Crochet for kids

When I saw my granddaughter delighted with a dolphin designed candle-holder (that she didn't hold for she knows its breakable), I thought of making her this pair of dolphins, a mama and a baby dolphin that she can easily hold and play with. I was right, she loved playing with it.

amigurumi dolphins

Little kids are easy to please - make them a toy and they will surely be delighted. However, they also get easily attracted to new toys and after a short while get bored with their old toys. This doesn't discourage me from making toys for my granddaughter...I just make sure she'll like what I make, and she won't find anything else like it. Hopefully she will remember how much she enjoyed what I made for her when she's grown up.

nana made me toy dolphins

When my sons make a request for me to make them something, I really try my best to do so...since they don't often make requests. So, recently my son wanted a hand-puppet animal for him and my granddaughter to play with. They both liked watching the Madagascar movies and so he asked if I could make the 4 animals who starred in the movie. Ok I said, not knowing how to go about it. What is the most loved animal there - the lion, of course. I could first make that and see how it goes. After a lot of experimenting, I was happy with the final result. Everyone thinks its good...my granddaughter will be so surprised when she sees it for the first time.

Crocheted Lion of Madagascar Handpuppet

Crochet Stuff in 2016

Hello! Another year has passed....and as usual I blog about the past year's projects...even though there wasn't much :p I'm thankful there's Ravelry and Instagram, where I can post projects as they happen and review them anytime ;)

So here goes a summary of my crochet in 2016 -

The only original pattern I was able to share is the Open Weave Rattan Stitch Poncho. Since I had promised to make one each for a group of friends, it became my major project for the past year (that extended a bit this year...).

Rattan-stitch Poncho

Next on my list, is my most memorable design - made in 2015, but came out and got published in 2016. Its called Limpet Lace Top and its featured in Interweave Crochet Summer 2016.

Limpet Lace Top

On other crafting projects - these recycled denim placemats and coasters for Papa Diddi's ice cream restaurant. I enjoyed making these :)

 

Next is my favorite crochet project - the mini Hobbes amigurumi for my son, based on a free pattern by miahandcrafter. I wasn't able to take the actual measurement, but I estimate it at 5" tall.

Mini Hobbes

I also made several baby booties since I got excited for the arrival of my first grandchild last July and the birth of more babies in our clan.

Lastly, and this is also one of my favorite project - a crochet scarf for Jackie Lou Blanco. She liked a scarf I posted on IG, and inquired on how to order one. I took it as an opportunity to make her one as a fan gift, since I believe she's one of our best actress of all time, and I'd love to see a celebrity wear my creation :)

Happy New Year!!

Me and my sister-in-law

Denim and Crochet

Hello! I haven't crocheted much lately....but I'm (slowly) working on some crochet for gifting. Aside from that, I got busy with another craft I love - recycled denim projects...I love working with cotton denim fabrics. Having to make projects as a custom order is a bonus!
I made placemats for an ice cream shop/restaurant, using denims that I've sourced from a used-clothing store. I choose good-quality denim pants and skirts, wash and dry them soon as I buy them. For a while my living and dining area became my production area :p ...

And here are some of my finished products (placemat photos in the restaurant were snatched on Instagram)

   

Now I'm thinking of combining crochet and denim crafts again...like what I did a few years ago. Hoping I'll have tutorials made for some projects like these:

denim and crochet

Latest Crochet Projects - and a kitchen project ;)

Here are some recent projects I have not shown here. I keep my Ravelry project page updated, but have missed showing these on my blog.

Another flower accent from my free pattern, to complete the look of the cute little bag :)

Another scarf from my pattern Striped Scarf with Knotted Fringe

Another coin bracelet made from my free pattern.

And here's my kitchen WIP, you'll find the details here in my food blog ;)

New Toys!

Just want to show you two inexpensive but useful toys that I've recently bought :)
Since my brother was enjoying the stuff that he bought from Manafont, I thought to order some myself. These came from HK, shipping already included in the price and the additional cost for mailing with tracking is only $2. per package. (This is not an advertisement!)
If you find these in Divisoria or elsewhere, please let me know so I can compare prices... Though I love the convenience of ordering online!

Pocketsize Digital Scale for $8. (P342.)

Flexible Desktop Camera Tripod for $4.57 (P195.)

This pocket digital scale will be very useful in weighing thread balls or yarns, jewelry, small finished items,  leftover yarn, etc....Can be handy on the kitchen too for measuring spices or other small ingredients :)

Note: I used the desktop tripod to take this picture ;)

Amigurumi Crochet

Amigurumi are toys which originated from Japanese tradition. Amigurumi means “knitted or crocheted doll.” They are usually worked in rounds with single crochet stitches and is quite simple to learn for any crocheter. Usually, amigurumi is crocheted out of yarn and worked in spirals, meaning the rounds are not joined. They are also worked with a smaller hook size in order to create a very tightly crocheted or knitted fabric. The tightness prevents gaps which could cause the stuffing to show or come out.
Although amigurumi can be either knitted or crocheted, I think crocheted amigurumi is more popular since it is easier to master, and results in a more firm and detailed structure.
Amigurumi are usually worked in parts and then joined by sewing, except for some designs which have no arms or legs. These are worked as one piece. The extremities are sometimes stuffed with plastic pellets to make them more life-like, while the rest of the body is stuffed with fiber stuffing. The creativity and uniqueness will show in the colors, details and embellishments added to the project.
Amigurumi are usually cute animals but can include inanimate objects like food. Maybe it could also include any mini object that is stuffed :p

There are plenty of crochet amigurumi designs now available. For free amigurumi patterns go to Crochet Pattern Central.
These are some amigurumis in my to-do list:



Paddy O'possum


Amineko, cat

Lastly for the sake of posting, some of my designs that may be considered as amigurumi:

Fruit keychains
Yin yang ball keychain

Photo Souvenirs and Crochet WIP

...the other crafty thing I did last week, other than crochet was create some photo souvenirs.
First of all, there are a lot of cute stuff that can be made if you print your photos on Sticker photo paper. I bought a pack of 10 sheets of matte Sticker Photo paper at National bookstore for P109.75 (US$2.60).

