Stitchboard Admin message #2
Re: More like...work's in progress
July 31, 2013 at 4:52:59 AM  (in response to purpleglow message #1)
 
Hee hee, you sound pretty normal to me!    I don't understand how anyone can work on only one thing at a time.  I get pretty bored working on the same thing all the time, so I have to switch to other things to keep the fascination going! 

What kind of amigurumis are you making?

Do you make a lot of the gifts you give?  I like to do that.  There's such joy in giving a handmade gift! 

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BetwixtTheStitch message #3
Re: More like...work's in progress
July 31, 2013 at 7:51:30 AM  (in response to purpleglow message #1)
 
Yep, sounds normal to me as well . I'm working on a couple of blankets (one for great grandbaby and an Ironman one for grandson), just finished a ninja turtle and my translation of Mike Wazowski so trying to decide what to work on next in the toy department. I've been promised pics of the recipient with his new toys and will post them if I get them.

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Stitchboard Admin message #4
Re: More like...work's in progress
July 31, 2013 at 3:37:42 PM  (in response to BetwixtTheStitch message #3)
 
Excellent!    I sure look forward to seeing pictures!

LOL, I had no idea who Mike Wazowski was...how cute (obviously am not up on my Disney characters)!  Are you talking about making a stuffed character, or are you going to use the image in an afghan?  That looks like such a fun project! 

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BetwixtTheStitch message #5
Re: More like...work's in progress
August 1, 2013 at 8:29:45 AM  (in response to purpleglow message #1)
 
Yes Mike and the ninja turtle are stuffed characters, turtle was Michaelangelo with a crochet nunchuck. I love making the toys, they are fun .  Maybe time to get away from trademarked characters and create patterns I can actually sell though.

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Stitchboard Admin message #6
Re: More like...work's in progress
August 1, 2013 at 2:26:50 PM  (in response to BetwixtTheStitch message #5)
 
Mike is adorable!    He looks like he'd be fun to make as a stuffed toy.  Another one I think would be fun to make is Nibbler (Futurama).

The nice thing about amigurumi is that there's plenty of room for creativity.  I've seen a lot of really unique characters, and it would be wonderful if you came up with something you could sell as a pattern! 

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BetwixtTheStitch message #7
Re: More like...work's in progress
August 2, 2013 at 8:12:03 AM  (in response to Stitchboard Admin message #6)
 
I really don't know anything about amigurumi, aren't they miniatures? I've been making stuffed toys for close to 30 years, but they are fairly large. I do use a small hook, and when I can I use front post single crochet to get it even tighter.
So what exactly is amigurumi?

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Stitchboard Admin message #8
Re: More like...work's in progress
August 2, 2013 at 3:23:04 PM  (in response to BetwixtTheStitch message #7)
 
LOL, duh, I must have amigurumi on the brain, because I had automatically pictured small when you mentioned stuffed toys.  Sorry about that! 

You're right, amigurumi is usually small.  Though I imagine it may be possible to use some amigurumi patterns with thicker yarn to make a large toy?  I haven't tried it, so am a bit unsure.  I've done amigurumi, but it was all small...not tiny, really, just small.

One thing about it that I believe would lend itself well to toys is that you can use the same principles to make larger heads, exaggerated eyes, etc, and invent your own!    It's like someone I knew in grade school...her mom made up a (drawn) character and then she made up a bunch of t-shirts, which the girl then sold to her friends at school...they were a hit! 

You know, I had never thought of using a FPSC...ever!  I've never seen it in a pattern, just a FPDC/BPDC.  What a fantastic idea!  I was thinking that would be ultra helpful when making smaller stuffed animals, as well.  One thing about using tiny threads (or unusual ones, such as embroidery floss...and yes, I've used embroidery floss, because I have a screw loose! ) is that when working so small, it's hard to make a piece terribly solid when the thread is so tiny and I don't have a tiny enough hook.  Now I'll have to experiment, and see if a FPSC will help - thanks for the excellent idea! 

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BetwixtTheStitch message #9
Re: More like...work's in progress
August 3, 2013 at 8:21:17 AM  (in response to Stitchboard Admin message #8)
 
I can't see the tiny threads anymore, so amigurumi is out of the question for me.
I've made most of my toys from looking at pictures, so I bet I could translate a drawing as well.
One of the added benefits of fpsc is that the stitches are lined up, so details work out nicer. I sometimes use the fpdc over the fpsc to add a bit more detail. I have a screw loose as well, I'm a sucker for detail and think everything needs a bit of tweaking . I even use a bit of fabric paint sometimes. Like eyes, I don't like the way they look with just the crochet so I use fabric paint to define the iris and pupil.

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Stitchboard Admin message #10
Re: More like...work's in progress
August 3, 2013 at 10:08:28 PM  (in response to BetwixtTheStitch message #9)
 
Groan, I know what you mean about small stitches (also have the same problem with beads).  I usually work without my glasses...that helps.  If I really need to see something, that usually requires both my glasses and a pair of magnifiers, either a 3.0 strength or a 3.5 strength, forget which (just plain dollar store magnifiers, nothing fancy).  It's uncomfortable, makes everything farther away blurry, and makes my nose run (!), but it makes it easier to see those small, small stitches or beads!

I'm itching to try the FPSC!  I have a project that I'd planned to knit, but maybe this FPSC will be the answer...though I'll probably do it both ways in the long run, knitting and crochet.  The knitting will be much more difficult, though, because I'm doing something I don't think has been done before. 

