Bazaar Patterns: Incy Wincy Elephant

Here's another pattern from last year's school bazaar, check out this previous post for full details:
http://lucyravenscar.blogspot.com/2010/02/bazaar-patterns-teeny-tiny-turtle.html

Incy Wincy Elephant

You will need:
Small amount of grey yarn.
Black yarn for features.
Small amount of stuffing.
3.5mm (E) hook.

Special stitch instructions:
4 dc pop: popcorn stitch for legs. Work 4 dc into 1 sc, take hook out leaving loop, put hook through 1st dc & pull loop through.

Round 1: Ch2, work 6 sc into 1st ch, join to first sc with ss - 6 sc.
Round 2: BLO Sc in each sc around - 6 sc.
Round 3 - 6: (4 rounds) Sc in each sc around - 6 sc.
Round 7: [2 sc in next sc, sc in next sc] 3 times – 9 sc.
Round 8: [2 sc in next sc, sc in next 2 sc] 3 times – 12 sc.
Round 9: [2 sc in next sc, sc in next sc] 6 times – 18 sc.
Round 10: Sc in each sc around - 18 sc.
Round 11: [Ear FLO: ss into next sc, ch 2, 2 dc in same sc, 2 dc in next 2 sc, ch 2, ss into last sc], sc in next 6 sc, [Ear FLO: ss into next sc, ch 2, 2 dc in same sc, 2 dc in next 2 sc, ch 2, ss into last sc], sc in next 6 sc - 18 st.
Round 12: 3 sc in the next 3 back loops (of the sc the ears are worked into), sc in next 6 sc, 3 sc in the next 3 back loops, sc in next 6 sc - 18 sc.
Round 13: Sc in next 4 sc, 4 dc pop in next sc, sc in next 2 sc, 4 dc pop in next sc, sc in next 10 sc – 18 st.
Round 14 - 16: (3 rounds) Sc in each st around - 18 sc.
Round 17: Sc in next 5 sc, 4 dc pop in next sc, sc in next 2 sc, 4 dc pop in next sc, sc in next 9 sc – 18 st.
Round 18: Sc in each st around - 18 sc.
Round 19: [Sc2tog, sc in next sc] 6 times – 12 sc.
Round 20: [Sc2tog] 6 times – 6 sc.
To make tail: Ch 4, ss into 2nd ch from hook, ss in next 2 ch.
FO, leaving a length of yarn.

Use black yarn to sew eyes and a mouth as you wish, stuff and use length of grey yarn to sew up hole at bottom

Bazaar Patterns: Little Lucky Pig

Here's another pattern from last year's school bazaar, check out this previous post for full details:
http://lucyravenscar.blogspot.com/2010/02/bazaar-patterns-teeny-tiny-turtle.html

Little Lucky Pig

 

You will need:

Small amount of pink yarn.

Black yarn for features.

Small amount of stuffing.

3.5mm (E) hook.

Special stitch instructions:

4 dc pop: popcorn stitch for ears and legs. Work 4 dc into 1 sc, take hook out leaving loop, put hook through 1st dc & pull loop through.

Round 1: Ch2, work 6 sc into 1st ch, join to first sc with ss - 6 sc.

Round 2: BLO Sc in each sc around - 6 sc.

Round 3: [2 sc in next sc, sc in next sc] 3 times – 9 sc.

Round 4: [2 sc in next sc, sc in next 2 sc] 3 times – 12 sc.

Round 5: [2 sc in next sc, sc in next sc] 6 times – 18 sc.

Round 6: Sc in each sc around - 18 sc.

Round 7: Sc in next 6 sc, 4 dc pop in next sc, sc in next 4 sc, 4 dc pop in next sc, sc in next 6 sc – 18 st.

Round 8: Sc in next 16 sc, 4 dc pop in next sc, sc in next sc – 18 st.

Round 9: Sc in next sc, 4 dc pop in next sc, sc in next 16 sc – 18 st.

Round 10 - 11: (2 rounds) Sc in each st around - 18 sc.

Round 12: Sc in next 17 sc, 4 dc pop in next sc – 18 st.

Round 13: Sc in next 2 sc, 4 dc pop in next sc, sc in next 15 sc – 18 st.

Round 14: [Sc2tog, sc in next sc] 6 times – 12 sc.

Round 15: [Sc2tog] 6 times – 6 sc.

