Penny the Pig

My latest project are these cute little pigs.

The pattern is very easy. The body incl. snout and tail is made in one piece (see picture below).

Materials
2,5 mm hook
Cotton yarn (pink + black and white for the eyes)
Polyester fiberfill
Tapestry needle
Finished size: 16 cm long (excl. tail) and 12 cm tall.

Abbreviations 
sc: single crochet
dec: single crochet decrease
inc: 2 sc in sc

Head/Body
Start with the snout 
Rnd 1: 6 single crochet into magic ring (6)

Rnd 2: 2sc in each st around (12)
Rnd 3: (inc, 1sc) x6 (18)
Rnd 4: (inc, 2sc) x6 (24)
Rnd 5: (inc, 3sc) x6 (30)
Rnd 6: “1sc in each sc” (in the inner loop) (30)
Rnd 7-8: “1sc in each sc around” (30)
Rnd 9: (inc, 9sc) x3 (33)
Rnd 10: (inc, 10sc) x3 (36)
Rnd 11: (inc, 5sc) x6 (42)
Rnd 12: (inc, 2sc) x14 (56)
Rnd 13: (inc, 7sc) x7 (63)
Rnd 14: (inc, 8sc) x7 (70)
Rnd 15: (inc, 9sc) x7 (77)
Rnd 16: (inc, 10sc) x7 (84)
Rnd 17: (inc, 11sc) x7 (91)
Rnd 18: (inc, 12sc) x7 (98)
Rnd 19-50: 1sc in each sc around (98)
Rnd 51: (dec, 12sc) x7 (91)

Rnd 52: (dec, 11sc) x7 (84)
Rnd 53: (dec, 10sc) x7 (77)
Rnd 54: (dec, 9sc) x7 (70)
Rnd 55: (dec, 8sc) x7 (63)
Rnd 56: (dec, 7sc) x7 (56)
Rnd 57: (dec, 6sc) x7 (49) 

Rnd 58: (dec, 5sc) x7 (42) Stuff with poly fill.
Rnd 59: (dec, 4sc) x7 (35)
Rnd 60: (dec, 3sc) x7 (28)
Rnd 61: (dec, 2sc) x7 (21)
Rnd 62: (dec, 1sc) x7 (14)
Rnd 63: (dec) x7 (7) Start making the tail. 
Rnd 64-92: 1sc in each sc around (7) Insert pipe cleaner (10 cm). Close up.
Fasten off. Make a curl on the tail. 

Leg (Make four)
Rnd 1: 6 single crochet into magic ring (6)
Rnd 2: 2sc in each st around (12)
Rnd 3: (inc, 1sc) x6 (18) 

Rnd 4: (inc, 2sc) x6 (24)
Rnd 5: (inc, 3sc) x6 (30)
Rnd 6-10: “1sc in each sc around” (30)
Finish up, cut yarn leaving a tail long enough to attach to the body 

Ear (Make two)
Rnd 1: 4 single crochet into magic ring (4)
Rnd 2: (inc, 1sc) x2 (6)
Rnd 3: (inc, 2sc) x2 (8)
Rnd 4: (inc, 1sc) x4 (12)
Rnd 5: (inc, 2sc) x4 (16)
Rnd 6: (inc, 3sc) x4 (20)
Rnd 7: (inc, 4sc) x4 (24)
Rnd 8: (inc, 5sc) x4 (28)
Rnd 9: (inc, 6sc) x4 (32)
Rnd 10-12: Sc in each sc around (32)
Finish up, cut yarn leaving a tail long enough to attach to the body 

Eye (Make two)
White yarn Rnd 1: 6 single crochet into magic ring (6)
Rnd 2: 2sc in each sc around (12)
Rnd 3: (inc, 1sc) x6 (18)
Finish up, cut yarn leaving a tail long enough to attach on the body 

Pupil (Make two)
Black yarn Rnd1: 6 single crochet into magic ring (6 sts)
Rnd2: 2sc in each st around (12 sts)
Finish up, cut yarn leaving a tail long enough to attach on the eye 

Attach the legs and ears to the body.
Sew the pupils on the eyes and attach the above the snout.
Embroider eyelashes above the eyes and a red smiling mouth 2 rounds below the snout.

You´re done!! Enjoy your own little pig.

This pattern is an original pattern by Anja Nielsen, Crochet Fairy (April 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.

Ugle-pude

Jeg elsker at hækle puder! Det er en fantastisk måde at snige sjove hæklede bamser ind i hjemmet på, uden at det bare er endnu en hæklet bamse... For hvem kan sige nej til en pude? ;)

Mit sidste projekt var denne store ugle-pude:

Den er hæklet ud fra Oline the Owl - mønstret. Men for at få den rigtig stor, har jeg i stedet for almindelig bomuldsgarn brugt BIG Cotton garn og hæklenål str. 6 mm. Jeg har brugt 7 nøgler på puden, som måler lidt over en halv meter i højden. Den er stoppet let med pude-fyld, så er den til gengæld også rigtig krammeagtig!

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 :)

Wedding dolls

A wedding is a beautiful thing where two individuals celebrate their love and commitment together with their families and friends...and it always make my inner romantic come out. So when my oldest friend was going to get married to 'her one and only' I wanted to make her something special which could be a memory of her special day in the furture.

