Where exactly do you get your safety eyes? I’ve been crocheting for a little over a year and a half, and only recently got into making amigurumi a few months ago. I’ve looked in every craft store’s yarn and sewing collections, and haven’t seen even the basic 6mm black eyes.
Do you buy them online? Are there any crafting chains where you can get them in person?
I bought a bunch before JoAnn's closed down, and these days tend to buy them from other local crafters who buy bulk clear eyes and then paint them for custom colors. But I admit that I usually just embroider the eyes on unless I can't avoid needing safety eyes for pattern reasons
do you do these without a pattern? if so, how????? just curious since im like an intermediate crocheter
Yup, I make up the patterns as I go! I always start with a drawn template of the character/thing I'm going to crochet, broken down by the pieces I'll need. I make those templates digitally now, but you can always use graph/lined paper.
When I make the template, I draw the pieces as large as I'd like them to be in real life. Then, at least for pieces crocheted in the round that start with a magic ring, I use a ruler to measure the diameter of the drawn pieces to calculate how many stitches I need per row. After each round I finish, I'll hold up the crochet work to the drawing, make a mark where the next round will be, and continue building the pattern that way. I rely on a spreadsheet to streamline this too, but there's a better overview of the process in this post:
This is going to be a simple demo of a pattern designing method I've been using for a little while now! It is specifically for pieces worked
Flat pieces and other shapes are more improvised! I still use my template as a size guide when I'm making these details for a character, but I don't usually take direct measurements for those pieces.
Also, if you don't already know how to read/write crochet diagrams, I would highly recommend it for designing purposes! They come in handy for note-taking and they're more intuitive to follow than writing out your patterns longhand once you get used to them. Here's a guide of symbols I use most frequently:
Plus a couple example diagrams I've made with their patterns written out for reference:
1st diagram:
Ch 12
DC into 4th stitch from hook, 1 DC, 3 HDC, 2 sc, 1 sl st, sl st inc into last st
Rotate work and sl st into next stitch, 2 sc, 3 HDC, 1 DC, DC inc
2nd diagram:
8 st into MR (8)
in the current stitch: (Ch 5, DC into 3rd loop from hook, DC, 1 sc, sl st), in the next stitch: (sl st, Ch 5, DC into 3rd loop from hook, DC, 1 sc, sl st), repeat instructions in last parentheses 6 more times
I find crocheting with Tunisian simple stitches easier to comprehend when designing smaller, flat detail pieces compared to crocheting in the round or in rows. With TSS you don't have to worry as much about calculations and stitch multiplications per round. However, it does have a little learning curve and width limitations for what you can make without needing to break out an extra long crochet hook. For a regular crochet hook, you can get away with rows about nine stitches across, but more than that and it'll become increasingly inconvenient to work with.
Catztail Design has a great set of videos for different methods of increasing and decreasing with Tunisian simple stitches, so check those out if you are interested! He has a lot of insightful videos on different crochet techniques in general and I'd recommend checking out more of his channel!
The play list for all my videos about the basics of tunisian crochet
Ovals are really helpful for things that you don't want to be perfectly round (like the top of a character's shoulders). You work the crochet in the round too, but you start with a chain and increase by 3 or 4 stitches at both ends of the oval. Here's a tutorial from Supergurumi that goes into more depth!
Crochet Ovals in any Size in Spiral Rounds. In this lesson from Supergurumi, learn how to easily crochet ovals in any size. #amigurumi #croc
Surface slip stitches / chain stitch embroidery on top of another piece of crochet are also a big help! They can be used decoratively by themselves or as a foundation piece for more crocheting. Here's an example of the latter with Tenna's lapels:
Anyways, I hope this was at least somewhat helpful even if it's a bit all over the place! There are a lot of little techniques that go into building patterns from scratch, so I just tried to sum up my major go-tos here. I'd like to compile a Google doc with a bunch of amigurumi patterning techniques someday (emphasis on "someday" lol, I'm notoriously slow with tutorials/patterns).
