photo by Noreen Crone-Findlay copyright

Yesterday,

I cut the body length

tube of knitting

from the original

mile or so of knitted tube.

I gathered the ends and

stuffed it,

tied off the neck,

stitched the ears

and legs, and

made the arms.

Sew on the arms,

stitching them really securely to the body.

photo by Noreen Crone-Findlay copyright

And, now to

embroider the features:

I did 2 versions of the face-

one with an ‘x’ mouth/nose,

and one with a ‘u’ or ‘v’

smile.

Start by bringing

the needle with

black yarn

through the head,

and out  at the

photo by Noreen Crone-Findlay copyright

first eye. (half way down the face).

Stitch over one

horizontal bar

of the face

4 or 5 times,

leaving the

yarn end

inside the head.

Then,

take the needle back

inside the head.

photo by Noreen Crone-Findlay copyright

To make the ‘v’ mouth:

Bring it out at the corner of

the mouth.

Then, take it back inside the

head,  at the

other corner of the

mouth.

Bring it  out

at the center of the

mouth and take a couple of tiny

photo by Noreen Crone-Findlay copyright

stitches to anchor it.

To make the ‘x’

nose/mouth,

bring the needle

out at the upper

right hand side

of the ‘x’.

Go back in at

the lower left.

photo by Noreen Crone-Findlay copyright

Bring it out at the

upper left and

go back in at the lower

right hand side

of the ‘x’.

Take the needle

out at the

left eye,

and stitch in place

5 times, then

take the needle

inside the head.

photo by Noreen Crone-Findlay copyright

Take the needle back

through the head,

and come out

at the back of the neck.

Trim the end close

to the body.

This photo shows

both versions of the

‘v’ and the ‘x’ mouth.

photo by Noreen Crone-Findlay copyright

To finish:

Thread any loose

yarn ends into the

teddy’s body.

Tug hard on the

arms to make sure

that they are sewn

on really sturdily.

And, there you

have it-  a terribly sweet

little amigurumi teddy

designed by me for the love of children everywhere.

Please feel free to make them for your favorite charities and to give as gifts, but please don’t sell them.

That is not what they are intended for.

And, may you feel joy in the making and in the giving- I hope that they will bring delight those that craft them and comfort and feelings of being loved to those who receive them!

(Please remember that this tutorial was a HUGE amount of work to create, so please DO NOT copy or post it to another blog or website, but please do feel free to share the link far and wide! Thanks so much!

Original design by Noreen Crone-Findlay, copyright)

Post from: Hankering for Yarn

“What?”

“That star…..”

“um, it’s a star….”

‘Where did it come from?”

“I have no idea!”

“Well! It’s perfect!”

“For what?”

“The Christmas Ornament!”

“Hey…. you’re right… that’s a really nice shape!”

“I wonder where it came from…”

“I have nooooooooooo idea…”

“It’s a nice shape, isn’t it?”

“Yep”.

My sweetie pie and I have been together forever, well, okay, more than 30 years.  And, for each Christmas of that 3+ decades, we have designed and  made a special Christmas ornament with the year on it.

photo by Noreen Crone-Findlay copyright

We don’t just make one…. oh no, that would be too easy!

photo by Noreen Crone-Findlay copyright

Nope… we make a whole bunch of them for family and friends.

The little Angel of Gratitude on the left in the photo,

was last year’s

ornament,  and this year’s ornament is going to

be a star.

Actually,

Because this year,

we are going to be

celebrating a VERY important

addition to the family:

A New baby!  wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

So,

the star will actually be a ‘Star Baby’.

I’m cutting this year’s ornament from 1/4″ plywood,

photo by Noreen Crone-Findlay copyright

with the year and  faces burned on, and then varnished

with a few coats of varethane,

and hung from a piece of yarn, ribbon or wire.

Here are a few of the

I wanted it to be sweet,

photo by Noreen Crone-Findlay copyright

To finish them up

photo by Noreen Crone-Findlay copyright

it’s going to be in good company!

It’s joining more than 30 other ornaments

from all out other Christmases.

What a funway to remember each of those special days…..

Post from: Hankering for Yarn

photo by Noreen Crone-Findlay copyright

Today,

I got out my

28 gauge copper wire

and fine steel crochet

hook,

and a wonderful

vintage button.

I love bracelets

and decided that

it was time to  turn

this button into a

bracelet.

photo by Noreen Crone-Findlay copyright

I wrapped the

end of the wire

through the shank

of the button

and around the

end of the hook

to form a loop.

Then….

I crocheted and

crocheted

and crocheted, and frogged and frogged and frogged…. sheesh… for a simple bracelet, it took a heap of attempts to get it right! humph.

photo by Noreen Crone-Findlay copyright

I finally settled

on working a

simple shell stitch

pattern for the

bracelet.

Isn’t it amazing

how long it can

take to get

to the simple

solution?

Have to try out all

the permutations and combinations first….

photo by Noreen Crone-Findlay copyright

Happily,

I got there

eventually!

I am pleased!

Here’s my design for a shell stitch crocheted bracelet. I used 28 gauge wire and a #7 Milwards steel crochet hook.

Each shell is about 1.25 inches wide and about 3/4 inches tall.

The pattern is, of course, copyright and may NOT be copied or transmitted, or shared – please share the link freely, though!

Wrap the end of the wire several times over the end of the crochet hook, through the shank of the button.

