Roebuck the Reindeer

I try to add a little crochet cheer to DH's office when I get the chance. With all my holiday projects for 2012 completed, I had time to add one for his office. The crochet pattern for Roebuck is available for purchase at Crochet Village. I am thinking of using the pattern for the lights for another project next year.

I finished a Pokémon ami for a Christmas present I forgot I needed to make and am continuing to work on storing up Christmas themed ami's for next year's box. After Christmas, I have the spring holiday boxes to work on and I do have to get started on the donation doll and food projects for next Christmas. It takes a while to build up a large supply to donate.

If you arrived here looking for free patterns you may be interested in the following blog 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

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Penguin

It was challenging getting a good picture of him with my phone. I loved the earmuffs and the beak was fun. I think next time I might use large plastic safety eyes. I am not sure I like the effect of the crocheted eyes as much as I thought I would.

This is the last of the projects from this year's Christmas box I need to post. Soon I can start posting the items I have completed for next year's box. This is another amigurumi completed using a pattern from Crochet Village's North Pole Resident's pattern set.

I currently have one ornmanet and three small ami's finished that I look forward to posting soon. I have a fourth one that just needs a head and details. These will all go in the attic ready for next year's mailing. This is the first year I have ever been ahead. It feels good.

If you arrived here looking for free patterns you may be interested in the following blog 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

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Erline Elf

My DH found the pattern for Erline and Ernie for me at Crafty Deb's. This year I only had the chance to make Erline, but next year I hope to make multiple Ernie's for the boys in the family for the Christmas box. If you are looking for a substitute for the The Elf on the Shelf, these cuties can do the trick and you can individualize them for each child.

This was a fun project to make and I am anxious to hear how she fits in to her new home on Christmas morning.

I noticed this morning when I went to add the link Crafty Deb has smaller Elliot and Ellen Elves listed along with a tin soldier and Sugar Plum Fairy. These were not posted on the website when I made my list for Santa. Perhaps he will notice when he's doing his online pattern shopping. If not there are always other occasions. These would make great additions to next year's Christmas box.

If you arrived here looking for free patterns you may be interested in the following blog 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

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Crochet Apple Pie

After completing a box of crochet food for a charity donation during the Crochet Olympics Games, I received a last minute request to put some crocheted food in my Christmas box. I have already made some of the patterns that were in the Christmas donation for this child and I did not have the patience to repeat the ones that were not. So, having some birthday money left that I had stashed away to purchase a couple of patterns I had my eye on, I decided it was time to splurge. I purchased two food patterns I had wanted the Apple Cherry Berry Pie and the Grilled Steak Dinner.

I have seen patterns for a finished pie, but I liked the idea that the child could "make" the pie as part of the pretend cooking play.

I plan to make this pie to put in my donation box next year and make the pumpkin one for my Thanksgiving box next year. I hope to make the steak dinner for birthday and Easter presents.

If you arrived here looking for free patterns you may be interested in the following blog 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

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Light Bulb Ornament

I love ornaments. They are quick and fun to make. As a gift item, they advantage of coming out each year and helping to bring back memories. Since they are stored most of the year, it eliminates the issue of where to display the gift, too.

I happen to love the old-fashioned big bulbed lights that you do not see much anymore. Several crochet patterns out there bring back that look. This is a free ornament pattern found here. It is a great project to use up scrap yarn and to make some fun Christmas decorations.

If you arrived here looking for free patterns you may be interested in the following blog 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.

Humpty Dumpty

I got behind on my blogging again as I worked to send off my Christmas boxes. However, the boxes have been mailed and I can now get caught up on posting my projects.

Humpty was one of my favorite Christmas projects. Like the Old Woman in the Shoe this pattern came from a vintage Annie's Attic publication Toy Chest, 87T61. This year's presents seem to have found a nursery rhyme and fairy tale theme.

Humpty is not completely an amigurumi. His body is made in more traditional flat panels associated with sewn stuffed animals. However, his arms and legs do follow the amigurumi style. I actually ended up breaking out my yarn bobbins in order to work on Humpty's shirt. Without them, the yarn got tangled. I think it is the first time I have required yarn bobbins for a toy project.

There are still a few more projects in this leaflet that I would like to make for spring birthdays or Easter baskets. However, those will have to wait until after the Christmas season.


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

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Aztec Wishes Donation

My husband is going to drop off my donation tomorrow so I was scrambling to pull all the pieces together today. I am very grateful for all the people who helped make this come together. I am very thankful for my fairy godmothers on Crochetville who sent shoes for the dolls and my Mom who sent knitted items. These are going to be some of the best dressed dolls this Christmas.

I am also grateful for the Crochetville Olympics, which inspired me to add a box of crocheted food to the donation. I spoke to the woman who remembered the dolls from last year and was very excited to hear about the food.

Lastly, I am also thankful for the 50% off coupons at AC Moore which made adding a second doll to the donation much more affordable. Using coupons I was able to purchase two dolls for the price of one this year.

I love donating to this program because our local technical high school’s business department runs it. Through the program, the students learn about running a charity and the children and families benefit from the donations. It is a multi-layered program.

