Category: Uncategorized

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Dapper Poochey, crochet rabbit pattern

Sonja

Well, what happened here? I liked Poochey in his trendy cardigan so very much that I decided to add him as a “dapper rabbit pattern” to my shops. Would you’ve been able to resist it? Just look at this utterly adorable crochet rabbit in his fancy outfits!

I cannot give myself all the credit for this. After I released the little cardigan pattern, Jan made a delightful collection of lovely little cardi’s for her crochet bunnies. After seeing her ever-so-cheerful pictures, I decided I just had to make a separate pattern for Poochey in the cardigan. I made Poochey’s cardigan just for fun after seeing a knitted rabbit wearing a sweater on Instagram, but when I put the sweater on and took that picture of him a while back, I began to get the idea of making a separate pattern. But because it felt a bit strange to re-launch an existing pattern, I wasn’t sure if it was a good idea. Jan made me realise that it is! Not everyone who visits my blog would want this version, but I don’t want other crafters missing out on this.

And how much fun it is to make all those little cardigans! Not only that, but all the tiny cute buttons you can’t put on your own garments, you can use for little bunny cardigans. I had so much fun looking for buttons that matched my bright-coloured sweaters. I found buttons with flowers and stars, animal-shaped ones – oh, there are so many fabulous buttons to find! And I cannot help laughing at Poochey’s expression every time I see it. In every single picture he has that same look of utter confusion. Which cardigan is your favourite? Mine is the green one with the star buttons.

Here are few original pattern pictures of this dapper crochet rabbit; below them you can find info about and links to buy the pattern.

Info about & links to buy the pattern

Poochey and his cardigan are made with Istex Lett Lopi, a 100% wool with a lot of fuzziness. If you use the recommended yarn, he will be 7 inch / 17 cm high. I would strongly recommend a fuzzy yarn, because it hides the seams of the colour changes.

The pattern is written in US terms and contains a clear and colour-coded description of how to crochet and assemble the crochet rabbit amigurumi, with extra illustrations and example pictures at the bottom to help you get everything right. In the pattern you can also find what materials you need, the yarn colour numbers, in short, everything you need to know to make your own dapper rabbit(s). All the additional information you need to know about this pattern you can find in the shop listings. You can buy this pattern in my shop at Ravelry, on Etsy or order it here.

Heads up: it has a one-dollar release discount till Thursday the 11th of June. If you already have the pattern for Poochey and Fudge but want to make Poochey like this, you can find the free pattern for the cardigan here.

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In my garden

Sonja

Hi there lovely crafters! I’m writing this from my garden office. The weather is so very lovely finally, how can I sit inside while it is nice and warm outside?

Yes, I am finally working on my new otter pattern. After all the updates, I was really looking forward to a new project but forgot my hard working boyfriend had a week off. Of course I wanted to do fun things together and go out into nature. The otter had to wait a bit. Despite all our outdoor activities, I did finish a lovely head and am now working on the rest of the otter and the pattern.

Most of you know I already made an otter pattern once, but I decided to make a completely new version, a much more mischievious looking one. This otter will have a younger and more whimsical appearance. Basil is a lovey otter, but he misses a bit of the characteristic funny otter looks.

There are two other patterns I almost can’t wait to start on. I already bought yarn for a giraffe pattern and after that I want to make an alpaca pattern, yes! I saw alpacas in a field and they are such silly looking creatures, I love them and all their fuzziness. I think I’m going to use an alpaca yarn to make one, how exciting!

See you soon with new and fun patterns!

Stories, Uncategorized

It’s time for something new

Sonja

I’m so happy to announce that I have finished the updates. Last week I updated the last 14 patterns and now all my patterns are text edited for correct English and proofed a last time. The older patterns also have extra head shots of the animals so it’s easier the see where the eyes, ears, muzzles or bills go. And the patterns might even look more fancy than the most recent ones because of the decorative images of the animals on their backs. I will add those to the newest patterns too, but will do that ‘in between’ because it isn’t really necessary but just looking great. Adding those images made this experience more fun for sure, just look at them!

