Birth of a Mouse

I need to make a bunch of gifts for Little People at the moment... 

and let's face it - creatures are so much more fun than booties, bonnets or blankets!

Not quite feeling the inspiration to work up a design of my own, 

so I've been trawling Pinterest for ideas.

Rather than quirky designs, I'm feeling drawn to more traditional cutesy patterns.

You can take a peek here if you'd like to see what I've been "pinning"

I've decided to go with the Ballerina Mouse from Heart & Sew.

It's a free pattern - take a look for yourself!

Traveling well so far...

I found my blog!

 

Somehow I managed to lose my blog...

I could read it, but I couldn't access it to edit!

and I was wanting to show you this Little Guy...

or the beginnings of him, at least.

As you can see, I'm still obsessed with this pattern:

Twinkle Toes the Unicorn by Alison North

- Stay tuned to see how he turns out -

We're not done yet!

Of course there's more...

JUST A FEW MORE

'cause I really do love these little guys

*****

Check out this precious GEM created by SallyAnn

It seems to me that this guy is an old PARTY ANIMAL
(perhaps it's the style of horns which give me this feeling)

I feel that he has been around the block a few times,

but he still knows how to celebrate

and have a good time

He doesn't party as much as he used to

(as evidenced by the cob-webby strands from his horns, of course!)

but he does like to give the younger kids a run for their money

(it's possible I'm making all of this up, but it seems likely to me)

click here for SallyAnn's project page

 

*****

Sarah says that she began this project thinking she would

 do battle with her inner beast and try to beat him!!!

But instead she has learned to LOVE her inner beast

(even the undesirable qualities)

and also to love the INNER BEASTS of others

click here to more photos of Sarah's beast

including his rat tail

Apparently, people with wide set eyes are very tolerant and broadminded...

 but they also possess a flagrant disregard for authority and advice.

I wonder if this is true?

These eyes are VERY wide set!

(and tiny, I wonder what that indicates?)

*****

 This delightful character from Sue

really puts a smile on my face...

I can't pin point EXACTLY what it is that I find so appealing

but I think it's because he's so damn hairy!

He just looks like a giant shaggy ball of yarn ends grew a face

and some horns

* I really do love him *

Sue was originally planning to trim away some of that excess hair,

but I'm so glad she changed her mind and left him au naturel

 click here for Sue's project page

 *****

Now this one looks like I do, after a rough day at work! 

More than a little disheveled, with eyes that just don't look like a match...

Kajsa has crafted this FEISTY inner beast, known as

THE GREAT GOOBERLICIOUS

You'll notice rather a healthy beard happening,

and if you check out the project page

there's a whole lot of hair around back, too!

 (PS. the beard wasn't even intentional, just a brilliant accident of yarn placement)

Can you believe that this is Kajsa's FIRST CROCHET PROJECT???

What an incredible effort!

*****

The final INNER BEAST I'd like to share is Melba's

CHEERLEADER BEASTIE

(complete with pom poms)

I love Melba's intention with this glorious creature...

I'll paraphrase a little, but here is what the cheerleader beastie means to her:

* REMINDER - enjoy life more, and shake out that negativity *

* CHEER LEADING SUPPORT - to complete all those unfinished projects *

* REMINDER to appreciate what you have, and not focus on what you don't *

There's something in that for all of us, I think!

click here for Melba's project page

*****

and here's my little guy who started it all...

I can't tell you how happy it is to see his TRIBE gathering!

A HUGE THANKS TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU
 WHO HAS CREATED AN INNER BEAST TO SHARE WITH THE WORLD

IT REALLY DOES MAKE MY HEART HAPPY TO SEE THEM ALL
(and I am enormously proud)

If you are inspired by these wonderful projects, and want to make
an INNER BEAST of your own,

be sure and link your project to the pattern on Ravelry

so that we can all enjoy your creativity

*** INNER BEAST PATTERN HERE ***

The TRIBE is growing...

More INNER BEASTS to share today...

I really do love each and every one of these guys!

