The Little Mermaid Crochet

My granddaughter likes Disney Movies. She loves to sing the theme songs, dress up in Princess costumes and play with character dolls. So I wanted to surprise her - I planned to make some dolls and other characters in the Disney movies...and this is the first one I finished:

Little Mermaid Crochet

Based mainly on this pattern. This is made from cotton thread using 1.75mm hook...so it took a while to finish. My granddaughter got excited when she saw it for the first time. I also finished a Flounder amigurumi and have yet to surprise her with it...

Flounder Amigurumi

Free crochet pattern for Flounder, now published here.

Summer Crochet

Here in Quezon City, summer heat is almost unbearable...as a crocheter I produce the least amount of projects at this time and only focus on necessary and enjoyable projects...such as my recently finished Ariel Mermaid Doll and Flounder Amigurumi for my granddaughter...(more on that on my next post).

Summer also makes me obsess over crochet lace garments! I have one I need to finish and luckily I have one already in my wardrobe...these kind of crochet never goes out of style - like this cover-up I made 13 years ago, and its still good as new.

crochet cover-up

So here I found reason to try out my new swimsuit, use the tripod, and take pics of myself wearing my crochet cover-up...then simply edited the pics on the Photo Lab app on my phone. It was fun!

Crochet Stuff in 2018

Happy 2019! March is almost over, but again its better late than never - here is my round-up of craftiness in the previous year...with the hopes of continued crafting this year. I know I won't crochet much, since I'd like to focus on health and fitness (activities that get us out of our comfy chair is much better), though there are so many cute crochet stuff I plan to make for my grandchildren.
Meanwhile, please take a look at what I did in 2018.

Crochet Patterns

I was able to add 2 free crochet patterns here in my blog, and one published design in 2018:

Glass Holder and Coaster Set - made from size 8 cotton thread.

Lion Head Handpuppet

And...my latest and favorite published pattern ever (since it appeared on the cover) is my lace crochet yoke top, published as Yesteryear Top in Interweave Crochet Summer 2018.

Projects

I finished only about 17 crochet projects in 2018... mostly small projects, including amigurumi toys and animal appliques.

Some of my favorite projects are these food amigurumi and animal appliques for my granddaughter and kid nephews.

Strawberry amigurumi

Carrot amigurumi

King parrot (pattern by Kerri Brown)

Teddy Bear Applique

My favorite projects from last year are the Lion and Hippo heads Handpuppets...which I made up the design as I crocheted it. I based it from the images in the cartoon movie "Lion of Madagascar"...inspired by my granddaughter's love of the characters. I have yet to make the giraffe and the zebra (or not...) This took up a lot of my time, but it was worth it to see how much my son and granddaughter loved playing with it.

Another crafty year ahead, beginning with this dreamcatcher I made in January for a friend visiting from abroad.

Thanks for looking! Hope to have you here again in my next post. 

Summer 2018 Crochet

Here in Metro-manila, rainy season has just started...we had a very rainy weekend...which continued on to a rainy week. Now I am thinking and yearning for summer weather...though summer here is so hot! How's your weather?
In the U.S., summer begins in June...and for us crocheters that means crocheting with lighter and cooler yarns and making light and easy wearables. Good thing, Interweave Crochet has chosen those kind of projects perfect for our summer crocheting.

And I have great news for you, and for me...the latest issue of Interweave Crochet has my design on the cover...how cool is that!...how cool is this crochet crop top:

Yesteryear Top, from Interweave Crochet

I have not received my copy of the magazine, and I just can't wait!
(If you are on Instagram, please follow me at @crochet.denim.me for more photos and posts on my designs. Thank you!)

Lion Handpuppet - free crochet pattern

Lion Hand-puppet
copyright Mimi Alelis, 2018
This pattern can only be found on this link:
https://mycrochetstuff.blogspot.com/2018/06/lion-handpuppet-free-crochet-pattern.html

Materials
Worsted weight yarn - Color A - lighter color (for mouth, cheeks and chin) about 50gms; Color B - darker color (for nose, head and neck), about 100gms
Crochet hook size 4mm and 3.5mm (for the nose only)
Polyester fiberfill
Felt fabric - small amounts black, white and pink (for eyes, eyebrows, ears, nostrils, inside of mouth, tongue and teeth)
Sewing needle and thread
Yarn needle to weave in ends
Crochet Gauge: 9 sts = 2 inches

Note: Ch 2 at the beginning of rnds does not count as a stitch.
This pattern provides complete written instruction for the crochet parts. Only general instructions for sewing and finishing with felt parts, are provided.

Lower mouth
Using color A, start with magic ring, 
Rnd 1: Ch 2, 10 dc in ring, join with sl st to 1st dc (10 dc).
Rnd 2: Ch 2, 2 dc in same st, 2 dc in each dc around, join (20 dc).
Rnd 3: Ch 2, dc in same st, 2 dc in next st, (dc in next st, 2 dc in next) repeat around, join (30 dc).
Rnd 4: Ch 2, dc in each dc, join (30 dc).
Rnds 5-7: Repeat rnd 4 (30 dc).
Fasten off and weave in ends.

