Patterns, Patterns as Far as the Eye Can See!

Well, it's been a busy few months! I didn't mean to neglect this blog, but my everyday life got in the way more than I would have hoped.

But, that doesn't mean I haven't been doing some crocheting as well!

I've released four new patterns since my last update! There will probably be one more pattern released in 2014, and after that I've already got a lineup of dolls waiting for the new year! With any luck, I'll be able to spend my Christmas break adding some new additions as well.

In the meantime, here are the newest patterns offered in my store:

Halloween Witch Doll

This is the pattern I alluded to in my last post. I'm a huge Halloween fan, and after buying some great neon-coloured yarn, I just couldn't resist creating this colourful witch!

Ravelry | Craftsy | Etsy

Red Riding Hood

 I really love fairytales (Once Upon a Time is one of my favourite shows on TV right now, despite its flaws, and I'm a sucker for most adaptations of fairytale characters). So adding a Red Riding Hood Doll to my collection was a no-brainer. Consider it preparation for this year's big-screen Into the Woods film!

Ravelry | Craftsy | Etsy

Grace Doll

Grace was a lot of fun to make. I spent a lot of time deciding on how to design her hair in a way that looked somewhat realistic while still getting the effect I was going for. Inspired by a little girl with a big imagination, I can't help but smile whenever I see this doll on my shelf (hopefully the original will go to a kid who loves her, too!).

Ravelry | Craftsy | Etsy

Christmas Elf Doll

I always struggle between my love of Halloween and my love of Christmas - much as I love the latter, I never allow myself to start feeling the holiday spirit until November 1st. Well, November 1st this year brought with it a Christmas Elf design! I really wanted an elf who looked like she could spend her time running around in the snow or making mischief of her own. The coat was a labour of love, but I think the end result was worth it!

Ravelry | Craftsy | Etsy

Update From the Beyond

I've got five patterns in various states of completion, and another six or so ideas ready to design. Unfortunately, I'm finding that pattern designing doesn't mix well with other real-life obligations. Life would be so much easier if I could just crochet and knit full-time!

Just finished a Halloween design, which will probably the next pattern I publish due to Halloween being just over a month away. It'll give me a bit more time to work on the other patterns that've been sitting on my computer for a month.

In other news, I picked up a huge haul of yarn from a going-out-of-business sale this weekend! Including plenty of new skin-coloured yarn (which should save me from the start-and-stop delays I've been having due to having to keep buying small skeins of peach yarn). Plus a few skeins of bright neon yarn (in pink, purple, and green), which I've never let myself buy in the past due to its limited versatility. Given the sale price, I decided to splurge. I can't wait to use it on something bright and happy!

Crochet Pattern - Amigurumi Alice in Wonderland Doll

Oddly enough, there were a lot of classic children's books that, although I knew the stories well through word-of-mouth, television, or films - I never actually read until I was an adult. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass and What Alice Found There were two of those books. But I'm actually glad for that fact - I think I appreciated their bizarre storytelling and perspective on childhood more than I would have as a kid.

Looking for dolls to design, Lewis Carroll's Alice was an obvious choice. I had a chance to see the original illustrations from Alice at the British Library, and something about her surly-meets-sweet countenance has always struck me. I knew I wanted to do those pictures justice (while adding my own touches to the design).

The pattern is fairly straight-forward. Her apron is attached at the waist to keep the shape of the dress visible. I liked the poofy, ruffled look on the skirt of her dress - great for falling down rabbit holes.

She's done all as one piece, and like all of my designs, her eyes are done with French knots, so there are no small parts to be accidentally swallowed! If you know a kid who's looking for an adventure, why not make them a friend for the ride?

Download Available On:
Ravelry  |  Craftsy

Amigurumi Hands: Fingers, Thumbs, or Ovals?

There are a lot of different designs and styles out there for amigurumi dolls. Some have exceptionally large heads, spaghetti-like legs, or oversized eyes, while others are more proportional. And when it comes to hands, many opt for an oval or ball shape devoid of any digits, matching the shape of the hands with the shape of the body and head.

However, some designers like to include thumbs, stubby fingers, or even fully-realistic hands on their doll. What options are out there for people designing their own dolls? And when should you include (or not include) fingers in your design?

The answer to the second question depends heavily on what effect you're going for with your doll. A doll that's meant to have a simplistic, cutesy, or innocent feel might benefit the most from going the finger-less route.

'Sofia Doll' by Lilleliis opts for a rounded fingerless hand.

Fingerless can mean having a rounded bulge at the end of the forearm (as pictured above), or keeping a consistent cylindrical shape down the entire arm (as seen in the doll below).

'Gorjuss Amigurumi' by Artedetei has a straight cylindrical shape for the arm.

