Crocheted Pin Cushion, Free Pattern

This is my little Baby Coral Pin Cushion. She lives in with coral reef creations that I have made recently.

I tried to write pattern as well as I could, but if you have any difficulties, please let me know.

You will need:

-Crochet hook, size 3.5 (E)

-50 gr. skein of lighter ww acrylic or wool yarn, or cotton,

-A little bit of Bernat Eye Lash, in Cool, or any other frizzy yarn, in color that matches

your main color.

-Some Polyester Fiber Filling

- Wiggly Eyes, or buttons for eyes

-Little bit of reddish color yarn for mouth

-Darning needle

-Sewing needle

-Sewing thread to sew eyes on, matching color to main color.

-row marker, as you are not going to join the rows

Pattern:

Head:

Ch 2, make 8 sc in the second ch from the hook

Row 1: 2 sc in each of the sc (16 sc)

Row 2: 1 sc in first sc, 2 sc in second sc, 1 sc in next, 2 sc in next, and continue this way to end (24 sc)

Row 3: 1 sc in each of next 2 sc, 2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in next two, 2 sc in next sc, and continue

this way to end (32 sc)

Row 4: 1 sc in each of next 3 sc, 2 sc in next sc, 1 sc in next 3 sc, 2 sc in next sc, and continue to

end (40 sc)

Row 5: -1 sc in the ack loop (only on this row) of each sc (40 sc)

Rows 6 - 13 -1 sc in each sc

Row 14: 1 sc in first 3 sc, next 2 sc together (dec.), 3 sc, dec. 2 sc tog., 3 sc, dec. 2 sc tog, continue

to end (32 sc)

Row 15: 1 sc in first 2 sc, dec. 2 sc tog., 2 sc, dec. 2 sc tog, continue to end (24 sc)

Row 16: 1 sc, 2 sc tog, 1 sc, 2 sc tog, 1 sc, 2 sc tog..to the end (16 sc)

Row 17: 2 sc tog, to the end (8 sc)

At this point, make the frilly starting on the loop that is not used. See row 5, where stitches were done on the back loop only. For the frill you will use the unused front loop. Trust me, don't leave this frill edging after you have stuffed this little baby (I did, and it was not easy)

Ok, the frill is done this way: 2 sc in each loop, continue to next row and do 1 sc in first sc, then 2 sc in next sc stitch, then 1 sc, then 2sc in the next sc, etc, to the end, and make another row the same way. Actually to make a big frilly edgine, you can do as many rows as you want. The last row is done with Eye Lash (or what ever you are using), and only one stitch in each sc.

Then you can stuff the head and close it.

Cut the yarn and leave long enough tail to weave into the 8 stitches, and then pull together to close, and then hide the tail.

Eyes, make 2:

Rows 1 - 2 as on head (24 sc)

Row 3: 1 sc in the back loop on this row only

Rows 4 - 7 sc to each sc (24 sc)

Row 8: 1 sc, 2 sc tog, 1 sc, 2 sc tog, 1 sc, 2 sc tog..to the end (16 sc)

Row 9: 2 sc tog, to the end (8 sc)

Stuff the eyes. Cut yarn, leaving long enough tail to finish off the eye.

Weave yarn end thru the 8 sc's, and close, hide yarn.

Attach wiggly eyes (or buttons), and embroid a mouth with reddish yarn.

Happy Easter to Everyone!

I have made this little chickie years ago. Since then I've made many others, and some Easter bunnies, too.

Needless to say, I don't have a clue where they are, other than some I've given to our granddaughter. Others have disappeared to a safe and easy place to find at Easter time. I also saw, in a box, two weeks ago, some Easter decorations that I had bought in a store. Did I find them this morning? Nope.

It's time to make some more Easter chickies and bunnies today. I think I have some yellow yarn somewhere, if I can find it. Keep your fingers crossed.

BTW, the crocheted item under the chickie is part of a summer top I am making with my tencel yarn. The yarn is size 10 or smaller, if I can compare it to crochet thread. The top is going to take a long time to finish. I am doing it only when I need a inspirational shot in my system. Free form crochet does that every time.

That little chickie was lonely, so I made a bunny, today, to be with him.

Oh no, another coral reef

There is the group of my corals that I have right now.

