Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Monkey Soda Can Cozy




Note: Many people have asked me what an adjustable loop is. It is a method used to eliminate the gap in the center of your work that is sometimes created when working in the round. It is also known as the magic ring. June Gilbank of Planet June has an excellent tutorial. http://www.planetjune.com/blog/magic-ring-for-amigurumi/ If you are not comfortable with the method, please feel free to replace adjustable loop with: ch 2, sc # specified in 2nd ch from hook for single crochet in the round OR ch 4, dc # specified in 4th ch from hook for double crochet in the round (the beginning ch 3 would count as your 1st dc).

Materials:
1.5 oz brown worsted weight cotton
small amount tan worsted weight cotton
small amount black embroidery floss or yarn
H hook
F hook
2 buttons
tapestry needle

Cozy:
With H hook and brown cotton, make an adjustable loop.
Rnd 1: 6 sc in loop, pull loop taut. (6sc)
Rnd 2: 2 sc in each st around. (12sc)
Rnd 3: (sc in next st, 2 sc in next st) repeat around. (18sc)
Rnd 4: (sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st) repeat around. (24sc)
Rnd 5: (sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st) repeat around. (30sc)
Rnds 6-24: sc in each st around, sl st in next st at end of rnd 24 (30sc each rnd).
Rnd 25: rev sc around, fasten off and weave in ends.

Ears (make 2):
With F hook and brown cotton, ch 2.
Row 1: 6sc in 2nd ch from hook, ch 1, turn. (6sc)
Row 2: 2 sc in each st across, fasten off leaving long tail for sewing. (12sc)

Eyes (make 2):
With F hook and tan cotton, make an adjustable loop.
Rnd 1: 6 sc in loop, pull loop taut. (6sc)
Rnd 2: 2 sc in each st around. (12sc)
Rnd 3: (sc in next st, 2 sc in next st) repeat around, sl st in next st, fasten off leaving long tail for sewing. (18sc)


Mouth:
With F hook and tan cotton, ch 9.
Rnd 1: 2 sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in next 6 sts, 3 sc in next st, working on opposite side of foundation ch sc across. (18sc)
Rnd 2: 2 sc in next 2 sts, sc in next 6 sts, 2 sc in next 3 sts, sc in next 6 sts, 2 sc in next st, sl st in next st, fasten off leaving long tail for sewing. (24sc)

Finishing: Sew buttons on centers of eyes. Sew mouth and nose on mouth piece. Sew on ears on either side of cozy on rnds 14-17 (if you lay it flat it is easier to determine where to sew ears). Sew mouth centered between ears on rnds 10-13. Sew eyes on rnds 15-21.

Monday, June 28, 2010

Your Navel Is Showing!


Okay, I don't fully understand the obsession with apple cozies, but they are kind of cute I admit. Orange you glad I didn't make one? Nope, it's an orange cozy instead.

Materials:
H hook
small amounts worsted weight cotton in color a and color b
2 stitch markers (scrap yarn or what you have on hand is fine)
button
tapestry needle

Abbreviations:
blo=back loop only

Note: Do not turn unless otherwise noted. When working stitches to marked st in row 9, make last st in the marked st. In row 9 you will join with a dc instead of a sl st and ch 3. This is also called invisible joining/beginning. Please view this tutorial for more information.

With color A, ch 24, join with sl st in 1st ch to form a ring.
Row 1: sc in 1st ch and around, join with sl st in 1st sc, ch 1 (24 sc).
Row 2: (sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st) repeat around, join with sl st in 1st sc, ch 1 (30 sc).
Row 3: (sc in next 4 sts, 2 sc in next st) repeat around, join with sl st in 1st sc, ch 1 (36 sc).
Row 4: (sc in next 5 sts, 2 sc in next st) repeat around, join with sl st in 1st sc, fasten off color A (42 sc).
Row 5: join with sl st in next st with color B, ch 3, dc in next st and around, join with sl st in top of beg ch 3 (42 dc).
Row 6-7: ch 3, dc in next st in blo and around, join with sl st in top of beg ch 3, fastening off color B at end of row 7 (42 dc).
Row 8: join in previous st with color A, ch 1, sc in same st and in each st around, join with sl st in 1st sc, ch 1 (42 sc).
Row 8: sc in next 5 sts, sc2tog over next 2 sts, sc in next 4 sts (place marker 1 in last st just made), sc in next st, sc2tog over next 2 sts, (sc in next 5 sts, sc2tog over next 2 sts) twice, place marker 2 in st just made, (sc in next 5 sts, sc2tog over next 2 sts) twice, join with sl st in 1st sc, fasten off (36 sc).
Row 9: Join with dc in color A in st where marker 2 was placed, dc in each st to marker 1, **begin strap** ch 13, dc in 4th ch from and across, join with sl st at bottom of last dc made before beginning strap (where it meets row 8), fasten off.

