ScrapCat! Free pattern

Yay! I finally finished writing up my first pattern! Whew, translating even a simple pattern from Claire-crochet-shorthand babble to a sensible plan is tedious work. Hopefully with time it'll get faster. Does that mean I should make more patterns?

I got the idea, out of boredom, a while back to use up some of my basketful of yarn scraps and make it into a colourful Ami, which produced ScrapCat! The first one was Pheobe.

She's watching me from above my computer. Along with Groucho, the second Cat I made (So named for his abnormal dark eyebrows)
The rest are on my Flickr page, http://www.flickr.com/photos/carouselcute/

Their messy look just makes them cuter, I think. Each one is different thanks to different scraps used to make them, so their unique personalities can be endless.

If you find any errors or run into any problems, I'd be happy if you commented or emailed me. This is the first one I've ever written up for other people to follow, so I hope I did a good job!

Here you go!

***

Scrap Cat Pattern

A free pattern to make, with love!

This pattern is free for making, giving, sharing, selling the products of, etc. I only ask that you let me know when you sell things from it, and don't claim it as your own.

MATERIALS:

G hook (H can work, but G is better for tightness)
Worsted weight yarn scraps. A good three handfuls, each scrap 5 inches or more is allright. You can use non-scrap yarn, too. That's just an approximation, so don't be afraid to use other yarn you may have.
Polyfil*
Embroidery floss
Needle (and yarn needle, obviously)
Pipecleaner (optional)
2 buttons for the eyes. Or use your respective eyes. I like buttons for them because it suits the scrappy feel.

*If you REALLY want to be thrifty, just stuff it with more scraps!

TERMS

ch-chain
st-stitch
sc-single crochet
inc-increase (2 single crochet in one sitch)
dec-decrease (single crochet 2 stitches together) (invisible decrease is best, and easy to learn with tutorials online. Planet June and Gourmet Amigurumi have good ones.)

BEFORE YOU START.

There should be a good two to three handfuls of scraps. Anything longer than 5 inches is allright. Note that shorter scraps will only show a few stitches, and longer ones will show much more. To obtain the "scrap yarn", take two strands and place them end to end, and tie a 2-strand overhand knot as close as possible to the ends (leaving a little bit of tail). Pull tight to make sure it won't slip out. Repeat as you go so that your scraps form yarn just enough length to work with. Remember to leave a good amount for sewing the piece to the body! A longer piece there is best.
The knots won't show through your crochet. If, when you make a stitch, they're showing on that side, tighten it or pop it through to the other side. Undoing the stitch and making it again only tighter can solve the problem too.
I realize this might be kind of a weird way to work, so if there's any problems or you have any trouble, just email me and I'll be happy to help!

PATTERN
This is worked as Amigurumi. Do not join rounds, work in a spiral instead. You don't have to do it in this order, but I make notes along the way as to assembly, so it's probably a good idea. It's also easier to do some things before others.
Have fun!

HEAD

Make a magic ring with 6 stitches. (or CH2, and make 6sc in first ch if you don't know the magic ring technique)

r1: inc in each st (12)
r2: *1 sc in next st, inc in next st. repeat from * around (18)
r3: *1 sc in next 2 st, inc in next st. repeat from * around (24)
r4: sc in each st. (24)
r5-7: repeat r4. (24)
r8: *1 sc in next 2 st, 1 dec. repeat from * around (18)
r9: *1sc in next st, 1 dec. repeat from * around (12)

Fasten off and pull tail inside the head.
Stuff well.

FACE

Using embroidery floss, sew an upside down triangular nose and mouth onto the middle of the face. Sew the buttons on for the eyes along the same line as the nose. Using the same colour floss as for the mouth, sew semicircle eyebrows.
*a note about the eyes:
I loved the buttons but didn't like the way they looked in the end with the thread I sewed them on with. So I took fabric paint (also known as puffypaint, great stuff) and filled in the buttons, with white dots for the shine. You don't have to, it's just something I felt like doing.


EARS (make 2)

Magic ring with 6 st.

r1: 1 sc in each st. (6)
r2: *1 sc in next st, inc. repeat around. (9)
r3: 1 sc in each st. (9)
r4: *1 sc in next 2 st, inc. repeat from * around, (12)
(If you want longer, tall ears, do one more round of sc in each st, for a total of 12 sc)

Fasten off and leave long tails for sewing.

