Secret Toy Pattern

 Spent a while the other night winding Cascade 220 for a new crochet toy pattern I'm working on.  (I'm keeping what the toy is a secret for now, I think.)  I know I often talk about things I'm going to write up as patterns and then never get around to it, but this time I actually have the pattern written already.  I'm going to use this yarn to try it one more time and then I will be getting some test crocheters to test it for me.  I also have another toy pattern in the works so hopefully soon I will finally be branching out into pattern sales.  I have so many ideas written down or partially made--I hope I can make the leap.

almost finished, but completely unblocked

Speaking of patterns, I have mentioned several times a pattern I've been working on for years now for a crocheted wrap.  The last time I mentioned it, I said I was almost done and I did almost finish a sample from the written up pattern.  However, as I finished it, I decided that I wanted to change several things about it (this was after adding to it while writing up the pattern) including the main stitch pattern and the weight of the yarn it's made in.  (I also hate the colors I chose for it.)  So I guess it's back to the drawing board with that one.  Hopefully I will manage to finish it someday.

Remember This?

Do you remember this wrap? (I was horrified to see that I posted that a year and a half ago--I really need to speed up my process.)


Since I never really ended up with one that I loved, I've decided to improve upon it. And, instead of making them for sale, I'm going to write up a pattern and sell that. I have been intending to branch out into pattern sales for quite a while now and I've promised myself that this year I will finally do it. I make up patterns all the time for myself and to make items to sell in the shop so it seems like a logical step to write them up for sale. I believe I have the wrap design the way I want it, so I'm now writing a pattern from my notes. After I have that done, I'll make one more to see if the pattern seems correct to me and then it's on to testing. Hopefully I'll have it ready for sale this spring. Now I just need to think of a name for the pattern. (And as you can probably see by my boring post titles, I'm not very good at that sort of thing.)

Prototype Wrap Design

I've been working on this wrap/shawl design for a bit now and I think I've almost got it the way I want it.


Of course, it's done in a cotton blend yarn since I intended it for spring, but at least I'll have it ready for then. Now to get to work on one for fall that I'll probably have ready just in time for spring. The one in the photo doesn't hang quite right, but I believe the next one will. It's also a bit larger.

And I don't believe you've met my mannequin, Helena, yet. (Her name is a morbid joke based on the movie Boxing Helena, which I didn't even like, but once I thought of the name, it just stuck.) I got her last year on Ebay and I really don't know how I took any pictures without her. I do think she needs something to wear if I'm going to show her whole torso--the black ribbon around her waist looks a bit funny as is.

The Truth is Out There

I made this potholder for a friend's birthday and gave it to him with the first season of the X-Files, a bag of sunflower seeds and a funny little glow-in-the-dark alien from a vending machine. (I really like theme presents.)


I'm pretty proud of it since I designed it myself--and it was my first time doing a chart for anything I've designed. Plus I think he's pretty cute.

A Gnome, a Cowl and a Necklace

I thought I'd share a few pictures of some of the things I've made recently.


I made this little gnome for my friend Emily's birthday because she's really into gnomes right now. I'm not really a gnome person but I almost kept it because I thought it came out so cute. I used a free pattern--Simply a Gnome--which is available here.


This is a cowl I made from another free pattern. I don't know exactly what I'm going to do with it yet--I just felt like making it. It's made from my yarn--Grasshopper Handmade Superwash Merino Sock--in the colorway Silflay.


I've also come up with a new necklace design for my Etsy shop. It's a felted cord with glass beads added in randomly before felting. You can wear it wrapped around your neck up to four times. I really like these--hopefully other people do as well.

Busy, But Still Around

Yes, I am still alive. I've been uber busy for the past few weeks--working on my yarn for yarn4socks and a custom order, making some little crocheted toys (which I will show you in a minute) and one other thing...

I believe I neglected to mention that Chris and I got married on April 1st. It was really no big deal--we only did it so that I would be covered under his insurance (hence the April Fool's Day wedding). We've been together for 12 years now, so it really changes nothing for us. But my parents were very excited and insisted on throwing us a party--which was about a week and a half ago. So that was the one other thing I've been busy with recently.

I've been making lots of crocheted toys recently--I don't know why, but it's become somewhat of an obsession. And, of course, I can't be bothered to make something with a pattern, so it's a bit of trial and error. But I've made a couple of fun ones lately. Here is my flying saucer:

And the 'nake I made for my nephew from some hand dyed yarn gone wrong:


I'm pretty happy with both of them although the flying saucer has gone through an improvement or two since I made that one. I'm now working on making both of them in felted versions and when I get those worked out, I may try writing up the patterns for sale.

Free Pattern for Amigurumi Mushroom

A while back, I posted a picture of a crocheted mushroom I gave to my mom for Christmas. I had so much fun making it that I made a few more and now I've written up a pattern in case someone else wants to make one. This is my very first written pattern (usually I just make notes for myself) so I hope I did okay. Please let me know if you find any mistakes. And I'd love to see pictures if anyone makes one. :)


Amigurumi Mushroom

Materials:
worsted weight yarn in one or two colors
G hook (or any hook that gives you a tight gauge)
stitch marker
fiberfill
yarn needle
contrasting color yarn (optional)

Gauge:
not important, but should be crocheted tightly

Pattern note:
This pattern is worked in spirals--do not join at the end of each round. Use a stitch marker to indicate the beginning of rounds and move it after finishing each round.

