Crochetin' like a Mad Woman

Howdy! It's been a bit. Hope Thanksgiving was all you wanted it to be, mine was good!

So I've been pretty productive. I'm pretty stoked on myself. Usually I buy yarn and then don'e really use it, but this year is totally different! I even bought some patterns from Roxy Craft. She was great! I got the patterns (pdf style, paid through PayPal) in a couple of hours. The instructions are pretty easy (I naturally have problems following directions) and the pictures are pretty good too. I haven't made anything from her patterns yet, I've been doing my own stuff. I've only made and finished one amigurumi recently, I started another, but I've taken a bit of a break from her from a minute.

I've been making some hats. The Camo Robot was for my friends nephew. And the bright one is for my friend that is going to be moving to So. Cal to go to golfing school. Either to go pro or to teach. But I think it's rad that he wanted that hat. He's totally straight, but a very loud, bright, pastel-ly colot with big yellow pom-poms. So there it is. I'll let you know if he actually likes it or not. He hasn't seen it since he picked out the colors. :D I'm pretty excited about that.

So yeah, that's pretty much about it for now. I hope all is well in your world! Things are really looking up for me in mine! Happy holidays to all with many good, warm, fuzzy thoughts, luscious merriment, and as much obsessive yarning as possible!! Ciao!

~The Dishes












The model is my son. Pretty cute, huh?! ;^)

Happy Thanksgiving!!
Well, I don't have any amigurumi to post, but I do have a poncho to post (I keep calling it a shawl). It's my version of a prayer shawl. It's for a friend of the family that is having a very difficult battle with cancer. So I hoping that a little extra love is just what she needs.Well, the energy anyways. So I hope all is well in the world you live in. Happy holidays!

Robot Pattern

Ok! Here it is. Someone asked for it so here ya go. I have to put out a disclaimer, I wrote down the pattern as I went along, so there is no really guarantee that it is perfect. but you can always e-mail me with questions or just improve on the pattern. Good luck, good thoughts, lucious merriment, and as much obsessive yarning as humanly possible! Ciao!

The Dishes

P.S. And please, (just to cover my butt) I did think of this recipe. It is of my own creation. I would appreciate it if it would not be sold (blah, blah,blah) or dolls made from the pattern not be sold. People are more than welcome to freely give out the pattern, or dolls as you see fit. That part I don't care about. But if someone's gonna make $$, I'd like it to be me! I need the cash just as much as the next one. I mean of course I need the cash, it's not like this is the cheapest hobby on the planet (well if you like to make blankets)!! Ok! So now that I feel like an ass, (Copywrites. You know I'm not trying to be a b-i-t-c-h about this, but I guess I do feel the need to say something. Please don't take it personal), please have as much fun as possible making as many robots as possible!!

Oh and please share your finished robots! I would love to see them!

So I leave you with happy thoughts, lusious merriment, and as much obsessive (amigurumi) yarning as possible! Ciao!


Round Robot Pattern


Body

Row Stitches

1 6(+6)

2 12(+6)

3 18(+6)

4 24(+6)

5 30(+6)

6 36(+6)

7 42

~ ~

20 42(-6)

21 36(-6)

22 30(-2)

23 28(~)

24 26(~)

25 24(~)

26 22(-2)

27 20



Head

Row Stitches

1 6(+6)

2 12(~)

3 18(~)

4 24(~)

5 30(~)

6 36(+6)

7 42

~ ~

10 42(-6)

11 36(~)

12 30(-6)

13 24(-4)

14 20



Arms

Row Stitches

1 6(+6)

2 12(~)

3 18

4 18

5 18(-3)

6 15(-3)

7 12(-2)

8 10

~ ~

19 10(-5)

20 5





Legs

Row Stitches

1 6(+6)

2 12(+~)

3 18(+6)

4 24

~ ~

7 24(-6)

8 18(-3)

9 15(-3)

10 12

~ ~

17 12



Ears

Row Stitches

1 6(+6)

2 12(-2)

3 10



Antenna


Row Stitches

1 4(+4)

2 8

3 8(-4)

4 4

~ ~

7 4

Good Day! It has been quite some time since the last check in. Well, I guess I should fill you in:

I'm not sure about y'all, but I have a very hard time yarning when the weather's nice. Doesn't matter what kind of yarn I use, I just have no desire to do so while its hot.