It was a huge endeavour and in the end I really got tired of it, but it was worth it. For most patterns that got a big make over, I’ve send a Craftsy and Ravelry update message. But I forgot for some and for the rest of them I skipped the messages. I didn’t want to bother you peeps with loads of emails. Here’s a list of the patterns I have updated in case you would like to have an updated version. Send me a message and your receipt and I’ll email or send the new version to your library.

There are a few patterns I made temporarily unavailable because I felt like making new and better versions of them. Basil the otter is the one I am starting with, Monty the marmot, the lop rabbit and Sjuffel the dog will follow, but I am not sure when because I also want to make a completely new pattern, a giraffe that is, after the new Basil. When I look at my work now, I am so proud. Thanks for all of your support, you crafters are fabulous!

Now we are updated. Hope to be here soon with a glimpse of a new otter.

Art, Chit and Chat, Uncategorized

A phase

Sonja

When I look at all the patterns I have made so far, I am quite proud of each and every one of them. Look at them, so many (and I even forgot a few), that is about three years of designing in that picture!

amigurumi patterns

But lately I’ve been so critical about my designs that I am having a hard time finishing them. This must be something every designer goes through every once and a while. Maybe it is just the soggy weather and the grey of winter that makes me judge my work differently.

It started when I was working on my tortoise pattern. I made this gorgeous looking shell, that would be a bit difficult to assemble. And because I couldn’t write it down perfectly scientifically, I had to re-think it so I fooled around with it for a while and did not enjoy it. Then I saw this picture of a gorgeous looking American red squirrel and decided I was going to set aside the tortoise and make a new squirrel that made me all excited. I started all enthusiastic but soon afterwards doubted every part I made. I guess designing the realistic animals got me into this phase. Because now, when I’m designing a doll, I’m not sure anymore how realistic it should look. These crochet animals must look like the real animal for sure, but they also should be a bit more whimsical and playful looking, well you’ve just seen my Popkes. When I look at my sweet little squirrel face, I’m thinking ‘isn’t this looking too complicated?’ or ‘isn’t this head too small, should I make a more round and basic head?’. It’s annoying, I’m doubting my every move, while I can clearly see what I came up with isn’t looking bad at all.

The best thing to do is to just keep working on it. Today I made a very smart looking tail, which doesn’t need pipe cleaners in it to make it look bended. And the body I made has a very formidable looking light belly, so I suppose I am just being a bit too hard on myself. I will just continue working on this sweetie and assemble a prototype. When that is finished I can decide if I find this squirrel whimsical and characteristic enough and if anything needs to be changed.

Yes, that is a good plan. See you when it is finished dear crafters!

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Choof, crochet cheetah pattern

Sonja

And here he is, a very spotted feline, meet Choof the crochet cheetah.

cheatah crochet pattern

This was such a fun pattern to create. The basic shapes of this cheetah amigurumi were already known to me. The shape of the head many of my big cats have, did not need much changes and the limbs and body only needed to be a bit slimmer than that of the other cats. You clearly see the difference in shape between the big cats is you put them in a line. But of course the spots make the most difference. Because I knew from the start how many stitches wide I was going to make each body part, I could totally focus on getting the ideal pattern for the spots.

As I always do, I started with the head. The hardest part of designing the cheetah’s face were those distinctive dark lines around the muzzle. As you all are familiar with, crocheting in a spiral does not always create smooth vertical lines when you crochet in multiple colours. On one side of the muzzle I got a very neat dark line, but on the other side I got this rugged line that did not run smoothly around the muzzle at all. I had to try many options before I found a neat combination of stitches to get the right look. I am very pleased with the end result, even though the stitches aren’t all lined up, the stripe runs smoothly around the muzzle and looks realistic.

For the spots of the body I tried a combination of bigger and larger spots, but soon noticed the spots all needed to have the same size. I also figured out pretty soon the spots needed to be placed randomly, not on every other stitch on every other round. So I just worked one round at the time and placed the spots delicately. 

And in all it simplicity, it works so well. Those random spots give this crochet cheetah the perfect cheetah coat and are so easy to make. And the tail, how could I forget about that, I love this tail. I made it exactly like a real cheetah’s tail, white end, striped and then dotted, just look at it! Below the images you can find info about and links to buy the crochet cheetah pattern.