So often our creations look even better in real life too,

 so I can only imagine how truly adorable these creatures must actually be.

*****

Are you familiar with the children's book

WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE?

This INNER BEAST created by Andrea seems like

 it would fit right in with the illustrations in that story...

The eyes are odd, and the horns are mismatched.

It seems that the row of pink stitches directly under the eyes could almost be the mouth,

but in my imagination it is stitched closed. I wonder why?

Andrea has added extra yarn tails to the head...

some are knotted, some plaited,

and there's some curls hidden in there, too!

If you look closely, you'll see that this beast is weighed down by a ball and chain...

Which is a shame, because I want to DANCE with this beast! 

I know it sounds bizarre,

but there’s something about this creature that makes me want to dance… 

I can almost hear the beating of a tribal drum… and I’m starting to tap my feet..

check out Andrea's project page here

Inspired to make a second creature,

Andrea then brought this THREE HORNED BEAST to life...

I love the way the red eyelash yarn at the bottom of the face

 makes it look as though he has a beard,

and if you look really carefully 

just below the beard and slightly to the right

you'll spy his wooden heart

more photos of this beast on Andrea's project page

 *****

Sometimes you start out following a pattern... and then get a little distracted.

Like Margaret did when working on her beasties below!

Apparently she didn't read the pattern properly,

her stitch count was incorrect,

she only used a single strand of yarn,

and the arms and legs don't match!!!

Yet still they look INCREDIBLE

click here for Margaret's project page, featuring both of her beasts

 This beast speaks to me of great happiness.

I think it begins with the ruffle around the neck, 

which makes me think of a circus clown...

there's all those bright and cheery colours,

then those sunflower eyes

(we all know that sunflowers are the largest, happiest flowers of all time)

I love that she is suspended for the photograph,

allowing all those yarn ends to dangle freely...

almost like tentacles!

Riding on the success of her first beast,

Margaret created her second one, and called her LILYFUSS

She reminds me of a quaint old duck,

struggling between her head and her heart.

Her heart tells her to be true to herself,

 to embrace each and every one of her quirks,

and refuse to age gracefully...

But her head tells her to be graceful, demure and proper...

to pop on on her pearls and her fancy hat,

and conforms to society's norms. 

(maybe I read too much into that one!)

 

*****

Meet MURGATROYD ROUGE

created by P

Those red horns make her look like a complete devil,

and the eyes are so overstated!

They remind me of the old saying

EYES LIKE SAUCERS

(used to describe someone's expression of amazement)

click here to see P's project page

P also made a beast for her friend...

this one is called GRISELDA GRIS

(doesn't she have an incredible knack for naming beasts?!?!)

GRISELDA has STARS IN HER EYES

(another wonderful saying, used to describe

 a feeling of blind excitement and hope for the future)

the most precious little knot for a nose,

and a fabulous mop of hair on top of her head!

you can see more photos here on the project page,

 including the bows on her toes

 

*****

I know you want to see more of the tribe,

but you'll just have to wait until tomorrow!

* MEANWHILE, HAVE YOU MADE YOURS YET? *

You know you want to, and the pattern is FREE

Multiplying Beasties

These INNER BEASTS really are breeding...

and some of my friends are responsible for MORE THAN ONE creation:

Jorel has been working with my patterns for a number of years now,

and I always find her take on them refreshing!

She would always come up with something totally outside of the box...

and I love watching her creations emerge.

Sadly, Jorel had lost her CRO-JO

(her crochet mo-jo, of course)

and her creative spark had gone walk-about...

But something about the INNER BEAST has piqued her interest,

and she has surprised even herself, by generating an entire tribe of QUIRKY beasties.

Jorel has been making beasties to give away, to people who need to externalize some bad stuff.

(and, don't forget - I only published this pattern two weeks ago, this woman is on fire!!!)

 Her vision of these beasts is that they become the repository of all that bad,

so you can move forward without burdens holding you back 

I LOVE THAT IMAGERY!

Here is Beast #1 - click here for the project page

It was mentioned in the forums that this little guy almost looks like a baby, 

reaching his arms out - asking to be picked up. 

