Amigurumi Flower and Flower Pot

hi :) i've been working on this little flower thing for a few weeks
it came into my brain one night when i was supposed to be sleeping
i hurried up and started, and i got the whole thing done in about 2 days minus the flower petals... the flower petals took several tries, after which i just opted for the most simple of methods :)
the whole thing is worked top down in one piece, and then the leaves are sewn on, then the petals are worked right onto the top of the flower.
hope you enjoy!

Materials:
aluminum size G hook (US)
small amounts (less than 3 oz each color) of WW yarn in yellow, green, black(or brown), flower petal color of choice, and flowerpot color of choice
fiberfill for stuffing
(optional) fuzzy pipecleaners for "bendability" and structure of flower stem

Pattern:
starting with YELLOW (work in rounds. ch1 at beginning never counts as an sc)

ch2
1) 10sc in 2nd ch from hook. join with sl st to top of1st sc (10sc)

2) ch1, 2sc in same st as joining and in each around. join with sl st to top of 1st sc (20sc)

3) ch1, sc in same st as joining. 2sc in next sc. (sc in next sc, 2 sc in next) around. join with sl st to top of first sc. (30sc)

4) ch1, sc in same st as joining and in next. 2sc in next. (sc in each of next 2 sc, 2sc in next) around. join with sl st to top of first sc. (40sc)

5-10) ch1, sc in same st as joining and in each around. join with sl st to top of first sc. (40sc)

11) ch1, sc in same st as joining and in next. sc2tog over next 2 sc's, (sc in each of next 2 sc, sc2tog over next 2 sc's) around. join with sl st to top of first sc. (30sc)

12) ch1, sc in same st as joining. sc2tog over next 2 sc's, (sc in next, sc2tog over next 2 sts) aroundjoin with sl st to top of first sc. (20sc)

13) ch1, (make sc2tog over next 2 sts) around. join with sl st to top of first st. FASTEN OFF YELLOW

*stuff as you go along, since it will be really hard to stuff the whole flower at one time on account of the narrow stem... if you have decided to do the bendy stem, put your piple cleaners in the head of the flower and hold them in place as you work while stuffing*

join GREEN with sl st to any st of previous round

14) ch1, sc in same st as joining and in each around. join with sl st to top of first sc. (10sc)

15-45) ch1, sc in same st as joining and in each around. join with sl st to top of first sc
AT END OF ROUND 15, FASTEN OFF GREEN.

join BLACK (or brown) with sl st to any st on previous round

46) ch1, 2sc in same st as joining and in each around. join with sl st to top of first sc. (20sc)

47) ch1, sc in same st as joining, 2sc in next sc. (sc in next sc, 2sc in next) around. join with sl st to top of first sc. (30sc)

48) ch1, sc in same st as joining and in next sc, 2sc in next. (sc in each of next 2 sc, 2 sc in next) around. join with sl st to top of first sc. (40sc)

49) ch1, sc in same st as joining and in each of next 2 sc. 2sc in next. (sc in each of next 3 sc, 2sc in next) around. join with sl st to top of first sc. (50sc)

50) ch1, sc in same st as joining and in each around. join with sl st to top of first sc. (50sc)

51-52) repeat round 50. FASTEN OFF BLACK

join FLOWER POT COLOR to any st on previous round, work in BACK LOOPS ONLY thoughout round 53

53) ch1, sc in same st as joining and in each around. join with sl st to top of first sc. (50sc)

54) ch1, sc in same st as joining and in each around. join with sl st to top of first sc.

55) ch1, USE BACK LOOPS ONLY throughout this round, sc in same st as joining and in each around. join with sl st to top of first sc.

56-62) ch1, sc in same st as joining and in each around. join with sl st to top of first sc.

