Hello Kitty Plane

I have one person on my Easter list that is starting to outgrown the Hello Kitty phase, but I thought would still appreciate something different. I saw the Hello Kitty Plane pattern on Etsy and my DH was kind enough to pick it up for me.



I really like this pattern, but I am not sure if it is the language barrier, the writer is from Spain, or if it is just a different style, the directions were extremely minimal. Not having seen the original Spanish pattern I do not know if the Spanish directions are more detailed and the problem is in the English translation or if this is just the way her patterns are written. Having only made this pattern, I cannot be sure this was just an issue for this pattern or if all are this minimal in their descriptions.

For instance, my plane is larger than I expected. There was no hook size listed and I went with the traditional G hook for ami's. When I went to look up the pattern link for this blog entry, the listing actually states the hook size C, but the written PDF does not. I have made a few cars and planes now, so I have a "general" idea how the patterns work, but if I had not this pattern would have been very frustrating as there are very limited explanations for how to assemble the plane. This is why I question the translation. The parts of the plane are carefully numbered and you are given instructions to make them. The picture is labeled with the parts. However, there are no directions about how to assemble the carefully numbered parts. In one case, I went back to Mysterious Cat's pattern to figure out how to approach a couple of items. I am not sure I would have finished this if it had been my first attempt at a vehicle.



Now that I have worked my way through the pattern, I can see making another one of these. With color changes and other animals, it would be a great boy's toy, too. I am glad I had the pattern to make, but a few more directions from the writer would make this a much better pattern for the general public.


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.

American Girl Hippy Outfit

I thought I was done making AG clothes for family members. Most of the girls seemed to have lost interest in the dolls and then Julie arrived for Christmas. While the other dolls had been interesting, for one girl in the family, Julie has become a hit. Julie is the AG doll from the 70's and as much as it pains me to admit it, that time period is now considered "historical." So, it appears I won't only be crocheting 18" doll clothes for charity.

At some point I had picked up Maggie Weldon's 18" Doll Hippy Wardrobe Pattern, so I decided this would make a great May birthday present now that I can actually use the size 10 thread required to make certain parts of the outfit.

I had a huge ball of white size 10 thread so I started with the shirt. This was actually my first clothing thread project and I loved working on it. As my thread crocheting improves, I think there will be less signs of issues with changes in tension. One disappointment is that I could not get the pants pattern to work. I tried it a couple of times, but I obviously misunderstood the directions. I went back to my fall back pattern Abby, Allie, and Annie and added a bell-bottom look to those pants. I loved the crocheted rainbows and flowers. I remember my older sisters and my mother embroidering details to clothing. I am not sure they ever considered crocheting them.

I am still hopeful I can finish the dress from this set to add to the birthday package going out in May. It will be nice for Julie to have some period clothing.

One of the added benefits of the project is it helped me work on my stash busting goals. Other than the thread, the rest of the yarn came from my rather overgrown stash that I am working on using up. The vest was made from yarn I used during for last year's doll donation projects. I joined a stash busting CAL at Crochetville and it is helping me focus on keeping track of what I acquire and what I am actually using for yarn.

Barbie and American Girl Doll Free Patterns are listed on my blog at these locations:

Barbie Crochet and Sewing Page

Barbie Knitting Page

Ken Page

Kelly/Skipper Page

American Girl Doll Crochet and Sewing

American Girl Doll Knitting

Doll Blankets and Pillow Patterns

Additional Doll Patterns also Available on the Holiday Blogs:

Christmas

Valentines

Easter

Graduation

Patriotic

Halloween Page

Thanksgiving

Pictures may not be used without written permission.

Fox in the Car

After making Mysterious Cat's Plane, I knew I wanted to go back and make the Fox in the Race Car. My husband purchased the pattern for me and it has been on my list of pattern to make for a while now. As I was mentally making my crochet list for Easter, I knew I wanted some fun toys. After making the carrot car, it seemed time to tackle the Fox.



The directions were great. The one challenge I had were the headlights. Mine seemed to have a slightly odd shape as I finished them off and attached them. They were not quite as flat as I had hoped to make them. I added the steering wheel from the Carrot Car for a little added detail. I also gave the fox a scarf that came from the Carrot Car pattern.



This was a fun project and one I suspect I will make again. It was also a great way to work from my stash. Thanks to an earlier afghan project, I had all the colors on hand and did not need any additional yarn purchases to complete this project.

