Despicable Me - Crochet Minion

Penguin Mug Hugger

Following on from my Monkey mug Hugger, I used the same principle to make a penguin! This one is heaps better! I used a thicker wool and it seems to be a lot sturdier!

Monkey Mug Hugger

I got some inspiration for a mug hugger from someone at work - they had a pattern for a can cozy.  It's relatively simple - I just chained until it reached around the bottom of the mug then joined it with a slip stitch then did a whole round of treble crochet.  On the next round, I left two stitches at the end, did 3 turning chains and carried on until there was a gap big enough for the handle of the mug.  At the end of the last row, I chained two and joined at the top of the handle then did another row of treble to finish off.

I sewed on a rounded off square and stitched a nose and mouth into this, sewed 2 buttons for eyes then a couple of ears :)

Plastic carrier bag crochet

I saw something interesting the other day - crocheting with plastic carrier bags.  I'd seen a lot of patterns for making shopping bags, but none actually using shopping bags.  This is something I just had to try.  First off though, you've got a lot of work to do to get your yarn.

To make the yarn, follow these instructions.

http://www.plasticbagcrafts.com/make-plarn/

If you want to get started on your crochet quite quickly, you can add to the yarn as you go which is quite handy.

Making the bag

I haven't got a clue how this will look, but I'll write down what I'm doing bit by bit and if it works out, we might have a sort of pattern. :)

I've just made a foundation chain of about 30 (I didn't count) then worked double crochet in each stitch to the end.  In the last stitch, I did 3 double crochet and then worked around the other side of the foundation chain and did another 3 stitches in the end. Slip stitch to join the row.

For the next row, Chain 2 then work 1 treble in the front loop (or is it the back?) of each of the stitches in the previous row, both sides. slip stitch to join the row.

Chain 2 and treble in each stitch around.

I plan on just working each row and hopefully it'll work.  I might increase or decrease stitches depending how the shape comes along.

Fingerless mittens

In my Art of Crochet kit, I found a great pattern for some fingerless mittens.  I altered the pattern a bit as these had a thumb on them, but I didn't like the thumb.  If anything it made it easier.

The wrist was made using treble crochet, and the main part of the glove was made using the v stitch, increasing the number of stitches to shape the thumb and finishing off with a couple of rows of double crochet.

I got a bit complacent with the first glove and managed to miss a couple of stitches.

 

I bought a slightly better wool and started again and this time round, if I missed a stitch, I unpicked the whole piece of work until I got back to that stitch.  Sometimes I can get away with it, this pattern isn't very forgiving for sloppy work :)  Excuse the poor hand modelling, I'm waiting for a proper photo of the finished pair from their new owner.

Hats for Innocent Fruit Smoothies

You may have seen the Innocent Fruit Smoothies with wooly hats on in the shops - these are all part of their Big Knit campaign.  I decided to try crocheting a miniature wooly hat and this is what I've come up with.

Apologies, I didn't concentrate exactly on what I was doing, but I'll try and explain :)

The Pattern

You will need two colours of yarn.  I used Purple (A) and pink (B) in a double knit yarn with a 3.5mm crochet hook.

ch = Chain
st(s) = stitch(es)
sl st = slip stitch
DC = Double crochet (UK)
TC = Treble crochet (UK)

(Using A) To start, ch 2 then do 6 DC in first chain.  Continue working in the round - using stitch markers if you think they'll help.

1st Round 2DC in each st in previous round (12 sts)

2nd Round (2DC in next st, 1DC in next st) 6 times (18sts)

3rd Round (2DC in next st, 1DC in next 2 sts) 6 times (24sts)

I stitch quite tight so added an extra row of increases, you may be okay with 24stitches in the round)
4th Round (2DC in next st, 1DC in next 7 sts) 3 times (27sts)

5th Round 1DC in each st around (27sts)

(Change to B)

6th Round 1DC in each st around (27sts)

(Change to A)

Continue with rounds 4 and 5 until your hat is at the desired size.  Ensure you finish with Yarn A.

Final Round (Using B) (3TC in next stitch, sl st in next 2 sts) 9 times (45sts) - fasten off

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For the PomPom, I was given this really handy tip.  It's so quick and easy to do :)

http://www.molliemakes.com/projects/how-to-make-tiny-pom-poms/

Overall, the whole thing only took a couple of hours from start to finish.

Fuschia - Just a photo

This is just a photo of a fuschia - the pattern came from a book a friend purchased and I can't for the life of me think what it was called.  I popped it on a friend's hat and she was chuffed with it :)