Then, in mid- July, my son was diagnosed as being Diabetic. He was 2 months shy of turning two years old. So I guess needless to say it kinda turned my world upside down. My husband and I almost lost our child.

It definitely sent us for a loop, but all is well now. My son is happy and healthy. And other than the fact that his pancreas doesn't function properly, he's as normal as any other two year old (at least as far as other mommies say).

I know this is supposed to be a blog about yarn, but I need an outlet. This was the most traumatic situation I've ever gone through. And I've been through some pretty icky sitranarios (situations/scenario).

But hey, we all have our path to walk. Rylan was a great baby. He was 'perfect.' I think I was waiting for something to 'go wrong.'

But I can't really say, now, that there is something 'wrong' with my baby. He's just diabetic. Yes it's hard sometimes (about 1 week out of every month, go figure!), but he can still lead a typical childhood. It's not like he's got some sort of severe allergy, or something that would make me have top shelter him for fear that if he gets a cold he'll die. I'm not worried about that. I'm worried if I'll be able to teach him how to care for Diabetes properly so I can see my baby have babies.

That's what I think about. So that is why I haven't been yarning or blogging for that matter. I did notice, however, that there haven't been too many people blogging on Amigurumi-Along. I feel like it's pretty safe to say that most people don't like to yarn when its warm.

But on a lighter note, I have made a couple of things! I've made two robots of my own design, and I made a 'turtle' hat. It's pretty cute. And hopefully, I'm be able to sell them locally. I might even start an on-line store. But my confidence level isn't exactly where I think it needs to be to try to go out and ask people if they want to buy something. But I think I might have a lead on a store that would take my stuff on consignment. Lets hope for that.

I hope all is well in your world! I leave you with good thoughts, luscious merriment, and as much obsessive yarning as life will possibly allow! Ciao

Well, it's been a minute or two since the last time I blogged, but hey, such is life right? I've been busy. Really I have! I started working at my local coffee shop. The woman that was preggers had her little boy. He was born Monday May 15 at 1:34 am and was 7lbs., 12oz. He is beautiful! He had all his fingers and all his toes, two eyes and a nose! Can't ask for much more than that! His name is Graeme (Gram). It's a traditional (don't quote me on this) Celtic spelling. I think!!! But regardless, it's a family name from the daddy's side. And I am just so stoked for them! And I bet their little girl (she's 4) is just absolutely thrilled to finally met her little bro!

But enough about that! I finished another bunny! I thought that the first one was so cute that I had to make one for me or rather my house. My son really likes the bunny and likes to give it hugs and kisses! Next, I think I'm going to make a giraffe. There is a great recipe in the book I have. But I think I just may have to make two at once (well you know, make 4 arms, 4 legs and what not) since one of my best friends wants one really bad. She really likes the bunny, but I don't think I want to give this one up. I'm pretty stoked on this guy. And now, since I made the one bunny for Francee at work and a couple people saw it, I need to make like 4 more. Which makes me feel so good that people want what I make, but man, I gotta lot of work to do. And that's not including my house work (which I'm totally avoiding right now)!!

But anywho... I've babbled enough for this day on this forum! Hope all is well in your world, as all is great in mine! I truly hope the best for any and all who read this! And as always...happy thoughts, luscious merriment, and much obsessive yarning!!! Ciao

~ The Dishes (*_^)

Yay!!! I finally finished her!! I would like to formally introduce to you.... Lil' Miss Bunny Rose!

