Topsy's baby snuggle crochet

Hello everyone,

First of all a huge thanks to all that follow, comment, like and share this blog. Thanks to you all, yesterday we reached our first milestone at 1000 views and I believe we can reach 10 000 in no time.


Today I will present you with my latest work, Topsy the elephant amigurumi in a baby snuggle blanket.

For those who don’t know, Topsy was a female Elephant smuggled into the United States in 1867 to serve in Forepaugh Circus. As many animals back then, Topsy was abused and mistreated, being fed lit cigars and struck with pitchforks at least until the day she simply lost it and killed three people. I really can’t say I blame Topsy for what happened, because I would, probably, do the same in the same situation. Unfortunately back then animal abuse was acceptable and Totsy was sentenced to death.

About the same time Thomas Edison was conducting experiments to prove that his direct current (DC) was less dangerous than Nikola Tesla alternating current (AC). He did this by electrocuting animals to death with AC and Totsy would be his biggest presentation in history. A dark day for mankind and our disrespect for nature and life and I hope it serves as a lesson to what we shall never do again.

So, today I pay my homage to Topsy, and may she trample the ones that want to harm the child that owns this blanket. Topsy, you shall not be forgotten, I just hope you can find to forgive humanity and its crimes.

Blanket Pattern

Yarns:

1. DROPS Muskat color 18 (white) 
2. Bahia color: 17 (sky blue) 
3. DROPS Muskat color: 03 (mint green) 
4. DROPS Muskat color: 02 (light blue) 
5. DROPS Safran color: 36 (denim blue) 

Other materials:

• Crochet hook 4mm 
• Scissor 

Pattern:

I followed the next youtube video for a granny square blanket. 

From the center, the blanket have the following yarns:

• yarn nr. 1 (3 rounds) 
• yarn nr. 2 (1 round) 
• yarn nr. 3 (2 rounds) 
• yarn nr. 2 (1 round) 
• yarn nr. 4 (2 rounds) 
• yarn nr. 2 (1 round) 
• yarn nr. 5 (2 rounds) 
• yarn nr. 2 (1 round) 
• yarn nr. 1 (1 round) 
• yarn nr. 3 (1 round) 
• yarn nr. 4 (1 round) 
• yarn nr. 5 (1 round) 

I make a final round of 2 chains, 1 double crochet (repeat around) with yarn nr. 2

Amigurumi Elephant

Yarns:

1. Bahia color: 17 (sky blue) 
2. DROPS Muskat color: 02 (light blue) 
3. DROPS Bomull-lin color: 02 (off white) 
4. Joaninha nº6 color: 6 (black) 

Other materials:

• Crochet hook 3mm for nr. 1 and 4 yarns and 4mm for others 
• Scissor 
• Yarn needle 
• Stuffing material 

Pattern:

Follow the pattern from this site: http://www.deramores.com/elephant-pattern/
You can download it.

For the snuggle blanket, I just made the head, 2 ears, 2 tusks and 2 eyes. Take a special attention that, in the instructions, where it's written "double crochet" or "dc" should read "single crochet" and "sc".

Great stitches ;)

Schrödinger's cat crochet toy

Hello everyone,

This weekend I had the pleasure of cat-sitting Kiko, a 4 month old, playful, male cat from a friend that went on vacations.

As you probably figured out, I couldn't resist playing with Kiko, making paper balls and using threads just to see him go crazy trying to hunt, attack, outrun and toss everything everywhere.

We add lots of fun and eventually I got tired, sat down on the sofa, picked up my hook and thought of doing some therapy crochet just to relax a bit. But I don’t think Kiko liked the idea that much since he started hunting my feet and legs, trying to bite me in a joking way.

And so I thought, maybe I can craft a crochet toy like the ones stick on a door knob so Kiko can play alone when he wants, but I didn't know if Kiko would like it. So basically I had a Schrödinger paradox, do you know Schrödinger?

In 1935, Erwin Schrödinger, in the attempt to explain the Copenhagen interpretation of quantum mechanics, proposed an experiment where a cat is placed in a box with a sealed vial of poison that will break open at a random time. Now, since no one knows when or if the poison as bean released until the box is open, the cat can be thought of as both alive and dead. In the course of developing this experiment, Schrödinger coined the term Verschränkung entanglement.

Off course Schrödinger’s experiment never happened because it would be inhuman, but I decided I had to try my, must safer, Kiko's toy experiment, just to see if he would like it or not.

I started by picking up the entanglement idea with 3 colored fabric yarns followed by a crochet ball.

