Crochet for Pets

I do not often advertise published books here, but this one bought a smile to my face and I really love the colour schemes used. I have not bought the book, but I think many of the patterns could be used for a baby as well.

The pattern book has dog toys too, such as donut's and ice-cream cones.

Crochet A Kookaburra

Some basic instructions

I am naming the Kookaburra, Kooka.

He now has a friend, Sammy the Koala

You can find the Koala pattern here.

To begin, find a picture of what you wish to make.

Now draw your project. I can't draw for nuts, but it helped me realise what components I will need to make my kookaburra.

Knowing what parts I needed to be making, I made a selection of textures and colours from my yarn stash. I've used a 5.00mm hook and changed to a 4.00mm hook for the facial features. The yarns vary from an 8 ply to a 12 ply.

I first made the body in simple single crochet rounds with out joining the rounds and increasing, working straight, then decreasing. The body began with 8 sc and increased to 40 sc, then reversed with the decrease to 8 sc.

The head was made the same beginning with 6 sc, increasing to 24 sc and ending with 12 sc.

Any stuffing will do. If you use snap on eye's this is the best time to do it.

Then sew head to body.

I made the beak next. The yarns were a different thickness, so I used the thinner one for the top of the beak.

I then weaved thin wire into the sides of the beak, so as I could shape them better.

I deliberately used a lighter shade of yarn to sew the beak parts together, to define the top and bottom parts of the beak.

Now with the embroidery of the face, I sc the sides of the eye's across the beak and across the other eye over the top of the face (not made seperate). I then hand sewed a contrasting yarn into the gaps. I'm not an embroiderer at all, but it just passes. The eye's are small buttons.

This is the beginning of the wings.

Trying the wings for size as I go.

And the finished wings.

The Kookaburra also has a feather tail which I made last and also sewed wire into for shaping.

I would like to thank laughingpurple for her advice on this project, she has a must see blog.

Crochet Lovers Victoria Australia. Group

Crochet Lovers. Victoria Australia, is a group created by Stramenda within Ravelry about 2 weeks ago.

I've been a member of ravelry since earlier on this year and have had little conversation with groups or members.

Stramenda did a little research within ravelry and invited residents of Victoria to join the group. I believe I was one of the first 10 to join and then followed by many others.

It was exciting to see the group grow and getting in on the ground level, gave me the chance to really see who was around and with in no time I was hooked.

But the most exciting thing was a planned meet up.

This happened today, it was a round trip of about 180 km's for me, but it sure was worth it.

Not only did I get to meet other people who enjoyed the art of crochet, but they were all so nice. Each one was accomplished in different fields of crochet, weaving and knitting, with the common interest of love for CROCHET!

As most of the group have children, the meet was held in a play centre for children and as the children played we had show and tell.

I had a lovely time and I'd love to do it again.

Thanks Ladies.

I've got some more hats to show

Pink Kitty Hat
Childs bright set
Pink and black fluff

Grey/green set

Stay Out Of My Room!

Now this is my little room, where I crochet, get on the computer, watch tv or a movie.

It's set up for me and how I like it.

The room was once a bedroom that had to make way for the staircase to the upstairs extension.

My room is adjacent to the dining room and kitchen area, where I spend lot's of time too.

It never takes long for other family members to take over my little room. It must be the smallest room in the house with the most people in it, all at once.

From left to right, Nathan (my son-in-law), Danielle and Terrie, (2 of my 5 daughters).

The divine hat again

Remember the divine hat I made?

Well here are two more versions of it.

I got the idea for the pink one from ravelry.

And here is another made with 2 strands of 8ply acrylic yarn

This was made for a customer, it's lovely in the light blue.

And more hats

The one on the left is for an order, you can barely see the 2 medium sized gold buttons, set for a bit of extra style.

The one on the right is made of larger granny squares and the yarn used is lovely mohair.

Another mohair set in a dark pink shade.
And here I caved in and used the fluff type yarn that you see every body using.
Baby Blue Fluff

Addition: 3 beret's, I bought a bulk lot of yarn on Sunday 27.08.08, for $40.00 and I have so far made these 3 beret's and a divine hat in light blue, there is so much yarn it will keep me going for ages, not that I didn't have a stock pile already!

Some more hat sets

 

 

Burnt Orange mohair, pop corn in a v shape

 

Burnt orange mohair v shell set

 

Bold gold buttons set this lovely green set off

 

Another softy in red with a bow to go

 

This is a request for a bright coloured childs set

Display stands

A simple yet effective way to display hats

A candle stand I was not using
The hats hung ok this way, but I wanted to fill them out a bit more.

So I cut cardboard circles out to achieve this.

Now they sit fuller.

I bought some stands that pull apart for transport and thought they would be perfect for my bags and ice-cream cones. But how do I hang them on then take them off easily for viewing or selling?

Oh, I can finger knit a length of cord that I can hook the items onto, A bit of heavy duty tape on the ends of the cord secured the cord for transport.
They are also attatch more securely in an anti theft way.
The stand cost $12.00 and it can be raised or lowered, the market table fit's perfectly in between the upright posts so it displays it's self with in all of my other products.

Cherished crochet prize

I received the coasters above as a first prize in a guessing competition from a fellow crochet enthusiast, who also collects trash and recycle's it. Not only was there great joy in receiving the prize, but just to hold and touch something, someone has put so much of their time and effort into was and is a great excitement for me, I also received as a surprise, the tiniest little flower.
Astrid, is the very first person to share their crocheted work with me.
Check out her blog it is a must see.
Thank you so much Astrid, I look forward to sharing more with you.
Oh, I hope you don't mind that I took the copy of your picture above.