Having just a thumb is a popular compromise between the simplicity of the fingerless look and the realism of the fingered design. Often the thumbs are achieved through the use of bobble or popcorn stitches, though they can also be added to the hand after the fact by picking up stitches.

'Kivircik Doll' by Yasmineli shows off a thumb-only design.

I'm a big fan of the thumb-only look, and it shows in most of my designs. When creating dolls specifically meant to emulate storybook characters, I thought having a hand that was too realistic would distract from the whimsy of the dolls and the characters I wanted them to invoke. However, being a perfectionist, I was also worried about my dolls' hands looking overly-simplified. Adding a short thumb was a nice way to have the best of both worlds.

My 'Dorothy Ann Doll' pattern has a rounded hand with a stubby thumb.

For some patterns, however, a realistic hand can have a huge, positive impact on the doll. From dolls that are inspired by real-life people, to dolls that require hand-held accessories, fingers can give the doll that extra wow-factor. And for those who still want to maintain an innocent, simplistic, or cartoon-y style, playing around with the number and size of the fingers on each hand can make a huge statement.

Amigurumibb's 'BB Candy Dolls' show off a five-fingered design.

Amigurumi Askina's Doctor Doll has an oversized, four-fingered hand that provides a more whimsical look.

A great tutorial by Kim Lapsley explains one method for crocheting realistic fingers. While they can require extra time (and patience), fingers can really make a difference in your doll's final look, pushing it from 'just okay' to 'really adorable'.

Free Crochet Pattern - Paper Bag Princess Doll

About two years ago, a friend of mine had a daughter. When we were deciding what to buy as gifts, books were high on the list - I was book-lover growing up (still am), and since it'll be a long time before I have kids of my own to share my favourite books with, I jumped at the opportunity to introduce a child to the joy that stories can bring.

The first book on that list? The Paper Bag Princess, by Robert Munsch. The new parents hadn't grown up with Munsch, and had never read it before. Now, they're both in love with it, and read it often to their daughter!

The gift for her upcoming third birthday will be this sweet little doll, inspired by the brave, intelligent, and self-sufficient Princess Elizabeth. It's my hope that she'll play with this doll as she listens to her parents read to her - and maybe as she learns to read herself!

This pattern was made from scrap fingering yarn, and works up fairly quickly. The eyes are embroidered with French Knots, and the crown is sewn firmly to the head, so there are no small parts to accidentally swallow! She can sit on her own, and her arms can move back and forth, so she's ideal for make-believe play.

This free pattern comes with pictures, a list of definitions, and detailed descriptions. She makes an ideal gift paired with a copy of your favourite Robert Munsch book. I hope she helps to inspire a new generation of readers!
 

Free Download Available On:
Ravelry  |  Craftsy

Favourite Crochet Video Tutorials

I love learning new crochet techniques and patterns! I'm a self-taught crocheter, so one of my favourite things to do is search YouTube for new tutorials and ideas for stitches. 

There are so many talented video crocheters out there to learn from! I thought I'd post a few of my favourite videos for toy (particularly amigurumi) tutorials.

Some of the patterns I've tried myself, others are on my to-do list. Check out the videos below!

"Amigurumi Sailor Octopus" - YarnYard

I absolutely love YarnYard's patterns, and she offers quite a few free "crochet-along" videos as well! I made this cute little octopus earlier this year for a friend, and it came out just as pictured - such a great toy for kids to grab and carry around!

"Crochet Amigurumi HAIR Tutorial" - Allison Hoffman

I'm always looking for new ways to style my amigurumi dolls' hair, and this tutorial was really helpful when I was just starting to make my first female dolls. Plus BONUS Princess Leia hairstyling! I've bought patterns from CraftyIsCool before, and her dolls are terrific!

Crochet Little Bigfoot Pig - Sharon Ojala

These cuties are definitely on my to-do list! This is a true "crochet-along" video - quite long, but useful for all levels of crocheters (beginners can watch every step, and more advanced viewers can fast-forward as desired).

 "Perfect Stripes for Amigurumi" - June Gilbank

Stripes and colour changes are always a pain for me when making toys - I'm a perfectionist, and I'm always worried about jogging. Luckily, this video offered two different methods for minimizing the appearance of jogging when changing colours! (There's also a left-handed video available).

"Crochet Baby Snow Dragon for 'Dummies'" - TheBusyBeeMom

Another one for the to-do list - I thought a dragon might go well with my Paperbag Princess doll (a princess has to have someone to outsmart, after all)! This dragon is adorable, and fairly straight-forward to make.


Do you like video tutorials for crochet, or do you prefer written ones? What are some of your favourite tutorials out there?