Crochet ball pattern:
Chain (ch) 3 and slip stitch (sl st) to the first loop.
Round 1: 5 single crochet (sc) around
Round 2: 2 sc for each st (10 st)
Round 3: 1 sc for each st (10 st)
Round 4: 1 sc and 1 single crochet decrease (sc dec) - repeat 4 times (5 st)
Round 5: 1 sc, 1 sc dec, 1 sc, 1 sc dec and a final sl st.


Let's see if Kiko likes crochet toy or not :P

Great stitches ;)

Summer infinity scarf

Hello everyone,

Today I'll bring you my first scarf adventure with crochet.

A not that long time ago, in a galaxy not that far away I was searching for more patterns and fun stuff to make when I decided I needed a fluffy winter scarf with extra thick yarn.

So, advised by a non jedi master friend I went to Tricots Brancal, a traditional Portuguese wool and knitting yarn brand that is basically knitting heaven on earth, covered with all types of colorful yarns. Fortunately Watto was not the cashier so I ended up with a good bargain on a 420g, very soft, petrol blue yarn. A good purchase, but since we are in mid August a winter infinity scarf is probably not the best idea so I also bought a white and pink yarns, both 2 mm with silver outline.

To make the scarf I merged both lines and used a triple crochet stitch like the one in the following video. It took me around 8h and it was pretty easy to make. 

I hope you enjoy making one as much as I did.

Great stitches ;)

Crochet teddy bunny star blanket for babies

Hello everyone,

In today's post I'll show you how I made a baby blanket with a teddy bunny for the most beautiful and sweet little baby girl that I met yesterday!

As you can seen, I decided to do a star blanket instead of a traditional square pattern. Each star edge measure about 36 cm.
It's a moderate difficulty pattern that took me around 7 hours to make. But I'm still a rookie, you could make it in 5 hours with some practice. 

Baby blanket pattern

Yarns:

1. White cotton nº 6
2. DROPS Safran color: 53 (light purple)
3. DROPS Safran color: 01 (light pink)
4. DROPS Safran color: 15 (dark heather)
5. DROPS Safran color: 28 (orange)
6. DROPS Safran color: 10 (yellow)

Other materials:

• Crochet hook 3mm for white yarn and 4mm for others
• Scissor

Pattern:

To be easier, I followed the next youtube video but with different rounds of color change. I changed from first yarn to the second one after 4 rounds, then I did 3 rounds of second yarn and changed again for first yarn just for one round. After this, I changed for the third yarn and so on.

Teddy rabbit

After the star blanket was completed I added to the center the cutest little teddy rabbit. Like all amigurumies, it has a complex pattern to make but the hardest was to find the best stuffing material. So it doesn't just look good, it feels good. I ended up using a polyester fibers normally used to fill pillows. Because according to my research it's easy to find, durable, washable, comfy and as mandatory in all baby stuff, it's anti-allergenic. 

I really enjoyed making it and will definitely make more in the near future. 

Bunny Head:

With first yarn, do a magic circle.
Round 1: 5 single crochet (sc) in magic circle
Round 2: 2 sc in each st around (10 st)
Round 3: Repeat around - 1 sc in next 1 st, 2 sc in next st (15 st)
Round 4: Repeat around - 1 sc in next 2 st, 2 sc in next st (20 st)
Round 5: Repeat around - 1 sc in next 3 st, 2 sc in next st (25 st)
Round 6: Repeat around - 1 sc in next 4 st, 2 sc in next st (30 st)
Round 7: Repeat around - 1 sc in next 5 st, 2 sc in next st (35 st)
Round 8: Repeat around - 1 sc in next 6 st, 2 sc in next st (40 st)
Round 9 - 14: 1 sc in each st around (40 st)
Round 15: Repeat around - 1 sc in next 6 st, 1 single crochet decrease (sc dec) in next st (35 st)
Round 16: Repeat around - 1 sc in next 5 st, 1 sc dec in next st (30 st)
Round 17: Repeat around - 1 sc in next 4 st, 1 sc dec in next st (25 st)
Round 18: Repeat around - 1 sc in next 3 st, 1 sc dec in next st (20 st)
Round 19: Repeat around - 1 sc in next 2 st, 1 sc dec in next st (15 st)
- Start stuffing the head and embroider the eyes and nose before I fasten off the yarn 
Round 20: Repeat around - 1 sc in next 1 st, 1 sc dec in next st (10 st)
Round 21: Repeat around - 1 sc in next 1 st, 1 sc dec in next st (5 st)
Fasten off and leave a long tail for sewing.


