Seahorse Tote Bag

Part of the Kit Swap I completed required a tote bag. I had never made a tote bag and had a very limited idea of where to start. I started searching for free patterns and came across a free pattern called Sweet Pea Tote Bag. While searching for seahorse patterns I had located an free seahorse applique pattern that seemed like it would be a possibility if I could use Lustersheen instead of thread.

I used Bernat Handicrafter Cotton for the bag. The only bad choice was that they seemed to have discontinued the color I bought shortly after I started the bag. Thankfully, trips to a few other stores provided me with enough yarn to finish the project.

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Crochet Safety Cone and Barrel Ami's

We survived Irene with some basement flooding do to power loss. We have family in the area still waiting for the power to return. We are keeping our fellow bloggers and readers in our thoughts as the clean up and restoration continues.

I downloaded this free pattern ages ago with the intention of making them for Christmas. While working on my swap I figured they would be a cute gift for my swap partner's son and a good chance to practice. I now have requests from several family members for Christmas presents. They work up quickly so I will have several made for Christmas requests.

I would love to get some photographs with these guys and some Matchbox cars together.

If you arrived here looking for free toy patterns please see the following pages:

Dinosaurs and Dragons

Knit and Crochet Food Patterns Great for Play Food

Hello Kitty

Crochet and Knit Puppets

Crochet Amigurumi Animals and Stuffed Animal Free Patterns

Knit Amigurumi and Stuffed Toys

Crochet and Knit Amigurumi and Other Dolls

Knit and Crochet Toys

Teddy Bear Patterns and Clothes

Halloween Page

Thanksgiving

Christmas

Valentines

Easter

Graduation

Patriotic

Pictures may not be used without permission.

Seahorse Witch

We have come to the last in the series of holiday seahorses. I wanted this one to be unique so I used Red Heart variegated yarn for the body and Caron One Pound yarn for the hat. Mausica Magical's free pattern was again the basis for the seahorse. A free Barbie Witch pattern provided the basis for the hat.

I enjoyed making this holiday series and it has given me some ideas about new holiday projects.

If you arrived here looking for free toy patterns please see the following pages:

Dinosaurs and Dragons

Knit and Crochet Food Patterns Great for Play Food

Hello Kitty

Crochet and Knit Puppets

Crochet Amigurumi Animals and Stuffed Animal Free Patterns

Knit Amigurumi and Stuffed Toys

Crochet and Knit Amigurumi and Other Dolls

Knit and Crochet Toys

Teddy Bear Patterns and Clothes

Halloween Page

Thanksgiving

Christmas

Valentines

Easter

Graduation

Patriotic

Pictures may not be used without permission.

Seahorse Pilgrim

I decided to make the second holiday seahorse a Thanksgiving one. As with the Santa Seahorse, I used Mausica Magical's free pattern. To make the Pilgrim hat, I used a free Ken Pattern. As I mentioned in the Santa Seahorse blog, I changed the fins and scales after making the first seahorse.

While I have not found the availability of free Thanksgiving patterns on the Internet that I have discovered for Halloween, Easter, or Christmas, I am finding ways to adapt the accessories for the patterns I do find to make new ones.

The seahorse was made from a combination of Red Heart Super Saver and Caron One Pound Yarn, and some discontinued yarn I picked up at a Church sale that I used for the fins and scales.

If you arrived here looking for free toy patterns please see the following pages:

Dinosaurs and Dragons

Knit and Crochet Food Patterns Great for Play Food

Hello Kitty

Crochet and Knit Puppets

Crochet Amigurumi Animals and Stuffed Animal Free Patterns

Knit Amigurumi and Stuffed Toys

Crochet and Knit Amigurumi and Other Dolls

Knit and Crochet Toys

Teddy Bear Patterns and Clothes

Halloween Page

Thanksgiving

Christmas

Valentines

Easter

Graduation

Patriotic

Pictures may not be used without permission.

Seahorse Santa

My swap partner received her package yesterday and seems pleased with the contents. So, I can start talking and posting about the projects I was working on for it.

My swap partner collects seahorses and I suspected she had received items made from the available free patterns. I needed a new approach. I decided on a holiday theme. I used Mausica Magical's free pattern and then used the free Santa hat from the Barbie Mrs. Santa pattern.

