Amigurumi 101: Part 1 – Never Give Up

Amigurumi alligator, pig, fox, and puffin.
Amigurumi 101: Part 1 – Perseverance

Amigurumi 101: Part 1- Perseverance

This is the first post in a four part series all for the amigurumi newbie! Part one of Amigurumi 101 focuses on the most essential skill any beginner must have and that is perseverance. The following three weeks will describe and demonstrate the fundamental techniques that you will need to master and become a confident toy maker!

While it is best for someone to have some basic crochet experience before attempting amigurumi, don’t let that stop you from trying!

I am a serial “giver-upper”, also known as a quitter. I have dropped out of almost everything I have ever attempted. Violin, Girl Scouts, gymnastics, and hair braiding are just a select few. Clearly perseverance wasn’t my strong suit. Whenever the going got tough, I just gave up! Thank goodness that is all in the past and I finally learned how to persevere.

Amigurumi 101 – It’s a Skill not a Talent

First of all, amigurumi is a learned skill, not a talent. You read that right. I often have folks comment that they could never crochet toys. While I do admit it takes a great deal of time to become proficient at making amigurumi, it is a skill almost anyone can achieve. Yes, I do agree it comes more easily to some. But the biggest predictor of success is simply the desire to learn.

For instance, maybe you’re looking at photos of the animals I, or many others make and you’re thinking, “That’s easy for you to say!” But hear me out! It took hours upon hours of practice to make my amigurumi look the way they do now. Yes, I’m proud of them. I’m proud because it took a lot of hard work to be able to make them. I’m proud because I made umpteen million mistakes but the point is I kept trying. Humor me and let me show you how I started!

First Project

About a year after I began crocheting, I began making baby clothes. Why? I have no idea. I had no babies and had no intentions of selling the clothes. The sweet tiny sweaters and crocheted dresses were just so addictive. I began watching a lot of YouTube tutorials from the wonderful Wooly Wonders Crochet. I was beginning to get the hang of basic garment construction when I happened to notice a tutorial for a stuffed bunny, an adorable, chubby bunny that is! I worked and worked on this little bunny and was so pleased with myself when I finished. I knew he was wonky. It was obvious he had some issues, but I was in love.

Wooly Wonders Crochet Pattern
Wooly Wonders Crochet Pattern

Amigurumi Patterns

Soon after, I began looking for more amigurumi tutorials and patterns. I came across the Animal Friends of Pica Pau book and I bought it instantly. I had never read an amigurumi pattern before but I was so enchanted by the cover and knew this was what I wanted to spend time doing. I began by reading the book like a novel. Beginning with page one, I read all the way until I reached the pattern section. I felt like I had a solid grasp on the construction. Naively, I dove headfirst into the Victor Frog pattern. I quickly became discouraged and wanted to quit.

Arguing with Myself

But something was different that day. I calmed myself down and had a little conversation with myself that went something like this:

Me: I can’t do this! I quit!

Self: So you’re just going to give up again?

Me: Of course I’m going to give up! This is ridiculously difficult.

Self: Is it really that difficult or are you just not willing to work that hard? You must not really want to make that adorable frog.

Me: Well that’s not fair.

Self: Other people can make amigurumi, why can’t you?

Me: Ummmm, it must be harder for me.

Self: Is it harder or is it that you just don’t want to work for it?

Boom. Did you hear that sound? That was the mic dropping! Lol! That last question literally changed not only how I saw making amigurumi but how I saw myself. Most of my life I had put minimal effort into hobbies and then became discouraged when I couldn’t do them. I decided then and there that this time was going to be different.

Want to learn how to read a crochet pattern? Please visit my blog post: How to Read a Crochet Pattern

Second Project

I went back to Victor Frog with a completely different attitude. No longer was I huffing, puffing, and uttering curse words under my breath! I decided to take the slow and steady approach. Calmly and carefully I read over the pattern. I took each step as it came and worked at it until it was right. When I hit a stumbling block I would research YouTube and blogs to figure out what I was doing wrong. Within a week I had completed my goal and had a frog to prove it. He wasn’t perfect but I couldn’t have been more excited.

Amigurumi frog with hand on his hip.

Third Project

Next, once I had gained a bit of confidence I decided to tackle Harry Wolf. He was a much more difficult pattern but his adorable face and ears motivated me to push through. I didn’t yet own safety eyes so I just used buttons. My stitches were uneven and my color changes were sloppy. Also I had no idea that you weren’t supposed to stuff the ears! Harry Wolf turned out to be completely weird and adorable, and I wanted to continue to improve my skills. Each mistake taught me something valuable. Therefore with each project I learned skills that helped me progress to be able to make the next toy even better!

Amigurumi Wolf.
Harry Wolf – Animal Friends of Pica Pau

From that point forward I began crocheting toys with the sole purpose of improving my technique. I wanted my stitches to be more even, I wanted my embroidery to be more uniform, and I wanted my sewing to be neater. I frogged sections that looked bad. Improving my technique became the motivating factor when choosing patterns.

Amigurumi Wolf closeup.
Button eyes, stuffed ears, and sloppy color changes! Oh my!

Want to see a side-by-side comparison of my first wolf and my third one to see the improvement practice and perseverance makes? Visit my blog post: You Can Make Amigurumi: A Tale of Two Walters.

