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Not long ago I was mailed two handmade crochet hooks by Krystle of HeartSprinkle. Krystle sculpts beautiful handles for metal crochet hooks using polymer clay. Her favourite hook to make is her signature honey bee hook, and I was lucky enough to receive two of them as a gift!
Krystle makes her handles on any brand of metal hook, so you can choose your favourite – whether it be a Susan Bates, Boye, or Clover Amour hook, she can make a unique personalized handle for it. I chose to have one handle made on a Susan Bates hook because I had never tried an in-line hook before, and one on my all time favourite Clover Amour hook...continue reading.
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This is the second post in a tutorial series on how to read amigurumi crochet patterns, both written and graphic. Previously, I looked at the most common abbreviations used in written amigurumi patterns – if you haven’t already, I recommend reading it before continuing with this post. Now, I will take you through, line by line, how to read a written hookabee pattern. This will not only help you with reading hookabee patterns, but also those designers who write similarly.
Lets go through how to read the pattern for a simple fin shape...continue reading.
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Just because it's fun:
June Gilbank got to experience an amigurumi pattern of hers going viral on facebook, and it inspired this blanket! I think I might have to make this. She is running a CAL for the occasion, too.
Justyna of Cute and Kaboodle is hosting a free mystery CAL this month to celebrate Crochet Month! I don't think it is too late to join in, though there are already some clues released.
Amination is now on Instagram! If you enjoy Chloe's ami designs, you are going to love seeing them here in fun photos.
The Amigurumi Army group on ravelry is running a CAL in which you have to make something BIG or tiny. Neat idea!
Ami designers:
I discovered a new designer: Xuan Nguyen. She makes amigurumi with adorably huge heads! Her friend has started up a photo blog of her work, where you can learn more.
Justyna, the designer running the mini mystery CAL mentioned above, was interviewed for National Crochet Month over on the Crochetville blog. Learn more about her and where she wants to travel.
Amigurumi techniques:
Craftsy compiled a collection of techniques for making amigurumi eyes. I still need to try buttons and felt!
The CraftFoxes blog recently posted about designing your own amigurumi pattern - but what I found most interesting was the title image. It looks like an old biology specimen case, but with different ami shapes!
Tools, notions and yarn:
I started using bent tip tapestry needles to assemble my amigurumi, and I have to say, I am not going back to straight ones! Much easier to pick up stitches when sewing. You can find some by Clover and HiyaHiya.
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When stuffing your amigurumi, try adding the stuffing in thin layers, lying one layer on top of the other, rather than as one big ball all at once. I find this method works best for creating an ami without any lumps and bumps.
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Each newsletter I interview a fellow amigurumi maker. In this issue, meet Carrey! Learn more about her and her work on her ravelry profile.
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Tell us a little about yourself!
I am happily married to my soul-mate. We’ve been married 27 yrs. We have a son that is 25 yrs old. I love crafting! Whether it is with yarn, material, wire, beads, or anything else I can get my hands on. I didn’t get very crafty until I was married and my hubby has fed and supported my addiction.
Funny story about patience…When I was pregnant with my son, we visited the home of my husband's friend. The man’s wife was really nice. They were an elderly couple and had a lot of knowledge about things. She sat me down and said, young lady (I was 18 yrs old) you are having a baby and you need to learn patience. I said, Oh Ok. She went and brought out this huge, and I mean HUGE, bag of material. She let me pick some out. She then taught me how to cut out 6” squares, handed me some needle and thread, and said, now start sewing them together. I looked at her and said, all of them? She said yes ma’am. Let me tell you, my poor fingers were so sore, but I persevered and finished sewing all those pieces together - in 3 days! I went back to her house and told her I was finished. She was shocked. She then showed me how to put it all together with batting and backing. I had to quilt that thing all by hand. Well, I will just say that it took me waaaay longer than 3 days to do that - it took me about 2 weeks. But when I finished it I was so proud of myself and had a beautiful quilt to use and show off.
After the “quilt of patience”, we went to the house of a friend of my husband’s from high school. I met his wife and we hit it off. Well, she looked at me after a bit and said, “You are pregnant, you need to learn patience.” I looked at her and said, okay. She disappeared for a few minutes, then came back with some yarn and a crochet hook. I looked at her like she was nuts when she sat down and started crocheting. She said, here, try it. I took hook in hand and watched and listened to everything she told me. Before I left there I had made my very first 4” square. The first five years I crocheted until I never wanted to see yarn again. I was making an afghan a month, huge ones. They were all big enough to cover queen size beds. I put my hook down in 1995 and didn’t pick it back up until 2012, and I have not stopped since.
Why did you start making amis? How did you find out about them?
