Free Pattern! TED!

Free pattern time again! Yay! I give you... Ted!

Is he a bear? Is he a bunny? Is he a dog?! He's whatever you want him to be!!

Ted is a replica of my favourite childhood toy Ted. I was given Ted by my Nan and Grandad the day after I was born, and he has been with me everywhere. I loves Ted! My Ted's fur has fallen off over the years I've had him, so he wears clothes lol! Here he is with my version.


I'm putting this pattern up for free instead of in my Etsy shop because I wouldn't feel comfy making money from his pattern. I think everyone should have a Ted, so that's why he's on here!

This pattern hasn't been tested (apart from by me) so if you find any problems please let me know :)

I hope you love Ted!


Ted

You Will Need:
. Crochet Hook (I used 3.25mm, D)
. Double Knit/ Light WW yarn In Beige
. 12mm Safety Eyes
. Stitch Markers Or Piece Of Scrap Yarn
. Yarn/Embroidery Needle
. Poly-fil Or Other Stuffing
. Curved Needle (Optional)
. Heart Button

Abbreviations
. Ch - Chain Stitch
. Sc - Single Crochet
. St/Sts - Stitch/Stitches
. Slst - Slip Stitch
. Inc (Increase) - 2 Sc into 1 St
. Dec (Decrease) - 1 Sc over 2 Sts
. ** - Marks a group of stitches to be repeated until the round is completed

Gauge
. No gauge, just keep your stitches nice and tight to avoid gaps in your work

Finished Size
. 21cm’s (approx.) using a 3.25mm (D) hook and Double Knit yarn

Other Info
. As this is amigurumi, work in a continuous spiral. Don’t join at the end of a row; just keep going
. Use stitch markers or a piece of scrap yarn to mark the start of every round. Replace at the start of the next round as you go along. This will help you keep track of where you started, and saves a lot of time if things go wrong!
. Although I am English, I write my patterns in American terms, so Sc means Single Crochet; Dc means Double Crochet ect.
. The number at the end of each round is the number of stitches you should now have
. Although I have used certain colours for this ami Please feel free to use which ever colours you like!
. Using a thicker yarn than DK/bigger hook than 3.25mm (D) will result in the toy being a considerably different size to that shown.


Body
1. Ch 2, Sc 6 into 2nd Ch from hook, or Magic Ring 6 (6)
2. Inc around (12)
3. *Sc 1, Inc* around (18)
4. *Sc 2, Inc* around (24)
5. *Sc 3, Inc* around (30)
6. *Sc 4, Inc* around (36)
7. *Sc 5, Inc* around (42)
8. *Sc 6, Inc* around (48)
9-19. Sc around (48)
20. *Sc 6, Dec* around (42)
21. *Sc 5, Dec* around (36)
22. *Sc 4, Dec* around (30)
23. *Sc 3, Dec* around (24)

*ADD SAFETY EYES AND STUFF HEAD NOW*

24. *Sc 2, Dec* around (18)
25. Sc around (18)
26. *Sc 2, Inc* around (24)
27. *Sc 3, Inc* around (30)
28. Sc around (30)
29. *Sc 4, Inc* around (36)
30. Sc around (36)
31. *Sc 5, Inc* around (42)
32-43. Sc around (42)

Sc round to middle back/front of body

*PARTIALLY STUFF BODY NOW*

Leg 1

44. Sc 21, Join with Slst (21)
45-50. Sc around (21)
51. *Sc 5, Dec* around (18)

*STUFF THE REST OF THE BODY AND LEG NOW*

52-53. Sc around (18)
34. *Sc, Dec* around (12)
35. Dec around (6)

*End Of Leg 1. Finish Off, Weave In End*


Leg 2

Attach Yarn with a Slst and continue from Row 45.

