The hedgehog family

 I've been working on the hedgehog pattern I showed you last week.

I loved making this pattern so much I decided to turn it into a family of hedgehogs.

 Mummy, Daddy and baby hedgehog. Don't they make a cute family :)

This pattern is the first of a new pattern set called woodland cuties. These patterns take the next step in amigurumi and use a new technique that I call over-working. Its a very simple process (when you get the hang of it) but it does take a bit more time than normal amigurumi making. I hope you'll agree its worth the extra time to get the depth in texture.

These hedgehogs have been in my bag with me all week and they are a big hit with everyone I've met. So much so in fact, that I've nearly lost them a few times, as most people don't want to give them back once they have had a cuddle. I don't blame them but I'm not giving them up with a fight :)

 The hedgehogs enjoying some signs of spring in the garden

The only thing is I can't think of any names for them, so if anyone has any ideas let me know.

The pattern for these is now available in my etsy shop here

Update I've introduced a tutorial page for this pattern to help with the new stitch you can find it here

Next up is a very cute squirrel.........

I'm linking in with handmade monday :)

Getting my groove back.

Sorry I haven't blogged much lately, I've been snowed under with deadlines for book and magazine work. As I can't show photos of what I'm working on for them till they are published its a bit tricky finding time to work on my own patterns or make other things to blog about.

My latest deadline was this Friday, so I planned a weekend of carefree crafting to celebrate. I've had so many ideas that I've been waiting to get cracking with but when I actually sat down to start work nothing when my way. Every stitch was a struggle, the patterns weren't working and I just wasn't feeling the love.

I realised that I've been pushing myself and working so hard on the book that crochet now seemed more like work than play.  I thought I'd have to take a break from crochet until that urge to pick up a hook came back but I still wanted to finish what I'd started so I battled on. 

This bunny is the first thing off my hook and is for a new set of traditional amigurumi patterns these will be Bunny's, bears and other things in jumpers and dresses.

 While I'm quite happy with this pattern but I don't love the bunny yet. He is sweet and he is growing on me now hes finished and I'm sure by the time I've made all his friends I'll love them all.

The blue arms and legs are for his friend who is a bear in a blue jumper. I have completed him yet so there will be more pictures to come soon.

Next up I started work on another pattern set woodland cuties. I've been wanted to start this set all year but I just haven't had chance. This set will be owls, squirrels, deer, raccoons and every thing cute that lives in and near a woodland. I knew I wanted to start with a hedgehog and I wanted to make the spikes out of crochet not by using fancy eyelash wool or a loop stitch.

Experimentation, a lot of maths and a truly brilliant brainwave (if I do say so myself) and a day later I had this....

It was time consuming, fiddly and with boring coloured yarn but oh my it was fun to make :) This adorable little hedgehog flew off my hook, I was so excited about crocheting again and I couldn't wait to meet her. I'm happy to say I have my crocheting mojo back and I'm looking forward to creating more woodland creatures so she can have some friends.

Now I just need to think up some names for them :)

Well I'm a bit late but I'm sure I can squeeze in on handmade Monday why not have a wander over yourselves and see what the lovely craft bloggers have been up too

Happy bithday to me

Its my birthday so I thought I'd give away a few presents to you

first up is a free pattern for this little bunny

You will need

DK weight yarn in light brown 

3.5mm crochet hook

6mm safety toy eyes

Wool needle

Toy stuffing

Embroidery thread

Embroidery needle

Fabric Glue

Long pins

Heart shaped mini button.

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

HDC half double crochet

INC single crochet increase (2 single crochet into the stitch)

DEC single crochet decrease (single crochet the next 2 stitches together by inserting yarn into the next stitch, draw through a loop, insert hook into the next stitch, draw through a loop, yarn over and draw through all 3 loops on hook) *I like to give the yarn a little tug after doing this stitch to make sure the decrease is nice and tight which is important cause these guys are so little*

() around Brackets show an action that is to be repeated .

* A note on starting out. You can use magic ring or if you can do what I do which is make sure the ball of yarn is to your right and the cut end in you left hand, make a loop, chain up 2 then work your starting round in the second chain from hook. It’s up to you there is no one right or wrong way to do it *

This pattern is all worked in a spiral; use a contrasting piece of yarn as a row marker so you know when you have got to the end of the row.

