Being bad

Well after making this bracelet this morn I couldn't help but be bad and not do the important things on my to do list. Instead I just had to have ago making more mini amigurumi jewellery.

So here's the next one - zombie, half eaten brains, flowers and pearls :)

The good lights gone so these aren't the best pics but they give you an idea till I take better ones.

This was fiddly and painful to make. I have a blister on my hand due to the small crochet hook being shorter than a normal one and digging in my hand. I have lost fingernails and I stood on my pincushion. I had to completely change the pattern for the zombie 3 times as it didn't scale down well and I dropped my box of jewellery findings. I don't care though cause I love it.
 I was planning to put this in my etsy shop and flog it,  but no way, not this time. I'm keeping it, this little baby is mine, all mine mwhahaha :D

I am gonna have to make more of these though and if anyone wants one I'll do custom orders for them.

Maybe I'll make a ghostly one next :)

Skull bracelet

While writing my to do list for the crochet I'm gonna work on today, I stumbled on the idea to make some crochet skull earrings.
I thought is I'd used a pattern I've already written (the skull pattern in the bobble bunch) but use embroidery floss and a tiny crochet hook to change the gauge and make them smaller.

 It was surprisingly easy to crochet with the smaller hook and fine thread and if anything theonly problem I had was the skull I made was too big for earrings.

 Not to worry I decided to turn it into a bracelet.

I crocheted a small flower flower to go with it (one of the two free flower patterns coming up soon) and found some nice red, black and clear hearts and gems beads from my bead box. Then after a bit of fiddling around this is what I got.

I have made it asymmetric as I though three crochet charms would be too busy and I'm really happy with the way its turned out. Its not too heavy and looks really cute on.

I have a whole list of patterns to work on today but I'm so temped to kinda forget about them till Monday and made a zombie and brain bracelet next :)

What do you guys think? would you wear amigurumi jewellery?

I'm linking in with handmade monday :) 

Cassi

I am a great big blob of love and happiness right now
Cassi my cat who has been missing for nearly 2 weeks is home. safe and sound.

I was out posting leaflets about her in the streets around my home to see if anyone had seen her when a couple who were out washing their caravan and stopped to chat. They had heard Cassi was missing from their son who'd seen it on twitter and would you believe it but that very moment Cassi appeared walking across the road behind us. I then had to try and thank the lovely couple and send them to send my thanks to their son with a wriggling cat in my arms who wasn't to pleased about having her adventure cut short.
 I now have Cassi home, she wolfed down a tin of food and is now asleep on her favourite cushion.
Happy sigh :)

Thanks again to everyone who tweeted or shared my post on facebook xxx

amigurumi bugs

 My new range of patterns for amigurumi bugs just about finished. I've a snail to finish off and I think I might add a ladybird and butterfly but for now here are my new amigurumi bug patterns.

Bea the bee is a very simple pattern suitable for beginners in amigurumi it uses only single crochet and a bit of double and treble stitches in the wings. As with most of my patterns its written so that no increases and decreases are visible and uses DK yarn.

I'm gonna make a few of these and make them into a mobile I think they would look cool in my nephews nursery.

 Molly the worm.
 This is another simple amigurumi. This one takes a bit more time to make than some of my other patterns and her hat is a little bit fiddly but totally worth it. She really is the nicest worm you are ever likely to meet. This is one of those patterns you'll make as a gift and then have to make it again as you couldn't bring yourself to give your first one again.

Dot the dragonfly.
 This pattern is a little more complex than the others but only really in the making up. I've added a tread to the yarn on the wings to give the effects of dragonfly wings and also to help stiffen them so they don't flop about if shes flying.

Well my personal challenge of getting 5 patterns written, made and posted this weekend is nearly done. I'm gonna treat myself to a glass of wine tonight :)

Lost cat

My lovely cat Cassi has gone missing. I'm hoping with the power of the Internet behind us we might be able to find her.

I'm gonna put all the info here and if you would all be so kind as to share this post on your facebook, twitterand other such sites. Even if your not from york some you know may be and they might pass it on to the person that finds her.

Her name is cassi. She is quite skittish and probably wont come to a stranger if called. She was last seen in the greenshaw area of haxby in York uk. She is wearing a black and red staywell collar that has lost its id tag.

If you have any information at all please contact me via my personal email lizduttons@live.com or leave a comment here or on my facebook page.

Thank you to everyone who helps share this and I really hope we find her she is a very special cat

Fritz the owl

Meet Fritz

 Fritz is the first from my busy week writing patterns and making samples. I'm gonna have a bash at getting some patterns into crochet magazines :)
With owls being really popular at the mo I thought I'd try making a bigger one. This guy was inspired by one of the laser wooden buttons we have at work. They are from a company called button it  and they make such wonderful fun designs they'd all make cool toys.
 He quite a bit bigger than other amigurumis I've made but it makes him just the right size for a cuddle.

I really like using multicoloured yarn when making owls as it means everyone you make is different and has its own personality. This one can be made with any DK weight yarn and it doesn't take a lot so he'll be great to use up yarn  left over from other projects.

The pattern will be coming soon to my etsy shop so watch this space.

I'm linking in with handmade monday go have a look at all the other lovely craft blogs

Buttonhole scarf

I'm working on easy patterns for the begginers crochet classes

This is a great pattern for beginners in crochet. It uses all the basic stitches you would learn in your first classes and as you keep repeating and changing between the stitches it makes it easier to remember them.  It is only a short scarf or neck warmer if you like so it quite quick to crochet and doesn’t use much yarn.

You will need

100g ball of Dk weight yarn

5mm crochet hook

Wool needle

Abbreviations

St Stitches (this is shown at the end of every row so you know how many stitches you should have at the end of the round)

CH chain

SS slip stitch

SC single crochet

DC double crochet

TC treble crochet

Pattern

This pattern is worked in rows back and forth at the beginning of a new row you turn the work and chain up a bit to start your next row.

Ch 21

Row 1 – SC in second Ch from hook and then in each Ch across                       20St

Row 2 – Ch 2 and turn. Work 1 DC in each SC across                                      20St

Row 3 – Ch 3 and turn. Work 1 TC in each DC across                                      20St

*Row 4 – Ch 1 and turn. Work 1 SC in each TC across                                     20 st

Row 5 – Ch 2 and turn. Work 1 DC in each SC across                                      20St

Row 6 – Ch 3 and turn. Work 1 TC in each DC across  **                                20St

Repeat from * to **   17 times or until work measures 70cm/ 27” (you should end on a treble row)

Create buttonhole

Ch 1 and turn. Work 1 SC in the next 5 TCs, Ch 20, skip the next 20 TCs, and work 1 SC in the next 5 TCs.

Ch 2 and turn. Work 1 DC in the next 5 SCs, work 20 DCs in the Ch space, and work 1 DC in the next 5 SCs.         

Ch 3 and turn. Work 1 TC in each DC across                                                     20St

Continue from * to ** repeat 3 more times ending on a treble row. Cut yarn and draw through loop to secure.

Sew in loose ends using wool needle.

 

 To wear loop round you neck and post the beginning end of your scarf through the buttonhole.

For an alternative version you could attach a large interesting button  of make a flower corsage to decorate you scarf.

I'll be writting up the pattern for this flower corsage to go with this scarf next.

 Happy crochetng :)