Amineko (amigurumi cat) Crochetalong Anyone?

[d0t]

I've seen this pattern http://72.14.203.104/search?q=cache:TxBDYR_IJVkJ:kinkylilblackdress. blogspot.com/2006/02/little-black-cat-free-translated.html+black+cat+translated+pattern&hl=en&gl=au&ct=clnk&cd=1&client=firefox-a for a gorgeous amigurumi cat called Amineko. Anyone feel like crochetingalong with me? I'm going to be using some chenille I got from a swap.

Bec

[Angipants]

Your link isn't working. Try this: http://klbdstuff.blogspot.com/2006/03/patterns-for-sale.html and this:http://kinkylilblackdress.blogspot.com/

[d0t]

Ah, thanks The direct link to the pattern (http://kinkylilblackdress.blogspot.com/2006/02/little-black-cat-translated-amineko.html ) wasn't working yesterday, so I put aup a link to the cached version. Probably only works in my browser

[6kitties]

Yes, the website owner of the site has apparently decided to take down the free pattern and charge $4 for it.  She's entitled to make a buck or two, I suppose, but I'm not quite sure of the ethics of *charging* for what's just a very rough translation of a free pattern. But hey, I'm no copyright lawyer. I certainly hope she's decided to include some sort of, say, guideline for assembling.  For example, the 'neko is much more poseable if you only stuff the tips of the hands and feet and leave the rest of the limbs empty.  Lots of amineko makers stuff the bejeezus out of the whole thing, which is cute, I guess, but not as capable of maintaining a pose.  It's also best, I've discovered, if you put the arms on at a 45 degree angle, which gives them a more natural range of motion.    Has anyone *bought* her pattern and can tell the rest of us if she covers more than what was up as free, which was just how to make the parts? 

6K, who's made about 5 of them, based off a chart and pictures.

[IamSusie]

I printed a copy of her pattern when it was free.  Deciphering those Japanese patterns is something I am not willing to do at this point. 

I'd like to try it though.  I like the little red and white version. 

[IamSusie]

here is the original Japanese pattern for the Amineko:
http://www5a.biglobe.ne.jp/~mite/gurumineko/4/amizu1.html#maido

I can't read that, but babelfish helps!
http://babelfish.altavista.com/

The author put up lots of pictures and the pattern is listed row by row.   

[KinkyLilBlackDress]

Yes, the website owner of the site has apparently decided to take down the free pattern and charge $4 for it.  She's entitled to make a buck or two, I suppose, but I'm not quite sure of the ethics of *charging* for what's just a very rough translation of a free pattern. But hey, I'm no copyright lawyer. I certainly hope she's decided to include some sort of, say, guideline for assembling.  For example, the 'neko is much more poseable if you only stuff the tips of the hands and feet and leave the rest of the limbs empty.  Lots of amineko makers stuff the bejeezus out of the whole thing, which is cute, I guess, but not as capable of maintaining a pose.  It's also best, I've discovered, if you put the arms on at a 45 degree angle, which gives them a more natural range of motion.    Has anyone *bought* her pattern and can tell the rest of us if she covers more than what was up as free, which was just how to make the parts? 

6K, who's made about 5 of them, based off a chart and pictures.

You could have asked me, and I would have answered all your questions!

It's more than just a rough translation. It's modified a dozen or so times over. I've checked with copyright folks, and my pattern is all good as far as they see it. It was posted free so that it could be tested. When the testers came back to me with suggestions on how to change it, I did. I certainly wouldn't want to sell an untested pattern! Yes, people have bought it, and yes, there are assembling instructions.

If anyone has any more questions about the pattern, my email is in my crafter profile, and on my site.

[ax174]

A friend of mine translated the original Japanese pattern for me.  You're welcome to it - I'll dig it up...  will get back to you soon.



EDIT: Okay, I took the pencilled notes that my friend made and typed it up - here it is.  There are  lots of details missing, so you'll have to refer to the original Japanese page here for assembly instructions, or buy it from KinkyLilBlackDress here (as mentioned previously in this thread).

