Sugar Glider – Song Inspiration

This week I was supposed to go on a road trip I had planned for a year but I caught a bad cold two days before leaving so instead of going on an adventure with my friends I ended up staying home with my cough and sneezes. Staying in bed is not my idea of fun and I was feeling very bored. I was listening to a new song called This Night by Jin of BTS, who wrote it in memory of his pet Sugar Glider named Odeng. I had special pets in my life so I know what it feels like to lose one, they are family. I felt really touched and when something inspires me I always take it to my yarn. I was compelled to make something, so I made a little Sugar Glider.

I crocheted it in one day, that’s how much time I had in my hands. Sugar Gliders are very cute, they remind me of flying squirrels because they have the same body shape. I started with the head and worked all the way down to the tail (I put a wire inside to bend it).

Sugar Gliders use their body as a parachute when they fly, so I crocheted some extra skin that flops down on each side of the body. To be honest, I didn’t know how I was going to do it, I just went with it. I think it turned out alright!

I love my little pet Glider, I haven’t given it a name yet so I am opened for suggestions. I am going to work on a pattern that I will upload someday. Question is, I don’t know when because my plate is fo full!

That’s all for now, I have tons of projects for this summer so I will be back soon! I hope you enjoyed this post that is dedicated to all the pets and animal lovers out there!

Graduation gift

For the past two years I have been a regular client at the School of Dentistry. I spent so much time on that dentist chair that I almost considered moving all my things and take residency permanently, I am almost serious!

The student that has been working on my teeth is going to graduate this month and move on to better things. He was really nice and did a really good job working on my teeth, so to thank him and say goodbye I spent the weekend working on a graduation gift.

It’s a tooth character, what else could it be? I thought it would be funnier than a graduation owl or a bear. I was very excited about this project because I have never crocheted a tooth before, it was a new challenge.

I started with the legs, and worked my way up. The top was made separately, I crocheted four pieces that I put together with the bottom. I really like how it turned out!

I initially had crocheted big hands for that character but they turned out too imposing and out of proportion with the rest of the body. It was a very frustrating time because it had taken me all afternoon to crochet them. I ended up making small boxing gloves instead, which turned out really cute because he looks ready to fight bacterias with them on.

I took me two days to crochet this tooth. I like it so much I am thinking about writing a pattern for it. I am just not sure if anybody would interested?

Fuzzy Panda

Two months ago I made a post about a panda bear pattern I had created for my ETSY shop, a cute little amigurumi crocheted with regular acrylic yarn. I enjoyed that project so much,  I thought it would be fun to try a different version of the panda using the same pattern but with a type of yarn that would give it some fur. Both versions are cute, but the result is so different that it doesn’t look like it was made from the same pattern.

the second version of the Panda, so fuzzy!

The first version was made with Caron Simply Soft, which is labeled as a medium weight #4, and 100% acrylic. It is quite small for a yarn of that category, I usually end up with smaller plushes when I use Caron.

the first version of the panda

You can really tell the difference in size. The first version of the panda is about 5.5 inch tall, the other one is 7 inch. I used the same 2.75mm crochet hook for both plushes without any alterations in the rounds, but the yarns I used for my second panda are thicker, hence the result.

Big fuzzy panda and its little acrylic version.

I used two different brands of yarn to crochet the fuzzy panda. I usually prefer to work with the same brand on one project when I need different colors but in this case I couldn’t find both in the same collection so I settled for Butter Cream Angel Air in black, and Yarn Bee Tender Touch in white. The black yarn is 50% Acrylic, 28% Nylon and 22% Wool. The white yarn is 100% acrylic but still has a fuzzy feel to it, which is what I needed to create fur.

In order to create the fur, I gently brushed each parts of the panda with a pet brush before sewing the parts together. I think it is better to brush after the parts are stuffed with fiberfill, otherwise you might end up with stretched parts (it happened to me the first time I tried this method).

On top, the fuzzy yarn and at the bottom, regular acrylic yarn

the magic pet brush (which I never used on my cat)

Trying two versions from the same pattern was a fun experiment, and I cannot tell you which one I like best because I love both pandas. I hope you enjoyed this post and that it will inspire you to also try different type of yarns for your projects.

As always, happy crocheting!

