Baby Bear

A new bear has joined the family. Baby Bear. I made him from the exact same pattern as the fuzzy brown and black bear in the photo. The difference in size is the result of smaller yarn and a smaller hook. The hardest part of the process is sewing all the arms and legs on the body. Making the head and ears is pretty easy, making the pieces is easy. Sewing them all together is tricky. I did the crochet for this one on Sunday, just working off and on as I followed Joseph and Alex around the house as they played... I stuffed, finished, and sewed him together today. It took just about as long!

Bunny and Bear join Monkey

Clearly, I'm working with my yarn and crochet hook instead of blogging. The photos of Bear don't do him justice. He is MUCH cuter than I can show in a photo. Bunny is Alex's. He is not a cute as he looks in the photos. Bear has two eyes, but they don't show up because they are just about the same color as the yarn. Both these guys are acrylic. Monkey is a Wool/Silk blend.





I've been experimenting with textured yarns. I don't like the really long fur on the bunny. It is hard to work with, and the results are too shaggy for my taste. Alex likes him, so that worked out just fine. I've used these yarns because that is what shows up in the clearance bin. Nice, brown, grey and off white pure wool is never on clearance. I did find some nice "earth-friendly" fiber fill. I finished the bag of polyester fiberfill I'd had in my craft bin for a decade at least, and then bought a new bag made from corn--not petroleum! Technically, Bear is Joseph's--but I'm having a hard time letting him go play. I think he might need to stay with Monkey on my shelf for awhile.









If you want to really see FUN and cool crochet projects, check this site about Hyperbolic Crochet... I'm so impressed with this, and I promise to post if I make any of these. My mind is churning to see if I can find a way to model musical scales, and show the difference between symmetric structures and the asymmetry of the diatonic musical scale this way... Okay, I'm a total geek...

Amigurumi Monkey

I've finished my second crocheted animal--I've learned this is called "Amigarumi" and is big in Japan. My guy is based on a pattern from a library book by Elisabeth A. Doherty. She also has an ETSY site. Her version of the monkey is very colorful, and has different legs. I wanted a more realistic monkey, so I modified her pattern. My monkey is about 14 " long, and about 8 inches tall when he is sitting. For my next project, I'm planning a smaller, less complicated bear or rabbit. I'm pretty hooked on this craft--no pun intended!

Oh, and remember my first effort? The mouse? I left him on the kitchen shelf. Either Alex gave him to the cats or the cats climbed up on the counter and got him down. Alex says he didn't take the mouse down, so??? Since these are made of wool, the mouse was pretty fuzzed up after playing with the cats for a few hours, so I rubbed him in catnip, and gave him back to the cats.

I've promised Alex the next project. (I'm keeping Monkey for myself!)

I made a mouse

Okay, so I woke up today--not feeling much better than yesterday--and declared that I would do the bare necessities for work today, and do something fun for myself. So. I made a mouse. I've discovered the ETSY website, and found many cute things there. I don't want to buy anything, I just want to make my own. My favorites, so far, have been knit or crochet animals and toys. So, I went to the library today to get the book for my book club next Monday (I guess I'd better start reading) and checked out four books with knit and crochet animals. I made the smallest animal for which I could find a pattern--this cute little mouse! I'm pretty proud of it. (He is about 3 or 4 inches long, with a 5 or 6 inch tail...) I think I'll try a bigger animal next!!! There are cute monkey and bear patterns out there... Hmmm... What would Alex and Joseph like? This one looks like I should just rub catnip all over it and let the kitties have it. But it is too cute! So I'm keeping him. He is sitting on my desk.