch the centre parting from the middle of the forehead to the back.



Now, style!! 
High pigtails, or low? A pony tail? Long hair? or short?
It's up to you!



Check out Beth's blog for other hair ideas, too!

What about a dress?



Here's the link to the lovely Molly Chicken's blog, where I found instructions to make my dolly's reversible dress.
Simple and quick. 
[And I am a complete sewing novice and managed this with no problems.]

Crochet skirt

This is for you guys and gals who did a nifty bit of back-loop-only single crochet on Round 8 of your doll's body.



Ok. Put the skirt colour onto your hook with a slip knot and hold your doll upside down, with its legs in the air, with its back facing you.

Hook through the first loop you can see and make a single crochet.



Continue with Round 1: Single crochet around (24 sts)



Round 2: (1 sc, 2 sc in next sc) repeat around (36 sts)
Rounds 3- desired length: Sc 36.



Finish off and weave in ends.



Have I forgotten anything?
I do hope not.

You should have a lovely Monk, Kat, Doll, Bunny, Bear or maybe something else in your hands.
Hug them now, give them a name and feel super-proud, especially if this is the first crochet toy (amigurumi) you have ever made.

I hope you've enjoyed playing along with this CAL.
Enjoy your week and do post your finished pictures in our Flickr CAL group- click over there on the right to join up.

See you soon.
Xx  

CAL Episode 4: Arms, Ears and Tails and Attaching Thereof

WARNING: The making of Monks is highly addictive. Before you know it, you'll have a whole troop.

Ok peeps.
We left our wonderful creations complete with head, body and two legs, so now it's time to make arms and ears.

Pros- your instructions are at the bottom, everyone else, read on.

Just to remind you, this pattern is worked in rounds in a continuous spiral of stitches. Use your stitch marker to mark where you begin each round.

Stitches and abbreviations:
I use US crochet terms, so single crochet here is the SAME as UK double crochet.

Chain (ch)
Single crochet (sc)
Stitchs (sts)
Decrease (dec)

Arm
Round 1
6sc in each magic ring (6 sts)
OR,
Ch 2, 6sc in 2nd chain from hook. (6 sts)



Round 2
(1 sc, 2 sc in next sc) repeat around (9 sts)

Let's increase here, but in every 2nd stitch.
So make 1 single crochet in the first stitch (stitch marker in) and then make 2 single crochets in the following stitch.
Now repeat this pattern around.
You will have 9 stitches.



Rounds 3-5
Sc 9

You don't need to increase any more. Just sc around.
Remember to move your stitch marker at the beginning of every round.

Now before continuing to Round 6, turn your work the right way out





and stuff the hand. (You don't need to stuff the arms as we're only working with a few stitches)

Round 6
(1 sc, dec 1) repeat around (6 sts)

We need to reduce the number of stitches now to complete the hand. You may want to add a little more stuffing after completing this Round.
So make 1 single crochet, then make your decrease.
[here's a reminder how to:
Insert hook into next stitch.
Yarn over, pull up a loop. ( You will have 2 loops on your hook)
Insert hook into next stitch.
Yarn over, pull up another loop. ( You will have 3 loops on your hook)
Yarn over and pull through all 3 loops together.]
Now repeat this around. You will have 6 stitches.

Rounds 7-22
Sc 6

These rounds make the length of arm. Remember to use you stitch marker to keep note of where each Round begins. This can be a little fiddly as you are working with only a few stitches, so I would recommend checking you've got 6 every now and then- it's very easy to add stitches or miss others without realising!



Leave a long tail to sew on later (20 cms will be plenty)
Finish off by pulling the yarn through to the front. (we don't need to sew the ends together as we will be attaching it to the body soon)

Repeat for arm 2.

Exciting, isn't it? You're nearly there!

Ok, if you're making a doll, then I shall leave you here. Sorry it's only been a brief session today- check back soon for details of hair and clothes. I'll also include the instructions for how to add a crochet skirt too.
If you'd like to know about how to attach your doll's arms, then scroll down a little further for an explanation.

Ears
Now what are you making? Let's give you some patterns for different animals...
monkey, cat, rabbit, mouse and bear should do it. (if you'd like anything else then ask away and I'll try to work out a pattern for you)

Monkey Ears
These ears are worked from the centre of the ear, out and then back in again.

Round 1
5sc in each magic ring (5 sts)
OR,
Ch 2, 5sc in 2nd chain from hook. (5 sts)

Round 2
2 sc in each sc (10 sts)

Round 3
(1 sc, 2 sc in next sc) repeat around (15 sts)



Round 4
(2 sc, 2 sc in next sc) repeat around (20 sts)

Round 5
Sc 20

Round 6
(2 sc, dec 1) repeat around (15 sts)

Make 2 single crochets, then make your decrease over the next 2 stitches. Repeat around. You will have 15 sts.

Round 7
(1 sc, dec 1) repeat around (10 sts)

Make 1 sc and then make a decrease. Repeat around.
Turn the right way out.



Finish off as with the arm, by cutting the yarn to leave 20cms and pulling it through to the front. You now need to use your tapestry (blunt) needle to stitch the opening closed at the back of the ear.