Head (make 1)

Rnd 1 :  make 6 sc into a ring (6 sts)

Rnd 2 :  sc inc each st (12 sts)

Rnd 3 :  sc inc in every 2nd st (18 sts)

Rnd 4 :  sc inc in every 3rd st (24 sts)

Rnd 5 :  sc inc in every 4th st (30 sts)

Rnd 6 :  sc inc in every 5th st (36 sts)

Rnd 7 : sc inc in every 6th st (42 sts)

Rnd 8: sc inc in every 7th st (48 sts)

Rnds 9 - 15:   work even (48 sts)

Rnd 16:  dec in every 7th st (42 sts)

Rnd 17:  dec in every 6th st (36 sts)

Rnd 18 : dec in every 5th st (30 sts)

Rnd 19:  dec in every 4th st (24 sts)

Rnd 20:  dec in every 3rd st (18 sts)

Body (make 1)

Rnd 1 :  make 6 sc into a ring (6 sts)

Rnd 2 :  sc inc each st (12 sts)

Rnd 3 :  sc inc in every 2nd st (18 sts)

Rnd 4 :  sc inc in every 3rd st (24 sts)

Rnd 5 :  sc inc in every 4th st (30 sts)

Rnd 6 :  sc inc in every 5th st (36 sts)

Rnds 7 - 23:  work even (36 sts)

Rnd 24:   dec in every 5th st (30 sts)

Rnds 25 - 26:   work even (30 sts)

Rnd 27: dec in every 4th st (24 sts)

Rnd 28 -29: work even (24 sts)

Rnd 30:  dec in every 3rd st (18 sts)
 
Rnds 31 -32: work even (18 sts)

Arms (make 2)

Rnd 1 :  make 6 sc into a ring (6 sts)

Rnd 2 :  sc inc each st (12 sts)

Rnds 3 - 6 : work even (12 sts)

Rnd 7:    dec in every 3rd st (9 sts)  Note: pattern says 8 sts left, I get 9

Rnds  8 - 28: work even (9 sts)

Legs (make 2)

Rnd 1 :  make 6 sc into a ring (6 sts)

Rnd 2 :  sc inc each st (12 sts)

Rnd 3:  sc inc every 4th sts (15 sts)

Rnds 4 - 7: work even (15 sts) 

Rnd 8:   dec every 3rd st (11 sts)    Note: pattern says 10 sts left, I get 11

Rnds 9 - 24:  work even (11 sts)

Tail (make 1)

Rnd 1 :  make 6 sc into a ring (6 sts)

Rnd 2 :  sc inc every 3rd st (8 sts)

Rnds 3 - 22: work even (8 sts) 

Ears (make 2)

Rnd 1:    make 4 sc into a ring (4 sts)

Rnd 2 :   sc inc each st (8 sts)

Rnd 3:   sc inc every 4th st (10 sts)   

Rnd 4:   sc inc every 5th st (12 sts)

Rnd 5:   sc inc every 6th st (14 sts)

Muzzle (make 1) - Note: it seems long, but it gets attached sideways to the face

Rnd 1 :  make 7 sc into a ring (7 sts)

Rnd 2 :  sc inc each st (14 sts)

Rnds  3 - 10:  work even (14 sts)

Rnd 11:  sc dec next 3 sts, sc dec next 4 sts, sc dec next 3 sts, sc dec next 4 sts (4 sts)

[IamSusie]

I love her little outfit and dolly.  Nice job!

Thanks for posting this pattern.  I was going to do it myself from my Babelfish/Japanese copy, but now I don't have to.  The Japanese pattern maker gave specific instructions to use pellets in the "underwear" area and the hands and feet and also to make sure he can sit up before sewing on his legs. 

Good luck to KinkyLilBlackDress in your endeavors.  Your cats look like they have shorter legs and a larger muzzle than the Japanese ones.

One question.  Do you do this in spirals or do you use a slip stitch at the end of every round?  I like working in spirals, because the slip stitch always mixes me up.

Now I need to go out to the craft mall and find those pellets.

[ax174]

I was going to do it myself from my Babelfish/Japanese copy, but now I don't have to. 

Thanks.  Please feel free to correct the translation I got.  No doubt there are minor errors (like the st count problems I had), but I followed it, and it made a nice-looking cat I think.

One question.  Do you do this in spirals or do you use a slip stitch at the end of every round?  I like working in spirals, because the slip stitch always mixes me up.

Me too - spirals all the way.  I think it looks better.  If I sl-st and ch-1 on every round, I find it produces a little jog.