Sweet Softies | Amigurumi and Crochet

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Hello, my sweet crochet friends!

I'm so excited to announce that my buddies (#wonderwoolmen) and I are teaming up for this super fun Instagram Challenge for the month of March!

Tell a crafty friend (or two or three!) about this challenge and join in on the Crochet Madness 😝

All you'll need to do is post a photo or video on Instagram, that goes with the theme of that day and use the hashtag #crochetmadness so that we can see your awesome posts!

You can follow my sweet maker friends on Instagram to see their amazing stuff, too 💕

@aspottedllama
@casalecrafts
@cozylittlemess
@loopsandlovecrochet
@onceuponacheerio
@modesty.by.laura
@thecozychipmunk

Don't miss out on the fun! I will be sharing throughout the month on my Instagram, and will write a blog post at the end about the photos I've shared.

Stay tuned, and hope to see you as part of this Instagram Challenge!

Warmly,

February 22, 2019 No comments

Hello fellow crafters,

Have you seen the Merry-Go-Round Blanket yet? I really loved all the pretty colors I got to use for that design, and crocheting a large project seamlessly in continuous rounds was super therapeutic and fun to do!

Since I loved the Merry-Go-Round crochet technique so much, I decided to make another project with this stitch! Behold... the Merry-Go-Round Rug!

This is a square rug that measures 24" x 24", so it's not huge, but it also took only 160 yards of yarn and a couple of hours to make!

I used 5 skeins of Chunky Luxe Big Yarn by Loops & Threads, in the color 'Cream'. Each skein is 32 yards.

Let me tell you -- this yarn is so fluffilicious and soft... it's dreamy to the touch!

This is a Jumbo Weight (7) yarn as well, which is muuuuuch bulkier than what I'm used to working with, especially amigurumi! Thus, instead of using my regular 2.75mm crochet hook for dolls and stuffies, I used a whopping 15mm crochet hook!

Look at the size of that hook!!

And here's a 15-second clip of me tackling that jumbo yarn with my monster hook...

Anyhow, for this design, I used the Merry-Go-Round crochet technique, which is demonstrated in the video tutorial part of the pattern (scroll down to see, or click on the link above).

It's a repetitive pattern that you'll get a hang of after just a few rounds. What I love about that is being able to set down the project and pick it back up later on without having to look back at the pattern instructions! Since it doesn't require intense concentration or any sort of counting, it's perfect for multi-tasking as well. For me, that would be listening to music, watching television or videos, and chatting!

https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/merry-go-round-rug

Scroll down for the free, written crochet pattern, as well as the video tutorial! If you'd like to download the beautifully-formatted, ad-free, and easy-to-read PDF version (see preview below), click here to purchase it for a small fee in my shop. Thank you for supporting Sweet Softies designs!

Copyright Notice -- © 2019 Sweet Softies (www.sweetsofties.com). You have permission to sell finished products made from this pattern, but you must credit Sweet Softies as the owner/creator of this pattern by linking to my website, Etsy shop, and/or Facebook page. You may not copy, alter, or sell this pattern in any way. You may sell finished items made with this pattern if you credit Sweet Softies as the designer and link to my website, Etsy shop, or Facebook page. No wholesale.

Introduction:
The Merry-Go-Round Rug is a lovely design that is quick to work up with jumbo weight (7) yarn and a large, 15mm crochet hook! It's the perfect extreme crochet home decor project to add a beautiful touch to your room! Like a Merry-Go-Round, this pattern’s rounds go around and around, worked in continuous spirals without joining. The repetitive pattern is both fun and therapeutic to crochet, and easy to get a hang of in just a few rounds. The size of the rug can easily be adjusted to be however large or small as you'd like, depending on how much yarn you use.

Note: If you get stuck, check out the Merry-Go-Round Crochet Technique Video Tutorial on the Sweet Softies Youtube Channel.

Finished Measurement:

Using the materials below, my rug came out to be a 24" x 24" square.
The size is easily adjustable by adding or decreasing rounds! You can make this rug as large as you want. More yarn = bigger rug!

Level:

Beginner. Requires familiarity with stitches used (below).

Stitches/Terms Used (US Terminology):

MR: magic ring (a.k.a. magic circle, magic loop)
Ch: chain
Sc: single crochet

Materials:

5 skeins of Chunky Luxe Big Yarn by Loops & Threads, in the color 'Cream'. (This makes 160 yards of Jumbo Weight (7) yarn.)
15mm crochet hook

Scissors

~ VIDEO INSTRUCTIONS ~

Below is the video tutorial for this pattern's crochet technique.

~ WRITTEN PATTERN INSTRUCTIONS ~

Notes (Read Before Beginning!)

This pattern is worked in a continuous spiral! The only time you will "join" a round is at a corner of your very last round.
The ch-2 spaces in this pattern make the corners of the rug.

R1: In a magic ring (MR): Ch 1, (sc, ch 2) x 4. Pull the MR to tighten and close, but do not join.

R2: In the first ch-2 space: sc, ch 2, sc, ch 1. (In the next ch-2 space, sc, ch2, sc, ch 1) x 3. Do not join.