Upper Mouth
Using color A, start with magic ring, 
Rnd 1: Ch 2, 12 dc in ring, join with sl st to 1st dc (12 dc).
Rnd 2: Ch 2, 2 dc in same st, 2 dc in each dc around, join (24 dc).
Rnd 3: Ch 2, dc in same st, 2 dc in next st, (dc in next st, 2 dc in next) repeat around, join (36 dc).
Rnd 4: Ch 2, dc in each dc, join (36 dc).
Rnds 5-8: Repeat rnd 4 (36 dc).
Attaching the lower mouth
After rnd 8, ch 1, take the lower mouth put it on top of the upper mouth, with right sides together,  sc the two parts together on the next 12 stitches. (12 sc) (see pic below)
Fasten off.

Head
Using color B, start with magic ring, 
Rnd 1: Ch 2, 15 dc in ring, join with sl st to 1st dc (15 dc).
Rnd 2: Ch 2, 2 dc in same st, 2 dc in each dc around, join (30 dc).
Rnd 3: Ch 2, dc in each dc, join (30 dc).
Rnd 4: Ch 2, dc in same st, dc in next, 2 dc in next st, (dc in next 2 st, 2 dc in next) repeat around, join (40 dc).
Rnd 5: Ch 2, dc in each dc, join (40 dc)
Rnd 6: Repeat rnd 5 (40 dc).
Rnd 7: Ch 2, dc in same st, dc in next 3, 2 dc in next st, (dc in next 4 st, 2 dc in next) repeat around, join (48 dc).
Rnd 8: Ch 2, dc in each dc, join (48 dc).
Join mouth to the head
Ch 1, put the upper mouth on top of the head matching the last round of sts, sc the two parts together on the next 16 stitches (16 sc) (see pic below)
Rnd 9: Ch 1, dc in 32 dc of head, sc in next 16 sc, sl st on 1st dc to join (32 dc, 16 sc).
Rnd 10: Ch 2, (dc in 7 dc, 2 dc in next) 4 times dc in remaining sts, join (52 dc).
Rnd 11: Ch 2, dc in 36 dc, ch 20, skip the next 16 dc, do not join (36 dc).
Rnd 12: Dc in 1st dc of rnd 11 (see pic below), dc in next 35 dc, sl st on the 3rd ch.
Join head to lower mouth
Hold the bottom of mouth and sc together each ch and each of the next 16 sts (centered) on the bottom of mouth, sl st on 1st dc to join. (36 dc,16 sc).
Rnd 13: Ch 2, (dc in 7 dc, dc2tog) 4 times, sc in the next 16 sc, join with sl st on the 1st dc of this rnd (32 dc, 16 sc).
Rnd 14: Ch 2, dc in each st around, join (48 dc).
Rnd 15: Ch 2, dc in each dc, join (48 dc).

Rnds 16-21: Ch 2, dc in each dc, join (48 dc).

Nose 
Using color B and 3.5mm hook, start with magic ring,
Rnd 1: Ch 2, 5 dc in ring, join with sl st to 1st dc (5 dc).
Rnds 2-4: Ch 2, dc in each dc, join (5 dc).
Rnd 5: Ch 2, 2 dc in each dc, join (10 dc).
Rnd 6: Ch 2, 2 dc in each dc, join (20 dc)
Rnds 7-8: Repeat rnd 6.
Rnd 9: Ch 2, (dc in dc, 2 dc in next) repeat around, join (30 dc)
Rnds 10-11: Ch 2, dc in each dc, join (30 dc)

Rnd 12: Ch 1, (sc in 3 sts, hdc in 3, dc in next, tr in next, dc in next, hdc in 3, sc in 3) twice, join (30 sts).

Fasten off. 

Nostrils: Attach color A in back loop only on the 2nd st from the end of rnd 12. Work the next sts in back loop only of previous rnd, ch 1, hdc in 3 sts, dc in 3 sts, 2 tr in tr st, dc in 3 sts, hdc in 3 sts.

Fasten off. Stuff nose lightly and sew nostril to the opposite edge of rnd 12 to close.

Cheeks (make 2)
Using color A, start with magic ring,
Rnd 1: Ch 1, 10 dc in ring, join with sl st to 1st dc (10 dc).
Rnd 2: Ch 1, 2 dc in each dc, join (20 dc).
Rnd 3: Ch 1, (1 dc in dc, 2 dc in next dc), repeat around, join (30 dc).
Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing. 

Chin
Using color A, start with magic ring, 
Rnd 1: Ch 2, 7 dc in ring, turn (7 dc).
Rnd 2: Ch 2, dc in same st, 2 dc in next 5 dc, dc in last dc, turn (12 dc).
Rnd 3: Ch 2, dc in same st, (dc in next st, 2 dc in next) 5 times, dc in last dc, turn (17 dc).
Rnd 4: Ch 2, dc in each dc, join (17 dc)
Leave a long tail for sewing. Stuff lightly and sew edges to under the mouth.

Assembly and Finishing
1. Position the nose starting just below the 3rd rnd of head, sew in place. Cut out nostril tip with black felt, sew in place.
2. Position cheeks, stuff with fiberfill and sew.
3. Cut out black felt to the shape of the inside of mouth for top and bottom. Cut out the tongue from light pink felt. Sew each part.

cut from felt fabric

Mouth joining

join mouth to head

lion and hippo

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