Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Still too tired...

I'm sorry to tell you that I'm still far too tired to be able to crochet anything at the moment. All summer I've been working full time and have been trying to balance my family time with my work and still function at an acceptable level. My pregnancy have really made me tired this time!!

But at least I've started dreaming about all these kawaii baby things I'll crochet when time comes ;)

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Tired, sooo tired!

About a month ago, I realized I'm pregnant! Really happy news, of course, but I've been so terrible tired ever since, so I havn't been able to crochet anything at all. Hence the lack of updates. But at least I've found a place for my creatures - they're now sitting on top of our book shelf in our living room. Looking pretty good, actually, even though Totoro still got his crazy eyes ;)

The rain is pouring down outside, and I'm going to bed. Dead tired.

Sunday, June 7, 2009

Ooooops!

Ooops! I've been wondering why I hadn't got a single comment on my posts - and then my friend Zarah pointed out that she couldn't leave comments in the blog. And when I checked it out, I realized that no one could leave comments, 'cause the code was wrong. Hence the lack of comments, I guess ;) But after about a hour of mind killing blogger work, it should now work :)


Le Dunno monstre est mort, vive le Dunno monstre!

I wouldn't say I've killed the Dunno monster, but when my husband asked me if I was making an ashtray, I got second thoughts. He got far to big, and I didn't get any feelings for the creation I was making. No, he won't become a monster, right now he's more like a little basket or maybe a boat that my fuzzy koala is sitting in. Problably I'll just throw it away.

But today I've started with a new Dunno monster prototype. And to my sons delight he is yellow! :) I've completed the head, the muzzle and the upper lip, and though I'm not sure about the construction of the upper lip, at least it looks like something between a dragon and a monster. He'll get a lot of jags and teeth and claws, and --- yes --- I'm taking notes :)

As soon as he looks a bit more finished, I will take some photos. But right now it's time to make some supper so we won't starve to death ;)

Saturday, June 6, 2009

Dunno monster project


Oh well, this is as far as I have come with my monster project. It was supposed to be a yellow monster, but I found a three colored yarn that would be great for a monster. But since I havn't done any sketches, I just call it my Dunno monster. The future will tell what he will look like :) I guess he will be rather big/fat, cause the bottom is quite large, but I havn't decided how tall I'll make him. My son wanted it to look really scary, so I hope he won't be disappointed when it's finished. I mean, I don't know how to make a crochet animal look scary? But if I give the monster a few fangs and jags perhaps he'll be happy?

I'm home from work this weekend, feeling a bit sorry for myself. I really hate to be sick and snotty.

Fuzzy koala?

I've been trying to brush my koala for the fuzzy look I'm after, but I dunno. He's actually still rather nun-fuzzy. The work continues.

Friday, June 5, 2009

How to make muzzle using felt

Kawaii Cloud has made a tutorial (in spanish) of how to make a muzzle using felt. I think it's really cute actually, and I'm looking forward to try out some felt work for my animals.




She also has a very nice blog, and I recommend a visit! If the spanish is a problem, you can always use Google translator or something :)

Tiny little Koala bear


As a substitute project for the concequences of my lost crochet hook, I've made a tiny little koala bear. My son instantly wanted to snuggle with "the new Totoro" (since my Totoro project, he calls every crochet creature for "Totoro") :) It's crocheted in wool with cotton/acrylic details, with a 3½ mm crochet hook, and I think I will brush him for a fuzzier look :)

And by the way, of course I had to slightly alter the pattern, 'cause I couldn't get the nose to look like the reference by following the instructions. Don't ask me how I altered it, I used double yarn and croched a bit like I thought would work. And it did! :)

The pattern can be found here.


Terrible cute


I really wish I was the creator of this wonderful little friend. But I'm not. It was for sale on Etsy in february, so sadly it's already sold. To se more of the artist's work, please visit her homepage, flickr or etsy store :)




Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Desorganized?

I actually managed to lose my 3 mm crochet hook! Please, don't ask me how I managed to mislay it! I mean, I live in a three room apartment and it isn't that messy! One could probably suspect that my 3½ years old son has something to do with the disappearing, but actually I believe he is innocent. When he finds my art and craft stuff, he usually brings it to me and shows me what he has found.

However this makes it impossible for me to finish my pachirisu. When I get a chance, I will of course buy a new one, but the house finances isn't at it's best right now. (Is it ever??). I'm dreaming of an ergonomic crochet hook since my finger joints tend to occationaly hurt quite a bit... but I know I've has to relay on second hand shopping right now. My grandma had severe reumatoid arteritis, especially in her finger joints, and I wouldn't be surprised if my ache would get chronical in twenty years or so, even though the testes I've taken showed exactly nothing. The ache comes and goes, and right now I can keep my hands in pretty good shape as long as I take brakes and do my streches :)

So instead of pokemon characters, I've crocheted a little koala bear :) I don't really know what I'm going to do with all my amigurumi. I consider almost every project right now as a learning experience, and I feel that my ability improves. But I'm longing for making stuff that I actually want to do, in a design I actually intend! But since I still can't do it, I'm going to make a yellow kawaii monster for my son. I'll just have to come up with a design first ;)


