Team Umbrella Octopus

 

Last night (my time zone), the teams were announced and I searched for a pattern for my mascot. I found 3 free patterns, and chose this one because I like the way the umbrella is formed with the little nubs for the octopus arms.

Pattern: Umbrella Octopus

Chloe in Pink

Tada! To form a good head of hair, I ran a line of hair down the center of her wig cap and around the edges. I think that used about 50 strands or so.





Then I filled in every other stitch on the two rounds inside that, every third or so for the rest. Altogether, I think I used about 130 strands of yarn.

Wiggy

Chloe needs a little something up top. The other dollies are starting to make comments about the new gal with a face but no hair. Since dolls have tender feelings, I thought it best to get started.

Normally, I'd make a round wig cap, like this one on flickr, but these gals have flattish heads. I figured an oval cap would help a bit, and I really like the fit. I'm using worsted weight, but this could be done in any weight. Try on for fit as you go, and increase as needed. Remember: it will stretch, so aim for a close fit. Here goes:

Materials:
Worsted Weight yarn
Size F or G crochet hook (you can go smaller, if you crochet loose)

Doll wig

Wig will be worked in the round. Do not join rounds.

Work in Back Loops Only throughout pattern!

Ch 6, place marker (move to first st of each round)

Rnd 1: 3 sc in second ch, sc in next 3 ch, 3 sc in last ch, continue on back of chain: sc in next 3 ch. Do not turn. (12 sts).



Rnd 2: (2 sc in first 3, sc in next 3 sts) repeat, (18 sts).



Rnd 3: sc in first st, *2 sc in next 4 sts*, sc in next 5, repeat between *s, sc last 4; (26 sts).



Rnd 4: sc in 2 sts, *2 sc in next, sc in next 4, 2 sc in next*, sc in 7 sts, repeat between *s, sc in last 5 sts. (30 sts)



Rnd 5 (if your doll has a more round or football shape head alternate a round of sc with the enlarging rounds): sc in 3 sts, *2 sc in next, sc in next 4, 2 sc in next* sc in 9 sts, repeat between *s, sc in last 5 sts. (34 sts)



Rnd 6: sc in 3 sts, *2 sc in next, sc in next 6, 2 sc in next* sc in 9 sts, repeat between *s, sc in last 6 sts. (38 sts)

(Just a bit more):


Rnds 7: sc in 3 sts, *2 sc in next, sc in next 8, 2 sc in next* sc in 9 sts, repeat between *s, sc in last 6 sts. (42 sts)

Rnd 8 (more rounds as needed): sc evenly





For a plain cap, sc around for Rnd 9 -or- to add the loop stitch across the front (to give her bangs):

Rnd 9: (I know it sounds off balance, but we're not keeping the beginning stitch lined up if we don't join and turn when working in the round. The first stitch very slowly spirals back from center, and we started off center. ) sc in 11, loop st in 12 sts, sc in 19 sts, st in next 2 sts, cut yarn long (so it blends in with the hair you'll add next, or finish by weaving in end).

I'm aiming to have the cap reach from the front of her face dart to her hairline:




Weave yarn in at least a little to secure stitching!

Now put that wig on the doll's head. Sew around the edge with a backstitch, I like to knot occasionally, and then tack down several places in the middle until you're satisfied that no Destructomatic can easily pop her hair off.

And if the ornery kid wants pink hair, the first wig cap can go to another doll!

Next thing will be to decide on her hairstyle and latch-hook-style some hair on!

Something Small

Earlier this week, MissB found the finger puppets book & asked me to make her a monkey. I started it, then had to do other things & set it aside.

MissC asked me to buy her this sparkly blue yarn a few months back. When she looked through the book yesterday, she asked for the mermaid. I figured I could at least get the tail done in a day..

She was so upset! MissC kept telling me that she was "broken" & asking me to sew it closed. I wish the iPhone app would let me upload video, she was flipping back and forth from crying to giggling as I played with the mermaid.

Today, she adores it. & she's using the tail for storage.

That went so quick, I finished up the monkey just before bed. The eyes ara a bit googly, but MissB likes it.

This afternoon, I whipped up the space ship (UFO) for TJ real quick!

