Amigurumi Girls

Amigurumi Girl gets a little sister!

Amugurumi Girls

Sunday morning my daughter and I were going through my leftover yarn collection. I have a bag of one-skein yarns that I reserve for very small projects, such as amigurumi toys. We found a skein of the Classic Elite Flash in marled pink that reminds me of peppermint candy. I bought it for my daughter years ago but never got around to doing anything with it. That morning, I asked her what she imagined that yearn could be made into.

"Can you make a sister for Clariana?" she asked. Clariana is what she named the Amigurumi Girl I made last summer.

So I set to work. Then halfway through the head, I broke my bamboo crochet needle. The only US size B I have. This must be why metal crochet needles are popular.

I had to use a smaller size. 1.75 mm metal hook.

My stitches were tighter with the smaller hook, which made this sister a little sister. Other than the difference in hair and dress color, I used the exact same kind of yarns, Classic Elite Bam Boo for the dress and skin, and Classic Elite Flash for the hair.

Amigurumi Girls

I had finished the head and the body, and was working on the limbs when my precocious 5 year old made a discovery. Put together differently, the head and the body looked like a mushroom. Since she's the boss of this project, I had to turn the parts into a mushroom and start all over with the little sister. I spent the whole day crocheting, supervised by my 5 year old boss.

It was a lovely way to spend a rainy Sunday together.

The Girl Pattern is in page 84 of Kyuuto! Japanese Crafts Amigurumi by Tomoko Takamori.

Labels: book, crafts, crochet, toys

Amigurumi Girl and Alien

She may have button eyes, but she's a doll! She instantly became my daughter's favorite. I made her in Maine on a rainy day last summer. She tagged along our cross country trip from Maine to California, and now lives happily with the Alien in my daughter's bedroom.

Amigurumi Girl and Alien

I made the Girl with Classic Elite Bam Boo, spun from 100% bamboo, which is hypo-allergenic. Her hair is Classic Elite Flash, 100% mercerized cotton. Don't you just love the yellow highlights in her hair? The Alien is Debbie Bliss Alpaca Silk, a 80% alpaca wool and 20% silk. His eyes are Classic Elite Star.

Amigurumi Girl and Alien

The Girl Pattern is in page 84 and the Alien is actually a Butterfly without wings in page 62 of Kyuuto! Japanese Crafts Amigurumi by Tomoko Takamori.

Labels: book, crafts, crochet, toys

Pink Shrug

I knitted this pink shrug from the pattern "Molly" in the book, "Junior Knits" by Debbie Bliss. I used Debbie Bliss cashmerino aran. It's still a wee bit big on my daughter, but she'll grow into it soon.

Labels: crafts, knitting

Amigurumi Bunnies

It's been over 20 years since I crocheted anything. I learned how to make doilies and toilet paper cozies back in high school, but I hadn't picked up a crochet needle since.

Then I saw these adorable Amigurumi creatures. I wanted to make some too. Here are my first two tries. They look a bit ramshackled, but not bad for a newbie. The next one will be cuter.

I learned and am inspired by these books:

Labels: book, crafts, crochet

Happy Easter

We decorated Easter eggs using the PAAS Easter Egg Kit we took home from the grocery store. What a lot of fun!

Happy Easter, everybody!!!

Labels: art, crafts

Crafty Mama

I wish Crafty Mama: Makes 49 Fast, Fabulous, Foolproof (Baby & Toddler) Projects was around when I was pregnant. I spent my pregnancy obsessing about my diet and playing video games, when I could have been making crafts and making friends with other crafty moms like me. Instead I came upon this book when my daughter is already 4, and all too willing to play with scissors and hot glue. I could work with that.

I thought the ribbon barrettes were a fun girlie project to attempt. We went to a local Beverly's and shopped for barrette clips, ribbons, buttons, and other tiny things we could glue on. It was a fun trip. I let my daughter choose everything. She has excellent taste in fashion.

We had a lot of fun making the ribbon barrettes. I made most of the barrettes, while my daughter played with the ribbons, but at some point she did design a couple of barrettes, and tried using the glue gun once (with close supervision from me).

Author Abby Pecoriello put together fast and easy projects that anyone can make. If you know how to handle scissors and hot glue, you can make these craft projects.

Labels: art, book, crafts

Orange Frock Camisole

It's cold and windy outside. I'm bundled up in blankets and have no intention of getting up to get any exercise. But I finished this top in less than a month, taken from the free Frock Camisole pattern from Knitting Daily. Just little shock of clementine to remind me that all winters come to an end eventually and someday, someday it will be warm outside again.

Orange Frock Camisole

Labels: crafts, knitting

Knit Socks

I met this lady at my local Stitch 'n Bitch and she was knitting a pair of socks at once on a circular needle. My curiosity was peaked though it seemed a bit intimidating. The next time I was at a yarn store, I came upon this book, 2-at-a-Time Socks: Revealed Inside. . . The Secret of Knitting Two at Once on One Circular Needle Works for any Sock Pattern!.

It seemed a bit complicated at first, and I had to frog my first few attempts, but after a few tries, I finally did it!

Two at a Time Knit Socks

I finished it just in time for Christmas. We call it the Cindy Lou Who socks (from the original cartoon animation of "The Grinch Who Stole Christmas") because of the pointed toe.

Pink Knit Socks

Labels: crafts, knitting

Finished Cosmo's Wool Sweater

I finally finished Cosmo's Wool Sweater!!!

It took me about a month from when I cast on to when I bound off. I would have been done sooner had I not taken a few days off from the project.

Now here's the fun part. Pictures!!!

Wool Dog Sweater

Labels: crafts, knitting

Cosmo's Wool Sweater CO

Cosmo's Wool Sweater WIP
Originally uploaded by modernwife

Last Sunday a friend showed up with a dog that needed a home, and we couldn't refuse. We now have Cosmo as a sweet little addition to our family. He's a 2 year old "Rat-cha," a rat terrier and chihuahua mix. He's small, only 15 pounds and measures 18 inches around his belly.

I cast on a dog sweater using the cream and brown wool I bought at Ellsfarm in Maine last summer. I think the colors go with the colors on his face, and would keep him warm when we take walks by the beach.

Labels: crafts, knitting

Butterfly on the Beach

Butterfly Scarf on the Beach
Originally uploaded by modernwife

I made this scarf for my daughter based on the Butterflies Are Free pattern on Stitch 'n Bitch Nation, page 40.

The first day she wore it, she lost the butterfly on the beach. I should have secured it better. Fly, little butterfly!

Labels: crafts, knitting

Umbilical Cord Hat

Umbilical Cord Hat
Originally uploaded by modernwife

A friend is having a baby very soon so I knitted this little hat and sent it in the mail for her. It's from the Umbilical Cord Hat pattern published in Stitch 'n Bitch , page 188.

I used some leftover Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran. I started with less than a skein and still had a bit leftover after the project was done.

Is it a faux pas to include care instructions with a gift like this? The yarn I used is a cashmere blend, and I would hate for them to put it through the dryer.

This is the second gift I knitted for an expectant mom. By the way, my cousin Lissa gave birth to a baby girl last week. Yipee!!!

Labels: crafts, knitting

Amigurumi Girls

Amigurumi Girl and Alien

Pink Shrug

Amigurumi Bunnies

Happy Easter

Crafty Mama

Orange Frock Camisole

Knit Socks

Finished Cosmo's Wool Sweater

Cosmo's Wool Sweater CO

Butterfly on the Beach

Umbilical Cord Hat

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