Made: Star Motif

Lately I've been looking at a lot of crochet motifs.  So intriguing. I bought a cheap, cheap yarn just to practise making some of these, starting with this crochet star pattern from Jellywares. Unfortunately, the photos on the original website are broken, but the instructions are pretty clear. It's fun to see how the motif is constructed.

How about some other free star crochet patterns?

• Super Stars Amigurumi from Amy's Odyssey
• Super Mario Invincibility Star from Shh, I'm Counting
• Or how about a Ninja Star from Stitch 11

Quick Tip: Make Your Own Stitch Marker

Amigurumi is often done in continuous or spiral rounds of single crochets, so it's really important to clearly mark the first stitch of each round to know when you're done with one round and when to move on to the next.
There are many different ways to mark your stitch:

Makeshift stitch markers

Free / Almost free options:
-Safety pins
-Paper clips
-Short piece of strap yarn, preferably of a different colour so it's easier to see
See an explanation of how to place your yarn as a stitch marker (which in this case, doubles up as a row marker too!)

Source: Clover USA 

Paid options:
-Plastic stitch markers: make sure you buy the ones that can open or split, or else your marker will be crocheted in.

Source: jeanettejed on Etsy

Want something fancier than a safety pin? Make your own stitch marker:
With just a few bits like beads and wire, or recycled lobster claw clasp from old bracelets you don't wear anymore, you can create your own stitch marker.  Here are different websites with instructions:
-CrochetMe Blog
-C.W.Frosting handmade stitch marker tutorial (also includes instructions on how to make beads from a torn magazine page. Nice!)
-Dollar store crafts (make sure you follow the crochet marker instructions, not the ones for knitting)

-And even better, check out this smart idea by Etsy' jeanettejed. Add a numbered bead to get an all-in-one stitch and row counter.

I just use yarn, 'cause it's light and not in the way, but it's fun to make your own stuff sometimes.

Pattern: Crochet Neapolitan Popsicle

"Someone took a bite out of me"

I have a soft spot for food amigurumi, so I thought for my next pattern, I'll try to make something food-related. I chose neapolitan ice cream popsicle mainly because I like the colour combination, even though the only "colour" I would actually eat is vanilla. Have fun making your own popsicle.

Yarn, Hook and Other Materials:
(feel free to substitute with your favourite worsted weight yarn and hook size)
E hook / 3.5mm hook
Pink yarn: Bernat Satin Cameo
Cream yarn: Red Heart Soft Touch Off White
Brown yarn: Red Heart Soft Touch Chocolate
Small amount of light brown yarn: Bernat Satin Sable
Yarn needle to weave in ends and embroider the sprinkles on
A pair of safety eyes or beads
Cream and black embroidery thread
Polyester fiberfill stuffing
A small piece of cardboard (optional)

Dimensions / Gauge:
Popsicle is approximately 5.5" tall and 2" wide.
Exact gauge is not important, but as with all amigurumi, crochet tightly to make sure no stuffing will be seen between stitches.

Abbreviations used:
rnd round
sc single crochet
st stitch
sl st    slip stitch
inv dec   invisible decrease
ch chain
Number in ( ) at the end of each round: total number of stitches you should have by the end of the round.

Note:
I worked in continuous spirals instead of joined rounds, because personally I don't like that diagonal seam line, but if you prefer to do it that way to make a better colour change, it's totally fine too.

Main body of the popsicle:
Using pink yarn: we're starting from the bottom of the popsicle and working our way up

Rnd 1	Ch 12. 1 sc in the 2nd ch from hook, and sc in the next 9 ch. In the last ch, do 3 sc. (This will help the oval to "turn" the corner so to speak) Rotate your work so the other side of the chain is facing up. Sc in each loop of ch (11 sc), until you reach the last loop. Do 3 sc in that loop. You should have a total of 26 sc at the end of the round (26)
Rnd 2	1 sc along the straight side (11 sc), then 2 sc in the next st, 1 sc in the next st, and 2 sc in the next st. That should round up the corner, and now continue doing 1 sc on the straight side again (9 sc). Then 2 sc in the next st, 1 sc in the next, and 2 sc in the last st (30 total for the round)
Rnd 3	1 sc all around (30)
Rnd 4	1 sc all around in the back loops only (30)
Rnd 5-11	1 sc all around in both loops again (30)
Rnd 12	Change to off-white yarn. 1 sc all around. (30) If you're using safety eyes, add them in now.
Rnd 13-18	1 sc all around (30)
Rnd 19	Change to brown yarn. 1 sc all around. (30)
Rnd 20-23	1 sc all around. (30)

Fasten off.  You should have something like this. Stuff the piece.

Now we're ready for the fun part and create the "bite" in our popsicle.
Bascially, the uneven edge of the bite is created by not crocheting all around in the 30 stitches, but turning and leaving stitches undone in every round. The number of stitches you'll have to do for each row will get smaller and smaller as you go up to the top of the popsicle.
In the crochet world I think they call that a decrease for each row to create a staircase effect.
On the opposite side of the bite (in mine, the left side of the popsicle), we will gradually work in invisible decreases to shape the popsicle.
As you're crocheting, you can adjust accordingly to create the size and the look of the bite you want. I've put down a rough estimate of what I did, but it's more fun to shape it as you go along.

