A doll named Astrid

I realised the other day that I hadn't shown you the newest addition to my Etsy shop:

The pattern for my Astrid doll.

She really is very easy to make 

and would make the perfect gift for a perfect little girl.

The pattern's just over there in my Etsy Shop sidebar. Click on a picture to take you to the shop.

Enjoy making.

Sarah

The one where she makes a little doll. And then a big doll. And gets a dog.

As many of you know, I love a little amigurumi. (Japanese meaning 'knitted toy') Probably because they are so cute and fairly quick to make (and I am such a lazy crocheter at heart)

So I thought about a little doll.

With stitched hair (I didn't fancy making a wig this time)

Complete with her own crocheted clothes and accessories.

And then I wanted to make a bigger doll. I used exactly the same pattern, but held two strands of yarn together and a slightly bigger hook.

Pink hair was the order of the day. And she has clothes too.

I hope you like them.

If you fancy having a go- the pattern is available in my Etsy shop (see the link just over there in my sidebar) and contains all the instructions you need to make both the dolls and all the accessories.

Oh, and here's the reasons I've been absent these past few weeks: 

Two words:

Holiday  (Fabulous. Majorca. Hot. Pool. Sangria. 'Nuff said)

And ...

Puppy (11weeks old. Biting. Chewing. Chasing. Cuuuuuuute. 'Nuff said)

Yes, life is officially bonkers in Annaboo's House at the moment, thanks our lovely little pup.

She'is a Jug (3/4 Pug and 1/4 Jack Russell).

And we love her.

Have a wonderful week, everyone. Now things are a little quieter (ha!) I look forward to having a proper catchup with your wonderful blogs. I've missed you guys!

Sarah x

Japanese Kokeshi Crochet

Am trying to get back to normal. Whatever that is.

Child number one has returned to school and routines are being re-established.

My crochet cushion is coming on a-nicely, too.

But I love the little projects in-between; you know, the small, quick-fixes. The 'only-takes-an-hour-ish' instant fix.

And so, as many of you know, I love the little Korknisse or Norwegian cork-gnomes.

Traditionally these little fellas sport pointed hats. Other versions are adorned with witches hats, or dressed as knights or blacked out as ninjas.

And so my deviations lead me here:

A Japanese Kokeshi cork creation (adapted from Lucy Ravenscar's knight pattern). [Kokeshi are wooden Japanese dolls. Their history is a little ambiguous, but they were essentially sold to tourists as souvenirs.]

Here's my original doll. Found in a charity shop if I remember correctly:

And so followed this:

 

And this:

 

The best bit was decorating them. Such fun!!

 

Right, back to the cushion for me.

Have a great weekend!

Xx

 

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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

Blue Monk(ey) and Friends

I absolutely cannot make any more crochet flowers.
I need to, to boost my stocks for the shop and the stall, but no. I am done.

So what to make next?
Why a blue monk(ey) of course.
(brown is so last season, don't you think?)



This little monk (all monkeys are called 'Monk' in my house) uses one 50g skein of Rico cotton- (so quite a thrifty make, really) and loads of US Single Crochet/UK Doubles (easy, too).





This had me wondering whether the same pattern would work with an odd 50g ball of Noro Kureyon I had lurking in my woolly piles (from my amazing Noro-tastic treasure found in a charity shop yonks ago). 



Not a Monk, but A Kureyon Kat!
(using the same pattern, but with a slight variation on the ears)



And in fact, the pattern makes this doll, too:

 

A one-size-fits-all kind of pattern. Just change the ears/tail/hair combos...

..... So that got me thinking-
And I feel a bit nervous asking you all, but.. 

Would anyone like the pattern? 
No, bit of a boring post. 
Would anyone like a tutorial? 
No, that would be a ginormous task, so..

.....does anyone fancy a Crochet-A-Long with me ....?


I thought I might explain a little bit of the pattern each week, with a photo tutorial (suitable for beginners and pro's alike) and we could all make a little monk/kat/doll/whatever-you-fancy together...?

I'll break it into manageable steps with a week or so between each post to give you plenty of time to ask questions and have a go.

I'd love to know if anyone's interested. 



And yes, that is a crochet flower on Monk's head. 
I know, I know. I can't help it.

Someone call the crochet police and have me put away.....

Xx