Magic Pink Narwhal

Oh gosh, I can't believe it has been so long since my last post... To anyone who follows me regularly I'm so sorry! My health has got much worse recently so blogging has taken a back seat while I focus on getting better.

Anyway, I have popped in to tell you about a little thing I have recently created:

Meet the magic pink Narwhal!

Super cute isn't he? :-)
I created the pattern myself and I think I am going to sell it on Ravelry :) It is my first pattern created completely by me so its pretty exciting!
When its up I will post a link on here so you can buy it if you want to make one for yourself :-)

I have been working on a commissioned piece for a while (way too long, I got really ill in the process so it got put on hold. Thankfully the person it is for is very understanding!) It's finished now and once it has reached its new owner I will show you all what it is :-) For now it has to remain a secret!


Thanks for dropping by and hopefully I won't leave it as long before popping in next time!

xxx Sam xxx

Day 2! - 2KCBWDAY2

Day 2 of the Annual knitting and crochet blog week

Lets see if I can manage two posts this time! ;)
Topic for today:
"Look back over your last year of projects and compare where you are in terms of skill and knowledge of your craft to this time last year. Have you learned any new skills or forms of knitting/crochet (can you crochet cable stitches now where you didn’t even know such things existed last year? Have you recently put a foot in the tiled world of entrelac? Had you even picked up a pair of needles or crochet hook this time last year?"

This time last year I was waiting for my subscription to "The Art of Crochet" to arrive so I could learn how to crochet. I had decided to take up crochet January last year thinking it would be something to keep me occupied whilst ill in bed, but due to some problems with printing the first issue didn't arrive for a few months. I finally received it in May and started crocheting my first ever square! I chose the art of crochet because I liked how it taught you how to crochet whilst making squares to eventually be put together for a blanket. You make one square an issue (weekly) and I would highly recommend it to anyone wanting to learn! The instructions are written out simply and even have pictures to follow. The only problem I have with it is there is a lot of repetition with the squares with a lot being the same.
From squares I went on to create hats, scarves, gloves and amigurumi animals (MANY amigurumi animals!!). I have not yet ventured to make anything big, but I have a long list of things I plan to make!

This year I decided to also try my hand at knitting. As I liked the Art of Crochet so much I decided to buy my younger sisters magazines of her (she didn't really take to knitting). She had a lot of unused wool too so I had lots to practice with.  I find it much slower than crochet but still enjoyable! However I still haven't finished my first square...

Gosh that's a lot of writing! Ready for some pictures? Okay, here you go!
The most recent thing I have been making is this:

This is a scarf I am making and for the first time I have tried cable stitches! I found it quite confusing at first but picked it up fast. I also decided to do the raised bits in a very soft fluffy yarn, and I think it looks like something sponsoring Dairy Milk chocolate! I am actually testing the pattern for someone who is donating it to people to crochet, then sending them off for the survivors from the Japanese earthquake. I was meant to be finished yesterday though.... However my health had to come first and I have been suffering from a very bad virus that has left me unable to crochet anything more than a square for days :( However I am a little further on with my squares for my blanket!


The other things I have recently finished are these:

 

My bunny, bee and ladybug family :) They will all get a proper blog post in the future along with my finished scarf so watch this space! Oh, and the baby ladybug isn't quite finished, if you look carefully you will see she has no legs! Don't worry though, that will soon be fixed!

The last photo I am showing you today is my knitted square! Or rather, my half knitted square...

Thanks for popping in again! Hope you enjoyed looking through my many achievements of the year :)

Sam xx

Crochet Pattern

Hi everyone and Happy New Year! Hope you all had a wonderful time :)

I've been busy crocheting and I thought I'd share a pattern with you. Its for an alien called 'Blarg'

Skill level:

Basic skill needed
 (feel free to ask advice!)

Materials Used:

DK yarn in any colour you'd like your Blarg to be

4mm crochet hook

Some stuffing (I use an old pillow)

An embroidery needle

Key:

ch - chain

dc - double crochet

st - stitch

ss - slip stitch

htc - half treble crochet

dc2tog - decrease two together

Pattern:

Head

Round 1 - Make a magic ring with 6dc

Round 2 - 2dc in each st around (12dc in total)

Round 3 - *2dc in first st, 1dc in next* repeat from * until end

Round 4 - *2dc in first st, 1dc in next 2 st* repeat from * until end

Round 5 - *2dc in first st, 1dc in next 3 st* repeat from * until end

Round 6 to 12 - dc in each st until end

Round 13 - *dc2tog, 1dc in next 3 st* repeat from * until end

Round 14 - *dc2tog, 1dc in next 2 st* repeat from * until end

Turn on side, insert eyes and stuff

Round 15 - dc2tog until hole is closed

Antennae
5ch, 3 htc in second ch from hook, ss in next 3ch then fasten off.

Sew to top of head and enjoy!

 

 Hope you all have fun making them, and please feel free to share your pictures!

Much love, Sam x