Review: Charley Crochet Cactus Kit from Global Backyard Industries

Today, I will be reviewing the Charley Crochet Cactus Kit from Global Backyard Industries. Disclaimer: I received this complimentary kit in exchange for a review. I am not being paid to write this review and everything shared here is my real opinion. Thanks go out to Global Backyard Industries for providing the kit.

So, there are 10 days until Christmas. How did we get here so quickly? Who knows. I am pleased to report that all of my (modest) shopping is done. Are you sitting there with no idea of what to get for someone this holiday season, be they crocheter or not? This kit could be a great solution to your problem! Since it is available on Amazon, you can buy it now and it will ship out quickly. Furthermore, the cactus it creates is quite giftable as well! Finally, this kit is priced very reasonably.

The kit comes with everything you need to create the cactus, even the hook! I trusted this to be true before opening it and brought it to my fiber group the other day, ready to work on it. The only thing it doesn't contain is scissors. The materials are of good quality.

The instructions were clear and the cactus was really fun to make. I was a little unsure about working with the green novelty yarn, but it turned out to be sturdy and just fine to work with. I love my little cactus! I haven't decided if I will give it to a friend or take it to work. Check it out!

How cute! I unhesitatingly recommend this kit.

Little Crochet Fish Friend

I recently finished a sweet little fish amigurumi. The pattern I followed was Fancy Goldfish Amigurumi, a free pattern by Kate Wood. She did an excellent job with shaping and with the texture of the fins. The pattern was easy to follow and the finished object is adorable. The one thing I will mention is that, though the pattern doesn't state it directly, you should be sure to crochet into the chain stitches on the tail fin. Overall a quick, enjoyable project.

I used leftover Knit Picks Chroma Fingering from a shawl I made, along with a 2.75mm crochet hook. The slow striping of the yarn was totally perfect for this project. Here's my fishy. What should his name be?

Friendly Food for Christmas

Merry Christmas! I hope you're having a great day today, no matter what you celebrate. Did you make any crochet presents this year? I've been so busy with secret crochet that I was worried I wouldn't be able to make any. However, I managed to squeeze two gifts in! The first is a small crochet taco that I made for my recipient in a Secret Santa exchange. She really likes tacos, so I included the little guy along with her gift. He has a string so that he can be used as an ornament.

I free-handed the tiny taco in Cascade Cherub Aran scraps. No pattern this time. However, if you wanted to you could probably recreate him. I started with a yellow, single crochet circle that had too many increases towards the center and too few on the outer rim (so that it would give him a taco-y shape), ending with a rim of single crochet in front loops only. I then folded the circle in half and placed the eyes and mouth. For the lettuce, I double crocheted a half circle and ended with an outer row that had three dc in each dc. This created the ripple. The meat was a simple half double crochet strip. The tomato was a round of double crochet followed by a round where I worked [1 hdc into dc, 1 fpdc around post of same dc]. I layered the fillings inside the taco and sewed him up under the single crochet ridge. Finally, I slip stitched into the back of the taco and chained to add the hanging strand. All in all he took me about 40 minutes to complete.

The other gift I made was a slice of pie for my pie-loving boyfriend. I used this crochet pie pattern by Sherry Rohekar. It was easy to follow and fun to make. If you decide to follow the pattern, I highly encourage you to add the optional single crochet finishing border. The difference between adding the border and not was very noticeable. I used Berroco Comfort Chunky to make this pie slice. The face was my own addition, as well as the whipped cream.

Remix Friday: Snowmen

Do you get snow where you live? I grew up in Boise, Idaho which has very distinct seasons. The winters there are fairly snowy and icy. In fact, Bogus Basin ski resort was less than 20 miles away from where I lived! Now that I've been living in Oregon and Washington for the past nine years or so I rarely see any snow. Whether you see snow all of the time in the winter or none at all, today's Remix is sure to charm you. Take a look at these friendly fellows made by Rita.

