I started by chaining eight and then joining to make a circle for the ‘flame’ to fit though. Then I just did an increase round until the piece fit over the top and from there I did a few even rows – even to cover the base. It worked up pretty fast. I think the kids have enjoyed being able to ‘light’ the candles for the Advent wreath and also play with the tea lights. The tea lights were a bargain – 10 for $6 plus ten batteries. Each tea light already had a battery so they were sold with extras. So I can see this Advent wreath lasting for years to come.

Right now I am working on a dragon that has been in my Ravelry queue for three years. I decided that I would do it as part of a challenge on one of the Ravelry boards. I’m about half-way done but the girl has decided that I need to make four dragon babies plus their beds and a few other accessories. The good news is that I was working on a back leg that she thinks is the perfect size for the babies, so hopefully they will work up really fast. She wanted me to finish last night but it’s just impossible for me to stay awake past 9pm these days. I will be so glad when we are in the school routine.

So hopefully by the end of the weekend I will have the dragon and four babies done along with beds. Whew! My hand is cramping just thinking about it.

We found a feather in the yard that my daughter wanted to put on the crocheted mouse toy. I just made up a ‘pattern.’ I used cotton yarn and increased each round until I got to around 24 stitches. Then continued to work even rounds for 6 or 7 – then decreased. I added felt ears and embrodiery eyes. I added some small bells to the stuffing – so the mouse jingles. Voila! One cute little mouse.

If the cat doesn’t like it, at least my daughter does!

I made these for a swap. They were on my partner’s wist although they weren’t in crochet but felt. I used embroidery thread for the body and stuffed them with a chick pea. Stuffing wasn’t going so well. Then I used a ribbon to make an acorn top and attached it to a button. Then I hot glued the button to the top of the acorn. I had made about 10 and then my daughter noticed them. She took about half of them, so I had to make a few more. They didn’t take that long. I just start with a chain 2 and then six single crochet into the second chain from hook. Then a round of 2 single crochet into each stitch. Next an even row of single crochet followed by a decrease of in every three stitches.

They turned out almost nearly what I had hoped. I would have been happier not using the hot glue but not sure how I could attach it to the crochet.

I wished I had some glow in the dark yarn because that would have been super cute for the center. Instead, I used some sparkle yarn I bought last Christmas. When I was making this, I used my hand as my guide but as you can see, it’s a little big for a child. Here is the pattern -

Iron Man Arc “light”

What you’ll need -
White yarn
Red Yarn
3.5 Crochet Hook
Yarn Needle

With white yarn, Start with a Magic Ring, Ch 2
6 SC into Magic Ring
Round 2 – 2 SC into each SC from previous round(12)
Round 3- 2 SC into first SC, SC into next one. * 2 SC into next SC, one SC into next* Repeat * until end of round.(18)
Round 4-2 SC into first SC, SC into next two. * 2 SC into next SC, one SC into next 2 SC* Repeat * until end of round.(24)
Fasten Off
With red yarn, join to white.
Round 5 – 2 SC into first SC, SC into next three. * 2 SC into next SC, one SC into next 3 SC* Repeat * until end of round.(30)
Round 6 – 2 SC into first SC, SC into next four. * 2 SC into next SC, one SC into next 4 SC* Repeat * until end of round.(36)
Round 7 – 2 SC into first SC, SC into next five. * 2 SC into next SC, one SC into next 5 SC* Repeat * until end of round.(42)
Fasten Off

Strap:

With red yarn, join and chain 25.
SC into each chain and then one into red disk, CH 1 and turn,
SC into each SC, CH 1, Turn
SC into each SC and into base of red disk. Fasten off

Join the other end of the strap to the disk using a yarn needle.

If you have any questions, please leave a comment as I haven’t written that many patterns.

I’m thinking this would be a cute center to fingerless gloves or even gloves. Anyway, my model likes it but she seems to live everything I crochet – which only encourages me to crochet more.

I admit that I love Harry Potter. A while back, I took part in a Harry Potter swap and made this Golden Snitch for my partner’s cat. As I was organizing some photos, I came across several finished projects that I have yet to post. I can’t remember exactly where I got the free pattern. I believe it was at Crochetville.org. I added a small bell inside the stuffing to make it a cat toy. Of course, our cat will play with just about anything – it doesn’t have to make a noise.

It was a quick pattern. I need to find it again.

I have a niece who loves Spongebob Squarepants and since I was making crochet toys for Christmas, I tackled Spongebob. My niece loved him. I tried making him more folk art-doll type than amigurumi. I might do another one as I work my way through all the characters since Spongebob was pretty easy. That is, if I can remember how I made him. This is why it’s so important to write down instructions.

Merry Christmas! Here is a little reindeer(pattern free from Lion Brand) that I made for decoration. Surprisingly the little girl hasn’t claimed him as hers so for right now he gets to sit around. I may have to leave him out all year round because I think he is just adorable.

I plan to do another one with a few different ideas. I want the eyes to stand up on their own so I need a firm base. I also plan to do the swirls with felt instead of crocheting two colors. And I also need to make notes because I want to offer a free Snellie the Snail crochet pattern. Hopefully it will be ready within a week.