Frustrated

So, I'm slightly irritated right now. When I was making Charlie, my favorite crochet hook snapped in half. It was an Addi, so it wasn't the cheapest hook that I could find. You would think that they would have just continued the metal through the core of the handle to prevent something like this. (Like they do with the good sets of knives.)   -_-

All Sorts of New Stuff!!

I'm so super psyched!! I spent a good portion of yesterday updating my blog and generally geeking-out with it. There are still a few things that I want to tweek, but it's eons better than it was and I love it.

Yesterday was a day of accomplishing things. I got most of the living-room-mess gone through, found my deep cleaning book (Yes, I do have a book on how to clean. The peanut gallery can remain silent, thank you. Dan has already pointed out how sad it is that I need one.), bought household stuff, groceries, and some Christmas, Birthday (literally), and Halloween gifts. Also, I tackled the kitchen and am half-way through with getting it thoroughly scoured. Those dust bunnies didn't know what hit them!

While I was out shopping, I stopped by a few craft stores because they were having sales. You have to check out the sales, right? Jo-Ann's didn't have much for yarn (no surprise there) but I made a huge find at Michaels:

STITCH NATION by Debbie Stoller!!

(In the perfect shade of orange, no less...)

I bought one ball of "Full o' Sheep" in the Clementine colorway. "Full o' Sheep" is an Aran weight, 100% Peruvian Wool. This means that it's a hand-wash only yarn, but it's so buttery and delicious that I don't care!! The spin on it kind of reminds me of Brown Sheep's Lambs Pride Worsted. The yarn does tend to shed a bit if you have to frog/tink back so I'm thinking that it will have a high-pill-factor in garments. (Or anything else that will have a decent amount of friction, for that matter.) This yarn is so soft and lovely, though, that I'm seriously thinking about getting enough to make a sweater for myself out of it.

Until I have the money saved up for that, though... (At about $5 per ball, weighing in at 155 yards, I'm gonna need about 10 balls to make the sweater that I want.) I had to at least try out the yarn that I have, right? So, I made an Amigurumi Happy Pumpkin. His name is Charlie, and he's too amazing for that leaf. (Besides, the leaf kinda makes him look like an apple...)

Winter Buddy Pattern

I just used some worsted-weight Red Heart that I had on-hand for this cute little Snow-person. Worked in the round in single crochet, it’s a very quick project and is great for beginners or last minute gifting.

You can also use a baggie filled with sand as part of the stuffing for the Bottom Snowball and he becomes a very festive doorman. (I suggest staying away from fillings like beans and rice because they can attract bugs over the years.)

Note: I sewed the buttons onto my snowman after I had finished making him. If you want, you can sew the buttons on prior to stuffing the individual snowballs. (I just like doing the accessorizing last.)

Pattern:

Bottom Snowball

R1: (Using the Magic Ring Method) Work 6 Single Crochets. (6 SC)

R2: Work 2 SC in each SC around. (12 SC)

R3: (SC in next SC, 2 SC in next SC) 6 times.
(18 sts)

R4: (SC in next 2 SC, 2 SC in next SC) 6 times.
(24 sts)

R5: (SC in next 3 SC, 2 SC in next SC) 6 times.
(30 sts)

R6: (SC in next 4 SC, 2 SC in next SC) 6 times.
(36 sts)

R7: (SC in next 5 SC, 2 SC in next SC) 6 times.
(42 sts)

R8: (SC in next 6 SC, 2 SC in next SC) 6 times.
(48 sts)

R9: (SC in next 7 SC, 2 SC in next SC) 6 times.
(54 sts)

R10: (SC in next 8 SC, 2 SC in next SC) 6 times.
(60 sts)

R11 - R13: Work even in SC. (60 sts)

R14: (SC in each of next 8 SC, decrease 1 SC) 6 times.
(54 sts)

R15: (SC in each of next 7 SC, dec 1 SC) 6 times.
(48 sts)

R16: (SC in each of next 6 SC, dec 1 SC) 6 times.
(42 sts)

R17: (SC in each of next 5 SC, dec 1 SC) 6 times.
(36 sts)

Fasten off (leaving enough of a tail to sew on Middle Snowball) and tuck-in loose ends. Stuff with fiber-fill, set aside.

Middle Snowball

R1: (Using the Magic Ring Method) Work 6 Single Crochets. (6 SC)

R2: Work 2 SC in each SC around. (12 SC)

R3: (SC in next SC, 2 SC in next SC) 6 times.
(18 sts)

R4: (SC in next 2 SC, 2 SC in next SC) 6 times.
(24 sts)

R5: (SC in next 3 SC, 2 SC in next SC) 6 times.
(30 sts)

R6: (SC in next 4 SC, 2 SC in next SC) 6 times.
(36 sts)

R7: (SC in next 5 SC, 2 SC in next SC) 6 times.
(42 sts)

R8: (SC in next 6 SC, 2 SC in next SC) 6 times.
(48 sts)

R9 - R12: Work even in SC. (48 sts)

R13: (SC in each of next 6 SC, dec 1 SC) 6 times.
(42 sts)

R14: (SC in each of next 5 SC, dec 1 SC) 6 times.
(36 sts)

R15: (SC in each of next 4 SC, dec 1 SC) 6 times.
(30 sts)

R16: (SC in each of next 3 SC, dec 1 SC) 6 times.
(24 sts)

R17: (SC in each of next 2 SC, dec 1 SC) 6 times.
(18 sts)

Fasten off (leaving enough of a tail to sew on Head) and tuck-in loose ends. Stuff with fiber-fill, attach to Bottom Snowball, set aside.

Head

R1: (Using the Magic Ring Method) Work 6 Single Crochets in contrast color. (6 SC)

R2: Work 2 SC in each SC around. (12 SC)

R3: (SC in next SC, 2 SC in next SC) 6 times.
(18 sts)

R4: (SC in next 2 SC, 2 SC in next SC) 6 times.
(24 sts)

R5: (SC in next 3 SC, 2 SC in next SC) 6 times.
(30 sts)

R6: (SC in next 4 SC, 2 SC in next SC) 6 times.
(36 sts)

R7 - R11: (Switch to main color.) Work even in SC. (36 sts)

R12: (SC in each of next 4 SC, dec 1 SC) 6 times.
(30 sts)

R13: (SC in each of next 3 SC, dec 1 SC) 6 times.
(24 sts)

R14: (SC in each of next 2 SC, dec 1 SC) 6 times.
(18 sts)

R15: (SC in next SC, dec 1 SC) 6 times.
(12 sts)

R16: (dec 1 SC) 6 times.
(6 sts)

Stuff with fiber-fill, thread yarn through remaining 6 SC and pull tight to close hole. Make a small pom-pom & attach to the center of the “hat”. Attach Head to the Middle Snowball, weave in ends, set aside.

(I just embroidered a brim onto the “hat” by overlapping basic stitches along the color change until they bumped-out and gave a bit of a lip.)

Scarf

R1: Ch 70. Fasten off, cut yarn leaving a 3 inch tail. (70 sts)

R2: SC into each ch. Fasten off, cut yarn leaving a 3 inch tail. (70 sts)

R3: SC into each ch. Fasten off, cut yarn leaving a 3 inch tail. (70 sts)

Add fringe to scarf ends, trim to 1.5”. Tie onto Snowman.

Finishing

Determine button alignment and sew onto Snowman.

Ta-Da!! Now you have a cute little winter buddy.

^_^