Alice

I saw a cute doll this weekend and decided to buy her. I have been doing better about not buying spur of the moment.. Yet, she looked so sweet that I went ahead. The Moxie Dolls are a little shorter than Barbie, with bigger heads. Almost a Pullip or Blythe crossed with Skipper. This one was dressed as Alice in Wonderland. And she was passed around and admired by all the children before I could get a picture.

Today (Sunday), the church had baptisms on the beach. On the drive there & back, I was able to try a couple patterns. The first didn't work on her, but the second.. I finished the bodice during a movie tonight & like it as is, though the pattern calls for sleeves. The pattern is Long Tunic for the free Spirit Amigurumi pattern.
http://sites.google.com/site/designbybethann/home/links/FSLongTunic.pdf?attredirects=0 (I'll get the links normalized soon, I hope. I haven't got the HTML memorized now..)

I hope to make her a skirt over the next few days.

Little Green Afghan

On Monday, I sat down to crochet some stash and was joined by MissA & MissB wanting to learn to knit. I got them each started, and was able to crochet the first skein of yarn into the center star motif of the "Morning Glory" afghan from Circular Baby Afghans. MissA really likes the 'snowflake' I made. :)

Tuesday was lovely, until I injured my foot. TJ helped me make breakfast, we tidied the house, the children played outside, and after lunch we rode our bikes over to the ice cream shop & had ice cream.

When we returned, MissC hurt her finger. I had to nurse Little Guy, so I set her on my bed with her ice pack. Then, I'm not sure what exactly happened! I was by my dresser, turned around and tripped and my foot slammed into a screw sticking out of my bed frame! (How did it get loose? No clue!) It didn't hurt for a moment, except for pulling it off the screw, and started bruising.. I hollered to TJ to bring me another ice pack & a screwdriver & just sat down.

I bent that screw, I was going to screw it in, but couldn't. Somehow, though the pain became excruciating for a bit, I got on the bed and put my foot up & iced it for the next few hours (on for 30-40 min, off for 20-30, on, etc) until it was time to get Ben. During that time, I'd managed to crochet up the next skein of yarn and was out of the second color. So, when I picked up Ben, we stopped by the yarn shop for more yarn. Putting on my shoe was incredibly painful (yeah, birth-smirth, a bruised foot hurts!). I'm glad he talked me into 2 skeins - one was just over 1/2 a round too little to finish the pineapple (strawberry?) motif. The next color will be another shade lighter.

I hadn't planned on finishing the little blanket this week, but with piano class Wednesday: I can sit at the park & crochet while the littles play..

Mending Crochet

I've hurt my foot & am stuck in bed icing it. I was working on crocheting a new little afghan when MissA's blanket was brought to my attention. She had been playing one day with her siblings and someone had decided the blanket needed bigger holes to see through. Sadly, though i started fixing holes on it once before, the blanket has been in the mending pile since. Today, I got over my matchy-matchy self and fixed the rest of the holes with yellow yarn:

MissA is very happy to be able to use her favorite blanket again.

Little Turtles

The children are enjoying hiding the tiny turtles in their shells.

Momma Turtle

On a trip to Shoreline Lake, I had started the Mommy Turtle from Amigurumi Two. I made the shell top and bottom, a half shell, and started the head when I discovered I didn't have the right size eyes. I stopped by D&J, but they were out of 9 mm. The turtle was set aside and promptly forgotten.

After finishing the teapot, I started a doll and ran across the turtle again. I asked Ben to stop by D&J while I was hosting Study Group. He was able to get one package of the eyes. I'm beginning to wonder if they just don't stock them much or if they sell them online more so they end up with none in the store.

Anyway, the doll got its eyes in and one the head and body were together was set aside. The turtle not only has the eyes, it's done. I made up one of the whole eggs and have the shells for the baby turtles, but I may run out of the green.. Maybe I'll have one be tan. (:

What's the first thing the girls do when they see the turtle? Check the opening for eggs!

Teapot

So I've got crochet on the brain. I have in mind to make up a doll, but I haven't drawn her yet. I start to draw and think "No, not quite right.." and scrap it. So, I pulled out Amigurumi Two and made the Tea Pot from the pattern Tea Set and Cookies.