Bunny head

Use 3.5mm crochet hook and your choice of yarn

Row 1 – Start with 6SC into ring                6St

Row 2 – (INC) around                                  12St

Row 3 – (1SC, INC) around                         18St

Row 4 – 1SC (INC, 2SC) around, 1SC         24St

Row 5 – (INC, 3SC) around                         30St

Row 6 – (SC) around                                    30St *Mark this round with a contrasting piece of yarn*

Row 7 – (SC) around                                    30St

Row 8 – (SC) around                                    30St

Row 9 – (DEC, 3SC) around                         24St

*Now to place your toy eyes, Unless otherwise stated on the animal your making, place your safety toys eyes 7 post apart on row 6 (the row you marked)*

Row 10 – 1SC (DEC, 2SC) around, 1SC         18St

Row 11 – (1SC, DEC) around                         12St *Stuff your bunny head now*

Row 12 – (DEC) around                                  6St

Cut the yarn leaving a long tail and pull through loop to secure.

Using a wool needle weave the yarn through the last 6 Stitches and pull tight to close. Weave in yarn ends and cut off remaining yarn.

Embroider a small triangle nose in-between the eyes  and then a upside down Y underneath to form mouth.

Bunny ears

 *make 2 using the same yarn as the bunny head and 3.5mm crochet hook*

Row 1 – Start with 6SC into ring                6St

Row 2 – (1SC, INC) around                           9St

Row 3-5 – (SC) around                                 9St

Row 6 – DEC (SC) around                            8St

Row 7 – DEC (SC) around                            7St

Row 8 – DEC (SC) around                            6St

Row 9 – DEC (SC) around                            5St

Row 10 – (SC) around                                  5St

Row 11 – (SC) around                                  5St

Cut the yarn leaving a long tail and pull through loop to secure.

Press flat to give you a nice little ear shape.

Sew in place on the head above the eyes.

Body

Use 3.5mm crochet hook and same yarn as head

Row 1 – Start with 6SC into ring                6St

Row 2 – (SC) around                                    6St

Row 3 – (INC) around                                  12St

Row 4 – (SC) around                                    12St

Row 5 – (1SC, INC) around                         18St

Row 6 – (SC) around                                    18St

Row 7 – (SC) around                                    18St

Row 8 – (SC) around                                    18St

Row 9 – (1SC, DEC) around                         12St *Stuff the body now*

Row 10 – (DEC) around                                6St

Cut the yarn leaving a long tail and pull through loop to secure.

Using a wool needle weave the yarn through the last 6 Stitches and pull tight to close. Weave in yarn ends and cut off remaining yarn.

Leg

*make 2 using the same yarn as the bunny head and 3.5mm crochet hook*

Row 1 – Start with 6SC into ring                 6St

Row 2 – (1SC, INC) around                           9St

Row 3 – (SC) around                                      9St

Row 4 – (1SC, DEC) around                          6St

Row 5 – DEC (SC) around                             5St

Row 6 – DEC (SC) around                             4St

Row 7 – (SC) around                                     4St 

      

 Cut the yarn leaving a long tail and pull through loop to secure.

Use a pencil or the blunt end of your crochet hook to get a bit of toy stuffing into the leg.

Sew in place on the bottom of the body. Weave in any loose yarn ends and cut off excess.

Arm

*make 2 using the same yarn as the bunny head and 3.5mm crochet hook*

Row 1 – Start with 6SC into ring                 6St

Row 2 – (SC) around                                     6St 

Row 3 – DEC (SC) around                             5St

Row 4 – DEC (SC) around                             4St

Row 5 – (SC) around                                     4St 

Row 6 – (SC) around                                     4St 

 Cut the yarn leaving a long tail and pull through loop to secure.

Use a pencil or the blunt end of your crochet hook to get a bit of toy stuffing into the arm.

Sew in place on the sides of the body. Weave in any loose yarn ends and cut off excess.

To finish use fabric glue or sew a small heart shaped button to the bunny’s tummy.

happy crocheting :)

Busy busy

I was surprised this week when this photo popped up on my facebook feed. It was a post from inside crochet magazine asking readers to guess what it is. It would have been cheating if I guessed as I recognised him straight away. I made him.

Its my little knitting sheep. He is the fist pattern I have done for inside crochet and hes in the issue that comes out this Friday. I love how the have photographed him he looks very cute and well read.

.

I have had some strange comments about him, the main one being he should be crocheting.

Well sorry but it never even crossed my mind when I came up with this design that I was combining crafts and this might cause some strange comments. I knit and I crochet. I love both crafts. I though a sheep who was knitting was a fun and cute idea. If you can't do one or the other, then you can combine this project with a friend who can. While your at it, why not get them to show you a few stitches and have a go at the other craft, you might just like it :)
 We all take yarn and sticks and make lovely things and we should all just get along. 

