animals

Something a little random (but very cute) a couple of camels!

| hookstitchsew

After making some teddy camels a little while back I had the idea of making some more but this time rather than just a singular teddy I would make one camel which a couple of little camels could fit in.

I used fabric from the Moroccan Bazzar range by The Craft Cotton Company.

For these camels you need a template for the main camel (with separate legs) and a template for the smaller camels (with separate legs).

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For the main large camel (adding a 0.5cm seam allowance):

In one colour: using the leg template cut out 8 pieces of fabric for the legs (2 for each).

In another fabric: using the main camel template cut out a front and back piece.

In batting: using the main camel template cut out a front and back piece.  Using the leg template cut out 4 leg pieces.

In another fabric: using the main camel template cut out a front and back lining piece.

In another fabric: cut out two  20cm x 4cm strips for the tail.

For the smaller camels (adding a 0.5cm seam allowance):

For each camel (Make 2 small camels)

In one colour: cut out 8 pieces of fabric for the legs (2 for each).

In another fabric: using the small camel template cut out a front and back piece.

In batting: using the small camel template cut out one piece.  Using the leg template cut out 4 pieces.

In wool: for the tail cut 3 10cm long pieces.

Making the large camel:

The legs

Take a piece of the leg batting then place two of the leg pieces and place right sides together on top.  Sew around the leg leaving a 4cm gap for turning.  Turn out the right way and slip stitch to close the gap.  Repeat with the other 3 legs.

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The Tail

Take the two tail pieces and place right sides together.  Sew around the edge leaving a shirt edge unsewn. Turn out the right way.

The body

Take the front and back piece and place right sides together placing the tail in-between the front and back with its raw edge against the raw edges of the front and back piece, then place the body batting piece on top. sew around the edge leaving the hump part of the camel unsewn. Turn out the right way.

Take the front and back lining piece and place right sides together.  Sew around the edge leaving the hump part unsewn.

Place the lining into the body piece and fold the raw edge of the lining backward by 1cm and fold the raw edges of the lining inward by 1cm.  Pin to secure and slip stitch around.

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Sew the legs on to the body using embroidery thread and long stitches.

Making the small camel:

The legs

Take a piece of the leg batting then place two of the leg pieces and place right sides together on top.  Sew around the leg leaving a 2cm gap for turning.  Turn out the right way and slip stitch to close the gap.  Repeat with the other 3 legs.

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The body

Take the front and back piece and place right sides together placing the 3 strands of wool which make the tail in-between the front and back piece with the raw edges f the wool against the raw edges of the front and back piece, then place the body batting piece on top. Sew around the edge leaving a 3cm gap for turning. Turn out the right way.  Slip stitch the gap closed.

Sew the legs on to the body using embroidery thread and long stitches.

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From hopping to squeaking some crochet mice baskets are joining the rabbits!

| hookstitchsew

After making my crochet rabbit storage baskets I still needed a couple more so decided instead of just making more rabbits to make something different. Since I still had plenty of brown wool left over I opted to make some mice.

I made sure that they would still be stackable so would be able stack them up when not in use.

The pattern is available over on my Etsy shop:

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/578952266

Time for some embroidered hoop making adventures, into the woodland first with this very cute fox

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I have had an idea for some embroidered hoops for a while now and have finally had a chance to sit down and draw up the patterns and start getting them made. They have come together surprisingly quickly as I thought it would take a lot longer to do the stitching, this is a bonus as it means I will be able to get more made in the time I have!.   I had some green Ombre Trends fabric by The Craft Cotton Company in my stash that was perfect for my first hoop make – a little fox.

 

I first drew out the outline of my fox on paper and went around in a dark marker so I could see the lines through the fabric. Next I traced the outline onto my fabric in pencil. I went around these outlines using a back stitch, and next filled in these outlines using different stitch patterns.