Arms
1. Ch 2, Sc 6 into 2nd Ch from hook, or Magic Ring 6 (6)
2. Inc around (12)
3. *Sc 5, Inc* twice (14)
4-11. Sc around (14)
*Finish Off, Leave Long Tail*

Ears
1. Ch 2, Sc 6 into 2nd Ch from hook, or Magic Ring 6 (6)
2. Inc around (12)
3. *Sc 5, Inc* twice (14)
4-15. Sc around (14)
16. *Sc 5, Dec* around (12)
17. Sc around (12)
*Finish Off, Leave Long Tail*

Muzzle
1. Ch 2, Sc 8 into 2nd Ch from hook, or Magic Ring 8 (8)
2. Inc around (16)
3. *Sc, Inc* around (24)
4-5. Sc around (24)
*Finish Off, Leave Long Tail*

Assembly
. Lightly stuff Muzzle and sew to the bottom front of the head; sew the heart button on to make a nose
. Stuff Arms and sew to sides of body
. Squash Ears flat and sew to top sides of head (do not stuff)

**You're done!**

I hope you enjoyed making your own Ted! If you make one, please let me know! :D

Bye Bye Gus

Gus has left :( I packed him up on Thursday night and posted him Friday morning - it was very emotional!

To celebrate Gus' time with us, here are some of my favourite pictures...

Arriving to a Fosters!


Phoning home in Canterbury


In the dentist's chair


Fun at Southend


Aer-o-smith!


Green Day at Wembley Stadium


Drinkies at The Crown, Langdon Hills


Big Ben, London


Locals at Chislehurst Caves, Kent

Lots of memories! It's been great having Gus stay with us this summer - I'm really going to miss him (I get waaaaay too attached to soft toys...) To see more about Gus' adventures you can visit his adventure blog here :) I'll let you know when he gets home, and when Gladys gets back too! I am looking forward to seeing her again!

Goodbye Gus - I hope you have a safe journey home! :)

Patterns Shake-Up

I'm going to be having a change around in my Etsy shop over the next few months, hopefully completed for New Year.

I'm going to be re-writting my patterns to make them better, and writing some new ones too :D I've already started testing my new monsters, I also have planned:

• New Teddy
• New Bunny
• Pup
• Flumplebee
• New Egg Cosy Hats
• Customizabe Wekeshi Dolls
• Apples In Suits
• Improved Kokeshi Doll

... and whatever I can come up with in the next few months :)

Some of the ones I have in my shop already may be scrapped, like the existing teddy and bunny patterns, I'm not sure yet. I'll also be adding some more free patterns to my blog, so keep a look out!

That's all! Hope everyone is having a nice weekend! :D

Testers Found!

Thank you to everyone that has offered to test for me - I now have enough people! I'll know to ask here first next time! Thank you!

Testers Needed!

I usually ask around on Craftster for my pattern testers, but thought I'd ask on here seeing as we have alot of crocheters :)

I'm looking for a couple of testers for Gibbley...

... and a couple for Cuddle Monster too.

It's first come, first serve! But be warned - they are pretty big patterns - Gibbleys head is 60 stitches round and Cuddle Monster is 9'' tall using DK yarn, just to give you an idea. All testers would be greatly appreciated! I'd ideally need the amis completed in 2 weeks, so I can edit the patterns with your suggestions and take photos etc.

If you would like to test for me, just comment below leaving your email address or email me at esshaych@hotmail.co.uk.

Thank you in advance!! :D

Cuddle Monster Finished

I finished my latest monster at the weekend, after re-thinking alot of the design. Here he is!

I didn't do arms in the end as I thought he looked cute without them. I also didn't add a tail, mainly because I wanted him to be quite thin and tall.

He was fun to make! I think I'm going to put him aside to go on my stall at the craft fair in December. I can see him sitting there amongst all the littler amis!

Hope you like!

Cuddle Monster WIP

Above are the feet of yet another monster I'm designing :D He's gonna be at least 12'' tall, have rainbow arms and legs, and frog like eyes on the top of his head. He's being made for one thing - cuddling!

I've done the legs, and am now starting on the body. But I feel like this ami is gonna take quite a while to finish as he's so big. I get bored easily so will probably just do afew rows a day - he might get done in about a week.

I'll keep you updated!

Random Photo Thursday

Thought I'd bring back Random Photo Thursday lol!

This picture was taken by me at Langdon Hills about a month ago. Langdon Hills is a country park just round the corner from where I live, and we went there that day so I could take pictures of the scenery with my LV Gus.

