Small Pride Hearts Decoration (Pattern)

A small pattern I put together for Pride month with hearts in different pride flags, chevrons in pride flag colours, and the world in the center. The colours have been eyeballed, so feel free to switch them around if you like to.

prideheartscolourDownload

prideheartssymbolsDownload

Mondrian Magnets (Pattern)

A little set of patterns of paintings by Piet Mondrian, a Dutch painter. Each pattern is 20×20 stitches, and in my case stitched on plastic canvas.

Sea Slug Amigurumi (Pattern)

Sea slugs can be remarkably beautiful creatures, with bright colours and complex patterns. This little guy is not a specific type of sea slug, but more an experiment with hyperbolic crochet, a style I recently discovered. He will probably get some form of googly eyes, when I find some that suit.

Hyperbolic crochet can be used to make some amazing designs and also to study the structure of the universe and express mathematical concepts. It also makes amazing coral, and I encourage people to have a look at the Crochet Coral Reef project.

This pattern took me a few hours to design. I am happy for people to use the pattern for themselves (hence releasing it for free) but please credit me if you do. Please do not sell this pattern, and please do not post the pattern directly on your blog/site/etc, but link back to my blog: strangenessisconserved.wordpress.com

PDF of pattern: SeaSlug_Pyper_StrangenessIsConserved

 Materials

• Black yarn (or whatever colour you want the body)
• Several shades of blue (or whatever colour gradient you want)
• Stuffing
• Hook, scissors, needles etc.

 Techniques:

• I join my rounds, and count the chain starting each row as a stitch.
• If working in a spiral replace any chains with stitches
• ch: chain
• sc: Single crochet
• inc: 2 stitches in one base loop. sc-inc would be increase using sc
• dec: stitch two base loops together. dc-dec would use dc

There are several different stitch naming conventions. I use sc as:

• hook through next base loop
• yarn over and pull through base loop
• yarn over and pull through first loop on hook
• yarn over and pull through both loops on hook

Body

In black:

0. ch 20
1. In third loop from end sc x 2, Along chain sc x1 in each loop, In last loop sc x 6, Rotate, sc x 1 in each loop back along chain, sc x 3 in final loop and join [48]
2. sc around, inc x 3 at each end (space out around end) [54]
3. sc around, inc x 3 at each end (space out around end) [60]
4-6. sc around, inc x 1 at each end [62][64][66]
7. In Back Loops Only sc around, dec x1 at each end [64]
8-9. Sc around, dec x 1 at each end [62][60]
10-12. Sc around, dec x 3 at each end (space out around end) [54][48][42]

Finish off leaving a long tail for sewing

To finish off start sewing the body together starting at one end. I used a whip stitch and kept the stitches on either side of the seam opposite each other. At the ends you may need to be slightly creative with your stitching to turn the corner into a neat join. Sew most of the seam together, and stuff before you reach the end. Then finish sewing.

Ruffle/frill

To start tie on your inner (in my case darkest) colour to the front loops of row 6-7 that are left sticking out. These loops will form the base for your ruffle

1. [sc x 1, inc x 1] around the body
2. Next colour: [sc x 1, inc x 1] around
3. Repeat until frilled to your liking

This repeating block quickly gave a very ruffled ruffle, so you may wish to try different patterns, such as [sc x 2, in x 1] to get a less frilly edge if desired.

 

 

 

 

Poro Amigurumi (Pattern)

Poros are small furry creatures native to the Howling Abyss map in League of Legends. Their favourite food is Poro-Snax, and they will happily follow around any summoner who feeds them.

For this pattern I used two different types of wool. The cream wool is thicker than the brown, and so I used a 4mm hook for the body. The horns and feet are made using a 3.5mm hook. If your yarns are the same thickness, and/or hooks are the same size, you may need to add an extra row of increase to the body of the Poro. In this case I recommend making the horns and legs first so you can see how the body looks.

This pattern took me quite a few hours to design. I am happy for people to use the pattern for themselves (hence releasing it for free) but please credit me if you do. Please do not sell this pattern, and please do not post the pattern directly on your blog/site/etc, but link back to my blog.

PDF of Pattern: PoroLoL_Pyper_StrangenessIsConserved

Materials

• Brown yarn
• White/cream yarn
• Pink yarn
• Buttons or similar for the eyes
• Hook, scissors, pins and stuffing
• Needle for sewing with yarn.