You Can Make Amigurumi

I promise you can do this. Don’t believe me? Try it! Start with a YouTube tutorial. Work at improving your skills. Keep at it even when you feel like you aren’t making progress. Within a few months you will be able to see how far you’ve come.

Amigurumi 101 – Homework

Finally, this week’s homework is to watch Wooly Wonder’s YouTube video, Very Easy Crochet Bunny Tutorial. Then try making this adorable little rabbit or any of her beginner amigurumi tutorials! I think you’ll be surprised that you can do it! Please share your bunnies with me! I would love to see your progress!

Next week’s post will be all about how to choose a written pattern and color palette!

Wolf and Bunny Amigurumi Animals
My fist amigurumi projects!


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Carolina Springtime and the History of the Humble Granny Square

Colorful granny squares and beautiful yarn arranged in a rustic box.

Carolina Springtime and the History of the Humble Granny Square

Confession time! I have always wanted to be a quilter. There, I said it. Many years ago I even took classes, bought a bunch of expensive fabric, and attempted to make one. But here’s the thing, I despise measuring and sewing machines hate my guts. So for years I just believed that I had no ability to make beautiful blankets, that is until I discovered the humble granny square!

For me granny squares fall into the category of old fashioned goodness. They conjure up images of mountain cabins, churned butter, and home baked bread. While I neither churn butter nor bake bread, I love the thought of them. When I was a little girl I wanted to be Laura Ingalls and wear calico dresses and wear ribbons in my braided hair. I wanted to beat up Nelly Olson and listen to Pa play the fiddle. My love of all things homemade and old fashioned unite perfectly into the beautiful granny square.

Granny squares and Little House on the Prairie books.
Little House on the Prairie

History of the Humble Granny Square

Granny squares are timeless. They have the ability to be old fashioned and modern all at the same time. Some falsely believe the granny square was only popular in the 1970s but that is far from the truth. The first published record we have of the granny square is from the Butterick Publishing Co. from 1891. A description for how to make them was described in wonderful detail but with no written pattern, only a small engraving.

Although no one knows when the granny square was invented it definitely gained popularity in the Depression Era as a way for women to use up scraps of yarn. There are even descriptions of American frontier women who took sweaters and socks that were no longer useful and carefully unraveled them to crochet small squares. They were then given to the older women of the house, or grannies, as they were called, to sew them together.

If you are interested in reading more about granny squares here are two resources that I found while rummaging for information:

New Project

I have been toying with the idea of a new granny square blanket project for several months, but I could not settle on a color palette or a design. One day while scrolling though Instagram and Pinterest I came across a beautiful blanket made by The Patchwork Heart and knew those were the colors I wanted to use. The beautiful pinks, grays, and pop of mustard combined to create such a pleasing combination that I ordered yarn that day! I then stumbled upon the gorgeous Harmony Blanket design by Lucy from Attic 24. I knew in an instant that this was the project I wanted to make.

If you would like to learn more please visit my blog post: How to Read a Crochet Pattern

Materials

I’m using Stylecraft Special DK and I have been quite impressed by its quality and affordability. The colors are absolutely brilliant and it feels so good in my hands. They come in nice, big 3.5 oz skeins and there are 84 different shades to choose from!! It’s 100% acrylic so it will wash and wear well over time.

The Harmony Blanket combines five different colors to form each granny square, which means there are tons of ends! Lucy recommends not procrastinating and weaving them in after each round. I am taking her advice and tackling them with a religious passion. I would have no motivation to finish the blanket if I waited until the end to weave in over 1000 ends!

The squares are combined with the join-as-you-go method which is my very favorite! There are eight rounds of border that pull all the colors together for a very satisfying conclusion.

Little House on the Prairie books and stacked granny squares.
Granny Squares and Little House books

Delicious Details

I am using Lucy’s template for color combination and placement of each square, but I’m applying my own color choices. It is a really nice system to decide which colors to combine and how to join them together beforehand. Lucy’s pattern calls for fourteen different combinations and she includes a table for where to place each square.

Carolina Springtime

I am calling my new blanket, Carolina Springtime, which I decided on during a walk with our dog, Jersey-boy. Check out my YouTube video above to see our gorgeous springtime in technicolor!

You can read more about how he came to join our family here: Transformation of a Dog: Jersey-Boy

Walking through our neighborhood I couldn’t help but notice how all the blooming trees and flowers were the exact colors found in my new blanket! Springtime in North Carolina is incredibly beautiful and I love that I found a way to honor this season for our family to enjoy all year long!

I am still in the early stages of the project, but I have to say I am absolutely in love with it. The colors are so gorgeous and they currently mirror my view of the outdoors. I am totally gaga over the pattern and enjoy working on it every chance I get!


Believe, Bloom, and Balance: Cultivating Your Creative Potential

I’ve been thinking a lot about balance recently and how to attain it. As a creative person I find myself vacillating wildly between working with extreme focus or wandering aimlessly from one idea to the next. Although the past few months have been quite productive, I have felt a little like a chicken running around with its head cut off. Actually that’s not even an accurate description. A mutant, crazy eyed fowl jumping from one frying pan to another sounds more like it! But I’ve discovered an approach that is working for me and maybe it will help you too! I must believe and bloom to be able to achieve balance. This may sound like nonsense, but I love alliteration and I do have a point!

