amigurumi keyrings

Made these for a fund raiser. Summer 2021

The seahorses are from a pattern by OneDogWoof

The ladybirds were adapted from a pattern by maidire

The bees are adapted from a pattern by Mohu

Helena the Healthcare Hero

Here is Helena the Healthcare Hero and she represents all the super-heroic doctors, nurses and careworkers who have been so devoted to helping save lives in the COVID-19 pandemic.

I designed this little doll for the Amigurumi Showcase 2021 challenge. It's simplistic in style but as I'm not a very fast crocheter, new to designing amigurumi and I had to wait for new yarn, it took me a week to complete it!

Link to Refuge charity as they are running a #30DaysOfCrochetForRefuge challenge too. 

Refuge donation

Pattern to follow but you can see the idea and pieces here

Blanket

'Sixty million trebles' is an organisation trying to make blankets for some of the 60 million refugees that the UN estimates there to be. Here's my contribution of 7002 trebles, which will be going off to Hand in hand for Syria this week.

Cup covers

My parents are keen caravanners and were complaining if having bits from the trees falling into their cups of tea. I couldn't find a pattern online that was exactly what I wanted, so I adapted some and made these.

Coasters

I used  this pattern and am currently in the process of making a brightly coloured set as a present.

I used Natura Just Cotton in various colours and a 2.5mm hook.
The linked pattern uses American terms.

I think the red one is a bit wonky, so I might redo it.

Spotty Bag (work in progress)

I was inspired by this gorgeous afghan on Ravelry

I decided I wanted a black bag based on these bright circles.

I  had to crochet and re-crochet the patches many times until I was happy with the way the circles looked inside the squares, but this is what I ended up with.

I use UK terms

Small Circle/square

size 2 crochet hook

natura Just Cotton yarn

Mine measures 4cm sq

• Magic circle in yarn A with seven dcs and joined with a sl St. [8st]
• Round 1. Ch 3, tr into same stitch, 2tr into each dc, then a sl st to join, using colour B in the slip stitch  [16st]
• Round 2. Using B, ch 1, dc into same stitch, dc, 3tr into one st. 
• *3 dc, [3tr into one st], repeat from * 3 times, dc and sl st into ch. [24st]
• Round 3. Ch 1, dc into same St, dc, htr, 3tr into one St, htr, *3dc, htr, [3tr into 1], htr, repeat from * 3 times, doc, sl into ch. [32st] finish off.

Larger circle/square

size 2.5mm crochet hook
natura Just cotton yarn

Mine measures 8cm sq (it needs to be double the size of the small square so that they can be attached successfully)

• Ch 4, join with sl st into first ch to make a ring.
• round 1.  Ch3 (counts as treble), 10 tr in ring.  Join with sl st in top of beginning ch [12st]
• Round 2. Ch3 (counts as treble), tr in same st, 2 tr in each dc all around.  Join with sl st and change to black yarn [24st]
• Round 3 in black, ch 1, dc in same st, dc, htr, [3tr in 1 st], htr, * 3dc, htr, [3tr], htr, repeat from * twice, dc, join to first ch with sl st [32st]
• Round 4. ch 3, tr in next 3 st, 5tr in next st, * 7 tr in each of next 7 st, [5tr], repeat from * twice more, tr in 3 st, join to top of first ch with sl st. [48]
• Round 5. ch3, tr in next 5, 5tr in next st, *tr in next 11 st, [5tr], repeat from * twice more, tr in next 5 st, join to top of first ch with sl st. [64] finish off.
  

Minion Coffee Mug Holder

I used DK wool and a size 3.5mm hook.

Chain 35 stitches in blue.  Slip stitch into 1st chain to make a ring and turn.

Row 1:  dc all around and join to first st with ss.  Turn.
Row 2: ch1, dc all around.  Join to first row, using yellow in ss. (at this point it might be worth checking it fits your mug) Trim off blue yarn leaving a short tail.
Row 3: (using yellow, and bringing tail of blue yarn in to fasten off in first few stitches), ch 1 and dc all around.  ss into first st.
Rows 4-14 ( I think I did ten rows), ch 1, dc all around, ss.  In last row, use black in ss.
Row 15, (use black), ch1, dc all around, ss into end, using yellow in ss.
Rows 16-20, (use yellow), ch1, dc all around, ss into 1st st.  Finish off.

For one eye:  Magic circle in white, with 8 dc

2nd round: ch 1, dc all around, ss into 1st st.
3rd round: [ch1, dc] all around, ss into first, using grey.
4th round: (grey), as 3rd round. Ss and finish off.

Back stitching for pupil in black, attach to main body.

Back stitch in black for mouth and  strands of hair in black.

Crochet Heart decoration

I used DK red wool and a size 4 hook.  (UK terms)

For the smallest heart:  

Ch 4, make all following stitches in the 4th ch from hook:

3dtr, 3tr, ch1, dtr, ch 1, 3tr, 3dtr, ch3, slip stitch.  Leave a tail long enough to make a chain to hang the decoration.