This was a great stash busting project. I am still using up the yarn I got from the Church sale last year that I use for the Santa hats and my other Christmas projects. I changed the tail pattern after making this. I frogged the scales a few times and was never happy with the outcome. The rest of the set has a different style.

If you arrived here looking for free toy patterns please see the following pages:

Dinosaurs and Dragons

Knit and Crochet Food Patterns Great for Play Food

Hello Kitty

Crochet and Knit Puppets

Crochet Amigurumi Animals and Stuffed Animal Free Patterns

Knit Amigurumi and Stuffed Toys

Crochet and Knit Amigurumi and Other Dolls

Knit and Crochet Toys

Teddy Bear Patterns and Clothes

Halloween Page

Thanksgiving

Christmas

Valentines

Easter

Graduation

Patriotic

Pictures may not be used without permission.

Bat Bell

As I have posted several times, I love old pattern books and magazines. I recently purchased a bunch of magazines and found some wonderful patterns to try.

This pattern is based on the bat bell from the Seasonal Bell pattern from the February 2001 edition of Hooked on Crochet (Number 85). The pattern bat is not made in the amigurumi style. It is two flat bats sewn together to form the bell handle. I found it easier to start with a basic finger puppet and work from that model. Metal bells finish the piece to give it the bell sound. The pattern includes different bells for various holidays. I have two Halloween bells made and am finishing a third for my Halloween box.

Free Holiday Patterns Available on the Following Blog Pages:

Halloween Page

Thanksgiving

Christmas

Valentines

St. Patrick's Day

Easter

Graduation

Patriotic

Pictures may not be used without written permission.

Candy Corn Afghan

I finally finished the afghan and it will be off to its new home at the end of the month. A picture I saw a while back inspired me to make one of my own. The picture had nine points. I had the Circus Star blanket from B Is for Baby published by Annie's Attic. I worked out the math to add another star and I then had my basic plan for the nine-star blanket. When I make the Circus Star blanket to get to the gauge I have to go down to a M Crochet Hook. I wanted the center tighter for this pattern so I started with a K Crochet Hook and then switched back to the M when I finished the center section.

The blanket was made with Caron One Pound yarn most of which I had in my stash. Unfortunately, I did not have enough black to complete the afghan project. However, I had just brought Caron black at a sale to use on my first chart project. I am going to attempt to make an afghan for a Christmas present from a pattern I found in an old magazine. More on that later if my attempt works. Thankfully, I hit a sale on Saturday and was able to replace the black. Once the purples I had to order come in, I can start on that experiment.

The appliqués were made from a free thread pattern which I then substituted worsted weight yarn to complete. The pattern is Treat Buddies and it is available at Free Patterns. I give you the pattern name because if you are not logged in their links can be challenging. Once at the site you can search by name if the link does not bring you right there.

This is about the size of an adult lap throw. I tried it out before I finished it off and it will cover me up while sitting on the couch. I find it hard to judge size when looking at pictures. I was not sure how big the one I saw on the Internet was when I started to make mine. However, I had a target size in mind. I wanted it to be an adult sized throw that was holiday oriented, but still provided warmth during the cooling fall season.

Free Holiday Patterns Available on the Following Blog Pages:

Halloween Page

Thanksgiving

Christmas

Valentines

St. Patrick's Day

Easter

Graduation

Patriotic

Pictures may not be used without written permission.

Halloween Package Should be Done Next Week

I love the way the afghan is coming along. I am so excited to take pictures and show it off. I am completing the final dc rows and deciding how big it is going to be. Then I will just have to do the finishing rows. The goal is to get it to adult throw size. I am almost there now. For the final finishing touch, I have to make the candy corn appliqués and it will be finished and ready to send. The last toy will not take long to complete and the crochet side of this package will be ready to mail. Next, I have to approach the attic and dig out the stuff I put in the present box for Halloween and I can box this and send it out at the beginning of the month. I want the kids to have a chance to play with the toys and enjoy the books in the box before the holiday. So, with shipping this will give them a few extra weeks in September along with the month of October to enjoy them.

Then I have to split my time between a several projects. I still have those dinos I am hoping to donate. I have Christmas afghans I want to complete. There is one in chart form and I have never attempted a chart before so that could prove challenging. I promised to help a family member with an 18" doll clothes making project. Those are just the items at the top of the crochet challenge. The list is long, but it is good to have goals.