Ok mini rant over. Time for a catch up. The past two weeks I've been working on the patterns for the book commission. It has been long stressful days but a very enjoyable challenge. My deadline to get the patterns in was last Thursday and I made it. I am happy with what I've come up with, it was a tight brief but my style comes through in the designs so I'm happy.

I can't show you any of that work till the book is published but I'll keep you posted.

I can show you this little guy. He didn't quite hit the brief so I've kept this pattern for me and worked another one for the book. When I get a spare hour or two I'll get this pattern typed up and get it in my etsy shop for you.

Its been ages since I made a real traditional amigurumi bear and this little guy is so cute. He doesn't have a name yet so I'm open to suggestions.

I gave myself a few days to relax and recharge after my deadline but I just can't keep my hands off my hook and so I had a play with some new stitches to make some bathroom accessories.

Its a lot of things for one photo but I'll break it down. On the left is a scrubby, I make these for the bathroom all the time, in fact I posted a pattern here ages ago. I have refined that pattern to make it easier to understand and give perfect results.

 Next is a soap scrubber (the thing with buttons on) this is a little open weave bag that you put your soap in and then use it to wash with. Its a great idea for using up bits of soap, I however have filled it with a yummy smelling rose soap I got for Christmas :)

At the end are the wash cloths. Simple but tricky to get the right size and shape. I've been playing around with new ways of forming the foundation chain so you don't have to block these. I've leaned you don't even need to make a chain at all and there is a new way of using the crochet stitch to get an edge. It didn't work for these but I luckily found a way that does.

 Last up is this little pot. This started life a a little tumbler but I couldn't help going one step further and make a lid. The flower on top is another new idea of using amigurumi shapes in different ways. Would it shock you to know this flower is actually made up of bunny ears?

There is also some crochet jewellery and some herb pots I've made this weekend while I've been "resting" but I didn't take photos of them. I'll save them for another post.

Oh and for all those doing a weather check. Hardly any snow here in York. It was white over on Saturday but its all gone now :)

Its back to work today I have another pattern due today that at the mo is only in my head but first I'm gonna have another cup of tea and head on over to handmade Monday and see what the other craft bloggers have been up to.

Lets knit bunny

Last week when I wrote my post for handmade monday I had had a crazy week but all my work was finished and my diary was clear. I was looking forward to working on my own projects and having a bit of free time. Well that lasted all of one day.

 On Tuesday I recieved an email from one of my magazine editors asking if I'd like to do some patterns for a new crochet book. I was shocked and honered to be asked, as I'm such a new designer but of course I jumped it the chance. 5 big projects due beginning the of april, it would be hard work but a fun, interesting challenge and I couldn't wait to get started. Next I get an email telling me that they need the patterns for the 21st of march and the completed items by april. So my deadlines pretty much been cut in half.

When I design I do a quick scetch of proportions and the look I want, and then work out the best way to crochet each part. Then I make each part to check the pattern is going to work, making amendments to the rough pattern as I go. Finally I write up the pattern and test it. All in all it takes anything from 2-3 days per pattern. Taking the day job into account I worked out I had 6 full days plus evenings to complete these patterns for the deadline. Thats a very scary, very tight deadline.

I've been working flat out, up to 16 hour days ever since. Its hard work, its tiring but its wonderful. I'm producing patterns I'm really proud of. The challenge to work on such diffrent projects at the same time keep it interestind. I wish I could share some photos with you but that will have to wait for the book to be published and till then I'll keep you posted with how I'm getting on.

Its only been about 6 months since I started working with magazine and my first commision was published this week. Back in November/ December Lets Knit magazine asked me to create a bunny and chick for their easter magazine and now finally I can show you some pictures.

 This is the photo from the magazine. They have called them Suzy and Percy. I'm so pleased with how they look certanly puts my photo below to shame.

Its a complete delight to see my patterns in magazines and I had to resist the urge to tell everyone in WH smiths that it was my pattern when I went in on friday to buy my copy. When I opened it I was shocked again to find they had inclued my pattern in a 5 page spread about amigurumi and me. Its a lovely artical and a great magazine, I hope it inspires some of the knitters out there to give crochet a chance.