Not long after this picture was taken we were attacked by a swarm of angry wasps. They stung all of us, but my Mum's arm got so bad that she needed to go to the hospital and get anti-biotics. Bloody wasps! But I managed to save Gus :)

Wabbit

First off - I've just come back from meeting my cousin's new born twins Roy and Alan! SQUEEEEE! They're so cute! Roy is bigger than Alan and has black hair, and Alan is the small one with brown hair. Simon and Caroline loved the jellyfish ami's and said they are going to go on their pram :) Aaaaand I found out that Caroline collects bears - so guess what she'll be getting for Christmas from me lol!

I went crochet mad the other day and designed and crocheted a whole rabbit ami haha! Here he is...

He's made with a 3.25mm hook and acrylic DK yarn. His head alone took me the whole of The Matrix to make - it's 60 stitches round lol! I'm happy with the way he turned out - but can't help thinking he looks abit like a dog instead of a rabbit. What do you think?!

Babies, Babies, Babies

I'd like to congratulate my cousin Simon and his wife Caroline on the birth of their twin boys on Friday! They named them Roy (after my grandad) and Alan (after Caroline's Dad).

It's been a long time since I've crocheted anything for a baby, now there's 2 to make stuff for! I was gonna make them some hats and jackets, but it's still summer so I thought I'd make them these instead...


You can't beat a Jellyfish toy! I double and triple stitched them so they are more or less child proof. And I also sewed some bells into their heads so they rattle! I haven't been to see them yet, but will be this week when they've got settled in at home, I hope they like them!

I'd also like to congratulate Crystal, who has also had a baby boy! Congrats Crystal - he's so cute! You've got to make him loads of toys now! :p

Remembering The Darkness

Don't worry, I haven't gone Emo...

Yesterday I went on a road trip with my parents and Gus The Turkey through Kent and into Sussex. My Dad has a weeks holiday off of work and we're taking the opportunity to go on days out. We visited Hythe, Camber Sands, Rye and Hastings.



Whenever I go on long car journeys I like to take my ipod to listen too. On the way back to Essex we got stuck in a 2 hour traffic jam trying to get back to Dartfort Tunnel, so I popped on my ipod and thought I'd have a listen to something different. I came across my old favourite band - The Darkness. I haven't listened to them in ages. It was so nice to listen again!


I first got it The Darkness in 2003 when they released Growing On Me...



... and I was immediately hooked. I now own every single album and single they ever released, including the famous (and expensive) I Believe In A Thing Called Love EP from 2002.


I went on to see them 5 times, and even met them once in Liverpool. They were very nice! And tall! I also became the admin of the Ed Graham forum and made loads of TD friends. On many forums to this day I am known as Darkling Sarah instead of EssHaych lol!

*Warning - The following video contains swearing and crown participation*



They ultimatley spit up. I was devistated, as was my brother who was also a massive fan, and the one that got me into them in the first place. But good news - he heard that they are planning a return! Yay! It's only a rumor, but I hope it's true - I'd love to go and see them again.


So that's a little bit about my fav band. I hope you enjoyed the videos... aaahhhh the memories! :')

WANT

I found this t-shirt on Etsy today! I wants it!

"In craft, we are inspired not just by the intangibles that surround us but also the tools from which we render our thoughts. The Inspired? shirt series is a celebration of those tools and all the help us realize.

The Yarn Ball shirt has the knitter and crocheter in mind, featuring an original diskgrunt Illustration and hand printed in white on a brown pre-shrunk American Apparel fine jersey cotton t-shirt."

Check out the shop - it's full of fab stuff!

Item Listing: Inspired Yarn Ball TShirt
Shop: Diskgrunt

Photo (c) Diskgrunt

Free Ami Pattern Of The Week! (FAPW)

I thought I'd do a new feature on my blog, so I'm not always talking about myself lol! So once a week I'm going to feature my favourite free amigurumi pattern that's available online :)

This week, seen as I'm in a monster mood - is my favourite free Monster pattern - The Beholder!

Now, I've never played D&D, but apparently this little guy is from that game. I love the fact he has so many eyes, and eyes on stalks for that matter! I'm tempted to make a bright pink one!

Get the pattern for free here!

Also available on Ravelry.


Picture (c) MagicKnitter

Monster Under The Bed Finished!

I finished Gibbley today! Here he is...