Snowman Ornament

Since I started crocheting I have been trying to include crocheted ornaments in my kid packages. For the younger ones they have the advantage of being unbreakable. However, I also like the idea of sending something handmade to decorate the tree. If they last, each child will have some starter ornaments for a new tree of his/her own.

This snowman was made using a free pattern from Lily Sugar and Cream found here. I used worsted scraps left over from Humpty and the Penguin to make mine. I did not dig into my cotton collection and I think he came out quite well.

If you arrived here looking for free holiday or 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.

Polar Bear

I finally finished and posted the polar bear from Crochet Village's North Pole Resident's pattern set. I love the body part of the bear, but I think next time, I will use a different hat pattern. I was not as happy with the brim of the hat as I would have liked. I have the penguin finished and ready to photograph and post, along with the Humpty projects I have been writing about for a while now. I really like the way Humpty came out and would make another one.

I contacted the woman regarding my Christmas donations projects. I have to box them, but the doll clothes and toy food should be going out sometime this week. I hope to post a picture and a thank you to all the people who helped.

I have completed all the ornaments I need to mail and am scrambling to finish the last two crocheted items I want to include in my Christmas boxes. My December birthday box is gone and two other Christmas boxes have been mailed. Now comes the scramble to finish, wrap, and mail the items before the deadline.


If you arrived here looking for free holiday or 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.

The Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe

I am continuing on my literary present theme and finished the Old Woman Who Lived in the Shoe. I found the pattern in a vintage Annie's Attic publication Toy Chest, 87T61. I love the way the children look a little like the Old Fisher Price Little People and that the windows give them a way to make to move the figures in and out of the house.

This was a great stash busting projects. The peach was actually yarn I had picked up at a Senior Center sale for $.50/skein that I'm also using to make Humpty Dumpty from the same leaflet. I have both sides of Humpty's body done. I sewed together the Polar Bear. I just need to make his hat and he will be finished, too.

With Thanksgiving only a few days away, my Christmas mailing deadline is fast approaching. I'm still hopeful of reaching my goals.

If you arrived here looking for free holiday or 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.

Yarn Find

I love this time of year when Senior Centers and Churches have sales and I find wonderful selections of second hand yarn and old patterns for wonderful prices.

Last Saturday I returned to my home town for their annual Senior Center sale and came home with two bags full of yarn, all full skeins for $.50/skein. Some were even Caron One Pounders. I also picked up some leaflets for $.25/each. I was thrilled as I have lots of toy making materials in some of my most high traffic colors. They were thrilled that it went. The woman who came behind me, not so happy as she had eyes on my yarn.

What I did find funny is I had a stack of crochet patterns and the woman who was selling me the yarn and the patterns couldn't understand that I didn't knit. Some how she had it in her mind that only a knitter would have a need for yarn, even though all the leaflets they were selling were either for crochet or plastic canvas. Coming from a family that knits, crochets, and does plastic canvas, I never assume what people will do with the yarn. I have never understood why people seem to know what others are doing.

Reindeer

I am finally getting started on my Christmas projects again. This reindeer was made using Crochet Village's North Pole Resident's pattern set. The project worked up quickly and I already have the head and body made on the Polar Bear from the same set.

I stopped work on that project to get started on a Nursery Rhyme project from an old Annie's Attic pattern. I'm working on making the Old Woman in the Shoe. So far it is coming along pretty well. I will have to see once it is assembled how well it works. There is a Humpty Dumpty pattern that would go well with my Nursery Rhyme theme in the same set. As always time is an issue. I will have to see how much I can get done before the boxes need to be packed for shipping.

If you arrived here looking for free holiday or 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

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Little Red Riding Hood Finger Puppets

I love when I can make crochet presents that encourage literacy. Finger puppets make great book/puppet sets. Kids read or have the story read to them and then they can enjoy acting out the story while it is read or retelling the story later.

This Handmade Kitty pattern was a present from my husband and now the finished products will be heading off for a December birthday. Trina Schart Hyman's version of Little Red Riding Hood seemed like a great partner for my project. I love her classic illustrations.

I have several projects that I am working on all at the same time. I have finished a reindeer that I will post soon. I have another one of Handmade Kitty's finger puppet stories, The Three Little Pigs started. I have finished one pig and the mud house. I am thinking this will likely go in the Easter box. I am working on an old Annie's Attic pattern for the Old Woman Who Lived in the Shoe. I think this one will make the Christmas cut off. I have almost completed a polar bear that is in the same pattern set with the reindeer. I will have to see how things progress. Since the projects all need to be mailed, finishing early is required.

If you arrived here looking for free holiday or 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.

The Pumpkins

I'm going to finish off my Halloween posts with my last two pumpkin projects. The first was adapted from Crochet Village's Fall Visitors pattern pack. I got creative and added the Turkey's hat to the pumpkin's head. The witch was an extra pattern I received free when I ordered the Fall pack. I'm not sure if it is still available.