Well, this time it's just about two additions to an existing coral reef that I made on the weekend.

This is an addition to this topic:

I made another one after. However, I didn't take a picture until just about half an hour ago.

Here is the latest HPCR.

And here is the one I made on Monday, March 24th

And this was done on March 26th night. It is supposed to be white.

Scrumbling

It's been a while since I made any scrumbles. I guess it was around the time when I decided to make a summer top to wear at Manchester Knit and Crochet show. As soon as I decided not to go, I stopped making those scrumbles.

Summer is around the corner, although, when you look at the snow that still covers the ground, you would not believe that it's going to be spring and then summer. Really!

I have been knitting and crocheting obsessively, and not really been myself, that is, if I ever am myself, I don't often know who I am. I sometimes wonder if I will remember anything from this life in my next life. I certainly don't remember what happened in my previous life.

Ohhkay, off the subject, just like my knitting and crocheting.

I made a scrumble with the yarn Sherri had spun. She had made it just for me, in the colors that I like.

In the bad news section, I hate my hoodie. The fabric is loose, the hood joining is horrible, and the jacket itself is tight, and I don't feel like working on the zipper band, to make the jacket looser for me. The yarn is wool, so after washing the fabric might tighten a little bit, but I still have to fix the hood seam. I am not happy.

More Coral Reefs

The purple one is from today.

I was knitting Elspeth doll today, but she didn't turn out to my liking. I was not using the right yarns, and colors. I thought that I would take a shortcut on the fair isle design on the body part, and use self-striping yarn instead. Well, it didn't work out to my liking. I started again, this time with somewhat more correct yarns. I did half the body part. That's it, my attention swayed to some yarns waiting for to be used for an other coral reef.

Another Coral Reef

I'm not going to get my doll done tonight, since I am on crochet gear. I made this Reef tonight, after I got home from work.

Saturday, March 15th:

No doll work last night; instead another coral reef, this time in color coral.

Another toy

Ok, I've had it with critters. It's time to make some dolls. The first one is going to be Noreen's Eslpeth doll.

However, I am taking a break tonight, after finishing that caterpillar, from Kimberly Chapman's site.

I'm in a toyful mood

http://www.hankeringforyarn.com/knitted-elspeth-doll-all-the-links

Here is one of the next projects I will make.

First I want to finish the Caterpillar, who is still missing a few legs, and the face. Then there is another alien critter on the works. His head is almost done. The pattern is for knitting, but I want to make him for our Saturday Crochet group meeting for "show and tell", so I decided to
crochet my little green alien. I am following the knitting instructions, as well as I possibly can.
I've only made a few mistakes, but my little green critter doesn't seem to mind. The frogs have stayed away, also.

Here is the link for the critter...ooops, it's called robot. Oh, well, since I am creating him, I can call him what ever I want.

Some snow pictures

We still have some snow

Thrifty Critter

Here is something that reminds me of grocery shopping. I go to buy bread and come out with something else, no bread.

I was going to finish the hoodie last night. Instead I made this Thrifty Critter. It took me all night to make.

The pattern is free here.

MeMe

Here we go again, sniping things from Janet's blog

1. How often do you go to the grocery store?
At least once a week, and then the little trips for items that I forgot to buy. Or bread, which
we do not forget to buy almost daily(the fresh Italian one). I had a bread maker, but it died, and now we buy the dang bread.

2. Do you love or hate going grocery shopping?
I like it when I want something sinful, but generally I love it when hubby does the shopping.
Oh, no, I love going to Loblaws, because they have an excellent selection of knitting magazines.

3. Where do you go?
Loblaws, No Frills, Dominion, Food Basics, Fruit stores

4. Are you a faithful list writer?
Not generally, just sometimes, when I have "nothing" in the fridge.

5. Do you write it but never remember to bring it?
Were you reading my mind here?

6. Do you use coupons?
I use coupons to fill my wallet. usually they are expired. I use coupons at McDonald's, and other fast food places (pizza)

7. What is something that you ALWAYS have in your fridge?
Nearly empty marmalade jars, light. Oh, and milk, margarine, cheese, one or two dried out veggies, pickled green tomatoes, some water, some juice, mustard...list goes on

8. What is the thing in your fridge that is a "guilty pleasure"?
right now nothing but it used to be ice-cream, but I have not had that since last September or
so. I'm fibbing, we have dulce de leche in there, and if I don't have anything sweet to eat, I spread that on a piece of bread and that is my pleasure.

