Amigurumi Unicorn Horn

As Miss Monkey Pants is at Preschool today, Pink Ape
volunteered to model for me.  He's a nice guy, that Pink Ape.

I'm not exactly sure when it began, or what inspired her, but Little Miss Thing has been busying herself lately, making paper kitty/tiger/puppy ears to wear.  She sits at the kitchen table and painstakingly draws the pattern, colors it, cuts it out, then tapes it all together to form a three-piece headband with ears.

She unabashedly wears them to the grocery store.  I unabashedly let her.

Morrocan Pouf Pillows (Semi) Tutorial

Moroccan Pouf Inspired Floor Pillows!

I ran into this Moroccan pouf pillow design on Pinterest (which were actually being sold for a LOT of $$$ on Plumo), immediately fell in love and decided that I had to have some. 

For a few days, I filtered through about a billion different design ideas on Google, and finally settled on this one, which came with an actual pattern to follow and some pretty great instructions. 

Side Note: Finding and using a pattern was actually a bit strange for me, as I tend to just muddle through things on my own, but I guess using a pattern once in a while won't kill me, huh?

Of course, I followed the pattern, but as I made some changes to the directions, I thought I share what I did with you... because these things are awesome.  And you should have a few.  Once cut, it only took half an hour or so to complete. 



Almost makes a window seat out of practically nothing...



But!  I should warn you.... I used nearly THREE giant, 50oz. bags of Poly-Fil to stuff three pillows.  They are LARGE.

I researched using other materials, specifically packing peanuts (couldn't find enough locally, and what was available is the biodegradable kind, which would squish down too much in a pillow) and old, recycled clothing, towels, etc (too heavy).  Neither was what I wanted.  SO.  Poly-Fil it was.

The good news is that I was forced to go to WalMart for something else (I *hate* WalMart for a multitude of reasons and generally avoid it all costs), and thought I'd check for Poly-fil in the incredibly down-sized crafts section.  Huh.  Whaddyaknow?  I ran into a really good deal. 

SO.  FYI, WalMart sells 50ox bags of Poly-Fil for under $9.00 each.  It cost more than twice that at my local fabric stores.  TWICE that. 

Geez.  Stupid WalMart.

I'm not going into major detail here, as it's already been done on the original link.  However, I DID do a few things differently, so I thought I'd share.  Read on.

 

Yesterday's Teaser... the fabric I chose from my
(Secret Garage Surprise) Dresser O' Fabric Samples.


SO.  Here's how to make Moroccan Floor Pouf Pillows:

Select your fabric and determine the sizing per the above links.  Cut out your pattern.  I used an ad from the Sunday Paper, natch'.

 

(Top Left and Right) I had to trim my fabric samples to a uniform size, first. Final size for each piece was 10" x 20" for this pouf.  If using store bought material, you'll need to do the same.

(Bottom Left) Trimming to the pattern

(Bottom Right) One piece trimmed, and still folded as per the instructions.

NOTE!  Here's the first time I differed from the pattern... knowing that sewing all those pointy ends together at the top and bottom (think "beach ball) was going to make me nutty, I actually trimmed the pointy bits off (by about 1/2") so that I didn't have to deal with the points.  This left a small, octagonal hole at both ends when complete, but I'll show you how I dealt with that in a bit...

(Top Left) All 8 pieces trimmed and ready for sewing.

(Top Right and Bottom Left) Start sewing, right sides together.

(Bottom Right) Continue until all 8 pieces are sewn together. 

Since I left a hole in the top and the bottom (from cutting OFF the points), I didn't leave a turning hole in any side.  I just used one of the open end "holes" to turn and stuff.  That way, I didn't have to hand-sew any of it.  I hate hand-sewing.  Did I already mention that?



(Top) Inside Out!  Turn it!  (Bottom) Right Side out!  Looks like a Beach Ball!



I also did not use Button as used in the original pattern... I made a "False" one instead by cutting out rounds (four total) and sewing them together like so: 

(Top Left) Cut four circles at once, using a a plate as a guide and fabric folded into four layers.  Easy-peasy.  You'll use two circles for the top and two circles for the bottom.

(Bottom Left) Sew two circles, Right Sides Together, leaving an opening to turn.  Repeat for the other set of circles.  Make little cuts around the each circle (from the edge of the fabric to the seam, being careful not to cut the stitching) so that once it's turned right side out, it will lie flatter than if you hadn't cut the notches.

(Top Right) One circle sewn together and turned, the other showing how I marked my turning opening with chalkmarks, and the notches I've cut.  (P.S. Always cut notches like this on a curve or a corner when sewing something that you will turn.  The notches allow the fabric to lie flat instead of bunching up.  You're welcome.)

(Middle Right) Tuck in the opening you left for turning and stitch the edges. I seamed about 1/4" from the edge.

(Bottom Right) Completed "False Buttons" for the top and bottom of the Pouf.

And if you are Four, and it's lunchtime.... Then it must be time for a PICNIC BREAK!  Hello, little kitty!  Don't drink momma's coffee!

Miss M enjoying her picnic in the living room while Momma takes oodles of photos of the ensuing cuteness.  Look'it that face!!!

OKOKOK!  BACK TO WORK! 

Since I hatehatehate Hand Sewing, and there's NO WAY I'm going to get those circles sewn on there neatly by hand or by machine... I pull out the hot-glue gun.  Works.  Totally.