I am not sure I will have any Thanksgiving projects to post this year. I'm already at work on December birthday and Christmas gifts. I have one ready to post as soon as I get the pictures taken and the post up. However, I was pleased to hear that the kids were very excited when their Mom took out the previous years Thanksgiving ami's out so they could have them to play with this holiday season.

If you arrived here looking for free holiday or 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.

Ghost Finger Puppet

I am continuing to work my way through posting last month's Halloween projects. This ghost puppet came from another Lion Brand pattern freebie found here.

I love finger puppets because they work up quickly and they are a fun creative toy. They are great to throw in a purse or pocket when you need something for that will amuse, but not take up too much room. They also are great for using up scrap yarn. There are patterns available for crochet and knitting for lots of different types of puppets.

If you arrived here looking for free holiday or 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.

Witch Finger Puppet

As I mentioned in the Crow post I am catching up on posting my Halloween projects. I have had this witch finger puppet on my list of projects to do for some time. It is a free pattern available from Lion Brand here. The pattern was easy to follow and quick to make.

The kids that receive these holiday packages love finger puppets, so I am always looking for variations on the theme. Lion Brand has some fun, cute freebies to offer. They are a great way to use up scraps and provide kids with lots of fun play.

If you arrived here looking for free holiday or 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.

Crow

I had great ambitions for getting my Halloween projects posted last month. However, given a choice of finishing and mailing them on time or getting them posted, I will take getting them to the kids.

This was a fun project and is part of Crochet Village's Fall Visitor's pattern pack. It worked up quickly and while it is being used as a toy, I hope to eventually have one to use as a decoration.

If you arrived here looking for free holiday or 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.

Purple Bat

I pulled my Halloween patterns at the end of the summer. I am getting a late start on my Halloween package. The bat pattern is from Crochet Village's Halloween Goblins set that includes the bat, a ghost trick or treater, and a vampire. I would love to finish the set, but it may have to wait until next year as I'm working through another fall Crochet Village set Fall Visitors. I adapted one of the pumpkin patterns. Now I am working on the crow from the same pattern set. I made the turkey for last year's Thanksgiving box. I also used Suncrafter's yellow eyes. The pattern would work with standard safety eyes or sewn eyes, too.

This was a great scrap project as I was able to use up some left over afghan yarn for the bat. I love being able to work through my yarn stash for these projects.

If you arrived here looking for free holiday or 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.

Acts of Kindness

I received this beautiful thread crocheted witch cookie cutter doll as part of the Crochetville Wish List and it could not have come at a better time. I lost a family member at the beginning of September. It was not unexpected, but it hit me harder than I expected.

This woman was a mentor. In fact, she introduced me to crochet and knitting. She patiently worked through my challenges, although I never really did move beyond dishcloths with knitting. However, her mentoring went beyond crafts and while I knew the time was coming that we would part, it did not make the parting easier. Having experienced other partings, even closer in relation, I thought I was prepared I was not.

With Halloween and all the other fall holidays coming, I'm working my way back into crocheting again. I have boxes to mail and kids waiting for toys.

When the package arrived with my witch in it, I was so pleased. It was something I never could have made myself. As I have blogged about on numerous occasions, thread is beyond my talents. It kicked started me into continuing a project that I had put aside in frustration.

I have some Halloween projects to post this week and I hope to get back into regular blogging again as I work on fall and Christmas holiday projects.

This gift was a reminder that acts of kindness do matter. We can reach people at times we may not even know the person is in need of a kind act.

Crochet Games of Ancient Greece Update

I'm continuing with my Olympic challenge to make play food for my Christmas toy donation. The food works up quickly and I may need a bigger box before I am finished with my donation.

The focus for yesterday was breakfast. I made a second pancake, two sausages, a whole egg, a cracked egg with an egg inside, and a fried egg. The pancake, sausage, egg, and fried egg came from an old Annie's Attic pattern, Crochet Toy Food, 87F12. The cracked egg with egg inside came from Tasty Crochet: A Pantry Full of Patterns for 33 Tasty Treats which is one of my favorite food books. They also have a great pancake pattern if you need one. While there are lots of free patterns out there, Tasty Crochet provides a nice collection all in one place to work from when you are trying to build a toy food pantry.

My favorite is the cracked egg. I made this for a family member before and it is a huge hit. Children like being able to crack the egg and have it "come out" either into a bowl to "mix" or on to a pan to "cook."

I have to look at my food crochet books to decide where to go next. I'll have a weekend update on the challenge next week.

Pumpkins

There have been so many things going on that I got very far behind with my posting. This set was one of the first crochet projects I finished after my surgery in May. I bought the Pumpkin Trio kit from Mary Maxim as a present to encourage myself to get back to crocheting after a health related break.

I love the Prism yarn. The colors were so perfect for my fall decorations and the texture felt so nice on my hands. It did break a bit easier than more traditional yarns I use for ami's, but since these were fairly straight forward round projects it was not much of an issue.

These are going to make wonderful fall decorations. I rarely buy kits and I even more rarely make items to keep for myself. I am very excited to have finished these to have for my fall decorating. I do have a full skein of the Prism yarn from the kit left, so I could make another set before the fall weather kicks in.

If you arrived here looking for free holiday or 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.