The Crocheter
I learned to crochet from my Grandma Mae, who I was named for—Rita Mae Schaefer (Ravelry username RitaMae). I did a bit of crochet in grade school, a bit more in high school, then really didn’t pick it up again until about five years ago. Probably because it took me a full year of high school to make an afghan for my father’s Christmas gift! During the hiatus, I tried my hand at a hodge podge of other crafty things including stamping and cross stitch. Starting up again, I would find an easy crochet project, and then make a million of them for gifts. Currently I enjoy crocheting delicate, lacy items—usually shawls/scarfs—with specialty yarns purchased on vacations. I taught my youngest, LeeAnn, to crochet and she taught herself to knit—which she insists I should learn too. But there are still so many crochet projects out there calling my name! I have three grown children and 6 grandkids.

The Original Pattern
Amigurumi Black Cat Door Stopper by Lion Brand Yarn

The Story 
Our church has an annual ladies dessert event, Advent by Candlelight, in which table hosts decorate their tables in holiday colors and themes, including lots of candles. As a table host with LeeAnn, we decorated our table with homemade snowmen to match my Sakura Debbie Mumm Snowman dish set.

The Remix
I single crocheted every spare moment with Peaches & Creme white cotton yarn. I based my guys on the Lion Brand Yarn Amigurumi Black Cat Door Stopper pattern, using my dish pattern as a guide of what each snowman should look like. Unlike the LB pattern, I began at the bottom and would add stitches or sc2tog randomly to get the bumps and dips needed. To make sure each snowman would stand on its own, I put a heavy ceramic coaster (purchased at a thrift store) in the bottom before the opening was too narrow and then stuffed each with fiberfill before closing them up at the top of their head.

LeeAnn helped me with the accessories—so some are knitted by her (sweater, checkered stocking cap, & checkered scarf) and others crocheted by me (patch-work scarf, ear muffs, & black skillet/pan hat) in Caron Simply Soft. I hot glued buttons for faces and made “carrot” noses out of different size/type orange pipe cleaners. We foraged a wash by the house for some sticks, sprayed them with a glossy sealer and I made a broom (using raffia for the bristles) and the arms. The nest and birds were craft store purchases.

Looking back, it was a daunting project…but as each snowman took shape, it was exciting to see the transformation. Our table at the Advent by Candlelight was a wonderful hit. We served ice cream “snowballs” sprinkled with crushed peppermint candies and Christmas cookies to our table guests for dessert.

Along with the dishes, the collection will be nice to pass on to one of the kids or grandkids. Crocheting is timeless, unique, and de-stressing. Something else to pass on to the kids and grandkids!

Such amazing details and personality on those snowmen! These ladies did such an excellent job and their table looks wonderful. Thank you for sharing your work with us today, Rita. TGIF everyone!

Remix Friday: Jay the Bird

How often do you experiment with your projects? It doesn't take a big change to transform an already amazing idea into something that's all your own. A simple color switch and a few small details can completely change the outcome of your finished object. Let Svetlana inspire you today with the simple changes she made that had a big impact. Take a look!

The Crocheter
Hi, My name is Svetlana, I'm 31 years old. I'm from Russia, but now I'm living in Turkey.
I'm married, have 2 sons and a small dog. I worked in the past as a financial director but now I'm a housewife. I've been crocheting for nearly 5 years and I can't live without my hook :)

The Original Pattern
Jay the Bird by Stacey Trock

The Story
Actually I had yellow yarn and I didn't know how to use it. I looked through all of the popular patterns and found "Jay the Bird", so this bird became yellow like a chicken.

The Remix
I changed only the color and added a crest and legs with red yarn.

Crochet is... soft, fun, happy

So cute! I just love the little heart she added as well. You can catch up with Svetlana on her blog and on Instagram. Thank you for sharing your project with us today, Svetlana.  Happy Hooking everyone!

Friday Focus: Olka Novitskaya for AradiyaToys

Holy cow, is it really the end of May already? Good grief. The time has just flown by! It's the last Friday of the month. Do you know what that means? It's time for the Friday Focus! I told you it was here to stay in addition to Remix Friday.

