Monday 30 December 2013

A dress for a bunny



I had a lot of fun making clothes for my bunnies. Here's Lalla wearing her lovely purple number, and here's the pattern so you can make one too. The dress would also be great for a doll.

The dress is worked in rows, and you will turn at the end of each row. It is worked from the top down.

You will join the two sides to make the skirt in row 6, but still turning at the end of each row to give the skirt its striped effect.

I used 4 ply (sportsweight) cotton yarn for the dress, and a 4 mm hook. My experiments with thicker yarn didn't come out as well.

Front

Back

Row 1 - ch 25, 1 dc in 3rd ch from hook, 1 dc in next st, 3 dc in next st, 1 dc in next 4 sts, 3 dc in next st, 1 dc in next 6 sts, 3 dc in next st, 1 dc in next 4 sts, 3 dc in next st, 1 dc in last 3 sts. Turn.

Row 2-5 - ch 2 (counts as first st), 1 dc in each dc, continuing the shaping with 3 dc in the centre st of each 3 dc group. Turn.

Row 6 - ch 2, 1 hdc in each st to centre st of 3 dc group, skip to centre st of next 3 dc group (this forms the sleeve). Continue hdc to centre st of next dc group, skip to centre st of next 3 dc group, hdc to end, sl st to first hdc. Turn.

Row 7 - ch 2, 1 dc in each st around, sl st to top of first st, turn.

Row 8 - ch 2, 1 hdc in top of dc, 1 hdc in between dcs, repeat to end, sl st to top of first st, turn. (effectively doubling the number of stitches. This leaves a gap between each dc, for the belt.)

Row 9 - ch 2, 1 dc in each st, sl st to top of first st, turn.

Row 10 - ch 2, 1 hdc in each st, sl st to top of first st, turn.

Rows 11-14 - repeat rows 9-10 twice. Fasten off, weave in ends.

Weave a ribbon between the dcs of row 7. Or you can make a belt with a crochet chain in a contrasting colour.

The pattern for the jacket will follow very soon. Actually, if you make the dress you'll know how to make the jacket. Here are some more photos. just because.












Sunday 22 December 2013

Lalla and Lily - the pattern



Sorry for the delay, but here at last is the pattern for Lalla and Lily (and Yasmine, see below).

The first part of this pattern is for Lalla - the one-piece rabbit with lop ears on the right in the photo above. You can also make the body up to rnd 59, finish off and sew on the oval head like Lily's (she's standing on the left). The patterns for the oval head and pointed ears are at the very end of the pattern, just scroll down to find them.

Please note that the body pattern for the left-hand rabbit has not been written up, as I replaced it by the one-piece version. The left-hand version contains too much sewing for my taste!

Please do not sell this pattern. Do not post this pattern to any website, but link directly to my blog. No file sharing of this pattern. 

I used Pingouin Pingo 4, 60% cotton, 40% acrylic (which doesn't seem to be available any longer). It's quite a sturdy yarn, I'd say it's worsted weight, somewhere between DK and Aran. I used between two and three 50g balls, and a 4mm crochet hook. You'll also need stitch markers, a tapestry needle and some embroidery thread for the nose and mouth. You may also need safety eyes, though embroidering the eyes would be just fine too. I also lined all my pieces with an old pair of tights before stuffing, but if you crochet tight enough this may not be necessary. Anyone who reads my patterns regularly will know that I always line my toys, to avoid any fluffy surprises after washing.

There is a tiny bit of sewing involved, even though the pieces are crocheted together.

Are you ready? Here's the pattern:

Terms used: 

sc single crochet (dc in UK terms)

sc2tog single crochet two stitches together. I suggest you use the invisible decrease, very well explained here: http://www.planetjune.com/blog/amigurumi-help/invisible-decrease/

magic circle : see the video here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHYVutk2iYY

The total number of stitches per round is indicated in brackets at the end of each round, like this (12 sts)

When there are several rounds without change, I've also indicated how many rounds need to be counted.

Start with the arms and the ears, so that these can be easily crocheted in when the time comes.

Arms (make 2)

Rnd 1 - 6sc in a magic circle (6 sts)
Rnd 2 - 2 sc in each st (12 sts)
Rnd 3-17 - sc around for 15 rnds (12 sts)

Stuff only to rnd 17

Rnd 18 - [sc in 4 sts, sc2tog] twice (10 sts)
Rnd 19-23 - sc around for five rnds (10 sts)
Rnd 24 - press two sides together, work 5 sc through both thicknesses. Fasten off and weave in end.