Two color mushroom:
Color A - tan worsted weight merino wool
Color B - red worsted weight merino wool

Stem

Rnd 1: Using color A, make 6 sc into magic adjustable ring.
Rnd 2: 2 Sc in each sc around. (12 sc)
Rnds 3-9: Sc in each sc around. (12 sc)
Cut yarn and fasten off.

Cap

Rnd 1: Using color B, make 6 sc into magic adjustable ring.
Rnd 2: 2 sc in each sc around. (12 sc)
Rnd 3: *Sc in next sc, 2 sc in next sc; repeat from * around. (18 sc)
Rnds 4-5: Sc in each sc around. (18 sc)
Rnd 6: *Sc in next 2 sc, 2 sc in next sc; repeat from * around. (24 sc)
Rnd 7: *Sc in next 3 sc, 2 sc in next sc: repeat from * around. (30 sc)
Rnd 8: *Sc in next 4 sc, 2 sc in next sc; repeat from * around. (36 sc)
Rnd 9: *Sc in next 5 sc, 2 sc in next sc; repeat from * around. (42 sc)
Rnd 10: *Sc in next 6 sc, 2 sc in next sc; repeat from * around. (48 sc)
Rnd 11: *Sc in next 7 sc, 2 sc in next sc; repeat from * around. (54 sc)
Rnd 12: *Sc in next 7 sc, sc2tog over next 2 sc; repeat from * around. (48 sc)
Rnd 13: *Sc in next 4 sc, sc2tog over next 2 sc; repeat from * around. (40 sc)
Rnd 14: *Sc in next 3 sc, sc2tog over next 2 sc; repeat from * around. (32 sc)
Rnd 15: Sc2tog around. (16 sc)
Rnd 16: *Sc in next 2 sc; sc2tog over next 2 sc; repeat from * around. (12 sc)
Cut yarn and fasten off.

If you would like a face on your mushroom, embroider it now with the contrasting yarn.
Stuff cap and stem with fiberfill and whip stitch together.

Felted Handbag Prototype

I've been trying for ages to come up with a felted purse (handbag--not clutch) design that I like. And I think I have (almost) finally succeeded.


Since this is the prototype, it does not yet have handles. And the finished ones will have some sort of embellishment on them--probably embroidered appliques. Except for the size and a slight adjustment to the flap, I like it. Which comes a quite a shock to me since I didn't think I'd ever make one I like. So now I'm making another one, which I hope will be exactly what I wanted. And then I will make many many more for sale--as soon as I get the time.

The 2nd Detroit Urban Craft Fair (DUCF) is on Saturday, August 4th, which is this Saturday. I highly recommend going--I went last year (and will be going again this year) and thought it was great. I will not be in the fair this year, but I'm thinking about trying to get in next year. Let's see how the show in September goes and then I will think about it.

Stuff I've Been Making

For a friend's daughter's birthday, I (with some help from my boyfriend, Chris) made her this fancy board to hang on her wall for magnetic poetry--which we also gave her, of course.


(Not the best picture in the world, but it's already been given to her, so I'm stuck with it.) She's (almost) 8 and is very interested in making sentences--she plays with our magnetic poetry kit every time she comes over here. So we thought she would enjoy this. It's made with magnetic paint, which--while it doesn't hold heavy magnets--is pretty much the coolest invention in the world. And when I get a house, I want to paint an entire wall in it.

I've also finished the halter I'm making for another friend's daughter. It doesn't photograph all that well when not on a child, so bear with me--it will look much cuter when it's not flat on a table. (The second picture is of the ends of the ties.)



Hopefully soon I will get the chance to get some pictures of it being modeled and then I will make some more for my Etsy shop.

Winders and Halters

I've been doing more dyeing lately and realized rather quickly that if I am going to do a lot of dyeing, I need to get a skein winder instead of making skeins with my niddy noddy and swift. Much too hard on my arm. So I figured that I would wait until I sold some yarn and then buy one--which could be some time. Right after I made that decision, I sold a bunch of yarn, so now I can buy my skein winder. And on top of that piece of luck, the Woolery is currently having a sale. Wow. Now I just have to figure out if there is anything else I need that's on sale.

I am currently working on a crocheted halter for a friend's daughter and once I have that worked out, I plan to sell them in my Etsy shop. I made some halters for another friend's three daughters last summer--before I had a shop--and my friend recently asked if I could make one for her daughter. She's also going to let me use photos of said daughter in my halter listings, which is wonderful because it will look so much better being worn. (And her daughter is adorable.)

Wallets and Hats

Well, I finally have new wallets almost ready to go. They are crocheted and felted--now they just need buttons and snaps. And picking out the buttons is half of the fun of making them.


I made them quite a bit smaller than the old ones and I really like them better. They just seem so cute now. I don't think I'll make any more in the old size. I listed the last of the large wallets on Etsy and will hopefully be getting some of these up in a little while.

I will be ordering some more Bernat Cottontots yarn this week because my mom wants to special order some of the bucket hats. I have been avoiding figuring out more sizes, but now I'm going to have to. She wants one 3-6 months, one 2 years and one 4 years. So, I guess once I do that, I'll be able to list some in those sizes. Which is good.