Insert the hook into the wrapped loops, and ch 3.

Crochet the shell: (5 dc, ch 2, 5 dc) into the loops.

[Turn, ch 1, sl st into the top of the 1st 5 dc, ch 3, work shell.]

Repeat from [ to ] for desired length of bracelet.

Ch 1, turn, sl st in 1st 5 dc, ch 11, sl st to top of next dc. Turn, ch 1, work 1 sl st in each ch st, sl st across 5 dc, cut wire, pull end through last loop on hook. Weave end into bracelet. Enjoy!

Hmmm…. this would make a great gift… get out your grandmother’s button jar and start making those bracelets!

Post from: Hankering for Yarn

On one hand, I’m really touched that she thinks so much of a simple dishcloth that I knitted when my skills were still pretty new. On the other hand, I’m like “Use the dishcloths already! That’s what they’re for. I can make more!”

I hear knitters and crocheters make these beautiful things, but refuse to wear them/scrub up with them/bring them out into the light of day. If you go through the effort to create, then I feel that project should be used for its intended purpose. Otherwise, why spend all those hours making it?

If you have anything at all hiding in a closet, sitting in a chest, tucked away in a drawer — if you are at all proud of it — by all means, haul it out. Use it, wear it, scrub with it until it’s worn through with holes. After all, isn’t that why you made it in the first place?

Post from: Hankering for Yarn

If you’re knitting gifts for the holidays, have you finished yet? One of these years, I’m going to get into the Christmas knitting spirit, but I can see myself not meeting deadlines and then sitting up all Christmas Eve, frantically trying to finish! And that’s just not how I want to spend my holiday.

I’m going to re-examine how I feel next month (because I would need to start planning in January) because I’ve seen so many nice projects on so many blogs — they’re not all elaborate, either. Some are small and simple, like this poinsettia ornament.

So how are you going to spend Christmas Eve?

Image: Interweave Knits

Post from: Hankering for Yarn

They’re typically inexpensive and so worth putting your special stamp on a project you took time and effort to make. These are from Stitch Diva Studios: 

Don’t forget to add special care instructions if necessary, such as “wash in cool water”, “handwash only” or “line dry.” This way, your special gift lasts for years to come.

Image: Stitch Diva Studios 

Post from: Hankering for Yarn

If your cat or kitten is your best friend, you want to make something for her/him for Christmas, right? Fortunately, you can whip up a crochet gift rather quickly. Here are some ideas for the furry feline in your life — and all of these patterns are free: 

Crochet chicken (or other bird) – Perfect for stuffing with catnip

Kitty sweater – Because what cat doesn’t just love to wear clothes?

Catnip mouse – More catnip

Snuggle tubbie – Although meant to provide a safe and comfortable place for shelter animals, this is great for any pet  

Octo-puss toy – Great for using up scraps

Want more kitty? Be sure to hop over to The Kitty Blog, where feline fun happens all the time. 

Image: Photos.com

Post from: Hankering for Yarn

Let’s say you waited until just now to knit and/or crochet gifts for the holidays. You need some ideas that you can work up fast. Usually, the smaller the project, the quicker you can whip it out (though yarn thickness and needle size also come into play). What types of projects can you dive into and finish before December 25? Here’s some ideas:

Crochet Christmas tree air freshener

Knit baby poncho

Crochet stocking

Knit Peter Rabbit

Crochet angel wreath

Knit squiPod iPod cozy

Crochet penguin ornament

Knit Anna of Green Cables hat

Crochet purse

Knit coffee cup cozy

Small projects are perfect for using up leftovers from other projects or for stashbusting, if you’re trying to reduce the size of your yarn stash.

Image: Photos.com

Post from: Hankering for Yarn

It’s that time of year again. It’s magical and cheerful and hopefully, spent with the people you love best. It’s also a time to buy or craft gifts for others, if that’s part of how you celebrate. Whether you buy presents for other crafty people in your life or you make a list so that your loved ones buy you exactly what you want, here’s a list of great gifts for knitters and crocheters, even if that someone is you:  

Notions & Accessories

Key ring

Stitch markers

Sheepy gauge

Soak wool wash

Shawl and scarf pins

Bags & Cases

Needle organizer

Accessory case

Tote

Needles & Hooks

Ergonomic

Unique

Rosewood

Hummingbird

Books

Cozy Crochet

Knit Noel

Crocheting on the Edge

Luxe

Spinning wheel

Namaste bags

Image: Photos.com

Post from: Hankering for Yarn

There are few things as satisfying than working on a project for hours and then gifting it and seeing the recipient really appreciate it. On the other hand, there are few things as frustrating as working on a project for hours and then gifting it and seeing the recipient react in a lukewarm or downright cool fashion.

One thing I try to remember is who appreciates my knitting and who doesn’t. I knitted this scarf for my mom a couple of years back… 

As you can see, it’s lacy and it was time-consuming, but I did it because I liked the project and I wanted her to have it.

She didn’t appreciate it. Instead of foisting more handknitted goodness on her, I just buy her storebought gifts and that’s that.

Sometimes we as crafty people want everyone to love our gifts as much as we do, and it doesn’t always work out that way. So to avoid frustration, I only knit for those who appreciate it (too often, it’s only other knitters!) and buy stuff at the store for those who don’t.

Are you Christmas knitting/crafting this year? Why or why not?

Post from: Hankering for Yarn