If you want, choose a solid colour for both ears (make sure you have enough!) and sew it onto one side of each ear, to make the inner ear colour.
Fold them flat and sew the ears onto the top of the head, bending the sides in slightly to create a concave effect.

BODY

Magic ring with 6 st.

r1: inc in each st (12)
r2: *1 sc in next st, inc in next st. repeat from * around (18)
r3: *1 sc in next 2 st, inc in next st. repeat from * around (24)
r4: sc in each st. (24)
r5: repeat r4.
r6: *1 sc in next 2 st, 1 dec. repeat from * around (18)
r7: sc in each st (18)
r8: repeat r7.
r9: *1sc in next st, 1 dec. repeat from * around (12)
r10: sc in each st (12)
r11: repeat r10.

Fasten off with long tail.

TAIL

Magic ring with 6 st.

r1: sc in each st (6)
r2-4: repeat r1.
r5: dec, sc in remaining 4 st (5)
r6: sc in each st (5)
r7-15: repeat r6.

Fasten off. Fold pipecleaner in half and push the folded end into the tail. There should be some still outside of the tail. Place the tail at the base of the body (where, when sitting, it will be sticking outward) and push the remaining end into the body and fold one end one way and the other end the opposite way, to anchor the pipecleaner in place.
Sew the tail onto the body.

Stuff the body completely, adding a penny or two to the bottom for weight, if desired (not necessary).
Now, sew the body to the head, making sure that you fasten it to where the tail is behind (and when looking down on it, between) the two ears.

ARMS (make 2)

Magic ring with 6 st.

r1: sc in each st. (6)
r2-9: repeat r1.
(this is when a stitch marker really comes in handy. You can use a paperclip or hook earring if you don't have one.)

Stuff.
Sew the opening closed by fastening off with a long tail, and threading the tail through the outer loop of each stitch and pulling closed.

LEGS (make 2)

Magic ring with 6 st.

r1: inc in each st (12)
r2: sc in each st (12)
r3-6: repeat r2

Fasten off and stuff.

Sew to the body, each leg at an angle towards the front (not directly below the ears, but angled inward). Make sure it's at the base, same as the tail, so your ScrapCat can sit without falling over.

Sew the arms onto the body just below the neck.
For a Maneki ScrapCat (the raise-paw good luck cat), Sew the left arm on upwards. You can sew the paw down in a beckoning motion, and tack on a bell or fake coin as well.

That's all! It's finished! I hope you enjoyed this pattern and had fun with it!

If you have any questions, comments, or want to share your ScrapCat, just let me know!

Our State Fair is a great state fair~

*hums showtunes*
So much! In the next two weeks, so busy!
I've started school, so that's part of it. My schedule at work changed two times in the past week, and it'll change again soon. It's confusing, because I have two schedules to remember; they change every other week due to mandated furlough.
Then, the state fair! The Alaska State Fair is the biggest event of the year, there's so much to do! I'm going up both this weekend and next.
Friends have been coming here and back from their various schools too, and that's been fun.
But even then, I've found time to crochet! I'll post as soon as I can take pictures (one piece I've had for a few weeks or more -_-;; I need to try harder at the whole "taking pictures quickly" thing! Perseverance, fortitude...), including a pattern for everyone!

A major update before another lull? I hope not.

Should've posted this a while ago...

I finished this a good month or two ago, actually, but was reluctant to put her up because I wanted to fix a few things, take better pictures... I let time get away from me! I really should be more pressing when it comes to things like this or it'll just fall off my list of things to do haha.
Since a kid I've been in love with horses (which I guess most every girl is at some point? Or so I'm told) and always wanted to make an Amigurumi horse. But not just any cute horse.
I love the ones that are pudgy or simplified, but I didn't want that to be me for this. It was way more of a challenge for me to try and make it stand and look like a horse with the same proportions.
Ah! But I'm being wordy. Here's Ceres, my first (of MANY I assure you!) Amigurumi horse!


I really put a lot of effort into shaping her legs and body, though the body needs a LOT of work and the legs are a bit wonky. Standing was alright before the saddle and stuff, but after that it got too heavy. I bought some white pipecleaners to use in the next one to give added support. They're surprisingly sturdy on their own, though...
Her back legs aren't joined to the body, but rather the back legs form the thighs, which join to each other, and then the body stops at the stomach and is joined there. Can you tell?

