0 Goron Amigurumi

I actually finished this project a long time ago but never blogged it. I felt maybe it was too incongruous with the general garment theme of my blog that's happening right now, but then I was was all "wait a minute, I can post whatever I like on my blog!".
So here is a weird little amigurumi I designed.

I have designed a few in the past, like these bunnies and this nerdy little guy. I tend to get wrapped up in complicated ideas and personal challenges, so naturally after my first few I decided to design something super fancy.
This took me basically forever to figure out, but I did it. Since then, I think I've only made one more amigurumi; It think I basically got it out of my system for a while, haha!

This was another design from the video game The Legend of Zelda. This dude is a Goron. It is a species that is basically made of rock. I made it for my husband but also well, probably mainly for the intriguing challenge!

All those rocky lumps on its back were plotted out and are various sizes for appropriate lumpitude.
I had to play with the shapes a lot to get them right. (A lot of pulling apart body and head and playing with limb sizes too!) The lumps are popcorn stitch which I also changed colour on as I went.

It was a challenge to simplify the shapes enough to make them in crochet while trying to keep it adequately Goron-like.

What did I learn from this project? I learned that designing something like this actually takes a pretty long time, and that I'm a sucker for adding lots of details (okay, I already knew that one). I like designing and making amigurumi but my practical side screams, "You can't wear that!! Focus on your closet!". So I probably will be doing that for the next wee while!

Of course, now that I've started study (eeeeep, btw!), I've got less time to sew (sad face), though I'll hopefully still have a few projects to share now and again...

Oh, and in other news, the Beignet Skirt won The Monthly Stitch Poll with almost half the votes (followed up by Gertie's Shirtwaist Dress and the Kelly Skirt in last place)! Yes, you have all decided for me that this month I'll be making Beignet! Again, may I say eeeeep, and wish me luck :)
Thanks for voting guys!

Detail: Goron Amigurumi

0 Merry Christmas!

Recently the Wellington Sewing Bloggers got together and had a mid-Winter Christmas!  Don't be confused, it's just that us kiwis have our Christmas in summer, so sometimes we play pretend Christmas in the middle of winter.  Makes perfect sense right?
Huge thanks to Joy for hosting, organising, and making it such an awesome time.

Much crafty fun and gossip was had by all of course.  And we had an ornament swap!

Me pulling a weird face while I open mine!

Kat opening the ornament I made!

All the presents together.  I love Mel's reindeer.. gotta make one!

Here's a close up of the cute wee angel I received from Maryanne:

I worked really hard on my ornament, putting way too much effort in as usual, haha!

I started with this pattern but had to modify it when I couldn't find the supplies I needed!

Anyway, I have this light box that I made ages ago, so I thought I'd better put the darn thing to use!  (Not sure if was worth making, but I guess it does make nice pics!)

The icing and cupcake part are amigurumi from the pattern.  The base is hand stitched felt (finished with a blanket stitch on the top and bottom, with running stitch for vertical lines).  I designed the cherry and hanger myself.  I got a tiny hook and some perle cotton for that bit.  So fiddly!  The hanger is just a long chain anchored to the ornament.  And the cherry is just a stuffed ball!  Not too complicated, but it took me ages, haha!  Micro crochet was fun though.

Back view for good luck.  You can see the felt seam here and the "sprinkles" a bit better.

The craft was a fun diversion, and it seems a lot less stressful than sewing can be- if you fail you don't have to try and wear it!  lol.  It was also good to keep my crochet in practice... you never know when you'll need it! :)  

I put a lot of love into it, so I hope Kat's tree enjoys this ornament for years to come.

Detail: Merry Christmas!

0 Almost-Too-Cute Crochet Scarf

Okay, maybe you've figured out I'm a giant sucker for cute stuff.  So I couldn't resist making this heart scarf when I saw it on Ravelry. 

I actually finished it a little while back, but didn't get around to photographing it.  We got a fancy new camera this week so it was a perfect opportunity to go check out a fabric shop (40% off sale!), and get some photos.
Note:  I did not buy a single thing at the store... what a good girl am I.

Except I wasn't a good enough girl to block it before wearing it.. naughty naughty.  I'll have to have a go at steam blocking it and see how much it improves its appearance!

My husband is a great photographer right? :D  He has been teaching me how to use it...