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Before we get down to the nitty gritty please print out your free Believe, Bloom, and Balance Worksheet. This will enable you to complete each exercise in real time.

Believe Bloom and Balance_ Cultivating Your Creative PotentialDownload

Solution Seeking

I’m doing what I always do when I’m feeling out of sorts. I read blogs, listen to podcasts, and go inward. But if I’m honest I also do a smidge of complaining, mostly to my poor husband. Thank goodness his hearing isn’t always the best! But last month I read an interview that Black Sheep Wools did with Lucy from Attic 24 and I was struck with something she wrote. When asked “What direction do you see crochet going in the next 5 to 10 years?” She replied with an answer that has had me thinking ever since.

“Do you know what, I would be so, so happy if my own personal direction didn’t change too much in the next decade as I’m enjoying myself so much right now. I love the balance of my creative life, getting to crochet, design and write at a pace which suits me. I am very much a “go with the flow” type of person and don’t tend to plan much or have any great ambitions for the future. I love the luxury of living in the moment wherever possible, enjoying each day as it comes.”

Lucy – Attic 24

Free Pattern – The Bitty Bunnies: Benedict and Beatrice

Y’all! Seriously! I could not love this answer any more! #goals! This is an answer from a woman who seems to know who she is and where she is going in her crochet business and life. Lucy has been blogging for over a decade and I’m sure that her objectives have evolved over time, but her response has a solidness about it. It’s not wishy washy. It is clear and I couldn’t love it any more.

Based on that one little quote, that only contains four sentences, I have created a worksheet to help bring focus and clarity to our creative lives. It will help us not only stay on track, but keep our intentions clear and our sight focused.

Believe

First, we must Believe to help identify our purpose. You could substitute the word “dream” if that makes more sense

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Don’t abandon me now! This is where it starts to get good! I recently listened to an episode of the Goal Digger podcast with Jenna Kutcher and I literally had to pause it every few minutes just to digest her amazing information. The title was How Being Decisive Leads to Success. I am terrible at making decisions so I randomly clicked on the episode because the title caught my attention.

Jenna urged her listeners to imagine their perfect day. She encouraged us to dive headfirst into the minutea. Imagine what you’re wearing, where you are , and how you’re spending your time.

How do you want to feel each day? What do you plan to accomplish? What is the vision you have for your life? The more specific you can be here, the better off you’ll be. Close your eyes and visualize the perfect day, week, or month and think of the things it includes and what it definitely doesn’t include. How do you want to feel each day? What do you want to accomplish? What would be the end result for you of a successful, fulfilled day? I love to think about this often because how we spend our days is ultimately how we spend our lives.

Jenna Kutcher

Next, sit down and do this exercise on your worksheet. What does your perfect week look like? What are you spending your time doing? What are you wearing? Who are you with? How do you feel?

This is a powerful activity and will ultimately help you find the direction that will bring you the satisfaction and contentment in your creativity endeavors.

Bloom

Have you ever found yourself spending hours upon hours doing things that ultimately do not bring happiness? Have you ever wondered, how in the world did I get myself into this? Have you ever vowed that you would never commit to something only to find yourself saying yes to it again and again? I can totally relate and have vowed to do something about it.

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After completing the Believe exercise you are already to Bloom! Bloom is where we are going to put our dreams into reality. In the left column you are going to write out what activities you are going to say yes to. To use the phrase coined by Marie Kondo, we are going to ask ourselves if it sparks joy?

In the right column you are going to write what you know deep down in your heart is not right for you. This is the part that isn’t quite as easy. It’s hard to say no, especially when there are expectations from other people. It’s hard to let people down. It’s hard to live in fear that somehow we are going to miss out. But you will never live out your Believe dream if you don’t say no to something.

You also may be interested in my blog post Do it Scared: Explore Your Creativity!

Balance

Finally, balance is the sweet spot and it’s the one I struggle with the most. It’s not just an objective but a state of mind/being I want to reside in. For me balance would mean keeping my personal and business intentions clear and concise. No more feeling guilty for working on my crochet business too much or for not working on it enough. Balance means finding that luxurious flow of family, creativity, and work.

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In the Balance section of your worksheet we are going to put the Believe and Bloom segments to work. Here you are going to write out your personal Mission Statement right there on your worksheet. You are going to take the dream from your perfect day and combine it with your yes statements to create your individual proclamation.

This is the critical piece of the puzzle. Your mission statement will ultimately become your North Star. It is what will guide you when temptations knock at the door, showing you the way when the right decision doesn’t seem clear.

This has been an extremely useful exercise for myself and my hope is that you find value in it for yourself! Please leave a comment or suggestion you have for finding balance in your creative business and life! I would love to hear from you!

The Essential Amigurumi Toolkit

Never in my life did I think tools would be important to me. The very word “tools” conjures up the image of a dirty garage with hammers, screwdrivers, and those doohickies that clamp around things and turn them. But like any good craftsman we need good tools. They are a vital part of our craft and therefore their quality matters. A properly stocked amigurumi toolkit will not only make your life easier, I believe it will also improve the quality of the pieces you are crocheting!