Now that I have seen those outreached arms, I can't un-see them!

I love his baby arms, the jingle bells around the neck, and those really unusual eyes

Here is Beast #2 - click here for the project page

Loving the mismatched flowery eyes,

 and blue and purple together always create a visual treat for me

 Here is Beast #3 - click here for the project page

This mismatch is even greater in these eyes - and it really appeals to me.

Meanwhile those tails of ribbon yarn give some variety to the texture...

Here is Beast #4 - click here for the project page

I like to think of this guy as a little jester!

Possibly the out-turned horns, with the dangling pom poms?

He just has a mischievous quality about him, 

and you just know that as soon as your back is turned he'll be up to no good!!!

(he's got those soft fluffy feet for sneaking around with, too)

 

... and now Jorel is working on an ANGEL BEAST

for a dear work friend who is coming out of a particularly rocky 2016...

Apparently it's not yet finished - but I think it's perfect already! 

Some of the pieces are only pinned in place, and Jorel is contemplating a change of eyes...

but wondering whether the sad look might in fact be perfect for this project.

The recipient is a cat person - so the ANGEL BEAST is sorting a cat necklace,

and may end up with kitty ears instead  of horns...

We'll have to wait and see

click here for project page

 

Do you see how DIFFERENT these beasts are?

How they all have their very own personalities?

And even though ALL FIVE of these beasts have been created by

 the same person - they are all wonderfully unique???

Isn't it a brilliant display of how creative and clever people can be?

*** TRY MAKING ONE OF YOUR OWN ***

you'll find the free PDF pattern here

* give it a go - you can't possibly go wrong * 

(any "mistakes" you make will simply become design flaws, I promise!)

and if you need more inspiration - take a look at yesterday's beasts

Taking over the world... one beast at a time!

So, the strangest thing happened... 

Two weeks ago, I released an unusual new pattern.

It was a little odd... left of centre...

not at all mainstream!

 

I wasn't even convinced that anyone would use it...

I expected maybe two or three people to join in the fun...

I was kind of WRONG!!!!!

Already the pattern has been downloaded almost 500 times,

and the family of INNER BEASTS is growing

*****

Let me share some of the images which are warming my heart.

These are NOT made by me,

but are either made using my pattern - or are inspired by it...

*****

Loren is the brains behind the INNER BEAST MOVEMENT, as she is the 

clever one who challenged me to design a beast and create a pattern to be shared with others.

This is her BRAINLESS WONDER!

Part beast, and part gremlin...

 He loves to tangle Loren's yarn, 

hide her tools (especially the yarn needles) 

and otherwise thwart her efforts to finish projects

You can view Loren's project page here - and read more about him

I especially love the blue "outie" horns, those mismatched eyes... 

and the tufts of yarn at the side of the face, 

where I imagine his ears are - and also on the top of his head

 

*****

Meet Leslie's Inner Beast...

Of course, purple is my favourite colour - so I was always gonna love this guy!

But check out those tufts of hair and psychedelic eyes

(don't stare at them for too long or your head will start to spin)

click here for Leslie's project page

 

*****

Cyra has gone all ARTSY with her contribution

(and I love it)

Meet BERTHA BLING... her friends call her BATTY!

Half woman and half beast, Bertha occupies her days by creating havoc and laughing very loud.

 

She's been known to kick over glasses of water, hide the back door key,

leave a tap running in the bathroom, tip over a box of yarns... 

and even left a hand/claw print in the un-set jelly!!!

But how could you possibly stay mad at her?

She's glorious - and reminds me of a Greek goddess!

check out Cyra's project page here

I also love that's she has mastered the 

"DUCK FACE" pose, when taking a selfie!

 

*****

From artsy to SWEET... meet Heather's creation!

It looks to me like this INNER BEAST craves sweeties...

(I'm sure we can all relate to that)

 

I'm in love with the featured beads, the button heart... 

and who can resist a glitter pom pom nose?!?!

check out the project page here

*****

Last one for today is MAMA'S SCHATJE by Ria...

