The Sweetest Little Owl Visting My Yard

I participated in my first amigurumi swap on Ravelry this month.  What is an amigurumi swap, you ask?  Basically, it is a way to trade handmade amis with other crocheters.  You receive the name and address of another participant and make an ami for that person, i.e. your ’swappy’.   Someone else gets your name and makes one for you.  The catch is that you don’t know who has your name until you receive your gift in the mail.  Since this was in international swap, the participants also included little gifts from their home country.  Very cute!   I was thrilled when I received this adorable owl, as well as a whole bunch of other goodies, from Mia (a fellow swappy!).  Isn’t he sweet?  I tried to photograph him in his ‘natural environment’.

On a sadder note, the little puppy that I sent to my swappy in Turkey has gotten hopelessly lost in the mail.  But, I’m working hard on another cutie to send her way.  This time — FedEx!

Puppy In A Basket

If you are interested in a swap, you should check out the communities on Ravelry.  They have all kinds of swaps, and not just limited to amis.  Happy crocheting!

Kirby and Prince Fluff

For Christmas this year, I bought Kirby’s Epic Yarn for my husband. For those who are not familiar with the game, Kirby is transformed into cute little yarn guy, and he and his friend Prince Fluff go on a quest through a land made of yarn and fabric.  The entire game looks as if it were quilted and knit together.  Anyway, it became an instant hit at our house.  Since I try to limit game time, I thought I would make a couple amigurumi toys so that they kids could play with their favorite little yarn guys, even when the Wii is turned off.

They came out so cute, I wanted to share the pattern I created with anyone else who’d like to make their own Kirby and Fluff dolls.

Here you go!

Kirby’s Epic Yarn and Prince Fluff Amigurumi

Materials:

• Size G crochet hook
• Large needle for sewing and working in ends
• Worsted weight yarn (I used leftover yarn from various projects, so Kirby and Fluff are a mix of wool, acrylic, and bamboo)

Kirby & Fluff Directions: (notes:  I use the “magic loop” method to start each piece.  Also, I find this is the best method to crochet 2 together)

Eyes – Make 2 (black for Kirby, white for Fluff)

• Chain 3
• Row 1:  SC into 2^nd stitch from the hook,  3 SC into next stitch
• Row 2:  SC into back of next 2 stitches
• Tie off (basically, you are crocheting a circle around the chain)
• Embroider center of eye

Body (Pink for Kirby, Blue for Fluff)

• Make a “magic loop”
• Row 1:  6 SC into loop
• Row 2:  2 SC into each stitch (12 stitches)
• Row 3:  (1 SC, 2 SC into next stitch) 6 times (18 stitches)
• Row 4:  (2 SC, 2 SC into next stitch) 6 times (24 stitches)
• Row 5:  (3 SC, 2 SC into next stitch) 6 times (30 stitches)
• Rows 6-13: SC into every stitch
• Row 14:  (3 SC, SC 2Tog) 6 times (24 stitches)
• Row 15:  (2 SC, SC 2Tog) 6 times (18 stitches)
• Stitch on eyes and embroider face.  Don’t forget little pink cheeks for both guys, and eyebrows for Fluff!
• Row 16:  (1 SC, SC 2Tog) 6 times (12 stitches)  Add stuffing
• Row 17:  (SC 2Tog) 6 times (6 stitches); tie off and pull yarn through stitches to close the body.

Arms – Make 2 (Pink for Kirby, Blue for Fluff)

• Make a “magic loop”
• Row 1:  4 SC into loop
• Row 2:  (1 SC, 2 SC into next stitch) 4 times (8 stitches)
• Row 3:  (2 SC, 2 SC into next stitch) 4 times (12 stitches)
• Rows 4 & 5:  SC into each stitch
• Tie off and stuff arms

Feet – Make 2 (Red for Kirby, Orange for Fluff)

• Make a “magic loop”
• Row 1: 6 SC into loop
• Row 2:  2 SC into each stitch (12 stitches)
• Row 3:  (1 SC, 2 SC into next stitch) repeat 6 times (18 stitches)
• Row 4:  (2 SC, 2 SC into next stitch) repeat 6 times (24 times)
• Tie off; fold circle in half to form a semi-circle.  Stitch shut around the edges

Prince Fluff’s Crown (Yellow)

• Chain 14, SL to form ring
• Row 1:  SC into each stitch
• Row 2:  (SC, picot) times
• Tie off

Once all pieces have been made, stitch Kirby and Fluff together as shown in pictures.  Make sure you position the feet under the body evenly, and far enough back, so that your little guys can stand up.

Kirby Amigurumi

Kirby and Prince Fluff - Best Friends!

Prince Fluff

Orange Tabby Kitten

Amigurumi are cute little critters crocheted in the round and then stuffed. The name comes from the Japanese words for “crochet/knit” and “stuffed doll”, and they seem to be popping up everywhere these days.   Toys, though they are, they seem to appeal even more to adults than to kids.  I started making these guys over the winter in preparation for a craft fair and just can’t seem to stop.  They are downright adorable, work up quickly, and make great gifts.  Although amigurumi can come in all sizes (I even made an 18″ Ponyo doll for my daughter), most of them tend to be pretty small, so they are a great way to use up odd stashes of yarn.  Also, they are primarily done in a single crochet, so they are easy for beginners.  Etsy has a myriad of reasonably priced patterns ranging from dolls and animals to fruits and veggies.

If you are just getting started and want to give it a try, here are links to a few of my favorite free patterns.  I have a tendency to tweak patterns as I make things, so my pictures aren’t exactly identical to the original, but should give you a pretty good idea.

Baby Triceratops

This baby triceratops was made with 100% wool yarn, and I used snap on safety eyes.  Although the pattern called for making the body and tail as two separate pieces, I crocheted them as one to reduce the number of seams.  I found the pattern through Crochet Pattern Central.

Fiona and Freda Fish

These sweet little fish were based on a cat toy pattern from Lion Brand.  I elongated the body, modified the tail by sewing it on vertically rather than horizontally, and added bows.

Winston and William the Whales

I love this little whale pattern from Bittersweet!  It is such a simple pattern, but so adorable.  I modified it slightly by crocheting fins for these guys.  Also, I embroidered eyes, rather than using safety snap on eyes.

Three Kitties Hanging Out

Last, but certainly not least, are my trio of kitties. This pattern was generously made available though By Hook, By Hand.  This pattern was the most complicated of all, and I did run into trouble figuring out the legs on the first kitty.  Also, I felted my kitties which was not part of the original pattern.  If you decide to felt them, use 100% wool yarn and stuff them before you put them in the washer.  (Be sure not to overstuff them or the stuffing will be visible between stitches.)

Many thanks to all the websites that made these patterns available!