Cookies! May 30, 2009

Here’s the results of the past month.
You might have known me on Etsy as”blitzpixie” which I had a shop on that never sold anything. I’ve since opened another Etsy account under the name HannahHandmade, a username I like much better and I’ve listed 4 items in the shop.
I’m sorry, but they’re not amigurumi although I do plan on getting some patterns up soon, but if you want to go and check it out, here’s the address: hannahhandmade.etsy.com.
My particular favourite is the Cookie Monster Cowl. I hope someone else likes it too.

During the first few weeks of uni life I found myself with quite a lot of free time, but for the next 3 weeks I have revision and an assignment to do so no crochet for me until that’s done .

Where I’m Up To April 26, 2009

I’m sorry I don’t have pictures but I am working on a few things.

Well, I made my boyfriends mum a signature escargot but substituted the mushroom for two loop d’ loop cowls (free pattern on Ravelry), and a case for her new phone.

Also, after posting Totoro on my facebook I have been challenged to make more Studio Ghibli inspired amis. I chose the easiest thing I could think of – No Face from Spirited Away. It’s not looking too bad, but I’m not simply crocheting a cone/cylinder shape because that might end up looking a bit….dodgy, if you know what I mean, or maybe it’s just my mind.

Totoro went down a storm with my friend’s girlfriend and I have been helping her all I can in learning to crochet so she can make her own amigurumis. I recommended The Happy Hooker, which she bought almost straight away so I hope she gets past the tedious “sc into the base chain” test and gets into making amis. A girl I work with has also told me that her mum has become obsessed with amigurumi since seeing my pictures.

Seriously, I don’t really like giving credit to facebook, and I don’t mean to keep bringing it up, but it has certainly helped me showcase my stuff to people who wouldn’t otherwise have looked at it. Not only have they seen what crochet can actually do, and realised it’s not just a craft for old women, but some have even taken enough interest in it to start learning themselves. To me that is a bigger success than I could have hoped for. I quite like being the individual, but not being the only person within a 50 mile radius who even knows what amigurumi actually is will also be quite nice.

I started Uni last week so I might not have as much time to crochet as I did have, and I was slow to begin with, so my finished projects will be few and far between, although I’ll try and get pictures of the gifts I made and I also made a cowl for myself which I will post too. I will also tell any of my new classmates who will listen about amigurumi, lol.

Finished Totoro April 8, 2009

I finally finished Totoro last week but he’s not gone to his new home yet so I really hope my friend doesn’t read this blog. I’m so happy with him, I’ll be sorry to see him go, and I hope my friend appreciates whats gone into making him apart from just yarn. It’s possibly my most favourite thing I’ve ever made but there’s still more tweaking to be done with the pattern. Credit for the lovely photos goes to my boyfriend.

Now I am making a signature escargot and improvising a mushroom for my boyfriend’s mum’s birthday which is in 2 weeks, but I’ve had a wicked cold since Saturday so I haven’t got very far. I’m actually off work sick today but am still in no mood to crochet. I just want to sleep.

They’re A Hit March 29, 2009

Last week I put photos of all my amigurumies onto Facebook to prove to people I know that when I say my hobby is crochet, it doesn’t make me old-fashioned and boring. I’d had enough of the “WTF?!” look I got whenever I mentioned crochet.
Later that same day, I’d already had 2 requests from friends for their own amigurumies. One wanted a green bear like the one I made ages ago (a gift for his girlfriend for Easter), and another wanted a Totoro (also a gift for his girlfriend for no occasion what-so-ever). I’ve never made a proper Totoro before but it’s a very promising work in progress at the moment. I had intended to use heavens_hellcat’s pattern but the more I did, the further I deviated from the pattern. It’s all good though.

The green bear has already gone off to it’s new home.

I also finished this earlier in the week and it’s been the most popular among my friends. If you recognise it, it is inspired by a similar one on flickr. I’m really into the breakfast foods since seeing friend eggs and toast amis on flickr and Ravelry.

