In the last few weeks I have been juggling making new patterns for my next book and trying to make a second version of my toys for a rather famous retailer. Not too shabby, but a little bit stressful. Before Christmas I found out that my book, Cute Crocheted Animals would perhaps go on display in a high street shop. How exciting! But the shop wanted to display the real toys for customers to see.
Crafting Carefully
If you have made any of the animals from the book, you will know that these little fellas are not a quick project. To get a little chap of real loveable character you will need to spend a fair few hours crafting your creatures carefully.
I had this terrible feeling that the original little guys might go walkies. So I thought that I could make a second version of Emily and Stanley as demonstration models.
Coming back to the patterns
It has been rather lovely coming back to the patterns, over a year on. Many of you have noticed that I have added extra character to the faces and have asked me how I have done it. I am sorry that I don’t appear to have added this into the book. But I place two small stitches under each of the eyes and pull the sides of the face slightly together.
Homemade not machine made
Don’t forget that the joy and magic of a homemade toy is that it crafted by hand. It is not meant to look like it was made by a machine, but rather lovingly crafted in the hands of the maker. Now I almost can’t part with these guys too…
I love seeing photos of the animals you have made so please keep posting them on facebook or on ravelry, so that I can enjoy them! Have a very happy crafting and creating weekend.