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.

Happy Valentine's Day

I feel very blessed to have a husband who supports my crochet habit. Along with flowers and a beautiful Valentine's bear, I got a folder full of doll crochet patterns he bought for me to celebrate Valentine's Day. The flowers were beautiful and he knows how I love bears, but there is something amazing about the idea that he will go online, purchase, download, and print patterns for me. He supports not only my habit, but my doll charity work. I just feel really loved today.

I have lots of new stuff to explore in the months ahead. From Treasured Heirlooms I got two 18" doll pattern sets, Holly and Ivy and Back to Kansas. At Maggie's Crochet he added Penelope Visits Picadilly Circus, At the Hop, and Weekend Fun Sports. Last for my baby doll donation he picked up a diaper bag patternI requested.

Of course, this is going to destroy my stash busting score as I have to get specific yarns and threads to complete many of these projects. However, knowing the joy it will bring to the girls who get to play with the dresses, I'm willing to go for it.

Happy Valentine's Day everyone.

Crochet Bunny with Carrot House

What a difference a year makes. Last year I made the bunny and carrot house from Amigurumi Toy Box: Cute Crocheted Friends and I took the picture of my project outside on my porch. This year I altered the project a bit and there is two feet of snow outside. Not exactly the best time to be taking outside crochet pictures.

I decided to make another one this year for the littlest member of the family I send the Easter box to each year. He was born after Easter last year, so the carrot house went to his next oldest brother who was the youngest child, then.

I changed a few things with this year's project. First I used the bunny from Crochet Bunny with Carrot Car instead of the bunny from the book. The only downside to this is the bunny is a little bit larger than the bunny in the book. It makes the house a tighter fit. I also changed the green trimmings from those in the book to those of the car. I just liked the look better. Lastly, I played with some colors to give the bunny some clothing. I used up some scraps I had for his shirt and stuck with traditional blue for his pants.

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.

Crochet Bunny with Carrot Car

I was working through the patterns I wanted to crochet for Easter baskets and I remembered the Crochet Bunny Carrot Car I received as part of a Crochetville Wishlist. It is available for purchase here.

This is one of the cuter bunny patterns I have made and I actually used it as a substitute in another bunny project I will be blogging about this week. I love the ears. I added a safety nose, which the pattern does not use. I have to find a source for bunny noses. My supply is almost out as they were part of a swap gift. I have not seen any locally, I will have to search online.

I am thinking about making this into an icicle car and using a polar bear for a winter themed car for a winter toy. I have a relative with a December birthday and I am always trying to find non-Christmas themed toys to make for his birthday. Usually I am in a Christmas making mode, so if I start on it after Easter, I can put it away and have it ready.

Bunny Avenger Fury

I received the Bunny Avengers pattern set as part of the Crochetville's Wishlist. I started with Fury, as he seemed the easiest of the Avengers to create. I still don't enjoy working with felt, but there was no way around it to create the effect of his nose and mouth.

I originally thought these would be headed for the Easter Box, but instead Fury is headed for my DH's office. After I finish the Easter box presents I plan to finish the rest of the collection for him. Some of them are going to require bobbins to deal with color changes, so I want to make sure I have the items with deadlines ready to ship first.

I think I have the first round of my Easter projects planned. If I finish those, I have some additional Easter projects I would like to complete. However, I also have April, May, and June birthdays I need to make toys for, too. I know I'll get done what gets done.

Baked Potato

I had a request for crochet play food to put in Easter baskets this year so I pulled out a pattern I purchased with birthday money this year, Grilled Steak Dinner, which has an adorable baked potato pattern. I'm not sure if I'll get to the whole meal, but I will be back to work on this pattern for my Christmas donation. It was quick and something different from much of the play food I have seen.

I have another 18" doll outfit almost complete. I just need to finish the extra items. This one will be going to my niece for her Julie doll. She said she had outgrown the AG doll's and then her grandmother got her Julie for Christmas and they've been fast friends ever since. I have spliced together a couple of different patterns to make her an outfit. I need to finish the boots and the purse. I am also working my way slowly through a thread dress for my donation project. That has been really amazing. I never thought I'd work with thread and I am about half way through a dress.

I have another Easter project finished that I'll be posting next week and one more that I am almost finished with that is rather unique. I was gifted the pattern during Crochetville's holiday wishlist and it will be an adorable addition to my Easter baskets.

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.