The scarf has gone on hold for the time being. I can’t make amis fast enough right now.

Fawn 2 March 17, 2009

While my boyfriend was on holiday, and because I just wanted to follow a pattern instead of making up my own, I made another fawn…with a few differences. Apart from the obvious nose, eyes and ears, I did the front legs a bit different, not that you can tell much there. They worked out okay. I like them more than the proper ones anyway.
The first fawn I made had been annoying me because I’d sewn the head and nose on wonky. I also like the colours of the second one much more.

The next thing I’m making is a scarf but I won’t give too much else away. It’s been done before but I like it so much I have to make my own.

Pokéball March 6, 2009

I spent last night and today making a pokéball hacky sack. The reason it took me so long is because I was working on a perfect circle shape but it’s still slightly flat on the top and bottom (which I’ve managed to hide on the photo). I don’t know why I’m finding it so hard just to make a simple sphere shape.

Then, because I frogged it so much without making a note of what I was doing, I got hopelessly mixed up when trying to match up the two halves. There was a stitch missing here or an extra row there, it was too big at first, and so on.

Anyway, here it is:

I used Toyball DK by James C. Brett yarn with a 3.5mm hook, and had to use lentils inside because I still can’t find plastic pellets. The lentils work pretty well though. The next one I’m going to make is a great ball (blue on top with 2 red stripes, white on bottom).

And even though I was crocheting for about 5 hours straight today, my hands aren’t sore and my wrists don’t ache. That’s a lot of crocheting for me in one day, but I could carry on if I didn’t suddenly find myself with a ton of other things to do.

There’s always tomorrow x

Sackboy February 28, 2009

I finished making a Sackboy for my boyfriend today. I’m fairly pleased with it, although he’s not as good as I wanted but for a first attempt I’m happy. It was a completely improvised pattern. I’ve made a note of it but I’ll have to refine it before I make it available. I did find a free pattern for a Sackboy head through Ravelry. It’s to make a Sackboy much bigger than mine with an open mouth but you can find the pattern here: Causticmuse’s Crochet Sackboy Head.

I love how on Ravelry you can add details like what yarn you used, what size crochet hook, how long it took and how big it is. I <3 Ravelry.
He’s about 3.5″ tall and only took me a few days to make. For the eyes I had to use brads because I couldn’t find flat black buttons anywhere, although I’m sure they’d all be too big anyway.

And here’s my new crochet hooks. I’m glad I went ahead and bought them. My hands don’t ache half as much and they feel nicer against the wool; it’s as if they’re Teflon coated or something .

Apparently my next project is a Pokéball hacky sack. I should stop showing my boyfriend crochet pictures on Flickr.

There’s another picture of Sackboy on my Flickr, and if you want to find me on Ravelry my username is blitzpixie.

Easter Bunny Pattern From Susie Farmgirl February 23, 2009

Susie Farmgirl has posted a free pattern to make a cute little bunny in time for Easter.

I also caved in and bought those Hamanaka Raku Raku crochet hooks. Over-priced but uber-cool, I love them! The sizes are confusing though. I hope I use the right ones.

Ravelry February 19, 2009

Yesterday I recieved my invite to Ravelry, having requested one without really knowing what it was all about. I’ve just signed up and added a few projects and stuff and it is such a good site. It’s like your online personal organiser where you can keep track of your yarn stash and what needles you have and you can buy or trade with other people for yarn. I’m really impressed with it. I’m still exploring, the list of things you can do is endless. If you haven’t heard of it, go check it out here: https://www.ravelry.com/. Invites take about 3 days to get sent out because there’s a bit of a backlog but it’s worth requesting one.

Signature Escargot February 12, 2009

Here’s my first snail made using Elizabeth D’s pattern from Etsy. It didn’t take long to make at all, although I did find the shell tricky at first.

I still haven’t decided what crochet needles to buy. I can’t justify spending £30 for 10 needles, but they do look cool.