I'm really excited to have our featured designer with us today to share her amazing work. Olka's toys are so very detailed and crisp. They look as if they could come alive at any moment! In light of Stacey Trock's important reminder about copyright, I want to tell you something super cool... the game-themed toy designs depicting Plants vs. Zombies characters that are featured in today's post have totally been ok'ed by the game developers. Sweet! Alright, Olka, take it away!

Who taught you to crochet? How long have you been doing it? 
Internet. Everything I know and everything I do was found on the internet. I watched tons of YouTube videos, how-to pictures and then practiced a lot. I don’t have any heartbreaking story behind this :) But to be true, watching videos and surfing pictures of crocheting is only 5-10% of all you need to do. Other 90-95% is practice. I made many different toys before I found my style and learned how to pay attention to the details, that was the hardest thing. I started crocheting at April 2013 and I liked it very much, because I wanted to make toys, but could not choose the right way of doing it, crocheting is the most comfortable for me.

Why do you crochet?
I tried different kinds of handiwork and liked crocheting the most. Before that I did cross-stitching, made flowers and trees from beads, etc. But as I mentioned before, I always wanted to make toys and once I tried crocheting I just could not stop. The other reason is that I like monsters and other strange creatures. I never liked all those crochet glamour dolls or cute puppies :) Also I like playing weird games such as “The Binding of Isaac”. My taste is a little different than other crochet masters have and I’m trying to express my tastes in my toys, for example PvZ ones :) I feel happy when I crochet, maybe that is the main reason why I do this.

Crochet Favorites
My favorite hook is 1.25 mm, I like it because it is small enough to make tiny details on my toys and it is big enough to replace 2.00 mm hook, for example. But usually I work with 0.75-2.00 mm hooks, they do all I need and even more! Talking about yarn, I really love 100% cotton yarn by Kirov Yarn Mills, I love everything about it. But most of all I like its color scheme. That is the most important thing I care about. I love matching colors, maybe that is one more reason why I love crocheting so much.

What are you working on right now?
Right now I have few parallel projects: a toy for my boyfriend’s game, a few mushrooms for my PvZ collection, and an as yet nameless bear of my original design. I’m always trying to make a few projects at the same time, because I spend so much time making every toy, that’s why sometimes I get bored (when I make ten versions of the same toy, until I get the perfect result) and need to shift attention to another toy. That helps me a lot not to give up big projects.  

A few finished objects...
Chomper by AradiyaToys (Plants vs. Zombies)

Peashooter and Snow Pea by AradiyaToys (Plants vs. Zombies)

Monkey Elnino by AradiyaToys (AradiyaToys Design)

See what I mean? Olka's designs are so crisp and the shapes are spot-on. Amazing! Elnino is such a cute little monkey. It will be great to see what original designs Olka comes up with in the future. If you want to learn more about Aradiya Toys you can visit her Etsy, Ravelry, Craftsy, Facebook, and Instagram. Thank you so very much for joining us today, Olka!

Little Crochet Crab

Here's a sweet little crab that I made following this pattern by Eden Dintsikos. Nautical stuff is always on my mind in spring and summer.

Woo, red sure shows up hot on my camera! I used Caron Simply Soft for this amigurumi, though I wouldn't really recommend using SS for toys. The shine is quite nice but it's a bit difficult to work with when you are trying to crochet tightly. This little crab is destined to live on my husband's desk at work along with his octopus and lobster.

Friday Focus: Jean Herman

Hello! It's the end of January. Can you even believe it? I must be getting older because I certainly perceive time to be passing more quickly as of late. How was your month? I had a very productive January. I've been writing patterns, winding yarn, tidying up, working up FOs, researching, planning, the works. I hope, nay I know, that February will be just as awesome. Let's roll into this new month in a big, bold way! Jean Herman, we need you! She is today's featured designer and her patterns are a blast. Bold clean lines and true-to-life shaping give her objects a distinct style. Take it away, Jean!

