Tag: amigurumi

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Off the Hook: Ron Weasley

Posted on by Jackie B

When I was at one of the craft groups I go to a few weeks ago I admired a beautiful granny square blanket that was being finished off by one of my fellow crafters. It was in shades of pink, purple and turquoise with white. She told me that they were unicorn colours, as requested by her granddaughter. When I said that she’d love it, my friend said she wasn’t sure as said granddaughter is no longer into unicorns – she’s now a Harry Potter fan.

“She wants me to make this,” said my friend, pushing a box across the table towards me. It was a kit to make Harry Potter’s best pal, Ron Weasley, amigurumi style.

This style of crochet is not my friend’s thing, so I offered to make up the Ron kit, as long as I could hang on to it as an example on my “Introduction to Amigurumi” workshop last week. I’ve been getting quite behind with my projects so I only had the head finished in time for that.

It was quite fiddly, to make, as many of these amigurami projects are, with the eyes, ears, hair and fringe crocheted separately and sewn on, then I had to embroider the mouth and freckles! I have to say that the pattern wasn’t exactly the easiest to follow.

I pushed on to finish Ron for Tuesday so I could give him to my friend. She’s really happy with him. Let’s hope her granddaughter is too!

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Buzzing About Betty Bee

Posted on by Jackie B

The upstairs room at Amble Pin Cushion was buzzing yesterday for my latest crochet workshop.

This time I was introducing participants to the joys of Amigurumi – those double crochet toys and figures that have become so popular. I took some previous projects and a work in progress to show them, including a couple of my mini-ponies.

The project I’d chosen for them to make was a cute bumble bee that I’ve named Betty! Isn’t she bee-utiful?

Betty’s construction included several techniques that are commonly found in amigurumi…

  • Magic loop (a way of starting off when crocheting in the round that leaves no gapping for stuffing to show through)
  • Double crochet increase
  • Double crochet decrease
  • Changing yarn colour

I’ve been making some mini tutorial videos to help my students continue their project at home without getting too bee-wildered. There’s only so much of it can be completed during a 2-hour session so I hope this will bee a useful way to help them practice these skills.

As with all my classes, I prepared detailed illustrated instructions but also included an info sheet about amigurumi. I also put together materials packs, including cotton yarn, filling, beads for eyes and pre-cut wings (made from offcuts of dress netting) , some of which had been kindly supplied by APC’s owner, Norma. The only thing the students needed to bring on the day was a crochet hook.

Five people took part, and before long the room was a hive of industry. All were fairly new to crochet and included a pair of sisters, a member of my spinning group, who is also booked on to my Granny Squares workshop next month, and one of my regular students. What a lovely group of women! There was a really nice atmosphere and I thoroughly enjoyed running the session.

I always ask people to complete a short evaluation at the end of the session. think if I run it again it might bee a good idea to prepare some ready-started projects, with the magic loop completed – it took some of the group a while to get past this which really ate into the time available. … and I don’t want my lovely participants getting bee-fuddled by something early on in the session and bee put off.

Hopefully they’ll now have enough information to complete their projects and there’ll be a whole swarm of Betty Bees dispersed through this part of Northumberland.

I’ll stop the bee puns now!

I’m back in the training room at APC next month to repeat my popular Granny Squares workshop – there always seems to be a demand for this one, with lots of potential projects in unlimited colour combinati0ns once you’ve mastered the basics.