Knitting grafitti

Recently I found out who made the knitting graffiti* at the bridge! It's no other than the wife of my old art class teacher and her knitting friends - a couple of middle aged women that meet once a week for knitting and chat sessions. They got the inspiration from a visit in the capital of Sweden, where they had seen several installations in town :) And actually, I must say that I found it even extra cool when I realized that it was rather old ladys who created the work! :) Such a nice role model for younger knitters in town :)



_______________________
* I actually don't know what it's called in english, in Sweden we use that expression ...



Wednesday, May 27, 2009

A better place


The other day I was glad to discover that a wonderfully creative person had decorated the otherwise ugly bridge that leads me into town and back again :)




My son absolutely loved it, and he reached up and touched the knitting and couldn't stop talking about how beautiful it was, and what nice colors the creation had and how soft it was to touch :)


So, thank you M.L., whoever you are :) You made my day a bit brighter, and your work makes me smile every time I see it :) People like you makes the world a better place :)




Monday, May 25, 2009

Geekery

Oh, I absolutely looooove geek craft :) The total commitment for an interest which makes a person spend hours after hours not only to watch a certain tv-show or movie - but to actually create art from it. Like the swedish lady who cross stiches the Super Mario World. Or like this:


I mean, Boba Fett in crochet - it's just fantastic! :) And of course there is a Flickr page which enables you guys to watch a lot more of the artist's work. Cred!! It's almost better than Fett's vette :)









Sunday, May 24, 2009

Crochet at work

Trying to crochet at the night shift at work. It's calm and silent, the patients are yet asleep and the hours are long. Note to self: Don't crochet amigurumi when you're far to tired and can't keep count. I don't know for how many rounds I've found mistakes..! I guess I'll see if this non-round thingie soon developes to an actual head to the color changed Pachirisu I'm trying to make for my son. Or if it just is going to meet the garbage god under the sink...


Saturday, May 23, 2009

A true success

The brain slug rised to a true success when my soon-to-be 4 years old son got home from preschool. "Mooom!! It only has one eye!!!", he shouted - and he instantly wanted to pin the little beast to my head :) And in just a couple of minutes he had ordered a yellow monkey, a yellow monster with A LOT of eyes and NINTY-FIVE feet with claws! And of course a yellow T-rex ;)



Friday, May 22, 2009

Brain Slug


My turquoise brain slug turned out rather small and a bit fluffy, because of the leftover yarn I used. A couple of weeks ago, I got a whole bag of different wool yarns from a colleague, who had got it from her late mother in law. And because she herself is totally uninterested in craftmanship, she gave it to me. The material isn't my favorite, I'm more of a soft acrylic/cotton-mix person, but I'm trying to use yarn from the gift I got, 'cause I like the re-use thought and the love that lies inherented in the balls.

Since I don't got any felt at home, I had to embroider the eye. I'm not very good at it, so I wouldn't give this creature to a small child if I didn't want it to be absolutely slaughtered. But it can sit on a little shelf and just be adorable, that's alright with me :)

You can too make yourself a brain slug! The pattern can be found here!



Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Next project

My next little project is a brain slug! Since Totoro ate most of my fiber fill, I'll have to make something rather small until the paycheck comes... But don't feel sorry for me, 'cause I found a wonderful pattern at hookandneedles, and I just HAVE to try it out! :)


Brain slugs are an parasitic, invertebrate species native to the Brain Slug Planet, which feed on cognitive energy in the form of the Alpha and Delta brainwaves. They attach themselves to their victims by using their adhesive slime to the scalp. The host's personality becomes totally supressed and their body is controlled by the slug. Brain slugs have a single, rudimentary eye that can only see the heat signatures of their prey, but they gain the use of their host's senses when they begin feeding. The slugs, as a species, are telepathically linked but prone to communicate with one another through their hosts.

The slugs will attack their hosts by crawling up their bodies until they reach the cranium. The only sure way to prevent infestation is to wear a helmet on the Brain Slug homeworld and use a garlic shampoo when in close proximity to an infested individual.
(Copypasted and slightly edited from http://www.gotfuturama.com)

The only drawback is that I don't have the right yarn color at home. I mean, I would prefer a sligtly neon green yarn, but the closest I can get right now is a turquoise one! What kind of brain slug would that be?? But I think I'll go for it anyway. It's not like I have any plans for the turqouise yarn anyway...