The best investment is in the tools of one’s own trade.

Benjamin Franklin

Crochet Hooks

I have tried many brands of crochet hooks: wood, metal, cheap, and expensive. I have used different sizes and even different shapes. But I have settled on one that not only feels good in my hands, but does the job I need it to do. My hands down, absolute favorite crochet hook is the Furl’s Odyssey 3.5mm/size E hook. First of all metal is the only way to go in my humble opinion for amigurumi. I have tried wood but have found it to be “sticky”. It doesn’t slip through those tiny little single crochets the way only a metal hook can. I also like the shape of the Furl’s Odyssey hook. The tip of the hook is actually wider than the base of its neck which helps me to create the neat small stitches I love for my ami.

Furls Odyssey Crochet Hook – 3.5mm

You may also be interested in my post titled How to Read a Crochet Pattern

To see my post about my crochet room visit my post KonMari for Crafters

Stitch Markers

Stitch markers are another must have in your amigurumi toolkit. These are quite inexpensive but make the job so much easier. They slip easily into your stitches and keep the beginning of rounds clear and easy to see. I personally like the ones that resemble a safety pin and lock closed. There is nothing more frustrating than losing a marker and trying to figure out which stitch is the beginning of the round!

Stitch markers 100PC Mix Color Knitting Stitch Counter Crochet Locking Stitch Markers Stitch Needle Clip Knitting Crochet Markers(Color Ship Randomly)

Yarn Needles

Yarn needles are an inexpensive but necessary tool. They are blunt tipped at the end so that they will not easily split the yarn like a sharp needle would. They also have a very large eye designed specifically for yarn, not thread. I personally prefer the stainless steel type, not plastic. I tend to crochet quite tightly and need a nice sturdy needle for sewing pieces on.

Yarn needles BetyBedy Large-Eye Blunt Needles, Stainless Steel Yarn Knitting Needles, 9 Pieces Sewing Needles, Perfect for Finishing Off Crochet Projects (Silver)

Magnetic Needle Case

I didn’t always use a magnetic needle case but after dropping my regular one on the ground one too many times, I decided it was a necessity! As a child I stepped on a needle once and it imbedded into the heel of my foot. I probably don’t even need to tell you this but that HURT!!! I never want to repeat that mistake again, so magnetic needle cases for the win!

Magnetic yarn needle case Magnetic Needle Box

Embroidery Scissors

You don’t have to have a small pair of embroidery scissors, but I do find it more convenient. Large scissors are cumbersome for the job of amigurumi making. I also like the small sharp points of embroidery scissors to be able to closely clip yarn ends that have been woven in.

Scissors Embroidery Scissors – 4.53 inch, Stork Scissors Stainless Steel Gold Sewing Scissors Small Sharp for Crafting, Art Work, Threading, Needlework& BROSHAN (Gold)

Headlamp

This may seem like a super weird thing for an amigurumi maker to have but trust me, you will love this! It is definitely not a cute look, but oh so helpful! One summer night we lost power and I was in the middle of crocheting. I got out the headlamps that we keep around the house from my boys’ camping days. I strapped it on my head and continued crocheting. I quickly found that the LED light make seeing those teeny tiny stitches so much easier, even if the power isn’t out! I especially use the headlamp if I am crocheting with a super dark yarn or it’s late at night and my eyes are getting tired!

Headlamp Energize LED AAA Headlamp with HD+ Vision Optics, 4 Modes Flashlight 50 Hour Run Time, 250 Lumens (Batteries Included)

Pins

Pins are an absolute necessity for making amigurumi. They hold snouts, arms, and ears in place for sewing onto the body. I’ve tried not using pins and its just easier to use them. They are relatively inexpensive and mine have pretty glass heads!

Pins Outus 250 Pieces Glass Head Pins Boxed for Dressmaker (Multicolor)

Embroidery Floss

Black embroidery floss is something I use for almost each and every one of my toys. Noses, mouths, and eyelashes are typically stitched onto the toy and I usually like them to be black. I prefer embroidery floss over using yarn, which I think can look messy and bulky at times. Thankfully embroidery floss is quite inexpensive and a little goes a long way!

Embroidery floss DMC 117-310 Mouline Stranded Cotton Six Strand Embroidery Floss Thread, Black, 8.7-Yard

Amigurumi Safety Eyes

I am NOT a fan of stitching eyes onto amigurumi so I almost exclusively use safety eyes. So far my favorite eyes are in the link below. The reason they are my favorite is that the backs are easy to put on but don’t come off! If you have ever wrestled with the back of a safety eye, you know exactly what I’m talking about! This pack also comes with a wide variety of sizes and even little plastic noses! The only drawback to this particular pack is that it doesn’t specify what size each eye is. If that’s a concern for you look for safety eyes that specify that detail.

Safety eyes Hamineler 267Pcs Plastic Safety Eyes Nose Set, Plastic Safety Eyes (6-12 mm), Plastic Safety Triangle Nose (6-13mm) for Doll, Puppet, Plush Animal Making (5 Sizes Black)

Notions Pouch

Having a cute little pouch to keep all your notions all in one place is a wonderful thing to have! I like that a pouch keeps everything in one place, but it’s also convenient if you take your crocheting on the go!