The mane and tail were fun :3 I used the fluff technique that I've fallen in love with (it makes things so FUZZY CUTE!).
Not very happy with her saddle and accoutrements, but that's okay. In case you're wondering what the yellow things are, I put felt stars (and a moon on her tail) and gold ribbon throughout her hair. Ceres is the dwarf planet near Earth.

So as not to fill up the page with pics, there's more at my Flickr stream including detailed pics of her legs.

I've done a few more things since then, believe it or not. Here's to a resolution (in the middle of the year, what?) to being more prompt about things!

OMG.

Guys! My Amigurumi Murloc got featured in fandomania.com's Fandomestic World of War-Crafts list!
Oh I'm so happy, he's one of the first real challenging things I ever tried to crochet, and I was rather please with how he came out. I'm super glad other WoW-fans like him too :3

Go check out the list, there are some wicked awesome crafts there!

Orcs! And so far from Orcland...

Of course, this has nothing to do with orcs (I just finished actually WATCHING the first Lord of the Rings, the extended version).
Rather, piggies! Er, one, at the moment.
His name is Pierre, and his pattern's rather simple so I may write it up and post it one of these days.
At the same time as this, I am also working on uploading one of my favourite things I've ever done. It's the reason I named this blog Carousel Cute, to give you a hint. She's all done, but I have to work on the pictures some before I can upload them.

For your enjoyment, Professor Pierre Piggleton!



In other geeky selfrelated news, I'm on book three of the Harry Potter series! Yes, I've never read them, for various not-my-own reasons. However, I've been told by several of my friends that I'm not allowed to watch the new movie until I read at least up till book six. I'm getting there!
I have to say, the books are definetely worth a read if you're even remotely interested in the series. I've never been one to focus on writing but you can't complain about it; they are after all geared towards kids.
Speaking of which, I may get a new job! It's nothing super new than what I'm doing, it's mainly an increase in hours and pay and benefits at a different location. Just an increase in tasks though. I could really use it right now, so I'm crossing my fingers and praying hard; I have an interview on Thursday for it, so wish me luck!

It so has not been a month.
Augh! It's gone by so fast! Nothing new to post, though I've been working on a few things.
I took an extra side job delivering phonebooks to pay for a mini-vacation recently, which was nice :3 It'll probably be our only vacation for a loooong time, but that's okay, we had fun<3

Oh! I discovered that a store in town has safety eyes! The only problem is, they're expensive. They're far more than I would pay for everyday 'gurumis, but I may buy a few sometime for some special ones I have planned. Here's hoping in the next few I can upload some cool projects! And if not at least put up a record of WIPs.

At long last!

Took me a while to update this, but I didn't want to ruin the surprise, since I'm horrible at keeping presents a complete secret (I love to see the look on people's faces when they're happy) XD My latest ami was a large (12" tall) tiger! He was made especially for my fiancee, as a good-luck friend for his first day at a new job just a few days ago.
The guy suprised him by hiding in his car, the little devil. Fiancee was pleased though! Good reports.
Oh I had fun making him, over a period of two weeks on and off an hour or so each night. I sewed on the stripes on the back, tail and legs, however when I got to the head... I was tired of sewing :(

His pendant says "Best Friends". It's one I've been saving for the right ami, I think he was it :3
He's got jointed arms and legs which, after many MANY attempts and re-dos, finally are the way I'd like! They're still a bit more floppy than preferred, but they do their job.


All in all, I like the way he came out. His face-fur is fun, too, so fluffy! It's a technique I heard about from a couple of different sources and decided to try, with awesome results.
***

The other thing I wanted to talk about was the new Star Trek movie that just came out.
OMG. OMG.
I went to go see it tonight and I cannot CONTAIN my joy at the AWESOMENESS! I won't spoil it for anyone, heaven forbid, but aside from the one "wtf" it is truly an epic movie. There's just no other way to describe it. Even if you're not a trek-fan, I sincerely urge you to go, it's that great. And if you ARE a trekkie, like myself, then you will enjoy it immensely! Overall, they did a FANTASTIC job.
*hushes*

My new query for myself is, what to work on next. Other than the things I HAVE to get done (which are many), I'm thinking of revisiting a dragon design I was working on, which if it turns out I may turn into a pattern. It's just a small dragon but it's cute and easy to make, a nice friend.

That's it for me, gotta take the sis to school so must nap aforehand. Peace!

(goseestartrekomg)