Thursday, February 26, 2015

Meet Hob


Hob Goblin Wilson is a special treat just for me!  I had a few dollars to spend on myself and I knew exactly what I wanted... an April Draven (Folts) pattern!

I love her patterns and have made many of her free patterns available on her blog so I wanted to show a little love for her work and buy her Goblin pattern .  

I made a few changes as I tend to do...
I didn't add the toe curls; after making them and slipping them on my husband said he preferred him without them.  I added pvc pellets in a nylon (cheap 'egg' knee highs work great and you can usually tie and cut for multiple projects) with a total weight of 47 grams per nylon, I then used some patience and tucked those pellets firmly into Hob's feet so he could stand unassisted. I usually use the cheapest acrylic yarn but I had some nice yarn left over from a hat I made for my husband and the colors looked perfect for Hob.  I added a wooden dowel in his neck to be sure we never have a slumping Hob.   The hands in the pattern wouldn't suit my needs so I used the hand pattern I made for my Frog Brothers and added a finger.  Then to test my limits I wired the hands and arms...he can now "grasp" things :)

I think that is all I changed. And now I will explain why..

Hob is a Goblin.  He is now H.G. Wilson

My husband and I love photography.  Especially nature and wildlife, a great way to let go.  We spend many hours in our beautiful Florida State Parks and I sometimes wish I would see a magical little creature because when you are deep in nature it feels magical.

Sooo while out about a week ago I told my husband of this great plan:

Bring a goblin to the parks and document his adventures...to my surprise he was just as excited as me!

So Hob will be coming along with us now!  I will be using #AdventuresofHob on Instagram and facebook :)
Hob loves shiny things...weakness of the goblins ;)

Side view with his satchel

Back view

top of head


I hope we have many adventures together!


By the way...He reminds me of a combination of Marty Feldman and Hoggle (Labyrinth)

Friday, February 6, 2015

Red Hot Chili Pupper! *small dog sweater*


Chili Pepper Miller


Meet Chili.  He is a young adopted Chihuahua son of friends Jim & Michelle Miller of J & M Herbs.   Michelle asked for a sweater for this handsome young fella and nothing I found sufficed.  I found some super patterns but I wanted something that shouted "Chili Pepper Miller" so I am pleased to present the Red Hot Chili Pupper small dog sweater!

I know this only about his size;  neck to tail 12", neck to privates 5", "width" (I assumed girth of chest) 9". 
Requests of no arm holes as they can be difficult and stressful, buttons as opposed to pullover and to be mindful of young Chili's ability to sprinkle his clothing if too close to waterworks.

(I do not have a pic of Chili in his sweater but I will add as soon as I receive one along with any alterations that may be necessary.)

Completed Red Hot Chili Pupper Sweater

Unstretched lengths:

neck band: 9" (7/ 7.5/ 8" at button holes from center of button)
Chili body (red): 12"
girth strap 12" (10/10.5/11" at buttonholes from center of button)
space between neck & girth strap 2"
neckband width: 1.5"
total length 13.5"

Supplies:
I used a small amount of Red Heart with Love yarns (I forgot the names, bright red and jade-ish) *Update: colors are Holly Berry & Jadeite*
H hook
tapestry needle
2   7/8" buttons
a sharper needle to attach buttons


Notes: Red is MC, green is CC.  If pattern reads "sc2, 14sc, sc2tog" it is read as  " two single crochet in the next stitch, single crochet in the next 14 stitches, single crochet 2 stitches together"    Parentheses with a number at end of row indicates st count, ex: (6).  BLO = back loop only



Neck Band

With CC
Ch7

1: sc in 2nd ch from hook and across, Ch 1 turn (at end of every row unless stated otherwise here and throughout) (6)

2: sc (6)

3: sc2, ch2, sk 2 sts, sc2   (creating button holes)

4: sc2, 2sc in ch sp, sc2    (6)

5-10: repeat rows 2-4 twice

11: sc  (6)

12-36: sc in BLO  ch 1 and turn to work down the side


Body

1: sc16 change to MC in last st  *you should be 8 "bumps/ridges" across with 4 ridges remaining on neck band* (16)

2: hdc across (16)

3: 2hdc, hdc14, 2hdc (18)

4: hdc (18)

5: 2hdc, hdc16, 2hdc (20)

6: 2hdc, hd18, 2hdc (22)

7-17: hdc (22)

18: hdc2tog, hdc20 (21)

19: hdc2tog, hdc17, hdc2tog (19)

20: hdc2tog, hdc17 (18)

21: hdc2tog, hdc14, hdc2tog (16)

22: hdc 2tog, hdc14 (15)

23: hdc2tog, hdc11, hdc2tog (13)

24: hdc2tog, hdc9, hdc2tog (11)

25: hdc2tog, hdc7, hdc2tog (9)

26: hdc2tog, hdc5, hdc2tog (7)

27: hdc2tog, hdc3, hdc2tog (5)

28: hdc2tog, hdc3  (4)

29: hdc2, hdc2tog (3)

30: hdc (3)

31: hdc, hdc2tog (2)

32: hdc (2)

33: hdc2tog f.o.

Flush side with buttons

Attach CC along flush side and...

Sc6, change to MC in 6th st, sc to end of pepper: ch4, sl st in 2nd ch, sc in 3rd, hdc in 4th ch from hook.  Continue to sc down other side of pepper to neck band, put on sc in CC of neck band do NOT f.o.



Turn do not chain

Girth strap:

1: sl st 7, sc6  (6)

2-8: hdc BLO (6)

9: sc2, ch2, sk 2 sts, sc2  (creating button holes)

10: sc2, 2sc in ch sp, sc2 (6)

11: sc (6)

12-17: repeat rows 9-12 twice f.o.

Finishing:

Weave in ends of yarn.  Attach button on body of Chili Pupper opposite Girth Strap and a button on collar opposite button holes.


I hope you enjoy making this Red Hot Chili Pupper sweater as much as I did!  Sell as many as you like, you made it!  But please do not sell or distribute my pattern as your own or for profit.  Any links back would be greatly appreciated as well!  If you want to share any of your projects from my patterns I would love to see them!  If you want to brag to everyone please post on my Facebook page!


Happy Hooking!