Crochet Little Kitty Pattern

I like this style of doll because they are sort of like chibi figures. Very simple and quick to make and the details make the doll.

 In this case, one of the details are the eyes which I won from Suncatcher Eyes. If you don't know about Suncatcher Eyes, they are gorgeously hand-safety eyes that are like sparkling jewels. She has a bunch of variations. These are 9 mm cat eyes in pink. The eyes come with the washers to attach them. You insert the post of the eye into your project. With crochet projects, they fit easily between 2 single crochet stitches done using a size F hook. Slide the washer on the post on the inside of your project to lock the eye in place. Make sure you have them set just how you want them before sliding the washers on.

The other detail is a short length of ball chain with a bell attached. I got a whole bunch of short ball chains from American Science and Surplus, search for chainettes on the website. 100 6 1/4 inch lengths with connectors for 1.45. I use them for hanging my measuring cups and spoons as well as for craft projects. The bell is from my stash. A ribbon with a bell will work just as well.

As most my patterns, this is not worked in spirals, and the first ch doesn't count as the first stitch. Feel free to modify to fit your style. I don't mind the seam up the back, and prefer how tidy it looks when I chain 1 tightly, then work my sc in that space.

Supplies:

Size F hook (4mm)

Worsted weight yarn- I used Peaches and Cream (I think, unlabeled cone)

Yarn needle

Eyes, buttons, beads or safety eyes

ribbon or chain for a collar

stuffing

plastic pellets or plastic BB type ammo*

American terminology

ch= Chain stitch

sc= single crochet

dc= double crochet

hdc= half double crochet

sl st= slip stitch

st= stitch

sts= stitches

dec= decrease crochet, in this case it means to work 1 single crochet across two spaces. Insert hook in first stitch of dec and yarn over, pull loop through stitch, (2 loops on hook) insert hook in next st and yarn over, pull through stitch(3 loops on hook), yarn over, and pull through all 3 loops on hook.

When it says repeat ** that means to repeat the instructions between the asterisks.

Pattern is worked from the top down, and 3 pieces total. The head/body and the 2 ears. 

Ch 1 or magic ring.

Rnd 1: ch 1 (does not count as first sc here or through out) 6 sc in ring or first ch, sl st in first sc to join. (6 sts)

Rnd 2: ch 1, 2 sc in same st, 2 sc in each stitch around, sl st to first sc to join (12 sts)

Rnd 3: Ch 1, sc in same st, sc in next stitch, 2 sc in next st,*sc in next st, sc in next st, 2 sc in next st, *repeat ** twice more, sl st to first sc to join (16 sts)

Rnd 4: Ch 1, sc in same st, sc in next st, sc in next st, 2 sc in next st, * sc in next stitch, sc in next st, sc in next st, 2 sc in next st,* repeat ** twice more, sl st to first sc to join (20 sts)

Rnd 5-8: ch 1, sc in same st, sc in each stitch around, sl st to first sc to join (20 sts)

I placed my eyes in Rnd: 7. 

Rnd 9: Ch 1, sc in same st, sc in next st, sc in next st, dec in next 2 sts,* sc in next st, sc in next st, sc in next st, dec in next 2 sts, * repeat ** twice more. Sl st in first sc to join. (16 sts)

Rnd 10: Ch 1, sc in same st, sc in next st, dec in next 2 sts, *sc in next sti, sc in next st, dec in next 2 sts, * repeat ** twice more, sl st to first sc to join (12 sts)

Stuff head firmly with stuffing

Rnd 11: Ch 1, dec across next 2 sts, dec across next stitches, repeat around.  Sl st to first sc to join(6 sts)

Rnd 12: Ch 1, sc in same st, sc in each st around. Sl st to first sc to join (6 sts)

Rnd 13: ch 1, 2 sc in each st around, sl st to first sc to join (12 sts)

Rnd 14: Ch 1, sc in same st, sc in each st around, sl st to first sc to join (12 sts)

Rnd 15: Ch 1, sc in same st, sc in next stitch, 2 sc in next st,*sc in next st, sc in next st, 2 sc in next st, *repeat ** twice more, sl st to first sc to join (16 sts)

Rnd 16-20: Ch 1, sc in same st, sc in each st around, sl st to first sc to join (16 sts)

Stuff about halfway to 2/3 with stuffing, using a hook or pencil to stuff in the neck. Pour in the plastic pellets or plastic BBs. I use high density plastic bbs because they are fairly heavy and come in a bottle with a nice pouring spout for these. The extra weight at the bottom is what makes these stand nicely. Put a bit more stuffing over the pellets, and start doing the decreasing for the bottom, hold the pellets in place with your thumb while you are working, or add a scrap of fabric and tuck the edges to hold them in place.

Rnd 21: Ch 1, sc in same st, sc in next st, dec in next 2 sts, *sc in next sti, sc in next st, dec in next 2 sts, * repeat ** twice more, sl st to first sc to join (12 sts)

Rnd 22: Ch 1, dec across next 2 sts, dec across next stitches, repeat around.  Sl st to first sc to join(6 sts)

Break off yarn and put the tail on the needle and stitch through all 6 stitches, and pull tight. Knot securely and weave in end.

Ears: (make 2) 

Ch 6- counts as ch 3 and first dc. 

In 5th ch from hook, work a hdc, in next ch, a sc, ch 2, and down the other side of the chain do a sc in the same st as last sc, hdc in next ch, dc in next ch. 