If you are on ravelry there is a link to this project here

Back to work for me now but not before I check out handmade monday :)

My new castle

 Its been a very busy few weeks here. As you know i've been moving house but on top of that I've been over run with work. My easter bunny and chick pattern will be in lets knit next weeks, they are going to do a big feature on amigurumi to go with it so they have been keeping me busy writting some hints and tips for the artical. I also got another commision from Craftseller magazine with my shortest dealine so far. I'm cutting it fine my dealine is tommorow and I only finished typing up the copy this afternoon. It was a bit of a new one for me but I'm really happy with the project now its finished. Its taken a lot of work and late night and it hasn't helped with the stress of the move but now its done I can't wait to see it in the magazine and see what you guys all think I can't say anymore but maybe a look at the yarn I've used will give a a hint. If anyone does guess what I've made from this bundle I might have to give you a prize :)

I'm about 3/4 unpacked in my new home now. There are still a few boxes hanging around but I'm getting there slowly. One of my favourate things in my new home is the book nook. Surounding the bed are full bookcases that go over the bed and on ether side. Sitting on the bed is the perfect place to read and relax. I'm looking forward to being able to buy more books to fill them up and having more time to read again.

 The cats have settled in nicely. They have lots of space so they can get away from each other if they need to and they seem to be much happier cats. Cassis favourate spot is the shelf behind the sofa. I've given up trying to put anything on this shelf as it just gets knocked off and so it is now know as the cat shelf.

 Cal likes to be upstairs more has taken over the bedroom but she comes when I call skidding like a fool on the laminate flooring. I souldn't laugh but its so fuuny when shes playing with her feather toy and goes flying cause shes not used to the now slippy floor.

It doesn't realy count as crafting but I did take a bit of time to turn this laundy basket into a nice seat. An old square pillow, some new fabric and a staple gun and there you have it. I use it to store my yarn I'm working with at the mo, stash. It is full :)

I'll leave you with a few shots of my new garden as I wander over to handmade monday to catch up on what my fellow craft bloggers have been up to while I've been away.

Azkaban challenge 1

This is the first of a new feature that will be on the blog every other month. Its a creative budget challenge that is run by Abakhan fabrics website. Every other months I get to pick lovely items from their amazing online shop that stocks all the fabrics, haberdashery, yarn and craft supplies that a craft shopaholic like me could hope to fine. I get a budget of £15 and then I will share with you what I have been able to make from my budget bundle.

For my first challenge I was in heaven picking craft supplies from the vast amount an Abakhans website. I was happy to see they stocked Jame C Brett Cotton on yarn. This is one of my favourite yarns for making amigurumi so I could resist getting a few balls. I chose a fresh pale green, duck egg blue and a lovely warm beige. I had a few ideas for what I wanted to make so I added some felt squares in similar colours and some buttons. With penny's still in my shopping budget I chose some gingham fabric on a bit of a whim :)

 This was the lovely bundle of goodies that arrived a few days later.

The first thing I wanted to make was something that used a bit of everything I'd ordered. I wanted to make a pencil case. Using the simple random stripe pattern that worked so well on my crochet vases, I made a simple small bag. This is the same pattern as the owl bag just made longer and shorter. When that was finished I deiced to contract the stripes with circles of layered up felt and a button on top hand sewn onto one side of the case.

For the lining I used the gingham fabric and found a zip from my craft stash as I hadn't thought to add one to my order.

 I hand sewed the zip and lining into place but you could just as easily use a sewing machine. Mine is currently somewhere behind a wall of boxes :(

The finished design is simple but modern. I'm really pleased. I did intend it to be a pencil case but my crochet hooks seem to have found there way inside and they seem very happy and cosy so I think I'll leave them there for now :)

With this project complete and hardly any of of craft bundle gone I decided to do what I do best and make an amigurumi. It Chinese new year so I thought I'd stick with tradition and make a snake.

The pattern for this snake I'm writing up at the mo and he's going to be a free pattern that I'll post on here later today or tomorrow at the latest.

Isn't he a sweetie. He is such a simple pattern and I'm sure you'll all enjoy making him. I really can't recommend the James C Brett Yarn enough for amis it is slightly thicker than normal DK weight yarn so you don't get any stuffing showing through your amis.

Even after making the snake there was still loads of stuff left from my craft bundle so I've started making granny squares. I'm not sure what I'm going to turn these into maybe a bag or a hot water bottle cover but I'll keep you posted. I might even get a few more projects out of this bundle so I'll do another round up of what I made at the end of the month.

I'm linking in with handmade Monday this may be the last one I get to join in with before the move so I'm gonna enjoy having broadband while I still do and have a read of what all my fellow crafters have been up to this week