crochet snoopy i improvised cuz i needed a last minute gift lol
head
r1: 6sc
r2: inc around
r3: inc, sc around
r4-7: sc around
r8: (sc, inc) x3, sc around
r9: (sc2, inc) x3, sc around
r10-11: sc around
r12: sc2, dec
r13: sc1, dec
r14: dec
f/o weave ends
ear
r1: 6sc
r2: sc, inc around
r3-4: sc around
r5: sc, dec
body
r1: 6sc
r2: inc around
r3: inc, sc around
r4: sc5, inc around
r5-7: sc around
r8: sc5, dec
r9: sc around
r10: sc4, dec
r11: sc around
r12: sc3, dec
r13: sc2, dec
foot
r1: 6sc
r2: inc around
r3: sc around
r4: dec 3, sc around
r5-6: sc around
r7: sc, dec
arm
r1: 6sc
r2: sc2, inc
r3-5: sc around
r6: sc2, dec
tail
r1: 6sc
r2-4: sc around
spot
r1: ch3, sc in 2nd ch, sc in next chain, working on bottom of ch, 2sc in each ch (6sc, 3 in each ch total). slst closed
Do you want one of your own little dragons like these? Well I finally made a pattern for them! It's not the prettiest or most well-written pattern in the world but it will get the job done. Find it here!
This pattern is totally free but if you would like to send a few dollars my way, it would mean a lot if you supported my local zine project!! Ko-fi here.
If you are not able to make your own dragon and still want one, I will also accept commissions for these in a wide range of colors and add-ons. Just send me a message! :3
Recipes from Portland's famous but long-closed Rheinlander restaurant. This cookbook was produced in a limited window before Chef Mager's death. All of these fucking slap.
The lentil soup post is yeah beyond amazing. I know lentil soup doesn't seem like it could be that good. You simply don't Know how beloved the rheinlander lentil soup was. This was a famous soup here.
Welcome back everyone! It’s been a wild couple of weeks, but I’ve got a review for you all. Stepping away from books for just a moment, the nice folks at Schiffer Craft have provided me with a couple of their Crochet Your Veggies amigurumi kits to try out and talk about. This one is for the completely cute carrot. Enjoy!
The Crochet Your Veggies Carrot kit is well set up and turns out a really…
I’m so happy to introduce Sami today on Valentine’s Day as a FREE pattern to help spread some love amidst all the hate in the world right now. I couldn’t agree more with the oh so perfectly timed message from Bad Bunny “The only thing more powerful than hate is love”.
As a mostly amigurumi maker, I always feel a bit guilty for making so many plushies but this one was such a guilt free project since it’s functional! I hope Sami brings everyone lots of joy 🥰
I plan to make other animals options in the future. Which animal would you like to see? Or what mod would you like to see? I’m thinking some “crochetmons” would be so cute!
Knitting patterns: fingerless gloves with cool thumbs
"Coolness" is arbitrary but I was looking for thumb-centric construction, thumb shaping integrated into the pattern very smoothly, and other neat thumb tricks. All links are Ravelry. Feel free to add more!
Poinsettia by Sybil R also on tumblr as @sybilra and inspired this whole post
Green Thumb by Diana Foss
Zimtstern by Sybil R
Mitred Mitts by Sybil R she specialises in these, okay?
Mondrian Mitts by Galina Zapletnuka
8-ern Wasser by Renate Schattschneider (German language pattern; photo by cfrischknecht)
Montes by Šárka Dvořáčková
Frosted Glass by Lola Johnson
Either/Or by Lee Meredith
Kontrast by Uwe Nawratil
And I've hit the image limit but there are many short row patterns with nicely integrated thumbs such as Mixed Wave Mitts by Sybil R (again) and Ganmil by Heidrun Liegmann.
That zoup looks really good! Would you be able to provide a recipe of some kind?
oh sure let me write it down before I forget
BUNJY RECIPE BOOK: TAX SHELTER CHICKEN SOUP
this is a variant on "marry me chicken soup", hence the name. it's really a type of tuscan chicken soup with midwest ingredients. I put dried peppers in mine, but you can omit those and it will still be insane.