I pretty much did exactly as the pattern said, and it was really fun and easy!  Gotta love projects like that :)

A fabric store is the perfect place for photographs... so colourful!

I could hang around in fabric stores for hours.

I don't think this is the world's most versatile scarf, but I think it'll be fun when I do wear it!  It's kinda cutesy and kinda granny-chic.  But I'm very okay with that.  In the end, you just have to wear what makes you happy. :)

Detail: Almost-Too-Cute Crochet Scarf

0 Nifty Acquisitions

Do you like pictures of old craft books?  Of course you do.  Silly question.

While visiting my husband's parents over Christmas, I was given some old treasures.  They are so neat.  Check them out!

Ooh boy, Thirteen HUNDRED!! :O

With all these stitch patterns, I could design fancy knitwear of my own!  (Well, maybe not YET!)  It also has a tips section.  And cool looking 70s illustrations:

Here are just some of the fancy stitch patterns.

And this too:  The Reader's Digest Complete Guide to Needlecraft!

This covers a huge variety of crafts, some of which I'll probably never explore... but still.  Neat!
The knitting and crochet sections are great, and I'm sure I could learn a lot from them.  I'd better get studying!

Just one example of the wonders within.

Do you guys sometimes feel like books are awesome to have, but find it hard to get around to reading and utilising them?  It's my goal to pick up at least a few tips from these great books.

I probably won't make lace.  But look at the lace!!

By the way... it's my birthday today!  (Yes, my real one, unlike last time.)  My husband was so sweet as to get me this:

Isn't it great?  I'mma put so many things in it.  Also how cute is the tape measure trim?

And a book too!  Isn't he the best?  I'm thinking of putting up a review.  Is anyone interested in this book?  I'd love to show you the designs!

It's a very happy birthday when you get crafty gifts! :D

Also, in other news, this weekend I am meeting up with my fellow Wellington Bloggers for the second time!  I'll be wearing a new dress made from something I obtained on our last adventure... You'll just have to wait and see (and guess!).  But the result is very vintage-looking indeed.  Stay tuned folks!

Detail: Nifty Acquisitions

0 Crochet Kick

I've been busy hooking!
These are some projects I've made over the last few months!
I thought I'd lump them all together since they're just a little bit of cute fun :)  Nothing too serious here!

I made an amigurumi bear for my sister's birthday:

Design by Ana Paula Rimoli

And later I made that bear's twin for myself.  I've had a kit for this for ages!
I love his little scarf :)

Why not crochet a cute apple dishcloth?  (Free pattern on Ravelry.)  Let's just say it looks a little worse for wear after use in the kitchen...  I was however impressed with its cleaning power!

Another amigurumi:

Design by Ana Paula Rimoli

Then I got to work having a go at designing a few of my own amigurumi:

I stuck with a theme of bunnies and tried to make a few variations.

Quite the line-up, no?

I also made a fancy DIY light tent to photograph my small stuff in.  These photos look suspiciously well lit, right?

All thanks to this weird thingy!

See the tutorial I used here.

Thanks to my husband for fiddling with the camera and knowing things about photography.  I really don't have a clue when it comes to cameras so he helps me out! :)

Now I've got some crochet out of my system it's back to knitting and sewing!

Detail: Crochet Kick

0 Keeping Warm

I made some accessories a little while ago and only just lucked out into getting good enough weather for photos!

The gloves are a free pattern on Ravelry called Vancouver Fog.
My project details on Ravelry here.

They turned out a lot longer than the pattern picture, but the extra length has actually been really nice on my frozen hands as I walk to work in the morning!
I can fold them back though and they look nicer that way.  I think it's because I have small hands!

A comparison.

I found these really quite challenging- making cables while working in a small circumference in the round.  I'm not used to either of those things so it took ages!
And don't even ask about the cast on... the pattern recommended a circular tubular cast on.  What a nightmare- I'm still traumatised, and to be honest, I don't even think it looks that amazing for all that effort, lol!

Nice and simple underneath.

I also made this Crochet Cloche, which may I add has a HIDEOUS sample, lol!  I looked beyond for the potential within!
My notes are here on Ravelry.

Okay so be honest guys, does it evoke the graceful 30s vibe I wanted it to, or is it 90s bucket hat? (eew!)

Probably not my favourite thing ever made, but it does keep my head damn warm!