Notions Pouch Cat Pencil Case Cats and Yarn Knitting Notion Pouch Kitten Makeup Bag Gift for Cat Lovers Pencil Pouch Small Cosmetics Bag

I hope this little list is a valuable tool for you as well! See what I did there?! Hehe! A properly stocked amigurumi toolkit is a wonderful sight to behold and will be in use for many years to come!

Full Disclosure: Please note that some of the links above are affiliate links and at no cost to you, I will earn a teeny tiny commission if you choose to purchase any of these supplies. Please know that I only recommend products that I believe are beneficial, not because of a small commission I might make. Thank you for supporting Le Petit Saint Crochet!

Free Crochet Pattern – The Bitty Bunnies

Free Crochet Pattern
The Bitty Bunnies: Benedict and Beatrice

Free Crochet Pattern

Y’all have no idea how hard it is for me to keep a secret!!! I have been holding in all this excitement for months! Introducing my brand new amigurumi design, The Bitty Bunnies: Benedict and Beatrice. This free crochet pattern is available now!

You can find the complete free amigurumi pattern below! The Bitty Bunnies were presented originally on The Hook Nook Life Blog! First, I cannot begin to express how absolutely humbled I feel at being one of their featured makers this quarter! I have long admired Jessica Carey and the incredible business she has created from the ground up. I just can’t believe that I am able to be a small part of this maker community! Somebody pinch me!

I designed the Bitty Bunnies with the beginner in mind. Above all, I wanted this free crochet pattern to be available to those with basic crochet skills and a desire to make some amigurumi! With spring just around the corner, bunny rabbits seemed like the perfect choice.

If you would like more help please see my post: How to Read a Crochet Pattern

The Bitty Bunnies: Benedict and Beatrice Pattern Pattern

Free Crochet Pattern

Awesome Pattern Testers

I cannot thank my pattern testers enough and hope that you all will check out their work as well. They were all so encouraging and gave such helpful notes! I could not have published this free pattern without them!

This adorable pink girl is from the super talented Cheryl, creator of Cheryl Marie Handmade. You can find her gorgeous work on Instagram. I absolutely love how she made her bunny pink and then used her signature neutrals for the clothing!

Cheryl Marie Handmade

Next is Amy from The Little Yarn Barn! You can find her adorable amigurumi on Instagram! Amy’s handmade creations are not only beautifully made but full of the love she has for her craft.

Our third bunny was made by the witty Helen, creator of Flora Honey Pot. Helen has such a fantastic British sense of humor, the warmest heart, and a taste for Marmite! You will definitely want to check out her work on Instagram!

Flora Honeypot

And last but certainly not least is the bunny from Lori at Knitting 1 Stitch at a Time! Lori is not only a talented knitter and crocheter but is always willing to lend a helping hand! You will want to check out Lori’s creations!

Knitting 1 Stitch at a Time

Finally I am so incredibly excited to share this free crochet pattern with you all! I hope you feel the joy and happiness in my heart with which these were designed! If you make The Bitty Bunnies, please tag me on Instagram @lepetitsaintcrochet! I would absolutely love to see them!

If you would like another free crochet pattern please check out my Princess Bernadette Bear pattern

How to Edit Photos for Free

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I used to think photo editing just meant adding a fancy Instagram filter to my pictures. My favorites were Lark, Juno, and Ludwig. Now there’s nothing wrong with those filters but using an actual photo editing app gives you so much more control. More control = more happiness! Haha! Well, it does for me anyway!

I am not a photographer and I don’t claim to be an editing expert. I’m sure that a professional would cringe at my photo editing, but the way I do it makes me deliriously happy and it’s just so darn easy!

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Snapseed

The first thing you will need is the free app for your phone, Snapseed. There may be better editing apps out there, but this one is FREE! I love free! It’s also incredibly easy to use and I need easy. Head to your App Store and download this handy little tool!

If you’re interested in learning more about how to I photograph my amigurumi please visit: How To Photograph Amigurumi

I highly recommend playing around with the app so that you become comfortable with the different tools. I promise it becomes second nature once you’ve familiarized yourself with it. The great thing about it is if you don’t like your edits you can always revert the photo back to the original. So there’s nothing to lose!

Let’s get editing!

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Choose the photo you would like to edit

Open up your Snapseed app and tap on the large + sign on the screen and choose the photo you would like to edit.

Tap “Tools”

When you tap on “Tools” an entire menu will pop up.

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Tap “Tune Image”

Tapping on “Tune Image” will first bring up “Brightness” but if you scroll up on your screen it will bring up all the different tools in this section!

Brightness– This tool is fairly self explanatory. Scroll right to add more light to your photo and scroll left to bring that brightness down. Once you’re happy with that, scroll up to find your next tool.

Contrast– I like a decent amount of contrast in my photos. It increases the dark tones in the photo and helps them stand out. Play around with increasing and decreasing the contrast to see what looks good with your photo. When you’re satisfied scroll up to our next tool!

Saturation– This tool is one of my favorites and I can get a little “saturation happy” if I’m not careful. I try not to add too much saturation to my photos because it can distort certain colors like red and bright pink. If it’s overused the photo can lose its natural look. Of course if you’re going for a something a little wild then turn that sucker up!! Now scoll up to find our next tool.

