Crochet Amigurimi – PipsRainbow

Moomin

December 3, 2019 No Comments

It’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas. Everywhere you go…. 🎶 Awww, just the best time of year isn’t it. Time to be together. Time for fun, love and happiness. I just love it!! I think that’s why the last couple of months before Christmas I run around in some kind of crazy christmassy madness trying to get things done and make it all perfect!! I don’t think I’m the only one!! But I am trying to be more organised this year, well trying!!

So here’s my little Christmas Pattern for this year! It’s rather a special one to me, as you will see. I really hope you like it. I’ve designed my little man so that it can be made as a little toy or you can also loop a little bit of ribbon and hang it on your tree. Or even make him a pop him in a little lucky persons stocking. Couldn’t resist making a little scarf for him too! Hee hee.

So. Let’s talk Moomins…

Now, some of you may remember watching or reading Moomins as a child. I definitely did. I loved the adventures that they used to go on!! So exciting! It would transport you into another world. A world of excitement and exploration. A world where Mamamoomin would look after everyone and cook for them all. How she would open her arms and heart to all who stepped over the door step into their little tower of homey heaveness! Or maybe it was little Moomintroll himself and his little sidekick Sniff!! So when I spotted these little creatures peeping out at me from the Oxfam window in our high street, I just had to pop in and buy one of their magical books for my daughter. And of course in true PipsRainbow style, I couldn’t wait to design a little crocheted Moomin!! Well, it just had to be done didn’t it!!

Ok, so here we go…

Supplies –
So for this pattern your will need 1 ball of white 50g double knit yarn, just a small bit of light black yarn and a small bit of black thread for the eyes as well. Then you need a spot of red double knit yarn for the scarf. You will also need some scissors, toy stuffing, blunt ended tapestry needle and a 3mm crochet hook.

Stitches –
Magic Ring (mr) – For a magic ring, make a loop with the yarn, leaving a tail. (Make sure the tail is under the working yarn.) Now insert your hook into the loop, from the front to the back. Wrap the working yarn around your hook and pull the yarn through and pull tight to create a ring.

Slip stitch (ss) – This is where there is no height to the stitch. It’s usually used to join rounds. So insert the hook into the front of the stitch you are joining to. This is usually the first stitch you made in that round/row. So yarn over hook and pull through that first stitch then also through the loop on your hook.

Double Crochet (dc) – Insert the hook through the stitch, front to back, then yarn over hook and pull back through stitch. You will have two loops on your hook. Then yarn over your hook and pull through both loops.

Double Crochet Decrease (2dctog) – This is where you crochet two stitches together to decrease the amount of stitches in the round. So insert the hook through the front of the first stitch only (the front V) and then insert again through the front of the second stitch (the front V). Now yarn over your hook and pull it back through both stitches, so you will then have 2 loops on your hook. Yarn over your hook again and pull through both loops. And there is your 2dctog. (Basically 2 double crochet stitches crocheted together.)

Spike Stitch – So to work your first spike stitch, you are going to work 1dc in the row below. So insert your hook through the dc stitch in the row below, yarn over your hook and then pull back through. (It will be easier if you work this loop up loosely) Now finish your stitch by yarn over your hook and pull through both loops. And that’s your first spike stitch.

Back Loop Double Crochet (bldc) – It just means you only work your double crochet in the back loop only, not through both loops like a normal double crochet.

Head –

1 – Make a magic ring, chain 1, then dc6 into the ring. Then pull the tail tight to create the first round. (6)

2 – *2dc into each stitch.* Work ** 6 times. (12)

3 – *1dc, then 2dc into each stitch.* Work ** 6 times. (18)

4 – *2dc, then 2dc into each stitch.* Work ** 6 times. (24)

5 – 1dc in each stitch. (24)

6 – *2dctog* Repeat this ** 6 times. Then work 12dc stitches. (18)

7 – 8 (2 rounds) 1dc in each stitch. (18)

9 – *1dc, then 2dctog.* Work ** 6 times. (12)

10 – 12 (3 rounds) 1dc in each stitch. (12)

This is a good time to stuff your head.

13 – *1dc, then 2dctog.* Work ** 4 times. (8)

14 – *2dctog* Repeat ** 4 times. (4)

Now fasten off and sew up the head, leaving a tail for you to sew the head onto the body.