Oh by the way guys, GUYS, I made an important discovery recently.  I hate recaptcha comment verifications so much- and I realised thanks to this post that my blog had those annoying things on it!!  They are removed now, so be free!!  Comment without fear!  I hope to hear from more of you now :)
And guys, don't forget to check your blogs too- recaptchas are a giant nuisance, right??

Detail: Keeping Warm

0 Chihuahua Amigurumi

Well after my first amigurumi, I knew I had to make another!
Luckily I had a friend who wanted me to make her one, based on her own pet chihuahua!
For this one, I used most of the basic body from the bunny I first made, but designed my own ears and tail, as well as adding in some fancy colour changes :)

I have to give him away :(

It was a lot of fun designing the amigurumi, and it isn't hard either!  All I did was use the basic principles I had learnt from the bunny design I made, and researched how to change colours.  The hardest thing about this project was finding the supplies!  All over the internet people seem to recommend 10ply acrylic or cotton, and it seems that in New Zealand 10 ply is incredibly hard to find!  We seem to have mostly 8 ply, for some reason!  So in the end I just bought 8 ply, and it worked just fine.  In fact it seemed just as thick as the yarn from the bunny kit, so maybe I'd just been using 8 ply all along..?

The other thing that proved impossible to find was the safety eyes.  I couldn't find them here in New Zealand so I ordered some from etsy.  These are 9mm by the way :)
 

I was a bit worried they wouldn't stand out black on black- but they are nice and shiny so it works :)

The tail is simply felt!

Of course I had to take a photo with his friend the bunny :)

You can see how different the yarns are- The acrylic I bought is quite fuzzy, with less stitch definition as well as ending up a bit firmer.  It doesn't necessarily make it 'worse', I think both are quite attractive, and suit their designs well.  Somehow though for future projects I think I will prefer the kit yarn, which I suspect may be cotton.  I'll have to continue my search!

My hand might give you an idea of how big it is!

Yay!  Amigurumi are a lot of fun :)

Detail: Chihuahua Amigurumi

0 My first crochet hat! :)

Wow, I can't believe I've made a crochet hat!  I didn't know how to crochet at all at the start of the year, learnt the basics with amigurumi, and now this!  I have to say, it's not that I'm good, it's just that crochet is well.. pretty easy, once you know the basics!  :)  Well, this project was easy.  I'm sure there are plenty of hard projects out there!
It's addictive too.  It's always "just one more row...".  The project went so quickly that I was sad when it was over.

I made this for a friend's baby :)

Without further ado, some pics:

Here is the work in progress

Once it's done, you spray it with water and put in on a balloon for shaping!

I was pleased to find out that it was the right size, with just a little extra for growing.  (I was good and did a gauge swatch!)  And here it is on the recipient!

What a cutie :)

This was lots of fun, and now I'm hungry for more crochet!  There are more details of my project here on Ravelry.
p.s The project is a free pattern! :)

Detail: My first crochet hat! :)

0 More Fitting!

Well, well, fitting, we meet again.  Last time I left you I'd made some progress but I still had a nasty sway back to deal with.  Get ready to see lots of pictures of me in a bed sheet!

The dastardly sway back

Since then, I've added width to the back by slashing and spreading at the hem on each side, because it wasn't going over my bum properly.
Then, it was time to tackle the sway-back.  Again, I was pretty overwhelmed.  But I am still trying!  Here are the results of my sway back experiments.

First I pinned out some above the waist:

Well, disgusting.

As you can see it gave a lovely tented look which made me look pregnant.  Next!
Then I pinned underneath the waistline, but I took too much out:

The hem is too high in the back, but at least I have shape!

Okay, at this point I caved and asked In House Patterns' Alexandra for help- she was so lovely to help me AGAIN!  So I pinned less out ON the waistline:

Alright, not bad, a bit rumply though!

Now I'm not sure this is kosher, but here's my latest experiment, pinning out a bit BELOW that as well!

Is this anything?

As you can see the hem is still higher in the back, but I think that length gets added back in in the sway back adjustment.....
So, I'm still wondering what exactly to do, but I'm slowly getting there... maybe!

Now, to cheer myself up from all this struggle, here is something I didn't mess up!
I've been practicing my crochet skills with scrap yarn- I made these for practice using this free pattern.

Hearts can't have swaybacks, yay!

Well, if anyone has any insights, do let me know!  I appreciate the awesome feedback and support from the web that I've gotten!  You guys are the best :)

Detail: More Fitting!