I decided to crochet a wedding couple even that I haven't made anything like that before. I couldn't find a suitable pattern so I tried to create the dolls on my own... Especially the groom's cloth and hair turned out to be a challenge, but I manage to end up with this cute little couple... and I think they turned out pretty well. No matter what, my friend seemed happy for the personal gift - and that was what was important:)

And besides it was a very beautiful ceremony and a wonderful wedding party afterwards - If that was a reflection of how their life together will be, it can only be amazing!!

The dools are about 10 cm tall. I tried to make the hair like the my friend's and her husband's...however the grooms hair become a little rumpled....

Pattern for the bride

Materials:

• 2.5 mm hook
• Cotton blend yarn (pink, white and brown)
• 4,5 mm black craft eyes
• Polyester fiberfill
• Tapestry needle
• Polystyrene ball (for head)

Leg (make 2):
Start with the white yarn to make shoes. Make a magic ring (6)
Round 1: "Sc in next st, 2 sc in next st" x3 (9)
Round 2-7: Sc in each st around, (change to pink yarn after round 2) (9)
For the first leg, join with sl st in first st. Fasten off
Do not fasten off for the second leg

Body and Head:
Hold the two legs together. 

Round 1: Insert hook in one st of first leg, pull out the loop from second leg, sc in same st, sc in next 8 sts on second leg and the 8 sts on first leg (16)
Round 2: "2 sc in next st, sc in next 7 sts" x2. (18)
Round 3: "Sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st" x6 (change to white yarn). Stuff the legs. (24)
Round 4: Sc in each st around (24)
Round 5: Working in back loops. Sc in each st around (24)
Round 6-7: Sc in each st around (front loops) (24)
Round 8: "Sc in next 6 sts, sc next 2 sts tog" x3 (21)
Round 9: "Sc in next 5 sts, sc next 2 sts tog" x3. Stuff. (18)

Round 10: "Sc in next st, sc next 2 sts tog" x6 (changing to pink yarn ) (12)

Round 11: "2 sc in next st, sc in next st" x6 (18)
Round 12: "Sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st" x6 (24)
Round 13: "Sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st" x6 (30)
Round 14: "Sc in next 4 sts, 2 sc in next st" x6 (36)
Round 15-18: Sc in each st around (36) (Insert polystyrene ball)

Round 19: "Sc in next 4 sts, sc next 2 sts tog" x6 (30)
Round 20: "Sc in next 3 sts, sc next 2 sts tog" x6 (24)
Round 21: "Sc in next 2 sts, sc next 2 sts tog" x6 (18)
Round 22: "Sc in next st, sc next 2 sts tog" x6 (12)
Round 23: Sc next 2 sts tog around, sl st in first st (6) 

Fasten off and close 

Long dress:
With white yarn work in front loops of round 4 of the body. The head should point towards you
Round 1: Start by joining with sl st , sc in same st, sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st, (sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st)x5 times (30)
Round 2: Sc in each st around (30)
Round 3: "Sc in next 4 sts, 2 sc in next st" x6 (36)
Round: 4-7: Sc in each st around (36)
Round 8: 2st in each sc around (72)
Round: 9: Sc in each st around (72)

Arm (make 2):
Round 1: Start with the pink yarn. Make a magic ring (6)
Round 2: "Sc in next st, 2 sc in next st" x3 (9)
Round 3: Sc in each st around (9)
Round 4: "Sc in next st, sc next 2 sts tog" x3 (6)
Round 5: Sc in each st around (change to white yarn)
Round 6-7: Sc in each st around, sl st in first st
Stuff and fasten off. Leave yarn to sew the arms to the body
(Make a ring by sewing orange yarn over one of the st on the 'hand' (se picture))

Flower bouquet:
Use multi-colored yarn.
Row 1: sc 30 st
Row 2: sc 2 st into each st around
Row 3: sc 2 st into each st around
Fold it around as a flower as sew it together.

Use green yarn for the stems. Crochet 2 rows (about 15 st).
Fold the stems and attach them to the bottom of the bouquet.

Hair:
Choose yarn that matchs the bride's hair color. Cut strands of yarn in double-length and and insert in head; insert hook, draw the folded yarn end through the stitch and pull the loose ends through the folded end, draw the knot up tightly. Add hair around until the hairs cover the head.

And then you have your own little bride:)

Mooooooose

I started crochetting toys and animals for my small cousins and my friends' children, but I soon realised that few people can resist crochetted stuff...And who can blame them:) This one I made for my brother.

After I had made a large violet elephant for my little godson, my brother who is 26 requested "a crochetted animal, twice the size in blue...". So last time I visited him I brought him this big blue moose head... (I just had to make it when I found the pattern - and my brother become the lucky recipient!)
It gave me an extra experience, when I brought it along in the train... I got a lot of attention...it was to long to have in a bag so it must have been quite a view ...

The pattern is made by Cecilie.
My version is made of thick yarn and crochetted with a 6 mm needle to make it oversize, and I love the result..and hopefully my brother does too.  The final head was more than 80cm long, and the shape make it perfect as a pillow or headrest for when you watch TV...:)
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