Yay! I'm happy with the way he turned out - though I would've liked for his feet to be a bit bigger.

He was made with the usual acrylic yarn and a 3.25mm hook. He has a horn in the middle of his head, folded ears, fangs, stripy body and a fluffy tail...

I entered him into the contest - see all the other enteries here!

The contest isn't for a Monster Under The Bed anymore - it's just for random monsters. But Gibbley is still the Monster Under The Bed! He won't hurt or scare you though - he just wants to jump in with you for a snuggle!

I hope you like him!

Monster Under The Bed Update

I made a body for my monster yesterday. I decided to make it yellow and pink stripy. Next I'm gonna do the arms - think they're gonna be blue like it's head :)

Hope everyone has a great weekend! It's my parents 25th Wedding Anniversary, and they're staying over in London for a few days. So that means I have the house more or less to myself! Yay! (I love my own company too much...)

Monster Under The Bed

There is another contest on this month over at the Simply Plush group on DA, and I had to enter this one too when I found out what you have to make!

This month it's all about 'The Monster Under Your Bed'! I love monsters, so couldn't resist this contest! I drew afew ideas in my sketch book and got crocheting. This is what I have so far...


A monster head lol! It's 60 stitches round, using a 3.25mm hook and acrylic yarn. He has a horn in the middle of his head, 2 folded ears and fangs! Next I will be making the body. I'm all done on my custom orders now, so I can concentrate on this little guy! I think I'm going to call him Gibbley <3

I will post pictures as I progress with him!

The Shakes

I'm ment to be doing a custom order at the minute for an Etsy customer. She wants a green Uniloomph - I've done about half of it's head. But I've been side tracked...

I've got the shakes! Not the drink - the physical shakes. Does anyone else get them?! I usually get them in the evening, around 7-9pm. And usually I'm crocheting when it happens. It's so annoying, 'cos I really need to get this order finished but I can't hold a hook properly or move my arms with any degree of control. I've asked my doctor about it and he more or less said it was in my mind lol. Like most of the things I ask him about - he has no idea.

So I decided to blog about the situaton - as I can type ok with the shakes. I was just wondering if anyone else has this sort of thing, and if it occurs when you're crocheting?!

4 New Listings!

I've been busy! I've made 4 new Apples In Suits over the past week, and listed them all tonight! Click to apple name to view it on Etsy!

Pirate Apple
Thought it would be fun to make a pirate themed apple! He has one eye, an eye patch and is clothed in a brown cosy with gold coloured pirate-y button.

Bad Apple
He's a baaaaad apple! Mainly due to the fact he's wearing black eye shadow (don't know why that makes him bad lol!). He's in a black cosy with a simple red plastic button.

Multicoloured Apple
I found this fab self-striping yarn at Wilkinsons back in December and decided to buy a ball. I'm glad I did, as it makes a fab cosy! Complete with a darkish pink plastic button.

Pink Apple
Had to do an apple in a pink cosy! She also has a light pink star button to add to the kawaii-ness :)

As always, if you would like an Apple in a Suit but with a different colour cosy I can do that for you :)

I hope you all like! :D

I'm A Winneeeeer!

My Self Portrait won a prize in the DA Simply Plush contest! Yay!

I'm so chuffed! There were soooo many great entries in that contest (see them all here) so I didn't think I'd win anything lol! Escpessially since all the rest were made of felt and fabric; mine was the only crocheted doll in the contest :S

Yes, that's me. Yes we're wearing the same thing (told you I loved that shirt...) You won't see many pictures of me on here, so enjoy while you can *rolls eyes!*.

So big thanks to Sandfan and the other judges over at Simply Plush - you made my week! :D

As for what I'm up to this week - today I went to London with my Mum and my Little Visitor Gus the Turkey. We did some sight seeing and shopping - it was PACKED with tourists! And on the way home I was stuck in a train carriage with a sweet muncher, a heavy breather and a cougher *shudders*. I'll probably post some pictures of our day later in the week.

Also this week I'm working on a custom order for an Etsy customer - they want an orange Super Monstie and a green Uniloomph. I plan on having more Apples In Suits in my shop too by the end of the week - I've just got to take pictures. And I'll be sending off a package to Jill! Yay!