[Bone]

This is Bartleby the baby rat creature from Jeff Smith's wonderful comic series Bone. When I posted my Fone Bone here (http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=231839.0) a couple of months ago a lot of people were wondering if I was going going to make one of the rat creatures. Now that he's complete, I thought I'd share him as well as the pattern here.



I spent a lot of time doing google image searches so I could provide a reference point for those of you that aren't familiar with Bone. It's hard to find pics of Bartleby, but I think the best are this one http://www.boneville.com/2008/04/14/eisner-nomination-fordrumroll-please/ from the cover of the Rock Jaw graphic novel published by Scholastic. That's the reference picture I used when I was making the pattern. I also like this one from the cover of one of the single issue comics of Bone http://www.boneville.com/wp-gallery/ComicCovers/Cover%20Poster.32.jpg



Craftster Rio_Supreme gave me the idea of using these flat marbles to replicate the rat creature's shiny eyes. I just used a low temp glue gun to attach them to the face, holding them in place until the glue dried. (That sounds like a pain, but it wasn't. It only took about 30 seconds.) Bartleby isn't really child safe though because I'm pretty sure the eyes would come off if you gave them a good tug. Other than that they feel secure and my Bartlby is more of a display item than a toy, though he's soft and fun to squeeze!

I'm not completely happy with Bartleby's legs. I find I have to bend his front legs out a bit to make him stand on his own. If anyone makes their own Bartleby and finds a way to make him stand up better on his own, please share your method here on Craftster. I'm always open to new ideas 

And now one last pic, and the pattern:


Bartleby Pattern

Materials
size G (4.25mm) Crochet Hook
two flat red marbles for eyes
Pattons Decor Worsted Weight Wool in “Pale Aubergine” (one skein)
fiber fill or other stuffing material

Head
6 sc into a magic ring
RND 1: 2 sc in each st around (12 stitches)
RND 2: *1 sc in first st, 2 sc in next st* repeat around (18 st)
RND 3: *1 sc in first 2 st, 2 sc in next st* repeat around (24 st)
RND 4: *1 sc in first 7 st, 2 sc in next st* repeat around (27 st)
RND 5: *1 sc in first 8 st, 2 sc in next st* repeat around (30 st)
For next 2 RNDs sc in each st around (30 st)
RND 8: 12 dec stitches then 6 sc around (18 st)
RND 9: *1 sc in first 4 st, dec over next two stitches* repeat around (15 st)
sl st into next stich, finish off. Leave long tail for sewing.

Body
6 sc into a magic ring
RND 1: 2 sc in each st around (12 stitches)
RND 2: *1 sc in first st, 2 sc in next st* repeat around (18 st)
RND 3: *1 sc in first 2 st, 2 sc in next st* repeat around (24 st)
RND 4: *1 sc in first 7 st, 2 sc in next st* repeat around (27 st)
RND 5: *1 sc in first 8 st, 2 sc in next st* repeat around (30 st)
RND 6: *1 sc in first 9 st, 2 sc in next st* repeat around (33 st)
RND 7: *1 sc in first 10 st, 2 sc in next st* repeat around (36 st)
For next 4 RNDs sc in each st around (36 st)
RND 12: *1 sc in first 4 st, dec over next 2 st* repeat around (30 st)
RND 13: *1 sc in first 3 st, dec over next 2 st* repeat around (24 st)
RND 14: *1 sc in first 2 st, dec over next 2 st* repeat around (18 st)
RND 15: *1 sc in first 4 st, dec over next 2 st* repeat around (15 st)
sl st into next stitch, finish off.

Tail
6 sc into a magic ring.
For 3 RNDs sc in each st around (6 sts)
sl st into next st, finish off. Leave long tail for sewing.

Ears (make 2)
Note: hdc = half double crochet
Chain 3
RND 1: 2 sc in third ch from hook (forming a ring) then 2 hdc in next two st (6 sts)
RND 2: 2 sc over next 2 sts, *2 hdc in next st* 4 times (10 st)
*sl st into next st* 2 times, finish off. Leave tail for sewing.

Front Legs (make 2)
4 sc into magic ring
RND 1: 2 sc in each st around (8 sts)
For next 6 RNS sc into each st around (8 st)
sl st into next st, finish off. Leave long tail for sewing.

Back Legs(make 2)
4 sc into magic ring
RND 1: 2 sc into each st around (8 sts)
For next 3 RNDs sc in each st around (8 sts)
RND 5: 1 sc in first 3 st, 2 sc in each of next 4 st, one sc in next st (12 sts)
RND 6: sc in first 6 st, 2 sc in each of next 2 st, then sc in next 4 st (14 sts)
For next 3 RNDs sc in each st around (14 sts)
RND 10: sc in first 3 sts, *dec over next 2 sts* 5 times), 1 sc in next st (9 sts)
sl st into next st, finish off.

