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Friday, November 4, 2011

Magnetic Lime

Yeah yeah yeah, I know it's been forever.



MATERIALS
  • G hook
  • Worsted weight yarn in green, neon green, and cream.
  • Embroidery needle
  • Fiber fill
  • If desired, magnets that are strong enough to hold through yarn.



One half of rind:


R1: With green yarn, 4 Sc in magic loop.

R2: Inc every other st (6 sts)

R3: SC around (6 sts)

R4: Inc every st (12 sts)

R5: *SC 1, 2 SC in next st* rep 4 times (16 sts)

R6: *SC 2, 2 SC in next st* rep 4 times (24 sts)

R7: *SC 3, 2 SC in next st* rep 4 times (30 sts)

R8-R11: SC around (30 sts) Bind off

Second half of rind:


R1: With green yarn, 4 Sc in magic loop.


R2: Inc every other st (6 sts)


R3: Inc every st (12 sts)


R4: *SC 1, 2 SC in next st* rep 4 times (18 sts)


R5:* SC 2, 2 SC in next st* rep 4 times (24 sts)


R6: *SC 3, 2 SC in next st* rep 4 times (30 sts)


R7-R11: SC around (30 sts)


Bind off




Flesh of fruit (make 2)


R1: With cream  yarn, 4SC in magic loop, sl st to close.


Switch to neon green yarn.


R2: CH 1, 2 SC in each st around, sl st to close (8 sts)


R3: CH 1,  *SC 1, 2 SC in next st* rep 4 times, sl st to close (12 sts)


R4: CH 1,  *SC 2, 2 SC in next st* rep 4 times, sl st to close (16 sts)


Switch back to cream yarn


R5: CH 1,  *SC 3, 2 SC in next st* rep 4 times, sl st to close (20 sts)


Bind off, embroider sections of fruit with cream yarn. Attach magnets to underside if
desired by sewing in tightly. Attach to rind and sew 3/4 of the way
around, stuff, then finish sewing shut. Weave in ends.

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

The secrets of knitting, REVEALED!!!!

This post is not meant to be an instructional, How-To on knitting. Rather, I hope to clear up some confusion for new knitters who are are unsure if they're doing it right. I think most people understand the basic stitch, but they're so shitty at first that that misshapen, lumpy, loose knot makes them doubt that they're actually doing it right.

I mean, think about knitting. Think about how ridiculous it is. You are using slippery sticks as your hands. That is ridiculous. Your body and brain are saying "What, are you fucking stupid? Use your fucking hands for this jackass." and it takes a lot of practice to get that coordination down so that the movements are fluid and the stitches have an even gauge and don't look like a grandma vagina.

So, I will take you on a journey, complete with terribly drawn diagrams that I drew on my tablet at 1:00 am last night because I couldn't sleep. I'm hoping you will gain a basic understanding of HOW the stitch works, and what it is broken down. I'm not going to show you how to hold your needles or yarn, that's something that comes with time and practice and there is no real "right" way, it's all about what's comfortable for you.

So, this is what a knit stitch is, basically. It's pulling yarn through a loop to make a fancy ladder of sort of slip knots. 
I think a lot of knitting diagrams are too cluttered. They're showing the WHOLE picture, complete with rows of stitches and the needles. Strip all that away, and it becomes so clear what you're trying to do. You will be pulling one loop through another. That's it! But, you're going to be using needles as hands and your body will hate that, so you will suck at it. I'm sorry, there is nothing to be done about that, you will be shit for awhile, but it gets better with practice!
So we've added our fabulously detailed knitting needles (the crappy purple sticks). That red wavy thing is the length of yarn that you will use to make the loop on the RIGHT that you will pull through the black loop on the LEFT. But how does this work? And who the hell thought of this anyway? What human said "hmm I think I'll make up a clumsy, illogical way to weave using sticks instead of hands!"