(Top Left) Place a folded sheet of wax paper between the layers so that you don't accidentally glue the top to the bottom!  Go around the circle with your glue gun, and press the Fake Button on.

(Top Right) Lift the edges of your circle, and glue it until it's completely secure, all the way around.  No empty spots.  None.  Glue it.  Glue it GOOD.

(Bottom Left) STUFF!  Go to the store and buy more Stuffing!  Stuff some more!

(Bottom Right) Glue the bottom Fake Button on as you did the top "Button", covering up the stuffing hole entirely.

DONE!

OH!  Before I forget!  The top Pouf in the photo below only has SEVEN sections... It was an experiement.  I cut the pieces to the exact same size as the others, but with one less section, it's TALLER.

Interesting.

I suppose if I were a mathematical genius (or even sliughtly mathmatically inclined), I could have forseen that.  I didn't. 

But it's cool.  Variety is the spice of life.




NOW!  Make two more Poufs and Stack 'em Up!  Everything is better in Threes, you know...


They look pretty in this room, too....

Huh. 

Who's going to clean up this mess?

Wait.

It's Me?

Dammit....

Sigh.





Candy Tin to Crocheted Treasure Box... With BONUS Super-Snarky Tutorial!

My husband always slips a particular brand of tinned candy into my Christmas Stocking.  I like sweet little tins as much as I like the candy that comes in them, so of course, I'm loathe to throw them away.  This year, the empty tin just happened to be sitting next to what my husband calls "the nest"-- my ridiculously large jumble of yarn, hooks, needles and in-process knitting and crochet projects that sits on the table nearest to my end of the couch.  I generally try to clean it up when we have company, but if we're really good friends, well... you've seen it in all it's glory.  And, yeah... Yikes.

So... I'm watching TV, and as usual, need to do something with my hands (which goes a long way toward explaining how my "nest" got there to begin with).  The tin looking so lonely and empty now... so I fixed it up with a bit of crochet and some hot glue. 

The end result now belongs to my 8-year old, who has already filled it with petit objets d'boy.  Fabulous.

Pretty Simple to do, actually.  I debated about whether or not I'd even write a how-to, but, what the heck.  Husband is upstairs in bed with a cold, kids are strangely occupied, so.... Here goes.

Wonder where a California kid got a 5 Pence?

Note that these directions fit *my* tin.. you may need to add or subtract rows for yours... Gauge is unimportant, just keep checking your growing crochet circle against the tin, and when your circle and the tin are the same diameter, you are ready to stop adding stitches and just single crochet in each stitch until the side is covered. Oh yeah... I used a size "E" hook.

Empty the tin FIRST, Flower.  That's the yummy bit.

  

Make TWO (one for the top, and one for the bottom, Sweetie):

Begin: Chain 2.
Rnd 1: 6 sc in 2nd ch from hook. Sl st in first sc, to join. (6 sc)
Rnd 2: ch 1, 2 sc in ea sc around. Sl st in first sc, to join. (12 sc)
Rnd 3: ch 1, (sc in next sc, 2 sc in next sc) around. Sl st in first sc, to join. (18 sc)
Rnd 4: ch 1, (sc in ea of next 2 sc, 2 sc in next sc) around. Sl st in first sc, to join. (24 sc)
Rnd 5: ch 1, (sc in ea of next 3 sc, 2 sc in next sc) around. Sl st in first sc, to join. (30 sc)

Rnd 6:  ch 1, (sc in ea of next 4 sc, 2 sc in next sc) around. Sl st in first sc, to join. (36 sc)

Rnd 7 & 8:  ch1, sc around. Sl st in first sc, to join. (36 sc)



Should look something like this when you're finished.
You may notice that I actually used two different colors on the top.
You get two extra-snarky points for being observant.



Of course, the next step involves the craftiest of crafting implements, and my personal fave... the hot glue gun. 

Plug it in.  Remember to leave some sort of offering to the Glue Gun Gods, or you KNOW you will burn your fingers.  That's the way it goes.  Don't ask questions.  My glue gun likes a piece of brie left on the counter.

Have a cup of tea/coffee/Amaretto Sour while you wait for the glue gun to warm up.



Note that the top piece covers the entire side of the tin, but that the
bottom piece leaves the ridge/lip open so that it will close.  Kinda important. 



Squirt a little hot glue on top of the tin and center your crochet piece to fit.  Uh.... it should go without saying that your crochet piece should fit the top of the tin pretty well. The bottom, too, for that matter. You *could* drape your crochet over the tin, and lift up an edge, and glue very carefully in that manner... but you know... it's stretchy.  It'll be fine.  Fine, I say.

Glue about an inch or so at a time around the edge, checking to be sure that you line up your crochet edge to the bottom of the tin lid.  Don't overlap it, or it won't close in the end, Monkey Bits! See the Red piece, below.

Repeat the gluing process for the bottom half of the tin, BEING SURE to leave the "lip" free of crochet so that it will close.  I'm talking to YOU, Monkey Bits!  See the Blue piece, below.



And you're DONE!  Unless, of course, you need to clean off those stringly bits of extra glue gun plastic-y mess.  Do that. 

Give it to YOUR eight-year-old and prepare to be stunned and amazed by the things he pulls out of his pants pockets and drops in his new treasure box!

Or... I suppose you could keep it for yourself you selfish, selfish thing.