it's a Pretty Modern life

Three little projects...

I have been working on a few things.  First of all is the Amy Butler Birdie Sling that I have FINALLY chosen the fabric for.  It seems fitting that I use Amy's fabrics, so here's a sneak peek:

Second, I am working on another Roxycraft crocheted giraffe (this time crocheting "smooth-side-out").  I will be remaking my tutorials to reflect this standard crochet practice (I guess that's what happens when no one really shows you how to crochet and you learn from others over the internet...I wonder how many people I've guided astray...).  This giraffe is for sweet little Emmerson.  Get your mind out of the gutter...those are not naughty parts, just giraffe parts:

Finally, a finished project.  This one was a lot a fun to make and it was quick and easy.  You can get the pattern for this sweet little "snow mum" free from Amy Butler.  It looks super cute on a pillow case, but could be added to snazz up so many other objects:

The Creation of a Blog and Bun Bun

I was only going to use this site to post craft tutorials, but then I discovered the magical, mystery world of blogging. The discovery of other ladies who blog about crafting was...WOW...there are SO MANY other people out there who make cute things and want to type about it!  And they make things that are SO CUTE and some make crafting into a fine art...and I want to read what they type and I am interested in their lives!!!...could I possibly be part of this whole crazy world???  Well, I am climbing aboard that bus.  Yes, I am climbing aboard faster than that guy dressed in a walrus suit jumped onto Paul McCartney's bus and I am joining this magical mystery world of blogging (actually, it was Paul who was dressed as the Walrus...).  No, I am not some old lady who has lived under a rock (I'm just a young woman from a small town who discovered this whole blogging business a little late).  

Anyway, enough of that.  Let's get to the making of Bun Bun.  So, I just started crocheting and I have learned A LOT from other people and from trying out patterns that they designed.  I thought it was time for me to come up with a few more patterns of my own.  So I sat down to draw and this came out:

My fiance is an industrial designer and he decided to create a 3D rendering of the above mentioned drawing...now my drawing was starting to take shape:

Well, here's Bun Bun in all of his crocheted glory:

 

He turned out just how I envisioned him.  Unfortunately, I was self-doubting so I didn't record the pattern as I went along.  Guess I'll have to make more Bun Buns!  His ears are completely posable thanks to pipe cleaners tucked neatly inside and he's got a cute little pom pom tail.  I think the carrot was even more fun to make than Bun Bun (shhh...don't tell him that).

Bun Bun says: Who's that handsome devil in the mirror?

Thanks to Kylee Lane, Melissa Stanley, June Gilbank and all of the other bloggers I have tagged in my Sites I Like to Visit column for opening your lives and making the world a little more interesting and cute.

Amigurumi Pattern - "Spring Chicken" (AKA "Easter Chick")

As promised, here is the pattern I created for an Easter Chick (or "Spring Chicken" as I affectionately like to call her).  Watch the videos for support when creating this little cutie.

SPRING CHICKEN PATTERN

Use regular yarn or "fluffy" yarn (often used for making baby blankets).

If using regular yarn, 4 mm crochet hook should do.  For "fluffy" yarn, try 5 mm hook.

HEAD AND BODY

R1: Ch 2, 6 SC in second chain from the hook

R2: 2 SC in each around (12 sts)

R3: SC 1, 2 SC in next SC, repeat 6 times (18 sts)

R4 to 6: SC 18

R7: SC 1, DEC 1, repeat 6 times (12 sts)

R8: SC 1, 2 SC in next SC, repeat 6 times (18 sts)

R9: SC2, 2 SC in next SC, repeat 6 times (24 sts)

R10: HDC 6, SC 18

R11: DC 6, SC 18

R12: SC 24

R13: SC 2, DEC 1, repeat 6 times (18 sts)

R14: SC 1, DEC 1, repeat 6 times (12 sts)

Stuff your chick with fluff.

Close the hole in the bottom (see video - PART 2 for details)

WINGS (make two)

R1: Ch 2, 6 SC in second chain from the hook

R2: 2 SC in each around (12 sts)

R3: 1 SC, 2 SC in next SC, repeat 6 times (18 sts)

Fold in half and sew closed.  Attach (sew) to chick's body (near the neck).

DETAILS

Sew on eyes (I used beads).  Sew on a beak (I used felt).  Add legs (I used pipe cleaners).

VOILA...one cute spring chicken!

copyright it's a Pretty Modern life

Amigu-what?

Amigurumi is Japanese for "crocheted soft toy".  In the world of amigurumi, cuteness trumps everything.

 I crocheted this cute little bear using a pattern by Ana Paula Rimoli.  Her amigurumi are seriously cute (hence the name of her crochet book "Seriously Cute Crochet").  She also sells patterns on the internet at a very good price.  Her instructions are well written and easy to follow and I highly recommend her patterns for beginners.

Another one of my amigurumi mentors is Roxycraft. She also sells her patterns on her website and offers many great patterns for free.  She created the pattern for this giraffe which I made for my nephew.

In my opinion, the ultimate amigurumi master is Elisabeth Doherty of Gourmet Amigurumi.  Her amigurumi are incredibly creative and a fair bit more advanced than most.  She gives them fingers and toes and even sews their own clothes.  Here is my humble attempt to adapt one of her patterns.

Photography for bear and kitty by Thelma Horwitz.