Bunny Arms (Make 2):

Magic Circle
Round 1: Working around, 4 sc in circle.
Round 2: Repeat around - 1 sc in next st, 2 sc in next st (6 st)

Round 3: Repeat around - 1 sc in each st (6 st)

Round 4: Repeat around - 1 sc in next st, 1 sc dec in next st (4 st)

Round 5-9: 1 sc in each st around (4)
Fasten off and leave a long tail for sewing. Set arms aside.

Bunny Ears (Make 2):

• Outer ear (White):
• Ch 9
• Round 1: 1 sc in second ch from hook and each of the next 7 ch. 5 sc in last ch. Working down the opposite side of the ch 9, 1sc in the next 7 ch  (19 st all together)
• Round 2: Working around, 1 sc in next 7 st, 2 sc in next st, twice. 1 sc in last 3 st (21 st)
• Fasten off and leave a long tail for sewing.
• Inner ear (Light purple):
• Ch 8
• 1 sc in second ch from hook and each of the next 6 ch. 5 sc in last ch. Working down the opposite side of the ch 8, sc in each of the next 6 ch (17st in total)
• Fasten off and leave a long tail for sewing.

• Using a tapestry needle, sew the inner part of the ear to the outer part and set aside
• Attach the ears to the top of your bunny head.

Attach the finished teddy bunny to the center of your star blanket.

Great stitches ;)

Crochet cell phone case

Hello everyone!

Today I will show you how I did my cell phone case.
The last case was already old and dirty, so I decided to do one in crochet, instead of buying a new one :).
It's a great way to combine the case colors with your clothes or handbag and, of course, save money! Besids, it's very easy and fast to do (1 hour).

Yarns:

1. DROPS Muskat color: 04 (lilac)
2. DROPS Muskat color: 03 (mint green)
3. DROPS Muskat color: 36 (denim blue)

Other materials:

• Crochet hook 4mm
• Scissor
• Decorative button
• Sewing needle

Pattern:

With first yarn, chain (ch) as many are needed to have the same width of your cell phone. For my Nokia Lumia 520, I needed 14 ch.

Round 1: Skip the first stitch (st), ch 1 and do 3 single crochet stitches (sc). Do 1 sc in each ch across and do 3 sc in the last chain. On the opposite ch side do 1 sc in each ch. Slip stitch (slst) in the first sc (total = 28 sc).
Round 2 and 3:  Doing the st in rounds, ch 1 and do 1 sc in each st (28 sc).
Round 4: In the final slst of first yarn I changed for second yarn and do the same of round 2 and 3.

Continue in rounds to accommodate the cell phone height. Also, you can change before or after this round and choose how many rounds do you prefer for each color.

Round 2nd last: 7 sc, ch 18, slst 1, 21 sc and slst in the first sc.
Final Round: 46 sc and 1slst in first sc.
Finally, sew the button in case front.

Hope you enjoy making one for you has much has I did :D

Great stitches ;)

Oval basket in hardened crochet

Hello everyone,
Let's talk about some crochet stitches!

In my first crochet project I did a basket of hardened crochet.

Yarns:

1. Drops Bomull-lin color: 02 off white 
2. Drops Bomull-lin color: 03 light beige 
3. Rosários 4 Bambolin color: 05 

Other materials:

• Crochet hook 4mm 
• Scissor 
• Brown ribbon of 0.5 cm width.

Bottom pattern:

from: www.crochetgeek.com

For each yarn I did two rounds of double crochet (dc).


Side pattern:

• At the end of the last bottom round with 3rd yarn, I continued with it to make dc yarn over just in one loop of each stitch to make this new round perpendicular to the bottom. In the next video you have an example of a similar basket but with single crochet (sc).

• To put the brown ribbon (after harden crochet) I did one round of dc, slip stitch (sl st), dc and sl st and so on. 
• The final round was sc in all dc and sl st loops.

Hardened crochet

Materials:

• tablespoon 
• white glue 
• water 
• alcohol 
• oval tupperware (mold) 
• adherent film 
• bowl 

1. Coat the tupperware with adherent film. 
2. Mix in a bowl 3 tablespoons of white glue with 1 tablespoon of alcohol. Mix well and put 3 tablespoon of water and mix again. For this basket i used the double. 
3. Dip the crochet into the mixture, drain and coat the crochet outside the mold. 
4. Let dry until the next day and unmolding.

I thought it looks cute in my bathroom with some shampoos and creams but you can also use it with fruit or bread, for example.

Hope you enjoy it


Great stitches ;)