Sunday, May 26, 2013

Lion and Dragon baby blankies.

For the imminent arrival of our baby girls (yes, there is an “s”, we're having 2 *\o/*), I asked Tony, my husband, what kind of animals he would like them to have as baby blanky-toys.
Since he really likes the series Games of Thrones, he suggested a dragon and a lion, and while I admit that I was more thinking about common animals such as bunnies, mice, cats, dogs; I had fun making a ferocious dragon and his friend the mighty lion.
I guess now we just need to figure out who will be Daenerys and who will be Cersei? :)







Here I'm sharing with you the patterns for the head since it's really fast, straightforward, and can make up for a pretty cute baby gift!

Note: We actually call these doudous in French, but I learned that in English it didn't have the same meaning :)

Requirements:

  • Crochet Hook H (5mm)
  • Tapestry Needle
  • Any colors of baby yarn you want
  • Stuffing

Abbreviations / Terminology used:

  • st: stitch
  • sc: single crochet
  • ss: slip stitch
  • hdc: half double crochet
  • dc: double crochet
  • fhdc: foundation half double crochet
  • 2 sc in next st (increase)
  • 2 sctog: 2 single crochet together (decrease)


The baby blankies are composed with a granny square + an animal head. I chose a variegated yarn for the granny squares, then made the heads with colors that were within the granny square.


Head (same shape for both the lion and the dragon):

    Round 1: 6 sc in magic ring (6)
    Round 2: 2 sc in each st around (12)
    Round 3: *1 sc, 2 sc in next st* repeat (18)
    Round 4: *2 sc, 2 sc in next st* repeat (24)
    Round 5: *3 sc, 2 sc in next st* repeat (30)
    Rounds 6-9: sc around (30)
    Round 7: *3 sc, 2 sctog* repeat (24)
    Round 8: *2 sc, 2 sctog* repeat (18)
    Round 9: *1 sc, 2 sctog* repeat (12)
    (Start adding stuffing)
    Round 10: *2 sctog* repeat (6)
    Add more stuffing, finish off, leaving long tail for sewing.

Dragon features:


Mohawk:

ch 16, turn, skip 1st st
A: ss + sc in same st
B: hdc + dc + picot edge + hdc in same st
C: sc + sc in same st
repeat ABC till the end, it should give 5 spikes

Muzzle:

4 fhdc, 3 hdc in turn, 2 hdc around, 3 hdc in turn
add nostrils

Ears:

ch 4, turn, skip 1st st
ss, sc in same st
hdc, dc, hdc in same st
sc, ss in same st

Lion features:

Mane:

ch 22, turn, skip 1st st
A: ss + sc in same st
B: hdc + dc + hdc in same st
C: sc + sc in same st
repeat ABC till the end, it should give 7 bumps

Muzzle:

Round 1: 6 sc in magic ring (6)
Round 2: 2 sc in first 3 st, 2 hdc in last 3 st (6sc+6hdc)
Finish off with a sc in the next st and embroid the mouth and nose.


Assembly line:

Attach the different elements together using the pictures as guidelines, sow the eyes, and finally attach the head firmly to the granny squares. Time to make lots of these cuties!
Hope you'll enjoy making them as much as I did :)







Monday, May 6, 2013

Monsieur Miaou


My cousin and his lovely wife had an adorable baby girl a month ago and I made her a little friend that could be called Monsieur Miaou.

Here is the pattern to make him, I used a thick yarn and a big hook since I wanted him to be big!