YOU WILL NEED:
1 lb ground chicken
1 largish white onion, roughly diced
4 medium stalks celery, roughly diced
5 fat cloves of garlic, minced or run through a garlic press
6 cups chicken stock
4-5 handfuls of baby spinach
3 oz sundried tomatoes, cut into strips (the kind in the bag, not the kind in oil)
half a boxish of shell pasta
2/3 cup heavy cream
2 tsp smoked paprika
2 tsp dried thyme
salt to taste
splash of white wine vinegar
2-3 dried hot peppers (optional)
olive oil
INSTRUCTIONS:
in a heavy bottomed pot over medium heat, add a couple tbsp olive oil and brown your ground chicken until it's mostly cooked, then add the onion and celery. let it cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are soft and the celery is cooked. add the garlic, thyme, sundried tomatoes, peppers (if using) and paprika, and stir just until the garlic smell has mellowed. add the chicken stock and scrape any browned residue off the bottom of the pot, then add the lid and cook until the tomatoes are hydrated. add the shell pasta and cover again until the pasta is al dente, then lower the heat to low, remove the lid and add the cream. stir to incorporate and add the spinach and stir around until it's totally wilted. add a small splash of white wine vinegar and salt to taste, and serve immediately. no marriage license required.
A double batch of pumking bread with maple cream cheese frosting for all the holiday parties this weekend
It's a tried and true recipe for me and I like it better than banana bread, because I can keep all the ingredients for it on hand and it's fast to make. The full loaf (as opposed to the mini loaves) takes about 45 min to bake--check with toothpick. For the icing, cream together everything but the powdered sugar first, then add the sugar slowly. and it is important that the butter and cream cheese are room temp and soft, they won't combine right if they're chilled.
Normally I have a policy of not talking about my cooking hobby but I'm pretty proud of this one. Good carnitas has a special place in my heart and I wanna share it with people. The original recipe was conveyed to me by @ashes-and-bone but I'm gonna give you my tweaked version.
INGREDIENTS:
2lbs Pork shoulder or butt. I used shoulder.
2lbs rendered pork lard
4 pork ears
1 cup water
2 limes (or rougly 4oz lime juice)
4 oranges. If you can get it, replace this with roughly 16oz bitter orange juice. This might be hard to find in the US, but you can order it on amazon.
4 garlic cloves, peeled
1 can beer. Cut this down to a half depending on how much you like the beer.
1 onion
1 large mexican cinnamon stick
4 bay leaves
1 tbsp dried or whole mexican oregano (its sweeter, crush it between your palms)
1 cup evaporated milk
1 tbsp dried thyme
2 tbsp kosher salt
PREPARATION:
Cut the pork into 3 inch chunks, set aside. Add lard and water to a cold slow cooker. Once everything has been added, turn it on high and let everything liquify. Then turn it down to low. Add the meat, add the fruit juice. If you're using whole fruits, juice them and drop the whole thing in the pot. Let everything simmer covered for an hour. Check it at 15 minute intervals to make sure it isn't sticking. After an hour, add the garlic, cinnamon, bay, salt, oregano, thyme, milk, and beer. Cover. Cook on low for 8 hours. You are aiming for low and slow.
SERVING:
The meat should melt at the touch, to the point of being difficult to remove with anything but a slotted spoon. Scoop all the meat into a large bowl, and shred it. Let this cool. Put it on tacos. If you have access to masa dough and a tortilla press, you know what to do.
STORING:
The remaining liquid will be extremely hot. Let it cool, but not solidify. Strain the ingredients and save the liquid. Congratulations. You are now the proud owner of roughly 2 pounds of high quality, lovingly seasoned, pork confit. Save this. Use it in cooking. If you've ever cooked with bacon fat, it has similar properties.
For the meat: Airtight container, entomb it in some of the confit. You can scoop it right outta the jar and cook it in its own fat. Be careful not to get lost in the sauce though.
This thing has been out of print for like, 26 years and some of us want to make chubby classic pikachu so uh... I figure it's okay to share bc it's kinda hard to get your hands on the remaining physical copies.
Bonus points: Aelith made some embroidery/applique files for it too
Remade by AeilithArt so that we could use the pattern without like, destroying it. It's not exact since it's trace, but it's p much the same