Who taught you to crochet? How long have you been doing it? 
My mom taught me how to crochet when I was little and we made granny squares together. And then about six years ago… I ordered a Japanese Amigurumi Book written in Japanese and I taught myself how to crochet beyond granny squares via their charts. They have excellent charts and I just cross-referenced it with a crochet guide book. I crocheted many projects via their books. I became obsessed and purchased many Japanese Amigurumi Books. They are absolutely amazingly creative.

Why do you crochet?
I crochet because it allows me to create cute little projects. I am a huge amigurumi fan. I’m always crocheting amigurumi gifts for friends, co-workers, and family because it gives people a big smile. They are so amazed at how the objects look like they are supposed to and that’s what is great about amigurumi. I also like to create exaggerated sizes of objects for fun.

Crochet Favorites
When I create Amigurumi patterns… my favorite go to crochet hook is just an inexpensive hook with a foamy pencil cushion completely taped down with electrical tape for comfort. I go a little nuts if I can’t find this hook when working out a pattern. I try to put it away in its safe place when not using it… that doesn’t always happen. My favorite yarn to crochet with is Vanna White’s Medium weight yarn. That brand has great colorways and it crochets up great for projects. 

What are you working on right now?
I’m currently crocheting Nellie the Elephant African Flower Crochet Pattern by Heidi Bears. It is very colorful and pieced together with different “granny” shaped pieces. It isn’t amigurumi, but a very happy elephant for my mom’s birthday gift. The pattern is available on Ravelry. 

A few finished objects...
Giant Q-Tip - Why this popped up in my head to create… I have no idea. I just thought it would be funny. Pattern is free on Ravelry. 

Little Ducklings and their Momma - I crocheted these to fill up a shadow box of other cute little items. (pattern in a Japanese amigurumi book…these are available in Japanese Etsy shops.)

Holiday Lights - I created Holiday Lights - not to be politically correct because these are Christmas Lights but I meant for them to be created for any holiday and to decorate with for fun. For ex: crochet red/white/blue for Fourth of July… not just for Christmas. Pattern is free on Ravelry.

I love love LOVE those giant lights. I'm not alone either... they have over 1,000 likes on Ravelry! They are too cute. Also, those giant q-tips are just begging to be used in a battle/pillow fight/joust. Wanna see more by Jean Herman? Her free patterns are available on Ravelry. Thank you for taking some time to share with us today, Jean!

Meet Mr. Bingley, the Little Scottie Dog

I just love trying out new patterns. My Ravelry queue is unreasonably long, but I swear I will get to each and every one of those projects eventually. Designing my owns patterns makes me appreciate the hard work of others all the more.

Since I needed a little break from designing my current project, I decided to take a crack at a pattern that's been in my queue for a long time: Scottie Dogs by Sonea Delvon. This is a free pattern. It's fairly well written, and any ambiguities are cleared up by looking at her hand-drawn diagrams. In fact, I'd suggest looking at the diagrams before you begin so that you get a feel for the project. I was able to finish my dog in about two hours, making this a quick and fun project. My dog was made using her "medium" guidelines. I used Vanna's Choice with a 5mm hook so the fabric would be tight and the stuffing wouldn't show through.

I added the collar and heart-butt myself. I think he's a charming little fellow. He might have been named Mr. Darcy, but I think he looks a little too friendly for that, so Mr. Bingley it is. There's a lot more Vanna's Choice where that came from, so I'll likely add a few more Scottie Dogs to my collection. How should I embellish them?

Friday Focus: Sonja van der Wijk

It's November! Yay! I really like the month of November, that bridge into winter. Everyone begins to hunker down and get cozy in their homes preparing for winter and the holiday season. Speaking of holidays, I hope y'all had a nice Halloween yesterday. I'm not a big Halloween person so I didn't dress up (if I had, I would have been Daria). Instead, my husband and I ate dinner out and then relaxed at home to chat and eat some chocolate.

