The lion is the most popular block in the Safari quilt pattern – and now he’s available as a stand-alone pattern. Use him on pillows, tote bags, placemats, and more. Or make a whole quilt with just lion blocks!
You can get the Liam Lion applique pattern here.
And here’s a video showing exactly how I assemble it.
Have fun with him!
“Just make a mark and see where it takes you.”
That’s one of my favorite lines from my very favorite book about creativity – THE DOT by Peter Reynolds. (That’s an affiliate link.)
It’s also the inspiration behind the start of my creative practice for the new year – and I’m inviting you to join me in this 31-day challenge.
Make a dot!
Make a dot every day in January and see where it takes you. Use a different medium every day – or use this as an opportunity to explore one medium you’ve always wanted to try (or get better at).
You can do anything! Crayons! Pastels! Paint! Collage! Embroider! Applique! Clay! Photography! Jewelry!
Post a photo of your creation on Instagram and tag it #dailydot2020. (You’ll be able to see all my dots here.)
If you’re looking for some inspiration, here are a few links for you.
I can’t wait to see what everyone makes. There are soooooo many possibilities in a simple dot!
Happy Almost-New Year!
Best,
Wendi
The new Funny Faces Quilt Block of the Month pattern is out! Here’s the video showing how to put it all together. If you’re not a member yet – see how easy it is!
Here are all the links I mentioned in the video. . .
Happy stitching!
Best,
Wendi
After three years (that’s 36 patterns!) Ami Club is now closed.
I hope you all have had as much fun as Stacey and I have!
Pippa Puppy is the final pattern in the club. If you’re a club member, you’ll be able to download the pattern here until your membership runs out. Everyone’s membership and download access will run out on different days, depending on the date they signed up.
If you have any trouble accessing the final pattern (or didn’t see this notice of the closing until after your membership expired) please contact me at smile@shinyhappyworld.com and I’ll get your pattern to you.
You can find all the crochet patterns (including previous Ami Club patterns) here.
The end of the club doesn’t mean we won’t be designing more crochet patterns – just not one every month. 🙂 Instead, we’ll be designing some patterns that take a little longer. We’ve had requests for Mystery Crochet-Alongs and more Mix & Match patterns – so look for those (and maybe some crocheted puppets and baby toys) in 2020. You can sign up for the mailing list here.
It’s been a wonderful run! Happy stitching!
Best,
Wendi
Stacey loves eating pickles, and is a Christmas Pickle Collector – so it’s no surprise that she designed a pattern for a crocheted Christmas Pickle! We’ve updated it here with some new tutorial links.
The skills you’ll need for just about any amigurumi are. . .
This project uses a couple of extra skills, but don’t worry. They’re easy, and we have video tutorials showing how!
You can go through all those posts now, or just hop to them as you get to those points in the pattern – whatever works best for you!
Yarn
This pattern can be used with any weight yarn. If you use worsted weight yarn, your pickle will be about 5 1/2 inches long.
Materials
Gauge Notes
This pattern doesn’t specify a gauge. It’s a stuffed pickle, and you don’t need to be too picky about exact sizing. The most important thing is that you use a hook size that creates a nice looking fabric for your yarn. If you use the recommended hook size, and your fabric looks very loose (so that stuffing would show through), then you will want to use a smaller hook. Other than that, no measuring required!
Stitch into the Back
All stitches in this pattern (that are worked in the round) are worked through the back loop only, unless otherwise directed. Look at this picture.
See how one loop is highlighted in black? This is the back loop, and it’s what you’ll stitch into. Stitching into the back loop creates ridges on the right side of the piece.
Want to see crocheting through the back loop in action? Check out this blog post. It talks all about why Stacey crochets through the back loop and even has a handy dandy video showing how to find that loop.
Abbreviations
Ready? Let’s jump in!
Ch 2 (I like to start with a sloppy slip knot. This video shows how. And this video shows how to chain.)
Round 1 sc 6 in 2nd ch from hook (6) This post will help you find that second chain from the hook.
Round 2 sc twice in next st (12) This video will help you if you find it tricky to start the second round.
Round 3 [sc twice in next st, sc in next st.] 6 times (18)
Round 4 sc in each st. (18)
Round 5 [bbl in next st, sc in next 5 sts.] 3 times (18)
Round 6 sc in each st. (18)
Round 7 [sc in next 4 sts, bbl in next st, sc in next st] 2 times (18)
Rounds 8-11 Repeat rounds 4-7.
Round 12 sl st in next 6 sts, sc in next 3 sts, hdc in next 6 sts, sc in next 3 sts. (18)
This video shows how to slip stitch – it’s what gives your pickle that classic bend in the middle. And this video shows how to half double crochet. These slightly taller stitches are what give your pickle room on the back to make that bend.
Round 13 sl st in next 6 sts, [bbl in next st, sc in next 5 sts] 2 times (18)
This video shows how to bobble stitch.
Round 14 sl st in next 6 sts, sc in next 3 sts, hdc in next 6 sts, sc in next 3 sts. (18)
Round 15 sl st in next 6 sts, [sc in next 4 sts, bbl in next st, sc in next st] 2 times (18)
Rounds 16-23 Repeat rounds 4-7, twice.
Lightly stuff your pickle.
Round 24 [sc2tog, sc in next st.] 6 times (12)
Round 25 [sc2tog] 6 times (6)
Add a bit more stuffing if needed and close up the top using your favorite method. I like the drawstring method – there’s a video here showing how. And here’s a video showing how to fasten off.
Bury the tail. Tie a ribbon to the top for hanging.
Congratulations! You have an adorable Christmas Pickle ornament!
Happy stitching!