 

Schatje means Sweety... 

and Ria made the beast for her mother (who suffers from dementia)

in the hope that it will help her when she's feeling down or angry.

 

I don't know how Ria's mum feels about this little guy - but I LOVE HIM

 

Especially the way his body is so consumed by yarn tails,

that it almost loses it's shape entirely... it makes me wonder whether 

he was a SHAPE SHIFTER in a previous life

He somehow manages to look like a pile of yarn ends 

(left over after weaving in a large striped blanket, or something similar)

just lifted itself up from the counter and came to life!

 

check out Ria's project page here

 *****

 

But we can't be finished JUST yet... 

because I haven't spoken about our PRISONER from the top of the page 

Clever Nell is the mastermind behind this one...

and the reason I have been singing "he used to bring me roses, I wish he could again"

(for those non-Aussies who might not be familiar, it's the theme song from Prisoner, 

an Australian soapie set back in the late 70s/early 80s... have a listen here) 

 

Nell was also my partner in the yarn swap,

 so it is her yarn ends you see on display in my INNER BEAST pattern 

 

Nell has added dangly messes coming from the head of her beast, 

to represent all the miserable thoughts he’s trying to throw at her... 

and a comb over hair do, just because it suited him!

click to view Nell's project page here

But it didn't stop there...

Nell also went on to create a miniature beast - using embroidery thread and a 1.25mm hook!

The very aptly named MISS BALANCIA was created to remind Nell to seek a balance in her life. 

She’s about 3 inches tall, and carries a fan in her long arm to cool down Nell's racing mind. 

She has punk rocker clones knot spiked hair, and a diagonal mohawk down her back and tummy.

Oh, and she has a pink moustache, which apparently matches Nell's.

(I've yet to meet Nell, but with a pink moustache - it sounds like she'd be easy to spot in a line up)

Here's a photo of those two beasts together, 

so you can really appreciate how TINY the MISS BALANCIA really is!

*****

I'll be back soon, with more photos of the ever growing tribe!

You're welcome to bring your very own INNER BEAST to life...

The pattern is HERE - a free PDF

and there are several CROCHET-ALONGs happening on Ravelry

Join in the fun, in one of these three places:

laughing purple goldfish designs

international freeform forum

cro-kween designs

 

 

We call him EINSTEIN...

Still fluffing around with my surprise project

( the one I shared last week )

but I was also under a LITTLE pressure to finish Charlie's unicorn for her

- pattern here - 

Actually, it wasn't a LITTLE pressure...

Charlie is FIVE years old - and understands nothing about moderation or patience!

So there was a huge pressure for me to complete this cuddle toy for her...

( here's the original one I made )

Is mine finished yet?

Is it finished yet? 

What about mine?

You said you'd make me one!

Where's mine?

Why isn't it finished?

MUUUUUUUUM....WILL I EVER GET ONE?????

Yes.

and here he is...

I got a little carried away with the amount of yarn in the mane,

so we call him Einstein.

Shabby Hat

 Look what we found stashed away at the back of the cupboard...



This shabby hat once belonged to Little Miss Katie - but now it's the perfect size for her Little Sister!



It's the perfect hat for those "cold, but not freezing" days...

And you can find the FREE PATTERN here.

Kiddie Mitts

Little Miss Katie was nagging me for a lacy pair of mitts...

So I worked up the Challenge Mitts in a kids size - and they turned out perfectly!

The adult size pattern is available as a free download from here.

And here are the alterations I made:

1. This yarn is a very fine 8ply - or maybe even a 5 ply!
2. Made a starting chain of 30, and worked 6 shells in each round
3. 6 rounds of shells before the thumb opening round
4. 3 rounds of shells after the thumb opening

LOVE - LOVE - LOVE the results... and I can see many more kiddie mitts in my future.

(Especially seeing how quick they are to make)

Free Pattern For You.

download free pattern now

These mitts are worked in the round with no shaping. The shell pattern is stretchy and will accommodate the shape of your hand beautifully. All you need to do is remember to add your peek-a-boo hole for the thumb!

