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Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Family Time

 We enjoyed a few hours at the beach recently. We gathered some shells and enjoyed the lovely breeze. The weather has finally cooled down to a reasonable temperature. We have had the house open for the last three days and I LOVE IT!
My baby man, Teo, turned 16 in September. We had fun decorating and being silly for his birthday. We bought a whole bunch of Avengers decorations and put up streamers and a Happy Birthday banner. He asked for brownies for his birthday 'cake', so I made some super fudgy ones. He got a kick out of his goodies. :) Then we celebrated at Steak N Shake (his choice) and went to see Batman: The Dark Knight Rises. That was a wonderful end to that series. It left openings for certain story lines to be continued, and completed the Batman trilogy on a tremendously hopeful note. We are pretty geeky in this house, so those things matter to us. LOL.

Catherine's Wheel Afghan

I just had to share my latest obsession with you. It's called Catherine's Wheel Square or Wool-Eater Stitch or Bavarian Stitch. I learned it by watching Crochet Geek's YouTube Tutorial. She did a fabulous job at teaching the stitch. 

The video is only 26 minutes long, so it's a short, but worthy investment!


I highly recommend that you learn the stitch. It lives up to its name and becomes a bit of a wool eater when you get about 20" wide. I finished my lap afghan at 36"x36" and it was taking about a 1/2 skein of yarn to finish one color strip. I adore this pattern and I will be making many more. I'm thinking about trying it without the square accent and see how that turns out. :) Should be fun!

Endangered Baby Animals and Iceberg Toy Bag

Endangered Baby Animals and Iceberg Toy Bag Pattern

© 2012 Bizzy Crochet Designs

Iceberg Bag- (it does have a handle)

The Iceberg toy bag has four, special endangered baby animals that live inside!

#1- Baby Polar Bear named Albert
Baby Albert's Bum

#2- Baby Harp Seal named Dewey

#3- Baby Emperor Penguin named Smudge

#4- Baby Orca named Earl

Materials Needed: 
Yarn: All amounts are approx. Actual amounts will depend on your gauge. 
for Iceberg Bag- 
2 oz Medium Blue (Used Red Heart Super Saver- Country Blue) 
4-5 oz White (Used Hobby Lobby “I Love This Yarn”- White I would recommend using something stiffer as the Hobby Lobby doesn’t hold its shape well enough for this purpose) 
for Baby Polar Bear- 
1 oz White (Used Caron Simply Soft- White) small bits black for face 
for Baby Seal- 
1 oz White (Used Caron Simply Soft- White) small bits black for face 
for Baby Orca- 1 oz Black (Used Caron Simply Soft- Black) small bit of white for tummy and face for Baby Penguin- 1 oz Gray (Used Hobby Lobby “I Love This Yarn”- Grey Mist) small bits black and white for face and tail 
F & H hooks (stitch marker if desired) 
Polyester Fiberfill 
Large Eye needle for assembly  
7/8” Button (Used retro, plastic, faceted button) 

Gauge:  w/H hook & RH yarn- 7 rows x 7 sc= 2” x 2” w/F hook & Caron yarn- 5 rows x 5sc= 1” x 1” 

Special Stitch Directions: 
Spikes: sc in space indicated, ch3, sl st in 2nd ch, sc in next ch, sc in next space 

Dtrc Cluster: (yo 3x, insert hook into sp, yo, pull through sp, {yo, pull through 2 loops} three times leaving last hook on loop) Repeat this a total of 5 times, yo, pull through 6 loops on hook. Chain 1.

Dc Cluster: (yo, insert hook into sp, yo, pull through sp and 2 loops) a total of three times. Yo, pull through all four loops on hook. Chain 1. 