Ambiance– this is a tool I really like. It can bring some light to dark sections without making it look bright. I especially like how it looks on natural wood. It takes away some of the shadows in a photo as well. Taking the ambiance down brings out the shadows and looks fantastic when you want those dark moody looks! Scroll up to find the next tool.

Highlights– this one is pretty self explanatory. It adds light but doesn’t seem to be a shadow reducer. Play around with adding and subtracting highlights to see what looks best in your photo. Typically I only add a little highlight to my photos. Let’s scroll up for our next tool.

Shadows– this is a tool I use sparingly. It is great when you need to reduce some of the shadow in a photo but I find that it can begin to look unnatural when it is overused. See what looks best for your photo. Do you like more or less shadow? Scroll up to find our last tool for this section!

Warmth– I definitely have warm tones in my photos but I typically don’t add much warmth to them. I usually never reduce the warmth to give my photos a cool tone. Which appeals to you more? I find that keeping photos either warm or cool in your Instagram feed helps give your account a more cohesive look.

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Once you’re happy with how your photo is looking, click the check mark on the bottom right corner!

Now let’s click back on “Tools” to keep editing!

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Tap “Details”

Details are probably my favorite tool in Snapseed. I think this is where you can really make your photos shine! I’m going to be completely honest here and admit something that makes me sound like an idiot…I really have no idea how these two tools are different  from one another! Yikes. But I use them with free abandon!!! You don’t need to know how they work to enjoy them, sort of like electricity, and airplanes, and telephones!

Warning! Adding Structure and Sharpening is a great tool for showing details, it’s not great on the aging human face! So I would skip this if this is a photo of yourself, but if it’s of your mother-in-law turn it up! Just kidding! Sort of. Teehee!

Structure– add more structure if you want to bring out the details of a photo. This is especially good for showing stitch definition and details!

Sharpening– Like the structure tool, sharpening makes your photos crisp and clear.

Tap the check mark

Tap back on “Tools”

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Tap on Tonal Contrast

Tap the check mark to see if you like what this does to your photo. I probably use this about half of the time. It brings out the details and adds some texture to the photo.  Tonal Contrast generally does not look good on human flesh. It makes skin look either very wrinkly or dirty, so that is no bueno in my book.  It can also distort some background images. You can always add it and then if you don’t like it tap on the back arrow icon to undo the edit.

Tap the check mark if you like the edit or the “x” if you don’t want to add it.

Tap back on “Tools”

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Other tools to play with

Some of the other tools that I occasionally play with are:

  1. Lens Blur – this tool is such a fun toy to play with! Add it to a photo to blur the background of photo. When you tap on Lens Blur it will add a bullseye to your photo with the focused section in the center, slightly blurred in the middle, and most blurred in the outermost section. You can even move the bullseye center for where you would like the focus to be. Also you can change the shape of the bullseye from a circle to an oval. This tool can give your photo a very interesting aesthetic and give your viewer something to focus on.
  2. Vignette – this tool is something I only occasionally use. It makes the photo darker around the edges and is another way to keep the focus exactly where you want it to be. It can also add that moody dark style that looks so good.

Snapseed has 28 total different tools and they each do something different. It’s a fun tool to play with and can bring out the best in your photos.

How to Read a Crochet Pattern

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How to Read a Crochet Pattern in 3 Easy Steps

How to Read a Crochet Pattern

Do you remember that scene from the movie A Christmas Story when Ralphie is hiding in the bathroom trying to decode the message from his favorite radio program, Little Orphan Annie? Reading a crochet pattern is kind of like that, except (spoiler alert!) you won’t encounter a disappointing advertising message for Ovaltine at the end!

I’ve had quite a few experienced crocheters admit to me that they cannot read a crochet pattern. They are very good at what they do and are able to make gorgeous blankets, scarves, and beanies but never got around to learning the basic skill. Reading a crochet pattern is as simple as translating abbreviations into “normal talk”! I swear it’s that easy. It’s not hard. It’s not even terribly complicated! But there are three tricks that will make it even easier, and I’m going to help you do it! Are you ready? Don’t be nervous! I’m going to be right there helping you the whole time!

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Have a crochet abbreviations chart on hand

Having a good crochet abbreviations chart is the first step to being able to read a crochet pattern. It will list most, if not all, of the abbreviations you will encounter. Crochet patterns are not written like a sentence. Patterns are abbreviated and use symbols to express stitches and repeats. Once you get the hang of abbreviations it will become second nature and you won’t need a chart very often. But for now it is a good idea to keep one on hand. I have created one that is certainly not an exhaustible list, but these are the abbreviations I regularly encounter in the amigurumi patterns I use. Keep this resource handy because we are going to need it soon!

Printable version here: Crochet Abbreviations Chart!

Crochet Abbreviations Chart (1)

If you are interested in a complete list of abbreviations visit the Craft Yarn Council Crochet Abbreviations Master List

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Read over the entire pattern

Before we start this step you are going to need to grab a crochet pattern. If you don’t have one on hand click here to view my free Princess Bernadette Bear – Free Crochet Pattern!

