Monkeying Around

 

This is what I have made today – my little sock monkey 🙂 I think he should be called Maurice – other half thinks Trevor. What do you think he should be called – or her for that matter!

By making this, I managed to perfect the use of the magic ring to start. I have never used the magic ring technique before, but its actually not as hard as I first thought. There are lots of You Tube videos, and written tutorials on how to do it – see Crochet Me for written/pictorial step by step or see the video post below! Hope these help 🙂

 

 

 

Magic Ring Tutorial from Crochet Geek.

 

When making this monkey, it was vital to use a stitch marker (if you do not have a stitch marker a different coloured bit of wool will work just as well). I’ve not used a stitch marker before when making something and it turned into a disaster! So my one bit of advice to you is always use a stitch marker when advised!

Think I might make another page on my blog for some of my favourite crochet patterns – will obviously test them first as I know all too well about working on a pattern for ages and then you realise the pattern is totally not up to scratch. Check back in a few days and hopefully I will have managed to post a couple of little patterns for you to hook up.

On another note, I have really wanted to produce another tutorial for a sewing project that is brilliant for the environment (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle is what the project is all about) – just have not got round to it yet but I will, I promise 🙂 In fact, I haven’t got my sewing machine out for quite a while now – too busy with my crochet hook at the moment.

Well I’m off to try and do a few more rounds of my hippy crochet.

Ta Ta For Now

Miss C x

Crochet Mouse Cat Toy Pattern

Here is the pattern for this cute little crochet mouse that I have made for my two cats Dottie and Lillie to play with.

This is a UK pattern. Hook size and tension are not important. (I used hook size 5.0mm).

Stitches used:

Sl st – Slip Stitch

Ch – Chain

Dc – Double Crochet

Stitch explanation.

Decreasing a double crochet stitch (dc dec) – insert hook, yarn over, pull through (2 loops on hook), insert hook into next stitch, yarn   over and pull through (3 loops on hook), yarn over and pull through all 3 loops.

DO NOT join rounds unless stated – use stitch markers to determine beginning of round.

Main Body

Chain 2

Rnd 1: 6dc in 2nd chain from hook

Rnd 2: (2dc in first dc, dc in next dc) repeat all around [9dc]

Rnd 3: (2dc in first dc, dc in next 2 dc’s) repeat all around [12dc]

Rnd 4: dc in each dc all around

Rnd 5: (2dc in first dc, dc in next 3 dc’s) repeat all around [16dc]

Rnd 6: dc in each dc all around

Rnd 7: (2dc in first dc, dc in next 4dc’s) repeat all around [18dc]

Rnd 8: (2dc in first dc, dc in next 5 dc’s) repeat all around [21dc]

Rnd 9: dc in each dc all around

Rnd 10: (2dc in first dc, dc in nect 6dc’s) repeat all around [24dc]

Rnd 11: dc in each dc all around

Rnd 12: (dc dec, dc in next 4dc’s) repeat all around [20dc]

Rnd 13: (dc dec, dc in nect 3dc’s) repeat all around [16dc]

Rnd 14: (dc dec, dc in next 2dc’s) repeat all around [12dc]

Start stuffing your mouse’s body now.

Rnd 15: (dc dec, dc in next dc) repeat all around [8dc]

Rnd 16: dc dec all around [4dc]

DO NOT fasten off

Chain 12 (for tail)

Slip stitch in 2nd chain from hook and in every chain going to body. Fasten off leaving long tail. Use long tail to close the hole if necessary and weave in the end.

Outer Ears (make 2)

Chain 2

Rnd 1: 6dc in 2nd chain from hook

Rnd 2: 2dc in each dc around [12dc]

DO NOT join this last round but do fasten off leaving a long tail.

Middle Ears (make 2)

With contrast colour, chain 2

5dc in 2nd chain from hook, join to first dc and finish off leaving a long tail.

Assembly:

• Sew both middle ears to the centre of the outer ears.
• Sew the ears onto the mouses body ( I attached them at row 5)
• Cross stitch an ‘X’ at the very tip of mouse for its nose ( I used the same pink as the middle ear colour).
• French knots for the eyes.

And that’s it! Your mouse is all finished. Hope you liked the pattern and that you enjoy this cute little toy – Lillie certainly does as you can see in the photo below 🙂

Miss C xx

Treat Yourself To A Handmade Quilted Craft Bag.

I have now posted the tutorial I promised a few days ago, on how to make a quilted craft bag. Has taken me a while to get it typed up – I blame my brain not wanting to function in a technical way!

Head over to the tutorial section and check it out. Why not treat yourself to a new bag for Christmas to hold all your fabric, wool or whatever crafty bits you want!

This tutorial has been the first time I have properly attempted quilting. Hope you all like my first attempts (and definitely not my last :)) Please feel free to post any comments or questions. Happy quilting! Miss C xx

Make Your Very Own Needle Roll Up.

Head over to the tutorial section to find out how to make this easy and very practical needle roll up. Perfect for organising all your needles, hooks etc, but you could adapt it to hold any other stitchy items! Get making now and give it to someone new to knitting/crochet at Christmas ( could even include a few needles and hooks to get them started). As usual, comments and questions happily accepted. Enjoy and have fun making!

Miss C xx

My New iPhone/iPod Pouch

I have been busy perfecting the make up of my iPhone/iPod pouch.

Only took me two go’s which I think isn’t bad. First go wasn’t quite big enough, was too much of a tight fit for the iPhone. However, it is now done and so my tutorial is now available for you all to see! 🙂

Make it quick as it would make a lovely thoughtful Christmas gift for a tech savvy friend!

Head over to the tutorial menu for a step by step guide on how to make your very own pouch. Hope you enjoy it, Miss C xx

A new ‘How to’…..

Finally I have managed to post my first tutorial. To find out how to make an envelope backed cushion, head over to the tutorial menu. Let me know what you think! Miss C xx