Pattern:

Iceberg Bag Bottom: 
with Blue and H hook mark beginning of each row to keep track
R1- ch2, 6sc in 2nd ch from hook. (6) 
R2- 2sc in each (12) 
R3- (sc in 1, 2sc in next) rpt (18) 
R4- (sc in 2, 2sc in next) rpt (24) 
R5- (sc in 3, 2sc in next) rpt (30) 
R6- (sc in 4, 2sc in next) rpt (36) 
R7- (sc in 5, 2sc in next) rpt (42) 
R8- (sc in 6, 2sc in next) rpt (48) 
R9- (sc in 7, 2sc in next) rpt (54) 
R10- (sc in 8, 2sc in next) rpt (60)
R11- (sc in 9, 2sc in next) rpt (66) 
R12- (sc in 10, 2sc in next) rpt (72) 
R13- BLO, sc in each sc  
R14-15- in both loops, sc in each. 
Join after R15 R16- turn, BLO, (sl st in 3sc, sc in next, hdc in 2sc, dc in 3sc, hdc in 2sc, sc in next) repeat 5 more times. Join. (6 waves)    
R17- ch1, turn, in open loops of R15, sc in each.  DO NOT JOIN.  
R18-19- in both loops, sc in each. Join after R19 R20- ch3(not dc), turn, BLO (dc in 3sc, hdc in 2sc, sc in next, sl st in 3sc, sc in next, hdc in 2sc) repeat 5 more times. Join. (6waves) 
CUT- WEAVE END R21- rejoin in open loops, ch1, sc in join and each open loop around. Join. R22- BLO- (sc in 10, sc dec) rpt, join.(66) 
R23- both loops, (sc in 9, sc dec) rpt, join (60) 
R24-32- continue decreasing in established pattern until 6sc remain. Join each row. Stuff as you go. Finish off and weave ends at the end of R32. (Optional Tip: You can cut a piece of plastic canvas to fit inside on the bottom for stability. Make sure to put in place before stuffing.)

Iceberg Bag Top: 
with White and H hook 
R1- ch2, 5sc in 2nd ch from hook (5) 
R2- sc in each 
R3- 2sc in each (10) 
R4- sc in each 
R5- (sc in 1, 2sc in next) rpt (15) 
R6- sc in each 
R7- FLO- sc in each sc, randomly placing 3 spikes (*see specialty stitches). 
Tip: Marking the first back loop will help you know where the next row begins! 
R8- working in open loops behind 
R7- (hdc in 1sc, 2hdc in next) rpt (23) 
R9- FLO- working in hdc, sc in each, randomly placing spikes. 
R10-R13- Repeat Rows 8+9 twice. (46 hdc after R12) 
Tip: As the rows get bigger, increase the amount of spikes per row- use your personal preference! R14- Repeat R8, but DON’T INCREASE- Just 1 hdc in each. (46) 
R15- Repeat R9 
R16-19- Repeat Rows 14+15 twice.  
R20- Repeating R8, but INCREASE with (hdc in 2sc, 2hdc in next) rpt. (61hdc) 
R21- Repeat R15 
R22-25- Repeat Rows 14+15 twice. 
R26- Repeat R8, but INCREASE with (hdc in 3sc, 2hdc in next) rpt. (76hdc) R27- Repeat R15 R28-29- Repeat Rows 14+15 once. STARTING CAVE DOOR 
R30- ch1, turn, work in open loops, hdc in 73, leave remaining unworked.
 R31- ch1, turn, FLO- Repeat R9.  
Tip: Make sure you don’t work into the back ridge of the hdc from the row before. 
R32- ch1, turn, working in open loops, hdc dec, hdc to the last 2, hdc dec (71) 
R33- ch1, turn, repeat Row 31 
R34-35- Repeat Rows 32+33 once. (69) 
R36- Repeat 32 once more. (67) 
ASSEMBLY-with Iceberg sitting on top of the water- sc into open loops from R21/22 of bottom and (when needed) into open loops AND both loops of R36 of top. Sc in 5 “open loops” for cave door, then match the remaining 67 open loops with hdc from R36 and sc through all loops.

Iceberg Cave Door: 
with White and H hook
R1- ch10, sc in 2nd ch from hook and next 7, 3sc in the last ch, working the opposite side of the beginning ch, sc to the end. (19) 
R2- ch1, turn, BLO, sc in 9, 3sc in next, sc in 9. (21) 
R3- ch1, turn, BLO, sc in 10, 3sc in next, sc in 10. (23) 
R4- (RS) ch1, turn, BLO, sc in 11, 10sc in next (button loop), sc in 11. (25) 
Sc across row ends to finish. With RS facing out sew flat edge to bottom. Place and sew on button.