Start by skimming over the entire pattern. How long is it? Are there photos? Locate where each part of the pattern is. There is usually a notes section near the beginning that gives an overview or provides specific information that will be important.

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Another critical section is the materials. You will need to make sure you have the materials you need on hand because there is nothing as frustrating as getting to a point in a project and then realizing you don’t have the necessary supplies. A good pattern will have all of it listed out, usually near the beginning.

The next step is to skim over the actual pattern. You do not need to read over every single line. This is where you get a feel for how the project is constructed. Is is one piece? Does it start at the head and work down or start at the feet and work up? It’s a good habit to begin becoming familiar with patterns before you dive in, it can save you headaches in the end! Ask me how I know!! Lol!

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Translate the pattern line by line

This is the fun part! Really it is! Don’t believe me? Well then let’s get started! I’m going to use my own pattern for sake of ease and walk you through my process for translating! It helps to have a sheet of paper handy but you can also write on the pattern itself!

Looking at the “Head and Body” section on page 4 it reads: Using smaller hook, make a magic ring. The first line doesn’t even need a translation! That’s not too hard is it? I’m going to list the rounds and then the translations so you can see just what I mean!

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Round 1: – 6sc in magic ring (6)

Translation: make six single crochet in the magic ring.

The number in parentheses at the end of a line in crochet indicates how many stitches you will have after you’ve worked that line.

Round 2: inc each st (12)

Translation: increase in each stitch, you will now have twelve stitches.

An increase stitch is as simple as making two single crochet into one stitch. You are making the one stitch from the previous round into two stitches.

Round 3: (1 sc, inc) 6 times (18)

Translation: (make one single crochet, then increase) do what it is parentheses six times in total.  You will now have eighteen stitches at the end of round 3.

By translating each line, not only will you be able to read the pattern, you will begin memorizing those abbreviations very quickly! If you come across an abbreviation that you aren’t familiar with, and is not on your printout, just google it. Youtube is also your friend. There are hundreds of tutorials for how to make any crochet stitch you will likely ever come across!

How to Read a Crochet Pattern

I hope these three easy steps will help you feel confident that you can begin reading crochet patterns. Always remember that it’s always harder in the beginning but in no time you’ll be an old pro! I would love to hear your experience. Do you read crochet patterns or do you rely on tutorials?

Free Printable Amigurumi, Crochet, and Knit Project Pages

 

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If you are anything like me you can’t remember what you ate yesterday let alone what brand of yarn you used for a project made six months ago! In an effort to become a bit more organized I created two printables so that I can keep track of all the details of a project in order to easily recreate it. I originally wanted them to be super colorful and pretty and then I remembered the price of printer ink…so I opted to go with plain ole black and white. Of course I had to add some cute, cuddly creatures and balls of yarn just to make them fun!

 

Read more about why I want to transform myself into an organized crochet diva here: KonMari for Crafters

But the best part is that I made the printables for y’all too!! Yay! Yippee!! The links are all the way at the bottom of the post! I hope you enjoy them both!

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Check out my Amigurumi Pattern Directory for links to this pattern and all my other favorite amigurumi designers!

These printables make it easy to keep track of every detail of a crochet and knit project, from the yarn brand, to the hook and needle sizes, and everything in between! Unfortunately I crocheted a beautiful sunburst granny square blanket back in 2017 and I no longer remember what materials I used. I would love to make another one with the exact yarn but I didn’t have anywhere to store that information. That is one of my big motivations for keeping these records!

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Another great reason to keep track of your project details is that it will be super simple to share with others. When your friends want to know exactly how you made that gorgeous sweater or your adorable mermaid tail all you have to do is take a photo of your project page and text or email it straight to them! Voila!

 

 

Amigurumi Project Page!

 

 

Crochet & Knit Project Page (1)

 

Free Printable PDFs! Say that five times fast!!

Amigurumi Project Page!

Crochet and Knit Project Page

Thanks so much for stopping by the Le Petit Saint Crochet Blog! I would love to learn about your best tips for keeping your creative projects organized!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Thank You Letter to Crochet

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A Thank You Letter to Crochet

Dear Crochet,

We got some really good news today and I wanted to share it with you. But first I need to thank you for everything you have done for me. Two and a half years ago I was in a bad place. I couldn’t stop worrying about my son. I couldn’t stop dwelling on “what if” scenarios. While scrolling through Pinterest late one evening, I stumbled upon a photo of you and that moment changed my life.

(Here’s a link if you would like to read more: Why I started crocheting and you should too!)

You have kept my hands busy so my mind could rest. You have given me hours of entertainment. My love for you has even helped me make new friends! I cannot thank you enough for that. While some may see you as just a silly hobby, I know you are so much more. You give back and expect nothing in return. You are always there waiting when I need you.

I’ve learned so much from you. I’ve learned that I can persevere even when something is tough. I’ve learned that I can stay up late just to finish something beautiful. I’ve learned that I can make others happy too! I have sobbed with a crochet hook in my hand, and I have laughed until my sides hurt. You were always there. Quiet. Patient.

Back to my good news, today we sat in the neurologist’s office and heard the words I have wanted to hear for so long. The doc had a big grin on her face as well. I kept asking if what I was seeing was true and she assured me and my son that it certainly was true. My son does this thing where he tries to hide a big smile when he’s embarrassed, and he did that today. It melted my heart. I could see that he understood what that moment meant. He understood that this is the end of a long hard road that took many twists and turns down dark, scary paths.