Next week I hope to start having pictures to add again.

Free Holiday Patterns Available on the Following Blog Pages:

Halloween Page

Thanksgiving

Christmas

Valentines

St. Patrick's Day

Easter

Graduation

Patriotic

Decided on Halloween Afghan

I saw a picture of a Halloween 9-point circular ripple blanket and wanted to make one. I had an 8 point pattern for a baby blanket from B Is for Baby published by Annie's Attic. I played with the math and was pleasantly surprised when I found I had nine points.

I am still working on the colors and trying to decide how large the blanket will be when finished. I have a free pattern to make the appliqués to add to the blanket. I will attempt those once the blanket is complete.

The last item that I plan to put in the Halloween package is one I started at the beach last week. Therefore, I should meet my goal of having this ready to mail by the beginning of September.

Free Holiday Patterns Available on the Following Blog Pages:

Halloween Page

Thanksgiving

Christmas

Valentines

St. Patrick's Day

Easter

Graduation

Patriotic

Finished my Swap

I finished the last item for my swap partner and boxed the items for shipment last night. I was excited to finish and cannot wait to find out if she liked the items. I have many pictures to post and projects to discuss once I know she has received the items. I had lots of fun making them.

I have a project from the last Crochet Today that I blogged about earlier almost finished for my Halloween box. I sent a slightly different version to my swap partner. I am thinking about adapting it to a Thanksgiving theme for the next holiday box. I will post pictures of both soon.

I am on the fence about starting a granny star Halloween afghan to put in the box. I saw a picture of one recently and think I have a pattern I can adapt. It would be a fun decorative item and I do have some time before the box needs to ship, but I also have some charity donations I want to get done, too. There is always the time factor. Then again, if I do not finish it prior to shipping I can always keep it here and make one to ship next year.

Dinosaurs Find New Homes

I am sure I am not the only one that starts making a project with an intended recipient in mind only to find that there was another purpose for the project you never realized.

These two found a new home this weekend. I was supposed to have moved them to the Christmas present box, but somehow they have been living on the piano since their photography session. They never made it up to the attic to wait for their Christmas shipping date.

This weekend we had a close family member visiting and she was talking about the dinosaurs I had made for one of her grandsons that another grandson was now enjoying playing with, too. Sure enough, these dinosaurs are off on a new adventure to go to a home where they will be well loved and have hours of play. After all, every toy dreams of a child that will love them. Yes, I watched too much Toy Story. Now I have dinosaurs to make to donate and I need to restart my Christmas dinos. However, I have the comfort of knowing the ones that left are going to be very happy fellows and will have the companionship of other dinos I made.

If you arrived here looking for free toy patterns please see the following pages:

Dinosaurs and Dragons

Knit and Crochet Food Patterns Great for Play Food

Hello Kitty

Crochet and Knit Puppets

Crochet Amigurumi Animals and Stuffed Animal Free Patterns

Knit Amigurumi and Stuffed Toys

Crochet and Knit Amigurumi and Other Dolls

Knit and Crochet Toys

Teddy Bear Patterns and Clothes

Halloween Page

Thanksgiving

Christmas

Valentines

Easter

Graduation

Patriotic

Pictures may not be used without permission.

Happy Yellow House is Closing

Update for the fans of Happy Yellow House free patterns. She has posted an additional notice on her website to indicate her patterns will be hosted on Ravelry in their free pattern library. You do have to be a member to access them, but membership is free. It will likely take some time to get them posted so you still may want to download your copies now and keep Ravelry as a backup if you lose yours.

C.L. Halvorson at Happy Yellow House has announced that she will not be renewing her ISP and will be closing her website on September 9, 2011. After she closes her site, I will start the process of removing the dead links from this blog. She was kind enough to make an announcement before closing and is encouraging people to download or print the free patterns before that date. I thought I would spread the word so others would not be disappointed to find a favorite link gone as many of us have experienced.

I have saved the toy patterns I would like to experiment with in the future for my personal use and will work on getting to the other items before the closing date.

Our best wishes got out to her and her family regarding their plans for the future.

WIP Friday

I have so many where do I start. No pictures I am afraid. I am about a quarter of the way through the second of four afghans I need to make for Christmas. I finally mastered the pattern. I stopped to work on the swap projects that I need to get out by the end of this month.

