My friend Stuart celebrated the anniversary of his natal day in February, and in honor of the blessed event I created for him a yarn-based lifeform in a cephalopod shape. I used this baby octopus pattern and some kind of baby yarn but I don’t recall which. I’ve selected this of all the pictures Stuart [...]
Meet Gorbash! I made him for my sister for her birthday. Sadly, I’m incapable of taking good photos with my phone. I made him using this Baby Snow Dragon pattern. I don’t know what kind of yarn I used and I’m not going to look it up right now, but I might get back to [...]
Hi there. How are you? Back in October, I announced that 2011 would be the year of amigurumi: for each birthday of my friends and family that I am able (because there are time constraints and disputes of taste), I’m going to make an amigurumi. I finished the first one last night. I can’t wait [...]
I’ve decided that 2011 is going to be the year of amigurumi: i. e., the year I give an amigurumi gift to everyone whose birthday I think of in time to actually get one made. The beauty of amigurumi is that they’re quick, affordable, and easy to customize: thus they are special to my friends [...]
A couple of years ago, I discovered the excellent website Sprite Stitch, which revealed to me something that seemed obvious immediately after I learned about it: pixels are little colored boxes which can be approximated with embroidery thread in the shape of an X. Eventually I determined that my first project in this area would be [...]
It turns out when you’re a graduate student, even though you’re online all the time, you’re not actually talking to people about fun things like crochet. What have I pursued in terms of new domesticity endeavors in the past 10 months? Well, I made a lot of hideous afghan squares in an attempt to use [...]
I haven’t been posting but I have been crafting. For Halloween, I altered a shirt I found at Goodwill, as well as crocheting the Ladylike Lace Gloves from Stitch ‘N Bitch Crochet: The Happy Hooker. For the holidays, I accomplished the following projects: 1. Least Crafty – putting photos in an album for parents. [...]
What are yours? Here are mine: 1. Continue to expand my crochet efforts. 2. Design more crocheted items, especially crocheted chokers. 3. Learn about jewelry making. 4. Lose my fear of messing up, because as long as I have that fear, I won’t do anything original.
Our long campaign is over, and you can find the fruits of our labor here. Show notes and a link to the transcript here. It’s going to take some time for me to come up with the right words to describe in detail the happiness I feel because of this interview.
While a DIY wedding is cheaper than the other kind, it still is far from free. So I’m looking to save some money any way I can. Part of this means is that I’m going handmade for multiple holidays. Halloween: I am being Mrs. Lovett from Sweeney Todd (the movie version) for Halloween. I already had [...]
I got engaged two weeks ago, and so thoughts of wedding planning have been spinning through my head ever since. I am going to have a rather DIY/handmade by others wedding. Plans/hopes thus far: 1. My mom will make my dress and the dress for my sister, who will be my only attendant. 2. I [...]
So I have at last united two of my greatest loves: crochet (and craft in general) and Joss Whedon (oh my husvand!) Take a look at my new blog, Whedoncraft. It’s great fun. And I hope that it will lead to some other projects of mine coming to fruition sooner than originally intended, as well.
If you look up in the address bar you’ll see that the actual address of the blog is http://jossisahottie.com/kibathediva. That’s because Joss Whedon has a brilliant imagination, which inspired me to start a website called Joss Is A Hottie. And that was my first domain name, and all my other domains just point somewhere in [...]
A little more than six months ago, I mentioned that if I Heart Guts came out with a gall bladder plushie, I may have to get one. Lo and behold, the adorable gall bladder: When they took out my gallbladder, I told my brother that they replaced it with a saltwater shark tank. I don’t [...]
If you thought all of my video game posts were geeky, just get a load of today’s post. Yes, friends, today, we venture into the place where crochet and role playing games – of the Dungeons and Dragons ilk – intersect. First up are these polyhedrals – many sided dice – designed by Peasie. These [...]
