Crochet Popsicle with Embroidery Floss

**I apologize for my lack of updates! I've been un-crafty lately and haven't really made anything this summer/fall. This project I did earlier in the summer, and I'm starting to get back in the grooove of things. *fingers crossed* Stay tuned to here or my other beauty blog for more updates! www.igknowidea.blogspot.com**

From the Amigurumi Sweets book that I purchased back in April, I made a popsicle that was about 1.5 inches tall! It's super cute and instead of using regular yarn, I used embroidery floss. From the Spool Knit Jewelry book, which came with a crochet hook that is used for string, I knew that this would be the perfect tool to use with such a thin crochet thread.

Sweets Amigurumi Japanese book

Source: Amazon in Japan

This past weekend, I treated myself to a Sweets Japanese Amigurumi book. Amazingly, this book- written all in Japanese- which I cannot read, taught me something. I have been doing the single crochet stitch WRONG. For the past 6-8 months, since I started learning to crochet, my single crochets have been wrong... How? After I put the hook into the yarn and yarn over, instead of pulling out just one yarn-ed over yarn, I pulled out TWO. which basically means my stitches are a bit shorter.. and why some of my rounds or rows are so close together..

So glad I got this book!

Now that I know what I did wrong.. I will practice and make sweets for my sweet! Who will that be? ;)

Lion Brand's Pond Friends Stacking Toy

Happy New Year!

If you have been following this blog, you know that I have been working like a busy bee on a crocheted baby toy. I am SO Happy to announce that it is completed! I worked on this before the baby was born and now that she is here, happy and healthy, she can finally play with this! Or at least look at it... :)

This is called the Pond Friends Stacking Toy (three rings stacked- a bumblebee, a lady bug and a dragonfly) from the Lion Brand Yarn free pattern collection. I actually found this from Joann.com but now that I have discovered Lion Brand's website and free pattern collection, I will be using them as a direct resource! Joann's website has changed a bit and has made the search for patterns a bit more difficult..

Picture from Joann.com


My version :)



If you want to make a Pond Friends Stacking Toy too, go to Lion Brand's website!!. Love them!

Amigurumi Carrots for Yes to Carrots

Yes, I made all of these carrots and even more! Inspired by cute and crafty things I have found on the internet, I decided I would make these as treats for my Yes to Carrots House Party.

Enjoy!

I apologize for not being so crafty lately. I promise I will have a good holiday craft ready.. or maybe even one for Halloween/Thanksgiving, if I have time.

In the meantime, I have a ton of products I am excited to try and review for my Beauty and All That blog!

Stay tuned!

Amigurumi Project #1- Pig

For my first attempt to make an Amigurumi doll, I will be making an adorable piggy. I did some research on patterns, ie: learning how to read the abbreviations, and also learning how to do the standard stitches. Luckily, for these types of dolls, you only need to know the basic "single crochet" stitch.

Things I used to help me with my doll:
1) The Pattern. I was looking for a very easy, simple pattern and I found a nice repository on joann.com. You can make dogs, cats, turkeys, even fruit dolls with the patterns listed on their site. They sell yarn, crochet needles, and many other craft items for other things including jewelry beads and fabric for sewing. Check out their projects section to find Amigurumi patterns.

2) YouTube. Without YouTube, I wouldn't have found a great tutorial on how to start a basic crochet doll. It teaches you how to crochet in "rounds" which is the circular part of the doll's head or body. Do a quick search on "How to crochet amigurumi."

3) Yarn and crochet needle. (Obviously!) Without these two, you won't be able to make anything. Depending on the type of yarn you have (is it three/four strands?), you may have to use different needle sizes. For this project, I used a size G needle, and 100% acrylic yarn with 3 strands.

4) Patience is virtue.

Good luck on your own crochet projects!!

My progress:

Half-way done!



The body is completed!

Learning to Crochet

In addition to making Japanese Clay Foods, I am learning to crochet. I already know how to knit (only the basic stitches though) but I was motivated to learn how to crochet to make cute animal dolls. (Think Amigurumi!)

Here are a few pictures of my first crochet pieces and yarn I can practice with:





Here is an upclose picture of my first crochet piece. You can see I am using the increasing/decreasing techniques here. (Note: I didn't even realize I was doing this.) After practicing a few more rows, I realized I was counting the stitches wrong, so I was able to correct it and learn how to "increase" my rows.



I bought three extra balls of yarn at the dollar store, and started to crochet a flower using the yellow yarn.

Next project: an Amigurumi doll! I know- I just can't wait to learn how to make them. I figure I the stitching for the doll is usually the basic stitch so I don't need to learn the advanced ones yet, unless I plan to make sweaters/clothing/etc.