The Picture of Dorian Crochet

Health prevents crocheting these days. Do not ask for free gifts or patterns, and I do not do commissions.

[mcalhenwrites]

Crocheting as a Hobby

Recently, following the Trans Lives Festival, I restored my desire to focus on crocheting as a hobby so I can continue to enjoy it. I sensed

A very important post that has been long overdue.

[mcalhenwrites]

Crocheting as a Hobby

Recently, following the Trans Lives Festival, I restored my desire to focus on crocheting as a hobby so I can continue to enjoy it. I sensed

A very important post that has been long overdue.

[mcalhenwrites]

Get more from MCalhen on Patreon

creating fiction, art, and sometimes plushies of OCs

If you are interested in seeing more of my crocheting, you are welcome to view it via my patreon tiers. Note that they're the higher up tiers, because my writing is not only more important to me, but I have fibromyalgia, and crocheting is excruciatingly painful to do for more than tiny little bursts. (And let's be honest, I am forced by my financial situation to crochet anyway, since I can sell it sometimes, since I'm currently struggling to secure more permanent housing. I'm not homeless, but I'm also temp staying with people.) That said, I do have a book for sale, and support for that would be absolutely wonderful.

[mcalhenwrites]

Amigurumi Gecko made to display with my copies of Geckos, Automata

You can buy the book here! Will be on display at Christmas in Olde Town in Altoona on 11/30/2024, but I'll also be displaying it at all vending events - this is not for sale.

[mcalhenwrites]

Amigurumi Gecko made to display with my copies of Geckos, Automata

You can buy the book here! Will be on display at Christmas in Olde Town in Altoona on 11/30/2024, but I'll also be displaying it at all vending events - this is not for sale.

[mcalhencreations]

Sophronia (complete for now), OC of mine. Please do not ask for commissions or patterns.

“You should go indoors before the storm.”

My entire body jumps at the sound of an unfamiliar voice. A female voice. People often chatter as they pass by our property, but their voices are never so crisp and clear as that.

I whip my head around, skimming the property for a visitor. Nothing. I finally turn my head to the wall and see a young woman leaning over it, arms folded together. Her lengthy hair is a faded lilac, almost white, and remains straight until it falls into darker ringlets at her ribcage. Violet irises stare upward at me, a smile on her pale lips.

“Hello,” she says brightly.

She can see me? I almost ask her how, but I’d only make her suspicious. Despite all the times I’ve defied my parents, I know there are some things that could endanger us. I’m not so foolish as to not be a little afraid of her sudden presence.

“Who’re you?” I ask instead.

“A friend.”

A friend who can see me, whose appearance does not quite match that of humans. “What are you?”

“A friend.”

[mcalhencreations]

WIP of my OC, Sophronia. I'm working on her tunic, but she'll still need shoes and a belt, and maybe some other little details... She's one of five OCs I'm working on in a set. (I have other OCs I'm crocheting from the same novel.) Sophronia belongs to MCalhen. Please do not ask me for patterns, do not inquire about commissions. Thank you.

[mcalhencreations]

Line from Rascal. Some WIPs to finish. I picked up cross-stitch do to this one iconic line, that is it. Had to include "Everything is dreadful, Ferdinand. That's why... my face." This is actually a sad part of the story. :)

[mcalhencreations]

I actually picked up Tessa (human form, dragon OC) again and gave her feet! Here is one sketch of Tessa in dragon form (pictured with Niven) and another sketch I did of Tessa's human form. Tessa (and Niven) are from my novel, The Hostile Credence, although they're both mentioned in other parts of the series. :)

[mcalhencreations]

Someday I'll finish this :) Fibro allowing

[mcalhenwrites]

Dragons! Reposts :)

[mcalhencreations]

From a novel I’ve been writing to a concept sketch to a full plush: She is finished. I set out to make her because I wanted to start making dragons - in particular, dragons from my story - and thought if I could make her, that would really prove that I was somehow capable of something. And I can’t say it has been an enlightening journey. 2018 marks as one of the hardest years I’ve had so far, and this summer in particular has been the worst. I messed up plenty of parts of Tempra along the way and did what I could to fix her, but being that she’s much larger than either of my cats… Well, she isn’t small, and she wasn’t easy. Still, she’s here. I’m not even sure how I feel about that right now.  I said I’d make many of my dragons, but right now, I can’t be certain which one is next and how many I’ll actually do.  My twitter has more than just amigurumi, since it has writing and sketches posted there as well. I post about my other dragons sometimes. 

[mcalhencreations]

From a novel I’ve been writing to a concept sketch to a full plush: She is finished. I set out to make her because I wanted to start making dragons - in particular, dragons from my story - and thought if I could make her, that would really prove that I was somehow capable of something. And I can’t say it has been an enlightening journey. 2018 marks as one of the hardest years I’ve had so far, and this summer in particular has been the worst. I messed up plenty of parts of Tempra along the way and did what I could to fix her, but being that she’s much larger than either of my cats... Well, she isn’t small, and she wasn’t easy. Still, she’s here. I’m not even sure how I feel about that right now.  I said I’d make many of my dragons, but right now, I can’t be certain which one is next and how many I’ll actually do.  My twitter has more than just amigurumi, since it has writing and sketches posted there as well. I post about my other dragons sometimes. 

[mcalhencreations]

According to my photos, I started Tempra on June 5 (which is my birthday, so I guess it is now hers? Oh, wait, maybe I should make it the day I finish her and do that with all my dragons...?) It looks like I didn’t work on her much in July, though, but I know I’ve put weeks’ worth of hours into her. 

She should be completed this weekend, if I work hard enough today (and maybe tomorrow). Most of what is left is ferns and tiny details.  I have a lot to say about her creation and everything that has gone into it, but I will save that for when I post pictures of her fully completed.  I really look forward to sharing her when she’s finished. This project means a lot to me, but again: I’ll save all that for when she’s done.

[mcalhencreations]

If anyone can clue me in as to why I chose such a hard task to take on... let me know

She's so far and yet so close to being done. Her wings are just getting started...

[mcalhencreations]

Updates from last night. I took a bit of a break with her wings last night, but I did start them. I’m not sure how I’m actually doing them, not entirely... Haha. Ferns still aren’t done. D: ...But the moss on her antlers is looking pretty cool. That was not part of her initial design! That idea came later, while I was finishing up her antlers. Wasn’t sure if I could pull it off. I wanted the mossy vines to hang around them, like a proper temperate forest dragon! Anyway, that’s how Tempra is progressing.

[mcalhencreations]

Antlers are done (minus some little detailed touches) and she has all her claws

Ferns and wings and small details are left!