Plesiosaur

It's hard to believe I'm still posting about Christmas presents but I think I'm pretty close to the end of 2019 Christmas gifts. This is what happens when you are finishing Christmas presents in the middle of December to get them mailed and you want to post them so you'll have some record of what you've made for future reference.

This was the last dino I was able to finish for the dinosaur package. I had hoped to add a mammal to the package with a Wooly Mammoth but I ran right up to my deadline finishing the flippers on this one. Perhaps the mammoth will make it into a birthday package.

This pattern was part of a pattern set gifted to me from my husband many years ago but you can still purchase it. It has moved from Etsy to Ravelry. I don't believe she offers the patterns as single patterns. You can find it here.

This was another experiment with sports yarn. I had bought a bunch of AC Moore's Nicole brand yarn to experiment with smaller dolls for either gifts or donations for next year. I've not decided which direction I'm going with the smaller dolls. However, with AC Moore closing I figured I can't rely on it as a source for these yarns so I don't want to get dependent on them as a reliable source of yarn that will fit these dolls so using the yarn for another project didn't seem like a bad choice.

Ankylosaurus Amigurumi

I had hoped to create more dinosaurs to go with the baby package but life sometimes gets in the way of our plan. I love Planet June's patterns and originally had thought I'd get through more of her patterns. Hopefully I'll have the chance to add to his set in the future.

You can purchase the pattern here.

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

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Wordless Wednesday

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Crochet Animals Big and Small

Like many people, I am always looking for new dinosaur patterns. During a recent yarn purchase I came across a small Red Heart book Crochet Animals Big and Small. I have only located this book were I purchased it and the Red Heart site. There are eleven patterns included in the book and four dinosaurs. As the book is published by Red Heart the yarn required is Red Heart Super Saver Yarn. I suspect most worsted weight yarns would work.

I would choose different colors for some of these creations, but I am glad to see find some new patterns. The vintage dinosaur patterns can be very expensive because there are so few available.

Stegosaurus One More Step Completed on Project Dinosaur

I had much greater success using a smaller hook and choosing different yarn with the second stegosaurus. Attaching the scales is still no walk in the park, but it was better this time than the first time. I suspect that if I make another one, I will continue to see progress. The color choice was an improvement as well.

This guy with Bronte, and the cow will be headed off for their journey to New Hampshire soon. I have to make arrangements for their car trip.

I have the body of the first Pilgrim bear completed. I need to add cardboard to the shoes before adding the bottoms. The theory is he should stand. I am doubtful, but I will withhold judgment. I almost have the head completed. I have modified the pattern to use a safety nose instead of sewing one. I also did not add some of the sewn embellishments. The hat is almost finished then will require stuffing. After which, it can be sewn to the bear. I am pleased with the progress so far.

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

Dinosaurs and Dragons

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

Hello Kitty

Teddy Bear Patterns and Clothes

Knit and Crochet Food Patterns Great for Play Food


Pictures may not be used without permission.

Brontosaurus the Dinosaur Project Continues

I was so pleased with the second brontosaurus. I liked the color and using a smaller hook and better sewing techniques this guy actually stands up better, too. I was thrilled when I saw him coming together at how much better he looked than the first one I made. Looking at the sewing improvements, I think I can actually fix the legs on the first one to improve his ability to stand up.

My skills have come a long way since I started working on these projects and this guy reminds me to stop always criticizing what I cannot do and be happy with what I have learned to do better.

My Thanksgiving projects are continuing. After finishing the Hello Kitty project, I think I discovered a way to rescue a Pilgrim Weeble like woman that I almost abandoned in frustration because I could not get the pattern to work. After learning a few tricks from pulling out Hello Kitty's outfit a few times, I think I can now make the Weeble like Pilgrim lady work and even perhaps create a Mr. Pilgrim to be her companion for the holidays. An old Annie's Attic pattern is providing me with the chance to create a pair of Pilgrim bears. When those are completed, I will post those pictures as well.

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

Dinosaurs and Dragons

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

Hello Kitty

Teddy Bear Patterns and Clothes

Knit and Crochet Food Patterns Great for Play Food


Pictures may not be used without permission.

Wooly Mammoth Amigurumi

This pattern sold me on buying this book. The wooly mammoth was adorable and I had never seen a pattern for one before. When I read the pattern, I decided to make the mammoth last because I realized it was going to be different from the other patterns. On the surface, it appears to be simple, but as I read the directions and worked through them, there were more challenges than I expected.

The body itself was straight forward and as expected. The head worked up smaller than I anticipated based on the picture, but the row count seemed accurate. I was using a yarn I had never used before, so this could have affected the outcome. Gauge could also be a factor as none is stated. As stated in earlier blogs this will not be the only one I make, so I will have a chance to experiment and see what works.

The directions on the tusks did not work as I expected. When I switched from sc to sl I found I had a smaller size appropriate tusk for the animal I was creating. Again, this could be a result of gauge, yarn, or the size of the mammoth’s head.




Overall, I really like this pattern and am looking forward to applying what I have learned to another mammoth.

For those seeking the pattern book it can be found at Gourment Crochet's, Amigurumi's Dinosaurs.

Please see the Dinosaur and Dragon Page for free knit and crochet patterns.

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Amigurumi Dinosaurs

I can remember the well intentioned gifts I received from adults that were not always identifiable. I want the kids to actually enjoy what I make as much as I enjoy making them.

I have purchased plastic dinosaur sets for kids for years. Dinosaurs are such a popular toy for kids. It has been a pleasure realizing I could create something that kids could use with the same creativity as the old plastic play sets and I have a better control over what I use to make them.

My goal in making gifts is to find patterns that will be interesting to make and meet the fun standard. When I saw Gourment Crochet's, Amigurumi's Dinosaurs it inspired me to buy and try. The thought of making the patterns intrigued me and I could see kids enjoying the toys if I was successful in assembling them. I have finished two T-Rex Amigurumi and a Brontosaurus to date. The first T-Rex has already made an Easter journey. I have a Stegosaurus that just needs the plates attached and it will be completed. I will continue to update my progress on this project, which I hope to have ready to mail for a Christmas present.




The pattern book includes directions for a T-Rex, Brontosaurus, Stegosaurus, Triceratops, Pterodactyl, and a Wooly Mammoth. The three patterns I have made so far have had clear directions and have been easy to follow. It has been great not finding any missing steps in the process.

Please see the Dinosaur and Dragon Page for free knit and crochet patterns.

Pictures may not used without written permission.