Crochet Birthstone Bears!

I wanted to make something special for each one of my friends at our annual Christmas Party, so I whipped up nine birthstone teddies! I had fun picking out the yarn colours, and I especially enjoyed working with the mixed pastels skein for October's Opal stone.

To make the bears, I used a pattern called Mini Cupcake Bear, created by Stephanie, posted on her site at All About Ami. Please follow the link to see the pattern, and check out much more of her work. The original sits in an adorable little muffin/cupcake cup with a tiny cherry on its head! How cute is that?! I got the idea to make birthstone bears when I went to the dollar store and saw packs of multi-coloured rhinestones on the shelf. Later, when I looked at the bear pattern again, this idea came to me. Thanks so much Stephanie, for sharing this adorable pattern, it was very fun to work with :)

Above you see all nine bears that I made: purple is Amethyst (February), Teal is Aquamarine (March),
two are Diamond (April), Red is Ruby (July), Green is Peridot (August), and Three are Rainbow for Opal (October).  I still have to make one in golden Yellow to create Topaz for November.

Here's a group shot of the coloured ones. I had way too much fun with those rhinestones didn't I? Well, I don't want to grow up yet, that's all. Life is short people, don't ever let anyone steal your childlike delight!

And here's a shot of the Opal triplets.... there is something adorable about making several of the same thing and photographing them together. I hope more people will start requesting bears *nudge nudge* to my friends who follow this blog, you know you want one, and I'd be glad to whip one up for you!

Crochet Baby Octopus

This is another project that I made months ago, but never blogged about. This little octopus fits in the palm of your hand, and is just over an inch tall! I like to make them in pastel colours, using a size 1 fingering weight yarn. The Pattern I used for guidance comes from the book Amigurumi World by Ana Paula Rimoli. The octopus pattern in that book uses worsted weight yarn and larger hooks, thereby giving you a larger toy, but who says you can't make it smaller?
I think he'd make a great cellphone charm!

Free Crochet Pattern: Fuzzy Baby Owl

After 4 long months without posting, I'm happy to be back with a free pattern for you! This is a baby owl that I whipped up for my sister as a Christmas present. He's not meant to be an ornament, he's just hanging out in the tree for fun. You will find the free pattern bellow:

Fuzzy Baby Owl
By: Amanda Ward

Materials:
size D (3.25mm) crochet hook
size 1 or 2 yarn (a fine weight brushed acrylic yarn)
glue gun
small yarn needle
2 small black beads for eyes
craft stuffing (small amount)
gauge: no gauge, just be sure stuffing doesn't pop out through the stitches, and by the way, if you want a bigger owl, just use a larger hook with a thicker yarn, like a size 4 worsted weight acylic with an F (3.75mm) or G (4.25mm) hook.

Pattern

Body (worked from the base to the head)

1) 6 sc in magic ring (or just ch 2 and work 6sc into 2nd ch from hook)
2) 2 sc in each sc around (12sc)
3) sc1, inc around (18sc)
4) sc8, in (twice) (20sc)
5) sc around in each st (20sc)
6) sc around in each st (20sc)
7) sc8, dec (twice) (18sc)
8) sc around in each st (18sc) begin stuffing lightly
9) sec 6 times, sc 6 (12sc)
10) sc 12 around (12sc)
11) sc 12 around (12sc)
12) sc in next sc, ch2, sl st in next ch, sc in next 6sc, ch2, sl st in next ch, sc in next 6 sc.
13) *Puff st into the "ch 2, sl st in next ch" you made in the previous round (this forms the first ear, and it doesn't matter where you put your hook through the ch , just don't work into the regular sc stitches anywhere around it), ch 1,

*I do a puff stitch as follows: yarn over, insert hook into space indicated (in this case the "ch 2 sl st in next ch") yarn over, pull up a loop, yarn over,  insert hook into same space, yarn over, pull up a loop, yarn over, insert hook into same space, yarn over, pull up a loop, and pull through all loops on hook.

now hold the piece closed so that the sc stitches you made before the puff stitch and the sc that come after it are aligned (you will sl st though both layers of next 5sc (this closes the piece to form the head) ch 1,


now work a puff st into the "ch 2, sl st in next ch" to create another ear on the opposite side of the head, ch 1, fasten off, leave a long tail and weave it in so it is hidden inside the body and secured.

Eyes: (make 2) 6 sc in magic ring (or ch 2 and sc6 in 2nd ch from hook). Sew them onto the owl's face.

Wings: (make 2) ch 5, hdc in 2nd ch from hook, dc in next 2 ch, hdc in last ch, fasten off, sew one wing to each side of the body.

Beak: Using simple whip stitches until the beak is the size you want (I did about 5).

There's your fabulous little owl. Work up a bunch and make a family!

Pattern written by Amanda Ward. You may not sell this pattern, or publish it, in whole or in part, in any form. If you would like to blog about it, do not re-post it on your page. Link to this page instead. You are free to sell any items you make using this pattern, but you must credit me by including my name and my blog on a piece of paper with the finished item when you sell it.

Remember what I said when I posted the coral tutorial? Bad behavior catches up with you, so be kind. The crafting community is a wonderful place, so let's keep it that way :)