R3: In the first ch-2 space (ch-2 spaces are the corners): sc, ch 2, sc, ch 1. In the ch-1 space: sc, ch 1. (In the ch-2 corner space: sc, ch 2, sc, ch 1. In the ch-1 space: sc, ch 1.) x 3. Do not join.

R4: In the first ch-2 corner space: sc, ch 2, sc, ch 1. (Sc, ch 1) in each of the ch-1 spaces until you reach the next corner. In the next ch-2 corner space: sc, ch 2, sc, ch 1. Repeat around.

R5 and onwards: Continue working this pattern in rounds until it reaches the desired size.

Once you are satisfied with the size of your rug, you will fasten off in one of the corners. To do so, insert just ONE sc when you reach your last corner (it can be any of the four corners), and cut the yarn.

Fasten off and weave in the ends.

That's it, you're done!

Congratulations on finishing your Merry-Go-Round Rug!

If you enjoyed this free project and would like to make a donation to support my work, please click here! Any amount is greatly appreciated and will go towards the yarn and supplies I use to keep creating new designs!

Also, if you'd like to download the beautifully-formatted, ad-free, and easy-to-read PDF version with large photo references (see preview below), click here to purchase it for a small fee in my shop. Thank you for supporting Sweet Softies designs!

~ ~ ~

Love the Merry-Go-Round crochet technique?

Check out the free Merry-Go-Round Blanket Pattern!

Want to make the little Owl Bean pictured on my rug?

Check out the free Owl Bean Pattern!

If you made this project and would like to share photos, I'd absolutely love to see! Here are links for sharing your finished creation:

Sweet Softies Facebook Page
Sweet Softies Amigurumi & Crochet Community Facebook Group
Instagram, @SweetSofties
Email: sweetsofties [at] gmail.com
Or, feel free to share in the comments below! :)

As always, you are more than welcome to SHARE this post with any fellow crocheters who'd like to try this pattern! Thank you for reading, and I wish you all a wonderful day!

Best wishes,

February 13, 2019 No comments

In a recent post about my life in the Pacific Northwest, I shared about the snowstorm hitting the Seattle suburbs, where I'm living! It has been lovingly dubbed the "Snowpocalypse", or "Snowmageddon"!

Well, it isn't kidding around! According to Komo News' Article, Seattle has broken the record of accumulating the most February snow since 1916. That blows my mind!

Local schools have been closed for four full days (and a couple partial days) since last Monday, and it looks like we're getting even more snow. Where I'm living, the local roads have not been plowed, so we're snowed in!

Well, when that happened, I turned to my favorite cozy pastime -- crocheting!

So here I am today, sitting in my home crocheting up a storm. I had some lovely, Chunky Luxe Big yarn by Loops & Threads, which I paired with my huge, 15mm Clover Amour crochet hook!

I can't wait to show you what I made! It'll be a free pattern on my blog soon, so stay tuned if you'd like to make one too!

Update:
Merry-Go-Round Crochet Rug Pattern
Merry-Go-Round Crochet Technique Video Tutorial

Merry-Go-Round Rug Pattern

I also hope everyone is staying warm and safe! It sounds like a lot of you on Facebook are going through some really frigid temperatures right now, especially in the Midwest and East Coast, with some report -60*F temperatures!! Yikes, that is unimaginably cold for me!

Spreading some digital warmth!

Much love,

February 12, 2019 No comments

Hi fellow crafters,

I'm excited to share with you my Owl Bean!

He's well, shaped like a bean and... guess what he's filled with, too?

BEANS!!

Despite being only 3 inches tall, this little fella's quite hefty! I filled him mostly with beans on the bottom and added some stuffing on the top before closing the top of his head up. He makes for a pretty darn good paperweight!

I'm also loving the Caron Simply Soft Tweeds yarn that I used for the owl's body, which is an 'off-white tweed' and I just adore the woodsy feel that it gives off!

For this design, I also held the yarn doubled so it worked up very quickly. It's definitely a quick-finish, immediate-gratification sort of project!

https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/the-owl-bean-paperweight

Scroll down for the free, written crochet pattern, as well as the video tutorial! If you'd like to download the beautifully-formatted, ad-free, and easy-to-read PDF version with large photo references (see preview below), click here to purchase it for a small fee in my shop. Thank you for supporting Sweet Softies designs!

Introduction:

The Owl Bean is a cute owlet amigurumi, shaped like a bean! Guess what it's filled with, too? Beans! He makes the perfect desk-mate or paperweight, given how dense he is with weighted beans within him. The Owl Bean is crocheted with yarn held doubled [video tutorial here] and works up very quickly. Make him as a gift for a friend or family member who adores owls!

Finished Measurement:

3 inches tall

Level:

Beginner. Requires familiarity with stitches used (below).

