Bumble Bee Buddy Crochet Pattern

Since I recently started crocheting amigrumi, it should come as no surprise that I would start to adapt some of my more popular knitting amigurumi patterns to crochet.  (Which is acutally much easier than it sounds.)  I wanted my first ever crochet design to be my iconic Bumble Bee Buddy!

The crochet bumble bee (left) and knit bumble bee (right) amigurumi.

Materials

• Crochet Hook: Size B (2.25 mm)
• Yarn: Remnants of Fingering Weight KnitPicks Palette Yarn in Black (2.5 g, ~12 yards), White (~1g, 5 yards) and Hand Dyed Yellow  (~1 g, 5 yards)
• Gauge: Not critcal for this project, but you want the stitches to be tight enough so you do not see the stuffing.  
• Misc: Pollyfill stuffing, yarn needle, open stitch marker to mark the beginning of each round.  
• Finished Size: 3.25" nose to stinger, 1.75" wingspan.

Bumble Bee Body Crochet Construction:
(Starting at the tip of the head.  This project is crochet in the round as a sprial, don't join at the end of each round.)
1. With Black (MC), create magic ring with 6 sts.  (6 sts)
2. Inc around (12 sts)
3. SC around
4. Inc around (24 sts)
5. SC around
6. SC around
7. *SC 6, sc2tog* repeat 3 times (21 sts)
8. SC around
9. SC2, sc2tog, SC5, SC2tog, SC5, sc2tog, SC3 (18 sts)
10. SC around
11. *SC 1, sc2tog* around (12 sts)
12. SC around
Now starting the body of the fly.
13. Switch to Yellow: Inc around (24 sts)
14. SC around
15. SC 1, Inc, SC 8, Inc, SC 2, Inc, SC 8, Inc, SC 1 (28 sts)
16. SC around
17. Switch to Black: SC 1, Inc, SC 10, Inc, SC 2, Inc, SC 10, Inc, SC 1 (32 sts)
Rows 18-20: SC around
21. Switch to Yellow: SC 1, sc2tog, SC 10, sc2tog, SC 2, sc2tog, SC 10, sc2tog, SC 1 (28 sts)
22. SC around
23. SC 1, sc2tog, SC 8, sc2tog, SC 2, sc2tog, SC 8, sc2tog, SC 1 (24 sts)
24. SC around
25. Switch to Black: *SC 2, sc2tog* around (18 sts)
26. SC around
27. *SC 1, sc2tog* around (12 sts)
Stuff the head and body with polyester stuffing.
28. sc2tog around (6 sts)
29. sc2tog around (3 sts)
30. sc2tog  (to make the stinger), break yarn and pull yarn through remaining stitches and weave in loose ends

For an alternate striping pattern (no pictured): If you would like to try a yellow head and 5 stripes on the body, try Rows 1-12 Yellow, 13-15 Black, 16-18 yellow, 19-21 Black, 22-24 Yellow, 25-30 black.


Wings (make 1):
With white yarn, CH 35.  SC in 2nd chain from the hook and in each ch uto the end.  SL st to form a "ring.  Twist the ring into a figure 8 and fasten in the middle.  Block if it is twisted to open up the wings.  Secure at the neck of the bumble bee using the loose ends from the wing.  

 

This is the first crochet pattern I have ever written.  I am still fairly new to crochet termanology, so please leave a comment and let me know if anything needs clarification!

The crochet bumble bee (top) and knit bumble bee (bottom) amigurumi.

I knew that crochet stitches required more yarn that knit stitches and that they are sturdier.  I did not expect the bee to end up so much bigger, but I am very happy that the proportions are still the same.  This is an important thing to consider if you are converting knitting patterns to crochet and vice versa (especially if you are dealing with something that is NOT a toy!)

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Abbreviations Used in this pattern:
MC - Main Color
ch - Chain 
SC - Sincle crochet
Sl st - slip stitch
sc2tog - work 2 sc together, decreasing 1 stitch.  
inc - work 2 SC's in one stitch
sts - stitches

This crochet pattern was created by ChemKnits for your personal or charity use. You are not to sell, distribute or reprint this pattern without the permission of ChemKnits. © 2013 ChemKnits

Surprise Turtles

Guess what?  I'm pregnant with my first child!  Our little Chirphead is due in October 2013.

