I've been working on rewriting my 'fierce but friendly really' dragon pattern (http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=175190.0) into a more standard format, and while I was doing that I tweaked it a bit and, I hope, improved it. Mostly it was just tiny details, but I redesigned the wings to make them stronger and less likely to go floppy (not a good look for any dragon!). The pattern in PDF format is now available to download here (click at the bottom of this post) or you can download the PDF at Ravelry: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/fierce-little-dragon



I really enjoyed making myself another dragon to guard my computer - this one seems especially fierce, although he's only 11" long! I think I might call him Tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus), since he seems to enjoy posing next to it.

[Little Eggie Amigurumi Pattern]

I made a few little things for my boys for Easter, they're nice and simple so I thought I'd share the patterns.

Little Eggie Amigurumi Pattern
He's about the same size as a hen's egg - use light brown or white yarn if you want him to look like one, or bright yarn if you want him to look like a decorated Easter egg.





Materials:
Small amount of yarn, any colour you like. Thickness is not too important - I used double knitting (dk) but a bit thicker would be fine too.
Black yarn to embroider the mouth.
One pair 6mm safety eyes.
3.5mm hook (US E hook).
Stuffing.
Tapestry needle.

Abbreviations:
ch = chain
st = stitch or stitches
sc = single crochet (US), double crochet (UK)
dc = double crochet (US), treble crochet (UK)
ss = slip stitch
tog = together
sc2tog = decrease by working two sc together
FO = fasten off

Special stitch instructions:
3 dc bob: bobble stitch for hands and feet. YOH (yarn over hook), insert hook into second ch from hook, YOH and pull through loop, YOH, pull through 2 loops, *YOH, insert hook into same stitch, YOH and pull through loop, YOH, pull through 2 loops, repeat once from*, YOH, pull through all 4 loops on hook.

Little Eggie is made in rounds. Do not join rounds, use a stitch marker to mark the start of a round - a small piece of different coloured yarn placed under the stitch at the start of the round will do.

Round 1: Ch 2, work 6 sc into 1st ch - 6 st.
Round 2: 2 sc in each st around - 12 st.
Round 3: [2sc in next st, sc in next 3 st] 3 times – 15 st.
Round 4: [2sc in next st, sc in next 2 st] 5 times – 20 st.
Round 5 – 6: (2 rounds) Sc in each st around – 20 st.
Round 7: [2sc in next st, sc in next 3 st] 5 times – 25 st.
Round 8 – 10: (3 rounds) Sc in each st around – 25 st.
Round 11: Sc in next 6 st, [make arm: ss into next st, ch 7, 3 dc bob into 2nd ch from hook, ss into next 5 ch, ss back into original st], sc in next 11 st, [make arm as before], sc in next 6 st - 25 st.
Round 12: Sc in each st around – 25 st (you sc into the first ss used to make each arm).

Fit eyes between rounds 9 and 10.

Round 13 – 15: (3 rounds) Sc in each st around – 25 st.
Round 16: [Sc2tog, sc in next 3 st] 5 times – 20 st.
Round 17: Sc2tog, sc in next 2 st, sc2tog, [make leg using the same method as the arm], sc in next st, sc2tog, sc in next 2 st, sc2tog, [make leg], sc in next st, sc2tog, sc in next 2 st – 15 st.

Stuff Eggie and embroider mouth.

Round 18: [Sc2tog, sc in next st] 5 times – 10 st.
Round 19: [Sc2tog] 5 times – 5 sc. FO.
Complete stuffing and sew up hole neatly.



*************************************************************

Tiny Chick Amigurumi Pattern
This miniature chick is only 1.5" tall, so he'd make a cute little extra for Easter.



Materials:
Small amount of pale yellow yarn, double knitting (dk) weight.
Black yarn to embroider the eyes.
Dark yellow or orange yarn to embroider the beak.
3.5mm hook (US E hook).
Stuffing.
Tapestry needle.

Abbreviations:
ch = chain
st = stitch or stitches
sc = single crochet (US), double crochet (UK)
hdc = half double crochet (US), half treble crochet (UK)
ss = slip stitch
tog = together
sc2tog = decrease by working two sc together
FO = fasten off

This chick is made in rounds. Do not join rounds, use a stitch marker to mark the start of a round - a small piece of different coloured yarn placed under the stitch at the start of the round will do.