63) DECREASE ROUND- ch1, sc in same st as joining and in each of next 2 sc. sc2tog over next 2 sc's (sc in each of next 3 sc, sc2tog over next 2 sc's) around. join with sl st to top of first sc. (40sts)

64) ch1, sc in same st as joining and in each around. join with sl st to top of first sc. (40sc)

65-66) repeat round 64

67) DECREASE ROUND- ch1, sc in same st as joining and in next, sc2tog over next 2 sc's, (sc in each of next 2 sc, sc2tog over next 2 sc's) around. join with sl st to top of first sc. (30 sts)

68-70) repeat round 64. (30sc)

71) DECREASE ROUND- (work in BACK LOOPS ONLY throughout this round) ch1, sc in same st as joining, sc2tog over next 2 sc's, (sc in next sc, sc2tog over next 2 sc's) around. join with sl st to top of first sc. (20sts)

72) DECREASE ROUND- ch1, sc2tog over same st as joining and next sc, (sc2tog over next 2 sts) around. join with sl st to top of fist st. (10sts)

73) DECREASE ROUND- repeat as for round 72. (5sts)

FASTEN OFF YARN, leaving a long tail for sewing hole shut. weave taol in and out between sts of last round and pull tight for drawstring effect closure. it should close neatly and evenly with no bumps.

FLOWER POT BRIM:

with FLOWER POT COLOR, join with sl st to any free loop on Round 55 (remember back loops only? this is why)

1) ch1, sc in same st as joining and in each around. join with sl st to top of first sc.

2-5) repeat round 1. fasten off yarn at end of Round 5.
weave in ends.

LEAVES: (make 4, as you will pair them up, stitch them together and lightly stuff them before sewing them onto the stem of the flower)

with GREEN,
ch2

1) sc in 2nd ch from hook (1 sc)

2) ch1, turn (sc never counts as an sc). 2sc in sc of row 1. (2 sc)

3) ch1, turn. 2 sc in same st as ch1, and in next. (4 sc)

4) ch1, turn. 2sc in same st as ch1. sc in each of next 2 sc's, 2sc in last sc. (6 sc)

5) ch1, turn. 2sc in same st as ch1 and in each of next 4 sc's, 2sc in last sc. (8sc)

6) ch1, turn. sc in same st as ch1, and in each across. (8 sc)

7-10) repeat Round 6. (8 sc)

11) ch1, turn. sc2tog over first 2 sts, sc in each of next 4 sc's, sc2tog over last 2 sts. (6 sts)

12) ch1, turn. sc2tog over first 2 sts, sc in each of nexr 2 sc's, sc2tog over last 2 sts. (4 sts)

13) ch1, turn. sc2tog over first 2 sts, sc2tog over last 2 sts. (2 sts)

14) ch1, turn. sc2tog over those 2 sts. (1 st)

ch1, turn. sc evenly around the whole piece. Fasten off.

once you have all your pieces, pair them up RIGHT SIDES FACING OUT
join together as evenly as possible, using sl st. stuff lightly with fiberfill before closing up.
sew one leaf to the right on the flower stem and the other to the left.

FLOWER PETALS: (this SOUNDS complicated maybe, but it is VERY easy. you will be joining yarn to "head" of the flower and then working in rounds (2)

join FLOWER PETAL COLOR to any st on Round 9 of flower (top yellow part) with a sl st.
you should insert the hook with the flower face facing you, not through the tops of the sts but from bottom to top longways

chain 7
sc in 2nd ch from hook, hdc in each of next 2 sts, dc in each of next 3 sts. join with sl st to 3rd st over on flower head. make sure u have the sts on the same Round. (flower petal made- ya, it will curl in, dont worry about that)

continue in this way around the Round. now the sts by the end will come up uneven but that's alright just work the petals in neatly.

for the second round of petals, after u have joined the first round to itself, sl st into Round 8 of the flower head, the top yellow stuff.
work another round of petals in the same way

fasten off yarn, weave in ends

now you can either paint or embroider your faces on the flower and flower pot. or you can use safety eyeballs, felt or what have you. OR you can leave it be faceless :P whatever you prefer

this is my own original pattern. please DO NOT SELL this pattern. do not copy to any other website or publication. you MAY print out a copy for your own personal use. please link to my blog to share. you may sell the finished product, although not in mass quantity.