Best,
Wendi
There’s a new Funny Faces Quilt Block of the Month Club pattern.
Meet Kevin Koala!
I made a pink-on-pink-on-pink version, too. 😄
If you’re already in the club, pop over to the clubhouse to download your new pattern.
If you’re not in the club yet, you can join here.
This cutie is super easy to make. Here’s a video showing how to assemble the block.
Here are all the links I promised. . .
Happy stitching!
Best,
Wendi
Ready for a fun project? We’re having a Quilt-Along through the end of the year!
Build a house! Or two. Or a whole neighborhood. 🙂
I’m going to make a quilt – but you can make anything you like. Here are a bunch of free patterns that would work great with these houses.
Get the Shiny Happy Houses quilt pattern here.
Get the free signs to make North Pole buildings here.
I’m also going to add sashing strips between my rows of houses, to make an extra snowy landscape. ☃️ There’s a tutorial showing how to do that here.
Tag your photos #WinterCAL2019 and post them to the Shiny Happy People group. The Winter Craft-Along is a larger craft-along for projects that use any Shiny Happy World or FreshStitches winter or holiday pattern. There will be lots of prizes in lots of different categories – including a prize just for North Pole projects.
Happy stitching! I can’t wait to see your houses!
Best,
Wendi
Make an adorable tiny pumpkin to celebrate Halloween or Thanksgiving!
It would also be adorable stitched up in red to be a cherry. 🙂
Here’s how to make it!
The skills you’ll need for just about any amigurumi are. . .
You can go through all those posts now, or just hop to them as you get to those points in the pattern – whatever works best for you!
Yarn
This pattern can be used with any weight yarn. The sample is crocheted with worsted weight yarn to make a 3-inch tall pumpkin with a 10-inch vine. You can use thicker yarn/a bigger hook to make a bigger pumpkin, and thinner yarn/a smaller hook to make a smaller pumpkin.
Materials
Stitch into the Back
All stitches in this pattern (that are worked in the round) are worked through the back loop only, unless otherwise directed. Look at this picture.
See how one loop is highlighted in black? This is the back loop, and it’s what you’ll stitch into. Stitching into the back loop creates ridges on the right side of the piece.
Want to see crocheting through the back loop in action? Check out this blog post. It talks all about why Stacey crochets through the back loop and even has a handy dandy video showing how to find that loop.
Abbreviations
Ready? Let’s jump in!
We’ll start with those googly eyes in white yarn.
Ch 2 (I like to start with a sloppy slip knot. This video shows how. And this video shows how to chain.)
Round 1 sc 6 in 2nd ch from hook (6) This post will help you find that second chain from the hook.
Round 2 sc twice in next st (12) This video will help you if you find it tricky to start the second round.
Round 3 [sc twice in next st, sc in next st.] 6 times (18)
Round 4 sc in each st. (24)
Fasten off with a long tail. Insert a 12 mm eye into the center of the bowl shape. Repeat to make a second eye.
Now for the body. Use orange yarn for the pumpkin. Ch 2.
Round 1 sc 6 in 2nd ch from hook (6)
Round 2 sc twice in next st (12)
Round 3 [sc twice in next st, sc in next st.] 6 times (18)
Round 4 [sc twice in next st, sc in next 2 sts.] 6 times (24)
Round 5 [sc twice in next st, sc in next 3 sts.] 6 times (30)
Round 6 [sc twice in next st, sc in next 4 sts.] 6 times (36)
Round 6 [sc twice in next st, sc in next 5 sts.] 6 times (42)
Round 8-13 sc in each st. (42, 6 rounds)
Round 14 [sc2tog, sc in next 5 sts.] 6 times (36)
Round 15 [sc2tog, sc in next 4 sts.] 6 times (30)
Round 16 [sc2tog, sc in next 3 sts.] 6 times (24)
Round 17 Change to green yarn for the pumpkin top and vine. This post shows you how to get a clean color change. [Sc2tog, sc in next 2 sts.] 6 times (18)
Remove hook, but do not fasten off. Stuff the eyes and attach them to the body, as pictured.
Stuff the body and continue crocheting.
Round 18 [sc2tog, sc in next st.] 6 times (12)
Round 19-54 (or until vine is about 10 inches long) Sc in each st. (12, 36 rounds)
Round 55 [sc2tog] 6 times (24)
Close up the tip of the vine using the drawstring method (there’s a video here) and bury the tail.
Tie the vine in a loose knot.
Done!
Make some more – enough to fill a whole pumpkin patch! They’re so much fun to make!
Happy stitching!
Best,
Wendi
Recently I’ve been looking for a different way to close my amigurumi. Slipstitching across the opening works just fine, but sometimes it leaves a pointier top than I would like. I wanted something that was more consistently smooth.
After a bunch of experimentation, I decided on a new method where I close up the top like a drawstring bag. It works really well – and it’s super easy!
Here’s how to do it.
See how easy that is?
Here are handy links to all the posts about closing up the stuffing opening and fastening off in amigurumi. . .
Return to the main table of contents for Let’s Learn to Crochet Amigurumi.
Move on to the lessons for attaching parts.
Happy stitching!
Have you seen Merrick Monster yet?
He has a cute pocket mouth (just like Munch) – and is where I’m currently storing my favorite crochet hooks. 🙂
That pocket mouth is really easy to do – and it would be an easy mod to add to just about any other pattern!
Here’s how to do it.
Have fun with it!
Here are handy links to all the posts about crocheting more advanced shapes. . .
Return to the main table of contents for Let’s Learn to Crochet Amigurumi.
Move on to the posts about troubleshooting common problems.
Happy stitching!