Rnd 1	Using brown yarn.If you flatten your popsicle, we're going to start from the 3rd stitch from the right edge. Insert your hook into that stitch, and pull up a loop with the new brown yarn. Ch 1. 1 sc in the next st, sc into the next 23 stitch, and sl st into the next st.
Rnd 2	Ch 1. Turn (so you're now inserting your hook from the inside of the popsicle to outside, going left to right again (if you're right-handed). Sc in the next st, sc into the next 22 sc, sl st into next st.
Rnd 3	Ch 1. Turn. Sc in the next st, sc into the next 8 st, inv dec, inv dec, sc in next 8 st, sl st into the next st.
Rnd 4	Ch 1. Turn. Sc in all st around.
Rnd 5	Ch 3. Turn. Sl st into the base st of the chain (This will create a "bump" that stick out in your bite). Sc in the next 7 st, inv dec, inv dec, sc in the next 7 st, sl st into the last st.
Rnd 6	Ch 3. Turn. Sl st into the base st of the chain. Sc in all st around, sl st into the last st.
Rnd 7	Ch 1. Turn. Sc in the next 5 st, inv dec, inv dec, sc in the 4 st, sl st into the last st.
Rnd 8	Ch 1. Turn. Sc in all st around.
Rnd 9	Ch 1. Turn. Sc in next 4 st, inv dec, then sc in the remaining st.
Rnd 10	Ch 1. Turn. Sc in all st around.

Fasten off. Leaving a long tail for sewing.
Whip stitch the top of the front and back chocolate pieces together using the tail.
If you prefer, you can embroider the sprinkles in now or wait till later.

Inside of Ice Cream

Rnd 1	Starting with pink yarn Ch 4. 1 sc in the 2nd ch from hook, then sc in the next ch, then 3 sc in the last ch. Rotate your work so the other side of the chain is facing up. 1 sc in the first 2 loops, and 2 sc in the last one. (9)
Rnd 2	Change to off-white yarn *1 sc in next st, then 2 sc in next* repeat till end of round (13)
Rnd 3-5	1 sc in each st around Whether you need another round or not depends on how big you've created your bite, so put this inside your popsicle to see if it fits well or not.

Fasten off. Add more stuffing to the main body of the popsicle, then sew this piece to it. I just pinned the bit to the main piece, then used the left-over brown yarn tail to secure it.

Popsicle Stick
Using light brown yarn

Rnd 1	Make a magic ring with 6 stitches in it.
Rnd 2	*1 sc in the next st, then 2 sc in the next* repeat 3 times (9)
Rnd 3-7	1 sc in each st around

Fasten off, and leave a long tail for sewing. I added cardboard to the inside to make it stiffer before I sewed to body.

And now for some quick embroidery work

Randomly add in your sprinkles to the chocolate part of your popsicle.  I did this back and forth on the front and the back of the piece.
Then add the mouth in using the black embroidery thread. And of course, you can have your popsicle smiling instead.

Pattern is for personal use only. Please do not sell items made from it (charity okay). Please do not reproduce the pattern anywhere, but link to this post ( http://ow.ly/cPHJD ).  Thanks!

Free Pattern of the Day: Sushi Pencil Case

Even if you're not looking for school supplies for your kids, you can probably find a use for this versatile homemade case.
I've been craving for sushi these days (I'm always craving for sushi).

Free pattern from Green, Broke & Living in Kits
Two versions of sushi

If that's a little too intense for ya, here are some more regular looking ones.

Free pattern from CoatsCrafts.co.uk

Free pattern from K and J Dolls Blog

If this is your first time making a case or a pouch, you may want to check out this tutorial on adding zippers (and also lining, if you're adventurous) to your crochet work.

Made: Wimpy Kid's Greg HeffleyCrochet Doll

A Greg Heffley doll just in time for the 3rd Wimpy Kid movie.  Diary of a Wimpy Kid probably doesn't need much introduction. Even adults will enjoy the humour, and reading it, you will remember those good old kiddie/teenage days. It's also one of the very few children's book series my husband would read. So many bits in the book where we just couldn't stop laughing (my favourite is probably still the Shel Silverstein bit).

Anyway, back to amigurumi.  Not only does amigurumitogo (formerly Homemade Obsessions) have a free pattern to share, she's also made a video tutorial on how to make your very own Greg doll. The video helped me understand quite a few techniques, so I'd highly recommend any amigurumi beginner to crochet along and see how all the individual parts of an amigurumi come together.
Check out the Rodrick's doll too.

Double Crochet Pattern: Christmas and Stormtrooper Bell

Even though amigurumi is mainly made with single crochets, you do see patterns that require other stitches, like the double crochet, or "dc" in short.
How to do a double crochet:  video •  photo tutorial
If you're looking for a simple pattern to practise your double crochet, take a look at this simple five-minute Christmas Bell pattern by Handcrafted. Simple to make (they're not kidding about the five-minute part), you can use these bells for Christmas decorations, or a homemade wedding card.
On the website, you'll also find an angel bell, a variation of this pattern. Inspired by that, here's my Stormtrooper Bell.

I used the same pattern, but added a round of single crochet using the black yarn after Round 2. When the bell is done, I sewed the rest on using black yarn. It's alright I guess. Sometimes it looks like a stormtrooper. Sometimes it looks like nothing at all...
What else has a bell shape?

Crocheted Lions at the London Olympics

Interview with crochet artist Shauna Richardson

You're likely going to be devoting some of your time to the Olympics these days, and you may have seen these giant crocheted lions that were created as part of the Cultural Olympiad for the London 2012 games.  After reading that the artist spent 18 months crocheting three things, I'm not going to complain about how long it takes me to finish a project anymore. Read more about the Lion Heart Project here.