Oh, yes, I have the same screw loose about detail!    If it doesn't look quite right, even if people are saying they like it...frog time!  I haven't tried fabric paint, though I've used beads.  Of course, I'm not making things for small children, either, so beads aren't a concern.    That was what I did for a tiny teddy bear...I wove beads into a heart shape for the nose, and I liked it so much better than embroidery (too small for crochet), which always ends up looking too oddly lopsided for my taste.

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BetwixtTheStitch message #11
Re: More like...work's in progress
August 4, 2013 at 8:19:43 AM  (in response to Stitchboard Admin message #10)
 
Now you have me drooling, would love to see pics of beaded work.

I do have a 5x magnifier headset from my jewelry making days. Still the smallest I can work with is number 3 cotton thread and a 00 hook, for about half an hour.
Also have some beautiful crystal beads I would have loved to work into gifts for friends.

I agree about the embroidery on crochet looking lopsided or just not quite right.
 Can"t wait to see pics of your project, I haven't done any knitting for decades.

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Stitchboard Admin message #12
Re: More like...work's in progress
August 4, 2013 at 3:32:58 PM  (in response to BetwixtTheStitch message #11)
 
I'll add two pics of my beaded cat box here.  This is a gift for a friend...the pattern is not mine....it's from a wonderful book called "Little Bead Boxes" by Julia S Pretl (though I did tweak the pattern, because the matte beads kept breaking).  (I'm ashamed to say that trying to figure out something knitted as part of the presentation has delayed sending it out for an inexcusably long time.  )




I have plans to make other boxes in the future, some from the book, others from my own imagination. 

Do you have any pics of what you made in your jewelry making days?    I love looking at handmade jewelry!

A 5x magnifier sounds so cool!  Is it uncomfortable to wear?  I know there are magnifiers that are made to actual prescriptions for close-up work, but they're so pricey. 

Can you add the crystal beads to your crochet, perhaps in an edging on something?  I love the look of crochet with beads.  I finally learned how to crochet bead bangles.  I've been crocheting for 30+ years now, and thought mastering bead crochet would be sooooo easy...nope!  I finally pulled out the pony beads and yarn.  Now I can crochet bead bangles!  It was so terribly uncomfortable at first, having to add that extra step.  It wasn't difficult to learn as much as hard to get accustomed to the extra work of adding the beads. 

Awww, thanks...I can't wait to accomplish something with the knitting!  The crochet version (because I want to do both) will likely be much easier, but I decided to make things difficult by working on the knitted version first...did I mention...I have a screw loose! 

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BetwixtTheStitch message #13
Re: More like...work's in progress
August 5, 2013 at 10:09:34 AM  (in response to Stitchboard Admin message #12)
 
That is truly amazing!
The headset can get uncomfortable in warm weather what with all the sweating and what not, other than that it just takes a little getting used to. It's just one of the cheap one's that are available on most jewelry supply websites.
I'm actually thinking of trying to stitch the beads on afterwards, the holes on these are about 1mm, will barely go on size 10 crochet thread.
I did crochet a multi strand necklace with pink and chocolate pearls on the clear string and I loved the way the pearls seemed to float on air.
What I really enjoyed working on though was the wire sculpting and weaving,

Here is a pic of a pink rhodonite cab, pink keshi pearls, and pale pink crystal. I just love combining the natural stones with the gem like fire of crystal.



This is a hand sculpted and woven Tree of Life pendant with carnelian and quartz.

I tried doing a little wire crochet and it hurts the fingers, a lot!  The wire doesn't want to cooperate so it turns out a bit too messy for my taste

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BetwixtTheStitch message #14
Bavarian crochet baby blanket
August 5, 2013 at 11:05:19 AM  (in response to purpleglow message #1)
 
This is the blanket my granddaughter wanted for great grandbaby. Almost finished with this project, just 4 more rounds.

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Stitchboard Admin message #15
Re: More like...work's in progress
August 5, 2013 at 4:02:02 PM  (in response to BetwixtTheStitch message #13)
 
Thank you kindly!    It was a joy to make (okay, a lot of complaining, too!), especially with the recipient in mind. 

Your jewelry is gorgeous!  The pink rhodonite cab is amazing, and I love the stones you have on the wire around it...they really compliment the cab, without overpowering it!

And I'm drooling over your Tree of Life pendant!  I love the curlicues!  I've seen Tree of Life pendants before, even received a beautiful one as a gift, but I've never seen it with curlicues like that!  The carnelian and quartz stones fit so perfectly, too!

I can't decide which piece I like better!

Crocheting with wire is really as difficult as you've described.    It beats up your hands, and you're right, the wire is totally uncooperative.  Though I also have trouble making wire cooperate in general and can't fathom being able to make either of those gorgeous pieces that you've done so well!

I love the blanket, too...is it the way you've joined the squares that makes it kind of glow?  It looks like each square has a corresponding joining color around the outside of it, which gives the whole thing a faceted, jewel-like glow.

Do you find it's easier to join things with crochet?   I recently made some knitted coasters and joined them with a crochet hook (the instructions had said to sew them together...pfft, sewing it looked so pitiful, I immediately grabbed a crochet hook and was very pleased with the results.  The sewn one had terrible holes in it and went into the scrap bin, maybe to be repurposed at a later date for a cat toy or something. 

Thank you so much for sharing your excellent work - such lovely eye candy! 

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