eeek!

Chickenbutt wanted a soft black widow spider for Christmas.  I had to modify a pattern from a book (the title is lost to me, Christmas was months ago) as the spider had to be anatomically correct.  I did forget the spinnerets but so far Chickenbutt has not noticed.  I did remember the pedipalps and the fangs. 

Christmas black widow on the table topper I made my mother-in-law.

For her birthday she needed a boy black widow spider.  Male black widows are brown or yellow and have different markings.  They are also smaller. 
She also managed to get my mom to knit her a pink spider. 

All three spiders.  Happy Birthday!

 I designed Wren an owl for Christmas.  I was not happy with the first draft but had used all of the brown fabric.  I really liked the brownish chenille but couldn't find anything cute enough in my stash to match it.  In future I would like to make the body a bit longer and rounder. 

Busy Busy

I am participating in the Freshstitches Mystery Crochet-a-long on Ravelry.  I really like the colour I chose and the wool is so soft.  I have to redo one of the pieces as it is way to tight but overall am not finding it too hard.

I have been ogling Stacy Trock's patterns for a while so I thought this was the way to go.   I also signed her book out from the library - I like to preview pattern books before I make a purchase.  Like a moron I showed the girls the book and told them to each pick out one thing they would like me to make.  Wren is all over me to finish "mine crab".  "Mine crab done yet?"  She picked the thing with the most pieces!  There are 8 tiny legs to make!  8! 

Seven little legs, two claws and most of the body. 
Two eye stalks and one little leg to go.

 

More Crochet

One great thing about crochet is I can do it around the kids.  While they watch a movie or play outside.  I can be in the same room and still get something done.  (I have tried to do other things like clean cupboards but as soon as I am in just far enough not to quit a fight will break out.)

I am in love with amigurumi!   It is so much faster then sewing a toy!  I still really enjoy the sewing but there are so many patterns out there for crochet.  I can only imagine the time I am saving (and not using productively) And it is easier to hide all the yarn I am accumulating.

My friend's little girl had a Brave themed birthday so I set out to make a Merida.  I purchased three patterns from JanaGeek - Merida, Belle and Ariel.  These are excellent patterns and Merida was the first little person I have ever made.  I did forget their little smiles though.

That same friend's other daughter had a Star Wars themed party.  I purchased three patterns from Lucyravenscar - Yoda, Leia and Darth Vader.  I made Leia for the birthday party and a Yoda to practice (he has a bit of a gap in the back).  These patterns really worked out for me as well.

I also made each of the birthday girls a purse.  I could not find Brave (or any other princess themed) fabric which is bizarre since it was everywhere last year.  So one girl got butterflies and the other got Star Wars   These bags are from Diary of a Quilter and only take 32 minutes!  I also have a pattern for messenger bags with a flap closure but I cut the fabric sideways for the butterfly bag and it was too much waste to cut the Star Wars fabric correctly.  I really like the little fold on the butterfly bag, it makes the whole project look sharp and professionally done.  I think I could attach the straps on the inside so there are no seams visible.   I am going to add a few of these to my craft sale in the fall as a way to cut down my stash.