Saturday, May 1, 2010

Amigurumi Oddish crochet pattern

So I was gonna post this pattern on ravelry, but I didn't want to get into any legal trouble. What with Oddish being a pokemon, and therefore not my intellectual property.
I just recently made about a dozen tiny oddish for a birthday gift for my friend Marci's daughter. I used Bernat satin plum heather and Vanna's Choice kelly green yarn, stuffing from an old pillow, and Scribbles shiny delicate rose fabric paint. This pattern is fairly easy, but there are some tricksy bits. I would call it intermediate, or a welcome challenge to an accomplished beginner. the finished size of the oddish depends on the size of hook used, but mine were about 5" from feet to tip of tallest leaf. Instructions are written for one oddish.

Materials: 3.5 oz each green and purple yarn makes about 12 oddishes. size F crochet hook, stitch marker, stuffing, fabric paint, tapestry/yarn needle, and if making more than one,lots of patience.

Gauge is not all that important. You want nice tight stitches to keep the stuffing in, but not too tight or the toys become stiff and difficult to work. Feel free to use larger or smaller hooks to make larger or smaller oddishes. Maybe even split the ply of your yarn to make tiny oddishes.

Body: (make one) The body is worked from the top to the base. With purple begin with a magic circle (or a ch2, work in 2nd ch from hook) and work 6sc for first round. Place stitch marker in last st to mark the end of the round.
Rnd2: 2sc in each st around. (12sc)
Rnd3: sc in each st around.
Rnd4: *sc in next st, 2sc in next st; repeat from * around. (18sc)
Rnd5: repeat Rnd3.
Rnd6: *sc in each of next 2 sts, 2sc in next st; repeat from * around. (24sc)
Rnd7: *sc in each of next 2 sts, sc next 2 sts tog; repeat from * around. (18sc)
Rnd8: *sc in next st, sc next 2 sts tog; repeat from * around. Stuff lightly. (12sc)
Rnd9: *sc next 2 sts tog; repeat from * around. Finish off, leaving a long tail. Finish stuffing and weave tail through the stitches and pull tight to close.
Feet: (make two) with purple begin with a magic circle and work 3sc for first round.
Rnd2: 2sc in each st around. (6sc)
Rnd3-5: sc in each st around. At end of last round finish off leaving a long tail. Stuff and weave tail through sts and pull tight to close.
Small leaf: (make two) with green, start with a long tail, ch 11. sl st in 2nd ch from hook, sl st in next ch, sc in next ch, hdc in each of next 2 ch, dc in each of next 4 ch, ch2, sl st in next ch, ch2, turn to work along opposite side of the foundation chain, skip the next ch (the one you just sl st into) dc in each of the next 4 ch, hdc in each of the next 2 ch, sc in next ch, sl st in each of the next 2 ch. Finish off. Weave this end in.
Medium leaf: (make two) with green, start with a long tail, ch 13. sl st in 2nd ch from hook, sl st in next ch, sc in next ch, hdc in each of next 2 ch, dc in each of next 3 ch, trbl in next ch, dc in next ch, hdc in next ch, ch2, sl st in next ch, ch2, turn to work along opposite side of the foundation chain, skip the next ch (the one you just sl st into) hdc in next ch, dc in next ch, trbl in next ch, dc in each of the next 3 ch, hdc in each of the next 2 ch, sc in next ch, sl st in each of the next 2 ch. Finish off. Weave this end in.
Large leaf: (make one) with green, start with a long tail, ch 16. sl st in 2nd ch from hook, sl st in next ch, sc in next ch, hdc in each of next 2 ch, dc in each of next 3 ch, trbl in each of next 3 ch, dc in each of next 2 ch, hdc in next ch, ch2, sl st in next ch, ch2, turn to work along opposite side of the foundation chain, skip the next ch (the one you just sl st into) hdc in next ch, dc in each of next 2 ch, trbl in each of next 3 ch, dc in each of the next 3 ch, hdc in each of the next 2 ch, sc in next ch, sl st in each of the next 2 ch. Finish off. Weave this end in.
Finishing: Attach feet to base of body using your long tails. The feet can be attached in many different positions; sitting, standing, tippy-toe, etc. Tuck all purple ends away. Attach the leaves to the top of the head in the following arrangement. The large leaf is centered with the feet and slightly forward. Between rounds 1 and 2 is good. The small leaves are in line with the large leaf, and one on either side. The medium leaves go behind the large and small leaves. They should be set so as to poke up in the gap between the other leaves. (If you are having trouble picturing the leaf placement look at this picture of an oddish.) Once the leaves are attached tuck in the remaining tails. Use the fabric paint to add faces to your miniature oddish. Once the paint is dry have fun with your new pocket-sized pocket-monster.

So . . . I fail

yeah, totally didn't keep up with 3 posts a week. new goal bi-monthly posting. not the every other month bi-monthly (like magazines try to fool you with,) but the actual definition of bi-monthly. yes, you guessed it. twice a month! yay me!

i will not give excuses for my failure. but i will share some reasons. i was really focused on a couple of birthday gifts (both delivered earlier this week). i have a baby blanket i am working on that needs finished by the end of this month. i haven't made the blog my home page, let alone even a prominent bookmark (which i am fixing as soon as i post this) and last one is as much a reason as it is an excuse. i was being lazy

so lets see how my new goal/schedule goes.

Monday, March 1, 2010

the pattern

It took me a while, and I got distracted by WoW, but here's the tank top I'm gonna make with my t-shirt yarn. Ribbon Xback I'ma have to make some adjustments though. I tend to work tightly so I have to use bigger needles than patterns call for, and I don't have needles anywhere close to what it calls for. Oh well, I'll just have to make due.

fail

Well, unless I post this now and immediately post something else, 3 a week isn't happening . . . yet (hopefully). I just recently turned a t-shirt I didn't like, and was never going to wear into yarn. Now to find something to do with one t-shirt of yarn. When I figure this out I shall have to post pictures, and maybe a tutorial. Ooh! I should destr--I mean turn some more t-shirts into yarn and knit up a tank top. I have just the pattern! *Shuffles off to work on new-found project*

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Must post before sleep

Well it's after 2:00am now and I should be sleeping, but I just had to jot something down. I mean who sets up a blog without posting once? Come on? But now that I have typed up something (even though it's not much) I feel much better about starting a blog. Maybe I'll use this as a way to journal, maybe I'll post my craftiness. No, not the cunning kind of craftiness. The artsy-fartsy kind. Though, what the hell, maybe there will be room for a cunning post or two. Anyway, it doesn't matter right now. Right now I need to set a goal. That goal will be three posts a week.

Maybe . . .