 

Once I had completed the fox I made sure it was aligned correctly in the hoop I wanted to put it in and made sure I tightened the hoop well. I cut away the excess fabric at the back 4cm from the edge of the hoop and stitched around 2cm from the edge, pulling it tight to bring in the raw edges to the middle. To cover the back I cut a piece of felt slightly smaller than the hoop and stitched this onto the back.

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I attached a ribbon loop  (30cm) to the top of the hoop through the hoop fastening along with a ribbon bow (55cm).

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I have a few more of these hoops in the making so it wont be long until a few more pop up on here…..

 

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Scrambling or my Craft bag in the search of some honey is a bear – a snuggly crochet hooded bear blanket 

| hookstitchsew

I’m gradually working my way through putting together all the animal blanket parts in my Craft bag and the next animal out is a bear. 

The pattern is available over on my Etsy shop:
https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/535943527

Woofing and wagging its tail out of the crochet bag is a dog hooded blanket with pattern 

| hookstitchsew

The hooded blanket theme is continuing here, soon as I think I’ve made them all a few more ideas pop into my head!, I do have a few other projects on the sidelines that will be making there way on here soon but I just wanted to get a few more of these blankets finished first! 

The pattern is available over on my Etsy shop: 

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/524392498

Gracefully walking in amongst all the Minecraft makes (and wondering what is going on) is one very happy giraffe!

| hookstitchsew

This very cute giraffe is from Edwards Menagerie by Kerry Lord, I really like the animals in this book and find them really good fun to make. I’ve had the giraffe on my makes list for a while now and I was very pleased to finally get round to making it. I love the spot detail throughout and what makes it even better is that you work it into the giraffe as you go so there is no adding of spot detail once you have finished.  
I opted to use quite a bright yellow for this and a medium brown and black, all in DK. I really like how the colours have worked out well together.  

  

Speedily swimming in is a new pattern for a Minecraft squid! 

| hookstitchsew

The next Minecraft pattern I decided to make was for a squid. This pattern basically consists of just a rectangle and 8 legs so hasn’t got too much to it and doesn’t take too long to make as a result. I am really happy with how it came out, I think it was the eye and mouth detail that really finished it off as I was a bit unsure before adding it how good it would look, but I knew I had got it right once I had finished the eyes.

Minecraft squid pattern: 

5mm hook

150g of blue chunky wool

Some black and white wool for adding eye and teeth detail
Front and back (make 2):

Ch16

Row 1: Dc into 2nd ch from hook, dc along row

Rows 2-20: ch1 (doesn’t count as a stitch) dc along row
Sides (make 2): 

Ch13

Row 1: Dc into 2nd ch from hook, dc along row

Rows 2-20: ch1(doesn’t count as a stitch) dc along row
Top and bottom (make 2):

Ch16

Row 1: Dc into 2nd ch from hook, dc along row

Rows 2-12: ch1(doesn’t count as a stitch) dc along row
Legs (make 8):

Make a magic ring, ch1, 8dc into ring

Rounds 1-19: dc around
Red mouth:

Ch10

Dc 2nd ch from hook, dc along rest of row

Row 2-9: Dc along row
Putting together:

Sew the sides and base together, put in stuffing and then sew on the top. Sew the red mouth into the middle of the base of the squid. Place a small amount of stuffing in the legs and see these onto the base around the side of the mouth. Using white wool sew on some teeth and the whites of the eyes. Using black sew on the black parts of the eyes.


Following in the leaps of the frog hat, sneaking in is a very cute leopard one

| hookstitchsew

I really enjoyed making my frog hat from Vanessa Mooncie’s crocheted animal hats book and wanted to make a few more as Christmas gifts for friends. I managed to find a little time Inbetween some quilts I am making (and that are starting to take over!) to make a leopard one – this took me a little longer than the frog to finish as you have to make and sew on all the individual spots which takes a little while as there are quite a few. It was definitely worth the extra work though.  
For the ear flap ties I did a slightly different finish and plaited three strands of yellow wool.  
Now I’ve got the difficult decision of which animal to pick next – I like them all! 

