Crochet Toilet Paper Holder

Our nephew has entered the teething stage and his chin constantly needs wiping. A common practice in Hong Kong is to remove the inner cardboard tube from a roll of toilet paper, freeing a stream of squares, perfect for wiping off small dribbles. One can encase in a zip lock bag, or have a doting auntie whip up a crocheted case specifically for that purpose.
The hinged top is brimmed with a scallop edge, which allowed for loops to be buttoned down. The “spout” is made from a circle folded in half (to add some rigidity), then covered by yet another circle on top. The lion is an iron on applique from the sewing section at Jo-Ann’s.

Duck and Baby Blanket

Since they didn’t want to know if they were expecting a boy or girl, I crocheted a 28″ square unisex blanket and yellow duckie which goes so well with the wave theme – it’s a girl! Thanks to Crochet Me for the pattern!

Crochet Penguin Puppet

I didn’t like the way my hand was swimming in the excess of Rudy Rooster puppet, so thought I’d try making a penguin with a tighter fit. I had added the paunch for the chicken on the inside, but found it distracting as it made the tummy more solidly white than the rest of the body. So this time I added the paunch of the penguin on the outside and stuffed only the white portion, then tacked it to the body. I guess this is what makes experiments to be called experiments. I now prefer Rudy Rooster’s method… oh well. I like the bigger toe I made for his happy feet though. Again, I wish I could have the patience to write the pattern, but it was so frustrating frogging it so many times, I just lost patience, but I’ll keep trying!

Freedah Cat Puppet

My first experiment melding the puppet head with movable arms. The mouth still wasn’t stiff even though I added a second panel on the inside. Still, can’t beat being able to pick things up and wash your face. It was modeled after my friend’s cat, Freedah.

Cow Puppet

Taking a break from my monster, by starting a cow instead. Here’s the inside mouth, bottom lip, and start of muzzle. Since I’m trying to use up my pink sport weight yarn on inconsequential items, I decided to learn from my past mistake of saggy-mouth-syndrome by making a 2-ply thick inner mouth, which would be tacked onto the mouth top and bottom. It’s definitely a hefty mouth now.

The first two circles I made for the nose were too big and they kept shaping into boobs. So I went with it and made it into a heart. The next two circles were Rnd 1-5: 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, then joined together. Next rounds were no increasing or decreasing, then a slow increase of 2 stitches as I worked my way up toward the eyes. The head is made from 10 stiches of single crochet, then I just worked into that base chain, making an automatic oval.

The horns are Rounds 1-8: 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 14 stitch counts. Then next HDC in next 4 stitches, sc, ss, turn work, sc, HDC in next 4 stitches, sc, ss. So what this does is make one side taller, so it curves the horns when you sew to head.

Attaching the mouth to the head is always the hard part. I tried two methods – first I sewed the oval head to the mouth wherever the curve wanted to go. The result is too sharply cornered.

I chose to crochet the two pieces together, but it forces the oval head to pucker over the straight mouth. If I pull it straight, it ends up looking like those cow skeletons in the desert.

I gave him a mole like Cindy Crawford’s. Hope it’s still fashionable, although I think the buckteeth ruin it. All that’s left is a tongue and brains (filler to keep the head puffed up).

Crochet Monster Puppet

I was quite excited to start my new idea of a monster puppet with a mouth that would never close.

I tried many times to use eyelash yarn to make a hairy monster, but gave up after fighting with it so much. Instead I gave it multicolors by changing the body color. Since then, my love for my budding monster has gone astray and I somehow don’t love it quite so much anymore, even though it’s neat to have it stick out its tongue.

Rudy Rooster Puppet

Now I know why patterns are so hard to do. By the 10th time I’ve ripped out the body to get the belly just so, all I care about is getting it finished!

Jean Puppet

Open wide and say “aaahhh”. I thought by using up my accidentally purchased sport weight pink yarn, I’d be doing my overflowing stash bin a favor. Unfortunately, it made the mouth too pliable, and as my 7 yr old nephew asked “Why is the inside of his mouth on the outside?” I wondered why I make things so hard on myself? My good-aunt skills falter as we decide to give Jean a cigarette, but I try to make up for it by making a cherry lollipop too.

Winnie the Pooh

I finished the last stitch on his t-shirt a block away from my sister-in-law’s – just in time for her Xmas gift to be wrapped and hidden to surprise her! Winnie the puppet was quite fun to make, but since I had no pattern to work from was a little challenging at times.

Ding Dong / Doraemon Amigurumi

He’s small at 4.5″, but that actually makes it harder! Next time, I’m going way bigger! Whew! Just in time for xmas.

Rosy, the Cat Puppet

Can’t wait to see my niece, Ruby, play with this kitty puppet, Rosy.

I had to weave yarn over the post behind the eyes so it won’t bother her hand when she plays with it. But I just had to use them because I love the cat eyes, so it was worth the extra effort.

Sleepy Heuie

Tangerine Mist from Vanna White’s yarn collection mimics the random fur of an orange cat. The yarn is also very easy to work with and puffs up aftewards to fill in gaps so filler doesn’t show. Too bad Michael’s sold out before Halloween.

Frog Puppet

My nephew couldn’t wait for me to finish the frog’s mouth before playing and hopping around with the puppet. Hard to tell who had the more fun – him playing or me watching.

The side-by-side photo shows the difference between a 3 and 4 mm hook. The pattern and yarn is the same. Since I don’t need to stuff this, I think a 4 mm hook is better as it makes the puppet slightly more flexible because the stitches are not as tight.

The pattern can be found on a Japanese website:
http://www.rakuten.co.jp/gosyo/461397/713923/826132/841462/

White Totoro

Wish I could have used the plastic eyes on this small Totoro, but it wouldn’t be a good idea since he’s being given to soon-to-be 1 year old nephew Marcus.

It was made with cotton yarn, so yielded a stiffer weave. I think it’ll be great for puppets.

Thank you for the pattern generously supplied by Heavens Hellcat

Crochet Unicorn

I’m forced to shave her lovely mane and tail, because she’ll only go bald eventually. This fluffy peach yarn comes undone faster than an open bag of filler in front of a fan. Oh well, I need to use up some accidentally purchased sport weight pink yarn.

I also think the back legs have to be moved more to the back, so her head can come up rather than always looking like she’s going for a drink of water.

Breeding Crocheted Mice

Entering the quiet hum of the dentist office, I prepared to wait happily by crocheting more mice to sell at Art on the Farm. An employee asked what I was making and 5 seconds later the respectful silence dissolved into chirrups of appreciation. All 5 were sold before I could take a picture, but I managed to snap these 2 before they scampered away.

Daisy Crocheted Pig

Daisy and Kevin Bacon starting dating steadily, and got matching tattoos to show their devotion.

Kevin Baon

E Doherty’s pattern is sheer genius! The nose is sculpted to turn upwards. His body is perfectly formed into a peanut. I tried wings on him, but I think the ratio has to be re-worked. Anyway, it made a nice card nonetheless.