<3 Mari

Slippers of Mari-ness (row 30 revised due to error)

(well here's one slipper anyway)
i made these slippers after studying up on how to go about making things for the feetses :D i saw a lot of cool patterns online for socks and slippers, and some of them actually work out really comfortably. but for some strange mari reason i wanted to get my own thing done. i appreciate all the help i got from looking things up :)
see my initial problem (i thought at first) was the heel of the footwear. how to get it to slip on without having to do all that crazy heel shaping mumbo jumbo that sock makers love so much. im a simple girl and i like things to work without me having to really think about them lol. so i took what i knew about socks and feet and slippers and crochet and applied all of it. so i came up with this pattern. im sure that there are a bunch out there that are similar but i figured i'd put out my version of simplicity, for the sake of diversity and stuff.
anyways here it goes:
i used an aluminum size J hook (US) and one 3.5 oz skein of Bernat Softee Chunky yarn
my shoe size is a womens 6 (US), i made these to fit over socks so they might be able to stretch to about a size 8 or 9 depending on the type of yarn you use and the tension in your stitches. MAKE SURE IT'S CHUNKY YARN, if not, use two strands of WW together

MAKE TWO:

ch6
1) sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each across to last ch.
Work 3 sc in last ch.
turn piece and work in free loops of beginning chain like so:
sc in each st across to last ch
work 2 sc in last ch, join with sl st to top of first sc.

2) ch1, 2 sc in same st as joining
sc in each of next 3 sc's
2 sc in each of next 3 sc's
sc in each of next 3 sc's
2 sc in each of last 2 sc's. join with sl st to top of first sc.

3) ch1, 2 sc in same st as joining
2 sc in next sc
sc in each of next 3 sc's
2 sc in each of next 6 sc's
sc in each of next 3 sc's
2 sc in each of next 4 sc's. join with sl st to top of first sc.

4-18) work in back loops only
ch1, sc in same st as joining and in each around
join with sl st to top of first sc.

at end of Round 18, do not fasten off. you will be working in Rows next.

19) do not turn.
sl st into the next 6 sts.
now ch1, turn.
working over the sl sts, and in front loops only:
sc in each sc.
do not join.

20) ch1, turn
working in back loops only:
sc in each sc across

21) ch1, turn
working in front loops only:
sc in each sc across

22-28) repeat Rows 20 and 21 alternately

29) ch1, turn
working in front loops only:
sc in each of first 10 sc's
make (sc2tog over next 2 stitches) until there are only 10 sc's left in the Row
sc in each of last 10 sc's

30) ch1, turn
working in back loops only:
sc in each of first 4 sts
make (sc2tog over next two stitches) consecutively until there are only 5 sts left on that Row
sc in each of last 5 sts

Fasten off yarn leaving a long enough tail to sew the heel up.

turn heel inside out and whipstitch closed.
if you whipstitch it right side un, it leaves a weird bump all along the sewed up part so i do it when its inside out.
turn right side in.

Attach yarn with sl st to top opening of slipper
Make 2 Rounds of sc's evenly around top of slipper. Fasten off yarn, weave in ends.

This pattern is not to be sold. Please do not copy to any other website or publication. It is a free pattern for your personal use, and you may print out a copy for that use. Please link back to my blog to share.

<3 Mari

Go Green!

here is a cool mesh bag i made up. i posted the pattern on Crochetville already so i won't go through all the agony of typing it out again lol
i used 2 strands of yarn held together throughout the pattern, and an aluminum size I hook (US)
it works up in pretty much one piece, except for the second handle. this picture makes the colors look really washed out, it's acrually pretty vibrant green and multicolored.
Here is a link to the post with the pattern :)
Go Green! Bag

Hope you enjoy!
Oh wait, here is a closeup pic, it has the colors showing better even though its a tiny bit blurred

Mark Your Calendars!!

Crocheters, unite! lol
As you may or may not know, September the 12th is International Crochet Day (hooray!)
So make sure to spread the word, get out your hooks and yarny stuffs and demonstrate your love for crochet! You could crochet on your break at work, in study hall at school, while waiting for the bus, while riding the bus, in the carpool, on the way to/from the grocery store, at a sporting event, while waiting for your oil to get changed or your breaks to get fixed, in the park (like me!) or anywhere! Just be sure to remain seated because we don't want anyone walking into dangerous stuff (like oncoming traffic!)
Take the time to teach any and all who are willing to crochet!
This will be only the second year for International Crochet Day, so it's probably not printed on anyone's calendar yet. But one day!!!
lol. Remember the day, and have a blast :)

<3 Mari

Preemie Baby Dress

i made this from a pattern posted by a fellow Crochetville member. Here is the URL to the pattern (copy and paste to your browser if you can't click it) :

http://www.crochetville.org/forum/showthread.php?t=85318

it was very easy and worked up in less than two hours, using very little yarn. This is perfect to make for donations to hospitals, or for doll dresses. i think mine came out a bit bigger than preemie size though. maybe newborn to three months, because the pattern calls for cotton and i used Caron Simply Soft, a worsted weight yarn.
Hope you enjoy the pattern as much as i did!