9. What is that one or two things that you feel like you buy every single day?
Bread

10. What items do your children consume in ABUNDANCE.
My child does not live with me, he's got his own fridge and I have no idea what else is there other than milk and juice for his kids.

11. What's on your fridge?
Magnetic holder for towels, fridgies from places where we have been, a 2006 magnetic calendar,
a little crocheted piece my stepdaughter made, when she was learning how to crochet, a drawing my granddaughter made last year, some magnets with emergency numbers that probably aren't valid any more. There is an opener for milk bags, can/bottle opener, and kitchen scissors (they are in a little box that has magnet and sticks to the fridge wall) I do have to check what really is on it.

Pattern overload

It is rather dangerous to start surfing when one has something special in mind. I was looking for a simple doll pattern, since I want to knit a small, skinny doll. Sure, I would know how to make it, but I thought that if I had a pattern in front of me, it would be easier to change it to my liking.

I found this Kimberley Chapman's Toy Link. Holy, petunia, what a treasure chest, or link, or what ever. I've been printing and saving for the last hour or so. Now I have to make up the lost time, since I am at work. Oh, yes, I do have some made-up time, like 20 hours. I do not feel guilty. Well, a little bit, because I am really busy at work. Let's say this is my lunch hour, so that I would feel better. Guilty feeling is a funny critter. It sits on your shoulder, even when you are not supposed to feel guilty. for example: I am having (not...this is just an example, OK) tummy pains. I feel nauseated, and want to go home and sleep. Well, no, I will not do that, because none of those symptoms show up on my face, and if I tell the boss that I'm not feeling good, and want to go home, immediately I would feel guilty. Isn't that just too sad.

Where was I? Oh, in the toy chest. I have books, I have magazines, printouts everywhere, but no, I still had to print these goodies from Kimberley's site.

How will I ever learn to concentrate on one thing at one time? I really want to finish my hoodie. The weather is going to start warm up, and my hoodie is very warm. I know, because when I work on it, it sits on my lap, and I start feeling so warm that I have to take the hoodie and put it on the table or somewhere where it does not make me feel warm.

I started making another hyperbolic plane last night. I didn't follow any patterns. Well, there really isn't any available, just general instructions for increases. I kept going and going and then I decided to finish the yarn that was in the ball. I still have to do the edging, and the HP is done.

I looked at it, and wondered, what am I going to do with this? What do we do with them? It does not go as a pin, because it's too big, it does not make a hat, because it's not shaped like that. Oh, this one is an open one. I didn't make a ring first, I made a chain link and started from that.
At one point it looked like a rainbow, but not any more. I'll post a picture later, I don't have my camera with me today.

Here is the HP

Now, here at work, I have with me: yarn and needles for a doll, almost finished HP, skein of RH yarn to make a 12" square for charity, and some silk/merino lace yarn for a freeform top.
I also now have a pile of printed patterns, a Crochet World magazine (I bought it yesterday, because it had a pattern for a fashion doll dress, and a nice bookmark), and Woman's Weekly magazine, January, 2008 (from England). That one has a knitting pattern for a Classic Guernsey sweater for a little boy. The smallest size is 3 (years?) which is perfect, my grandson is 6 months old, so by the time the sweater is done, considering the attention I pay on each project at one time, the kid will be perfect for this sweater. I am optimistic. Or, should I make it for a 4 year old?

Celestine Crochet

I finished the 12 point star. Ran out of first yarn, so there are two different types of yarn. I am sure my grandson will not mind at all. He's only 6 and thensome months old.

The pattern is free at Berroco.

More Coral Reefs

These two are my contribution for the Coral Reef Program.

More information at IFF.

Thank you, Barbara, for all your help!

Punctuation Mark

http://www.blogthings.com/whatpunctuationmarkareyouquiz/



I came up with "comma"

You Are a Comma

You are open minded and extremely optimistic. You enjoy almost all facets of life. You can find the good in almost anything. You keep yourself busy with tons of friends, activities, and interests. You find it hard to turn down an opportunity, even if you are pressed for time. Your friends find you fascinating, charming, and easy to talk to. (But with so many competing interests, you friends do feel like you hardly have time for them.) You excel in: Inspiring people You get along best with: The Question Mark

http://www.blogthings.com/whatpunctuationmarkareyouquiz/">What Punctuation Mark Are You?

