Mario Star for the top of the Christmas Tree

Mario Star as a top of Your Christmas Tree - isn't that a wonderful idea for every Mario lover (like me). I will tell You when I was young I had a GameBoy and only one game - Mario ( I think it was SuperMarioLand ?!) Can You imagine how much time I spend on this game.... Even I don't know exactly but I remember when You played the whole game You could play new game plus (with extra monsters) and then plus plus...  To be short I Love mario, so If You love mario and stars and Christmas You have to make this little star for Yourself.

Materials:

• yellow, black, green yarn ( I use the yarn which gauge is 24.0 to 30.0 sts = 4 inches )
• cardboard
• bit of black and white material for eyes
• cotton wool or some other stuffing
• hook 3 mm

Make two yellow stars using this wonderful  crochet pattern by April Draven:
http://aprildraven.blogspot.com/2009/11/star-stuffie-twinkle-star-free-crochet.html

From the black and white materials cut the eye elements and sew them to one of the stars.

From cardboard cut two smaller stars . See the photo for reference.

My little etsy shop

I finally opened my own etsy shop with handmade crochet items. You can visit me here:

MY SHOP

For now I am selling a collection of my framed crochet pictures. Every picture is designed, drawn and handmade by me. Each of them is made with great care and attention to details. Every picture is a unique piece, I never make the same design twice, that is probably because I have too many ideas for this series to go back to pictures I have already made :P

Each piece of the picture is crocheted with a 55% cotton and 45% acrylic yarn and 3 mm hook for anyone interested in details of how I made each pictures contact me and we will discuss it more :)

Size of the framed piece is 25x25x5 cm (10x10x2 inches). There is a front glass in the frame. Weight is about one kilo. The frame is ready to hang. And let me tell You they look great hanging on the wall both from far away and from near when You can see all the amazing details and the crochet texture I personally love as You all probably already now.

I am planning to add more items soon so please visit me in the future. I will add more pictures and other items too, maybe some complicated and hard crochet patterns that will not find a place on my blog, and let me tell You I have a few of them... :)

Please wish me luck as I would love to change my blog writing hobby into full time job in witch I will make at least some money... :)

FOX brooch -free pattern

I am back :) with a brand new free pattern for this cute fox brooch. The brooch is adorable and I have got a lot of compliments when I was wearing it. It looks great on a dark background which is especially great If You like me like Your jackets dark or black. 

I designed it as a brooch but You can use it in any form You like as an applique or hair accessory I am sure it will look great anyway.

Materials:

• orange, white, black yarn ( I use the yarn which gauge is 24.0 to 30.0 sts = 4 inches )
• 2 black beads  ( 4 mm would be best)
• hook 3 mm
• brooch or safety pin

Pattern:

Head - make 1


orange yarn

R1: 6 sc in MR (6)


R2: inc around (12)

R3: * sc 3, inc 3* X2 (18)

R4: sc around (18)

R5: sc around (18)

R6: * sc 4, dec * X3 (15)

R7: * sc 3, dec * X3 (12)

R8: sc around (12)

R9: sc 10, ss 2 (12) FO

Brush.... Brush.....Brush.... your amigurumi....

Did You ever wonder what happens when You will brush Your amigurumi with dog brush?.... Yes, I didn't too until few days ago when I came across this wonderful post:

http://tamiesnow.typepad.com/roxycraft/2009/06/tutorial-making-brushed-amigurumi.html


I bought my brush right away. Actually I lied few lines above when I said "dog brush", because I bought a brush which was ideal for bunnys :) So I knew right away what I am going to make. You can see exactly how the brush looks like on the pictures , I am sure You can get it in every at store and even supermarket. The effects are different for different kind of yarn or even different colors of the same one. In the tutorial I mentioned few lines below I red You can use any natural fiber yarn except cotton, my yarn was cotton and I am still pleased with the effect. You can always make a little piece to try it on. One thing that I noticed I had to brush the cotton yarn for a long time and when I used the different one later the effect was pretty much the same for a shorter time.

Anyway it all depend on the effect You want to achieve I have to tell You the photos from this tutorial do not reflect exactly how cute and cuddly and soft and furry this bunny is. So I highly recommend to try this technique and experimenting on different yarns.

Happy crocheting!

Few things You need to remember when using dog brush on Your amigurumi projects:

• Brush parts individually before sewing them together.
• Depending on the effect You want to achieve You may want to brush in different or only in one direction
• If it's possible You may want to brush the back side - it make the front one more furry too.
• Before brushing Your amigurumi You may want to try on small test part.
• If You are using not cotton yarn and making a long fur You may want to brush it with the regular brush or the brush for infants to form the exact hairstyle You want.
• If You are using a cotton yarn it may take a while to see any effect

If You have any other tips please share in comments and I will write them here..

My son brushing the bunny :) You can see now who is really doing my projects :) In all seriousness please remember to use the brush on each part separably and before assembly.

Bunny pattern:

Sleeping dragon - Brooch

Sleeping dragon little brooch. It can be used as applique or hair accessory or a fridge magnet but I particularly recommend the brooch.... if anyone is still wearing them.