I came late to the video game scene, playing classics like Dragon Warrior much more than 10 years after their release. I remember, lo those 8 or 9 years ago, my brother watching me play. He was 5 or 6 at the time. He would get so excited every time a Slime approached. I myself [...]
Rock Band is going to be released for the Nintendo Wii next week, and I am going to buy it as soon as I am done moving. Apparently, though, the drum set can make quite a ruckus. FunkieFresh over at etsy has a brilliant solution: cover your drum kit with yarn! You can purchase these [...]
I adore Moogles. They are one of the best things about the Final Fantasy series. crafster user bixby2 posted this adorable Moogle Amigurumi. You can find the pattern at her blog. I fully intend to make one of these, especially if I ever cosplay as Lulu from Final Fantasy X. Adorable!
Here’s Link, from the classic and epic The Legend of Zelda franchise. This was posted by craftster user whyfish a couple of years ago, but its age has not changed its awesomeness. The shield is particularly impressive.
Annette Petavy is a Swedish crochet designer, living in France, who writes in English, Swedish, and French. Her designs include the Leaves sweater from Crochet Me: Designs to Fuel the Crochet Revolution and the Funky Doily at the Crochet Me site. She has been published in Interweave Crochet and Vogue Knitting on the Go’s Crocheted [...]
As a child in the 80s, I was prone to wearing brightly colored plastic jewelry in strange shapes. I had big yellow chains covered with turquoise roller skates, hot pink tennis rackets, and odd little bells. Roses Are Red attracts that sensibility in me, but provides much more grown up accessories. This necklace in particular, [...]
My fascination with the design process of others continues, and Robyn Chachula indulges me with the first in a series of posts about her process for a specific project.
I adore Etsy. I think it is a brilliant creation and I’m a big believer in it. I’ve seen lots of other folks highlighting their favorite items from Etsy, so I’ve decided to highlight mine, too. I’ll be moving this summer and I’m getting all domestic about it. At least some of the new place [...]
Boy howdy am I behind on posting Finished Objects. Here are 4 for you: Drawstring Bag. In Caron Simply Soft in Grey Heather. Adapted from a Caron pattern. I made this to use at the Renaissance Faire, and then never got to use it. I’ll have it for next year, I guess. Easy Does It. [...]
Chloe Nightingale is the rock star behind the very popular Icelandic Turtleneck from Crochet Me: Designs to Fuel the Crochet Revolution. Her designs have been featured in Interweave Crochet and at the Crochet Me website. How long have you been crocheting? Since 1998. What motivated you to learn to crochet? My college roommate came back [...]
You may have noticed that the Geeky Crochet tends to be inspired by video games. This adorable creature is a Chocobo from the Final Fantasy series, a game series I highly recommend. Final Fantasy VII was my gateway game. (I’m aware that this does not make me special at all.) This was created by peppermintwind [...]
Carol Ventura is the queen of Tapestry Crochet, a technique where by carrying along yarns in different colors, you can create images and designs in your work. Her books include Tapestry Crochet, More Tapestry Crochet, and Bead & Felted Tapestry Crochet. Her work has been published in many other books and magazines, and she keeps [...]
It seems likely that Tim Burton’s works will inspire much of the crochet in this category, as he is the Prime Minister of Goth. I mean, look at his hair. Cora Shaw posted this at Craftster, complete with a pattern. I think he’s adorable. Now, how could we make the dog from The Corpse Bride?
PROVOKATZE over at Craftster posted this back in February. The button is especially brilliant.
It’s done! I just learned as well that thomcatdesigns lives in a city neighboring mine. I very much want to become friends now! Isn’t it beautiful?
Craftster user TheSickRose brings us these darlings.
Amy O’Neill Houck’s designs have been published in books like Crochet Me: Designs to Fuel the Crochet Revolution, as well as magazines such as Crochet Today and Interweave Crochet. She also self-publishes patterns through lulu.com. Amy blogs at The Hook and I. Right now I’m (still) working on her wrap mini-skirt from the Crochet Me [...]