Here are just some of the photo souvenirs I made for my sister, who's here on vacation:



The button pins were made from recycled ad buttons, and the magnetic photos made from recycled ad magnetic photos - like the one from Celestial Seasonings tea ;) The other extra photos can be used as a sticker on notebook or book covers or added to scrapbooks.

I've also been working on this cropped cardigan - which I need to finish by Friday so my sister can model it for me before she leaves. She can of course have it, if she wants it ;)

Felted it! crochet hook case

Lately it seems I have started on a number of projects, with patterns needed to be written up...and I don't know what to work on anymore (sigh...) Blame it on the hot weather, I suppose.
So I thought I should make something that is a little more interesting and easier to finish, and no need to write a pattern.
I know I had to try felting, and needed a simple hook case...and with the Caron felt-it that Deneen sent me, the only thing to add was a bit of time and a little imagination. I followed the instructions on the label, and used a 6mm hook. I roughly calculated the no. of stitches with the gauge given...crocheted it vertically in alternating sc and hdc rows.
How I felted it, was just a trial and error process. I didn't want to use a washing machine for something so small. I used a basin, hot water and detergent. I set the basin under the heat of the sun to keep the water hot. I think it felted in about 20 mins. I swirled the item in the basin and pounded on it too. I really didn't know how it should be done(I might have looked mad doing it, LOL!), but after a while it seemed to get thicker and I could hardly see the stitches. So I thought it was good enough. After drying it looked like this:



I'm wondering why it looks more felted in person than in the above photo. Anyway, I thought with a little trimming and a button, it would be a good-looking hook case. With my local acrylic yarn in dark pink color, and using a small hook (size 2mm), I poked the hook through and sc'd along the edge. At the flap, I made a loop for the button.

Gift wrapping tips - for crochet items

The other day, I saw on TV an artist sharing innovative ways of wrapping gifts. He is the well-known international artist, floral architect, Rachy Cuna.
I don't have any photos of what was shown on TV, but I saw that another blogger shared the picture below showing what was demonstrated by Rachy in another venue.



So pretty and interesting, but I might not be able to duplicate it. He used handmade paper, raffia, sinamay ribbon, gold paint, banana leaf, and many more, most of which can easily be bought cheap at Divisoria. I don't go there though, so if I buy materials at the mall, its not going to be cheap. Anyways, I got some tips from Rachy, and the inspiration to make gift-wrapping a challenge and a gift in itself.

Using materials that I already have, I came up with two gift-wrapping styles.

"Doily Wrap"
I used leftover handmade paper (use any size bigger than the item to be wrapped), abaca twine, and a tiny crocheted flower. I just rolled the paper together with the doily, tied it with twine, made a bow with the twine, added the little flower, and tied a small card:



"Peppermint Stick"This one shows how I wrapped a crochet hook.

Make your own personalized labels

I got the idea to make this when I came across this site.

ETA: (April 26, 2008) I just found a very helpful tutorial on printing your logo/design on the iron-on transfer paper.

Here are my own tutorial pics to help you out if you're trying it the first time. Even following these steps will not guarantee that you won't be spoiling some of the materials, but a little practice will result in pleasing results ;) Now you don't need to order personalized labels, which doesn't come cheap anyway. And most of all you can experiment with your own designs. Have fun!
Aside from your reliable computer and inkjet printer and Iron, you'll need these:
Iron-on transfer paper;
Satin ribbons - these are the only ones I tried so far...it would be good to experiment on whatever you have at hand.
Also shown on photo is half of the transfer paper already printed with my own personalized label design. You can also print photos or graphics with your design. Remember you need to print a mirror image of your design.










Cut the printed iron-on transfer paper to correspond to the size of your ribbons.



Put the right side of the transfer paper on the right side of the ribbon.
You need a hard heat-resistant surface to iron on...(I used the part of my ironing board that is not padded.)
With the back of the paper facing you, press with iron that has been heated almost to the max. (It also depends on your iron, and you will know what works best after the first few tries) Press for about 20-30 secs. When its not so hot to touch, check that the paper has already adhered to the ribbon. If the edges are loose, press with iron again, until it has completely adhered. Then you can peel off the paper backing like you would a sticker.






Voila! You have your own personalized label





Sew on to your latest FO :)

A day at Coats...

Yesterday, after dropping my son to school, I went to the Coats Manila Bay office. I spent the whole day there, and it went well ;)
I was one of the four judges in their nationwide needlecrafts competition. It came as a surprise to me that they chose me. It was also an honor, for them to have confidence in me to be able to judge the entries.

Here are just some of the contest entries, and the staff at Coats who got so busy putting it all up and later tallying up the scores.





The categories for this competition were: counted thread embroidery, cross-stitch, crochet and scrapbooking. In a few months they will be exhibiting the winning entries at SM Megamall.
For now the contest did not include fashion garments and accessories. But there were some who sent their finished items. I was unable to take pictures of those that were submitted, but not qualified for the contest. It was fun to look at the different items, each with their own unique qualities. Next time, they would most likely add a fashion category for crochet :)

Special thanks to Jackie for inviting me, and for the VIP treatment ;)