Ah, that heading just made me recall when I was in the supermarket with my daughter and made a similar comment about the vast selection of peas that were available...how we laughed...think about it...
Anyways, I'm still trying to come up with the definitive crochet hamster housey (amongst other projects) and here is the latest effort:
I was going for a roundhouse sort of vibe, tho now that I look at it, it looks more like a chiminea. Roast hamster anyone? Anyway, I can't see if Vader (the hamster) likes it yet since the daughter has made him a nice fleece bed which I'm not allowed to take out. He'll have shredded it totally in a few days so I'll wait till then. It used up just slightly over one 75g ball of jute twine so I might have to make a few adjustments so that I can get it out of one ball since that's really annoying. Next question...Spring bunny, lamb or piggy? Or all three...now there's a thought....
Last week, I got talked into getting my daughter a hamster. She's obviously lost interest already but I wouldn't have given in and got it if I didn't quite like the idea of a furry little friend.
Anyway, obviously my first thoughts were....Yay! I'll crochet him a lovely bed. First attempt was a rather exotic cotton affair that I suspended from the top of the cage...he never even chewed it. Bah.
Then I recalled some jute string that was lurking in the shed and knocked out a little HDC number while my hair dye was doing it's thing. In my enthusiasm for my new project I forgot to set a timer. It appears that I can safely leave dye on my hair for 40 mins or so with no ill effects....maybe even better grey coverage perhaps...and the bed is complete.
He doesn't seem overly impressed. In fact, he's relocated his nest behind it. Poo. In hindsight, I think it needs to be bigger, I'd probably better not be dyeing my hair for the next attempt, I may end up bald.
I also made another heart in the string. I'm sure I should come up with some clever pun here...something about heart strings. Regardless, I see much jute in my future...
I guess it's that time of year to be getting a little romantic so I thought I'd add my own little heart pattern to the crochet community.
This one has the optional 4th Row done in the same colour
This one has the optional 4th Row done in a different colour
And this one is the smaller heart hung over the larger heart
And here's the pattern. I've even done a printable version here ( I hope.... I followed some instructions from here which seemed simple enough...)
Larger Crochet Heart Shape
Note
Instructions in () to be done in the same stitch
Row 1
8sc in adjustable loop and sl.st to first
Row 2
In sc after sl.st (sc, hdc), (dc, dc), (sc, hdc), dc, (hdc, sc), (dc,
dc), (hdc, sc) sl.st
Row 3
(hdc, dc), (dc, dc) (hdc, sc) (sc, sc), sc, sc, (sc, tr, sc don’t
worry that tr gets pushed to the back – that’s the pointy bit), sc, sc, (sc,
sc) (sc, hdc), (dc, dc), (dc, hdc), sl.st. finish here with long end to make
into a loop if required or:
Row 4 (Optional)
Sl.st round front post of each stitch except the tr chain at the
bottom and finish with sl.st in row below at top centre of heart. This looks nice when done in a different
colour. Or you could just thread up a needle and chain stitch round the
posts. Leave a long end to pull
through to the back and make into a loop if required. J
Little Crochet Heart Shape
Row 1
8sc in adjustable loop and sl.st to first
Row 2
In sc after sl.st (sc, hdc, dc), (dc,dc), (sc, sc), (sc, tr, sc),
(sc, sc), (dc, dc), (dc, hdc, sc), sl.st.
Pull long end through to make a loop or just finish off neatly J
Thought I'd try something different for the new year and that is...make shapes with out breaking wind yarn and after much faffing about (it's harder than it looks you know!) I finally made a cat type thing. Or it could be a creepy monster type thing?
The size will vary greatly depending on the hook and yarn used. The smallest one I made is just 12cm tall using 3ply yarn and 2mm hook. The biggest is a pillow wannabe 28cm using chunky yarn and 5mm hook.
