Friday, September 14, 2012

it's beginning to look a lot like... Halloween!

Halloween is my favorite time of year! so, i made a few critters.

group shot of everyone:


a little witch:


a bigger witch, Sienna*:


their cat:


a caldron of candy corn:


Jack, of course:


Boris the Spider:

Batty:


*this is Sienna's dress and shoes. while i found a pattern for the doll, and a tutorial for the hair, i made up the dress and shoes myself. i'll be posting the pattern soon, i hope.


A Guy and Gal for Day of the Dead:


and finally, a Ghost Girl for a Crochet-a-Long on Ravelry.com:


Happy Halloween!

prices vary; email me at trystan830 at gmail for current prices.

Tuesday, September 04, 2012

amigurumi Little Ghostie pattern

amigurumi Little Ghostie pattern

this guy worked up real quick and easy, i thought i'd share the pattern with everyone. there's also a variant at the bottom. ;) please enjoy making my Ghosties, for yourself or others, free or paid; but please do not sell the pattern.


Materials:
*white yarn. these Ghosties were made with Loops & Threads Impeccable White, weight “4.” They are about 7mm tall.
*crochet hook. I used Crochet Dude/Boye “E” hook, 3.5 mm. A larger hook will make a larger Ghostie.
*Tapestry or other blunt needle
*a small amount of black felt for the eyes
*hot glue & gun

Techniques used - note: this pattern uses US terminology:
single crochet, double crochet, slip stitch, increase, decrease, Back Loop Only, magic/adjustable ring/circle

Notes:
*This pattern is worked in a spiral, without joining rounds. Use a stitch marker to mark either the first or last stitch, whichever is your preference. This pattern is also worked from the bottom up.
*Gauge is irrelevant.
*as you work the pattern, sometimes the first stitch seems to “move.” when this happens, I just sc in the next stitch(es) until it’s lined up again. You can see the beginning of the spiral in this picture:

this is the stitch I use to line up the rows with. once row 6 (BLO) is completed, you have another visual with which you can line up the first stitch of each row. These re-alignment stitches are optional, and don’t change the number of stitches in their row.

Main Body: (I prefer to mark the first stitch of each round with a stitch marker.)
1. 6 sc in magic ring
2. inc in each st around (12)
3. (sc in next, inc in next sc) around (18)
4. (sc in next 2 sc, inc) around (24)
5. (sc in next 3 sc, inc) around (30)
6. In BLO, sc in each around (30)
7-13. sc in each sc around (30)
14. (sc in next 3 sc, dec*) around (24)
15. sc in each sc around (24)
16. (sc in next 2 sc, dec*) (18)
17. sc in each sc around (18) I started stuffing here.
18. sc, dec* (12) and finished stuffing here.
19. dec* (6)
20. sl st in next stitch and finish off. leave a length of yarn to close up the hole. I use what i call the “drawstring method” - weaving the length of yarn through every other hole in row 19 and then drawing it closed. Hide end in ghostie.

*the decrease can be any variation of sc2tog or an invisible decrease.

Bottom Edge:
*Go back to row 6, where the back loops were worked and now work in the visible front loops.
*Starting in the back with the head facing you, pull up a loop through the first stitch, ch 1, sc in same stitch, 2 dc in next stitch, sc in next stitch, (sc in next sc, 2 dc in next sc, sc in next sc) around (40)
*after last stitch, sl st into first sc and finish off.

**Note: if you have a different way to do the bottom edge that looks more "ghostie," feel free to do that, and please share. i'm curious about all the edgings that are out there.

Eyes:
*cut out ovals from black felt and glue on. I used a template/pattern i made out of a 3x5 card to ensure that both eyes were the same size. The eyes could also be stitched on with black thread.


Variation: Aliens!

*I used a pipe cleaner/chenille stick, and pushed it in one side between rounds 4 and 5 from the top, and pushed out the other side also between rounds 4 and 5. i used my crochet hook to curl the ends.
*Wiggle eyes were hot-glued on.

thanks for making my pattern! comments and pictures are welcome at any time.


this pattern was created by Caren Franco ©August 2012. Any resemblance to any previously created ghost patterns is completely coincidental.