So before we even address the wavy, red squiggle yarn issue, we need to make sure we're doing the right things with our needles. You are going to pick up your RIGHT needle, and insert it into the loop on the LEFT needle from front to back. Your needles goes over the right thread of the loop, then under the left thread of the loop. If you stick your needle right in the middle of the loop (which seems like the right thing to do at first glance, I know, I knit a whole scarf like this as a new knitter before realizing I was doing it wrong) then your stitch will be twisted and look like an AIDS ribbon. Some patterns actually call for a twisted stitch because it can be decorative, but it's not something you would normally do. 
So now we address that squiggly yarn.
After you have successfully positioned the right needle into the loop on the left needle, you are going to wrap the yarn around the needle on the right as pictured above. BACK to FRONT.
Now this is the hard and awkward part. You are going to pull that loop you made on the right needle THROUGH the loop on the left needle. This is going to feel awkward at first, and probably for awhile too. It will take you 20 minutes to knit one row at first because you're going to suck, and then to top it off, your stitches are going to look like shit. Just expect it, it's ok. We were all shitty knitters once ourselves. 
Then, as icing on the cake, you are going to remove your left needle from the original loop you had on the left. This might be even more awkward and difficult than wrapping the yarn and pulling it through! You get to do this each and every time you knit a stitch. You will probably drop the stitches a lot and fuck this up and have to start over a ton and be really frustrated. This is just what happens, it's ok. 


The knit stitch in itself is a very simple concept, but it's the execution that gets you. Chances are, you're probably doing it right, but you're a noob so you suck. It's such a cliche, but the only way you're going to get better is through practice. Not one person picks up needles and knits well for the first time. 

A couple tips to help save your sanity.
  • Don't attempt to knit A Project the first time you pick up the needles. Knit and knit and knit until you feel more comfortable and your stitches don't look so much like dog doo anymore, then rip it all out, start over, and make a nice garter stitch scarf. (Garter stitch is when you knit every single row. If you want those flat, neat V stitched fabrics, you will have to learn how to purl too, which is actually just knitting backwards.)
  • The sides of your work are probably going to be saggy and loose. To help avoid this, pull the yarn a little tight with every first stitch in a new row. I wish someone had told me this when I started, I had some very ugly sides.
  • I knit holding my string of yarn in my right hand and "throw" the loop over the needle, which is called English knitting. This is probably the more awkward way to knit for a beginner, tbh, it's just what I'm used to. There is another method called Continental where you hold the string of yarn in your LEFT hand and never have to throw a loop. Once you understand the basic mechanisms of the knit stitch, look up Continental and see if it works better for you.


Good luck, knitting babies. I hope this has helped ease some confusion with SOMEONE out there.



Monday, August 1, 2011

Cherries


MATERIALS
  • G Hook
  • 8 Hook
  • Worsted weight yarn in deep red
  • Green embroidery floss
  • Embroidery needle
  • Fiber fill
FRUIT

R1: With G hook, 6 SC in magic loop

R2: 2 SC in every st (12 sts)

R3: *SC 1, 2 SC in next st* rep 6 times (18 sts)

R4-R5: SC around (18 sts)

R6: SC 1, HDC in next two sts, DC in next three sts, HDC in next two sts, SC 1. Repeat for next nine sts.

R7: *SC 1, dec 1* rep 6 times (12 sts)

At this point, stuff with fiber fill.

R8: SC in every other st, bind off leaving long tail for sewing. (6 sts)

Thread embroidery needle, push it down into the middle of the cherry, and then out about 1/3 of the way down the side of the  fruit. You also want to make sure you push it out so its positioned parallel to the two SCs in the shaping row. Pull the yarn up, push it back down through the top of the cherry, and out the other side about a 1/3 of the way down, pulling tightly to create one side of  the ridge cherries have. Bring the yarn back to the top, push it down through the middle, and out of the side, right near the first ridge you made. I wove a tiny stitch there, and pushed the needle back up through the top, pulling tightly. Make a little, tight knot (the stem will hide it), then weave in ends. 