Round 1: Ch 2, work 6 sc into 1st ch - 6 st.
Round 2: 2 sc in each st around - 12 st.
Round 3: [2 sc in next st, sc in next st] 6 times – 18 st.
Round 4 – 7: (4 rounds) Sc in each st around – 18 st.
Round 8: Sc in next 4 st, [make wing: ss into next st, ch 4, hdc into 2nd ch from hook, hdc in next 2 ch, ss back into original st], sc in next 8 st, [make wing as before], sc in next 4 st - 18 st.
Round 9: Sc in each st around – 18 st (you sc into the first ss used to make each wing).
Round 10: [2 sc in next st, sc in next 5 st] 3 times – 21 st.
Round 11: [2 sc in next st, sc in next 6 st] 3 times – 24 st.
Round 12 – 13: (2 rounds) Sc in each st around – 24 st.

Start to stuff. Embroider eyes and beak with French knots - wind the yarn round the needle twice for the eyes, and four or five times for the beak.

Round 14: [Sc2tog] 6 times – 12 st.
Round 15: [Sc2tog] 6 times – 6 sc. FO.
Complete stuffing and sew up hole neatly.
**************************************************

I hope you have fun making them!

I was asked to make some toys for our school's Easter raffle and I tried to think of something egg-shaped to fit in with the theme. Then I realised that gnomes, with big hats and short, dumpy bodies, are just perfect!



 I came up with a boy gnome with a little beard, and a girl gnome with cute pigtails. They're only 3.5" tall and look really cute sitting around the house, or the garden. My 10 year-old son even worked out that they're the perfect shape, if you spin them just right, to do a bit of break-dancing!

I got asked to make some things for the Easter raffle at my sons' school, and I'd been wanting to make some cute animals, so I decided to make girl and boy rabbits and lambs. I'm calling them Woolly Jumpers because the lambs are woolly and the rabbits jump, and because the boys are wearing jumpers (in UK parlance anyway, sweaters for some of you elsewhere in the world). It was actually sunny enough to take photos of them outside, and though I'm not much of a gardener, at least I've got a few spring flowers to pose them in front of.

Here are a few projects I've finished recently.

I made this creature for FinRaziel in the Tiny Stuffie swap. She just fits within the 5" size guidelines, and is made with mohair-type yarns that are brushed. As a Thistledown Spirit she's soft and gentle, but she's also tough, fits in anywhere and can be a little prickly at times.







I've been needing a wrist pincushion for ages, particularly useful when I'm sewing the parts of my amis together. So I made this little guy over the weekend. He's a Moss-heggle; a bit like a tiny hedgehog, he hides among moss and has spines to stop him being eaten by toads. He's very helpful - I can even store my hook and scissors underneath him.



For my sister-in-law's birthday recently I made a variant on my usual Yoda pattern. He's based on Yoda in the prequels, with a hooded robe - not easy to make at that scale (he's only 2.5" tall).

I'm not sure how much help my mini amigurumi of Obi-Wan will be, at only 3.5" tall, but he's still a comforting presence sitting by my computer.

 

I made a little version of the old, wise Ben Kenobi from the Original Trilogy then, with just a few variations to the pattern, I made the younger, fitter version of the character from Episode III. I was very pleased with the hooded robe I made for them - I don't usually make clothes and I was worried that something on such a small scale would be far too stiff, but it came out fine.

I've been working on getting this guy just right for a while. Christmas came along and got in the way, but I finally got him finished and photographed. Boba Fett, that fearsome bounty hunter, doesn't seem so tough when he's just 3.5" tall, but I think that being cute is an acceptable substitute.

 

[Wizard's Owl]

After I made some mini witch and wizard amigurumis (http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=362445.msg4254327#msg4254327), I thought that they might like some little pets, so I came up with a tiny black cat for the witch and a mini snowy owl for the wizard. They're only 1.5" tall so they'd make cute little pocket pets for you too.



Here are the patterns - obviously you can use different colours of yarn for different types of owl or cat.

Abbreviations:
ch = chain
st = stitch or stitches
ss = slipstitch
sc = single crochet (US), double crochet (UK)
dc = double crochet (US), treble crochet (UK)
tog = together
sc2tog = decrease by working two sc together
FLO = work in front loop only
FO = fasten off

General instructions:
Work in rounds unless otherwise stated and do not join rounds unless told to. Use a stitch marker to mark the start of a round - a small piece of different coloured yarn placed under the stitch at the start of the round will do. To start a round, you can use the magic ring method, but I prefer (ch2, work 6 sc into 1st ch). If you work the 6 sc over the tail of yarn as well you can use that to pull the hole tight.

