It's competition time !

Forbidden Planet has just launched a new competition and it is all about crafting (which is close to my heart). I have been very lucky to have the Batman that I crocheted used as part of the promotion banner . My inspirational and hard working crochet buddy Penny Ruddell has had her crochet whale used to promote crafting on Forbidden Planet's website and in all the Forbidden Planet stores. I highly recommend her work. Here is her blog Crochet Cravings . I think our work looks great together.

Here is your chance to enter the competition. It's a wonderful way to show case your work and there are some lovely books to be won. You don't have to stick to Amigurumi or Crocheting you can make what ever you like !

Visit Forbidden Planet Face Book post your comment's and see your entries posted up. I wish you all the best of luck !

The Dark Knight

Hi all, I wanted to share this guy with you. He is probably one of my favourite comic book characters. He is none other than the 'Caped crusader', the 'Dark knight', the sultry, moody, man of very few words, 'Batman'.
I made this Ami for a little guy called Isaac. This was his back up Christmas gift last year when the snow had held up everyone's deliveries. Batman took me roughly 7 hours to do in total. I made him over a few days. The most difficult part for me was his hair. I wanted him to be Bruce Wayne when the cowl was removed and wanted his hair to be neat and slicked back. (That was a challenge let me tell you !) On the first head I attempted the hair looked awful ! Bruce looked like a monk ! ha ! (see below)

First head attempt

I was discussing with my friends at work the colour of Batman's eyes. In the film's he is mostly portrayed with brown eyes and dark hair. Batman's statistic say that he has black hair and blue eyes. Batman's Statistics. ...So in went some bright baby blue safety eyes. I used DK wool in mid grey, black, flesh tone and sunflower yellow. The mouth was embroidered with tapestry thread. Batman's logo was cut out of some black felt material.

 

I really hope you all like the 'Dark Knight'. If I had more time I would have liked to have crafted him some batarangs ! By the way the little boy, Isaac loved his new toy.

Amigurumi Kitten

Hey there. Hope your all keeping well. Thank's for visiting my blog . Just want to share this crochet 'Ami' (Amigurumi) kitten.
I started this project using the kitten pattern in a book by Brigitte Read called 'Super Super cute crochet'. ( I have listed this book in 'Books I recommend' See below). I used this expensive 'Alpaca wool in shade 'Storm'.
http://www.laughinghens.com/knitting-wool-yarn.asp?yarnid=1288 It started off ok and then it turned in to what I can only describe as a grey mess....an expensive grey mess. I spent a couple of hours trying to get the head right. I got so fed up of this project I stuffed it in a bag tried to forget about it.
After about a week I revisited the sad, big headed, grey mess and took pity on it. I assessed where I had left it and decided to stuff it with poly fibre fill to see what it looked like. It didn't look too bad. I unstuffed the kitten's head, added the biggest safety eyes I had. I wanted to give the kitten green eyes but didn't have any green eyes big enough. The nose was embroidered using normal black Dk wool. I sewed the paws and tail on after rolling poly fibre fill around pipe cleaners. ( Pipe cleaners in the limbs help when you wish to pose your ami project).
The detail of the whiskers and pads on the feet were added on last.

I think it turned out pretty cute and my perseverance paid off.... eventually. :D !

My very first Amigurumi.

Here is my very, very first 'Amigurumi' 編みぐるみ, literally "Knitted stuffed toy".

After making crochet hats for what seemed like months I applied the circle I had been repeating in to a 3d Sculpt and went for a fun pink iced donut. Hmmmm.....yummy. I was very pleased with the success of my first 'Ami' project..and I used no patterns !