crochet and other crafts
Here’s another cutie that made a recent comeback on my workstation. It’s also been a while since his picture was last taken, so we did another photo shoot for him! Just adorable!
The creator of these Lalylala dolls recently released a pattern update for Lupo! It simply improved the body, making the bobbles closer together and the seam is now straight!
I personally love this new texture. It sacrifies an inch or two off his height, but it’s still as cuddly as ever!!
I just wanted to quickly share a recent order, a photography prop set. This worked up faster than I thought it would. Well, it is for a newborn!
This time, I want to share my thoughts on another favorite yarn: Vanna’s Choice by Lion Brand.
Vanna’s Choice is a worsted weight/”4″ yarn made with 100% acrylic. This is a soft premium acrylic yarn and very consistent. The current retail price is $4.39 per skein.
Unfortunately for me, my local store stopped selling this yarn right after I discovered it! Luckily, some colors are cheaper on Amazon.com and go on sale quite often on LionBrand.com.
My favorite use for Vanna’s Choice are blankets! Shown below is my Sophie’s Universe Blanket. Although this project is not exclusively Vanna’s Choice, the yarn got along just fine with the other brands.
Vanna’s Choice is also full enough to use on amigurumi and stuffed toys. With the right hook and tension, the yarn holds filling well and is still soft enough for babies.
Care instructions for Vanna’s Choice is to machine wash and dry.
My general rule for crochet items in the washing machine is to put the cycle setting at the most delicate setting available, with the water set at the cold temperature. For the dryer, the lowest temperature as well. Every once in a while, my items accidentally get put in other settings like “permanent press,” but they still manage to survive. My ends stay woven in and (so far) there is little to no piling, depending on the use. They also have not lost any softness.
Overall, this yarn is great! Although it is on the pricier side, it is well worth to splurge if you want to make that extra special gift.
Here’s another addition to my Lalaylala creations. Lupo the Lamb!
This one uses a bobble stitch to create the lamb texture. It is also crocheted legs first, then body, and straight up to the top of the head. Which is not for me, so I think I’ll change that next time. I may just use a head from a different Lalylala and attach the head to the body by sewing. This way is easier for me to create a more stable neck.
At this point, there’s nothing much else to say about these dolls anymore. They’re just so darn cute, how can you not share more photos?
April is National Stress Awareness month! I am celebrating Craft Yarn Council style, and I am making lemon stress balls!
This month, we take note of what causes us stress and rid of them in a healthy way. Standing in a slow line? Take it out on a lemon while you wait! Be aware of what stresses you out and find a healthy outlet. My go-to is crocheting, but other crafts work for me too. I try to scrapbook and knit. Whatever floats your boat, maybe you enjoy floating on a boat!
Keep in mind that having a hobby does not mean the stressor goes away permanently. if your taxes are stressing you out for example, settle them ASAP. Neighbors getting on your nerves? Talk to them about the issue, and move on to the proper authorities if they’re not cooperative. Do something to help the situation, constantly running away from it does not always help.
Want to crochet lemons too? The pattern I’m using is linked below.
Check out the hashtag #stitchawaystress on social media to see what others are making for National Stress Awareness month!
This one is another cutie!
By now I’ve figured out how I can attach the arms as I make the body. I don’t sew or sc the arm closed. I start attaching one side of each arm when I have 3 more rows to go on the body. The second part of the arm on the next row. Then the last round of the body to finish off. This method I feel is much more secure compared t sewing them on because the arms are fused onto the body. For me, this also provides a cleaner look on the join.
I’ve also figured out by now how to fix the “floppy” neck. Just make the stuffing firmer in the neck area compared to the rest of the body. It helps to monitor this when you are attaching the head to the body. As you sew around the neck, add stuffing until you are satisfied and the flop is gone!
I wonder, which Lalylala should I make next?
Next in my journey is Vlad the vampire!
This one took a bit more time than the others. Of the ones I’ve made so far, this required more pieces to assemble. There’s nothing much else to say about this project, really. The pattern is well written like always and uses less than 10 pages. Other than that, cute as expected! Picture time!
Coming next is Loni the Lion!
Just want to let you all know I put a few new stuff in the shop. Like this Amigurumi Cuties trio! Cthulhu plush toy coming soon on the site (if not already, depending on when you’re reading this).
I will also be out and about with my products for the first time! My products and I will be at a local community college’s Spring Fair March 9! I’m so excited to see how it turns out! For those local to me and can attend, I’ll be having a special promo: Orders placed at the Fair ship locally (Oahu only) for free! Free gift when you pre-pay!
If you love Lalylala dolls as much as I do, you can predict correctly that this will be a series in my crochet journey. You can see my first Lalylala creation here.
And for the next installment, comes Buzz the housefly! The pattern can be found here. As a special order, the customer wanted a pink body instead.
This pattern has more pieces than it looks, requiring more time than Fibi the fox. I opted for a crochet scarf instead of the prescribed knit to see if it would be just as adorable. And it was! If possible, I suggest using yarn with “flecks” to give it some texture.
Anyways…more Lalylala Land stuff in the future!
Something by Vera 