I have the tote almost finished for my swap. Also finished one project I cannot wait to share after I know the box has been received. I will say that I can thank the Ken and Barbie clothes I made last year for my inspiration.

I finished another Candy Corn Man. Next week I hope to post his picture. He is larger than the first one. I used a larger hook and looking at the pattern, I may have made the original small in other ways. That being said, I prefer the smaller version and would go back to the smaller one for future projects.

Still have those dinos to make for next month's Church donation. The hooks are flying.

My First Swap

I am working on my first swap at Crochetville, a kit swap. Never having participated in a swap, I am both nervous and excited at the same time.

I will not be posting any pictures of what I am making until after the package arrives, but I am looking forward to discussing my experiments and the items I am working on.

The first challenge I had was purchasing a pattern for the kit that had no yarn list. It mentioned the colors and the weight, but no amounts. The project uses a weight that is not traditional for this kind of project and a smaller hook, so estimating the required yarn for the project was a challenge. I emailed the author, but never heard back. I think I will have more than enough after ordering the yarn online.

The swap requirements include a kaboodle. My partner wants a tote so I am experimenting with making my first one. Of course, I have a back up in mind if something goes wrong. I am really enjoying making my first tote. I am thinking about making my MIL one for Christmas. It depends on how much time I have.

I need to get work finishing the tote and the extra items to go into the swap box.

Crochet Today September/October 2011

I was hoping to see more toys when the cover said, "Create a Storybook Halloween for Kids of All Ages!" However, I did find a flip pumpkin/candy corn doll to add to my Halloween project list to send out. I like the fact it is made in cotton and the characters are very cute.

If you are looking for some Halloween clothing/costume items to make, the magazine does provide patterns for those. There is a Red Riding Hood cape for a little girl, a wolf hat, a little child's sheep hat, a Snow White outfit for a girl, and a Rapunzel wig for a woman.

I am planning to add the toy taxi and bridge to my toy pattern collection.

All and all my investment still seems worth it.

More Birthday Patterns

My Mom and my husband's Aunt were kind enough to give me money for my birthday this year. When possible DH and I have treated birthday money as our "mad money" free to spend it or save it for some future treat. Since I have been on a pattern binge, I decided to pull off a few more patterns on my wish list. I decided to divide my list into pre and post Christmas items. There are items I want to make before Christmas and those that will make great presents for after Christmas. As I keep finding new patterns, the list keeps growing and it is hard to choose.

Shortly after I gave my husband my wish list, I got notice that Planet June had published her third set of dino's. So the first item on my list was of course Dinosaur Set 3. This is the dino set I have seen with an ankylosaurus. It is on my Christmas project list.

The next item to make my list was a set of super heroes. This has a broad appeal across my gift list. This Set of 3 Hero has patterns for Superman, Spiderman, and Batman. I am looking forward to getting started on these.

The Pirates were actually on my birthday list and did not make the cut, so they were clearly going to make the list when I found I had extra money to spend. I love Craft Deb's items and cannot wait to get started on these.

Now I had to look more carefully at the money I had left and figure out which patterns would fit in to the money I had left.

Christmas Crochet Pattern Collection is a series of crochet Christmas characters and fits into my idea of making crochet Little People substitutes. Since they are Christmas characters having them before would make them more useful. Thus, they made the cut as well.

Last on the list was the Gnome Home. I love the idea of a crochet toy village for kids. The gnomes in this village seem to fit the Waldorf concept of creating play that is more imaginative. I am continuing to look for more village pieces and am considering changing the colors to try to make a Christmas themed child friendly village.

I am very grateful to Mom and my Aunt for letting me have these wonderful patterns to make items for family and friends. I am working on increasing my donations so this gives me more options to make toys as well.

Pteranodon

Terry the Pteranodon is the first dinosaur I finished from Planet June's Dinosaurs Set 2 that I received for my birthday. After buying Planet June's The Complete Idiot's Guide to Amigurumi I have wanted to purchase some of her animal patterns. I was excited to get the first two sets of her dinosaurs.

The directions were very clearly written and included extensive photographs to follow. Unlike my previous attempt at making a pterodactyl, I had no trouble attaching the wings to this project. The directions and the wings made the process clear. In fact, the style of wings makes them very moveable. I think this will be a popular feature for this Christmas present.

I used Caron One Pound yarn and safety eyes to complete this project.



Pictures may not be used without written permission.