Work through both loops of stitches unless otherwise indicated.

Wizard's Owl



You will need:
Small amount of white yarn.
Small amount of black yarn for beak.
1 Pair of 7.5mm amber safety eyes.
Small amount of stuffing.
3.5mm (E) hook.

Start at top of head:
Round 1: Ch2, work 6 sc into 1st ch - 6 st.
Round 2: 2 sc in each st around – 12 st.
Round 3: [2 sc in next st, sc in next st] 6 times - 18 st.
Round 4 - 7: (4 rounds) Sc in each st around – 18 st.

Fit eyes between rounds 5 and 6, treating the start of the round as the front of the owl.

Round 8: [Sc2tog, sc in next st] 6 times – 12 st.
Round 9: [2 sc in next st, sc in next st] 6 times – 18 st.
Round 10 - 13: (4 rounds) Sc in each st around – 18 st.

Find the stitch in the last round that is exactly in the middle of the back of the owl. Count back 5 stitches along the round (not including the middle stitch) and mark this stitch.

Round 14: Sc in each st around until you get to the marked stitch, [FLO sc in next st, hdc in next 2 st, dc in next 5 st, hdc in next 2 st, sc in next st], working through both loops again sc in each st to the end of the round – 18 st.
Round 15: Sc in each st around (work into the back loops of the st in the previous round that were in FLO) – 18 st.
Round 16: [Sc2tog, sc in next st] 6 times – 12 st.
Round 17: [Sc2tog] 6 times – 6 st.
FO, leaving a length of yarn. Using black yarn sew a beak. Stuff and use length yarn to sew up hole at bottom, pulling it tight up through the body to ensure that the owl will sit on a flat surface.


Witch's Cat



You will need:
Small amount of black yarn.
1 Pair of 7.5mm green safety eyes, or green yarn to embroider them.
Small amount of stuffing.
3.5mm (E) hook.

Special stitch instructions:
3 dc pop: popcorn stitch for ears. Work 3 dc into 1 st, take hook out leaving loop, put hook through 1st dc & pull loop through.


Start at top of head:
Round 1: Ch2, work 6 sc into 1st ch - 6 st.
Round 2: 2 sc in each st around – 12 st.
Round 3: [2 sc in next st, sc in next st, 2 sc in next st, 3 dc pop in next st, 2 sc in next st, sc in next st] 2 times - 18 st.
Round 4 - 7: (4 rounds) Sc in each st around – 18 st.

Fit eyes between rounds 5 and 6, treating the start of the round as the back of the cat.

Round 8: [Sc2tog, sc in next st] 6 times – 12 st.
Round 9: [2 sc in next st, sc in next st] 6 times – 18 st.
Round 10 - 13: (4 rounds) Sc in each st around – 18 st.
Round 14: Sc in each st around until you get to the middle back, [tail: ss in next st, ch 10, ss into 2nd ch from hook, ss in next 8 ch, ss back into original st], sc in each st to the end of the round – 18 st.
Round 15: Sc in each st around (work into the first ss of the tail, not the second) – 18 st.
Round 16: [Sc2tog, sc in next st] 6 times – 12 st.
Round 17: [Sc2tog] 6 times – 6 st.
FO, leaving a length of yarn. Embroider eyes if you haven't used safety eyes. Stuff and use length yarn to sew up hole at bottom, pulling it tight up through the body to ensure that the cat will sit on a flat surface.

I've been busy recently making lots of mini witch and wizard amigurumis - each of them only 4.5" tall. Obviously inspired by Halloween but also by all the fantasy books I grew up reading, from The Witch Family by Eleanor Estes (with lovely illustrations by Edward Ardizzone - check it out here if you've never heard of it: http://tiny.cc/wpl9p), through Gandalf and Terry Pratchett's wonderful Discworld creations to all the eccentric characters in the Harry Potter books. There's something about a pointy hat that I just can't resist!

   

 

 

My 8 year-old son was invited to a friend's halloween party last Saturday and it was only at the last minute that I found out that it was his little sister's birthday. I decided to make her a little panda amigurumi, thinking that would be easier than going out and buying something - it is only about 5" tall but of course it still took longer to make than I intended!

Anyway, I was very pleased with the way it turned out - as I have boys I don't usually make toys with dresses, so that was fun to do - and the little girl liked it, so that was good.