Ears – Make 2

1 – Make a magic ring, ch1, then 4dc into the ring. Then pull the tail tight to create the magic ring. (4)

2 – *2dc into each stitch.* Work ** 4 times. (8)

3 – *2dc, then 2dctog.* Work ** 2 times. (6)

4 – *2dctog.* Repeat ** 3 times and fasten off, leaving a tail to sew your ears onto your head. (3)

Body –

1 – Make a magic ring, chain 1, then dc6 into the ring. Then pull the tail tight to create the first round. (6)

2 – *2dc into each stitch.* Work ** 6 times. (12)

3 – *1dc, then 2dc into each stitch.* Work ** 6 times. (18)

4 – *2dc, then 2dc into each stitch.* Work ** 6 times. (24)

5 – *3dc, then 2dc into each stitch.* Work ** 6 times. (30)

6 – *4dc, then 2dc into each stitch.* Work ** 6 times. (36)

7 – 1dc in each stitch. (36)

8 – *4dc, then 2dctog* Work ** 6 times. (30)

9 – 1dc in each stitch. (30)

10 – *2dctog.* Work ** 6 times. Then 18dc stitches. (24)

11 – 13 (3 rounds) 1dc in each stitch. (24)

14 – *2dc, then 2dctog.* Work ** 6 times. (18)

15 – 1dc in each stitch. (18)

16 – *1dc, then 2dctog.* Work ** 6 times. (12)

17 – 1dc in each stitch. (12)

Now it’s time to stuff your body with toy stuffing.

18 – *2dctog* Repeat ** 6 times. (6)

Now sew up and fasten off your body using a blunt ended tapestry needle.

Legs – Make 2

1 – Make a magic ring, ch1, then 4dc into the ring. Then pull the tail tight to create the magic ring. (4)

2 – *2dc into each stitch.* Work ** 4 times. (8)

3 – Work 1bldc in each stitch. A bldc is a back loop double crochet. It just means you only work your double crochets in the back loop only, not through both loops like a normal double crochet. (8)

4 – Work 1dc in each stitch. (8)

5 – *2dc, then 2dctog.* Work ** 2 times. (6)

6 – Work 1dc in each stitch. (6)

Then fasten off and leave a tail so you can sew the legs onto the body.

Arms – Make 2

1 – Make a magic ring, ch1, then 4dc into the ring. Then pull the tail tight to create the magic ring. (4)

2 – *2dc into each stitch.* Work ** 4 times. (8)

3 – Work 1dc in each stitch. (8)

4 – *2dc, then 2dctog.* Work ** 2 times. (6)

5 – 8 (4 rounds) Work 1dc in each stitch. (6)

Then fasten off and leave a tail so you can sew the arms onto the body.

And there you have it. All your body parts. Now it’s time to sew all your body parts together. I tend to sew on the arms to the body and then the legs. Followed by the head and then the ears.

Follow this by using your black yarn to sew on two little eyes and then the eyebrows. Then use the black thread to sew a little circle around the black eyes that you have already made. I used a back stitch to do this as it creates a solid circle. These eyes are quite distinctive for a Moomin.

Now all you need to do is make the scarf.

Scarf –

1 – Start with your white yarn and make a foundation chain of 31. Now work 1dc into the second chain from the hook and then 1dc in each stitch in the foundation chain. Now fasten off your white yarn. (30)

2 – Now attach your red yarn in the first chain on the other side of the foundation chain. Now work 1spike stitch in the first dc stitch. Then work 1spike stitch in each stitch in the row. At the end of the row, turn your scarf and work 1dc in the first dc stitch. Then work 1dc in each stitch. Now fasten off and sew in your ends. The mix of dc stitches, chain stitches and spike stitches, gives you a great little stripy texture.

And there you have it. I couldn’t resist getting this magical book for my little lady for Christmas! Can’t wait to read it to her!!

Now don’t forget, if you would like to make this little Moomintroll into a Christmas decoration, then just loop a little ribbon in the top of the body to hang him on your Christmas tree. He’s definitely the perfect size to snuggle up on your tree, waiting for someone to find him.

I hope you have enjoyed this Christmas pattern. I remember having great fun designing him. I wonder if you could make the whole family of them. Now that would be good…

Don’t forget to share any little creations! Can’t wait to see them!!!

Happy Hooking!!

🌈Xx

(Free pattern brought to you by PipsRainbow. Thank you for not copying or recreating it.)

