Spider pillow

My latest project is this spider pillow for my little godson.
He is inspired by the Haloween decorations in October, but because of all my Christmas-projects I haven't have time to finish him before now...but better late than never...

The body is made of plush yarn to make the pillow soft and the spider more 'alive'. The legs are made of cotton yarn crocheted with half-double-crochet to make them more flexible.

Materials                                               Finished size

• 2,5 mm hook                                               Body: 22 cm in diameter
• Black plush yarn                                        Leg: 12 cm long
• Black cotton yarn
• 2 large buttons
• Polyester fiberfill 
• Tapestry needle

Body (make 2 pieces)

R1: 6 sc in a magic ring (6)
R2: Sc 2 in each sc around (12)
R3: *Sc 1, 2 sc in next sc*, rep 6 times (18)
R4: *Sc 2, 2 sc in next sc*, rep 6 times (24)
R5: *Sc 3, 2 sc in next sc*, rep 6 times (30)
R6: *Sc 4, 2 sc in next sc*, rep 6 times (36)

R7: *Sc 5, 2 sc in next sc*, rep 6 times (42)

R8: *Sc 6, 2 sc in next sc*, rep 6 times (48)

R9: *Sc 7, 2 sc in next sc*, rep 6 times (54)

R10: *Sc 8, 2 sc in next sc*, rep 6 times (60)

R11: *Sc 9, 2 sc in next sc*, rep 6 times (66)

R12: *Sc 10, 2 sc in next sc*, rep 6 times (72)

R13: *Sc 11, 2 sc in next sc*, rep 6 times (78)

R14: *Sc 12, 2 sc in next sc*, rep 6 times (84)

R15: *Sc 13, 2 sc in next sc*, rep 6 times (90)

R16: *Sc 14, 2 sc in next sc*, rep 6 times (96)

R17: *Sc 15, 2 sc in next sc*, rep 6 times (102)

R18: *Sc 16, 2 sc in next sc*, rep 6 times (108)

R19: *Sc 17, 2 sc in next sc*, rep 6 times (114)

R20: *Sc 18, 2 sc in next sc*, rep 6 times (120)

R21: *Sc 19, 2 sc in next sc*, rep 6 times (126)

R22: *Sc 20, 2 sc in next sc*, rep 6 times (132)

R23: *Sc 21, 2 sc in next sc*, rep 6 times (138)

R24: *Sc 22, 2 sc in next sc*, rep 6 times (144)

R25: *Sc 23, 2 sc in next sc*, rep 6 times (150)

Fasten off. Leave a tail of yarn long enough to sew together the two body-pieces.

Legs (Make eight)

R1: 6 sc in a magic ring (6)
R2: Sc 2 hdc in each sc around (12)
R3: *Sc 1 hdc, 2 hdc in next sc*, rep 6 times (18)

R4-R22: 1 hdc in each around (18)
Fasten off.

Assembling

Attach the legs on the lower body part. Sew together the two body parts with plush yarn. Add the eyes.

You have now completed your spider pillow!

This pattern is an original pattern by Anja Nielsen, Crochet Fairy (January 2013). Please do not claim this pattern as your own. If you wish to share this pattern, you may link to this pattern but please do not reprint it on your site. You may keep a copy for your own personal use but you may not sell or distribute it. Kindly inform and credit me if you want to sell items made from this pattern. Thank You.

Hello Kitty

My sister and cousins loooove Hello Kitty...like most girl in the world, I guess...so I have been searching for a good Hello Kitty pattern  for a long time. But it has been surprisingly difficult. But after trying several without the desired result (= not accepted as 'real' Hello Kitty's by my picky cousins) I found this cute Hello Kitty Ballarina. The pattern is not that difficult and the result is this really cute little Hello Kitty...which was accepted right away:)

The pattern is made by Esperanza Rosas and can be downloaded here.

Crochet and empowerment

I have spend most of December traveling as part of my job. First to Burundi and then to Bangladesh. So I haven't had much time to crochet or blog, but as a surprise I met the crochet needle repeatedly...  Both projects i visited focus on empowerment of rural and marginalised women and had established women groups in the villages where the members meet each week to be taught and discuss different issues and start up income generating activities. Many members have recieved training in embrodery, sewing or crocheting and they where all very eager to show me what they have learnt. What strikes me during my visits was that for them it is not just a hobby as it is for me...For them it is much much more! These skills can generate income and mean that the women can actually earn her own money...which is very rare in both countries. The women was not just proud of their hand made products but of being able to contribute financially to their family, which further gave them a new role in the family... isn't that amazing?!...Just think, what a crochet needle or a sewing machine can do!!

Below is a picture of a display the women made for me to show the different things they have learnt to crochet or sew... They were so proud that i have to share it with you :)