Daisy Granny Square Cushion Pillow

I think I've been fallen in love with granny squares!  I used to be scared of making granny squares because I have no patience to make many of them and join them together. I was once making a piano cover with granny square. I made 30 of them then I quit.  The squares became coasters in the kitchen!

I think I've been growing old enough (not a granny yet!) to patiently crochet granny squares now! I'd say I love it!  When the Stitch Studio Storybook lullaby yarns were on sale at A.C. Moore, I bought dozen of them - every single color! They've been sitting in the closet for a while and I was thinking how to get rid of them. I used them to make amigurumi dolls but I still couldn't finish them.  Suddenly granny square just popped up in my mind and I made two beautiful cushions with these yarns!  The small cushion is 12"x16" which is a perfect size for me and the square one is 16"x16" (16 squares in total, huh!). They're bought at Walmart under $3 each! Great deal! So, two cushions were made for my daughters! They of course love them!

Unfortunately, they're made by freehand so I don't have a pattern.  After I posted it on Facebook, so many people were asking for a pattern. Sorry ladies, I'm too lazy to write the pattern in words but I drew a diagram of the granny square. Is that ok?  For the back, many people asked, what it looks like.....it's nothing!  Just double crochet in white yarn with 3 buttons for opening! If you'd prefer, you can double the number of squares so that both sides look the same. Therefore, the buttons would be at the edge.

This is how I block the squares by using an empty Kleenex Tissue Box. Stick 4 bamboo sticks inside the box and through the bottom!

ahhhh.....I always have trouble to name the Treble Crochet...tr or tc? I'm confused!

 

Sunshine Granny Square Baby Blanket

My little nephew was born in May so that I made this sunshine color baby blanket for him!  I chose the DROPS Muskat cotton yarns because it's 100% mercerized cotton. I think it's good for babies. However, it's a little heavy. Cotton yarns are not as light as acrylic yarns!

Anyway, I love the combination of colors - so bright and full of sunshine! You can find this free pattern in my Ravelry shop. Please click HERE for free download!

Enjoy!

Mini Girls Amigurumi (Pattern)

Are these girls cute! I was inspired by my 2 daughters and their friend K - BFF! Each of the girls is wearing a bunny hat, kitty hat and bear hat with a matching color dress with accessories. They are great gifts for any girls or yourself! You may find this pattern on Ravelry or Etsy. This pattern contains many pictures to guide you through how to make all three mini girls and their accessories!

Cuite Girls - Cherry (amigurumi)

We had beautiful cherry blossom last month in April.  It's so pleasant to see colorful flowers and grass when spring comes!  I made this Cutie Girls series - Cherry for spring. Do you like it?

Cutie Girls - Mocha (amigurumi)

I got inspired by a doll from Pinterest and I made up a pattern of it. I named her Mocha because she wears a pretty grey and brown color dress. She is the first doll in my Cutie Girls Series.  The pattern is pretty easy. Hope that you will enjoy making it (Many pictures)!  This pattern is available on ravelry now!

Korean Girl in Hanbok (amigurumi pattern)

I have to admit that I like Korean culture, not only K-pop or K-drama. I especially like their traditional clothing, Hanbok 한복! Hanbok are always very colorful and elegant! I was inspired and created this Korean girl in Hanbok! 

The top is called Jeogori (저고리) which is removable. The colorful dress is called  chima (치마). Hope that you will like my Korean girl and pattern. You can find the pattern here. I do accept custom orders.

Amigurumi Doll - Purple Lollipop

I recently fall in love of making "people" amigurumi.  I started making amigurumi since 6 years ago but only limited in creating "animals" amigurumi. I was so hesitate to make "people" just because I had no confidence to do their hair! Another reason was it's hard to find a natural flesh color like yarn.  Many ami friends suggested few brand and color of yarns online and I found that Caron Simply Soft in Lt Country Peach is the best of all!  

This little doll was made by the Lt Country Peach color yarn. Do you think she looks great?  I made her a simple purple dress and embroidered beads and yarn on the dress.  My daughter loves this doll so much and she names her "Purple Lollipop".  Do you think she is as sweet as a lollipop?

Owl Ornament (Free Pattern)

These owl are too lovely! I can’t stop making them in different colors!

I made the blue one a little bit bigger. Instead of doing 30sts on the body, I did 36sts and 2 extra rows. 

Those 3 fall color owls are my favorites! I picked up a stick from my backyard and hung them on it. It turns to a beautiful fall decor on my front door! I love it so much!