To make tail: Ch 9, ss into 2nd ch from hook, ss in next 7 ch.

FO, leaving a length of yarn.

Use black yarn to sew eyes and a mouth/nostrils as you wish, stuff and use length of pink yarn to sew up hole at bottom.

Picot Pals has made a video showing how to make this pig, great to follow if you're new to making amigurumi: YouTube

Bazaar Patterns: Teeny Tiny Turtle

Every Christmas my sons' school holds a craft bazaar for the children, and I use every spare moment in the weeks beforehand making things to sell. I try to come up with things that are quick to make, so they tend to be small with minimal sewing together. I use popcorn stitches to make legs, ears and even heads. I'm posting a few of the patterns here - feel free to use them for personal use or to make money for good causes.


General instructions:
Work in rounds unless otherwise stated and do not join rounds unless told to. Use a stitch marker to mark the start of a round - a small piece of different coloured yarn placed under the stitch at the start of the round will do. To start a round, you can use the magic ring method, but I prefer (ch2, work 6 sc into 1st ch). If you work the 6 sc over the tail of yarn as well you can use that to pull the hole tight.
Work through both loops of stitches unless otherwise indicated.


Abbreviations:
ch = chain
st = stitch or stitches
ss = slip stitch
sc = single crochet (US), double crochet (UK)
dc = double crochet (US), treble crochet (UK)
hdc = half double crochet (US), half treble crochet (UK)
BLO = back loop only
FLO = front loop only
tog = together

sc2tog = decrease by working two sc together

FO = fasten off

Teeny Tiny Turtle

This turtle really is small - I don't have one to check with because they all sold, but I think they were about 1.5" across. They can be tiny toys, or turn them into keyrings.

You will need:

Small amounts of green (shell) and brown (body) yarn.

Black yarn for eyes and mouth.

Small amount of stuffing.

3.5mm (E) hook.

Special stitch instructions:

4 dc pop: popcorn stitch for legs. Work 4 dc into 1 sc, take hook out leaving loop, put hook through 1st dc & pull loop through.

Start using green yarn.

Round 1: Ch2, work 6 sc into 1st ch - 6 sc.

Round 2: 2 sc in each sc around - 12 sc.

Round 3: [2 sc in next sc, sc in next sc] 6 times – 18 sc.

Round 4 - 5: (2 rounds) Sc in each sc around - 18 sc.

Ss and change to brown yarn.

Round 6: BLO Sc in next 2 sc, 4 dc pop in next sc, sc in next 3 sc, 4 dc pop in next sc, sc in next 2 sc, [head: 3 dc in each of next 2 sc, take hook out leaving loop, put hook through 1st dc & pull loop through.], sc in next 2 sc, 4 dc pop in next sc, sc in next 3 sc, 4 dc pop in next sc - 17 sc.

Round 7: [Sc in next sc, sc2tog] 3 times, sc in next 2 sc, [sc2tog, sc in next sc] 2 times – 12 sc.

Round 8: [Sc2tog] 6 times – 6 sc. FO, leaving a length of yarn.

Use black yarn to sew eyes and a tiny mouth on the turtle's head, stuff and use length of brown yarn to sew up hole at bottom.

Dusk and Hedgerow Spirits

Over the last few months, whenever I've been going somewhere I might have a bit of spare time to crochet (like visiting relatives for a few days), I've taken a bag with an interesting furry yarn, a couple of contrasting yarns and my faithful 3.5mm hook. I take my scribbled notes for a creature I've made before (it's too awkward to make up an entirely new pattern and make notes when I'm on the go) and make a different version.



Here are the two creatures that I made: a Dusk Spirit and a Hedgerow Spirit. I made them then decided what they were once they were completed.



The little Hedgerow Spirit reminds me of the colour your fingers go when you pick blackberries, and the fur around his face looks a bit like Old Man's Beard, so I felt that he belonged in the hedgerows. He lives there and looks after the all the small creatures that live there too, with his horns helping him push through the undergrowth.



The Dusk Spirit matches my Dawn spirit (appropriately enough! See a picture of her here: http://lucyravenscar.blogspot.com/2009/07/earth-spirits.html). The colour of her fur seemed right for that time of day, and her face seemed very calm. Since dusk is when many animals feel safe to feed, I think of it as a quiet safe, time, and it seemed right that she would be their guardian.