She is a gift for my friends' daughter. The one that I made the bear for; yeah, her. She's just about due. I think she's got like about a week and 1/2 left. And she just quite working. We were joking tha tshe was going to have the baby behind the counter (she works at my local coffee shop, which I am now recently employed!). But I think we all know how gross that would be, so I think she's done working for a bit. And I think I'm done blogging for the night. It's like almost 11pm and I have to work tomarrow. Ok, so it's not until 1pm, but I still have to work around the house! In fact, I think I'm going to mop the floors and maybe bleach my counters! Oh sounds fun huh! I bet you can't wait to hear the out come of tomarrows adventures!!

So, as always, happy thoughts, luscious merriment, and lots of obsessive yarning! Ciao

Howdy! It's been sometime since I last posted anything, I've kinda been busy. You know, child, hubby, lame drama, it all takes time. I have been crocheting though. I have a couple of really sweet girls that come to my place on Thursdays for our "stitch'n'bitch." It's fun.

I'm almost finished with the bunny I'm doing for my friends daughter (as you can see, she's missing legs. the pattern also calles for a scarf and hat, so I guess I'll be making that too. Maybe I'll make an outfit or two just for fun!). The one that's preggers and I made the bear for. I'm making the bunny for when I go see her in after she's had the baby. And I think I'm going to make her a blanket for her boy. I just didn't feel like I gave her enough for her shower. She's really rad anyways so I'll like to do it for her.

I've also kinda worked on some edging for a skirt I made on my knitting machine. It's called the wedding ring insertion. I think it'll be nice if I can ever "get'er done!" ;)
(sorry, not the greatest pic, but you get the idea)

Well that's about it. Hopefully, everyone's doing well. Things are looking up for me. The worst of the lame drama is over. The kid and hubby, well... they can have all my time. That's pretty much what I'm here for now. But! My hubby gives me the time to do what I want, so it's a good give and take! Anyways, enough about that! How 'bout happy thoughts, luscious merriment, and much more obsessive yarning! Ciao

~ The Dishes (*_^)

Yeah!!!! I went to Japantown this weekend and I got an amigurumi book!! I got one of the Amigurumi Collection books!! I'm so excited!! (I thought I'd have to get one from Amazon.com, Japan, and I wasn't very excited about that prospect, having to pay $27 for the book, plus $15 for shipping, then I'd have to wait like 2 months!! No thanks! I think driving an hour and walking around Japantown is way more fun. Oh and did I mention that the book was only $16.50? I'm so stoked!!) I got vol. 3. The bookstore didn't have vol. 1. That's the one I really wanted. Vol. 2 didn't look as exciting at vol.3. But! I now know where to go for when I want another. And yes, it is all in Japanese. But luckily, I understand charts, so it's working out well. Except, I don't really know what exactly I'm making, piece wise that is. Like the head and body of the bunny I'm making for example; they are both about 22 to 27 rows high, but the head was 60 stitches at it's widest point, and the body is 32, or so. So I figure, once I get this first project made, I think I can figure out what the symbols are for head, body, arms and legs. Then lets hope I can figure out what the other little symbols are. Like "nose" and "tail." Please keep your fingers crossed for me. Maybe I'll get a Japajnese/English dictionary. I've wanted to learn Japanese for about 5 years now, mabye I should learn it now. Then, maybe I can help others!!! Happy thoughts, lusious marriment, and much obsessive yarning!!

Oh Oh!! I finished my bear that I was making for my friend for her baby shower, I'm not sure if I'm totally stoked on it, I think he looks a little funny, but everyone else says it's cute, so.... but here it is, let me know what you think.

Here's Bubby-bear....

And here's the progress on his arm! YAY for me!