Info about & links to buy the pattern

Choof is made with Istex Lett Lopi, a 100% wool with a lot of fuzziness. He is sitting 5,5 inch/ 14 cm tall.

This cheetah crochet pattern contains a clear and colour coded description of how to crochet and assemble it, with extra illustrations and example pictures at the bottom to help you get everything right. In the pattern you can also find what materials you need, the yarn colour numbers, in short, everything you need to know to make your own spotted feline. All the additional information you need to know about this pattern you can find in the shop listings. You can buy this pattern in my shop at Ravelry, Etsy or order it here.

This pattern has a one dollar release discount till Thursday the 12th!

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Noof, crochet cow pattern

Sonja

Meet my newest creation, Noof the crochet cow amigurumi.

realistic crochet cow pattern

To some of you this may come as a surprise. I didn’t announce the cow pattern here with a sketch. At Instagram I did post some sneak previews, but skipped the blogpost this time. No worries, there is a little drawing in the pattern.

I seem to be into farm animals lately I suppose. After I made the pig and ram, my boyfriend suggested I had to make a cow now too. That sounded quite tempting so I started thinking about what kind of cow I should design. Most important, it had to look like a real cow, even if it would be made without spots. Secondly, I wanted it to have a rustic feel, so no bright white and black, but more textured colours. My crochet cow also needed little horns and an udder of course, how much fun would that be to crochet! Last but not least important, it needed to have the famous new hooves. So, I set down at my desk for many hours and came up with this rustic and realistic looking doll shaped cow and called her Noof.

Just look at this slide of Noof’s sides, you can clearly see how all the spots are matched up to create a neat and  realistic cow appearance.

Noof is quite spotty isn’t she? I decided to place her spots delicately over her body to create the crochet pattern for a more complex looking cow. But, you can of course make a different sort of cow. A single coloured one or just place the spots somewhere else. Or you could make my pattern but rotate the body and limbs for a different look. It is completely up to you!

Info about & links to buy the pattern

Noof is made with Istex Lett Lopi, a 100% wool with a lot of fuzziness. She is sitting 6 inch/ 15 cm tall.

This crochet cow pattern contains a clear and colour coded description of how to crochet and assemble the cow, with extra illustrations and example pictures at the bottom to help you get everything right. In the pattern you can also find what materials you need, the yarn colour numbers, in short, everything you need to know to make your own realistic looking cow doll. All the additional information you need to know about this pattern you can find in the shop listings. You can buy this pattern in my shop at Ravelry, Etsy or order it here.

This pattern has a one dollar release discount till Thursday the 19th!

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An exciting new design

Sonja

Sometimes a small coincidence can make all the difference. After I finished the piglet pattern, I started thinking about what animal to make next. Usually, I already know what to make next when I am working on another one but this time that wasn’t the case. That was until I saw this lovely crochet horned sheep on someone’s Instagram feed. It was not made in my style but it looked so nice and interesting that I could immediately visualise how I could make a fabulous sheep, it was instant inspiration. In fact, it made me so excited I wanted to start right away!

And I did. The sheep is already finished and looking spectacular. Now only the pattern needs to be written, edited and tested and I can hit publish.

I assume you are curious about the kind of sheep I made. I based my sheep on a local heather sheep called Drents heideschaap. It is a sheep I often see on our hikes through the countryside. The sheep are curious and friendly grazers with a slender build and long tails. The males have these gorgeous horns that grow in a lovely curl.

In my ‘about’ story I added a picture on which you see me walking with a tail of curious sheep, that is them indeed, but just the hornless females. In the last picture below (from the web) you see how the males look with their impressive horns.

Oh, I am so excited to show you the finished sheep and hope to be able to do so by the end of this week. Here are some glimpses and one funny pic of a curious young sheep I met this week.

See you at the end of the week!