For Christmas 2011, Keith gave me a yarn sampler as a gift.  Each month I got a booklet with some ~10 yard miniskeins of different types of yarn about to go on clearance.  One month there was a sample of Araucania Tolhuaca Cotton yarn and it was so soft I couldn't stop touching it.  I knew that this was the yarn I wanted to use for my future baby blanket (purchased well before we were expecting!), so I ordered enough for a blanket plus two extra balls for bibs.  When I finally found out that I was pregnant, I was thrilled to pull out the green yarn to knit up a little bib to give Keith for his birthday (which was within a few weeks of us finding out we were pregnant.)  

Down Clover Laine has some amazing bib patterns and most of them are free.  Unfortunately, I got my heart set on the Turtle Love pattern which is only available through the purchase of a Peaches and Cream Pattern Booklet.  I couldn't bring myself to spend $12 for one pattern (especially when there was no verification on the website about what patterns I would receive with that booklet), so I recreated the bib looking at the images from the pattern page.

I calculated 37 stitches for across the bib.  I used the short row instructions from the Stretch Bib to set it up. After making the turtle heart design + a few rows, I continued on at row 69 (on the RS) of the Stretch instructions.  The version I created isn't exact, but I think it successfully preserves the turtle love of the original design! 

I decided that it would be faster to make crochet chains rather than iCord chains that I did on the other two bibs I've made.  I used a size H hook.  I just did a single chain and then cut the tie.  

The yarn is a little less soft than it was on the sample card.  I'm a little worried because this is the yarn that I plan on using for my baby blanket!   I hope that with some handling or maybe even a wash that it will soften up.  The Araucania Tolhuaca Solid (color 1203) only had 94 g in the ball of yarn to start. 37 g remained when I was done with the bib (so the bib consumed 57 g).  

I wet blocked (lightly) the bib. I know that I will likely wash it before the baby comes, but I wanted to finish it properly for now.  I am really excited because this is the first project I have knit for my future child WHILE  that child was growing inside me.  (I knit a few items when we started trying to get pregnant.)  It is safe to say that you can expect to see many more baby knit items coming up here on ChemKnits.  

A Search for Free Mario Crochet Patterns

I started out searching for video game themed crochet patterns, but I found so many that I needed to separate them into (at least) three separate posts!  This post is dedicated to Mario Themed Crochet Patterns!  (I should mention for the record that I was never any good at any Mario themed games.  I was good at playing the second controller to help get additional stars in Mario Galaxy!)  

• MARIO BROTHERS PATTERNS by WolfDreamer - I first came across WolfDreamer when I found the BombOmb crochet amigurumi.  This guy is so cute and fits perfectly in the palm of your hand.  Some of the other creations are a bit larger, but if you drop down some hook sizes and use a thinner yarn  you can make a teeny creation.  Since WolfDreamer provided an alphabetical list of her designs, I figured that I would include them in one section for your ease.  
• Bombomb
• Chain-Chomp
• FireFlower
• Goomba!
• King Boo
• Luigi
• Luma
• Mario
• Mario Brothers Mushrooms
• Toad and Toadette
• Other Mario Brothers Themed Patterns  - I found so many Mario and Super Mario themed crochet patterns that I don't think I could write adequate descriptions of each as the titles themselves are pretty descriptive.   Hopefully the titles of the pattern will give you the information you need to create your favorite character.    
• Yoshi Amigurumi
• Yet Another Mario Mushroom Pattern (Yes, that is really the title)
• Goomba - Super Mario Brothers (Nintendo)
• Bashful Starfish 
• Mini Mario Mushroom Amigurumi
• Mario Mushroom (Pattern is in French, but you can translate it through google)
• Koopa Troopa 
• Bullet Bill 
• Mario Bros. Blooper Plushie Crochet Pattern
• Super Mario Bowser - WOW is this an intricate pattern!
• Piranha Plant 
• A Make Your Own Size Star - Customize it to be whatever size you want.  
• Mini Gamer Figuring Pack (pdf) - Patterns include a little BombOmb, 1-UP mushroom, Kirby and controller
• Cheep-Cheep
• Crocheted 1-Up Mushrooms
• Mario's Frog Suit - Is this from one of the games?  You will need to create a free Ravelry.com account to access the pattern.  
• Whomp
• Luma Amigurumi
• Super Mario Fire Flower
• Luma from Super Mario Galaxy - Even includes a VIDEO TUTORIAL!
• Bob-omb Drawstring bag - while technically not a plushie, this could easily be stuffed as a plushie and used as a non-functional toy.  
• Piranha Plant 
• Baby Mushroom Amigurumi
• Super Mario Invincibility Star (The picture on the blog is currently broken, but there are some great pictures over on Ravlery.)
• Kirby; Super Smash Brothers Edition - Great tip, paint on wool felt to get a cool embroidered look.  
• Boo, Mario's Ghost - You will need to create a free Ravelry.com account to access the pattern.  
• Super Mario Lakitu
• Shy Guy
• Princess Peach / Princess Toadstool - You will need to create a free Ravelry.com account to access the pattern.  
• Mario Bros. Petey Piranha 
• Super Mario Monty Mole
• Mario Super Mushroom
• Wiggler Plushie
• Amigurumi Super Mario Mushroom
• Luigi - You will need to create a free Ravelry.com account to access the pattern.  
• Buzzy Beetle 