In Feb 2012, I was surfing the net one day and saw the cutest little frog that was crocheted. I thought, hmmm I think I can make that. So I went digging for some yarn and a crochet hook - trust me when I say digging because it took me about 2 hours to find a hook that hadn’t been seen since 1995. LOL
Do you like to knit your amigurumi or crochet them?
I like to crochet all my amis. Unfortunately, I do not know how to knit. That being said, one of my goals for the New Year is to learn how to knit. We’ll see how that goes.
What is your favourite yarn to use for amigurumi and why?
I would have to say that Red Heart Super Saver and Bernat Super Value are my all time favorite yarns to use. I like the durability of the yarn, it is reasonably priced, and such a wide range of colors to choose from.
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What is your favourite hook to use for amigurumi and why?
I would have to say that Clover Amour Crochet Hooks are my all time favorite brand of hooks. I really like the D/3.25mm for making my amis. My hands cramp up because I tend to have a very firm grip on my hooks, and these “ergo” hooks have helped me with the cramping; plus, I don’t tend to hold my hooks as tight. They are “warm” to the fingers unlike the all metal ones and they don’t slip or turn in my fingers either.
Do you prefer crocheting through blo (back-loop only) or both loops when making amigurumi? Why?
I guess you would say I am a traditionalist when making amis. I prefer both loops, but have at times worked through the BLO. I like my amis to be “firm” if that makes sense. I’ve noticed that when I work the BLO that the amis tend to be “softer” which is great for some things, ie: cuddly dolls or animals. A lot of the ami’s I have made have been more of a display kind of thing. If I know the amis will be for a child I don’t stuff them quite as much either.
Do you like making little or big amigurumi?
I think it really depends on what ami is being made. I prefer to make things that are between 3-12”. Anything over 12” is unusual for me, but I have made a piece or two that large, but they just seem to take too long for me. I like things I can make in a day. This way I can move onto something new the next day.
Who do you give your amis to? Do you keep any for yourself? If so, where do they live?
Who do I give my amis too? Well it just depends really. Sometimes a child that just shows up, a baby gift for co-workers, or even swap partners in a few groups I’m in on Raverly. I’ve given some to friends, hahaha, and my (adult) son. He has quite a collection going.
Do I keep any for myself? Ummmm heck yea I do. Hahaha, especially the snow people and frogs. They are my favorite things. I have kept a monkey for myself, it is just too cute to let go. I have kept a few others also. Where do my amis live? Hahaha, I have to keep them sort of contained to my crafting area. I promised that I wouldn’t let them take over the whole house. So my corner is pretty colorful with all the amis sitting around my desk, shelves, and on top of my terrarium.
What do you like most about making amigurumi?
I love watching an ami come to life. Believe it or not, I find making amis very therapeutic, relaxing (unless something messes up).
Are you crafty in other ways or do you prefer to just stick to crochet/knitting?
Well let’s see, I love to do wire work. I make wire trees, wire jewelry, and wire baskets. I also do beadwork. I make everything with beads, whether it is small beads on a loom or in earrings or large beads for bracelets/necklaces and stitch markers for crocheting. I like to quilt also, nothing fancy really. I like to make patchwork quilts, bandana quilts, and even repurposed blue jeans for quilts.
I would say that crocheting is my favorite thing to do right now.
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I really enjoy learning about other people and what they are creating (hence the ami maker interviews in the newsletter!), and recently I discovered knitting video podcasts on YouTube. Oh no, I am addicted! There is a whole community of video podcasters on YouTube posting weekly videos about their wips, what new yarn and notions they have acquired, and what they have finished. They are great resources for learning about different yarn companies, hand dyers, and pattern designers. Most of them also have ravelry groups where they run KALs - with lots of great prizes!
My favourite so far is the Grocery Girls. They are hilarious sisters who banter away about yarn, socks, and shawls. The amount of yarn these ladies buy - crazy! One of the sisters also sews pretty project bags and shares her latest designs on the podcast. I love that they are Canadian, too, and often talk about fellow Canadian yarn dyers and pattern designers.
The most recent one I have been watching is Dye Another Day - two more Canadians, but they are indie yarn dyers. I haven't watched as many episodes from these ladies, but they are also an amusing pair that are fun to listen to. I hope I can learn more about yarn dyeing from this podcast, but not sure if they will get into their dyeing techniques.
I think I need to search for some crochet versions of these podcasts - or maybe start my own! I have been debating about getting on Parascope. I kind of like the spontaneity and non-scheduled aspect of it over weekely video podcasts. Plus, you get to interact with everyone watching live. We shall see!
Until next time,
P.S. I recently got sorted into my Hogwarts house, and I am a Hufflepuff. We are "loyal, patient, fair, hard-working, true." Pretty good! Want to see what house you belong to? Sign up to be a member on the website Pottermore.
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