Medium heart:

1st round as for smallest heart, except ch 2 and ss at end.

2nd round: ch3,  in first dtr: [dc, htr], in next st 2htr, in next 4 stitches: dc. Ch 1, tr in dtr, dc in next 4, 2 htr in next st, 3htr in next, [htr, dc] in next, ch 3, ss in centre.  Leave a tail long enough to make a chain to join to the small heart.

Large heart:

Make medium heart as above, then:

3rd round: ch 3, dc in top of ch3 from previous round.  2dc in next st, dc in next, 2dc in next, then dc until the bottom point of the heart, ch1, 6dcs in next 6 stitches, 2dc in next st, dc in next, 2dc in next, ch3 and ss in centre.  Leave a tail long enough to make a chain to join to the medium heart.

Make a chain to join each heart. ss into point of heart above in chain.

Christmas Star decorations

I tried lots of different versions of these, but this is the pattern I ended up being happiest with.

I haven't noted down which size hook I used, sorry.  

UK crochet terms are used throughout.

Using colour 1, start with a magic ring.  ( I use this method ) and chain 2, tr 2, ch 1, [tr 3, ch 1] x4, slip stitch into second chain of original chain 2.  Fasten off and  weave in end.

Using colour 2 without joining to colour 1 circle, ch 6, then [ss into 2nd ch from hook, dc, htr, tr, dtr] ss into ch2 space on colour 1 circle.

For each of the four remaining star arms: ch 6, then [ss into 2nd ch from hook, dc, htr, tr, dtr] ss into ch1 space.

On final arm, ss into 1st ch of original ch6.  Fasten off and weave in end.

You'll need to stiffen them, as I've done here:

Crochet breast

Used to help show new mums how to breastfeed

A friend of mine told me about these, so I decided to make one.  I found this on Lactation Consultants website, but have adapted it a bit.  There was no picture on the site, so here's mine: 

Use any colours you like, as the wackier they are, the less embarrassing they are for users.

Made in a continuous spiral.
You do not need to join the rounds. Make with 3 mm crochet needle and DK wool.
Abbreviations:
dc : double crochet (UK), Single crochet (US)
mr : ‘magic’ or adjustable ring
inc : Increase by crocheting two stitches into one stitch from the previous round

Boob
Make magic ring with nipple colour
Round 1: 8 dc into ring
Close ring
Round 2: 8 dc
Round 3: 8 dc
Round 4: 2dc into each dc (16 stitches)
Round 5: (inc, dc) x 8 (24 stitches)
Round 6: (inc, dc into next 2 stitches) x 8 (32 stitches)
Round 7: dc (32). Slip stitch into 1 dc.
Change to main breast colour
Round 8: (inc, dc into next 3 stitches) x 8 (40)
Round 9: dc (40)
Round 10: (inc, dc into next 4 stitches) x 8 (48)
Round 11: dc (48)
Round 12: dc (48)
Round 13: dc (48)
Round 14: (inc, dc into next 5 stitches) x 8 (56)
Round 15: dc (56)
Round 16: dc (56)
Round 17: dc (56)
Round 18: (inc, dc into next 6 stitches) x 8 (64)
Round 19: dc (64)
Round 20: dc (64)
Round 21: dc (64)
Fasten off and weave in end.

Base for boobs
Make magic ring with main breast colour
Round 1: 6dc into mr
Close ring
Round 2: 2 dc into each stitch (12)
Round 3: (inc, dc) x 6 (18)
Round 4: (inc, dc into next 2 stitches) x 6 (24)
Round 5: (inc, dc into next 3 stitches) x 6 (30)
Round 6: (inc, dc into next 3 stitches) x 6 (36)
Round 7: (inc, dc into next 4 stitches) x 6 (42)
Round 8: (inc, dc into next 5 stitches) x 6 (48)
Round 9: (inc, dc into next 6 stitches) x 6 (54)
Round 10: (inc, dc into next 7 stitches) x 6 (60)
Round 11: (inc, dc into next 8 stitches) x 6 (66)

Fasten off leaving a long tail for sewing.
Whip stitch the base onto the main breast inside out.
Turn it the right way leaving a small hole for stuffing.
Stuff and sew up hole, tucking in end.

Tardis fob

Made this little Tardis fob for my teenager's birthday.  

I trimmed the plastic Aida afterwards and added a keyring.

début

Hello crafty types! This is my first blog post. I intend to add pictures and details of stuff I've made.
I've been doing small Cross-stitch projects for some years, and have recently learnt how to crochet.
I like small projects that I can finish quickly, as I work full time.

This is a snowflake mobile I made,  sorry the photo isn't great!

The snowflake patterns came from a wonderful book by Caitlin Sainio, available here