This pattern is written by Rebecca Homick. You can find her free pattern at Ravelry.

 

Cats.....more cats!!!

I never knew that I like cats so much! They're more than any other animals I have made. Poll: Which one do you like? 

Hello Kitty Amigurumi

My friend asked me to make a Hello Kitty amigurumi for her!  The first thing came up to my mind was "those Hello Kitty pattens are so awful"!  It's because I've seen so many Hello Kitty ami on the internet that are either out of shape or out of ratio!  They don't look like Hello Kitty!  So I told my friend Hello Kitty was not good looking!

Indeed, I, myself, love Hello Kitty so much!  I'm still using some Hello Kitty stuffs at home!  I was thinking if those patterns are not good enough, I can make a pattern by myself!  So I started crocheting and writing this Hello Kitty pattern last weekend!  I'm very happy about it in terms of colors, shapes and ratio!  This is a very good looking Hello Kitty ami I've ever seen!  I know my friend would like it too!

To purchase this pattern, please visit my ravelry store!

Gifts for a Cousin!

We recently took a trip to Hong Kong to visit families there!  I haven't seen my sister and cousins for so many years and I was so glad to know that one of my cousins just got pregnant!  Before we went, I made two beautiful gifts for my cousin and her baby!  One of them was a baby blanket called Ocean Wave (pattern can be found on ravelry.com - free).  I didn't know that she's carrying a boy when I made it, so I picked some colors that should match for both genders! It turns out so perfectly for her baby boy!  Another gift was for my cousin!  She is a die-hard fan of Snoopy! She has all kinds of Snoopy collection!!  But I'm sure she never owns an amigurumi Snoopy!  So I bought this pattern at Etsy.com and made this cutie Snoopy for her!

Best wishes to you and your baby, Carmen!

 

 

New Clover Amour Crochet Hooks

New New New!  I just bought a set of Clover crochet hooks a week ago!  It's called CLOVER AMOUR!  Clover used to have those yellow color with a spot of soft touch grip crochet hooks in the market for a very long time.  Since another Japanese brand named TULIP (it's my favorite brand) has imported to the US few years ago, its famous crochet hooks ETIMO get so popular! It's because the body of the whole crochet hook is made in soft plastic.  It's so comfortable to hold the hook in your hand and your fingers won't get hurt after hours of crocheting! Now, Clover has manufactured these kind of hooks in beautiful colors!  I bought a set of 10 hooks from size B (2.25mm) to size J (6.0cm) which is my 3rd crochet set!  The shape, material and texture are as same as those TULIP ETIMO hooks!  You may give it a try!  

I saw the Clover Amour set on ebay.  The price is very compatible with TULIP ETIMO which is about $80 per set (including a hook case).  However, I also found TULIP ETIMO launching at A.C. Moore recently!  If you somehow receive an A.C. Moore coupon, you may save up to 50% off on a regular item which would be about $35-$40! 

Once you have used either the TULIP ETIMO or CLOVER AMOUR hooks, you won't go back to those hard and heavy aluminum hooks!

My Collections: Clover Soft Touch (Upper pink Set), Tulip Etimo (Left) and Clover Amour (Right)

Luggage Tags (Free Pattern)

  
Spring Break is coming soon! We're so excited to take a distance trip to Asia again this year!  Couple years ago when we had a trip to Hong Kong, one of our luggage bags was mistaken by someone. We waited for an hour sitting at the airport for the person to return the luggage to us.  I understand many luggage bags look so similar and it's so easy to mistake, so I made some luggage tags with our family initial on them! They are personal and distinguished!  Here is a free pattern to share with you!  They are good to hang on children's school bags or lunch bags too!
 

Luggage Tag
diameter approx 3"

Materials:
2 colors of any worst yarns
hook I
yarn needle

With Color A
R1: Ch 2, 6sc in the second chain from hook
R2: 2sc in each sc around (12sts)
R3: *Sc 1, 2sc in the next ch* rep 6 times (18sts)

R4: *Sc 2, 2sc in the next ch* rep 6 times (24sts)
Change to Color B
R5: *Sc 3, 2sc in the next ch* rep 6 times. sl st in the first chain of this row (30sts)
Ch 30, sl st in the first chain.  Fasten Off

Initial
With Color B on a yarn needle
Sew the initial of your choice by using Chain Stitch (see pictures below)

 Insert the hook at the starting point and pull a loop up.

 Then insert the hook to the next spot and pull out a loop through the first loop.  Continue to sew an initial.