I really have been feeling like a homebody lately, spending my time doing house chores, baking, reading, and of course crocheting. The other day, as I was snuggled up on the couch with the fireplace going, I came across the work of today's featured crocheter: Sonja van der Wijk. I instantly fell in love and knew I had to share my discovery with you. Her precious creations are so delightfully classic. With their sweet details and spot-on shaping they totally remind me of the illustrations in Beatrix Potter stories, an appropriate comparison as Sonja herself is an illustrator as well as a crocheter. So dear readers, get cozy with me today and let these little fellows warm your heart. Tell us all about them, Sonja!

This is me, doing one of my favorite things, hiking. Here I’m followed by the providers of wool, lovely sheep.

Who taught you to crochet? How long have you been doing it? 

About three years ago I learned to crochet and I'm self taught. I discovered crochet animals in a local gift shop and I loved the retro style and texture of them. I looked for more information about them on the internet and learned they were crocheted and that many people were making similar animals called ‘amigurumi'. I really wanted to learn to make these amigurumi and from one thing came another and eventually I started designing my own patterns. 

Discovering those crochet animals in that gift shop is one of the best things that has happened to me. Now I do something I absolutely love doing and every animal I design is special to me. I’ve always loved animals and sometimes regret that I chose to study art instead of biology. But by making crochet animals, those two worlds kind of come together. Now I can study animals and ‘make' them.

Why do you crochet?

I crochet because I love to make 3 dimensional versions of the animals I'm drawing (I’m also a professional illustrator). It's so challenging to do and when an animal is finished I feel like I have brought my drawing to life. It is a struggle sometimes and can drive me mad, especially when I have to make lots of versions to get the right shape, but the end result makes worth every effort I’ve put into it. 

Crochet Favorites

My absolute favorite yarn to work with is Lètt- Lopi. It's a 100% Icelandic wool and I'm fond of the texture and character it adds to my animals. The yarn has become an important aspect of my style and gives my animals their rustic looks. My other materials are cheap metal crochet hooks, paperclips as stitch markers, and other low budget materials. I like working with basic materials.  

What are you working on right now?

I just finished a crochet hedgehog pattern and now I'm going to design a pattern for a reindeer and a raccoon. I think I’m going to focus on making more ’seasonal’ animals. I consider hedgehogs to be autumn creatures and the reindeer pattern is perfect for winter. The raccoon is an exception but I just look very forward to making one. 

A few finished objects...

This is Falun, my crochet badger pattern. Badgers are my ultimate favorite animals. I love their attitude and habits and had to make a crochet version. 

 

Flam, the crochet fox pattern is one of the first ‘forest friends’ I designed. I love his colors and rustic looks. Like the badger he’s about 5.5 inches tall while sitting.

Finse is my wild rabbit friend. He’s a cheerful looking animal and a lovely doll. I love making animals like these. They look quite realistic, but are playful dolls at the same time. And that is most important to me. To make animals who have their own character and also do resemble the real thing.

What precious little animals. I would like to declare that these are some of the best amigurumi animals that I have ever seen, at least according to my tastes. Honestly, these are some of the best crochet objects that I've seen, period. Sonja has achieved exactly what she set out to achieve. Her darling stuffies truly do have their own character while still being very true to life. Well done!

You can learn more about Sonja, her many lovely patterns, and her illustrations on her website and her Twitter. As for me, I know that I will be making a few of these little friends in the future. Thank you so much for spending time with us today, Sonja!

Friday Focus: Ann D. Angelo

Fall has come to Seattle quite suddenly. There's been lots of rain, lots of wind, and lots of leaves on the ground. It really is true that time passes subjectively faster as you age. I can't believe summer is gone! However, I am excited about all of my autumn favorites. Pumpkin spice lattes, my cat sleeping in her basket by the fireplace, warm cuddles on the couch, baking, and fall tree gazing are all in my future. I even kicked things off by baking banana bread yesterday. Of course, some of the best things about fall are the holidays. Thanksgiving, my birthday (that's a holiday, right?), and *drumroll* Halloween! That night of frights is just around the corner.

