Back with the "secret project"

So, after several days away from my new addiction, blogging :) , I'm back with an update on the "secret project" I talked about on my last post. I haven't been around the last couple of days because I've been getting these horrible headaches, well, tension headaches. I had to do a little research on headaches and what causes them because it is "normal" that I get these, but definitely not as often. So, bad posture, keeping your head in the same position for a long period of time (like when I'm crocheting), some foods, the computer, all these things I do or use almost everyday... It was getting really annoying, I couldn't really sleep, I felt so much pressure on my neck and shoulders Yuck!... I was also using my poor eyes for about 8 hours straight, almost everyday!!! And so I rested them for a few days. I crocheted for an hour or so and then I stopped for a few hours. So I made the hands/feet of my new amigurumi, which is not done yet! but very soon, thank you very much. After several attempts I finally wrote down the pattern for the hands/feet, I think they look good :) well, maybe a little alien-like... See it for yourself ...

This was the first one I made... I wasn't very pleased with it, I tried about 6 times!!! before I got there (remember, I'm not an amigurumi master, so I had to try a few times) the problem was crocheting the little "fingers" together.

This is the second one I made. I think it's more delicate, don't you?? And yes, this is the one I picked. I've made the two arms now, I just have to make the legs so I can show you what my "secret project" really is... Although I know you already know, do you??? ;)

The Making of... Puffy Heart

Hello Hello!!! I made another heart from one of my favorite patterns. You can find the pattern for free here, this blog it's just amazing, I love all of her creations and patterns... I have some pictures I took while making the heart, I don't know if you enjoy looking at a bunch of pictures of other peoples projects as much as I do. So, here it is!!! another puffy heart...

Enjoy!!!

Thanks for visiting!!!

WIP sneak peek

Wow!!! It has been almost a week since I wrote my last post. Here I am again!!! with a new project... yes, another amigurumi pattern... I'm so excited about it. I want to show you some pictures of what I have so far... but! I'm not gonna let you see what it is ^_^. It's a surprise!!! although I think you'll be able to tell anyway... This is the third pattern of 15 I'm planning to make. So far this is the biggest amigurumi I've made, I think It will measure about 18" when it's totally finished... Let's see the pics then.

I think this picture reveals the "secret" :)

My very first Amigurumi pattern

I've been working on my new obsession, amigurumis!!!. For the past few days I've been sketching, taking pictures and drawing several amigurumi characters. I've been making amigurumis for more than a year now, and I got to the point where I feel confident to design my own patterns. It took me a little while to understand the little math involved in making these pretty things, but what's a "little math" for some people, to me it's "days of hard work and concentration" mixed with desperation-tears and a lot of hair-pulling nights (hehe). Really, math it's just not in my genes. Anyway, I have about 16 characters in line waiting to be crocheted. I decided to start with the easiest one, very basic shapes. Its name is Jellygurumi, don't you love it? Imagine the infinite combinations you can use to make this little toy. It's about 8 inches tall and 4 inches wide.

I'm very happy with the results, I can't wait to make the next one.

I'll be posting the "behind the scenes" of Jellygurumi. Stay tuned!!!

Thanks for stopping by!!! ;)

Crochet tutorial (Double Crochet)

Hello again!!! here's the third tutorial. You'll learn how to make the double crochet stitch... Now, let me explain a few things before you start watching the video. I started the double crochet (dc) row on top of a sc row. If your pattern starts with a chain and then double crochet, you'll have to make the foundation row and then 3 more chains, in this case you'll make the 1st dc on the fourth (4th) chain from the hook. For example, the pattern starts like this: Chain 25. You chain 25 plus 3 more with a total of 28 ch. (which represents the first dc of the first row). I really hope this makes sense :\ Here's the video to make it a little easier... (oh! I edited part of the video in slow motion, so you'll be able to see better every step.)

Here it is!!!

Enjoy!!! ^_^

Granny Square Purse - Update?

I don't really have good news today :\ ... Remember my WIP Granny Square Purse? I've been showing you the "making of" here and here. Well, yesterday I worked on it during the AMAZING but dirty WC game. After the game, it was time for me to start making the handles. Ok, I started crocheting them stitch after stitch. It was when I was crocheting the last two handles that I realized that... I didn't like the purse anymore. I had mixed some colors in the middle, I thought a pretty line of bluish-greens would look nice across the purse and that it would add an interesting detail... Well, my "interesting detail" became an "EWW detail" to me... I hated it!!! It looked so... ugly!!! So I decided to undo it :\ just to take the color yarn OUT!... So this time is just going to be a beige bag... solid beige no "interesting detail" on it...

Here I had finished the mega-granny square...

Here's one handle ready!!!

Two handles ready!!! I thought... Yay!!! I'll be done soon!!! :\ I guess I was wrong, but you know what? I rather undo it and make something I LOVE! than to make something I would never wear or use... right?

You can see it's starting to take shape...

... and here, I stopped and said... I don't like it!!?!!?!!

But do you like the shape? I think it would turn out pretty :)

Here's how it looks now... a lot of rows smaller...

So I learned from this experience that it's better to take a little more time in making something you'll adore at the end, than something that would end up stored in some closet or drawer until you'll get rid of it... It would be a waste of time and yarn, don't you think?

I love Felt!!!