When I was a little girl my mom had quite a collection of different kinds of brooches and I loved them, I loved looking at them, wearing them and buying them for her on every occasion. They are a special kind of jewelry for me, my mom is kind of a classy lady and her accessories were classy and boring for my, but brooches... they were different they could have all the shapes: animals, flowers, abstract shapes or all of the above all at once and they were still ok to wear. Times changed a bit but my opinion about brooches stayed....

I don't know why the dragon You can say he just appeared on paper one time when I was doodling. All I know is that he looks beautiful on a dark jacket and that I will gladly wear it on any occasion unless my mom steals him for hers collection....

Materials:

• green, red, black yarn ( I use the yarn which gauge is 24.0 to 30.0 sts = 4 inches )
• hook 3 mm
• brooch or safety pin

 Pattern:

Body - make 1

green yarn

R1: 6 sc in MR (6)

R2: inc around (12)

R3: * sc, inc * X6 (18)

R4: * sc 2, inc * X6 (24)

R5: * sc 2, inc * X8 (32)



We are finished with the circle and will make a dragon's tail now



R6: 5 ch,[ ss in 2-nd ch, ss, sc 2 ] all in chain You made, hdc in base circle

There is a cat on my head?! - hairclip free pattern

Is there a cat on Your head? There isn't?! Oh no... I feel so sorry for You :) I have a good news for You, You can change it right know with my free crochet pattern.

I am in love with the idea of crochet hair clips and accessories so the cat is definitely the first of the series, one I have ready already is a pony so this will probably be my next post. 

But back to the kitten - he is cute and little and white, perfect for every little and not so little girl (or a boy).  If I didn't sale You the idea yet I can tell You he looks great on every hair color - I checked, and both on loose hair and as a decoration of a pony tale - as You can see on the photos. Another adventure is that he is ease to make even for a beginner and not that time consuming for the impatient ones.

All You need to make him is a white and black yarn plus a hair clip - You can buy one or use some old and unused ones.

Materials:

• white, black yarn ( I use the yarn which gauge is 24.0 to 30.0 sts = 4 inches )
• hook 3 mm
• cotton wool or other filament.
• hairclip ( Mine is the black basic clip almost 5 cm)

 Pattern:

It's a bird... It's a plane... NO It's finger-puppet...FREE PATTERN

.... It's actually finger-puppets Justice League pack. Let me introduce Wonder Woman, Flash, Green Lantern, Batman and Superman, but I really hope this intro was unnecessary cause everything is clear on the first look.

Recently me and my husband finished playing LEGO Batman 3, but I probably shouldn't admit that I am the biggest fan of all the LEGO games especially LEGO Harry Potter ( LOVE You Traveller's Tale never stop developing new LEGO games :) Anyway... what I was..... RIGHT... when we were playing I remembered how much I love superheroes and villains and all their colors and logos and almost everything that comes with them. Immediately I tried to think of the way to make as many superheroes as I can in some kind of set and that.s how Superheroes finger-puppet set came to life.

I had so much fun designing and crocheting them I am already planning the next pack, I am thinking villains now. From all the villains the ones from Batman are probably the most recognizable and colorful too. But that's not the end of possibilities I have soo many ideas for sets of finger-puppets.

I love this photo above it's the cutest of them all :)

Patterns for each and every hero starts here:

Materials:

• beige, black, red, yellow, green, blue, brown yarn ( I use the yarn which gauge is 24.0 to 30.0 sts = 4 inches )
• hook 3 mm
• white and yellow sheet of foam (mine is 1 mm thick) 
• black beads ( 4 mm would be best)
• hot glue gun

Why do You need foam? I used it for the superhero logos. From the sheet of foam cut the desired shape ( white circle for flash and lantern, yellow oval for Batman so on...) Next I painted the symbols with paints. I used markers first which was a mistake, they didn't wan't to dry, but I used my son's markers easy to wash - maybe they were the problem. 

When Your logos are ready and dry glue them with hot glue gun to Your heroes.

If You don't have those items use the materials You can get! Get creative :)

Smelly cat

Finally after soooo much work he is here:

I am sure everyone remember the wonderful series "Friends". I was a big fan of Phoebe and hers creative musical compositions :) like the one I loved the most: SMELLY CAT:

Smelly Cat, Smelly Cat,

What are they feeding you?

Smelly Cat, Smelly Cat

It's not your fault

...

You may not be a bed of roses

You're not friend to those with noses

I'll miss you before we're done

Or the world will smell as one

...

So by adding my love to cats and Phoebe and Friends and cats :) came this little fellow. I had a black cat when I was a teenager so naturally I wanted to make a black cat firstly, but change my mind. I knew I wanted to finally try painting or shading my work, so with black color it would be that much harder. Maybe next time... Cause I am sure now the one will not be enough

This time there wont be any direct patterns. Why? Because it was so many tries and corrections and elements and adds that making a pattern from this would be impossible. But I would like to make sort of tutorial how I made my cat to give the idea to those who are a bit experienced in crocheting how to make one for themselves.