The girls enjoy it. MissB was a little upset that the spout isn't functional. She suggested that I make an actual hole so that she could fill it with water and be able to pour.. It's crochet.. They filled it with blue Legos instead.

“B- Carrying An Egg”

My children love to draw. Sometimes, I have to ask what the drawings are, but they're shown off with pride. LasT night (MisSC'S HELPING ME TYPE), I couldn't sleep. SO, I thougHT ABOUt how TO add THE hair ON thE DOLl. THEN, I REMemBered A drAWing THAT'S bEEN ON mY DEsk since LAST summer. MissB drew it and when I asked about it, I was told it's, "B-- carrying an egg." I pulled it out and taped the egg basket back to the body and started cROCHeting.

I came up with this:


With how round the character is, I decided on a ball for the body. Any drawing could easily be rendered in yarn as a flat pillow (make a matching front and back and stitch together) or as a handpuppet! The egg in the bag is an elongated ball, the basket simply chain 5 loops connected with sc. To keep the egg inside, the bag is closed with sc. And, to keep it becoming lost, the basket was held between stitches and is not removable.

It only took about 5 hours in all. T.J. got up this morning and pulled out his computer to draw me something to make him (he emailed it, I'll have to see for sure, but I think it's a dragon) while cheering me on to finish. I used the loop stitch for the hair and I think it came out well. I'm thinking of adding it to Ravelry as "Children's Drawings" under the toys category. If you do one, send me a comment so I can check it out!!

Pulling My Doll Hair!

I get sidetracked easily. Especially when I'm under the weather (and I have been since the 1st!), so I've been couch directing the children and crocheting. I've got an idea stewing for those chess pieces, just have to work and write it out..

Then I came across a doll pattern and have been focused on that to let the other idea stew nicely. She's cute and cuddly, but I'd like to make a more pocket-sized version, so I'm working her in thread. I started following the pattern for the legs (but didn't do her jogless stripes this time) and instead of making them smaller at the top, I made them wider. I mean, aren't yours? Then, I simply joined the legs in the round and started in on the body. I was working on the shorts and thought since I'd joined the legs, I might as well join the arms.. But then I'd need to do the arms first so that I can just decrease with the body for the shoulders.. Then I thought, no, I'll just start the head and continue on the body, increasing for the shoulders and split it in three for arms and body. That's when it hit me that I don't have any eyes this small (unless I want to embroider them), and that I ought to connect the hair, too, before I close off the head.



So, I started looking for hair ideas. I googled, I scanned the listings and came up with a few ideas. Generally, there seems to be the idea that latchhooking the yarn on is okay (though I remember my share of piles of yarn that I'd pulled out of simple knots like that). I read on a Ravelry page that a fellow Ravelrer's doll has 8 strands knotted together with 2 strands pulled through at the hairline and 1 strand through the back (so with the knot in the middle, I figure that puts the hair going out a minimum of 8 holes?). NeedleNoodles.com has a page on how to add fringe hair (broomstick lace/chain style) to heads. Owly has an Amigurumi hair tutorial -heavy on the pics for us visual learners! As well as a link to a step-by-step of long hair on flickr! ClipClip has a tutorial on several styles of amigurumi hair. There are some that make wigs just of crochet, and others that teach a basic curling technique. And, that prompted a memory of a bear pattern I'd pulled out of a Family Circle magazine (11/2/93) that used the Loop Stitch to make the fur.

Well, that's a whole bunch to try out! Maybe I should make a basic doll recipe to try all these out on!?

Loop st: Insert hook into next st, wrap yarn from back to front around left index finger, keeping it in front of work, yo; pull yarn through st; slip loop off finger; adjust size of loop by gently pulling yarn. Hold loop in place with middle finger, wrap yarn around hook; draw yarn through all 3 lps on hook.

Pawn

I was looking at patterns and came across this utube video of a chess set a lady made for her father. Neat! My husband and son like to play and the pieces aren't generally toddler friendly. Like that set is, what with the size of the pieces.. So I googled 'pattern chess set knit crochet' and came up with one that isn't available any more. So, I picked up a pawn, a penny, a #5 hook, and some green #10 thread and started stitching.

