Make it! Rudi the Rainbowdeer !!!

Happy start of the week!!!

Here in Maputo, this morning, we are having a lot of rain, so outside is grey and a bit humid...

To brighten my day and yours I'm posting a new colourful pattern to add to the ones I'm linking on my Instagram feed, just to give you ideas for your Christmas crafts : ready ???

They put a smile on E-V-E-R-Y-O-N-E face, right ???
It's all the weekend I'm smiling just making them !!!

WHAT DO YOU NEED ?

some colourful DK yarns
4mm hook
a pair of scissors
some buttons
a pompom maker : if you don't have it, note that the pompoms are 2,5cm in diameter
a yarn needle
thread + needle to sew buttons on
some safety pins
mini bells
baker's twine

Please remember I follow the US crochet terminology, thank you !!!


This is the first Rudi I made ...

FIRST STEP : CROCHET 2 CIRCLES

Choose a colour and make a slip knot on your hook.
chain 4 and insert hook in first chain to obtain a ring.

first round : chain 2 (if you prefer, chain 3), work 12 double crochet stitches into the ring, slip stitch in top of first DC (= double crochet stitch) to end first round. (12 stitches)

second round : chain 2 (or 3! ;oD) and work 2 DC in same stitch. Crochet 2 DC in every next stitch and slip stitch in top of first DC to close second round. (24 stitches)

third round : chain 2 (or 3) and work 1 DC in same stitch and 2 DC in next stitch. Repeat [1 DC + 2 DC] other 11 times, slip stitch in top of first DC to end this round. (36 stitches) Cut yarn, fasten off.

You need to crochet a second circle in the same way and this time leave a long end, to use it to sew together, back to back, the 2 circles!!!! ;oD


SECOND STEP : POMPOMS as noses

Well, to make a lot of pompoms of same size I find very useful to use the pompom makers by Clover.
I've been using the smallest one, which allows you to have pompoms with a diameter of 2,5cm.
If you don't have it, just use traditional methods (as HERE), or a fork (as HERE) or your fingers (as HERE) !!!

Once you have done, pass the tails (with the help of the yarn needle) through the hole in the center of one of the circle and pull them to make the pompom adhere well on the surface. Make some knots on the back and cut the excess of yarn.


THIRD STEP: BUTTONS as eyes

Simply choose a couple of buttons and the right needle and thread. Just position the buttons over the nose and decide the right spot to sew them on! Easy-peasy !!!


FOURTH STEP : MOUTH

You need to choose a new contrasting colour and just under the nose, between rounds 2 and 3, make some slip stitches (12 in my case) to shape a big smile !

When done, cut yarn and leave a tail to fix the yarn in the back, but mostly to add the vertical line in the middle of the mouth !
When you reach the middle of the mouth, let the yarn needl pass from back to front...

... and pull the all the yarn and make the needle enter a space just under the pompom and go to the back again, where you complete the sewing !!!

FIFH STEP : ANTLERS

In any top stitch (just above the eyes) insert the tip of your hook, where you have just made a slip knot with a new colourful yarn!
In this stitch make a single crochet stitch (=SC) and chain 3 (or more if you like). Chain 5 extra stitches and insert hook in 2nd stitch from hook and make 1 slip stitch. Work other 3 slip stitches in the next 3 chains. Chain 5 again, insert hook in 2nd stitch from hook and work other 4 slip stitches. You will have something like in the following picture ...

... then, slip stich again in the same chain of 4th slip stitch of first point made, work 3 SC in last 3 chains. Slip stitch in same stitch of starting SC.
Make 4 slip stitches along the top of the circle (or more, or less : it depends how wide you will love the gap between the 2 antlers!) and in the same top stitch of last slip stitch made work 1 SC.
Repeat the same pattern given for the first antler and when completed (just after the last 3 SC), slip stitch in same starting stitch, cut yarn and fasten off ! Antlers done!!!

LAST STEP : SEWING and PIN


Sew in all the ends of both circles and put them back on back. Using the yarn needle with the long tail left on the second circle, sew them together with simple stitches. Cut all the excess of yarn.

Then add the safety pin on the back ...

Open the pin and push the head in one of the stitches between rounds 2 and 3, from right to left, and let it come out when the pin is covered enough, see ?? ...