I promise that I will share how wonderful you are. I will share with others how you help people through the good times and the bad. I will tell others about your calming presence.

So thank you from the bottom of my heart for coming into my life. I wouldn’t be here without you. I know that my son’s situation may change. I know that the good times may only be here for a short time. But I also know for a fact that you’ll still be here.

Love,

Elise

5 Lessons Makers can Learn from Disney

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Pio Pig – Made by me – Pattern from Les Petites Mains de Khuc Cay

Yes, I am that crazy woman who brought a crocheted pig into Disney World and snapped a photo of him! On an average day almost 53,000 individuals enter the gates of  Magic Kingdom in Orlando, FL. Gasp. Let that sink in for a sec… That equals over nineteen million visitors each year! It is the most visited amusement park in the world and there are no signs of it slowing down any time soon, even with more competition coming on the scene in recent years.

We recently went on a wonderful trip to Disney World. It had been almost a decade since we had been there and I saw it with new eyes! Waiting in line for the Small World ride my family and I began discussing how well Disney deals with the overwhelming crowds of people. I noticed how clean all the little nooks and crannies were while waiting in line for the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. At the Confectioner’s Shop I couldn’t help but be impressed with the smiles from the cashier even though she had likely been there for quite a while and had been ringing up customer after customer.  It got us all thinking about the inner workings of the iconic park and how they have perfected the concept of “experience”.

For the rest of the trip and the nine hour drive home I thought about how Disney does what they do and how well they do it. It began to dawn on me that many of these same principles can be applied to our own little handmade businesses as well!

(For more information about the pig pattern check out my Amigurumi Pattern Directory)

Branding

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No one, and I mean no one, has perfected their branding like Disney. Their font is instantly recognizable. The music, the movies, the merch… it doesn’t even need to have their name or logo on it and we all know exactly where it came from.

How can we as handmade makers begin to develop our own brand recognition? First I believe we all need to be clear about who we are and what we do. I have a few friends on Instagram that I immediately recognize their photos, I don’t even need to see their handle. The products they make, the style of their photos, and their consistent editing make them a brand, and a good one at that! One maker has a very rustic look throughout all her photos, another has bright pinks, yellows, and turquoise! They both have different photos, products, and messages they are promoting, but they stay true to their defined aesthetic.

Details

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I was awestruck when I really took the time to notice all the details at Disney. Since I had a lot of time to wait I started looking for them and I was not disappointed. Each and every ride had so many details, from the cobwebs at the Haunted Mansion to the antique furniture in the Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse, no element was overlooked.

In my humble opinion details make the creation. What I mean by that is the little details create the entire piece. For example, my little piggie wouldn’t be nearly as adorable if he didn’t have eyebrows, or suspenders, or his little bowtie. Even if you are making a toy that doesn’t have a lot of details within the original design, that shouldn’t stop you from creating them yourself. Packaging and tags are another way to add those personal details that make toys special.

(For more about how to create those memorable details: Making Amigurumi: The Artistry is in the Details)

Consistency

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Disney shows up day after day, week after week, month after month…you get the idea. When someone buys a ticket to Magic Kingdom they can be assured that the quality of the rides, the food, and the entertainment value will be the same. I have been going to Disney World since I was a young girl and there is a sense of comfort knowing that I’m going to enjoy my favorite rides and shows.

As makers we need to show up, whether that’s on your social media accounts, blog, or website. We need to show up day after day, week after week, year after year. And that’s hard. It’s hard when you’re in a creative slump. It’s hard when you’re sick. It’s hard when you’re busy. But that’s what sets apart the serious makers from those who just want a hobby. There is nothing wrong with having a hobby, but for those of us who want more consistency is key.

Message

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Disney’s slogan is “The Happiest Place on Earth” and they work very hard to make sure that message comes across loud and clear. They aren’t screaming this statement from their rooftops but they are clearly communicating it. Every employee has a smile on their face. Every ride is full of happiness. Take the Haunted Mansion for example, some theme parks have haunted houses and they are scary! But Disney’s is spooky in a fun, childlike way. Their message is unambiguous and consistent.

What message are you trying to convey? Are you a serious maker, are you silly, are you quirky? What do you want people to know about you? How do you want them to feel when they interact with your content? Defining your message and communicating it in written and visual form is paramount to your success.

Service

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Every single Disney employee we encountered was friendly and knowledgeable. The waiter at Tony’s Town Square Restaurant was professional and conscientious. The food was amazing and the atmosphere was so charming. I’m certain that Disney employees are trained in excellent customer service.

We as makers should treat our own customers with great care. We are creating an experience for them as well. When they purchase a finished product, respond to our content, or buy a pattern they should feel our appreciation. I don’t have a physical storefront, but I do have a virtual one and I try to treat online customers just as I would if we were face to face. Making people feel welcomed is something each one of us can do!

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These five principles are simple. It doesn’t take a genius to see how important they are for handmade businesses but it does take effort, a lot of effort. What suggestions do you have for making your small business better? Do you have big scale organizations you look to for inspiration?

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