Iceberg Handle: 
with White and H hook
R1- ch6, sc in 2nd hook and each (5) 
R2-40- ch1, turn, sc in each To finish, sc down both sides of row ends 
Attach to the back part of the iceberg, placing the ends so that it hangs straight and even when held.


"Albert”- Baby Polar Bear Body: with White and F hook 

R1- ch2, 6sc in 2nd ch from hook (6) 
R2- 2sc in each (12) 
R3- (sc in 1, 2sc in next) rpt (18) 
R4- (sc in 2, 2sc in next) rpt (24) 
R5- (sc in 3, 2sc in next) rpt (30) 
R6-10- sc in each R11- (sc in 3, dec) rpt (24) 
R12-(sc in 2, dec) rpt (18) 
R13- (sc in 1, dec) rpt (12) STUFF 
R14- (dec) rpt (6) Cut, Weave ends. 

“Albert’s” Head: with White and F hook
R1-3- Repeat body 
R4-6- sc in each 
R7- Repeat R13 of body 
Cut, Stuff, Sew on- centered to body.

“Albert’s” Nose: with White and F hook
R1- ch2, 6sc in 2nd ch from hook (6) 
R2- sc Embroider nose and mouth with black (and eyes after nose is in place) 
Sew to head- centered. 

“Albert’s” Ears: with White and F hook
With Albert facing you, on one side of his head, attach with a sl st around the post of a sc. Ch2, dc around the same post and sl st around the next post over. Cut and weave in your ends.  Evenly spaced on the other side of the head- rpt for 2nd ear.

“Albert’s” Legs: with White and F hook
R1- ch2, 8sc in 2nd ch (8) R2- sc in each R3- dec, sc in remaining (7) R4- sc in each Cut, leave a long end for attaching. Sew to body. DO NOT STUFF.
 
“Albert’s” Tail: with White and F hook
With Albert’s butt facing away from you and his head pointing down, attach with a sl st around a post on his butt. 2sc around same post, sc around next post, sl st around next post. Cut and weave in the ends.  

 

 “Dewey” Baby Seal Body: with White and F hook 

R1-5- Repeat Polar Bear 
R6-7- sc in each  
R8- (sc in 3, dec) rpt (24) 
R9-11- sc in each 
R12- (sc in 2, dec) rpt (18) 
R13- sc in each 
R14- (sc in 1, dec) rpt (12)STUFF! 
Tip: Make sure you stuff to desired firmness! 
R15- Flatten stitches on R14 to each other, work through both thicknesses, ch1, insert hook into 1st sc on R15 AND last sc on R14, sc. Continue to work 5 more sc across row. Do Not CUT! Turn. 

Flipper #1- (RS) ch 4, Dtrc Cluster (*see specialty stitches), Cut. Weave ends. 
Flipper #2- sk 4sc, attach to last sc w/sl st, repeat Flipper #1, Cut. Weave ends. 

“Dewey’s” Head: 
with White and F hook 
R1-6- Repeat Polar Bear 
Cut. Sew to body, angled according to picture.

“Dewey’s” Nose: 
with White and F hook
R1- ch2, 6sc in 2nd ch R2- (sc in 1, 2sc in next) rpt (9) 
Cut, embroider, and sew on. Finish with face embroidery. 

“Dewey’s” Front Flippers: 
with White and F hook- Repeat for Flipper #1 & #2. 
Position them equally spaced in the front. 
Have the seal’s head and back facing you when you put them on. 




“Earl” Baby Orca Body: 
with Black and F hook
Starting at the tip of the tail 
R1- ch2, 4sc in 2nd ch from hook (4) 
R2- sc in each *make sure you pop your work to the right side 
R3- (sc in 1sc, 2sc in next) rpt (6) 
R4- sc in each 
R5-Repeat R3 for (9) 
R6- sc in each 
R7- Repeat R3, sc in last for (13) 
R8- (sc in 2sc, 2sc in next) rpt, sc in last (17) 
R9- (sc in 3sc, 2sc in next) rpt, sc in last (21) 
R10-14- sc in each 
R15- (sc in 3sc, dec) rpt, sc in last (17) 
R16- sc in each 
R17- sc in 4sc, dec, sc in 7sc, dec, sc in 2sc (15) 
R18- sc in each 
R19- sc dec 3x, sc in 7sc, dec, sc in last (12) 
R20- sc dc twice, sc in 5sc, dec (8) 
R21- dec, sc in 4, dec (6) Cut. 
Very carefully sew his nose shut, flattening it oblong from side to side.