Patterns

Little Paddy & Ivey Turtle

August 18, 2019 No Comments

Well hello my lovely ones. How are we all? I hope you have all had super weekends!! Much preferring the weather now than last week. Goodness it was wet! We seemed to have been drenched when we were out most days. It did mean we could nip into our favourite bakery for a cuppa. Bore Street Bakery pit stop with my two!! Can’t beat it!!

So as promised, here is the pattern for my two little Turtles.

Paddy and Ivy are very close little siblings!! They are usually found playing in the waves and rock pools. Ivy loves the deep waves. She dives under them and pops up squirting her little brother with water!! Little pickle!!! Paddy on the other hand, likes the shallow waters. He is quite content at the minute, following his Daddy around and asking him all sorts of questions about what he is doing.

Paddy and Ivy are quite small in size, as you can see. But they do love to snuggle up in any little ones pocket and have fun on days out with them.

Really hope you enjoy making them. They would be a great friend to any little one that is close to your heart.

Level – Easy

Supplies –

Right then, supplies. As this is a Using Up Year pattern, I have used lots of odds and ends to make my little turtles. Each little turtle uses a total of 35g of double knit yarn, so that will give you a rough idea of how much you will need.

You will also need a 3mm crochet hook, some scissors, toy stuffing, a piece of different coloured yarn for a stitch marker and a blunt ended tapestry needle to sew all your ends in. And don’t forget a pair of safety eyes, if you want to use them and some black yarn for the eyebrows and mouth.

Stitches –

Magic Ring (mr) – For a magic ring, make a loop with the yarn, leaving a tail. (Make sure the tail is under the working yarn.) Now insert your hook into the loop, from the front to the back. Wrap the working yarn around your hook and pull the yarn through and pull tight to create a ring.

If you are unsure, here’s a little video on how to make a Magic Ring.

If you need a quick recap on how to do these stitches and a few other snippets of Amigurumi techniques, then follow the link below. Happy watching.

Ok so here we go…

Body –

1 – Using your 3mm hook, make a magic ring, chain 1 and then work 6dc stitches into the ring. (6)

2 – 3 (2 rounds) Work 1dc in each stitch. (6)

4 – *2dc into each stitch.* Work ** 6 times. (12)

5 – *1dc, then 2dc into each stitch.* Work ** 6 times. (18)

6 – *2dc, then 2dc into each stitch.* Work ** 6 times. (24)

7 – Work 1dc in each stitch. (24)

8 – Work 2dc in the first stitch, then work 1dc in the next 11 stitches. Now work 2dc in next stitch, followed by 11dc stitches. (26)

9 – Work 2dc in first stitch, then work 1dc in the next 12 stitches. Now work 2dc in next stitch, followed by 12dc stitches. (28)

10 – Work 2dc in first stitch, then work 1dc in the next 13 stitches. Now work 2dc in next stitch, followed by 13dc stitches. (30)

11 – 12 (2 rounds) Work 1dc in each stitch. (30)

13 – Work 2dctog, then work 1dc in the next 13 stitches. Followed by 2dctog stitch and then 13dc stitches. (28)

14 – Work 2dctog, then work 1dc in the next 12 stitches. Followed by 2dctog and then 12dc stitches. (26)

15 – Work 2dctog, then work 1dc in the next 11 stitches. Followed by 2dctog and then 11dc stitches. (24)

16 – Work 1dc in each stitch. (24)

17 – Now work *2dc, then 2dctog.* Repeat this ** 6 times. (18)

18 – Work *1dc, then 2dctog* Repeat this ** 6 times. (12)

19 – Work *2dctog* Repeat this ** 6 times. (6)

Now it’s time to fasten off, stuff your turtle’s body and then sew it up with your yarn tail.

Head –

1 – Make a magic ring, chain 1 and then work 6 dc stitches into the ring. (6)

2 – *2dc into each stitch.* Work ** 6 times. (12)

3 – *1dc, then 2dc into each stitch.* Work ** 6 times. (18)

4 – *2dc, then 2dc into each stitch.* Work ** 6 times. (24)

5 – *3dc, then 2dc into each stitch.* Work ** 6 times. (30)

6 – 9 (4 rounds) Work 1dc in each stitch. (30)

10 – Now work *3dc, then 2dctog.* Repeat this ** 6 times. (24)

11 – Now work *2dc, then 2dctog.* Repeat this ** 6 times. (18)

12 – Now work *1dc, then 2dctog.* Repeat this ** 6 times. (12)

13 – 15 (3 rounds) Work 1dc in each stitch. (12)

Finish your head, by slip stitching into the next stitch and fasten off. Now stuff your head with your toy stuffing so that it will be ready to then sew on to your turtle’s body.