Adorable Snow Monster

Where I live we hardly ever get snow - at most one fall a year that disappears within 24 hours. So it was very exciting when we got proper snow a couple of weeks ago that lasted a whole week! With the children off school what could I do (apart from going sledging) but make a snow creature?

I present: the Adorable Snow Monster. He's related to the Abominable Snowman, but clearly he can't possibly be described as abominable - he's only seven inches tall for a start! Also, he's not a man, he's definitely a monster, though he's more likely to hug you than scare you. He has a fat little tummy, soft white fur and short, stubby legs. He loves the snow - those big, six-fingered hands are perfect for making snowballs, and he's really looking forward to the Winter Olympics.

Golden Dragonet

I made this last autumn for a 'Dragonriders of Pern' swap on Craftster. The series of books by Anne McCaffrey, which are about dragons and their riders, also feature miniature dragons, or firelizards, which make very intelligent pets. I tried to make my crochet version roughly life-size as they are described in the books, although I think she's quite young. Golden ones are the queens and consider themselves the most important!



It took quite a long time to work out the right dimensions and shape while I was crocheting her, and I remade the wings about four times! I think this will be my next project to write up as a pattern, so I'll have to start making it again soon. I will do a few variations for the details on the head - shape of the eyes, ears or horns, and so on. Hopefully it won't take me too long.

Mini Fuzzy-haired Troll - Free pattern

I made these for our school's Christmas Bazaar last year - they're quick, easy and fun to make.



Materials:
Some mohair yarn for the hair
Plain yarn for the body
Black yarn to embroider the features
3.5mm hook
Stuffing
A wire pet brush to make the hair fuzzy

Abbreviations:
ch = chain
st = stitch or stitches
sc = single crochet (US), double crochet (UK)
dc = double crochet (US), treble crochet (UK)
ss = slip stitch
tog = together
FO = fasten off

Special stitch instructions:
3 dc popcorn stitch: Work 3 dc into 1 sc, remove hook from working loop, push through both loops of first dc and pull working loop through.
3 dc bobble stitch: Work first part of dc 3 times into 1 stitch, leaving 4 loops on hook, pull through all 4.
This troll is made in rounds. Do not join rounds, use a stitch marker to mark the start of a round - a small piece of different coloured yarn placed under the stitch at the start of the round will do.

Mohair yarn:
Round 1: Ch 2, work 6 sc into 1st ch - 6 sc.Round 2: 2 sc in each sc around - 12 sc.Round 3: [2sc in next sc, sc in next sc] 6 times – 18 sc.
Plain yarn:
Round 4 – 5: (2 rounds) Sc in each sc around – 18 sc.
Round 6: To make ears: Sc in next 4 sc, 3dc popcorn stitch into next sc, sc in next 8sc, 3dc popcorn stitch into next sc, sc in next4 sc – 18 sc
Round 7: Sc in each sc around – 18 sc
Round 8: [Sc 2 tog, sc in next sc] 6 times – 12 sc.
Round 9: Sc in each sc around – 12 sc
Round 10: To make arms: Work sc in each sc around until you get to the sc under the first ear then make arm as follows: ss into sc, ch7, 3dc bobble stitch into 3rd ch from hook, ss into next 4 ch, ss back into original sc. Work sc in next 5 sc, make the other arm, sc in each sc until the end of the round - 12st.
Round 11: Sc in each sc around – 12 sc (you sc into the first ss used to make each arm).
Round 12: Sc in each sc around – 12 sc.
Round 13: [2sc in next sc, sc in next 3 sc] 3 times - 15sc.
Round 14: Sc in each sc around – 15 sc.
Round 15: [2sc in next sc, sc in next 4 sc] 3 times - 18sc.
Round 16: Sc in each sc around – 18 sc.
Round 17: To make feet: Find the stitch in the front middle of your troll. Then count back 4 stitches before that (not including the middle stitch) and mark this stitch. Work sc in each sc around until you get to the marked stitch. Make toes: [3dc popcorn stitch] 3 times, sc in next 3 sc, [3dc popcorn stitch] 3 times, sc in each sc around to the end of the round.
Now stuff your troll and embroider the eyes and mouth with black yarn.
Round 18: [Sc 2 tog, sc in next sc] 6 times – 12 sc.
Round 19: [Sc 2 tog] 6 times – 6 sc. FO.
Complete stuffing and sew up hole neatly.
Use the wire brush on the mohair to make it fuzzy, and your troll is now complete!