Not difficult at all !!!


So, if you are crocheting a lot of  Rudis, you will be surrounded by a happy group of rainbowdeers, like myself ...

Would you love a complete Rudi, instead ???

... Next time, maybe ????? ;oD


xxxx Alessandra

Make it! April Fool's Day Fish !!!

Today could be a day full of jokes .... all over the world !!!!
In Italy we have the custom to cut out a fish from a piece of paper (read here !) and we try to stick it on the back of a person (trying to be gentle, so that the victim is not aware of it) and then laugh at her/his shoulders .... silly, but such fun when I was a kid!!!

Today, instead, I will love to give you a mini pattern (no photo tutorial, sorry!) that allows you to crochet some little fish to gift to your friends ... no jokes here!!!

WHAT YOU NEED :

• some colourful cotton yarns
• a hook or more : I was working both with  3,5mm (one strand) and 4mm (2 strands). I've used once even a 3mm hook!
• a pair of scissors
• safety pins
• buttons
• yarn needle
• a needle to sew on the buttons

Remember that I follow the US crochet terminology ! ;oD

April Fool's Day Fish PATTERN :

Choose a bright colour from your cottons (any other fibre is fine, too!) and make a slip knot on your hook
Row 1 : chain 3, make 3 hDC (= half double crochets) in first chain, chain 2 and turn
Row 2 : (increasing row) 2 hDC in first stitch, 1 hDC in next stitch, 2 hDC in last stitch, chain 2 and turn
Rows 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 : work 5 hDC, chain 2 and turn
Row 8 : (decreasing row) 2 hDCtog (= half double crochets together : decreasing!), 1 hDC, 2 hDCtog , chain 2 and turn
Row 9 : (decreasing row) work 3 hDCtog, chain 2 and turn
Row 10 : work 3 hDC in same stitch, chain 2 and turn
Row 11: 3 hDC, chain 2 and turn
Row 12 : (increasing row) 2 hDC in first stitch, 1 hDC in next stitch, 2 hDC in last stitch

From now on, you can choose between two options :

OPTION 1 :

chain 1 and slip stitch all around the fish body, until you reach again the tail and
Row 13 : 1 SC (= single crochet) in first stitch, [2 DC (= double crochet), 1 slip stitch, 2 DC ] in third stitch, 1 SC in last stitch

Cut yarn, fasten off and trim ends in . Sew on a button as the fish eye.

OPTION 2 :

You can decide to not slip stich all around the fish body, so, instead, at the end of row 12 you can chain 1 and then turn
Row 13 : as in option 1

Cut yarn, fasten off and trim ends in. Sew on a button as the fish eye.

When working on my colour block fish, I preferred to use option 1, while working with two strands together (baker's twine effect) I used option 2 !!



The only exception was the above pink/white one, where I still used option 1 !!!

As usual, I'm not able to post just a couple of pictures .....

So, if you wanna follow the Italian custom, just add a pin to your fish and wear it all day long !!!!

You can even decide to make a simple necklace , as I did ..

Have fun today, xxxx Ale

Today party links : Link your Stuff! and Craft Schooling Sunday

Make it ! Bunnies Galore Bun(-ny!)ting !!!

This year, our Easter will be full of bunnies !!!!

In fact, I have just completed a crocheted garland, not too big, with some colourful bunnies ...

If you are a fan of the Easter Bunny (who is not?) I invite you to follow my directions and to collect all you need to crochet these sweet creatures :

• a hook (4mm)
• some yarn (I've been using a selection of filati cervinia caprice)
• a pair of scissors
• some buttons to use as eyes
• a pom pom maker (optional) : 2cm diameter
• yarn needle
• a needle that passes through the buttons holes
• toy stuffing

I decided to use the white yarn as the main colour for the  bunnies muzzles and please remember that I follow the US crochet terminology! ;oD

LET'S START !!!

Grab your hook and make a slip knot on it, using the white yarn.
Chain 4 and push the hook in the first chain made, to form a ring.
FIRST ROUND : chain 2 and crochet 12 double crochets into the ring. Slip stitch in top of first DC (=double crochet) to close the round
SECOND ROUND : chain 2 and work 2 DCs in each top of the previous stitches. You will end this round with 24 DCs. Slip stitch in top of first DC to close this round.

