Cute Felted Slippers <3

May 12, 2010 Awkward Soul

In my previous post I mention working on some felted project. This is the result, yay! The pattern is by Bonnie Smith, and you can find it Here (Raverly link) or http://www.alifecrocheted.com/ A very similar pattern, but in knitting form, can be found at http://www.frenchpressknits.blogspot.com/

Awhile back I saw the knitted pattern and threw a spaz because it was for knitting. I can knit quite decently – I can cable, make a sock, stuff toys, fair isle, but now it strains my wrist, and I prefer crochet. Finally, when this pattern emerged in crochet form, I was fucking pumped! I love ballet flats because they are cute and comfy.

I had to pull out the first slipper and start again >__< as I fail at reading a pattern. I kept seeing double crochet instead of decrease half double (A big deal) as well as my stitches being way out. With that said, one must be somewhat alert while crocheting this masterpiece!

The slipper came in 2 pieces – if you actually follow the pattern the first time (unlike me) the hardest part is choosing what to accent the slippers with! Pre-felted form they don’t look impressive and are massive in size. I hand felted the slippers in the sink, which was very easy, and they shrank at least 20% and became dense, thick and snuggly! <3

In the end, this is a really cute pattern and I know what I’m going to be making in the fall for Christmas presents! I know my sis would want one in pink……. @__@

Orca or is it Killer Whale? Amigurumi

May 7, 2010 Awkward Soul

Awkward Soul's original pattern - Amigurumi Orca

I’m guessing they are called both Orcas and Killer Whales, however in rainy Vancouver, Canada, I’ve mostly heard Killer Whale. My boyfriend calls them Orcas.

This pattern came about satisfying my nature to make things for other people. My boyfriend LOOOOOOVES orcas. I didn’t believe it when he told me, until I saw this little “shrine” of orca pictures and things he has on display in his room when he lived with his parents. I scratched my head at this, I don’t get it. I guess the male version of liking orcas is about how they are big whales that eat things and kill people… I don’t know. Whatever, I love my boyfriend to bits and all his weird-ass quirks (he’s cute too).

So the patterns out there mostly required felted tummy sewn on or couple pieces. I freaking hate all that extra work. One piece/less pieces to sew on = superior in my book. I remember making the Amy’s babies Katamari (excellent pattern by the way) and going apeshit making all those freaking nubs and sewing them on correctly. People who are close to me say I’m a perfectionist.. I don’t think I am, but I’ve frogged a project over one stitch error and for the orca pattern – sewn and removed the fins at least a dozen times to get correct placement.

So, I just said whatever, and just starting making an orca. I was planning to construct it from the nose to tail (like my later pattern, Dolphin Amigurumi) but I got real lazy and just kept crocheting along until I realized it’s nose is too small… or its a body of a tiny orca. Baby Orca was born! I added some colour changes – something I’ve seen moreso restricted to stripes in lots of amigurumi (prolly cuz of the spiral construction) and had this ultra cute Orca the size of my computer mouse – which I grabbed a couple times by accident, the dorsal fin spearing my palm. Orca does not = computer mouse!

I then created a bigger one – as this pattern is damn cute, and selling the teeny version isn’t gonna cut it (now I got the idea to make a teeny one now, shit).

One thing I might change is the tail – its one piece tail (yay) is a little annoying to sew into the right shape.

AwkwardSoul and it’s pretty popular.

My boyfriend at first was all “Ugg, it’s cute!” but now he likes it – and the pair keep his other orca things company in his new house.

Hello All! Introduction to Awkward Soul

May 2, 2010 Awkward Soul

Hello!

I’m Char, and this is my first post in this blog.

I enjoy creating my own crochet patterns – feel free to check out my Etsy shop @ http://www.etsy.com/shop/AwkwardSoul

Tako the Pirate / Sailor Octopus Amigurumi Pattern

Tako the first pattern I’ve posted online, however I’ve created other free form creations previously.

I started out making amigurumi with a banana pattern that I cannot find now. I started on japanese amigurumi books – crudely translating any important text and following charts to learn the basics of shaping with crochet. From there, I made many many octopi – as they are my favorite creature.

Thats it for now – I need to get back to crocheting!