Brian the Sheep!

Brian the sheep, (named by Dave because he thought he looked like Brian from the "Go Compare" adverts) is the biggest amigurumi I've ever made. I know that usually amigurumi are small but I've found that people seem to like to order things that are more standard cuddly toy size.

Brian was a (very belated by the time I finished) Mother's Day present for my lovely mum. She has always been very encouraging of my crocheting. More so since I've moved into my own house and no longer leave bits of yarn all over her carpet!

I had a go at making Stephanie at All About Ami's Lambert pattern, The only fluffy yarn I had was purple (didn't like working with it at all) and my sheep ended up looking like a lion/monkey hybrid.

Slightly disheartened I decided to use the Stephanie's pattern as a basis to make a larger sheep and so Brian was made.

I wrote out a basic pattern which was altered several times while I was making it. I didn't actually intend for him to end up so big (he is about 14 inches tall now he's finished!) but by the time I realised I was too far in.

My mum loved him and he has pride of place on top of a unit in their living room.

I've mentioned before that I crochet at work, and many people saw parts of Brian in the making so once he was actually finished he was taken on a tour round the office for people to see.

I will admit I did have another reason to make Brian, he was a trial run. I have several work friends who have relatives who are having children this year (the year of the sheep) and have ordered sheep off me as gifts. One the same size of Brian and one is smaller with a pink face because they know the baby is a little girl (not sure what the feminine version of Brian is? Brianita?).

Lots of happy sheep crocheting to come!

Hope you all have a lovely weekend

xxx

Work Crochet and Home Crochet

Despite the fact that most people would find my job undesirable, it does afford me the opportunity to get some crocheting done at work. I work in a call centre, and in between calls we don't have anything to do, and the devil makes work for idle hands!

I started crocheting when I had worked there for a few months, to begin with it drew a quite a few odd looks and people asking me what I was doing; now however no one bats an eyelid!

I always seem to have multiple projects on the go (as does every crafter), if I have something that is due for a deadline then I tend to ferry my project to and from work. However when no deadlines are looming I tend to pick a project and leave it in my locker at work. I choose things that require only 1 ball of yarn (or just one colour of yarn), this sometimes leads to me taking more clothing projects to work. As long as you keep track of how many rows you have done, it tends to be easier than amigurumi as the stitches are just repeated.

 My current work project is a little hooded jacket for my "nephew" Harvey, he's the new baby of one one my oldest friends. I cannot wait to go down and visit them.

I have the above book by Nicki Trench, and am making this lovely V-stitch jacket, I have decided however to make it in this colour; its called air force blue

Does anyone else have the luxury of crafting at work?

xx

Elephants Everywhere!!!

So Blog every day in May was a complete bust. I'm so disappointed but to be fair to myself I have been so ill. I am still so ill. Part of the reason my blogging tailed off was because my crocheting tailed off. I've been in so much pain that all I have wanted to do is lie on the sofa under a blanket feeling sorry for myself.

I have decided however that if I carry on like that I may end up going down an awful downward spiral that I might not be able to get back out of. So trying to be more positive, getting back on track with my crocheting.

I have done bits of crocheting. Everyone seems to want one of the elephants I've been making.

This guy was requested by my Dad. I gave him tusks to make him a bit more manly and he now spends his days travelling round in my dads work van.

Then my sister asked for one. My sister has more things I have crocheted then anyone else. Every time I saw her after I agreed to make it she was asking where he was. I think he was worth the wait. I think she called him "Murray" because he is mint green.

I then decided to make a big elephant for my good friend who is having a baby in October. Rather than trying to enlarge the pattern - which is something that I have considered but don't have energy for at the minute -I bought some really thick wool. I wasn't overly keen on it because I have this need for everything to be perfect and the wool didn't form into lovely squares of colour (not that I really expected it to haha) but everyone else seemed to love it. Even my Dave said that if my friend didn't like it he would claim it. Unfortunately for him she loved it.

I guess he is kind of cute.

My current elephant is a glittery pink number for a work friend of my mums. I showed my mum 2 different pink yarns to choose from an she couldn't decide so I have to make 2 and let her friend choose. Its lucky I enjoy making them!

I have also mocked up a larger pattern for the dinosaur that I mentioned in a previous post so they are on my list of things to make. I will post the pattern after I've made them and amended and problems with the pattern. Also I did attempt to start Dave's secret surprise Charmander but I struggled getting along with the pattern. There were no numbers to indicate the number of stitched per row and the rows didn't always finish where they have started. I have found a pattern for a Charizard that I think I'll attempt and that he will probably prefer anyways.

To something non crochet related. My lovely Victorian cottage is having electrical problems. Turns out the problems we had with condensation back in November have caused mould to grow inside the plug sockets. We had no idea until the electric started tripping. It kind of grosses me out knowing it was there the whole time and we had no idea! Its being left to dry out at the minute and then we're having new sockets fitted next week. So lucky to have a brilliant landlord who gets things done so quickly.