Finishing: Weave in all ends. Attach button to opposite side of strap, in the 1st and 2nd st of row 9.

Monday, June 21, 2010

Cookie Monster Pillow


Cookie Monster Pillow

Materials:
H hook
F hook
fun fur/eyelash yarn in blue
worsted weight yarn in blue
worsted weight yarn in white
worsted weight yarn in black
Two 18mm black animal eyes
Small amount of stuffing
tapestry needle


Front/Back (Make 2):
Holding strands of worsted weight yarn and fun fur together and using H hook, ch 4.
Rnd 1: 11dc in 4th ch from hook, join with sl st in top of beg ch 3, ch 3 (12 dc).
Rnd 2: dc in same st, 2 dc in each remaining st around, join with sl st in top of beg ch 3, ch 3 (24 dc).
Rnd 3: 2 dc in next st, (dc in next st, 2 dc in next st) repeat around, join with sl st in top of beg ch 3, ch 3 (36 dc).
Rnd 4: dc in next st, 2 dc in next st, (dc in next 2 sts, 2 dc in next st) repeat around, join with sl st in top of beg ch 3, ch 3 (48 dc).
Rnd 5: dc in next 2 sts, 2 dc in next, (dc in next 3 sts, 2 dc in next st) repeat around, join with sl st in top of beg ch 3, end off and weave in ends (60 dc).

Mouth:
With black worsted weight yarn and using f hook, ch 4.
Row 1: sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in same st, 2 sc in next 2 sts, ch 1, turn (6 sc).
Row 2: (sc in next st, 2 sc in next st) repeat across, ch 1, turn (9 sc).
Row 3: (sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st) repeat across, ch 1, turn (12 sc).
Row 4: (sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st) repeat across, ch 1, turn (15 sc).
Row 5: (sc in next 4 sts, 2 sc in next st) repeat across, ch 1, turn (18 sc).
Row 6: 2 sc in 1st st, sc in next 5 sts, 2 sc in next st, sc in next 4 sts, 2 sc in next st, sc in next 5 sts, 2 sc in next st, ch 1, turn (22 sc).
Row 7: 2 sc in 1st st, sc in next 7sts, 2 sc in next st, sc in next 4 sts, 2 sc in next st, sc in next 7 sts, 2 sc in next st, ch 1, turn (26 sc).
Row 8: sc across, 2sc in corner, sc in each row across top of mouth, join with sl st in 1st sc of row 8, end off leaving long tail for sewing.

Eyes:
With white worsted weight yarn and using F hook, make an adjustable loop.
Rnd 1: 6 sc in loop (6 sc).
Rnd 2: 2 sc in each st around (12 sc).
Rnd 3: (sc in next st, 2 sc in next st) repeat around (18 sc).
Rnd 4: (sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st) repeat around, join with sl st in next st, end off leaving long tail for sewing (24 sc).

Finishing:
Position eyes to top of pillow, allowing them to hang over the top edge a bit. Place animal eyes between rounds 2 and 3 of eyes, one toward the top and one toward the bottom to give him that goofy cookie monster look (use picture as a guide), pushing the animal eye through both the eye and pillow front, attach washer to back to secure (OPTIONAL CROCHET EYE PUPIL BELOW). Sew eye securely by weaving in and out around edge, except at top of eye where it hangs over, where you will weave in and out a row lower, being sure to not sew too tightly giving it a misshapen appearance. Pulling on yarn slowly when attaching eye allows less fun fur to poke through. Sew mouth below eyes as picture using same method. With right sides together, sew front and back 3/4 of the way and flip. Stuff pillow and finish sewing.