Celestine

I call this a toy, because I would not know what else to do with it. I am half way thru with the project, and am running out of yarn. The other side has to be with another yarn, since I don't want to frog any thing on this Berroco star. All the little points are joined as you go, so frogging is out of the question. It's Celestine, because Berroco pattern calls for Celestine yarn, which I don't have, of course. I am using left-over sock yarn.

Here is a picture of mine so far:

Coral Reef Fairy

Here she is: Coral Reef Fairy.

This is something that I have not done before, and I like it,

at least for now. I have noticed that my inspiration for new things

isn't always long lasting. However, I will try to finish some other

Coral Reef projects, since I can use my imagination to make them.

It is somewhat hard for me to follow a pattern, so I find this method relaxing and inspirational.

Thanks to Barbara, who guided me to basics, and I have been following her "instructions" and continued from those first steps.

Little Cardi

This is a little knitted cardi, with crocheted edging, that I made for a co-worker last weekend.

I found the yarn in my stash. I had bought it at Eaton's store, which has disappeared years ago. It's good to have stash.

The pattern is from Knit 'N Style, April 2008 magazine.

Crochet ideas

Here is another one from Berroco

I started, and didn't follow the pattern carefully (me? tsk tsk) and here is a picture of the first part, and the second one, which is bigger, because this second time I followed the pattern.




Oh, and last night I also started adding an edging to that coral reef I made earlier. I used mohair yarn, which was a little bit too heavy, so I dediced that the coral was lopsided and somewhat broken.








And to keep the momentum going, I started a new hyperbolic plane, but didn't get too far, because the Berrocco pattern was tickling my interest, too. Here is a start for my second HP

Coral Reef

This is my first try on a hyperbolic plane.





I am planning to make some more, and different ones. Perhaps I will make them nice enough to donate for the Coral Reef program.

Here are some pictures of the Coral Reef

And here are pictures of Chicago Gallery.

Aren't these just breathtaking?

Friday Fill-ins

This is Saturday now, I got busy elsewhere.

Once again, from Janet's blog:



1. Not losing your luggage_____ is the best thing about traveling.



2. I love a good shiver_____ when I'm cold.



3. I often use _Q-Tips to clean my ears...tsk tsk tsk____.



4. I'm reading my answers_____ right now; I can't think of anything else to write here._____



5. Politics_____ is something I dislike talking about.



6. When I visited Janet's Blog_____ I most looked forward to seeing _her drawings____.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to planning my weekend_____, tomorrow my plans include grocery shopping_____ and Sunday, I want to _relax and knit____!

Where was I?

This drawing is one of those that doesn't really mean anything. For me it is my mind, it does not know where it's heading .

I took a break from knitting, and kept on drawing and drawing, while nothing was really clear.

Sunday chores

It is ten minutes before noon. I have done none of those chores I was going to do this morning, and then relax and do what ever a lazy Sunday would require.

Instead I took my watercolor crayons and started doodling. and here is the result.

I have no imagination to do anything else, so I will set a new time limit for myself, and try to get my chores done by 1 pm. Well now, lets make it by 2 pm, then I could feel victorious, if I finish before 2.

Walking on my words

The spell check doesn't want to check anything for me. If there
are annoying mistakes, just ignore them.

Once again I spent several valuable minutes looking for a journal which was hidden somewhere in my yarn stash room. However, I found some other items that inspired me for a few moments. There was a "Knitter's Journal", neatly resting between some knitting magazines.



Looking at the pages I discovered that I had not been interested in keeping a knitting journal, since all the pages were empty. It is such a pity that I get enthusiastic about something and then the thought disappears as soon as something else catches my eyes.
This time it was a note pad with a nice, soft cover with pockets.


