Category Archives: amigurumi

7 Biggest Blogging Blunders

June 8th, 2019, marked my first year of blogging. I’ve published sixty posts, written 43,820 words, and shared dozens of original photos. I know what plugins, widgets (ok so I’m a little iffy on that one), and keywords are. Make no mistake, I am still very much a newbie but I’ve made plenty of beginner blogging blunders.

A year ago, starting a blog seemed like a natural progression of my yarny addiction. I loved crocheting blankets, making amigurumi, and photographing my projects. It even served the purpose of another creative outlet so that I didn’t have to talk my family’s ears off about my obsession!

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Knitting on Edisto Island

As I write this I am overlooking the pristine Big Bay Creek on Edisto Island, South Carolina. I watched the sunrise this morning all while the seagulls and island birds squawked and chatted to one another. The natural beauty and abundant wildlife of the island gave me a sense of peace and recharged my batteries. I definitely was in need of some “Vitamin Sea”!

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I Was on the Bhooked Podcast!!

When one accomplishes a lifelong goal it is only natural to bake a big fat yummy chocolate cake to celebrate, no? For me, being on the Bhooked podcast was definitely a lofty ambition and there was no better way to memorialize it!

Have you ever had an aspiration, but honestly never thought it would happen? Ever been so excited that you then had to make a decadent dessert to celebrate? Well today a big dream of mine came true and then I cooked up a ginormous ole calorie-packed chocolate cake to commemorate the occasion!

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Knitting Toys on Double Point Needles

Ever since I made my sweet bunny from Little Cotton Rabbits I have been obsessed with knitting toys. I regularly go through spells of falling in love with learning new techniques and I’m falling hard for this one. I think part of it is the enchanting world that Julie (the creator of Little Cotton Rabbits) breathes into existence with her designs, and her blog in particular.

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Traveling with Handmade Projects

The beauty of crochet and knitting is that they are portable. You can partake in yarny adventures whether you’re at home, waiting in a car line to pick kids up from school, or even at 30,000 feet! Recently my husband and I went on a short trip to see our daughter graduate from the University of Oklahoma with her Masters Degree. We couldn’t be more proud, but the trip wasn’t going to be a long one. I debated whether or not it was even worth traveling with any handmade projects. But ultimately the thought of being stuck on an airplane without anything to do pushed me to take one with me!

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Amigurumi 101: Part 3 – Basic Skills

Every craft has basic skills that must be mastered before the individual can move on to more advanced techniques. Think of the ballerina who spends years at the barre perfecting the five positions of the feet. She cannot star as Clara in the Nutcracker until she knows those basic skills up and down, inside and out. This is also true for crocheting amigurumi. The fundamentals matter and once they are mastered the possibilities are endless!

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Amigurumi 101: Part 2 – Choosing a Pattern and Color Palette

Are you caving in to the peer pressure? Have you dipped your toe into the incredible world of amigurumi yet? Before diving into Part 2, Choosing a Pattern and Color Palette, make sure you visit the last post. In Part 1 of Amigurumi 101 we discussed the most important skill you need to possess before crocheting your first toy. Not to be all doom and gloom, but seriously do not skip this step! I believe that if you skip this essential skill you are setting yourself up failure! And ain’t nobody got time for that!

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Amigurumi 101: Part 1 – Never Give Up

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!

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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!

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