Infinity Gauntlet

I have some silly ideas, sometimes.

I decided I wanted to make a baddies set for my doll patterns based on Marvel and DC comics. 

Mainly this was to add in some of the characters from Guardians of the galaxy that I've missed out and I really want to make a tiny Thanos. He's gonna be so cute and it means I get to make a tiny Infinity Gauntlet, which is the best thing ever :)

This got me thinking, maybe I could have a go at making a full size gauntlet. This idea rattled around in my brain for a while until I spotted some gemstones online. They were cheap, so I ordered them on a bit of a gamble. I doubted they would be right for the gauntlet project (probably too small) but it was worth a try.

They arrived much quicker than expected and after a quick rummage I found a big gem and oval ones that would be perfect.
I was excited now.
Its been a busy month and I've had a lot of crochet work come in. I decided it would be best if I finished any outstanding commission work before I started on this project. Turns out that was a great motivator, and I worked all hours to get my other projects done. I think I even surprised my Editors on just how speedy I was with this months projects. Maybe I should have explained in my emails that "Well if I got this done first then, I can make an Infinity gauntlet, isn't that amazing!!!" I think they'd have understood.

I knew I had stashed yarn I was could use. I had a Rico aran and a Drops DK that were the perfect colour. I decided to go for the aran as the Drop can split at bit and I really wanted to enjoy this make.

I have never made a glove or anything like, but I did have a clear idea how I was going to go about it.

I started making the first finger and making sure it fit my finger. I then did some lovely maths that meant that I could size the fingers and thumbs to keep the pattern elegant and simple. 

 This is the first picture I took, just after I'd joined all the fingers together.
From here on everything when pretty simply. I had ideas about the shaping and the decorative bits I wanted to create. Some of these worked perfectly, some I forgot about completely and some happy accidents achieved things better than I'd even considered. I was very giddy as the first part of the glove came together.

Its a very silly thing to crochet and as its a hand, it feels like its trying to tickle you as you are working around the glove. It defiantly gave me the giggles.

 I had planned on doing the sleeve part in the same style of stitch as the glove but I wanted to try doing it in the same style as my Groot pattern to see how that would look. It looked good.

Its at this point I ran out of yarn. I was a little bit moody(understatement of the century) about this as I'd planned to have this fun project completed in a day.
Wool warehouse were out of stock of the yarn but I ordered from Lovecrochet.com. It said it would take 3-5day for delivery. So I sulked, and worked on the decoration of the glove.

 This was the result at the end of day one. I was already so happy with it and just wanted to see it finished (yes I'm still bitter about running out of yarn). I packed it away and started some making some crochet daffodils for another idea I have in the pipeline.

Luckily the delivery of the yarn came the next day, (thank you Lovecrochet.com) but by this time I had a new commission project come in with a very short deadline, I had complete it straight away (that'll teach me being so speedy before). The Gauntlet would have to wait till the next day.

 Have you ever got up early because you are so excited to complete a crochet project. Well that was me. There wasn't much left to do. I finished the sleeve and added a bit of cuff. I hadn't planned on using eyelets but I found a bashed up set in a old craft box and put some in to see how they looked. They were perfect. (I have put them as  optional on the pattern it looks just as good without)
Then it was done.
So I decided to play with it and torment the cats :)

 It seemed it took the longest time to get a bright day to get some good photos. January has been very grey.
I honestly think this is the most ridiculous thing I have ever made but I love it so much.
I spent a lot of time putting the pattern together with lots of pictures and simple instruction. I'm as pleased with the pattern as I am with the finished gauntlet. I managed to add in sizing so this cam be made to fit adults and children.

 So really the only thing left to do was let my friend play with some spacey special effects and produce some amazing photos.
 Seriously, these are so cool.

I love them all so much.

Ok so now you want to know where you can get this pattern, have as much fun as me and make yourself the best thing ever. right. Here you go.
Pattern link - Infinity Gauntlet 
 
I will have some packs of the gems available to buy soon also.

Finally, I loved making this so much I'm gonna make another one so I will have a worked model available for sale soon.

If geeky things is not your styl,e there will be hearts, flowers and many adorable cute patterns coming up in February.  Follow me on Instagram to keep up to date with my projects @lizwardcrochet

Till then...
Happy crocheting
Love
Liz

Batman set

I'm so excited to finish my first big project of 2018.

My set of Batman character dolls is now available in my etsy pattern shop.
To celebrate I'm having a little sale on all the doll patterns in my shop. 20% off till the end of January 2018.

 I've wanted to make this set ever since I started creating these character dolls. Superman and Batman were the superhero films I grew up on, so there is a big nostalgia feel here.

I did get a bit bored of doing superheros in black suits after the Marvel lot, so I wanted to add more colour with these.  I've kept most of the dolls in their retro costumes but some I've combined some with a more modern style. As they've had many different costumes over the year, I've mixed things up and made these a bit more fun.