Good day! Hope all is well! I'm very excited! I think I may start a Happy Hookers' Stitch 'n' Bitch! There's this chica at my local coffee shop who is always got yarn in her hands, well at least all winter anyways. Our summers get pretty warm. But I've never had the nerve to introduce myself. Well, finally, the other day she was having coffee with a friend of mine and knitting a sweater (from the Stitch 'n' Bitch Nation) and I finally got the nerve. With that, I also asked if she would be interested in maybe yarning together. She said yes! I've actually always been a bit intimidated by her. She just seems like some one I wouldn't want to piss off. :^D:^I

At any rate, I thought she had been knitting for years (she's been crocheting since she was 6)! But as it turns out, only a few months. And when I asked her if she would be interested in starting a group or stitch 'n' bitch, [I was feeling a little stupid, trendy or something, and being as that this coffee shop is very trendy for not being trendy, it's home to local punk crowd (hmm, funny now that I think about it) I just felt silly.] But she taught herself how to knit with the book, "Stitch 'n' Bitch." So I didn't feel so silly! :D yay!

I was also telling her that I was feeling the need to craft with other women, well other people. (Hey if a dude wants to yarn and subject himself to a bunch of women in one room, he is more than welcome! I'd like to see how long he'd last. haha!!) And she said she was feeling the same need! Plus she has a friend that's just starting to knit and getting frustrated, and another friend that knows how to make socks! And I think socks are the coolest things! They're part of the reason I learned to knit! So!! All in all, I'm very excited! I used to yarn with a bunch of ladies when I first learned to crochet, but that was years ago, and I sorely miss it. And not all of us were yarning either. Some were drawing, some were playing hand drums (it's always nice to have some music going). We even had a couple kids with us (mom was yarning) and they were working on whatever project they had going, whether it was school related or not....it was really fun. I think it was just that sense of community, maybe a sense of belonging that I enjoyed so much.

I don't know about any of you folks, but I feel silly yaring in public. Sometimes (don't ask me why I care so much about what others think of me, it's something I'm working on getting over) I wonder what people are thinking about me. If people just think I'm poor, or I need attention, or if they think 'Right on! Keep the tradition alive. I didn't know anyone did that anymore.'

So I think having a group will make me feel better. I don't really know of many people near me that yarn. So I'm thinking of making a little flyer to put up at the coffee house for any and all to come join us in making handmades! :^D Hopefully, it will be beneficial for more than just me!!

Yeah for Crafts!!!!

Oh and I've started on another gurumi. It's going to be a little bear for my pregger friend. But I have to make two 'cause her daughter is 4. Plus the siblings will be sharing a room, which I think is going to be Hawaiian Surf theme, so I'm thinking I can do two of the same tyrp of bear, one bigger and one smaller, and then make like some shorts for the little boy bear, and maybe like a little pink sundress for big girl bear. But so far so good with the first bear. And I even started to write down my pattern, but then I left my paper upstairs, and I was too lazy to go up and get it, so I only got the head written down. But! That's a start! I'll at least know where to begin the next one! Well ok! I've talked enough! Until next time, good thoughts, lusious merriment, and obsessive yarning! Ciao

So here I am, totally obsessed with amigurumi and I haven't even talked about the woman that got me to be so obsessed. Elisabeth Doherty from Gourmet Amigurumi. Here's the like to her place. http://www.gourmetamigurumi.com/main.htm

Her work is absolutely breathtaking. It was the first site I had come upon when searching for amigurumi. (I had found and article about amigurimis in Vouge's knit.1 mag.) She truely is the bomb and what she does. I do know that she sells them on flicker (or however it's spelled). But if you have the time, it will be well worth checking out!! Especially the details. The smallest details make the BIGGEST difference! Well anyways, just thought I'd let you all know how I came about to be so Amigurumi Obsessed.

Ok, here she is, Ms. Nice. If you've reached me from Amigurumi-Along, then you already know what's up. I'm really excited that I finished a project with a, mmmm, month. That's good. But as before, I can't say I'm exactly pleased. I think she's alright for my first gurumi. But I obviously have some things I need to work on. Her arms are different lengths, I didn't get them even, and I'm a very symetrical person, so it really bugs me. Her feet look funny and her head is way floppy, too much hair.