Uncategorized

Gus, crochet piglet pattern

Sonja

The past few weeks I have been working on a very pink animal and today I can publish the pattern. Meet Gus, my crochet piglet!

crochet pig pattern

Pigs are super intelligent and social animals and I’ve been thinking a while of designing a crochet pattern for a piglet. And although I am more fond of the wilder looking brown pig, I decided to make the domestic pink version, as an ode to this special but unrated animal. The reason I postponed making an amigurumi piglet has something to do with my sadness about how pigs are treated by humans. I knew that if I would do the research I normally love doing, I would stumble upon many pictures I prefer not to see. But, I also saw so many lovely and delightful pictures. Thankfully, more and more farmers realise you cannot treat animals like products and biological farms where the pigs can go outside are not as rare as they were in the past. The pictures I saw of happy pigs outside, rolling in the mud or even jumping in pools, really made me smile and it felt good making this crochet version.

I wasn’t able to make this piglet in my favourite Lètt Lopi yarn (no good pink), so I found an alternative. I’ve used Phildar Phil Aventure to make Gus. It is an alpaca acrylic blend, which gives a smooth but slightly fuzzy texture. To add enough realisme to this pattern, I decided to go for split-hoofed paws. It was a bit of a kerfuffle to find out how to make them, but in the end it was very striking looking and easy to make. I am very happy with this pink piglet amigurumi and I think I will make him a boarlet friend someday soon.

Here are some more pictures of this fuzzy crochet pig and below it you can find info about and links to buy the pattern.

Info about & links to buy the pattern

This fuzzy and cute piglet is made with Phildar phil aventure, a worsted weight wool blend. Gus is 13 cm / 5 inch when sitting. The pattern is easy to crochet and you can make this doll in a day.

All the additional information you need to know about this pattern you can find in the shop listings. You can buy this pattern in my shop at Ravelry, Etsy or order it here. It contains a clear and colour coded description of how to crochet and assemble the piglet, with example pictures at the bottom to help you get everything right. In the pattern you can also find what materials you need, the yarn colour numbers, in short, everything you need to know to make your own special friend.

This pattern has a one dollar release discount till Thursday the 25th of May.

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Spring fun!

Sonja

It is Spring and I am celebrating it with a relaunch of my Spring & Easter packs. A few years ago a created these lovely packs and forgot about them the past two years. But here they are again! You can choose between a Finse and Jonesy pack or Finse and Balloo pack. The packs both come with the pattern for the basket with eggs and only cost $9.98!

Just look at them, don’t they make the loveliest Spring home decor?

Now how can you get these packs?

In my Etsy shop you can buy the packs as an instant download. You just choose the pack you like and download the patterns right after your purchase.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/226926816/spring-easter-pack-crochet-rabbit-and?ref=shop_home_active_5

https://www.etsy.com/listing/226925920/spring-easter-pack-crochet-rabbit-and?ref=shop_home_active_4

Unfortunately, Ravelry doesn’t allow selling ‘deals’ so I can’t offer it in my shop there this easy.

No accounts? No worries, just send me a note and I’ll send you a Paypal payment request for the pack you like to have.

Have a happy spring!

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Son’s Popkes Holiday gifts CAL & photo contest!

Sonja

santa-and-rupert-guinea-pigs

Hi there lovely Crafters!

It still feels a lot like autumn but the holiday season is getting so close. Many of you crafters will be making their own gifts and a lot of Popkes will be made. Therefor, let’s share some crafty fun! I thought it would be a splendid idea to give a crochet along another try. And, by adding an Instagram and Ravelry photo contest to this CAL, you can win two of my patterns.

You can join this festive crochet along in my Ravelry group. It starts now and ends December 24, just before Christmas. You can choose any of my patterns.

There will be a discount on all my patterns for this CAL too. The coupon code for a 10% discount you can find in the CAL’s topic in my group.

There’s also an Instagram and Ravelry photo contest attached to this CAL, where the winner can win two of my patterns by their choice and a second price of one pattern.

  • To join the photo contest, simply post a gorgeous picture of the end result in the CAL thread on Ravelry and add it is your entry for the contest.
  • If you do not have a Ravelry account but are making Popkes as Christmas gifts, you can also join via Instagram, if you do, use hashtag #popkejoy
  • You can enter the maximum of three pictures
  • The winner will be announced on boxing day, December the 26th.

Do not be shy and join my group and this CAL, it is so much fun. You meet lovely new people and can even make friends, and you can win two patterns. If you can, share the word about this CAL and photo contest, the more people who join, the merrier.

See you in my group!