Ben and the children got home and he looked at me sideways like and asks what I'm doing. 'Crocheting.' A little while later, he walked by and saw the half form by my hook and sweetly says, "Fou dans la tête." Sure, but aren't we all sometimes?



(update: found a knitted chess set)

Chilly Day

MissA said to us, "The wind is cold, it's a good day to stay inside and knit." As I looked over her Daddy's work. I smiled and agreed as I continued my crocheting. He worked away, checking on the Yarn Harlot video for speed techniques and picking my brain when he somehow increased nearly threefold in just 3 inches of work. I let him know of the "World's Fastest Knitter" videos that I'd seen on youtube.


Friday night, I started and was working on a poncho for MissC when Ben got home. I finished it while he watched a couple TV shows. I tried it on her and it fits fine, a little loose, but I can't find my camera. Again. I haven't seen it since our Thanksgiving trip.


Today, I started a pattern, but found I was short on yarn (I'm trying to make presents from stash), and started the search again. I came up with the Cute Kid's Ponchos from Crochet Fantasy (Spring 2005), -the pink one- and have the first 2 repeats done. Just four to go, then the short rectangle and sew two pieces together.

I also started a poncho for me. From Snappy Wraps to Crochet, the one on the front cover. We'll see when I get that done with needing to make two more children and maybe the man a gift.. ;)

He’s a Hep Cat

My daughters are fighting over this. MissC wants to hug him and squeeze him and call him, "George." MissB's favorite color is purple, and, well, the universe revolves around her, therefore Mommy must have made this for her. I was just using up yarn and trying the pattern book. They're insisting that I make all the dolls. And, TJ wants a mouse for Hep Cat to play with.

Sunday’s Best

Could there be a better name for the pattern for our pastor's wife? I was going to use white ribbon, but the pink gave it something. I did add buttons, I just forgot to take a picture of it finished.

She'll be here tomorrow.

Star Stitch

I had to look it up, I'm kinda visual.
The Star Stitch is really pretty, though.

Pink is Still SO Pink.

My dear friend, Susan, gave me some pink baby yarn a few years ago that had been her grandmother's. I would love to make Susan something special and pink for her baby(-ies) with it, but it's wool (thankfully, superwash). She hates finicky laundry. I'm still thinking of making her something for a girl, but I'm not sure how it would go over. And, there's only so much yarn! I'm sure I could get two or three baby sweaters out of it, but her youngest girl is now over a year old. I'll really have to dig through my books for a sweater of fingering weight for that size. Hahaha: I just walked over to the bookshelf and the first thing I pulled off was an old Workbasket magazine with a size 2 crochet sweater on the cover in baby pink 3-ply! It calls for 6 1 ounce skeins and these are 1 3/4 ounce skeins, so it should only take like 4!

My pastor and his wife are expecting number five. They have four boys and the scan shows this one as a girl. Can you imagine the excitement? I asked her what her color(s) are and she simply said, "Pink."

Looks like I'll have enough to make both, but I'd better get to it. I can only stand So. Much. Pink. for so long.

Woolly Britches

Wow! Miss B really looks like little Cow, doesn't she? (That's baby BB in the photo, her face can be seen on the pattern page)

Finally got around to moving my soaker pattern here! Woolly Britches are available for your crocheting pleasure. My photos aren't very organized (yes, they're all digital) so I'm having trouble finding the one that goes in the middle of the page (Ben, help?)



That's the original WB soaker that I made in 2004. Maybe I should take a new photo and show how well it's aged. It went through the wash (oops) and shrunk a little, but still works great for Miss C.

My Pockie!

I saw this neat bag while blog-hopping. It's such a fun, simple idea. I'm working on making one myself. Only, I would like it to have a square or rectangular base and be able to hold more, so I'm thinking a button closure or some such. I'll have the ties just be ribbon or crochet from the base (not sewn to the bag, like I think hers are).. And, maybe button the bag to the base so they come apart for easy washing.

So, last night I began crocheting the base. I finished it about lunchtime today. This afternoon, I've been working on the bag. I had just gotten the basic bag together - the lining was just stitched into the bottom - when BB came in and said, "My pockie!"

She snatched that thing so fast and ran off to play with, "My pockie!" I snapped this picture of her having her "lunch" from the bag.