 Techniques:

• I join my rounds, and count the chain starting each row as a stitch.
• If working in a spiral replace any chains with stitches
• ch: chain
• sc: Single crochet
• dc: Double crochet
• inc: 2 stitches in one base loop. sc-inc would be increase using sc
• dec: stitch two base loops together. dc-dec would use dc

There are several different stitch naming conventions. I use sc as:

• hook through next base loop
• yarn over and pull through base loop
• yarn over and pull through first loop on hook
• yarn over and pull through both loops on hook

And dc as

• yarn over
• hook through next base loop
• Yarn over and pull through first two loops on hook
• Yarn over and pull through two remaining loops

Body

In cream:

1.      Magic circle (ch2, sc x 5) [6]
2.     sc-inc x 6 [12]
3.     (inc, sc) x 6 [18]
4.     (inc, sc x 2) x6 [24]
5.     (inc, sc x 3) x6 [30]
6.     (inc, sc x 4) x6 [36]
7.     (inc, sc x 5) x6 [42]
8-11. sc x 48 [42]
12.   (dec, sc x5) x6 [36]
13.   sc x36 [36]
14.   (dec, sc x4) x6 [30]
15.   sc x30 [30]
16.   (dec, sc x3) x6 [24]
17.   sc x24 [24]
18.   (dec, sc x2) x6 [18]
Stuff at this point
19.   (dec, sc) x6 [12]
20.   Dec x6 [6]
Finish off

Horns

Make two

In brown:

1.       Magic circle (ch2, sc, dc x3, sc) [6]
2.       Ch2, sc, dc, dc-inc, dc, sc-inc  [8]
3-5. Ch2, sc, dc x4, sc x2 [8]
6.       Ch2, sc-inc, dc x3, dc-inc, scx2 [10]
Tie off and leave a long tail for sewing

Feet

Make four

Start with brown and change to cream:

1.       Magic circle (ch3, dc x11) [12]
2.       Sc x12 [12]
Tie off brown and change to cream
3-5. Sc x12 [12]
6.       Sc-dec x6 [6]
Tie off and flatten the feet. Leave a long tail for sewing

Tongue

The tongue is somewhat optional. Most of the time a Poro will have its tongue out ready to lick up any Poro-Snax in the vicinity. I freehanded mine, and did not write down what exactly I did. I also think there is room for a lot of improvement (or felt), so I will not attempt a pattern.

Assembly

Pin the horns and feet into position. Once you are happy with their placement sew them into place

The eyes for my Poro are black buttons. Again these are pinned to place them before being sewn on. I happen to like button eyes, so use any eyes you want. Other types may need to be attached differently.

If you wish to add a tongue, position it once everything else is in place and sew it on.

PokeWars (Pattern)

A long time ago in a Galaxy far far away Darth Marow tightens his grip on the empire crushing any spirit of rebellion. Only young Bonewalker, still wearing the last memento of his mother, can restore peace and freedom to the galaxy…

This was made as a swap gift over at Sprite Stitch. The colours I used are a mix of DMC and Sullivans, picked out by eye. Darth Marow is black and the darkest two shades of grey I could find, while Bonewalker is white and ecru with blond browns.

Marill Pokemon Amigurumi (Pattern)

After playing pokemon Sapphire a bit recently I decided to try my hand at making a Marill. Why a Marill you ask? Because it is made from very simple shapes, and the main complication (the tail) was a technique I had encountered before and could appropriate. I am pretty happy with how it turned out, and has been drifting around my desk since.

A pattern for the Pokémon Marill. I used a 3.5mm hook and it is ~12cm long (~5 inch). I join my rounds unless otherwise indicated, but I think the pattern would still work if done in a spiral.

This pattern took me quite a few hours to design. I am happy for people to use the pattern for themselves (hence releasing it for free) but please credit me if you do. Please do not sell this pattern, and please do not post the pattern directly on your blog/site/etc, but link back to my blog: strangenessisconserved.wordpress.com

Pdf of pattern: PokemonMarill_Pyper_StrangenessIsConserved

Techniques

• sc: single crochet
• ½ sc: half single crochet
• inc: 2 sc in one base loop
• dec: sc two base loops together
• ch: chain

There are several different stitch naming conventions. I use a sc as:

• hook through next base loop
• yarn over and pull through base loop
• yarn over and pull through first loop on hook
• yarn over and pull through both loops on hook

And ½ sc as:

• Hook through next base loop
• Yarn over and pull through chain
• Yarn over and pull through both loops on hook

Materials

• Blue yarn
• Black yarn
• White yarn
• Stuffing
• Black buttons (The ones I used are ~1cm across)
• Hook, scissors, pins, etc
• Needle for sewing with yarn.

Body

In blue:

1.       Magic circle 6 [6]
2.       inc x 6 [12]
3.       (inc, sc) x 6 [18]
4.       (inc, sc x 2) x6 [24]
5.       (inc, sc x 3) x6 [30]
6.       (inc, sc x 4) x6 [36]
7.       (inc, sc x 5) x6 [42]
8.       (inc, sc x 6) x6 [48]
9-15. sc x 48 [48]
16.   (dec, sc x6) x6 [42]
17.   (dec, sc x5) x6 [36]
18.   (dec, sc x4) x6 [30]
19.   (dec, sc x3) x6 [24]
20.   (dec, sc x2) x6 [18]
21.   (dec, sc) x6 [12]
22.   Dec x6 [6]

Stuff around row 19-20, and finish off

Legs

Make two, in blue:

1.       Magic Circle 6 [6]
2.      (sc, inc x2) x2 [10]
3-7.  sc x10 [10]
8.      sc x5

Finish off, leaving a long tail for sewing

For row 8 sc 5 then finish off. This gives a half row, which will make it easier to attach the feet at the right angle to the body