Slacker, but not really

Hiyas :)
i really have been working on a lot of crochet, i just haven't been posting on my blog.
WHY?!?!
because i have been working on inspiration, necessity, and off of graphs. the graphs are not my patterns. the necessity makes me whip a project out and never worry about the pattern. the inspiration makes me so focused on the look of the project that i forget to count stitches. woops!
but i have been crocheting a lot :D and i have pictures!
This giant "A" thing :) has actually been in the works the longest, and it's the first one i started last month. it's a blanket! woooo!! lol
There on the right is a most beauteous of scarves. i made it to match a hat that i did in anticipation for cold weather (even though yesterday it was friggin 90 degrees! NINETY!!!! but now it's cooling down) i'm especially proud of the fringe, because i never make those. not even for my mom's scarf did i attempt a fringe. i guess i must have been a combination of "very bored" and "very determined" so yay! i win by being me :P
Here to the left is the hat in my favorite stitches, shells and sc's. it worked up easy and fast but i didn't write down the pattern because.. i was on a roll! i guess lol. if i look at it some it will be easy to get the pattern. hmmmm...
anyways it's nice and warm while being super light. i thought while i was making it that it might be too thin and floppy, but when i put it on my head my head got so hot! i was like "good! bring on the cold then" but not really because i don't enjoy winter anymore :P
And down here to the right is a hat. it was fun to make, just a buncha sc's. i saw a letter M on the internet doing a Google search and there it was in all its perfection. so i said i HAVE to crochet that! and i put it on the side of my hat. and it fits :) actually when i first decided to put it on there, i had worked evenly for so long that all that fit on it was the top half of the letter. so of course i had to rip everything out and do it again. not the circle part, just the "evenly around" part. and i dunno why but my "circles" always come out looking like hexagons.. eh. oh yeah here's a tip that i found works well for me, about not getting the strands twisted together.
i lay the skeins next to each other, next to me. and when switching colors, the closest one to me gets crocheted as is, since it will be on top of the other strand and easily accessible without twisting, without "yarn over"ing lol yarn over yarn. whatever.
and the one farther from me gets crocheted in after i "yarn under" if that makes sense. pull the yarn under the other strand so there's a slight tension, and then make the sc. i've really gotta get a picture of that in action. hmmmm..
SO... after that hat i got kinda confident and i wanted to try a filet graph as a tapestry pattern. i got this graph from about.com that was some sort of dragony sea creature thing. and i liked it a lots :D so i decided to make it. i didn't do filet because i always screw those up, plus i like colors better than holes :P
in the end stages of this project i got really tired of counting and switching and all that.. so i quit for a few hours. this is the picture showing my near defeat. lol
This on the left is what i used to ease my boiling brain. a simple hat using clusters (its breathe-able! lol) which i felt compelled to make a brim for. because then it would look cooler. yes. i made the hat oversized for a slouchy look and my boyfriend called me a Rastafari Mari, or something like that. i thougth that was funny, and just kept crocheting. i made the brim from two pieces (one green one yellow, you can't see the yellow cuz its sewn underneath the green)
i cut pieces of cardboard (actually i think its less than cardboard cuz it wasnt like a "real" box) from a frozen pizza box and put them between the two brim pieces. and voila! a brim. i didn't plan on the brim making the hat tighter though, so i had to stretch the opening a little bit. i'll keep that in mind next time i wanna make a brimmed hat.
And then i finished the dragony thingie. woooooooooooo!!! it took like four days. not working 24/7 but u know, in free time and while being a video game spectator. i'm a pro at stitching and cheering at the same time :)

oh yeah, i also made a cell phone case in the same colors as my hat. with a butterfly tapestried in the same way as the M was on the hat. but i never took a picture because i never got a button on it. even so, it holds my phone very well.

i'll have patterns soon! i hope :)


<3 Mari