Requirements:

  • Crochet Hook H (5mm)
  • Tapestry Needle
  • Any color of yarn you want this kitty to be.
  • Stuffing

Abbreviations / Terminology used:

  • st: stitch
  • sc: single crochet
  • ss: slip stitch
  • hdc: half double crochet
  • fhdc: foundation half double crochet
  • 2 sc in next st (increase)
  • 2 sctog: 2 single crochet together (decrease)

Here my main color (MC) was green and my secondary color (SC) for the paws was yellow.
Let's start him from bottom up :)

Legs (make 2, only cut yarn for the first one, you'll attach both from the second one):

    Round 1: (SC) 6 sc in magic ring (6)
    Round 2: 2 sc in each st around (12)
    Round 3: (MC) *3 sc, 2 sc in next 3 st* repeat around (18)
    Rounds 4-12: sc around (18)

Join the first leg to the second leg with 4 ss between them (see picture below). Start the body from here.

Body:

    Rounds 1-5: sc around (30)
    Round 6: *2 sctog, 13 sc* repeat once (28)
    Round 7: sc around (28)
    Round 8: *2 sctog, 12 sc* repeat once (26)
    Round 9: sc around (26)
    Round 10: *2 sctog, 11 sc* repeat once (24)
    Round 11: *2 sc, 2 sctog* repeat around (18)
    Round 12: *1 sc, 2 sctog* repeat around (12)
    Round 13: *2 sctog* repeat around (6)
Cut yarn, leaving tail for sewing. Add stuffing.

Arms (x2):

    Round 1: (SC) 6 sc in magic ring (6)
    Round 2: 2 sc in each st around (12)
    Round 3: *5 sc, 2 sc in next st* repeat (14)
    Rounds 4-10: (MC) sc around (14)
    Round 11: *5 sc, 2 sctog* repeat (12)
    Round 12: *4 sc, 2 sctog* repeat (10)
    Round 13: *3 sc, 2 sctog* repeat (8)
    Finish off leaving tail for sewing. Add stuffing.

Head:

    Round 1: (MC) 6 sc in magic ring (6)
    Round 2: 2 sc in each st around (12)
    Round 3: *3 sc, 2 sc in next 3 st* repeat (18)
    Round 4: *5 sc, 2 sc in next 3 st, 1 sc* repeat (24)
    Round 5: *6 sc, 2 sc in next st, 1 sc, 2 sc in next st, 1 sc, 2 sc in next st, 1 sc* repeat (30)
    Round 6: *4 sc, 2 sc in next st, 3 sc, 2 sc in next st, 3 sc, 2 sc in next st, 2 sc* repeat (36)
    Round 7: *6 sc, 2 sc in next st, 3 sc, 2 sc in next st, 3 sc, 2 sc in next st, 3 sc* repeat (42)
    Rounds 8-12: sc around (42)
    Round 13: *6 sc, 2 sctog, 3 sc, 2 sctog, 3 sc, 2 sctog, 3 sc* repeat (36)
    Round 14: *4 sc, 2 sctog, 3 sc, 2 sctog, 3 sc, 2 sctog, 2 sc* repeat (30)
    Round 15: *6 sc, 2 sctog, 1 sc, 2 sctog, 1 sc, 2 sctog, 1 sc* repeat (24)
    Round 16: *5 sc, 2 sctog for 6 st, 1 sc* repeat (18)
    Round 17: *3 sc, 2 sctog for 6 st* repeat (12) – add stuffing
    Round 18: *2 sctog* repeat around (6)
Finish off.

Ears:

    Round 1: 6 sc in magic ring (6)
    Round 2: 2 sc in each st around (12)
    Round 3: *5 sc, 2 sc in next st* repeat (14)
    Round 4: *6 sc, 2 sc in next st* repeat (16)
Finish off leaving tail for sewing.

Eyes:

    Round 1: 6 sc in magic ring (6)
    Round 2: 2 sc in each st around (12)
    Finish off leaving tail for sewing.
    Add color of choice for the pupil with tapestry needle.

Tail:

20 fhdc (or as long as you want), ss in each hdc around

Assembly line:

Attach the ears and eyes to the head, with the tapestry needle make the nose/mouth, attach the arms and the tail to the body, and here is the little cutie done :)

From the back:


I plan in making a Miaou family with Monsieur, Madame and their children, I'll post pictures of them when they are finished ;)

Happy crochetting!