Have you thought about crocheting some Halloween decorations? There's still time! If you're looking for a great project, look no further than the splendid creations of Ann D. Angelo. Ann's special stuffies are sure to send a shiver down your spine. Her creepy patterns are detailed and often historical. I find her style to be especially interesting since Ann herself is totally bright, sweet, and peppy. She'll soon have you as charmed as I am!

Who taught you to crochet? How long have you been doing it?
Well, let’s see. At the age of five, while playing dentist with the neighbor boy, I used a crochet hook to remove his filling, which I mistook for a particularly stubborn hunk of food. Although I didn’t technically make anything that day, I think this episode clearly shows that I knew how to use a crochet hook for my own dark and stubborn purposes from very early on.

Meanwhile, to answer the question you actually asked, when I was nine, my best friend and I were summarily informed that we were going to learn crocheting from a woman who had a basement shop in our very tiny downtown. The whole dental work disaster aside, I don’t remember expressing any interest in crocheting before that point, so one of our mothers must have decided that we needed to sit still and stop giggling for a change.

Why do you crochet?
I have a very panicky, nervous, and imaginative brain. I can scarcely even watch TV without thinking about 17 other things at once, 15 of which are going to end with an explosion, a car crash, a failed root canal - something. Crocheting is meditative for me. If I turn on a program and pick up a project, ahh! Peace!

Crochet Favorites
My favorite yarn? Oh boy. This is the part where people say proper things like “Mad Tosh” or “Noro,” right? I am going to horrify fiber enthusiasts everywhere when I say that I actually like working with acrylics. Not kidding. The vast majority of the things I make are amis, so I use acrylics and (occasionally) cotton blends.

As for hooks, I’m a Clover girl, all the way.

What are you working on right now?
At the moment, I am all about Christmas ornaments, not because I am in any particular hurry to get to Christmas, but because I have to be out in front of the holidays with my designs. (Apparently, some people like to start making Christmas ornaments and presents before December 20, which is wonderful and admirable and strange. I usually decide on December 20 that I need to make someone a sweater coat - and then I trick myself into thinking I might actually succeed! One of these years, I am going to turn myself over to Christmas Anonymous so I can get the help I so clearly need!) 

A few finished objects...
I’m a HUGE horror fan, and this is my Nosferatu ami. I am still in love with his enormous hands, because seriously, have you looked at Nosferatu’s hands lately? They’re not even gorilla hands; they’re King Kong hands!

I have been fascinated with the Lizzie Borden case since sixth grade. I have visited her house. I have read books. And now, I have rendered her in yarn. Yar!

I made Merlin & Arthur for a friend’s daughter last Christmas. Every once in awhile, I like to make things that aren’t dark, just to prove I can.

These dolls are so cute and they barely scratch the surface of Ann's amazing collection. My personal favorite is Edgar Allen Poe. She also co-writes a really fun blog. Ann, I dig your "sudden affection for purple"! Purple is THE BEST. Many thanks to our featured crocheter for sharing her work with us today. Happy October!

Friday Focus: Aeron Aanstoos

Y'all know how much I love the ocean. There are plenty of sea-inspired amigurumi patterns out there, but many of them are just so... squidgy. As much as I like cute things, I have to say that I prefer sea creature amigurumi to be more realistic. There is such beauty in a finely made creature, bringing it out of the realm of mere toys and into the realm of art. Forming crochet stitches into the details and shapes that real animals are made up of can be difficult. Lucky for us, Aeron Aanstoos is up to the challenge! Her creatures have just the right balance of cuteness and realism, making them irresistible. Let's focus in on this talented designer.

Who taught you to crochet? How long have you been doing it?
I started crocheting about 7 or 8 years ago. I'm mostly self-taught. I come from a crafting family, but strangely enough I'm the only yarn crafter. Which is probably a good thing, because I don't think the house could hold another yarn stash!