STEM

With 8 hook and green embroidery floss, CH 4, join in a ring. SC in each st around to create a tube. SC around until stem reaches desired length. Attach to cherry and weave in ends.

You can make two of each, sew the stems together, and attach to cherries to make what I made in the picture. 


Friday, July 29, 2011

Strawberry

7/30/2011: I totally fucked up and wrote this pattern at like midnight and it's all messed up am fixing it right now.

7/30/2011: ALL FIXED YAAAY


MATERIALS
  • G Hook
  • F Hook
  • Worsted weight yarn in red, green, and white
  • Tapestry needle
FRUIT

With G Hook

R1: 5 Sc in magic loop.

R2: 2 SC in each st around (10 sts)

R3: SC around (10 sts)


R4: *SC 1, 2 SC in next st* rep 5 times (15 sts)

R5: SC around (15 sts)

R6: *SC 2, 2 SC in next st* rep 5 times (20 sts)

R7: SC around (20 sts)

R8: *SC 3, 2 SC in next st* rep 5 times (25 sts)

R9-R11: SC around (25 sts)

R12: *SC 3, dec 1* rep 5 times (20 sts)

At this point, hold live stitch with a safety pin. Start to embroider seeds, spacing them along evenly around the fruit, until you get up to the live st. Stuff with fiber fill, but leave a bit of room at the top. Pick st back up.

R13: *SC 2, dec 1* rep 5 times (15 sts)

R14: *SC 1, dec 1* rep 5 times (10 sts)

Finish embroidering seeds, then stuff completely with fiber fill.

R15: SC in every other st, bind off. (5 sts) Because the top of my fruit is going to be hidden by leaves, I tie a strong knot, then I weave in the ends.

LEAVES

With F hook

R1: 5 sc in magic loop

R2: 2 sc in every sts, sl st to close round (10 sts)

R3: Ch 5, sl st in second ch from hook, sc in next ch, hdc in next to chs, sl st in next st. Repeat around until you have 10 leaves. Bind off, leaving long tail for sewing. Attach leaves to top of strawberry, weave in ends.

All done!




Sunday, July 24, 2011

Tomato



MATERIALS

  • Worsted weight yarn in red and green
  • Size G hook
  • Tapest needle
  • Fiber fill



FRUIT


R1: SC 6 sts into magic ring, pull closed

R2: 2 SC in each st around (12 sts)

R3: *SC 1, 2 SC in next st* rep 6 times (18 sts)

R4: *SC 2, 2 SC in next st* rep 6 times (24 sts)

R5: *SC 3, 2 SC in next st* rep 6 times (30 sts)

R6: *SC 4, 2 SC in next st* rep 6 times (36 sts)


R7-R10: SC around (36 sts)


R11: *SC 4, dec 1* rep 6 times (30 sts)

R12:  *SC 3, dec 1* rep 6 times (24 sts)

R13:  *SC 2 dec 1* rep 6 times (18 sts)

At this point, stuff with fiberfill.

R14:  *SC 1, dec 1* rep 6 times (12 sts)

R15: SC in every other stitch. (6 sts)



Bind off and leave a long tail.


With an embroidery needle, take yarn and thread it about 1/3 of the way down the tomato, then back up the through middle, pulling tightly. Do the same thing three times equally around in a cross, then tie a knot and cut. You don't need to weave in ends because you're going to be sewing the stem to the top and hiding your mess, just make sure you have a good knot. This creates the ridges in  the tomato.


LEAVES


R1: 5 SC in magic loop, pull to close.


R2: Slip stitch in first st, chain 4, sl st in 2nd ch from hook, SC in next chain, HDC in last ch. Sl st in next st and repeat around until you have 5 leaves. Bind off, leaving tail for sewing.


STEM


Ch 5, sl st in 2nd ch from hook and all the way down, bind off and leave a tail for sewing.. With crochet hook, thread top stem through the magic ring in the leaves, leaving the tails on the underside. Secure the stem to the leaves on the underside by sewing them together and knotting underneath. 