Halloween Mummy

Halloween is not here yet, but I am already working on projects to decorate on Halloween. I finished my first one today. A cute mummy that isn’t that scary!

I think it turned out really cute!

I am going to make a black cat, and a witch next, as well as a ghost if time allows it. I have so many different projects going on, my living room looks like a tornado of yarn and crochet needles. I am learning to make crocheted bags, which will probably be the subject of my next post. I am also working on a Daryl Dixon doll, my favorite character from The Walking Dead. Did I mention that I love crochet?

Happy crocheting!

Kitty Kitty

I am a cat lady, even though I only have one cat, Zoey, who doesn’t want to share her space with any other cats because it would draw my attention away from her.  Since she is okay with stuffed animals, I decided to compensate with amigurumi ones!

Easter celebration, Chicken and baby chick

Easter is a great source of inspiration when it comes to crafting, and lately I have been busy making Spring related items, such as flowers, bunnies etc… And I just finished a mama chicken and her baby chick.

I used raffia I found at the floral section of the craft store to make the nest.

Mama chicken is nesting.

I learned a lot about chickens while making these amigurumi. I learned that the top of the head of a chicken is called a comb, and that the part underneath the beak is called a wattle. Thanks to crafting,  I expanded my knowledge in bird anatomy!

Isn’t he cute?

Easter Bunny

Last week I worked on a bunny, a cute white wabbit with pink feet and pink cheeks, and pink ribbon. I wanted to send something to my nephew, and since Easter is right around the corner I thought this would be a nice gift for the occasion as well.

Easter Bunny Pattern, by Miss Dolkapots

The bunny was made with Red Heart Super Saver yarn in off white, and pink. I put some blush on the cheeks, and inside the ears.

A bunny for Easter

I cannot wait to send this bunny to my nephew, in the meantime, happy crocheting!

Spring inspiration – Part II

There hasn’t been much of the winter in California this year, so much so that I forgot which season I lived in until yesterday. It seems like winter had forgotten us and decided to make up for lost times! Storm, rain, you could hardly believe we are close to Spring time. That hasn’t stopped me from dreaming of flowers and greenery. After making my potted plant and Saguaro cactus, I embarked on a new venture with two more crochet plants: a flower potted plant, and a bouquet of roses.

Bouquet of roses, by Miss Dolkapots

The flowers are attached with a chenille stems, and secured to the pot. I even made some simulated water to surround the roses, inside the pot. Even if you cannot see it, the vase is not hollow.

pink, vintage pink, peach, and white roses

It took me an entire day to make it, with a lot of improvisation. Everything is made in crochet except for  the wooden stand that I glued at the bottom to keep the vase steady.  I think it turned out really pretty.

potted flowers plant

Another improvisation. This one was inspired by one of my plants, even though I forgot what it is called. I am not exactly an expert, and I don’t have a green hand. I am much more comfortable crocheting plants than taking care of real ones! Even though I love them.

Little flowers in two shades of pink and purple.

Top view of the flowers. Just like the bouquet of roses, the flowers are attached to the inside part of the pot, in this case it isn’t simulated water, but soil. The pot was stuffed with fiberfill.

I really want to continue this trend on greenery. I am thinking about making a bouquet of tulips, and a bonzai. So many fun things to make, I need to pace myself!

Spring inspiration

I have been spending a lot of time in my front yard lately, raking the leaves and cleaning up while dreaming of spring, flowers and plants. I guess working in the yard got me inspired,  because as soon as I as dropped my rake I grabbed my crochet hook and started working on two plants.

The result, a little Flower potted plant and a cute cactus.

Amigurumi Potted Plant, by Miss Dolkapots

Amigurumi Cactus Plant, by Miss Dolkapots

Happy crocheting!

Panda!

It’s been a while since I added anything to my figurine collection, so decided to crank it up and start the year with a new addition, a doll in panda costume.

Panda Doll, ©Miss Dolkapots

I made a post last year about these little figurines  inspired by the Kokeshi style of dolls from Japan. This one is part of my “dolls in animal costumes” series.

kawaii!

My next one will be a monk, then a Jamaican Rasta. I have an extensive list of figurines I want to add to my collection, or maybe I should call it a congregation. I need to graph another set of hands on my arms to work faster!