At this stage, you could attach your safety eyes. With the eyes, you need to make sure you have them in the correct place, because once you have pushed the back on. It is very hard to get them off. So keep looking and checking that you are happy. Remember the dome on the back of the safety eye faces out. This is how it stays secure on your turtle’s head.

Shell –

With the shell, I have used 5 different colours, but you can use however many colours you would like. I alternated 2 rounds of colour with 1 round of white yarn.

1 – Make a magic ring, chain 1 and then work 6 dc stitches into the ring. (6)

2 – Work *2dc into each stitch.* Work ** 6 times. (12)

3 – Work 1dc in each stitch. (12)

4 – Work *1dc, then 2dc into each stitch.* Work ** 6 times. (18)

5 – Work 1dc in each stitch. (18)

6 – *2dc, then 2dc into each stitch.* Work ** 6 times. (24)

7 – *3dc, then 2dc into each stitch.* Work ** 6 times. (30)

8 – *4dc, then 2dc into each stitch.* Work ** 6 times. (36)

9 – Work 1dc in each stitch. (36)

10 – *5dc, then 2dc into each stitch.* Work ** 6 times. (42)

11 – *1dc in the first stitch. Then 1dc in next. Miss a stitch then 4tr stitches in the next stitch. Then miss 2 stitches. *Repeat this ** 7 times. (42) After the last 4tr stitch, slip stitch into the first dc stitch to complete the round.

12 – Work 1dc in each stitch. (42)

Front Flipper x 2 –

1 – Start by working 12 chain stitches, then slip stitch into the first chain to make a ring.

2 – Now work 1dc in each chain (12)

3 – 4 (2 rounds) Work 1dc in each stitch. (12)

5 – Work 2dc in the next 6 stitches. Follow this by working 1dc in the next 6 stitches. (18)

6 – Work 2dc in the next 6 stitches. Follow this by working 1dc in the next 12 stitches. (24)

7 – Work 1dc in each stitch. (24)

8 – Work 12dc stitches. Then work *2dctog.* Repeat this ** 6 times. (18)

9 – Work 6dc stitches. Then work *2dctog.* Repeat this ** 6 times. (12)

10 – Work *2dctog.* Repeat this ** 6 times. (6)

Now slip stitch into the next stitch and fasten off. Leave the tail quite long, so you can use the tail to sew the flippers onto the body.

Back Flipper x 2 –

1 – Start by working 8 chain stitches then slip stitch into the first chain to make a ring.

2 – Work 1dc in each chain. (8)

3 – Now work 1dc in each stitch. (8)

4 – *Work 1dc then 2dc in the next stitch.* Repeat this ** 4 times. (12)

5 – Work 1dc in each stitch. (12)

6 – Work 2dc in the next 6 stitches. Follow this by working 1dc in the next 6 stitches. (18)

7 – Work 1dc in each stitch. (18)

8 – Now work *1dc, then 2dctog.* Repeat this ** 6 times. (12)

9 – 10 (2 rounds) Work 1dc in each stitch. (12)

11 – Work *2dctog.* Repeat this 6 times. (6)

And there we have it. Your 7 little turtle parts. Now it’s time to sew it altogether.

It’s best to start with the head, then the front flippers and then the back flippers. And finally the shell. Just remember to keep checking the alignment of each body part. Once you have sewed them all on, it’s time to use your black thread and needle to sew on your little eyebrows and mouth.

And there you have your little turtle. My daughter and son took their little turtles out and about on Sunday! Think they both had different ideas on how to keep them tucked up next to them all day!!

My son had a more novel way of keeping his little turtle safe.

I really hope you have enjoyed this pattern. Can’t wait to see all your little turtle creations. Don’t forget to share them and link me in.

If you like these little guys, then their parents free pattern will be following shortly!!! Couldn’t resist making the whole family!!

Happy hooking chaps!!!

🌈Xx

(Free pattern designed and brought to you by PipsRainbow. Thank you for not copying or recreating it. ☺️Xx)