Yes, I've said it a million times, it's just... so...so fun, so easy, so colorful... I can't get enough of it... so, here's another picture of one of my..... how do you think I should call these things? since I started making them I imagined then hung on the wall, with a delicate frame, right? So, is it wall art?, is it a tableau? (That's how futuregirl called it once :) and is sounds sophisticated, me like it ^_^. Well, I liked it after I looked it up on a dictionary, my english is very informal :\ ... Anyway, I want to show you today another felt thingy (we'll make up a name later, let me know if you come up with something ;) Now, can you guess what it is???

It's another Owl !!! This time I added some beads for the flowers... do you like it?

Well, I've been working on another piece, it's a set of 4 this time... I'll be showing you soon a preview... If you haven't tried working with felt you should, you'll love it!!!

I'm leaving now, the final game will start soon... ;) Go Spain!!!!

Let's talk crochet...

I want to talk a little more about the basics of crochet. With the two simple steps I showed you before, you can already start making some projects. For example, you can make a scarf, making a chain as long as you want, and single crochet (sc) all the way to the end and start going up, and up, until you have the length you want. Yeap, as simple as that, oh! and if you use a bigger hook, you'll get a looser weave, so you could get a really pretty yarn, and make something you could wear during the day, something that wouldn't be too hot, or too cold :)

When you buy your yarn, read the label and it would tell you the hook size needed for that specific yarn. Now, let's say you want to make a more open weave, you just use a bigger hook :) For example:

I made this two samples, both have the exact same number of stitches and rows. I used the same yarn and two different size hooks.

I'll post the next video soon, where you'll learn the Double Crochet (dc) another basic crochet stitch... Now, go get your hook and yarn and start crocheting your new scarf :)

Thanks for visiting!!!

Granny Square Purse - Update

Today it's my bother's B-Day!!! I love you little brother :) Happy Birthday!!! also, it's the last semi-final game, today we'll know who will play against Netherlands on the finals, yes, I got more caught up than usual, this was definitely a different WC. Now, let's talk craft ^_^

Here's a little update on the granny square purse...

So far I've done 24 rows, I still have 8 more to go...

I'll show you in another post how I'm planning on making the handles... Stay tuned to see how this project turns out ;)

You can see my last post of the making of the granny square purse here.

Crochet Tutorial (Single Stitch)

Hello again ^_^. I really couldn't wait until Wednesday to upload the video and post the tutorial... This video shows you how to make the Single Crochet (SC) stitch. This one has higher quality so you'll be able to see better the subtitles. It is a basic stitch and practically the easiest. Once you know how to crochet the SC, you can do anything!!! really. I say on the video that it is a little tricky to start crocheting over the chain, yes, this is the most "difficult" part. I would recommend you to watch this video. Futuregirl, shows you how to make the chain and the foundation row (the first SC row) at the same time. It sounds complicated, but believe me, it's super easy. For those of you who are just starting, you can practice first with the traditional way, and then go to futuregirl's video. I really hope this videos are useful... and again, if you have any question post a comment or email me to bluefarfallina@gmail.com

Thanks for visiting...

Enjoy!!!

Watch the First Tutorial here.

Finished Pillow

Hello hello!!! Happy Monday to you all... *ahem* I'm not really a big fan of Mondays hehe ^_^ but today I'm excited because I finished my pillow!!! I finished it yesterday... I wanted to share the pattern with you guys but I think I'll violate the copyright of the magazine that published it... So, I'm sorry :\ there are thousands of similar patterns for free, plus it is not the hardest pattern you'll see... you know, I just can't. Let's take a look at the pillow!!!

I love the shape!!! Sometimes my neck hurts so bad that I get this horrible tension headaches, and I need something to help me rest the muscles on my neck. This pillow is perfect! because it's not so big. I'll just lay down give my neck some support and it would help relax the muscles. I'm sure some of you get tired after crocheting for hours, I think the shoulders and neck are tense because, although you're not doing some hard work, these muscles are constantly working :\ I recommend to work in a comfortable chair with arm rests. When I crochet on my bed I have to put a pillow under my left arm (yes, I'm a lefty :) it'll support my arm and that way I would not get those horrible headaches.

Ok, back to the pillow... Do you like the buttons?? I think I want to make another pillow, but this time I want to use just one color and put some big buttons in the front, what do you think? :) ... I have another finished project I'd like to show you tomorrow, I made it for my boyfriend's birthday yesterday :) So, see you tomorrow...

Thanks for stopping by...

You can see the making of the pillow here, and here.

Granny Square Purse

Hello again readers!!! I've been away crocheting new projects!!!... I found a picture of a purse that I want to try to make, the thing is that there is no pattern!!! I just have a picture. What I can see is that it's made like a big granny square... and the handles, I'm not really sure how :) BUT! I want to try and see how it turns out... Do you want to see some pictures??? Of course you do, we all love pictures, right?

Can you see how it starts growing? That's what I love about this new project!!! It is so easy to make, a few more rows and I can start figuring out the handles... I want a BIG purse ^_^ as always...

Ok, I know you can also see that it's not straight. I've heard that's normal, plus I don't think it's gonna show once I make the handles... but, if any of you knows a technique to avoid that "swirl effect" please let me know :) I will appreciate it.

Oh! I almost forgot! I've been blogging for a month now ^_^... I feel like I started yesterday, a month??? wow!!! everyday that passes I love it even more...

I'll be back on Monday for some update pictures!!! stay tuned...

Chao, Chao!