So onto plans for the rest of the day: finishing the glittery elephant and then some baking. I want to attempt chocolate, caramel, peanut butter cupcakes. If they go well I'll post a photo :)

Hope you all have a wonderful day xx

Twice in one day!

As promised to make up for missing yesterday here is my second blog of the day. The challenge suggests sharing my favourite blog posts for todays blog. However since I have not been blogging for very long and don't have that many to choose from I thought I would instead share my 5 favourite things I have crocheted.

Number 5:

This is the only one of my Top 5 that is not amigurumi. I made this gorgeous little cardigan for a friend of my mum who had just become a grandmother. It took me ages to make because the whole of the bottom of the yoke is entirely shell stitches and although it looks lovely its very time consuming. I also love the colour, it was nice to make something for a baby girl that wasn't in the expected pink. The pattern for this came from a Nikki Trench book that I brought which is full of baby clothes and accessories. I'd definitely recommend it for any crocheters who are expecting or know someone who is. Even if you're a beginner there are some nice basic patterns to help build your confidence.

Number 4 

I think the reason I like this little guy so much is probably partly just because I love penguins so much! I don't think anyone can deny their cuteness. When I started crocheting Christmas bits and bobs I asked my mother in law if there was anything in particular that she would like me to make her and she requested a penguin. I found a pattern in an amigurumi book and then made some slight alterations and made him a cheery scarf to finish him off. My mother in law loved him and he is actually on display in her living room all year round!

Number 3

These guys have a special place in my heart because they were the first thing that I wrote my own pattern for. These snowmen were the first lot I made the first Christmas after I started crocheting. Since then my pattern has evolved and the ones I made this year had arms with mitten, scarves and their hats had pom poms. Although the pattern itself is fairly simple they still make lovely Christmas gifts (and people who don't know how to crochet won't know how simple they were!)

Number 2

This was another of my original patterns. I put a lot of thought into the overall effect I wanted him to have. It would have been much easier to make him like the snowmen rather than crocheting all the sides as separate rectangles and sewing them all together but I wanted him to look as if he was made from sheets of metal. I added a heart to him as I made him around valentines day, but I think I'll probably make more at some point with a different motif.

Number 1

This is my overall favourite not only because of how well she turned out but also because of the sentimentality of it. She is the very first Yaya Doll I made. She is my own pattern and named after my yaya, who was my mum's mum and the person who taught me to crochet. This doll was a gift to my mum from me for mothers day, and it actually made her cry - not my intention!

That finishes off my Top 5 and my second blog of the day - and posted with 20 minutes to spare!

Sick Again

I've been ill again. I feel like I'm going to and from doctors and hospitals at the minute. Unfortunately my crocheting has taken a back seat. It's difficult to crochet when you're in so much pain that you don't want to sit up. I did start the blanket I mentioned before from moogly blog and it's coming along nicely. I've also been spending a lot of time with my parents as they have had this week off. Gives me an excuse to play with their pets :) I've also signed up for the blog every day in may challenge, so hopefully you'll be hearing a lot more from me

Making Progress

Even though I'm still in a lot of pain I am making progress with my next Yaya doll. I've crocheted the whole head and neck, and I'm now working on putting the hair in.

This is the bit that I find most boring and time consuming, sewing in ends! Has to be done though to give a nice hair line on the back of the head.

Didn't actually take as long as I thought in the end, just had to find a systematic way of doing it. I actually worked through it so I did all the yellow bits and then all the pink bits (not that I have crochet OCD haha)

I've added the first row of hair, just around the base of the head. Now going to get a contrasting colour and sew in where I want the rest of the hair to fall. The plan is to have a full fringe that gets longer at the sides to blend in with the rest of the hair. Going to do a centre parting along the top of the dolls head and then add in as many rows of hair needed. I don't want to put too many in as it makes it difficult for the hair to be tied up.

I've popped some pins where I want they eyes to go so I know how long the fringe needs to be. Also debating on what colour dress to give this little dolly. She is meant to be based on me and I tend to wear a lot of black but thought a brighter colour would probably look more cheerful.

I am also looking forward to another side project I am starting (I need to start what I finish haha). A very good friend of mine is having a baby and has asked if I would make her a few bits so the baby will have something made by "Aunty Charlotte". The blanket is a free pattern I found on mooglyblog.com. It uses the bobble stitch and looks really snuggly. Going to make it in rainbow colours seen as I don't know what she's having yet. Popped the link on here in case anyone else wants to take a look. It's also on Ravelry.

http://www.mooglyblog.com/free-pattern-blackberry-salad-striped-baby-blanket

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/blackberry-salad-striped-baby-blanket