I picked this outfit for Batgirl because the colours are really bright and look great together. I think she looks so adorable.

The main man was a bit daunting. Such a reconcilable figure, it was really important to me to get him looking just perfect.
The main problem I had was his mask. In most pictures there are no visible eyes, as its black on black. I did think about doing a hood that covers the eye but it looked a bit spooky and didn't really look like Batman. In the end I changed my original mask pattern to give it more definition and a bit of a beak on the nose.I'm very happy with how he looks now, very cute, very Batman.

 I must have looked a well over a hundred pictures of Catwoman before I decided to go with this Anne Hathaway catwoman look. As before, I didn't think the fully hooded costumes were cute enough. With this design I could have hair to mess about with and style, (always fun). I also decided to go for a removable mask so you can play with it. (I may have gone around the house putting a tiny Catwoman mask on many things, including a cat)

 Harley Quinn. I know she is one of the most cosplayed characters for girls but I'm gonna be honest and say I'd never heard of her before I saw Suicide Squad. Its because if this, that when I decided to add her into this set, I knew I was going for her look for that film.
 Half the reason I wanted to add her was I just knew how much fun it would be to make that hair. It was, it was so much fun. Everyone is gonna love making this doll, I promise.

I may at some point do a more traditional costumed version of this doll but for now I'm very happy with her as she is.

 I bought a whole new range of 4ply cotton yarns just to get the colours for this bad boy. (lang Yarn and colours 4ply if your asking). As soon as the parcel of yarn arrived, I saw these colours were sat together in the bag and I did a little happy dance. I could finally make the Joker.
 I love him, He is perfect and adorable. I just know this pattern will be a big hit. Go on you know you want to make him too.

 Poison Ivy. I love that there is so many girl in this set. I love doing super cute hair. It really easy to re-create but the finished effect is just lovely. This little girl is seriously making me really want to dye my hair red again. This colour pallet is right up my street, so I am very happy with this finished design. I'm also really chuffed with a lovely little new technique I came up with to make her Ivy chain. Its very easy but super effective.

The Riddler. There are a lot of bad guys in Batman, I went for the Riddler in this set because of the pop of colour it would add. I certainly didn't recon on him being one of my favorites of the whole set. Isn't he adorable :)
That cane is just a paper clip bended and wrapped with yarn, but doesn't it look effective. (you don't want to know how long I searched round the house for wire before realizing a paperclip would work. I had a pot of them on my work table the whole time. Silly Liz)

Finally little Robin. I had to go retro on this the colours are so perfect for this set and make him very recognizable
 It might look like doing boys hair like this, is a bit complicated but its really not. Believe me if it wasn't super easy and enjoyable to create, I would not have it on my patterns. I don't do faffy things.
 That said, I have taken photos to create a tutorial to do the different types of hair on these dolls' I'll post it soon on here.


I am so happy with this set now it finished. I know its going to be very popular.
I'll defiantly be doing more DC doll sets, Justice League and maybe Suicide Squad, ooh and I've got to make Supergirl. 

 Thats all for today. I've got crocheting to do and I'm so excited about my next project I've got up early to get on with it.

If you want a hint...

Happy crocheting
Lots of love
Liz xxx

Happy new year

I'm pretty excited about this year. I have lots of projects planned and I'm helping with a series of crochet books that will start coming out this year. One thing is for sure its going to be a busy one again.

I put together this compilation picture of all the projects that have been published that I worked on in 2017. I did less magazine work last year and it meant that I could concentrate on updating my pattern and creating new designs that I really love.

This year I plan to do more of the same and hopefully they'll be a bit of knitting designing to add in there too.

I've already started some projects that'll be coming out soon. I had to stop playing with them this week as some book projects came in that needed to be put first but I'll be cracking on with them again this weekend and next week.

 First project I'll be releasing will be my new hat pattern. Yup thats me and a pile of hats behind me.
I think this will be a free pattern that may will go out with the first newsletter of the year. be sure your signed up to get your copy.

 I have a new set of character dolls that will be coming out very soon aswell. These just need to be put together and finished. Can you guess who they are going to be? Stay tuned to my Instagram @lizwardcrochet to find out more.

Finally after the huge success of my sheep draught excluder pattern over  the past few months, I've decided to add more designs to this range. First up is this which when finished will be a row of piglet (I know it looks a bit like a row of boobs at the mo).

I'm up for more suggestions to add to this group. I though about doing more animals and a row of beach houses but any other ideas would be great fully received.

Now I just have to finish my proper work before I can play. This is a very seeky peek at what I'm finishing today. Its for the book project so its very hush-hush. Its a lovely stitch but its a bit slow to work. Cal seems happy with it as her blanket.


If you are looking for a new project to start this year then have a look at my Etsy pattern shop 

 Thats all for today. Here's to a great 2018.
Happy crocheting
love Liz xxx