Modified Totoro



Original pattern is made by Angry Angel. You can find the original pattern here! And please, check her Flickr! She is totally amazing! :)

This was my first modified pattern, and I'm quite happy with the changes I managed to make. I crocheted the body, arms, tail and tummy as the original pattern, but I chose to crochet the eyes instead of using safety eyes, simply because I don't own any safety eyes and I didn't think buttons would be appropriate for this guy. But - haha - as you can see, Totoro got two different shapes of his pupils, which give him a totally crazy look. Totoro on LSD, or something! Hahaha. That HAS to be changed, but I didn't have a great deal of luck with the embroidery tries I did on him this afternoon, so I'll try again another day - I'll keep you posted on the progress.
  • I remade the ears less pointy than the original pattern to match the reference picture better. I wonder if Angry Angels' pattern is written correctly, or if it was just bad luck that they got so pointy when I made them the first time? However, the new ears fitted perfectly! :)
  • Though I followed the pattern, my Totoro turned out a bit taller and slimmer than the original. Maybe I didn't stuff the body heavily enough? Maybe it was the yarn? Or maybe it was just me ;)
  • I usually crochet in back loop only, 'cause I like the texture it brings to the creatures. In this case I believe it was a mistake, since I discovered that one row at the bottom of the body should be crocheted with back loop stiches. Now I didn't, 'cause I already had crocheted the whole piece with back loop stiches... ;) But I guess it would have made Totoro a bite more stable if I had followed the pattern.
  • I also believe that it would have been a good idea to stuff Totoro's bottom with something heavier, like pellets, since he dosn't have feet or legs to balance him. Luckily, the tail and his reached-out arms gives him some balance.


I made the following changes in Angry Angels otherwise lovely pattern:


Abbreviations:
ch: Chain stich
sc: Single crochet (US), double crochet (UK)
ss: Slip stich
hdc: Half double crochet (US), half treble (UK)
inc2: Increase by working 2 sc into 1 st
dec2: Decrease 2 st down to 1 stich
FO: Finish off

Evenly spread the increases to avoid a hexagon shape. In the pattern I've just written the number of increases in each series.

Ears (make 2):
1: Ch 2, 4 sc into 1st ch, link to 1st sc with ss. (=4 st)
2: (1 sc, inc2) x2 (=6 st)
3: (2 sc, inc2) x2 (=8 st)
4: (2 sc, inc2, inc2) x2 (=12 st)
5: (5 sc, inc2, inc2) x2 (=16 st)
6: (7 sc, inc2) x2 (=18 st)
7: (8 sc, inc2) x2 (=20 st)
8: (9 sc, inc2) x2 (=22 st)
9: (10 sc, inc2) x2 (=24 st)
10-14: Work 24 sc for 5 rounds
15: (4 sc, dec2) x4 (=20 st)
16: (3 sc, dec2) x4 (=16 st)
17: 8 sc, 8 hdc (=16 st)
18: 1 sc, 1 ss, FO.

Eyes (make 2):
1: With black yarn: 4 sc into magic ring (=4 st)
2: With white yarn: 2 sc into each st (=8 st)
3: (1 sc, inc2) x4 (=12 st)
4: Join with first st with ss. FO.


This pattern is linkware. Of course, you are free to use my alternations if you find it suitful for your Totoro, but if you'll post it online or someplace else, please do not reprint my pattern - instead, link me from your blog and feel free to notice me that you've done so by email or otherwise :)


Fierce but friendly dragon


My next project was a fierce but friendly dragon, as it was called by its' pattern designer, Angry Angel (or heavens_hellcat as she calls herself at Livejournal). I'm dreaming of making the perfect dragon pattern myself, but since I have no clue how to do it, I try to find decent dragon patterns to build up an inner picture of what my dream pattern could look like. This was a first try on a dragon, and I made it a bit of my own by using different colors than the creator did. I know, I'm such a dare devil!! ;) But I think the orange spikes on the back make a nice contrast.


It looks a bit like he's going to fly away. Or maybe he'll just fall ;)



Baby Snow Bunny


This wonderful little baby snow bunny was my first amigurumi. I found the pattern over at Darncat Crochet, and it inspired me to actually stop dreaming of crocheting and actually learn how to do it. I was a true beginner when I started crocheting this little cutie (had just crocheted granny's before), but with a little help from different sites on the web, I found the pattern really easy to understand. And after just two or three days, I had myself a little bunny in the couch. She doesn't have a name yet, somehow it feels a bit strange to name other peoples' pieces...

It took me a couple of weeks before I dared to embroider her eyes. But look at the difference! That thing people say about that the amigurumi's soul is in their eyes really is true. Now when I've seen her true self with embroidered eyes and a lovely little nose, I think she looks so naked on the before pictures ;)






Monday, May 18, 2009

Limelight

Finally I've come to the conclusion that it's time to give my soft little friends some limelight in the bloggosphere. This is Kawaii crochet, the blog and place for my amigurumi and my crocheting. English is not my first language, but since a great deal of you amigurumi crocheting people out there seems to live outside Scandinavia, I thought it would be better to try blogging in a language people actually can understand. However I hope this can be inspirational both for you and also for me to continue to learn and develop further knowledge.

Right now I consider myself as a beginner in the crochet area. I've made three amigurumi so far, and have a desire to concentrate on monsters, dragons and anime fanart. Kawaii style, of course. Surfing the internet, I've come to the conclusion that there isn't very much free wellmade patterns out there that matches my desires, so I realise I have to crochet all kinds of stuff until I've developed enough skills to make my own patterns.

And when I do, I was planning on posting them here so that you can crochet your own :)