Lop ears (make 2) (for straight, sew-on ears, scroll down to end of pattern)

Rnd 1 - 6 sc in a magic circle (6 sts)
Rnd 2 - [1sc in next st, 2 sc in next st] three times (9 sts)
Rnd 3 - [1 sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st] three times (12 sts)
Rnd 4 - [1 sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st] three times (15 sts)
Rnd 5-9 - sc around for five rnds (15 sts)
Rnd 10 - [1sc in next 3 sts, sc2tog] three times (12 sts)
Rnd 11-15 - sc around for five rnds (12 sts)
Rnd 16 - [1 sc in next 2 sts, sc2tog] three times (9 sts)
Rnd 17-23 - sc around for seven rnds (9 sts)
Rnd 24 - press two sides together, work 4 sc through both thicknesses. Fasten off and weave in end.

Tail (optional)

Rnd 1 - 6 sc in a magic circle (6 sts)
Rnd 2 - 2 sc in each st (12 sts)
Rnd 3 - [1 sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st] three times (15 sts)
Rnd 4 - sc around (15 sts)
Rnd 5 - [1 sc in next 3 sts, sc2tog] three times (12 sts)
Rnd 6 - [sc2tog] six times (6 sts). Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.


Feet and legs (make 2)

Rnd 1 - 6sc in a magic circle
Rnd 2 - 2 sc in each stitch (12 sts)
Rnd 3-10 - sc around for eight rnds (12 sts)
Rnd 11 - ch 1 (counts as 1st sc), turn, 1sc in each of next 6 sts
Row 12-16 - as rnd 11, but do not turn at the end of row 16


Rnd 17 - 1sc in last st of previous row. Now work 4sc along the side of the rectangle to the corner, 1 sc in corner st, 5sc across the front of the foot, 1 sc in corner st, 5 sc along the remaining side of the rectangle (17 sts)



There will be a hole at the heel end. This will need sewing together at the end.


Rnd 18 - sk 6, 1 sc to join the two corners together (mark this stitch and first stitch of each row from now on). 1sc in next 3 sts, sc2tog, sc in next 5 sts, sc2tog, sc in 4 remaining sts (15 sts)
Rnd 19-28 - sc around for ten rnds (15 sts)
Rnd 29 - [1 sc in 4 sts, 2 sc in next st] three times (18 sts)
Rnd 30-33 - sc around (18 sts)

Gusset (continuing from top of first leg only) - ch1, turn, 6 sc, turn, ch 1, sc 5, turn, ch 1, sc 5. Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.

Make a second leg and foot, finishing at the end of row 33 and DO NOT FASTEN OFF

Flatten the two legs, and join them in the middle, using the long tail to sew the edge of the gusset to the corresponding stitches on the other leg (see photo) Weave in the end. Now continue with the last loop worked on the first leg.



Continue to mark your first stitch for each row.

Stuff feet and legs.

Body

Rnd 34 - work 34 sc evenly around. Try 1 sc in next 9 sts, sc 3 across the edge of the gusset, 1 sc in next 14 sts, sc 3 across the edge of gusset, sc 5 to end or however it works best for you (34 sts)
Rnd 35 - sc around (34 sts)
Rnd 36 - [1 sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st]  repeat around, finishing with 1 sc in last 2 sts (42 sts)
Rnd 37 - sc around (42 sts)
Rnd 38 - [2 sc in next st, 1 sc in each of next 6 sts] repeat around (48 sts)
Rnd 39-45 - sc around for seven rnds(48 sts)

Sew on tail at the centre back, between rows 38 and 42 (optional)

Rnd 46 - [1 sc in next 6 sts, sc2tog] six times (42 sts)
Rnd 47-48 - sc around for two rnds (42 sts)
Rnd 49 - [1 sc in next 5 sts, sc2tog] six times (36 sts)
Rnd 50-53 - sc around for four rnds (36 sts)
Rnd 54 - [1 sc in next 4 sts, sc2tog] six times (30 sts)
Rnd 55-56 - sc around for two rnds (30 sts)
Rnd 57 - sc in next 8 sts (or until you reach the stitches approximately on the side, level with the side of the leg), join in arms with 5 sc, sc in next 10 sts, join in second arm with 5 sc, sc in next 2 sts (30 sts)
Rnd 58 - [sc in next 3 sts, sc2tog] six times (24 sts)
Rnd 59 - [sc in next 2 sts, sc2tog] six times (18 sts) For Lalla, DO NOT FASTEN OFF. For Lily, fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing head.