Why do you crochet?
Amigurumi is what got me really hooked on crochet (no pun intended). I'd tried a couple of scarves and started an afghan, but lost interest pretty quickly, probably because they were really dull straight single crochet pieces that were more for practice than anything else. But I got really excited when I learned that I could make adorable stuffed animals, not just squares and rectangles. My first projects - a baby dragon and a chubby Totoro - are still two of my favorites. Once I had a little more experience and confidence, I ventured into designing. I love the challenge, and all the possibilities, of figuring out how to form something three dimensional out of a single length of yarn.

Crochet Favorites
For amigurumi, my new favorite yarn is KnitPicks Brava Bulky.  The colors are beautiful and the consistent lofty texture is perfect for making tight stitches.  Clover Soft Touch crochet hooks are great- I usually use a D or E hook for amigurumi with bulky yarn.  

What are you working on right now?
I'm designing some new whale patterns, but they're on hold while I do some other crafting for upcoming shows. I have a long list of sea creatures to do, and I'm always looking for new ideas. 

**We interrupt this interview for an important message from Sara... Squee! Whale patterns! Yay! Cough, cough, okay back to Aeron.**

A few finished objects... 
Dolphin - One of my favorite animals and so special to me, and I'm very happy with how this pattern turned out. I've had customers crochet this pattern in a variety of colors and they're always adorable. 

Humpback whale - Another one of my favorite animals. This one really comes to life when you add the little French knots on her nose.  

Chambered nautilus - This is my latest sea creature design, and one of the most complicated to design, although it's not too complicated to make. I went through about 8 different shells - on the last one, I colored in the stripes with a marker, then disassembled the whole thing one stitch at a time to write the stripe pattern. It was tedious and a little crazy, but I think the end result is worth it. 

I'll say it was worth it! That nautilus is gorgeous! Aeron is certainly a designer to follow. I can't wait to see those new whale patterns. All of her designs can be found on Ravelry and Etsy. Thanks for sharing your ocean wonders with us today, Aeron!

Tiny Furry Friend

I love mice. Some folks shy away from them because they find them dirty or frightening. My friend Katie is disgusted by their tails. I understand that they do have the potential to spread disease or damage property, but I just can't help loving the sweet little things! Their soft little ears and other cute features melt my heart.

I recently hooked up a mouse who can surely be of no trouble to anyone. This furry friend won't be scaring anyone or spreading disease anytime soon.

The pattern was easy to follow and quick to work up. I found it interesting that the mouse is constructed from back to front rather than from front to back like most amigurumi. I used a 6mm yarn instead of the yarn the pattern calls for, so I also made the tail, feet, and ears a bit bigger. If you've never tried making amigurumi before you might consider starting with this short and simple pattern. It's free, so you've got nothing to lose! Gotta love those free patterns.

Friday Focus: Jess Rollar

Man, I have had an incredibly busy week. I have been helping to plan an event that I can't wait to re-cap for you as Monday's post. Many things have been accomplished and many cups of coffee have been consumed. But ya know, it just wouldn't be Friday without our Friday Focus, so I made sure to dedicate some quality time to the delightful Jess. Her designs are very unique and creepy-cute, with a splash of color thrown in. Let's shine a light on Jess and her brand, Milky Robot!

Who taught you to crochet? How long have you been doing it?
I have been doing crochet since late 2010. I am 100% self taught! I watched a bunch of YouTube videos and then just went at it. I tried for many years but it just never clicked with me until one day out of the blue.

Why do you crochet?
To me, crochet is very mindless and relaxing. I use crochet mostly for plush making and it helps me get my ideas made more accurately than knitting.

Crochet Favorites

Love the book Hello My Name is Amineko! My favorite yarn to crochet with is Dream in Color, it's so squishy and nice! I also love super cute crochet markers, I tend to just buy zipper pulls with the clasps and they work great!