Stitches/Terms Used (US Terminology):

MR: magic ring (a.k.a. magic circle, magic loop)
Ch: chain
Sc: single crochet
Hdc: half double crochet
Dc: double crochet
Dc-inc: double crochet increase (2 dc in one stitch)
Sl st: slip stitch

Materials:

Medium weight (4) Caron Simply Soft yarn in body color (off-white tweed), pouch color (bone), and wing color (brown).
Scraps of orange yarn for the beak
3.75 mm hook
Pair of 12mm plastic safety eyes
Fiberfill stuffing and dried pinto beans for filling

Scissors

~ CROCHET DIRECTIONS ~

Notes (Read Before Beginning!)

The entire owl is crocheted with yarn held doubled! If you want to know how that is done when using a single ball of yarn, please refer to my YouTube tip/tutorial video.

BODY

Use off-white tweed yarn held doubled. The body is crocheted from bottom to top.

R1: 6 sc in magic ring. (6 sts)
R2: Inc around. (12 sts)
R3: (Sc, inc) x 6. (18 sts)
R4: (Sc 2, inc) x 6. (24 sts)
R5: (Sc 3, inc) x 6. (30 sts)
R6-R14: Sc around. (30 sts)
R15: (Sc 8, dec) x 3. (27 sts)
R16: (Sc 7, dec) x 3. (24 sts)
R17: (Sc 2, dec) x 6. (18 sts)

At this point, you can insert the eyes. (I put them between R13-R14, 7 sts apart.)
Fill the bottom of the body with dried pinto beans, and then top with stuffing as you continue crocheting.

R18: (Sc, dec) x 6. (12 sts)
R19: Dec around. (6 sts)

Fasten off with a tail to stitch up the top of the head.

POUCH

Use light-brown yarn held doubled.

R1: In a magic ring: Ch 3, dc 5.
R2: Ch 3, turn. Dc in same st. Dc-inc in next 4 sts. (Dc, ch 3, sl st) in the last st.

Fasten off with a long tail for sewing to the body later.

WINGS (x2)

Use brown yarn held doubled.

R1: In a magic ring: ch 3, dc 11. *Join with a sl st to the top of the ch 3.
R2: Skip first st. Sc in next st. (Hdc, dc, hdc) in next st. Sc in next st. Sl st in next st.

Fasten off with a long tail for sewing to the body later.

~ FINISHING DIRECTIONS ~

Using orange yarn and a yarn needle, sew a small “v” shape for the owl’s beak.
Using the yarn tail from the pouch, sew the “u” shape of the semi-circle to the owl’s body. This way, the top part of the pouch will be open for you to put something in if you would like to.
Using the yarn tail from the wings, sew them to both sides of the owl. Congratulations on finishing your Owl Bean!

That's it, you're done!

Congratulations on finishing your Owl Bean!

If you made this project and would like to share photos, I'd absolutely love to see! Here are links for sharing your finished creation:

Sweet Softies Facebook Page
Sweet Softies Amigurumi & Crochet Community Facebook Group
Instagram, @SweetSofties
Email: sweetsofties [at] gmail.com
Or, feel free to share in the comments below! :)

As always, you are more than welcome to SHARE this post with any fellow crocheters who'd like to try this pattern! Thank you for reading, and I wish you all a wonderful day!

Best wishes,

February 10, 2019 No comments

Hi crafty friends!

I had a blast crocheting the beautiful Cranberry Twist Slouchy Bonnet by the talented Kirsten Holloway! It's such a lovely design and so fun to crochet too!

In her original design, Kirsten used a solid cranberry-red color. I decided to use multiple colors for mine, since I had some beautiful, woodsy sorts of yarns that I've been dying to use! I have an affinity for LOTS of different colors, but this combination of neutral and muted colors (cream, ochre, burnt umber, and tweed) is one of my favorites.

Like Kirsten, I used Caron's Simply Soft yarns. Below are the colors I picked for my beanie:

Off White

Autumn Maize

Tweeds - Off White

Taupe

I absolutely love how my beanie turned out. Kirsten's design has so much style and texture, and I love how slouchy the hat is and its big brim. The addition of pom-poms is so cute too!

Errrr.... and I kind of went overboard with taking pictures with this beanie....

As you can see, I was a little too happy with the end result...

If you're looking for a slouchy beanie pattern, I definitely recommend this design! It's such a fun project with LOTS of opportunity to play around with different colors and combinations as well.

Hope you give it a shot too!

Warmly,

February 10, 2019 No comments

Some of my patterns involve holding yarn at double, or in other words, "yarn doubled" or "double-stranded". It basically means crocheting with two strands of yarn at the same time.

Since some of you have asked, I'd like to show you how I crochet with yarn doubled using just ONE ball of yarn. Thus, rather than having to buy TWO balls of the same color for a project that doesn't require a whole lot of yardage, you can use just one ball!

Check out my video tutorial below to see how you can find and fish out both yarn ends from a single skein, and then hold them together to begin a crochet or knit project.

Remember, you'll need to go up hook sizes when you're holding yarn at double, since holding the strands doubled means a bulkier strand!

Hope this video is helpful to you!

Also... here's sneaky sneak-peek of an upcoming amigurumi project that I'll have up for FREE on my blog soon, using yarn held at double! Stay tuned for it!