Sew stem and leaves to tomato, but don't sew the leaves all the way down so that the tips curl up. Looks more realistic that way! Weave in ends, bind off. 











Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Buttercup from the Powerpuff Girls


MATERIALS
  • Worsted weight yarn in skin tone color, lime green, black, and white.
  • G Hook
  • E Hook (only the legs were done with this hook)
  • Tapestry needle
EYES (make 2)

R1: With white yarn, 6 sc in magic loop. Switch to black yarn, sl st
in first sc, ch 1

R2: 2 sc in each st, switch to green yarn, sl st in first sc, ch 1. (12 sts)

R3: Hdc and dc in same st, dc in next st. *Dc
twice in next st, dc in next st* Repeat from * 2 times. Hdc and sc in
next st, sl st in
next st. Bind off, leaving long tail for sewing.

Now, start a whole new circle.

R1: With white yarn magic loop 6 sc, sl st in first st, ch 1

R2: 2 sc in each sc, sl st in first sc, ch 1 (12 sts)

R3: 1 sc in first sc, 2 sc in next around (18 sts) sl st to close, ch 1

R4: 2 sc in next two sc, 2 sc in next sc around (24 sts) sl st to
close, bind off.   Sew iris and pupil to white. 


HEAD

R1: With skin color, 6 SC in magic loop

R2: 2 SC in each st around (12 sts)

R3: *SC 1, 2 SC in next st* rep 6 times (18 sts)

R4: *SC 2, 2 SC in next st* rep 6 times (24 sts)

R5: *SC 3, 2 SC in next st* rep 6 times (30 sts)

R6-R7: SC around (30 sts)

R8: *SC 4, 2 SC in next st* rep 6 times (36 sts)

R9: *SC 4, dec 1* rep 6 times (30 sts)

R10-R11: SC around (30 sts)

R12:  *SC 3, dec 1* rep 6 times (24 sts)

R13:  *SC 2 dec 1* rep 6 times (18 sts)

At this point attach eyes, embroider mouth, stuff with fiberfill.

R14:  *SC 1, dec 1* rep 6 times (12 sts)

R15: SC in every other stitch. (6 sts)

Bind off, weave in ends.

DRESS

With green yarn, chain 16. Join into ring with sl st in first ch.

R1-R2: Sc around (16 sts) Switch to black yarn with invisible color change.

R3-R5: Sc around (16 sts) Switch back to green yarn with invisible color change.

R6: Sc 7, 2 sc in next sc twice (18 sts)

R7-R8: Sc around, sl st to close, bind off leaving tail for sewing (18 sts)

Make green circle to sew inside dress (you will be attached the legs
to this circle)

R1: With green yarn, 4 sc in magic loop. Sl st to close, ch 1.

R2: 2 sc in each sc, sl st to close, ch 1 (8 sts)

R3: 1 sc in first sc, 2 sc in next sc around, sl st to close, bind off (12 sts)

Stuff dress 3/4 of the way, place circle inside dress, sew it in
place. You want it to only be 3/4 stuffed so that the legs looks like
they're coming out of the dress

ARMS (make 2)

R1: 6 SC in magic loop

R2: Sc around (6 sts)

R3: Sc 2 together, sc 1, sc 2 together, sc 1 (4 sts)

Sc around until desired length is reached, about 1.25" Bind off, leave tail for sewing.

LEGS (make 2)


R1: 5 SC in magic loop


R2: 2 SC in each st around (10 sts)


R3-R4: SC around (10 sts)


At this point, embroider stocking peep hole in shoe. 


Pick up stitch and switch to white yarn


R5-R10: SC around (10 sts) 


Bind off, leaving tail for sewing. Stuff and attach to dress. 