Arms

Make two, in blue:

1.       Magic Circle 6 [6]
2.      (sc x2, inc) x2 [8]
3-6.  Sc x8 [8]
7.      Sc x4

Finish off, leaving a long tail for sewing

For row 7 sc 4 then finish off. This gives a half row, which will make it easier to attach the arms at the right angle to the body

Tail

Using blue, then black:

The tail bob is made first out of blue:

1.       Magic circle 6 [6]
2.       inc x 6 [12]
3.       (inc, sc) x 6 [18]
4.       (inc, sc x 2) x6 [24]
5-8. Sc x 24 [24]
9.       (dec, sc x2) x6 [18]
10.   (dec , sc) x6 [12]
11.   Dec x6

Stuff around row 9-10, finish off ball, cut off blue and tie on black. The black should be coming out of the bottom “pole” of the sphere.

The tail zig-zaggy bit is in black:

• Ch 18 (can be a bit longer if wanted, up to about 24)
• In second chain from end sc x3
• In each loop of the chain do sc x3 all the way back along the chain to the ball
• In the last chain do not sc, but use it to tie off the black, leave a tail for assembly.

Ears

Make two, using red then blue:

1.       Red Magic Circle 6 [6]
2.       Red inc x6 [12]
Tie off red and change to blue
3.       Blue (inc, sc) x6 [18]
4.       Blue ½ sc x18 [18]
5.       (sc, dec) x 6 [12]
6.       Blue dec x6

Finish off, and hide the end. Squash the ears so the red curves in and the blue curves out.

Belly

In white

1.       Magic circle 6 [6]
2.       inc x 6 [12]
3.       (inc, sc) x 6 [18]
4.       (inc, sc x 2) x6 [24]
5.       (inc, sc x 3) x6 [30]
6.       (inc, sc x 4) x6 [36]

Finish off, leaving a long tail for sewing

Assembly

Once all the components are made, pin them into position on the body. This may take a bit of fiddling around to get everything looking right. Sew them all into position once you have placed them. The ears will need a new blue wool thread to attach, as they are sewn at the base of each circle to the head, rather than where the yarn tied off.

Once the limbs are all attached place the button eyes. I used white thread to sew the buttons on through only one set of button holes (positioned at the top) to imitate the white gleam Marill is often shown having. The mouth is just stitched on with red wool.

Pokemon Colour Swap (Pattern)

Just a little pattern swapping around the colouring for the starter pokemon Squirtle, Bulbasaur and Charmander, and Pikachu. The colours are whatever I had lying around, a mix of DMC and Sullivans. I think I may do a set of bulbasaurs at some point, kind of like the eeveelutions, just because it is so fun to play around with.

My first blanket

When I decided to learn crochet mum gave me a small stash of wool from the local woolen mill where I grew up. The bright colours grabbed me immediately, and so I decided to make a small lap blanket. The navy wool I found about halfway through the project when I decided I needed something dark between the squares. I am pretty sure it is a different weight, but it was the best I could find in a small country town near the music camp I was on. While the blanket is fairly small (2 ft by 3 ft) it is big enough to thow over me at the computer or on the couch, and it has a lot of sentimental value. I love it.

The squares are all basic granny squares with three colours then two rows of navy. I stitched them together with whip/running stitch.

Shortbread Recipe

I have been procrastibaking instead of working on my assignments recently, so here is my Shortbread recipe:

Ingredients

• 200 g plain flour
• 200 g butter (salted or unsalted)
• 100g icing sugar (or icing mixture)
• 100g cornflour

Recipe

Sieve the dry ingendients into a mixing bowl. Cut the butter into small pieces and put into the flour. Then with your fingers rub the butter into the flour mixture until it forms a dough. Roll and cut into bikkies, or roll about a tablespoon worth of dough between your palms and flatten to ~1cm thick. Place on a greased/baking paper tray and bake at 180 until golden brown. Ice if desired

Variations

Basic shortbread is always a welcome classic, but there is so much potential for variation.

• Cinnamon/Ginger: Add a decent shake of cinnamon (powdered) with the dry ingredients, and then addd finely chopped crystalised ginger once in a dough
• Chocolate Chip: Add as many choc chips at the dough stage as you like. I tend to add more until the bikkies lose structural integrity if more are added.
• Chocolate: Add a shake of cocoa or drinking chocolate with the dry ingredients. Otherwise mix a dollop of nutella or similar through the final dough.
• Chilli: A touch of chilli can give a nice zing, especially with a chocolate base. Be careful to only add a little chilli powder, as it seems to get stronger with baking.
• In general: Try anything you want. As a general rule add powders at the dry ingredients and lumps/liquids into the dough. Be careful with liquids as even a spash can have a large impact on the textre and a little extra flour may be required to compensate.

 

PokeMaps (Pattern)

Maps of the Pokemon regions Kanto, Johto, Hoenn and Sinnoh based on the maps in the Pokemon Centres.

For colours I used a bright leafy green, a slightly darker jungle green, and a slightly lighter more olivy green. Water is pale blue, and borders are white and navy-ish.