It was a little bit too large, though, for my idea of having a smaller journal that could fit my not-so-large handbag. Of course, I have a good sized tote bag with me every day when I go to work, but I put some other very important items in it, like my knitting, and perhaps crocheting. I also keep patterns, and magazines in my tote bag. Sometimes I don't even take those things out, but I need my bag, just to have something "just in case". Now I will have a journal. It has a nice "leather" cover. What ever "bonded leather" means. It has a Thomas Kinkade drawing on the front cover, which makes my journal very special. Wether I write anything on it, is another story.



Writing requires private time, at least for me. It could be in the morning, but that is when it takes about an hour for me to properly wake up. I could easily get up forty minutes before I go to work, if only I was awake. But no, first, I need my 20 minutes yawning excercises, and then some one minute spleeping spasms in front of my computer, while I try to check my e-mail. This is not such a good idea to do when one has just tried to wake up. Sometimes it's easier just to solve a jigsaw puzzle, and then watch morning news and get ready for work.

Of course, weekends are an exception to my morning rituals. If I am lucky, I might sleep in, and then the whole day is ruined, because it still takes an hour to wake up, and sooner than I realize, it's noon, and all the weekend plans have been demolished. One of the plans would have been knitting all morning until noon. Hah.

I will not mention my "Art Journal" which I started a few months ago. I think I filled four or five pages. I will not talk about that.

Snow Pictures

Anyone who lives in areas where snow is a norm in the winter, would have seen similar scenery everywhere.

These pictures are from the "backyard" of our office building, today.

To-Do list

This list was stolen from Janet's blog. except number 7, that's mine.

I shall monitor myself eagerly this week.

1. Keep doing art each day. Even if it's just a scribble.
Monday: none
Tuesday: None

2. Eat healthy meals and drink plenty of water.
Monday: Chili con Carne, cheese on multigrain bagel
not too much water , do I mention the unhealthy stuff?
Tuesday: multigrain cheese sandwich, baked in the oven
pork loin chops (1.5) , two hot dogs for dinner

3. Read more and watch less tv.
Monday: There is nothing on tv anyway, all reruns, or uninteresting shows,
I read knitting patterns

Tuesday: Crocheting all night

4. Don't sit around in my jammies until late afternoon!!
Wait until the weekend

5. Take more photos.
Monday: none taken
Tuesday: Took some pictures of the froggies

6. Write in my journal every day.
Monday: none written
Tuesday: does this count?

7. Knit/crochet a few rows at least each day
Monday: Knitted 3 hours at night

Tuesday: Knitted one hour, crocheted 2

And here is the crocheted Froggie buddies (the first one is hanging in my car)

Froggie, Snowlady

Winter is a strange season. Sometimes it's cold and before you get a change to knit a hoodie, it's warm again. My hoodie sweater is progressing slowly. One reason being that I am knitting fronts and back at the same time. That means oooodles of stitches on the needles. One row takes about 10 -15 minutes, depending on who or what is distracting my attention to the stitches.

On the other note, I made a froggie last night, and fed him this morning. He's now happily befriending a snowlady who came to life yesterday. She had been rolling on the snow, and came to see the little froggie. I hope she doesn't think that this froggie is "THE Prince" That would be fun . Hmmmm. Maybe we need a prince, too. Oh, well, I need to finish the hoodie, otherwise I will be very upset when the spring arrives.

The froggie pattern is the one from Amigurumi girl.blog

I don't have a pattern or instructions for the Snowgirl. She was done with crocheted balls, sewn together, and beads for eyes, nose and buttons. The scarf is chains and then sc on each ch. Hands the same as scarf.

Hat:

SIZE 10 THREAD

SIZE 7 OR 8 HOOK,

CH 2

MAKE 8 SC in second ch from the hook

DO NOT JOIN, but mark the first stitch throughout

ROW 2: 2 SC IN EACH SC (16 SC)

ROW 3: SC IN FIRST SC, 2 SC IN NEXT SC, SC IN NEXT SC, 2 SC IN NEXT SC, TO END (24 ST)

ROW 4: SC IN BACK LOOP OF EACH SC, back loop only on this row

ROW 5 TO 8: SC IN EACH SC

ROW 9: 2 SC IN FRONT LOOP OF EACH SC (48 ST), front loop only on this row

ROW 10: SC IN EACH SC

ROW 11: 1 SC IN FIRST 2 SC, 2 SC IN NEXT SC, 1 SC IN NEXT 2 SC, TO END (64 SC)

ROW 12: SC IN EACH SC

ROW 13: CH 3, SKIP 1 SC, SLP ST IN NEXT SC, CH 3, SKIP 1 SC, SLP ST IN NEXT SC,

Continue to end, and finish off.

