Tag: amigurumi

crochet camera

Happy Snappy Camera…

Published on by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin4 Comments

I am ridiculously excited to share this Happy Snappy Camera with you which you will find in Issue 96 of Crochet Now…yes, that’s right…I got published for the very first time and I’m still up on cloud 9!!

I am super thrilled that it got onto the front cover too and am extremely grateful to Jenny and her wonderful team over at Crochet Now for giving me the chance to create for them. You will find lots of other great summer crochet patterns in this edition too designed by very talented designers indeed.

crochet camera held by lady
Picture courtesy of Practical Publishing

So if you fancy hooking your own Happy Snappy Camera…you know where to get the pattern. They make great toys for pre-schoolers! I am off to make another in a different colour.

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crochet angel

Crochet Angel

Published on by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin4 Comments
crochet angel

Isn’t she lovely, isn’t she wonderful. Isn’t she lovely made from love

Lionel Ritchie

Let me start by saying I simply loved hooking every stitch of her. Isn’t she just adorable. I made her for a lovely sidekicksista aka a beautiful crafty friend. I can’t wait to hook another crochet angel. I would love to gift some more and make one for myself too.

The pattern is certainly not for beginners and it took a little deciphering, however it is a beautiful pattern that did not disappoint. I have never hooked with such a small hook before, a 2.5mm! That also took a little practice. The pattern states to hook with a fingering weight yarn held double stranded and gave a lovely denseness to the fabric of the doll.

I love everything about this angel, from her crazy curly hair to her button fastened limbs and little blush cheeks (which were ridiculously good fun to paint on)

Here are the full pattern details

PATTERN: Crochet Angel

By: Irina Moilova @crochetconfetti

You should also know, before you fall down this crochet angel hole…she has lots of other beautiful dolls to make…you may get hooked!

XXXXX

crochet zebra

Amigurumi and CE testing…

Published on by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin7 Comments

Amigurumi and CE testing…that is what I am trying to figure out right now and it’s a sizeable pain in the butt!

  Since hooking up my zebra last summer, I have had people ask me to make their children one…but, I have been hesitant; as in the UK and within Europe toys must by law carry the CE mark.

crochet zebraSo, for a long while I was completely put off the idea of making anymore amigurumi…but, my little zebra is just so delightful that every time I look at him I want to hook another, in a different colour of course.  I also want to hook a giraffe and a bear and all manner of other cute stuffies. 

amigurumi unicorn

So, I have done some research and my brain hurts…it really does.  But, I have found that I can  do my own CE testing…yes, that’s a whole lot cheaper than sending toys of to the lab to be CE tested! 

CE testing also involves science experiments! 

So, I am enlisting the help of my Dad as he is a retired primary school teacher, and hence very thorough and I know he will help make sure my testing is rigorous, which is just what I need.  

crochet zebra

The testing requires two prototypes of each toy, one to test prewash, one to test post washing.  I am finding the thought of making two a bit galling to be honest, as it will use my precious stash…but, I am just going to have to get over that!

The testing is even more vexing to me as I have to set fire to it…let me rephrase that…I have to set fire to my zebra!  If that still doesn’t register with you

I HAVE TO SET FIRE TO MY YARN!!!! TWICE!!!

Yes, I thought that might get your attention…I feel anxious about just typing that, let alone striking the match.  If my prototype survives that, I then have to suspend various weights from it amongst some other things, like checking the materials used are all EN71 compliant.  Of course all this has to be documented properly too.

If anyone knows any better than this or has experience of CE testing or can point me in the right direction, especially on what is required by law to sell toys outside of Europe, I would  really love to chat with you; as I have decided to bite the bullet and will commence testing soon.

But, first I am going to have to make some more amigurumi for the slaughter, as I just can’t bring myself to burn my zebra!

xxxxx

amigurumi unicorn

Amigurumi unicorn…

Published on by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin7 Comments

amigurumi unicorn

 

After dipping my crochet toe into the world of amigurumi with Abe, the delightful zebra dude  I knew I had the bug and it wouldn’t be long before I started another little cutie.  This time I fell for the magical charms of this sweet, sweet unicorn.

crochet blog
Unicorn ingredients…

amigurumi unicornI wanted her to be white and chose Sugar n Cream worsted weight cotton mix, which gives a lovely texture  to her body and face. Her hooves were hooked in a soft lemon aran weight cotton yarn from The Women’s Institute and her mane and tail were created using a dk weight Ricorumi cotton in a baby pink.

amigurumi zebra

I even managed to get everything the right way round this time! and felt much more confident than when I hooked my zebra.

amigurumi unicorn
getting her ears

 

The pattern is by the very talented Chiquipork and is called ‘William the Unicorn’. It is a beautifully written pattern and has lots of top tips for construction.  The pattern is  written very clearly and it was easy to follow as it is formatted into the different sections of construction.  There are lots of photo’s too which I found helped me in the ‘putting together’ process. 

Well worth the purchase!

amigurumi unicornamigurumi unicorn

I have named her Bella, but alas she is only staying with me for a few weeks, for she has been adopted by a little girl who will love and cherish her and who may well give her another name!

amigurumi unicorn

Bella…she is magical isn’t she?
xxxxx

 

 

crochet zebra

Amigurumi zebra…

Published on by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin17 Comments

 

crochet zebra

I’ve been wanting to introduce  this rather charming crochet zebra to you for a couple of weeks now, but I have been working overtime (urgh!!!). 

This is Abe…isn’t he just a dude?  I started hooking him a little while ago…my first foray into the world of amigurumi and most definitely not my last.

crochet zebra
I really struggled to put him down, he was such a joy on my hook.  I absolutely loved every paintbox cotton stitch.  I have made a lot of mistakes and he certainly has taught me  a lot and for this reason he is mine to keep…I am a bit like a 4 year old child at the moment, moving him from room to room so he is with me!!!   

crochet zebra

I think the hardest part for me was sewing him together…Not only was it a bit like a zebra horror show, he proved to be a little tricky.

crochet zebraTo begin with I sewed his ears to his nose…I was extremely frustrated at this point and so I do not have the photo to show you. It was late in the evening and his ears were the first things I joined together for him.  I was feeling rather chuft with myself and  I didn’t make the sickening discovery until just before bedtime.  I lay there trying to go to sleep, but it was no good.  I had to get up and perform some late night intricate facial surgery.  It was silly o’ clock when I finally got back into bed, but worth the midnight oil not to wake up to such a silly mistake.

crochet zebraIf you look closely at that arm and you have a trained eye you will notice that it is actually inside out…another lesson learnt.

crochet zebraBut I just love his cute little face and his stripy pyjamas.

crochet zebraHis limbs have just the right amount of dangle.

crochet zebraOnce he came to life it wasn’t long before his character began to shine through…posing zebra alert! 

All in all I love this dude and I have found a suprising new love in amigurumi (crochet toys)… You can find the free pattern details at the bottom of this post.

crochet zebrapattern by amvabecreations

 

xxxxx