Stuff the body

Head

Rnd 60 - sc around (18 sts)
Rnd 61 - [sc in next st, 2 sc in next st] nine times (27 sts)
Rnd 62 - [sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st] nine times (36 sts)
Rnd 63-64 - sc around for 2 rnds (36 sts)
Rnd 65 - [sc in next 5 sts, 2 sc in next st] six times (42 sts)
Rnd 66-67 - sc around for 2 rnds (46 sts)
Rnd 68 - [sc in next 6 sts, 2 sc in next st] six times (48 sts)
Rnd 69-74 - sc around for six rnds (48 sts)

Embroider insert safety eyes on rnd 70, embroider nose and mouth

Rnd 75 - [sc in next 6 sts, sc2tog] six times (42 sts)
Rnd 76 - [sc in next 5 sts, sc2tog] six times (36 sts)
Rnd 77 - sc around, joining in the ears with 4sc on each side of the head
Rnd 78 - [sc in next 4 sts, sc2tog] six times (30 sts)
Rnd 79 - [sc in next 3 sts, sc2tog] six times (24 sts)

Stuff the head

Rnd 80 - [sc in next 2 sts, sc2tog] six times (18 sts)
Rnd 81 - [sc in next st, sc2tog] six times (12 sts)
Rnd 82 - [sc2tog] six times (6 sts)
Rnd 83 - [sc2tog] three times

Fasten off, leave a long tail and weave in ends, making sure you close the hole completely.


Alternative ears pattern

Pointed ears (make 2)

Rnd 1 - 6 sc in a magic circle (6 sts)
Rnd 2 - sc around (6 sts)
Rnd 3 - [1 sc in next st, 2 sc in next st] three times (9 sts)
Rnd 4 - [1 sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st] three times (12 sts)
Rnd 5 - sc around (12 sts)
Rnd 5 - [1 sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st] three times (15 sts)
Rnd 6-11 - sc around for six rnds (15 sts)
Rnd 12 - [1 sc in next 2 sts, sc2tog] three times (12 sts)
Rnd 13-15 - sc around for three rnds (12 sts)
Rnd 16 - [1 sc in next st, sc2tog] three times (9 sts)

Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing

Here's the bunny with the alternative head. Her name is Yasmine.

Alternative head pattern

Rnd 1 - 6 sc in a magic circle (6 sts)
Rnd 2 - 2sc in each st (12 sts)
Rnd 3 - [1 sc in next st, 2 sc in next st] six times (18 sts)
Rnd 4 - [1 sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st] six times (24 sts)
Rnd 5-7 - sc around for three rnds (24 sts)
Rnd 8 - [1 sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st] six times (30 sts)
Rnd 9 - [1 sc in next 4 sts, 2 sc in next st] six times (36 sts)
Rnd 10 - sc around (36 sts)

Attach safety eyes on rnd 8.  Embroider nose and mouth.

Rnd 11 - [1 sc in next 5 sts, 2 sc in next st] six times (42 sts)
Rnd 12-17 - sc around for six rnds (42 sts)
Rnd 18 - [sc in next 5 sts, sc2tog] six times (36 sts)
Rnd 19 - sc around (36 sts)
Rnd 20 - [sc in next 4 sts, sc2tog] six times (30 sts)
Rnd 21 - sc around (30 sts)

Sew on ears between rnds 17 and 18 - Only leave three or four stitches between the ears or they will stick outwards instead of upwards!

Rnd 22 - [sc in next 3 sts, sc2tog] six times (24 sts)
Rnd 23 - sc around (24 sts)
Rnd 24 - [sc in next 2 sts, sc2tog] six times (18 sts)
Rnd 24 - [sc in next st, sc2tog] six times (12 sts)
Rnd 25 - [sc2tog] six times (6 sts)
Rnd 26 - [sc2tog] three times. Fasten off, leave a long tail and weave in ends, making sure you close the hole completely.

Sew head onto body after body rnd 59.

I've also created a little jacket and a dress for the rabbits, but you'll have to wait a little longer for the patterns.



Please don't hesitate to leave me any comments or questions about this pattern. Some adjustments may need to be made, but I need you to tell me :)