Instead of the usual top to bottom or bottom to top approach, this is worked from left side to right side and gives a different look to the ususal Amigurumi type thing. Think I will be exploring the possibilities further :)
Santa uses slippery, squiggley eyelash yarn which to be honest is a bit of a bugger to use. I've tried the pattern using an ordinary white yarn too and it actually looks fine. I'll put some pic up when I can find him...I suspect Santa mark2 is another victim of 'under the sofa', I'm sure he'll turn up about March. I've included pictorial instructions for the version of loop stitch that I found most successful. There does seem to be a few variations out there.
Also....Purchase both Santa & Cyril and Rudy & Robin patterns and get them both for the measly sum of $8! Sweet huh? http://www.ravelry.com/redeem/fugly-crochet?sale=17715....er...please drop me a line if the discount isn't working properly and I'll get it sorted.
For some reason, I seem to be becoming a bit of a slack hooker. I find it very tricky to make a solid single crochet fabric. The stuffing is always poking out. The trouble with changing to a smaller hook is the yarn then gets split by the hook instead of picking it up. Sigh...although....I have treated myself to this rather gorgeous looking implement.
Soooo pretty and the hook looks hefty enough to grab a decent yarn. We will see...
Yes!!! Had this one kicking around for a while and it's now up and ready to go on Ravelry.
And here is a sample page. Hopefully detailed and not over complicated instructions (as I am rather prone to!). The thought has just crossed my mind to hang them on elasticated thread...hmmmm...
And just out of interest...here is a snap of Robin getting ready for his photoshoot...
For a child(adult) glove, I used sirdar snuggly dk and size 4mm hook. This pattern is not fully tested and probably quite wrong in some places but it works up quick so not a major disaster when it does go wrong!
Here is the video explaining the rib:
Initially I did the side joins just with a sl.st/ch2 which is quick and easy but with the yarn I was using looked a bit tatty...it may look ok with a fluffier yarn. After much faffing about, I decided the best join I could do was as follows (of course you could always just work it flat and sew up the side when you've done):
And so putting this new found knowledge to good use here's what I did to make small size glove with (large size in brackets): ch 30(34)
hdc in 3rd from hook, 27(31)sc, join with a sl.st to the top of the ch3, join (as above as are all joins from now)
27(31) hdc in lowest loop of previous row (as rib video) join and repeat this row.
You'll be able to see after a few rounds if this is likely to be a good fit (does it go over the intended hand?) if adjustments need to be made, you can alter the number of the initial chain. If your going with the bobble trim, you'll need a starter chain that is a multiple of 4, plus 2
repeat this row for as long as you want the cuff (ending with a right side row).
Increase by 4 stitches to accomodate the palm so:
for the smaller size: 2hdc (6hdc, pick up the next in-between loop and create a new hdc) 4 times, 1hdc
for the larger size: 2hdc (7hdc, pick up the next in-between loop and create a new hdc) 4 times, 1hdc
Then do 4 more hdc rib rows to the base of the thumb but just work the sl.st. of the join then proceed:
turn, ch7, skip 5. 26(30) hdc in lowest loop of previous row as before,join to 2nd on ch7
ch2, turn, 31(35) hdc in lowest loop of previous row (including the 5chain), join - you should now have a thumb hole
work a few more rows of hdc rib to the base of the fingers, ending with a right side row and finish off unless you want a bobble row in which case:
at the end of the final row do sl.st, turn as normal then: ch1, then through the usual part of the hdc (rather than the lower loop as rib) sl.st, bobble, (3sl.st, bobble) to last 2 then sl.st to end.
finish off.
bobble:
yarn over
insert hook through next hdc
yarn over, pull through (3 on hook), yarn over, pull through 2 (2 on hook)
insert hook in same space, yarn over, pull through, yarn over, pull through 2, (3 on hook)
repeat last line till 6 on hook then yarn over and pull through all 6
thumb:
rejoin yarn at the first of the missed 5sc and pick up 14hdc around the hole
work 3 or 4 rows of the hdc rib and finish off.
If you're bothered about the join showing slightly on the top then the thumb hole should probably be worked at the end of the round rather than the start for the left glove. So the ch7, skip is worked at the 26(30)th stitch.