Ch 1 (doesn't count as sc) sc in same st, sc in hdc, sc in sc, 3 sc in ch 2 space, sc in sc on other side, sc in next hdc, sc in top of the ch 3. Break off leaving a long enough tail to stitch the ears in place.

Refer to the photo, I cupped the ears slightly and stitched them on the sides of the head starting in the second round of the head. 

Add collar.

Alaska- I love living here (photos)

a sign at the fair

Saturday, our family went out to the Forest Fair in Girdwood. Girdwood is a tiny resort town with a strong art community that's about 36 miles away from Anchorage. The drive is incredible with the inlet on one side, and mountains on the other for most of it. Then when you get there, you're in a valley between mountains.
Forest Fair takes place in the woods of course, a trail in a wooded area lined with local artists, food and with 2 stages. It's very crowded with people dressed in tie dye, handmade colorful skirts, kilts and lots of embroidered details. I'm afraid I didn't get photos in the fair because well.. I was busy! Enjoying food, art and music.

Kids play area right outside the fair grounds.

The fair has few rules to remember.

We wandered the paths, looking at things and sharing snacks so we all got a taste of the various foods. The family favorite was Talkeetna Spinach Bread. A nice crusty bread spread with a garlic-y spinach spread and cheese and roasted until hot and melty.

 Rogues and Wenches were on the main stage, much to the delight of William. Most of the performances we catch by them are happenstance. They are at a fair or show we go to. I think it's time to start paying attention to where they play. Both Turnip Girl and William enjoy them a lot.

William and the Turnip looked carefully for something to bring home. William was fascinated by an artist who made things out of scraps of hardware, pipes and other salvaged materials. He picked a little dog statue that was made with pipe, a faucet and other pieces and parts.

The Turnip checked out every tie dye booth in the place. She loves tie dye, hers, other peoples, tie dye just makes her happy. She found a thermal long sleeved shirt in various shades of blue, standard spiral design that she loved.

I got a cup from Silverbear Sundries that you know will wind up being a prop in earring photos later this year. I also got a couple bars of soap from her. She had a FB special, if you mentioned you saw her announcement she would be at the fair, she gave you a lip balm. Since my family all loves her lip balm, we mentioned.

Remember that part of the road that I said looked like the path to fairyland when I was a kid? Click on these photos for larger views.

On the way back we stopped at Bird Point, which is a viewing area on the highway. It's one of the places you can view whales if you're there at the right time. There were sparrows darting around, and we spotted this nesting pair of ravens. This is taken at max zoom, they were pretty far away. I used Michael as my tripod.

Lichen! I asked a friend who really enjoys some of the detail in the macro shots I take if she liked lichen. She said "Lich'en? I love'en!"

This photo hasn't been resized or cropped. So if you click, it's huge. I hope you like it. It really is that beautiful. 

Book Review- Steampunk Softies

Steampunk Softies is by the same authors as Zombie Felties, Sarah Skeate and Nicola Tedman.
Softies are a bit bigger than felties, but use a lot of the same techniques for construction, and can be hand sewn.
The book starts with an introduction to the materials that are used to construct the dolls, as well as some fantastic tutorials for aging and distressing the fabrics.
The dolls are just wonderful. Most stand about 6 inches high, and the props and construction methods are very clever. The materials are for the most part, very easy to find, and some of the supplies are things you might normally throw away. The diminutive scale of the dolls makes them perfect for small scraps of fabric and leather. Mini brads, scraps of leather, plastic from deli containers, beads, buttons and toy compasses are all used in the detail of these lovely little dolls.
The dolls themselves are fantastic. Fantastic in the literal sense that they are creative fantasies. A little undersea manikin  looks like he mutated or was genetically created to live in the water, Floyd Fastknight explores the world with a compass for an eye and a case of maps. Chasity Storm is dressed in a cloud of lace and has wings that are reminiscent of the very first airplanes.
All the patterns are in the back of the book and full size, you trace them from the book on to a sheet of paper to cut out the parts for the dolls. Some of the dolls are very simple, the biggest challenge is the scale. Some are a lot more complex. These are not playthings, they are lovely little works of art. The techniques and the accessories used in making them can inspire your own characters and creations very easily.
My son is a big steampunk fan, and he was absolutely charmed by this book. My daughter, who is the serious doll maker in the family loved the techniques and pattern ideas.
You can get this book directly from the publisher, Andrews McMeel Publishing You can get more information about my review policy here.

Ice Cream Mandala

It's National Ice Cream Month! Which means we are making ice cream this weekend. Another 300 dpi coloring page in transparent PNG format, so you can use it for digital scrapping. No commercial use please without permission. Otherwise, it can be used for any crafty purpose!

We are going to the Forest Fair in Girdwood. I'm bring my camera so I can get photos of the gorgeous drive out. Ice runs off the tops of the mountains to create tiny waterfalls, the inlet on one side and the mountains rising up on the other. It's incredible. There are usually people climbing rocks, and tourists stopping at every turn out because they just can't believe how gorgeous it is. Neither can I and when Michael and I were dating, he lived out there so we made the drive regularly.
There is a spot on the highway, where you can see the road passing through a valley, and when the sun hits it just right, it makes you think you are going into a wonderland. As a child who loved fantasy novels, I would imagine kingdoms and quests just the other side of those mountains. I love the drive almost as much as I love the fair.