You have to know the process is long.

First step for my is to draw the designed toy on paper. The best idea is to already draw it in a desired size, this way after making the part You can fit it to the drawing. When fitting remember the parts will be stuffed a bit so try not to flatten them but imagine how they would look like when stuffed. Also plan how much stuffing and where You want to put. For example my cats lags are stuffed only where the feets and knees are. The rest of leg is empty (except for the wire).

Okay, so we have the main concept and the drawing what to do next? My advice is: HEAD. I always start with head and than measure and fit other parts to it. It may be hard sometimes but I assure You want regret it.

Potted plant decoration - Monarch Butterfly

I don't know how long I have waited to write this post. There was always something else to do and the butterfly, which is pinned to the flower in my bedroom, was looking at me with silent accusation. So ok butterfly! I am writing! Are You happy?!

The monarch butterfly is the last in my series of potted plant decoration. I made my butterfly monarch so he is orange but I would love to see it in a different color. Butterfly's are easy this way that You can make them any color You like that will fit Your room or Your plant or anything else and it's still ok.

Materials:

• black, orange, white yarn ( I use the yarn which gauge is 24.0 to 30.0 sts = 4 inches )
• hook 3 mm
• white sheet of foam (mine is 1 mm thick) for eyes
• 2 black beads ( 4 mm would be best)
• clothes pin - the best would be the smaller version - 3 cm 
• hot glue gun
• cotton or something else You will use as filament

Pattern:

Mr Snowman Christmas Tree ornament - free pattern

Mr Snowman is the first one of crochet Christmas Tree ornaments I made this year and my favorite one. He is extremely cute in his simple way and definitely pops out on a dark Christmas tree. Finished size of snowman is 11 cm,which is a bit much for my tiny tree but none the less it looks great. If You have a huge real tree You can probably make the whole army of snowman - every one with a different accessory ( hat, scarf etc. ) And we have my next year's project.... :)

As I wrote before my inspiration for this project, except Christmas, was a huge bag of plastic balls for a ball pit. So to fill my sandman head I used the plastic ball which diameter was 5-5,5 cm. I was thinking that the ornaments for Christmas tree have to be extremely light, but now I think it doesn't mater that much. Even if You will fill Your head with something else it will still be lighter than half of my old Christmas balls. 

When I was making the snowman I was also wondering how I will hang it on my tree. I made a little loop on top of the head with the thin wire. I hope the photos I made will make clear how I did it

And last but not least If You will make Your own snowman please send me pictures. I love seeing Your work. I am collecting all Your work for a little gallery I hope I will make. So please don't be shy and send me all Your crochet results :)

Materials:

• white, brown, orange, black yarn ( I use the yarn which gauge is 24.0 to 30.0 sts = 4 inches )
• hook 3 mm
• plastic ball (mine are 5-5,5 cm diameter) and stuffing for the body. If You don't have ball don't worry just stuff the head with some light stuffing.
• a bit of thin wire, like 5 cm max, for the loop on top of the head
• 6 black beads ( 4 mm would be best)
• a bit of black material for the eyes

Pattern:

My Christmas Tree - crochet Christmas Tree ornaments

I present my Christmas Tree. At first I made the characters there are:

• Snowman
• Reindeer
• Two angels one with brown hair, one with red hair
• Santa
• Santa's hot wife

And If You are one of those who ask "Why they don't have hands?" The answer is I really don't know I just imagined them like that :) More pictures and patterns for each character later this month. If anyone is particularly interested in some characters write me so I can make this pattern first. 

The idea for this ornaments came with a huge bag of plastic balls for ball pit we have. My son had the ball pit in his playpen but grew out of it and we were left with a huge bag of balls. So the first thought I had was to make Christmas Tree ornaments from them. I had to make the pictures fast cause they will probably make a little gifts for my family, but it's so hard now to say GOODBYE :(

I think I will leave the snowman for myself, he is the first one I made and kind of my favorite, I love the angels too but I already promised them to my mom.

When I made all these characters I started complaining to my husband that I can't make photos until he will go to the basement and bring the tree. We dressed the tree only in plastic balls and ornaments and noticed that we don't have anything for the top of Christmas Tree. And that is how the Mario Star tree top came to live.

Why the Mario Star? Probably because I spend my whole childhood playing Mario on my GAMEBOY! and when I think star I see Mario Star with these cute eyes ( That was the only game I had at the time, I remember later on I also had the POKEMON but only n french :(

Mario Star looks amazing on the top of the tree and I will not give it up, but I will definitely write the pattern. It was very easy and so fast to make If You are a bit geek like me I challenge You to make Your own star. The only problem You could have If You also have a husband who is a bit geek is that he may demand the whole tree Mario style and You will have to make more ornaments and give away the ones You already made cause they will not fit convention.....

 The last photo is my son's face when we lit the lights on the tree :) I think the Christmas get the new meaning when You have kids :) Merry Christmas everyone!