Drawing and Daisy

The flowers were done with XP Paint application, and the yellow Daisy was done with Crochet hook, my hands, and thread application.

Some days, I could swear that I should be making some other stuff than solve jigsaw puzzles. Then I hear in the radio that solving puzzles and doing crossword puzzles keeps one's mind sharper than if I was just cleaning my home, doing dishes, going shopping (I have no money anyway) and having coffee or tea, or other type of drinks. I am not saying that there is anything wrong with the above stuff, I am just saying that in addition to above stuff, one should do something else, too.

Where am I going with this. Oh, yes: in August, 2006, I placed an order for a subscription for the artist's magazine. Finally, after numerous calls to those people who are sending magazines, I received my first issue. I didn't receive the free gift, that was supposed to come. I'll give them until Monday, now that things seem to be moving over at that place. I want my freebie. I just don't remember what it is going to be.

Frog

The pattern for this little frog came from Amigurumi Girl's blog. (if you check January 2006 entries, you will find amazing creations Amigurumi Girl has.)

I had to change the arms and legs, because that is an obsession of mine: change something in every pattern, unless it's a cable sweater, and I have to follow a pattern stitch by stitch, or a KAL shawl, or stole.

Talk about KAL stoles, hmmm. I have not progressed too much, since my last post, because, I have been off and on in different areas of needle work. Knitting and Crocheting areas, that is. Of course I have used some sewing, too, to hide ends, and finish this cute little frog. That's about all I do with sewing needle, oh and sew buttons, too.

Back to this little frog. I needed something to smooth my recent habits: frogging to no end. Every single project that I try to make, requires some frogging. Be it a stitch or two, couple rows below, specially in cable pattern, or a sock pattern that doesn't please me, or an Irish Crochet Daisy, that required some manipulating so that the little Daisy would not cup.

Mood for IC

I am on an Irish Crochet kick right now. Joined the group in Ravelry this morning, and
waiting for our next CAL project at our Yahoo group.

My head is spinning with a desire just to crochet little Irish motifs, and let my hook go.

On the back burner I have several items, do you want a list? My latest whim was a stole,
from www.Knitty.com, it's a KAL project, called Juno Regina. I've started it with a yarn that
I bought at my "normal" LYS, meaning that the yarn is not from Romni. Someone had ordered it and then didn't want it, and in comes Pirk, who absolutely fell in love with the yarn,
and it's lavender, wow, something has gone wrong with my brain, but I like the color.

How long is this spell lasting, who knows?

I also made some pink motifs for Prudence's Pink Project, and need to send them to her.

These are my WIPs, in no particular order:

Central Park Hoodie
Rogue Hoodie
FreeForm Sweater
Merino/Cashmere Sweater
Socks for Hubby
FreeForm scrumbles for a summer top
Juno Regina
Joyella (this one is coming along quite nicely)

the list goes on and on ....

I give up, now I am depressed. I need to do some Freeform Irish Crochet at lunch
to get my spirits up.

Knitter's block

Time flies when you are not having fun. Fun with the tingling fingers. When one knits or crochets and stops every two minutes, the process of project is slow, I would imagine.



I have not been able to produce anything else but some scrumbles, by crocheting. Which really is great, because I enjoy scrumbling and have not done that type of creating for a long while. Blame it on Christmas gifts for family members.



Knowing that another Christmas is coming up, I have started the gifts already, but as I mentioned, the process is very slow. I have managed to frog a few pairs of socks, I have managed to cast on stitches for a scarf, and I have managed to knit the ribbing and then some for three different hoodies. Wait, two of them are the same, just different colors, and yarns.



Despite my promise to myself of not buying any yarn for six months, I broke down last Thursday, and bought Galway Heather yarn for one of the hoodies. I have done the ribbing, and am ready for the first row on the cable chart.

First of the New Year 2008

Wishing everyone a Happy New Year!

It's snowing in our corner.

I finished a pair of Mystery socks, on Dec. 30th, last year. Here they are