Ahh, the hair. I really don't suggest doing this. It looks pretty cool, but the twisting and the twisting and the twisting...... well, I just couldn't take it anymore. I had to stop working on her for awhile. I had finished everything but her hair, so the fact that I wasn't into anymore twisting, kinda put her on hold for a minute. Or a week. Or maybe two weeks. But she's complete now. She's not perfect, but I think I know what to do better next time. I've got just the tiniest beginings of a new friend. His name is Me-mo.

I guess I should explain the pictures a littl better.... I'm almost done with Nice. Yeah!!!! I can't wait! The hair is taking so long. I like the way it looks, I just don't really care for the process. Oh well, such is life. But blogging isn't getting her hair done. So off to obsessive yarning!!! Ciao

And here's her face. I'm very proud of it. I've never done embroidery before! :^D

Here's the back. It may look like a lot, but it's still a bit sparse.

Ahhh, a nice clean kitchen. I even have a clean floor!! I don't like to mop, but I sure love a clean floor. What is that? What is it about cleanliness that makes us feel so good? But I have to admit, I HATE to clean. My house is almost always in shambles, at least to my standards anyways. But oh well. I got the kitchen done and I got one out 3 bathrooms taken care of. Oh and I vacuumed!! So actually I accomplished a lot today (for me that is)!!

So I'm almost done with my first amigurumi, Pinky. For some strange reason I decided to listen to my brother and give her 'hair.' Boy what a mistake that was! I'm going to be sitting here forever trying to give her a full head of hair!! Oh well, the next one I make will be a little easier than this one. But for the most part I'm pretty pleased with Pinky.

I have a girlfriend (no she's not MY girlfriend, I'm in a hetro marriage) who's going to have a baby in about 3 months. Her shower is April 1st, so I have less than a month to make a baby blanket and a bear! And I have no idea what colors to use. I hate that. Hey! Does anybody else feel like a major dork when they want to make a gift for someone? I'm always wondering, is it good enough? Is it going to last, is it going to fall apart? Is the person going to like it, or are they just going to blow smoke up my...., well I'm sure you get the picture.

And I still feel a bit silly posting my thoughts, but I guess if you don't like them, you just won't read on, or you'll tell me I'm silly, but regardless, I still feel dorky. So I think that's it. I really don't have much else to say. But, remember, happy thoughts, lusious merriment, and much happy(obsessive) yarning!

Ciao for now!

So... Has anyone else ever felt stupid putting up their first few posts? 'Cause I'll tell ya, I feel pretty stupid. I just have no idea what I'm doing! I'm sure that's pretty obvious, but I'd still like to maybe post a few pictures or something.... Oh well, this is good enough for now. And I guess if you don't like it, you don't have to read it. Not like I'll know or anything! hehe

So I've started my first amigurumi friend. She's pink and black. I've posted a few crappy pictures at Amigurumi-Along. This is the first time I've made something like this. I've made all kinds of bags and blankets (mostly bags and blankets, I used to be a total hippie and carry like 10lbs of rocks and crystals with me, so I took up making bags so I wouldn't damage my rocks in my wanderings). Then I got a real job, and being a hippie wasn't really condusive anymore.

Then I met a great guy and just stayed home all the time. Now we're married and babied (my son's 18mos old. It's great! ). So to fight the ho-hums of marriage, I took up crocheting again!! Yeah! I also tried to take up knitting, but it didn't work so well. I tried it for a bit, but I just have trouble with two needles, and I held the yarn in the "wrong" hand for "american style" knitting, so it made it hard to learn from books. Which, that may be the problem, I taught myself! But my mother-in-law got me one of those sweater machines!! Awwman!! That thing is so cool! I've only made a skirt so far, (I've only had it a month or so) but it was my own design and I figured it out the math and guage (I've never believed in gauging) and everything else all by myself!!! Just like a big girl!!! Isn't that exciting?!

So once I really got into knitting and crocheting again, I started to get those knit and crochet magazines. And that is where I found...AMIGURUMI!!!!! Quite the story just to tell you how I found out about this stuff, huh? Well, if you've read this much, I've taken quite a bit of your time. So I will leave you now in hopes of happy thoughts, lusious merriment, and of course, much happy yarning.