THIRD ROUND : chain 3 and

• 2 trebles (=Tr) in first stitch
• 1 DC in next stitch
• 2 DC in next stitch
• 1 single crochet (=SC) in next stitch
• *2 SC in next stitch
• 1 SC in next stitch*
• repeat the pattern from *to* other 3 times

You have done the first half of your third round ! Next, you will complete the second half of the round just repeating the previous pattern, reading it from bottom to top, as follows :

• *1 SC in next stitch
• 2 SC in next stitch*
• repeat the pattern from *to* other 3 times
• 1 SC in next stitch
• 2 DC in next stitch
• 1 DC in next stitch
• 2 Tr in last stitch

Make a slip stitch in top of first treble, cut yarn and fasten off. Trim in all ends.
If you desire to use the bunny as a hanging decoration, please leave a tail of 15/20cm long, that, knotted with the other tail, will form an useful loop!! ;oD

You need to crochet a second piece as the one just done, to make the back of the bunny head!!!

Now, we'll start to give our bunny his typical features ....

Choose a colourful yarn and the pompom maker to create a fluffy nose

Once the pompom is done (wrapping and trimming completed), with the help of a yarn needle pass the pompom threads in the hole of our shape, from front to back and using these threads (one for each button) with the right needle, sew the buttons on the muzzle, so you will have the following ...

Now, collect the second oval shape ant put its back on the back of the bunny face and (using the same yarn of the nose) and start to join the two shapes as follow :

make a slip knot on the hook and push the tip of the hook under the first stitch on the top left (just aside the tail) and under the corresponding top stitch of the other shape and make your first SC to join your two pieces together.
Then, chain 15 and make a slip stitch in the first SC done, to form the first ear of the bunny!
In next stitch and all the following stitches, to the second-last stitch included,  make a SC in each stitch ...

When you have done 3/4 of the joining, please remember to fill your bunny with some toy filling and then complete to crochet your SCs to the last but one stitch.
At this point, make your last SC in the last stitch, chain 15 and make a slip stitch in the last Sc, to have the second ear!
To close your work, make another slip stitch in the first SC of the joining round, cut the yarn and fasten off!
Trim in all the ends!!!
Your first bunny is done, as you can see ...

This blue bunny had the honour to become a brooch (I just sewn a safety pin on its back!) ...

... while for my bunting, I indulged in the use of different colours, as you can see in the following pictures (sorry for the truckload !) ...

I decided that 5 was the right number of bunnies for my bunting, so I picked up the hook again and with a new colour I started the chain for my hanging decoration !

You need to make a slip knot on your hook with the new yarn and chain 60.

To join the ears to your working chain, you just need to push (from front to back) the tip of your hook into the top of the bunny's ear

pull yarn to front (it forms a loop)

and push the brand new loop trough the old loop

the join is done!!!


Between each couple of ears : chain 5
Between each bunny : chain 20

Obviously, you can choose how many chains to work for your bunting (beginning, between ears or bunnies, ending) : honestly it's up to you!! ;oD

After the last bunny was joined, I ended my chain with 60 chains same number as the beginning).

To embellish the ends of my chain, I decided to add a couple of carrots to my bunting !

With some orange yarn, I made a slip knot on my hook, then :
chain 3 and 1 half double crochet (=hDC) into the first chain made and chain 2
FIRST ROW : turn, 2 hDC in next stitches, chain 2
SECOND ROW : turn, 2 hDC in same stitch, 2 hDC in next stitch, chain 2
THIRD ROW : turn, 1 hDC in every stitch (total : 4 hDC), chain 2
FOURTH ROW : turn, work 4 DC, but only half for each stitch, so that you will have 5 loops on your hook. Then, wrap yarn around your hook and pull it trough all the loops. Cut yarn, fasten off.

Attach them to the main chain (at both ends) with the help of some green lengths and knot the carrots to them! the mini bows will resemble leaves !!! ;oD


Find the right place to hang your bunting ....

and enjoy it !!!!

xxxx Alessandra

Today links : Link your Stuff!, March Link Party #3 and Craft Schooling Sunday