So we’ve got the Geeky Crochet series of posts, but I think the Goth Crochet of the world deserves highlighting, too. There’s plenty to go around, I know. (A quick peek at the Anti-Craft will show you that.) Sweeney Todd came out on DVD yesterday, so in honor of it, I’m highlighting Ramsie’s Mrs. Lovett [...]
Well, it was the Star Wars amigurumi that caught my eye: But Sammi has a whole blog full of Geeky Crochet over at Geek Central Station, so you should really check it out. She’s got all of the Fellowship of the Ring, and even published a few free patterns for those characters. Her boyfriend creates [...]
This beauty comes from The Crochet Kitten. (Click the link to see a photo. Or read about it here.) As the Decepticon symbol is trademarked by Hasbro, no pattern is available. I’d love to see a matching Autobots scarf! Then you could wear whichever one suited your mood, depending on if you felt good or [...]
I love this so much. “The Trouble with Tribbles” is my favorite Star Trek: TOS episode, and back in the mid 90s when I went to the National Air & Space Museum and saw tribbles in the gift shop, I’ve wanted my very own. Of course, in the gift shop they were incredibly overpriced. But [...]
From thomcatdesigns on Flickr comes this gem: Later it will feature characters, too!
ovaltine8 at Flickr is posting progress on this Tetris Afghan. Check out ovaltine8′s Flickr page (linked above) for more pictures of this and other geeky crochet projects including a Katamari Damacy blanket, a plush D20, and a Totoro blanket.
This is my second designer interview! Missa Hills blogs at midnightknitter.com and is half of the team that runs kpixie. Missa’s “I’m a Convert” sweater is published in the Crochet Me book. She posted an excellent rundown of her design process at her blog. How long have you been crocheting? I crocheted a bit when [...]
MEDIA RELEASE – For Immediate release GET HOOKED – MARCH IS NATIONAL CROCHET MONTH March 1-31, 2008 Get hooked and celebrate National Crochet Month in March with the Crochet Guild of America (CGOA). Local CGOA guilds, across the nation and worldwide, will be participating in all sorts of community activities such as crochet nights out [...]
Katie at Crafty Crafty designed this fabulous Legend of Zelda Crochet Block. It would be excellent for use in an afghan, or as a hot pad. This sort of thing is really inspirational to me. It makes me want to design a whole Zelda-themed afghan. Follow this link for a chart of this block, which [...]
I feel like I could write an essay on the use of handcrafted wearables in the Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix movie. Instead, I’ll just give you my thesis statement. This may take a few sentences. In Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, handknits are present everywhere. The only place, [...]
I’ve already confessed my love for Sprite Stitch, but I don’t know of any sites where they’re collecting geeky crocheted objects, so I’m doing that here for your perusal. I thought about setting up a separate blog for it, but instead I’m just going to give it a special category here. I feel a need [...]
This is the first in what I hope will be an ongoing series of interviews with crochet designers (and perhaps designers of other crafts as well). I first encountered Robyn Chachula‘s designs at the Crochet Me site. Robyn is a structural engineer, and that comes through both in the style of her designs and in [...]
I have been crafting daily, but I haven’t been taking pictures. This is because a) I am tired/forgetful and b) the projects are so very gifts that I’m reluctant to publicize them too much. I will try to take some pictures of what I’ve been working on the past few days, though.
I’ve written before about how I love to read about the crochet design process. I love this for two reasons: one, because it’s just interesting and two, because I hope to learn from reading about it how to better do it myself. (So far, my design process consists of: collage of ideas, sketch, mess around [...]
I did not make it in time to take the Buy Handmade pledge this past holiday season, but I have made my very own pledge to make 2008 a handmade year. There are a lot of gift giving occasions throughout the year: birthdays, various holidays, and just times when there’s someone I want to give [...]
A new dice bag I made for D&D. It’s tiny – just barely holds six dice and a miniature. Peaches ‘N’ Creme yarn in some discontinued color. Raspberry Swirl or something.