What are you working on right now? What is your next project?

I'm actually getting ready to work on a ton of plush for my Indiegogo campaign rewards. I'll be sketching up some new amigurumi monsters in a couple weeks and diving in!

A few finished objects...

What I love about Jess is that her work is unlike anything I've ever seen before. There are only so many crochet stitches and shapes out there and it just amazes me how people like her can imagine something so different from what is already available. Look at those details! 

I recently launched an Indiegogo campaign to get my plush back in business! I am in need of new supplies so thought I would reach out to my friends and fans. I have been making plush since 2010 and love every minute of it! There are some awesome funding rewards that include plush, patterns and prints! The campaign will continue on till the end of July! You can check it out here. 

There are only five days left to claim rewards for her campaign, so check it out right away if you're interested. Thanks for sharing your interesting plushies with us, Jess! I think my favorite one is third row down all the way to the right. Didn't you know that severed head has always been my favorite flavor? ;)

You can find Jess and her work on her website, her blog, Facebook, and Etsy. Have a great weekend!

 

Little Owl

A dear friend of mine loves owls. She's in luck because owls are super trendy right now! For her birthday I decided to try out this popular free owl pattern. The finished object is very nice. I used much larger yarn than the pattern calls for resulting in a much larger owl. If you decide to try out the pattern for yourself, be aware that it has some really weird color changing instructions. Ignore them and use your own judgement like I did and you should be just fine.

Such a cute little bird! It's also kind of a blank slate that's begging to be dressed up with little scarves, bows, etc. I'll most likely be making more in a variety of colors. What add-ons would you like to see adorn our little fellow?

Friday Focus: Stacey Trock

When I began to get serious about crochet a few years ago, I couldn't get enough of it. I bee-lined for the crafts section every time I went to the bookstore, closely examined crochet items that I found in shops, and of course scoured the internet for crochet resources. During my journey I came upon the work of Stacey Trock. Her brand FreshStitches is an inspiration to crocheters and entrepreneurs alike. Stacey is a woman of many hats, and I instantly fell in love with her unique designs, blog, podcasts, tutorials, and cheerful personality. She has done so much work to brighten the lives of crocheters, especially beginners. She even has two books out! It is with great pleasure that I present her as today's Friday Focus. As you can tell, I'm a little star struck! Take it away, Stacey...

Who taught you to crochet? How long have you been doing it?
My mom taught me to crochet when I was about 5 or 6... so I've been doing it basically as long as I can remember!

Why do you crochet?
I've always loved stuffed animals, and crochet creates a stiff fabric that's perfect for making animals. Sewing also makes lovely toys, but a sewing machine is noisy and isn't portable! That's why I always have some crochet with me.

Crochet Favorites
Yarns: Stonehedge Fiber Mill Shepherd's Wool,  Blue Sky Alpacas Worsted Cotton, Spud and Chloe Sweater, Cascade 220 Superwash, Ella Rae Classic Wool.
Hook: Susan Bates Aluminum (inline)
Book: Any Japanese animal crochet book... they're so cute! 

What are you working on right now? What is your next project?
Right now, I'm crocheting a lion... I'm really excited about his mane! Next up, I'm thinking of a baby koala and some dog breeds!

A few finished objects...
I adore slugs and snails... and so when I was looking for something fun for my hair, I just *knew* I had to make a slug hair barrette!

I had been putting off designing a doll for the longest time... I just couldn't decide how to get the styling right. And then, one day, the idea for Mia hit me! And I love her :)

 
I just can't get enough of this guy's mane! I love rainbows :)

Those amigurumi speak for themselves. Super adorable! She certainly has a way with shape that has given all of her patterns a very recognizable style. Stacey has over 200 patterns to choose from, so there is certainly a pattern (or two!) for everyone. You can find her on her website, Ravelry, Facebook, and Twitter (@freshstitches). Amazing! My personal favorite pattern is the planet since I'm such a space nerd. What's yours?