HAIR


R1: With black yarn, 6 SC in magic loop

R2: 2 SC in each st around (12 sts)

R3: *SC 1, 2 SC in next st* rep 6 times (18 sts)

R4: *SC 2, 2 SC in next st* rep 6 times (24 sts)

R5: *SC 3, 2 SC in next st* rep 6 times (30 sts)



R6: *SC 4, 2 SC in next st* rep 6 times (36 sts)


R7: *SC 5, 2 SC in next st* rep 6 times (42 sts)


R8: SC around to 42nd st ch 1, turn (42 sts)


R9: SC around back to 1st st, ch 1, turn (42sts) This is how you will continue to shape the bangs for the next 3 rows. (R10-R12)


Now you will start shaping the rest of the hair.


R13-R14: SC around, stop when there are 8 sts left, ch 1, turn. You have now completed the bangs and will continue to make the longer part of bob. (24 sts)


R14-R18: SC to end of row, CH 1, turn. (24 sts)


R19: SC in next 4 sts, SC 2 together across, CH 1, turn. (18 sts)


R20: SC across, CH 1, turn. (18 sts)


R21: SC in next 3 sts, SC 2 together across, bind off, leave a long tail for sewing. (12 sts)


You should now have a little, black hair helmet. Sew it onto Buttercup's hair, being sure to position it correctly. Once it's sewn on, fold up the bottom corners from front to back and sew them together to make the bob have more of that flipped appearance.


If anyone can think of a better way to make the hair, please let me know what you did! I am still not 100% satisfied with mine. Also, I forgot to write this down as I was making it, so I tried to figure out what I did by staring real hard at the hair on the doll. If you see any horrible mistakes, or if something seems impossible, please let me know! I want to share patterns that are actually easy to use. ;)


Sew all the body parts together, and you have a Powerpuff Girl! 









Mushroom

I made a mushroom last night.



MATERIALS

  • Worsted weight yarn in mushroomy colors. I used tan and dark brown.
  • Size F crochet hook.
  • Embroidery thread for gills.
  • Tapestry needle.


CAP

R1: With A yarn, 6SC in magic loop

R2: 1 SC in each st (6 sts)

R3: 2 SC in each st around (12 sts)

R4: *SC 1, 2 SC in next st* rep 6 times (18 sts)

R5: *SC 2, 2 SC in next st* rep 6 times (24 sts)

R6: *SC 3, 2 SC in next st* rep 6 times (30 sts)

R7: *SC 4, 2 SC in next st* rep 6 times (36 sts)

R8: *SC 5, 2 SC in next st* rep 6 times (42 sts)

R9: SC around (42 sts)

R10: *SC 5, dec 1* rep 6 times (36 sts)

R11: *SC 4, dec 1* rep 6 times (30 sts)

Bind off, leaving large strand for sewing.

GILLS

R1: With B yarn, 6SC in magic loop, sl st to close.

R2: CH 1, 2 SC in each st around, sl st to close (12 sts)

R3: CH 1,  *SC 1, 2 SC in next st* rep 6 times, sl st to close (18 sts)

R4: CH 1,  *SC 2, 2 SC in next st* rep 6 times, sl st to close (24 sts)

Bind off, weave in ends. Embroider gill lines with thread.



STEM

R1: With A yarn, 6SC in magic loop

R2: CH 1, 2 SC in each st around, sl st to close (12 sts)

R3: SC 12 around in BACK loops of stitches (12 sts)

R4-R5: SC around (12 sts)

R6: SC in next 4 sts, SC next 2 sts together, repeat once more. (10 sts)

R7-R10: SC around (10 sts) Bind off, leaving long tail for sewing.

Stuff stem with fiber fill, center on gills, and attach. After completed, sew gills with stem to the cap, stopping halfway through to stuff with fiber fill. Weave in ends, enjoy your mushroom!





Tuesday, July 12, 2011

OH MY GOD

I FINALLY FINISHED BUTTERCUP FROM THE POWERPUFF GIRLS. Will post pics and the pattern at some point this week. I seriously had a very hard time getting the motivation to finish her and I do not know why. I will probably take a PPG break for a bit and go back to focusing on food for awhile.

EDIT: Wait have a shitty cell phone pic now.