Are you going to crochet any of these Mario crochet amigurumi?  Which one is your favorite?

I Just Need a Little Yellow!

This is the first time in a long time that I've done a blog post about dyeing yarn without also filming a video to go along with it.  However, since I made a video with using old tie dye kit dyes in the past, I felt this would be redundant.  I do need to make some yellow yarn for a new design I have in the works.  (I am super excited about this one!

I still have some mixed yellow dye left over from my Tulip Tie Dye Kit that I decided to use for this project.  I presoaked some fingering weight wool in water for 30 min before adding the yellow dye and letting it sit overnight.

The next day I rinsed the yarn and washed it with some dish soap.  There was a lot of run off but eventually the color cleared.  After washing, this miniskein was a bit tangled, but it is so small that I had no problems winding it into a ball.  I hope there will be enough for the project I have in mind!

What do you think I need the yellow yarn for?  (Hint, it is just a small amount of yellow yarn.)

Chevron Baby Hat Knitting Pattern

I love using KnitPicks Shine Sport Yarn for baby items.  It is soft, machine washable and drapes amazingly.  The problem is that I now have a TON of Shine Sport remnants.  Frequently a newborn sized hat uses about 2/3 of a 50 g ball of yarn, so I decided to create a design that would use the remainder of two different balls in a fun chevron pattern.  I am pleased to share with you my Chevron Baby Hat Knitting Pattern!

Materials

• 2 colors (minimum) of KnitPicks Shine Sport in Aquamarine (A: blue - 15 g; 33 yards) and Orchid (B: pink- 12 g; 27 yards).  The entire hat weighs 27 g (~60 yards).  
• 4/5 US Size 5 (3.75 mm) double pointed knitting needles or circular needles large enough for magic loop.
• Yarn needle for weaving in loose ends.  
• Gauge ~6 sts/inch over stockinette
• Finished Size:  Newborn - 6" tall (at the longest point) x 12" circumference  (easily stretches to 15")

Abbreviations used in this pattern

• K - Knit
• P - Purl
• S1 - Slip 1 stitch
• S2KP - Slip 2 stitches together K-wise, Knit 1, pass slipped stitches over.  (Centered Double Decrease)
• (K1, YO, K1) in next stitch = creating three stitches from a single stitch.  This should create no holes.  
• sts - stitches

Pattern Notes

To create a larger baby hat, increase the number of cast on stitches by increments of 12 and adjust the length accordingly.   The crown decreases also begin on a 12 stitch repeat so you can follow the decreases as written.

When knitting with two colors, don't break the yarn after each stripe, just carry the yarn up the side.


