Kreative Kuts

As many of you know, I have been holding wood craft classes in my home for a few months. A lot of my crafts are my original designs and I have been working on getting the patterns on a website to sell. So, I am just starting, but I have put my Easter patterns up on a website. My website is Kreative Kuts!!! Right now I only have a few spring patterns up, so click on "SPRING" at the top of the site. The patterns are all E-patterns. You can purchase the pattern through Paypal and I will email the pattern to you. I also have the unfinished wood up for sale as well. If this is something you are interested in, check it out!!!

-Anisa

Pony Pattern Review

I bought this simplicity pattern a few months ago for the stuffed elephant on it.

My son has a best buddy named Stinky who is an elephant and apparently, according to my little guy, in desperate need of a brother. I was planning on making one for them for Christmas. Well, life got in the way. Then my oldest daughter's birthday rolled around and as luck would have it I was going to be out of town on her special day. Being a mom, I couldn't not leave something for her, but I was trying to stick to a tight budget I'd set for myself. I found all the supplies for the horse in my scrap box.

I'm not sure this would be a great pattern for someone who's never worked with a pattern before. BUT-If you have used patterns before, it's not too bad. I did go slow to eliminate any unnecessary seam ripping (which you know happened anyway). I changed two things, though.

1-Instead of faux fur for the mane and tail, I stitched on yarn hair. (I actually like it much better, but both ways are cute.)

2-I added some free-handed embroidery on the hind quarter. It turned out nothing like I imagined, but I like it anyway. :) This pattern has 3 different animals and I have 3 kids. Hmm...they all may be getting one for their birthdays this year!!

Amigurumi

What is Amigurumi? It is the Japanese art of knitting or crocheting small stuffed animals and anthropomorphic creatures. The word is derived from a combination of the Japanese words ami, meaning crocheted or knitted, and nuigurumi, meaning stuffed doll.[1] Amigurumi are typically animals, but can include artistic renderings, and inanimate objects endowed with anthropomorphic features. (Thanks Wikipedia)

I've been having so much fun with this great mini-book of crochet patterns from Lion Brand Yarn. My little boy looks through this book like it's a catalog for him to choose from.I'm not trying to personally promote Lion Brand Yarn, but Angie and I have checked out a few books from the library on amigurumi before and the patterns have left me really confused, but this little book I picked up at Hobby Lobby was really clear and easy to follow.

I'm almost finished with this alligator I started this morning and I waved good-bye to a cute little owl that I made for a friend's daughter just last night. Lots of fun.

They make up quite quickly. You just need yarn, a crochet hook, stuffing and safety eyes because at Lion Brand Yarn they have a endless selection of free patterns for amigurumi. You do have to sign up for their site, but I've personally never had a problem with them (ie they don't share your email) and I like getting their occasional email updates (which are easy to opt out of, if you desire).

Type 'amigurumi' in the Search box, sign in and enjoy all the free patterns! Here's some pictures of some of the adorable critters you'll find here.

-C

Easy Baby Gifts (with tutorial and free pattern)

First, we have a felt toy. This can be used in a variety of styles. There is a basic oval shape which can be used for a bear or a spaceman (see below) or a monkey or a rabbit. Endless possibilities...First gather yourself a bunch of felt. I used for a template my Creative Memories cutting templates and traced them with a fading fabric marker. The measurements of the ovals are: Bear is 6 3/4" x 4 1/2" and Spaceman is 5 3/4" x 3 1/2" (starting dimensions).

Before cutting begins, draw a single antennae or ear for what ever you're making. Cut around the shape, but only until you can match up the widths' ends and trace around the one cut out antennae or ear so that you have a matching set (I use this method because it's hard to get a matching set, especially free-hand as I like to do).

Cut out the same shape out of another color for the back, but do not cut out the smaller inner circle. Choose a piece for the face (it doesn't have to be pretty) and free-hand cut out some hair for the spaceman, or none for the bear. Then line them all up, pin together and front sew them all together with just a tiny seam. Draw a face on the felt with your fading fabric marker and embroider it BEFORE you sew the piece together.

Place right sides together, pin and sew with a 1/4" seam.

Stuff it (sorry, switching to the bear) with Poly-fil AND the secret ingredient...a used baby-wipes wrapper or other crinkle-y, plastic-y type item (not shredded, whole, for safety) and give the baby the noise he wants!

Second item: a crocheted baby wash-mitt.

Using COTTON yarn (I used The Original Sugar 'n Cream cotton yarn in Cool Breeze Ombre) and a size H hook, chain 21.

Turn and single crochet (sc) in first chain from hook and in every chain across.

*Chain one, turn and single crochet in first sc from hook and in every sc across.

Repeat from * approx. 44 more rows (total 46) or the measurement of the adult had it will fit with the crocheted strip folded in half. After the strip is at the desired length, do not finish off, but leave approximately 32" of extra yarn attached. Pull it through the last sc so the strip doesn't unravel. Thread the yarn into a large eye needle, fold the strip in (over the hand) and whip stitch up on side. So that we don't have to cut the yarn and weave in multiple ends, lead the yarn over the top of the mitt uniformly in the loops all the way across, then whip stitch down the other side. Weave in any stray ends and your mitt is done. Put it over the top of a bottle of baby wash and it makes a charming gift. (If you want a bit more of a decorative touch, I replaced two sets of two rows with one row each of double crochet following a pattern (from the regular sc row) chain two, double crochet in first sc from hook. Double crochet in next two sc, *chain two, skip next two sc, double crochet in next two sc. Repeat from * three more times (end) then continue the sc pattern. I only recommed the decoration for the back of the mitt and not the front where you'd use to wash baby. )

email us with any questions: twiddlethumbs@rocketmail.com

--C