  

Flapping in to join the spiders is Benjamin the crochet Halloween bat! 

| hookstitchsew

I’m continuing on my Halloween item making spree with Benjamin the crochet bat. I already have one bat I made a few months ago from Edwards Menagerie but wanted a few more for my Halloween decorations. I didn’t want these to look as realistic as the menagerie one so decided on doing a overly large body with small wings, and by using purple for the body I think I have made sure they don’t look too much like any bats you would come across – I would be worried if you did, although at Halloween anything is possible! 

If I have time I think I will make a few more of these in different colours!    

   

   

Crochet bat pattern 
Body:

In your chosen colour 

Make a magic ring, ch1, 5dc into ring

Round 1: 2dc into each dc

Round 2: 2dc into same stitch, dc. Repeat around

Round 3: 2dc into same stitch, 2dc. Repeat around

Round 4: 2dc into same stitch, 3dc. Repeat around

Round 5: 2dc into same stitch, 4dc. Repeat around

Round 6: : 2dc into same stitch, 5dc. Repeat around

Round 7-11: dc around

Round 12: 2dc into same stitch, 6dc. Repeat around

Round 13-19: dc around 

Round 15: dc2tog, 6dc. Repeat around 

Round 16: dc2tog, 5dc. Repeat around

Round 17: dc2tog, 4dc. Repeat around 

Round 18: dc2tog, 3dc. Repeat around

Put in stuffing and continue to stuff as you go

Round 19: dc2tog, 2dc. Repeat around 

Round 20: dc2tog, dc. Repeat around 

Fasten off leaving a long thread to fasten off and create a loop for hanging. 
Wings – make 2: 

In black ch13
Row 1: dc into 2nd ch from hook, dc along rest of row 

Row 2: ch1 (doesn’t count as a stitch) dc along row 

Fasten off.
  
Fasten on in the 5th dc on the row, ch1 (doesn’t count as a stitch), 4dc. Turn leaving remaining 4dc unworked

Row 1: ch1 (doesn’t count as a stitch) dc2tog twice, turn

Row 2: ch1 (doesn’t count as a stitch) dc2tog

Fasten off 
  
Now to work the bottom of the wing. Working on the foundation ch and starting in the first ch, ch1 (doesn’t count as a stitch) 6dc, turn leaving remaining dc unworked

Row 1: ch1 (doesn’t count as a stitch) dc2tog, 4dc

Row 2: ch1 (doesn’t count as a stitch) 3dc, dc2tog

Row 3: ch1 (doesn’t count as a stitch) dc2tog, 2dc

Row 4: ch1 (doesn’t count as a stitch) dc, dc2tog

Row 5: ch1 (doesn’t count as a stitch) dc2tog 

Fasten off

  
Fasten on into the next dc after the end of the previous section, ch1 (doesn’t count as a stitch), dc to end of row 

Row 1: ch1 (doesn’t count as a stitch) dc2tog, 2dc, dc2tog 

Row 2: ch1 (doesn’t count as a stitch) dc2tog twice 

Row 2: ch1 (doesn’t count as a stitch) dc2tog. Turn ch1 then dc around the whole edge of the wing, slip stitch into top of the first dc and fasten off. 

Sew to either side of the body half way down. 
Ears – make 2

In the same colour as the body

Ch8, slip stitch into first ch to make a round. Then working in rounds

Round 1-3: dc around 

Round 4: 2dc into same dc, dc. Repeat around 

Round 5: dc around 

Round 6: dc2tog, dc. Repeat around 

Round 7: dc2tog. Repeat around.

Fasten off 

Sew the ears to either side of the top of the head
Eyes – make 2:

In black 

Make a magic ring, ch1, 6dc into ring 

Round 1: 2dc into same stitch, 2dc, 2dc into same stitch, 2dc, slip stitch into first dc. 

Fasten off. 
Sew onto the front of the body 
For mouth and teeth detail:

In black sew on a mouth and then in white sew

on two pointy teeth either side of the mouth