Chevron Baby Hat Knitting Pattern

• Cast on 84 sts in Color A with the long tail cast on
• Row 1: *K9, S2KP* repeat until last stitch, K1  (70 sts)
• Row 2:  *K4, (K1, YO, K1) in next stitch, K5*  Repeat from *  (84 sts)
• Switch to color B
• Row 3: S1 stitch Pwise (NOTE: This will become the last stitch of the round), K9, *S2KP, K9* repeat until last 3 stitches, S2KP (The K stitch in this centered double decrease is the slipped stitch from the beginning of the round.  If you are using circular needles you will need to slip the marker over.)  (70 sts) 
• Row 4: *K4, (K1, YO, K1) in next stitch, K5*  Repeat from *  (84 sts)
• Repeat rows 3-4 alternating colors ever 2 rows as desired.  Continue for 15 total stripes or until the work measures 4.5 inches long from the cast on edge, ending after a row 4.  
• Crown Decreases - Continue switching colors ever two rounds.  
• Decrease Round 1:  S1 stitch P-wise, K9, *S2KP, K9* repeat until last 3 stitches, S2KP (70 sts)
• Decrease Round 2: K across
• Decrease Round 3: S1 p-wise, K7, *S2KP, K7* repeat until last 3 stitches, S2KP (56 sts)
• Decrease Round 4: K across
• Decrease Round 5: S1 p-wise, K5, *S2KP, K5* repeat until last 3 stitches, S2KP (42 sts)
• Decrease Round 6: K across
• Decrease Round 7: S1 p-wise, K3, *S2KP, K3* repeat until last 3 stitches, S2KP (28 sts)
• Decrease Round 8: K across
• Decrease Round 9: S1 p-wise, K1, *S2KP, K1* repeat until last 3 stitches, S2KP (14 sts)
• Decrease Round 10: K across 
• (Use the color from the previous two rounds) Decrease Round 11: K2tog across (7 sts)
• Break yarn and pull through remaining stitches.  
• Weave in loose ends.  

I love this simple little hat. The way the first stitch is slipped before the decrease round makes it really hard to tell where the rounds begin, which is a nice finishing detail in my opinion.  The WS fabric of this hat also looks really cool, so you are basically getting two hats from one afternoon of knitting!

A note behind the design.  At first I tried to do this with 72 sts (a number I've used for many stockinette newborn hats), but that gave a 10" circumfrence over the chevron pattern.  So I cast on again with 84 sts as I created the above pattern.  Enjoy!

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Abbreviations Used in this pattern:
S1 - Slip 1 stitch
S2KP - Slip 2 stitches together K-wise, Knit 1, pass slipped stitches over.  (Centered Double Decrease)
(K1, YO, K1) in next stitch = creating three stitches from a single stitch.  This should create no holes.
sts - stitches
Kfb - increase by knitting into the front and back of a single stitch.
M1 (Make 1)- increase stitch by picking up yarn between two stitches, twisting and knitting.
K - knit
P - purl
I-cord - knit stitches on dpn's without ever turning the needle (effectively knitting in the round with a small number of stitches.)
SSK - decrease by slipping two stitches then knitting them together. Alternatively, you could slip one stitch, knit one stitch and pass slipped stitch over.
K2tog - decrease by knitting two stitches together.

This knitting pattern was created by ChemKnits for your personal or charity use. You are not to sell, distribute or reprint this pattern without the permission of ChemKnits. © 2013 ChemKnits

BombOmb

When I saw the BombOmb Crochet Amigurumi, I got extremely excited.  I knew that I had the perfect colors in my remnant stash to whip up this little creature.  I chose to use a F hook because that is what I've been using with KnitPicks WOTA.  I figured this was a good project to use some some of the remnants I have laying around.  The project consumed 7 g of Black (coal), 3 g of Grey (mist), and 3 g of yellow (color name unknown.)

This BobOmb is one of my first crochet amigurumi projects.  I am REALLY noticing that this is much slower than if I were knitting the sphere.   A knit stitch in this yarn is approximately the same size as a SC.  Of course, I think that the crochet fabric is a better texture for this toy and that it will be worth it in the end.  (I Hope.)

I'm also noticing that I'm getting a blister or small irritation on the middle finger of my left hand.  This part of my finger keeps rubbing against the crochet project, something that never happens while knitting.

I did a slightly stupid thing where I sewed the cap onto the bomb before sewing on the fuse.  Next time, Secure the fuse to the cap first!

Unfortunately because of the way I sewed the feet on, it cannot stand unattended.  However, this is intended as an ornament so it hangs perfectly!

How to Create Braided Roving

When people sell rovings on Etsy, they always come in very pretty braids.   As I started dyeing my own rovings, I wanted to explore the best ways to prettily store them.  In the following to video tutorials, there are two different methods for creating roving braids:  1) By actually braiding the roving and 2) by crocheting the roving (looks like a braid).  I learned how to "braid" the roving first, but then I learned from purchasing other braids that more people actually crochet them.

How to Braid Roving:

How to crochet roving:

Now that you've seen both, which method do you prefer?