I made this little guy for my sister as a birthday present. He’s made from atsuko’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles pattern, using Bernat Berella afghan yarn and scrap yarn. I used buttons instead of doll’s eyes, and I’m pleased with the result.
Today I bought these supplies to make two different gifts. Anyone care to guess what I’m making?
For DIY Wednesday over at design*sponge, there’s a tutorial for creating these fabulous Cookie Tin Storage Bins. My roommate’s mom is an expert cookie baker and is always sending him home with bizarre tins. Sometimes, he will take them back to her and she will refill them. Still, we have more cookie tins than we’ll [...]
Not only will I be posting my own Crafting 365 photos; I thought I’d also highlight one of my favorites from the group as often as I can. Here’s my pick for today: by blockpartypress
Added a row to the mini skirt today. It seems to be coming out the right size. Bernat Super Value Solid in True Grey and Black. Mini Wrap Skirt from Crochet Me: Designs to Fuel the Crochet Revolution.
In my Google Reader today I found two bits of inspiration. The first was a link from The Hook and I, which took me over to this post at Divine Bird. It’s always good to be reminded that you have to learn to do most things. I am one of those people who is easily [...]
The bottom part of an open top mitten I’m making for my sister. In the background, my yarntainer and the beautiful lexie barnes Lady B. craft tote. This gives an excellent sense of the floral/skull print.
My first Crafting 365 photo, from yesterday. This is my yarn for the Crochet Me Mini Wrap Skirt. I was re-winding it because I had to frog the whole skirt and start over.
I found the Flickr group Crafting 365 via this fabulous article in The Storque on etsy, and signed up. I chose yesterday as my starting day, because yesterday was my half birthday. Yes, yesterday I turned 26 1/2. Some people believe there is a point at which you are too old to continue counting half [...]
I am officially in love with Sprite Stitch, a blog where a San Francisco crafter uploads cross stitch patterns inspired by video games, especially sprites from classic NES games. I’d been trying to work out an embroidery floss color scheme for the Light Warriors from Final Fantasy (or 8 bit Theater, if you prefer) and [...]
I found another post where a designer shares insight into her process. Back in October for the launch of the Crochet Me book, Robyn Chachula posted about her process at the crochet by faye blog. One thing I find especially reassuring is how simple Robyn’s drawings are, while still clearly illustrating the pattern design. I [...]
In my first little bit of time playing at Ravelry, I was invited to join a group called the Crochet Liberation Front. Well, over at the blog, our grand poobah is awarding the “Set My Picot Free!” award for awesome crochet, and I won! I won for this, which is my own variation on the [...]
One of the ways I discover new websites – and I think this is fairly common – is to take a look at the links on the sites that I myself have linked. It was through this process that I found Extreme Craft via bits and bobbins. Extreme Craft then led me to I Heart [...]
I finished the waistband for the mini wrap skirt: In doing this and working up the swatches for the main part of the skirt I’ve learned something interesting: my gauge is completely inconsistent. For the waistband, the pattern recommends an H hook – I used an F. For the main skirt, it recommends a J [...]
I’m participating in the Crochet Me Crochet Along, and the first project I’ve chosen is the Mini Wrap Skirt by Amy O’Neill Houck. I’m hoping to chronicle this endeavor at several points along the way. I really wanted to get started right away but I’m helping my boyfriend house-sit and I left my digital camera [...]
Crocheted in Bernat Soft Boucle in Natural and Soft Taupe. I picked out these colors just because they looked pretty, but the more I worked with them, the more I realized this was a project fated for my sister. From The Happy Hooker.
Last night I dreamt that I was in a huge meeting hall auditorium place, and all around me were rockstar crochet designers. I think it’s a sign that I need to go to the CGOA conference.
I’ve picked up a lot of crochet magazines the past few days, and my long-awaited and much-coveted copy of Crochet Me: Designs to Fuel the Crochet Revolution came in the mail on Monday. I love reading designer profiles, and Crochet Me is full of them. I’ll give you a proper review of the book later. [...]
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