You might also want to put a stitch all the way through both sides to keep it closed.



Now make a stitch so that the yarn end up at the side of the ear, where you'll attach it to the head later.



Cat Ears



These ears are worked top down.

Round 1
4sc in magic ring
OR
Ch 2, 4sc in 2nd chain from hook. (4 sts)

Round 2
2 sc in each sc (8 sts)

Round 3
(1 sc, 2 sc in next sc) repeat around (12 sts)

Rounds 4-6
Sc 12

Fasten off. Leave 20cms of yarn to attach to head.

Mouse Ears
(Exactly the same pattern as the Monkey ears, but start with 6sc instead of 5)
Leave a 20 cm tail for sewing to the head later.

Bear Ears
Follow the pattern as for Mouse Ears, but you are working from the top down this time.
Leave a 20 cm tail for sewing to the head later.

Rabbit Ears



Use the pattern from here: it's the one I used to make my Wabbits and makes a lovely ear!
Leave a 20 cm tail for sewing to the head later.

Tail (Monkey, Mouse, Cat)

Round 1

6sc in magic ring
OR
Ch 2, 6sc in 2nd chain from hook. (6 sts)

Round 2
Sc 6

Repeat round 2 until the tail reaches the desired length

Rabbit tail

Make a fluffy pom-pom!

Attaching appendages



There's really no special trick to this. The most important thing is trying to place the limbs symmetrically.
Ok.
So you should have a length of yarn from the arms and ears you have made. Position your limb in the correct place (you can easily unpick this if all goes wrong) and use your tapestry (blunt-ended) needle to secure the first stitch under one of the stitches on the head/body and then back through one of the stitches of your appendage.



Continue around all sides until the limb is securely in place. (Don't fasten off yet until you are happy with the placement and stitching of both ears/arms/tail.)
Repeat for the other appendage.
Happy? Then fasten off and hide the end of the yarn as you did with the legs.

TADAAAAAAAAA!



I'm hoping that you've got one sweet little creation staring back at you- maybe they have a name now, too.
Please do add your photos to our Flickr group- click on the CAL button over there on the right and upload your pics. I'd love to see what you've made.

As before, PLEASE ask me any questions and let me know if something seems wrong.

Well done to you, especially if this is the first Amigurumi you have made!
I hope you are really pleased.


Have a fab week.
Xxxxxx

Written Patterns

Arm

Round 1
6sc in each magic ring (6 sts)
OR,
Ch 2, 6sc in 2nd chain from hook. (6 sts)

Round 2
(1 sc, 2 sc in next sc) repeat around (9 sts)

Rounds 3-5
Sc 9
Turn out right way and stuff hand

Round 6
(1 sc, dec 1) repeat around (6 sts)

Rounds 7-22
Sc 6
Fasten off. Leave 20 cm tail for sewing on.

Ears
Now what are you making? Let's give you some patterns for different animals...
monkey, cat, rabbit, mouse and bear should do it.

Monkey Ears
These ears are worked from the centre of the ear, out and then back in again.

Round 1
5sc in each magic ring (5 sts)
OR,
Ch 2, 5sc in 2nd chain from hook. (5 sts)

Round 2
2 sc in each sc (10 sts)

Round 3
(1 sc, 2 sc in next sc) repeat around (15 sts)

Round 4
(2 sc, 2 sc in next sc) repeat around (20 sts)

Round 5
Sc 20

Round 6
(2 sc, dec 1) repeat around (15 sts)

Round 7
(1 sc, dec 1) repeat around (10 sts)

Turn the right way out.
Finish off, cutting the yarn to leave 20cms. Stitch the opening closed at the back of the ear. You might also want to put a stitch all the way through both sides to keep it closed.

Cat Ears
These ears are worked top down.

Round 1
4sc in magic ring
OR
Ch 2, 4sc in 2nd chain from hook. (4 sts)

Round 2
2 sc in each sc (8 sts)

Round 3
(1 sc, 2 sc in next sc) repeat around (12 sts)

Rounds 4-6
Sc 12

Fasten off. Leave 20cms of yarn to attach to head.

Mouse Ears
(Exactly the same pattern as the Monkey ears, but start with 6sc instead of 5)
Leave a 20 cm tail for sewing to the head later.

Bear Ears
Follow the pattern as for Mouse Ears, but you are working from the top down this time.
Leave a 20 cm tail for sewing to the head later.

Rabbit Ears
Use the pattern from here: it's the one I used to make my Wabbits and makes a lovely ear!
Leave a 20 cm tail for sewing to the head later.

Tail (Monkey, Mouse, Cat)

Round 1

6sc in magic ring
OR
Ch 2, 6sc in 2nd chain from hook. (6 sts)

Round 2
Sc 6

Repeat round 2 until the tail reaches the desired length

Rabbit tail

Make a fluffy pom-pom!

Now attach arms, ears and tail.



TADAAAAAAAAA!
I'm hoping that you've got one sweet little creation staring back at you- maybe they have a name now, too.
Please do add your photos to our Flickr group- click on the CAL button over there on the right and upload your pics. I'd love to see what you've made.

As before, PLEASE ask me any questions and let me know if something seems wrong.

Enjoy your week!
Xx