Are you up for the challenge?

Can you make a pair of these mitts in less than one hour?

I can complete the short ones (darning ends and everything) in that time, but the long mitts take me about one hour and ten minutes.

Try them for yourself and see…

rainbow scarf pattern

My boys have recently discovered how much fun it is to ride their bikes out in the street. Although we live at the end of a court, and therefore there is no passing traffic - I'm still a bit nervous about allowing them out unsupervised. It was a beautiful afternoon here yesterday, so I found myself a nice shady spot on the footpath... set up a chair... brought out my basket of rainbow yarns and started hooking.

It was brilliant. The boys rode around until they were exhausted, and I got one of my scarves done!

Mr Goldfish was out doing some Christmas shopping last night, so after the kids were in bed, I had the place to myself. Instead of fussing about with chores, I indulged in my crochet and got the second scarf completed!






I feel a bit cheeky calling this a pattern... more like instructions, really...

I've used a 5.0mm hook, and mostly 8ply yarn... although the red was a 12ply... the green and violet were 4ply, so I worked them with two strands held together... the indigo was even finer, so I held three strands of that together as I worked

basically, you can use whatever you like!

my yarn types were varied, too... the red is wool, the orange is acrylic, the yellow is wool, the green is cotton, the blue is something hairy, the indigo is a novelty ribbon yarn, and the violet is wool

again, this is YOUR scarf... so use whatever you like!

the scarf is worked sideways in sc (US)

just chain the length you want the scarf to be. I pop it around my neck to check the length. I usually like this type of scarf to sit an inch or two below my waist line... so I use that as a rough guide for my chain length... bearing in mind that there will be a tassel added also. Keep the chain loose for two reasons... 1. it is easier to work into the chain on your first row if they are not too tight, and 2. your scarf will tend to twist on itself if the chains are too tight

sc into the 2nd chain from hook, and every chain after that until you reach the end

leave a tail of a couple of inches and fasten off

turn work and add the next colour... continue working in rows of sc, leaving long tails at each end

I've worked 13 rows in total

red - orange - yellow - green - blue - indigo - violet - indigo - blue - green - yellow - orange - red

on the second scarf I worked the colours in reverse order

violet - indigo - blue - green - yellow - orange - red - orange - yellow - green - blue - indigo - violet

when the rows are completed, firmly knot each 'tail' to the one next to it... these will form the tassel... I chose to add a little extra to add some bulk, but it all comes down to personal preference

then I just trimmed the tails to an even length, and blocked the scarf lightly using a steam iron

it's just a triangle

This shawl pattern came about after I saw a fabulous simple shawl, made by another crochet fanatic. I'm not usually into shawls (although I can feel that changing) but I loved the simplicity of this particular one.

Now I don't mind paying for patterns... but in this particular instance I was NOT paying $7... I mean to say... IT'S JUST A TRIANGLE!!!!

I won't be telling you how much yarn you will need... or what size hook to use. I can tell you that I used my crazy yarn and a 6.0mm hook for my shawl. When I worked up the shawl for my daughter, I dropped down to a 5.0mm hook, which I think I prefer. But this is YOUR shawl... use whatever YOU like.


a progress shot of my shawl... using 6.0mm hook


and my daughter's shawl using a 5.0mm hook

THE PATTERN:

you are starting at the centre top of the shawl, and will be working back and forth in rows, turning your work as you go

start with an adjustable ring

row 1 - ch3, 2dc, ch2 (this forms the 'point') 3dc... tighten your ring... ch3 and turn

row 2 - 2dc into the first space between the dcs of the previous row, continue to dc into each space until you reach the 'point' of the shawl... 2dc, ch2, 2dc... then continue to dc into each space until you reach the end, working 3dc into the final space... ch3 and turn

repeat row 2 until you are happy with the size of your triangle! easy

since this is a free pattern, it has not been tested... if you find any errors, please let me know

there are progress shots below... I haven't put any captions on them, but they should help you to visualise the pattern