Assembly
Note: use photos as a guide when stitching together pieces.

Stuff head and body to desired level. Do not pull shut, just whip stitch the two openings together to connect body to head. Whip stitch ears and tail to body.

Stuff back legs firmly in the narrow section and very lightly in the hip section. Attach to body.

Stuff front legs firmly and attach to body.

Use hot glue gun or other crafting glue to attach flat marble eyes to head.

Enjoy!

************
I've posted the pattern on my blog as well, along with a longer explanation of all the ideas I rejected/things that went wrong while I was developing the pattern. You can view it here, http://cthulhucrochet.blogspot.com/2008/04/bartleby-baby-rat-creature-with-free_14.html and for all the Bone fans out there I also have Phoney Bone finished and the pattern posted here, http://cthulhucrochet.blogspot.com/2008/04/phoney-bone-of-boneville-with-free.html

Thanks for looking!

I want to use Tunison crochet to stitch a chart that I've found online. The chart is basically a black shape on a coloured background. I know the basics of how to do Tunison crochet stitches but at some points I would need to change colours in the middle of a row. Example: Six black stitches, two green stitches, five black, four green, then back to black.

Is this possible in Tunison? All my reference books provide instructions on how to change colours at the beginning of a row, but don't explain how to do it in the middle.

If anyone with Tunison experience can provide links to a tutorial or give me an explanation that would be great.

I know I could stitch the whole piece in green and then cross stitch the black design on top later, but I'd much prefer if the black design wasn't "on top" of the green and instead worked in along with it.

Thanks for any help you can provide.

[Amigurumi World: Seriously Cute Crochet]

I made this little one from the pattern in Ana Paula Rimoli's Amigurumi World: Seriously Cute Crochet. It stands 3 inches tall and I used 9mm safety eyes (the pattern calls for 6mm but I didn't have any of those) and a safety nose. It's body is made of Patons Decor in 'pale aubergine.' If you've never used this wool for amigurumi I highly recommend it. It works up nicely and feels very soft. Especially if you don't stuff you're amigurumis too much.



If anyone is interested I've written up a review of the book for my blog this week. You can view it here http://cthulhucrochet.blogspot.com/2008/04/amigurumi-world-my-thoughts.html

Thanks for looking!

This is my first post on this board, though I've racked up plenty over in the crochet forum. I've been feeling inspired to make my own perler bead coasters ever since I'd seen these great ones posted by Artoo1121 (http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=206297.0). When I stumbled across the free Nintendo cross stitch patterns over at http://www.spritestitch.com/ I knew that the two would be a great combination.



Super Mario 3 has always been my favorite Nintendo game. I just love all the little costumes that Mario gets to wear.



I put all the little pegs in their positions on the Perler Bead board and my boyfriend did the ironing. This Goomba's shoe Mario was the first one we did and the beads got a little too melty. It takes a while to perfect the technique! Like the coasters posted by Artoo1121 we put cork on the back to make them more stable and absorb any spills.







Happily, I'm writing this one off as a free project. My boyfriend had a gift certificate for Rona, where we picked up the cork board and I was given a $25 gift certificate to Michael's as a birthday present which I used to get the perler beads. I ended up buying the big mixed jar of 11,000. I think the hardest part of making these was digging through that jar to find the colours I needed.

Each coaster is 4.75 X 5.5 inches. A little larger than your average coaster, but I couldn't resist the designs. Out of the four, I think the frog is my favourite, but it's really hard to choose.

Thanks for looking!

I'm calling him Captain Jack Squirrel. He's a combinations of Glee's Squirrels Dressed For Halloween (http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=202118.0) and Gabi Neumann's Captain Cute The Pirate Teddy (http://crochetme.com/patterns/captain-cute-pirate-teddy). I made him for a friend who's a big fan of Glee's squirrels. I gave it to her for her birthday last weekend so now I can show him off without ruining the surprise.



The only thing I bought new was the fun fur for the tail. All the other supplies were leftovers in my stash, so economically he was a very good project. I found the generic "fun fur" at a dollar store called Dollarama. For a dollar store purchase, it's awesome. Crocheted up really well and it doesn't shed very easily. I've had past experiences where I made something with "fun fur" and ended up with a lap full of shedded fur.

It took me a while to decide what the squirrel should be holding. Glee's squirrels have acorns or pumpkins, but since I wasn't giving this away at Halloween I didn't want to go with the pumpkin. Finally I settled on the tiny Octopus which I created myself. Then I just couldn't resist adding eyes to the Octopus.

