The things I made in December

pieces of zebra

Better late than never, here is the Christmas stuff I made. Not all of it, I didn’t take pictures of it all. These are the things I thought I should record as they’re all firsts.

Making an amigurumi zebra

This fella was finished on Christmas Eve. I spent a long time on him, mostly in little bursts because like an old lady, I couldn’t work with the black yarn in the dark. And it was always dark in December.

hand made crochet zebra

Many hours later…. I think I did an acceptable job.

Cute amigurumi zebra

Little toddler fingers had smudged the camera lense and I didn’t notice until much later.

christmas zebra

I followed Elisabeth Doherty’s pattern from her Amigurumi book. The pattern is for a fawn which is surrounded by other ami patterns (although I don’t fancy making a crochet burger really). However, I know that the fawn pattern can be bought on its own on Etsy and maybe Ravelry as a pdf. I’m sure it was last time I looked.

An amigurumi zebra

The back legs twisted too much so that the knees are wrongly placed, I didn’t say anything and I don’t think the recipient will notice. She’s only two.

Kids crochet cardigan

I made a little crochet cardi. Super speedy it was. The pattern is from Simply Crochet Magazine, issue 32. I was very good and bought the recommended wool, Drops Nepal. I chose slightly different colours but mostly I stuck to the recipe.

little crochet cardi

I had pink leftover so instead of a ribbon tie, I made a crochet one. It might be a bit bulky though, which is probably the reason why the pattern goes for ribbon.

Cardigan yoke

Not sure what to do with the leftovers, only a small amount of the yoke colours are needed. Ohh, pompoms?!

blocking the round doily.

Nanna and Grandad got a doily for Christmas. I used DMC Natura Just Cotton in Dk. The pattern is from Kyuuto! Japanese Crafts: Lacy Crochet. I didn’t do a particularly neat job of blocking it as I ran out of ironing board. My Nanna was pleased as she said it can replace the doily her mother had made her (it is falling apart). I don’t know how old that one is but she told me that her mother died in 1976.

Coraline doll

And here is Coraline.Quite a big doll. Whilst not perfect, I am proud of her as I made her up totally from my head. All of it. Including the pattern for the coat, which only bloody well fit first time! Dead pleased. But not completely over the moon. I want to make her again to sort all the tweaks that are required. Her head and neck shape is wrong, which in turn has ballsed up her face. And I was afraid to press her clothes incase the felt melted. Neatness has been sacrificed.

An emergency ear fix

She also needed an emergency operation on her ears because they were dreadful. I so know what I’d do to make them better but I ran out of fabric and time.

Coraline's face

They are supposed to poke through her hair and that, they do

Home made Coraline

It is a huge relief to have ticked these things off my list. I have a perkier list for January, which pretty much includes making stuff solely for me!

The rush of December

starting crochet cardi

It’s properly December now and the time I thought I had is pretty much gone. I had lots of ideas for Christmas makes but I have gradually knocked certain things off the list as time disappears. I’ve narrowed it down and there are three main things still left to finish. Anything else I make after that is a bonus. The first is the thingy above. I started yesterday and it was fun to get cracking.

cardi yoke

I love the colours. It is Drops Nepal, an alpaca mix aran. I will be sure to take some more pictures of this later. I think I will finish this quite quickly. It’s an enjoyable thing.

pile of makes

This is the stuff that I made thinking I would try and sell it at the craft fair last month. I also knew that if I didn’t sell it then I would be giving some of it away as Christmas presents. Is that wrong? Feel marginally guilty but can’t put my finger on why.

first c2c baby blanket

This is my first Corner2Corner and my first Walking Dead blanket. Called the Walking Dead blanket because I need somewhere to look when the zombies/walkers/biters are on screen.

stash busting c2c

It’s only small and made from leftovers, hence the odd colour choices. They are not my colours but I think they have some appeal. Autumnal.

where is the nice green

This is the second Walking Dead blanket, started when we began season three. Still not finished but we have three episodes left so the two should be finished together. It is made from Bamboo. I bought it for £1.39 a ball, reduced from £4. Unfortunately, it smells rank. I’m not sure if it’s the yarn or the cardboard inner wotsit. It has a very specific wet chopping board smell. Hopefully a good wash will sort it out. It’s very silky feeling even if it is stinky. And it is not bogey green either but a beautiful emerald green. Camera does not do green.

sewing dolly

I’m also about to embark on the final version of a dolly. This is a special request from my niece. I worked up a prototype yesterday. After making some tweaks, it is probably what I should finish off first. I don’t take the easy road, I have drafted the pattern myself, which is something I have no real experience in.  I make stuff up as I go along. We shall see.

I have another crochet project that I’m putting off as I know it’ll be tricky. It’s an amigurumi job and it’ll be in black and white. But that is the third and final thing.

Edoo's gingie

This is what me and Eldest are working on after school. He traced around one of my gingerbread men templates and cut it out. He chose the buttons and stitched on the nose and cheeks himself. I expect him to stitch the two parts together too. I’m looking forward to seeing it on the tree.

Sooo, that is where I am and I am getting further behind by tippytappying here. I’m off to see what I can do in the next 45 minutes before I have to wake up Toddler and rush off to the school Nativity!