Alternative Eye Pupils:
With black worsted weight yarn and using F hook, make an adjustable loop.
Rnd 1: 6 sc in loop (6 sc).
Rnd 2: 2 sc in each st around, sl st in next st, end off leaving long tail for sewing (12 sc).

Friday, June 18, 2010

Pig In the City



Materials:
small amounts of worsted weight yarn in pink or peach (color A)
darker sweater color (color B)
lighter sweater color (color C)
2- 9mm black ami eyes (optional)
F hook
tapestry needle
stuffing
small amount of black yarn or embroidery floss


Notes: If you are not comfortable with making an adjustable loop, you can ch 2 and make sc's in 2nd ch from hook. At the end of each color you can sl st into next st and end off and join with the new color near the last st, or make a color change (depending on your crocheting ability). If you wish, you can use one darker color for color B and color C.


Body (working from top of head to bottom of body):
Starting at top of body, with color A make an adjustable loop.
Rnd 1: 6 sc in loop, pull loop taut. (6sc)
Rnd 2: 2 sc in each st around. (12sc)
Rnd 3: (sc in next st, 2 sc in next st) repeat around. (18sc)
Rnd 4: (sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st) repeat around. (24sc)
Rnd 5: (sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st) repeat around. (30sc)
Rnds 6-12: sc in each st around, ending color A at end of rnd 12. (30sc each rnd)
Rnd 13: change to color B, sc around. (30sc)
Rnd 14: change to color C, sc around. (30sc)
Rnd 15: sc around. (30sc)
Rnd 16: change to color B, sc around. (30sc)
Rnd 17: change to color C, sc around. (30sc)
Rnd 18: sc around. (30sc)
Rnd 19: change to color B, sc around, sl st into next st, end off leaving long tail for sewing. (30sc)


Bottom of body:
Starting at bottom of body, with color A make an adjustable loop.
Rnd 1: 6 sc in loop, pull loop taut. (6sc)
Rnd 2: 2 sc in each st around. (12sc)
Rnd 3: (sc in next st, 2 sc in next st) repeat around. (18sc)
Rnd 4: (sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st) repeat around. (24sc)
Rnd 5: (sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st) repeat around. (30sc)
Rnds 6-8: sc in each st around, sl st into next st and end off at end of rnd 8. (30sc)

Ears (make 2):
With color A make an adjustable loop.
Rnd 1: 4 sc in loop, pull loop taut. (4sc)
Rnd 2: 2 sc in each st around. (8sc)
Rnd 3: sc around. (8sc)
Rnd 4: (sc in next st, 2 sc in next st) repeat around. (12sc)
Rnd 5: (sc in next st, 2 sc in next st) repeat around. (18sc)
Rnd 6: dec around, sl st into next st, end off leaving long tail for sewing. (9sc)


Snout:
With color A make an adjustable loop.
Rnd 1: 6 sc in loop, pull loop taut. (6sc)
Rnd 2: 2 sc in each st around, sl st in next st, end off leaving tail for sewing. (12sc)


Arms (make 2):
With color A make an adjustable loop.
Rnd 1: 6 sc in loop, pull loop taut. (6sc)
Rnd 2-3: sc around. (6sc each rnd)
Rnd 4: change to color B, sc around. (6sc)
Rnd 5: change to color C, sc around. (6sc)
Rnd 6: sc around. (6sc)
Rnd 7: change to color B, sc around, sl st into next st and end off leaving tail for sewing. (6sc)


Legs (make 2):
With color A make an adjustable loop.
Rnd 1: 6 sc in loop, pull loop taut. (6sc)
Rnd 2-8: sc around, sl st into next st and end off leaving tail for sewing later at end of rnd 8. (6sc each rnd)


Tail:
With color A ch 5, 2 sc in 2nd ch from hook and each remaining ch, end off leaving tail for sewing.


Assembly: Place ami eyes between rnds 6 and 7 on front of body (opposite side of ends/beginnings of rows), with 5 visible sts in between them. Sew snout in center of eyes on rnds 7-10. With black yarn or embroidery floss sew mouth below snout and then two verticle straight sts on either side of rnd 1 of snout. Sew ears level with eyes on either side of head. Sew arms to either side of top of body between rnds 12 and 13. Sew bottom of body to top of body halfway, stuff, and then finish sewing around. Attach legs between rnds 6 and 7 of bottom of body. Attach tail to back of bottom of body just below sweater.