In retrospect, I wish I'd made his tail a little longer. Then the other day I saw a crochet squid with a pirate hook on one of its tentacles and now I wish I'd made one of the squirrel's arms a hook. Things to remember if I make another one. 

Thanks for looking!

[Bone]

A lot of times when I tell people I'm a fan of a comic book series called Bone they atomatically assume it's something dirty. It's not, Jeff Smith's Bone series actually got it's start in a Disney kids magazine.

Here is my amigurumi Fone Bone which I just finished this morning:



I'm really pleased with the technique I used for his nose. Rather than whipstitching a nose on to a completed circle I actually crocheted two half circles together. I got the idea from this Heart pattern: http://www.pepika.com/free-patterns/heart.htm. The head piece was 30 sc wide, and the nose piece was 20 sc wide. I made the head a couple rounds longer than the nose then whipstitched only 5 stitches of each piece together, then crocheted around the outer perimeter which was 40 sc wide. I did a couple of rounds at 40 then started the decrease rounds.



The head and body are all one piece. The arms, feet and legs were made separately and whipstitched on afterwards. I only stuffed him lightly because I wanted him to be pretty squishy.



It's occurred to me that I could probably spend the rest of the year making the rest of the non-human characters from the Bone series, but I'm going to try to resist the temptation. I'm definately going to try to put together Fone Bone's cousin Phoney. He's exactly the same size and shape, but wears a black shirt with a star on it. I may do their other cousin Smiley too, but that will require a slightly different shape. If anyone wants to know more about the comics, check out the info on Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boneville.

Thanks for looking!

I just finished making this Tiny Striped turtle from the pattern that I found here: http://www.crochetville.org/forum/showthread.php?t=40998 and as you can see from the picture he has balance problems. The ones in the pattern and the few that others have completed and posted on the pattern thread all seem to be standing upright.

Has anyone else made this turtle? I want to make another one, but I want it to stand up properly. Any ideas where I went wrong with the first one? I'm thinking I may have overstuffed his head? Or maybe I needed his front legs to be further forward to help him balance.

If anyone has any ideas or suggestions I'd love to hear them.



I know I should probably just ask on the thread over at crochetville, but I haven't registered for membership there yet, so I thought I'd try asking here first.

Thanks,
amber

[Leelu the Octopus]

This was made using the Leelu the Octopus pattern that indigo_roses posted here a few days ago. The cat ears were my own personal touch.



The original Octopus pattern can be found here: http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=227964.0 and if anyone wants to know how to add the ears I've put up a tutorial on my blog, you can check it out at http://cthulhucrochet.blogspot.com/2008/02/behold-catopus-cute-thing-of-week.html

Thanks for looking!

I printed this pattern out back in the fall sure that I would make it for somebody for Christmas. That never happened, but now that I'm trying to clear my wool stash out a bit I thought it would be a good time to give it a try.



I've folded it over to fit the whole thing in the picture. I think its about 53 inches long, or longer. I'm not sure what I'm going to do with it since I don't actually wear scarfs. I really liked the look of it though. I'll probably hold onto it and give it away at Christmas next year.



The wool is a shade of Pattons Decor (worsted weight). Not sure which shade since the label was torn off, (if time travel is ever invented I must go back and speak to my younger self about her bad habit of tearing off and throwing away labels...) It's soft and I made the whole thing with just one skein. If anyone wants the pattern, I found it here: http://www.knittingdaily.com/freepatterns/crochet/Float_away222-1.html

Thanks for looking!

P.S. Sorry the lighting is kind of dark in the pics. I'm having a bad camera day. 

[Mr. Funky's Super Crochet Wonderful]

Just finished making this Double Diamond Baby blanket for a friend who's expecting her first child in July! This was made with Bernat Baby Coordinates using this free pattern from Bernat: http://www.joannes-crafts.com/print/bernat-softee-baby-double-diamond-crochet-blanket.html



I also used some of the leftover wool (there was a lot! ) to make this little toy elephant. He comes from the book Mr. Funky's Super Crochet Wonderful by Narumi Ogawa. I just finished a post on my blog sharing my thoughts about the book, so if anyone's curious they can check it out at http://cthulhucrochet.blogspot.com/2008/02/mr-funkys-crochet-elephant.html



And now, a quick question about the blanet. Right now I don't know if the baby is going to be a boy or a girl. I'm wondering, does this blanket seem too girlie? I've been toying with the idea of making a second one in blues and then just giving my friend whichever one is appropriate depending on the gender of the baby. I'd love to hear what everyone thinks though.

Let me know, and thanks for looking!