“Earl’s” Underbelly: 
with White and F hook
R1- ch3, sc in 2nd and next (2) 
R2- ch1, turn, 2sc in each (4) 
R3- ch1, turn, 2sc in first, sc in each, 2sc in last (6) 
R4- 14- ch1, turn,sc in each 
R15- ch1, turn, dec, sc in 2, dec (4) 
R16- ch1, turn, sc dec twice (2) 
R17- ch1, turn, sc dec (1) 
R18-20- ch1, turn, sc. 
Cut, sew to underside making sure R’s 18-20 are on the tail.

“Earl’s” Tail Fin:  
with Black and F hook 
Make 2 fins and sew them together halfway, leaving an opening for the tail tip to sit between them. R1- ch7, sc in 2nd ch from hook and next ch, hdc in 2ch, dc in 2ch. (6) 
R2- ch1, turn, sc in 3, sl st in 3.  
Cut, sew together and sew to tail tip.

“Earl’s” Dorsal (1) and Side Fins (2): 
with Black and F hook 
Ch6, sc in 2nd ch, hdc in 2ch, dc in 2ch. 
Cut, sew to back and sides. 

“Earls” White Face Patches (2): 
with White and F hook ch4, sl st in 2nd ch and next 2. Sew on. 



“Smudge” Baby Penguin Body: with Gray and F hook 
R1- ch2, 5sc in 2nd ch from hook (5) 
R2- 2sc in each (10) 
R3- (sc in 1, 2sc in next) rpt (15) 
R4- (sc in 2, 2sc in next) rpt (20) 
R5- sc in each 
R6- (sc in 3, 2sc in next) rpt (25) 
R7-9- sc in each 
R10- (sc in 3, dec) rpt (20) 
R11- sc in each 
R12- (sc in 2, dec) rpt (15)  
R13- sc in each
R14- (sc in 1, dec) rpt (10) STUFF! 
R15- sc in each 
R16- (dec) rpt (5) 
Cut and close up 

“Smudge’s” Head: with Gray and F hook 
R1-3- Repeat Body 
R4-6- sc in each. 
Cut. 

“Smudge’s” Face: 
with Black and F hook 
R1- ch5, sc in 2nd ch from hook and next 2, 3sc in last, working the opposite side of the original ch, sc in 2, 2sc in last. Join. (10) 
R2- ch1, 2sc in join sp, sc in 2sc, 2sc in next 3sc, sc in 2sc, 2sc in next 2sc. Join (16) 
R3- ch1, sc in join, hdc in 4sc, sc in next sc. Join. Leave rem unworked. 
Cut. Sew to Head. 


“Smudge’s” Eyes: 
with White and F hook 
R1- ch2, 6sc in 2nd ch from hook, don’t join or cut 
R2- ch3, 6sc in 2nd ch from hook, sl st in next. Join to 1st “circle”.  Cut and sew to face. 

“Smudge’s” Beak: 
with Black and F hook 
Attach black around post between “eyes”- ch3, sl st in 2nd ch and next. Join. Cut and weave ends. 

“Smudge’s” Wings: 
Make 2 with Gray and F hook 
Ch10- sc in 2nd ch and next 3chs, 2sc in next ch, sc in last 4 chs. 
Cut, sew on to side of body with angle towards the front.

“Smudge’s” Tail: with Black and F hook
R1- ch2, 4sc in 2nd ch from hook (4) 
R2- sc in each 
Tip: Pull right side of work out of “hole” 
R3- (sc in 1, 2sc in next) rpt (6) 
R4- Repeat R3 for (9) 
Cut, sew to butt

“Smudge’s” Feet: with Black and F hook -Hold Smudge front facing, upside down and attach black around a post towards the under part of his body. Ch2, Dc Cluster (*see specialty stitches). 
Repeat evenly spaced for the 2nd foot.


 





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