Dragon

It has been awhile. I developed carpal tunnel and couldn't crochet for a long time. I was set to have surgery to fix it, but then I got pregnant with baby #3 and it put my surgery on hold. It has been HARD not to crochet. Crocheting has become something I love to do.

A few weeks ago I developed a cold that I couldn't get rid of, so instead of lying on the couch, wishing for something to stimulate my brain, I got out my crochet hooks! I'm currently working on a unicorn for a friend (It will be done in the next few days, then sent your way!), but I took a small break to create this not-so-little guy:

I based him loosely on a pattern from fresh stitches. I wanted to change a lot of things, so instead of buying the pattern, I just winged it. 

Standing up!

Looking to the right

Looking to the left

I had SO much fun making this dragon! I made it for a friend's little boy's first birthday. I think it turned out adorable. He stands about a foot tall and took about 3/4 of a skein of green yarn, a little bit of yellow, tiny bits of white for the claws and eyes, and a tiny amount of black yarn to make the baby-safe eyes. I used a size H hook, and crocheted in the back loops only.

I think next time I make another one of these guys, I am going to make the arms a little bit longer.

Expect my alligator post soon! I made one back in April and my brother-in-law had the pictures with him and took them to Japan for the entire summer. He's back, and I will post them soon. Its pretty adorable, too, and one of my favorite things I've made so far...

A Little Pink Pony

I used some Christmas money to get myself this adorable crochet book by Ana Paula Rimoli. It has some seriously cute patterns. I've made 5 of them so far and each one has turned out beautifully.

I wanted to make a friend's daughter the little unicorn on the front for her first birthday. However, I didn't like the horn or the nostrils, so I just sewed across the nose to make two indentations. I also wanted the legs to move, like Aaron's horse, so I sewed them together through the body so they could move. I ended up making up the leg pattern, and made up a neck to make it so the pony could stand and sit without looking too weird.

Here are the results!

Sitting down

Standing!

It turned out so well! I gave her some blue eyes to match the cute little girl's baby blues, and I didn't do rainbow hair like the pattern called for. I just alternated between dark pink and light pink.

It was a fun project and made me want a little girl of my own someday!

Barn Owl

My Father-in-Law told my husband that I should make him a barn owl, so I did!

I made up the pattern myself and it turned out great. It was also one of the hardest things I made. I couldn't wrap my head around it for a long time. I started it in early October last year and finished it the day after Christmas. That is a long time to be working/thinking about a project...

Wise Old Owl

 Side view! I bet you could see a lot of owls like this one at Hogwarts!

 

The yarn I used made this crazy awesome pattern on the back. I had nothing to do with it, but I LOVE the way it turned out! And yes, that is black tape in the corner! haha.

I will be selling some of these babies along with the patterns sometime in the near future...

Chain-Chomp

I know its been awhile since I last posted. Life happens!

For one of my younger brothers, I made a Mario Brothers Chain-Chomp for Christmas. It turned out awesome! I used Wolfdreamer's chain chomp pattern, but I changed a few things. I made the head a whole lot bigger than what her pattern called for. I also made up my own chain pattern, and used felt for teeth rather than the crochet ones she had in her pattern.

I loved this pattern. It was easy to understand and I loved the end result. The most challenging part was the cube, because it was done in rounds and is one piece all on its own!

My Chain-Chomp!

He's happy to eat you!

Mushroom love

My younger brother also was the recipient of the current red Mario mushroom.

Here are the 4 mushrooms! Classic red, classic 1-up, current red, and current 1-up!

Luigi

I made Wolfdreamer's Luigi for my other older brother, Jake.

I loved this pattern! I didn't change a thing. It took me a little longer than most patterns, due to all of the different pieces, but it was worth it. My only complaint was that Luigi's head turned out to be extremely floppy. Also, instead of cutting Luigi's L out of felt, I just crocheted one.

Luigi!

Luigi and a mushroom

Jake also got the classic mushroom to go along with his Luigi.

The Goomba

Linda Potts (found on Ravelry) or found here on her blog wolfdreamer, is amazing. She has come up with the best Pokemon and Super Mario Brothers patterns I have ever seen.

My brothers and I grew up playing the Mario games. I remember playing them on our old Nintendo system, and how excited we were to have Mario 3.

Anyway, for Christmas I decided to make my two older brothers and one of my younger brothers Mario themed presents.

For my eldest brother, I made this Goomba:

Goomba!

Goomba and the 1-up

I also made each of my brothers their own mushrooms. Ben (the eldest bro) got the classic 1-up.

I loved Linda's pattern, however, I felt that her Goomba didn't have the right mushroom shape I was looking for. So instead of increasing the way she did, I increased in every stitch around. It turned out to be the perfect Goomba shape!

I had a lot of fun with this pattern and I highly recommend it (along with all of her other patterns)!

Little Big Planet Sackboy

My youngest brother loves the Little Big Planet games. He often spends hours making costumes and levels for other people to use and play. When he saw what I've been up to, he got very excited and told me and my husband that I could make a pretty awesome Sackboy. (Sackboy is the little character that you control in the game). Anyway, I told him I was making him something else for Christmas, but I had already made him his Sackboy!

Front view

Side view

I found the pattern here: Sackboy. I liked the pattern quite a bit actually, but I didn't like the size, the shape of the main body, or the arms. I ended up using a larger hook than it called for and made up the body and arms/hands myself. I think it turned out well! I sewed the arms and the legs through the body, so the arms and legs can move all around. I also sewed the button eyes on after the head was made, because the instructions were a little too confusing for my liking.

My husband decided that this special Sackboy needed a costume, so he made it a wig, jacket and shoes! (All hand sewn, too!)

All dressed up

The hair. It was made from white felt. Its actually quite fun. You can style the hair all sorts of different ways!

Leather jacket. I think this took the most time.

Bright sneakers. My youngest brother loves outrageously colored shoes.

I think the Sackboy was a complete success. My youngest brother didn't see it coming at all!