This Little Piggy

Piglet, Pig Will & Pig Won't, Wilbur, Babe, Porky, Miss Piggy, Toot & Puddle, Pippo, Pumbaa, The Three Little Pigs, Hamm, Monokuru Boo, the list goes on and on.  Pigs have got to be one of the most popular animals there are.  Pigs are everywhere!

So it is just natural, of course, that so many are made into crocheted cuties.  Before we delve into the patterns, though, let's see some piggy fun facts!

• Pigs have no sweat glands, so they don't perspire.  When they get hot, they roll in the mud to cool off.  Piggies left out in the sun can get a sunburn.
• Pigs are one of the cleanest animals in the world.
• Pigs are one of the most intelligent animals.  They make great pets, can learn tricks, and can be potty trained.
• Pigs can smell up to 25 feet underground, which is why they're great at finding those truffles.
• Pig insulin is used to control diabetes.
• A pig's tongue contains about 15,000 taste buds - more than a human's (maybe we shouldn't feed them slop)!
• A pig's squeal can get up to 115 decibels.

I have two piggy patterns currently available:

Little Miss Rosalie

Piggins

Now that you have swine on your mind, here are some more patterns.  Make one - make them all!

Pig from Lion Brand

Leon the Pig by WireMySoul from DeviantArt

Little Pig from Homemade Zen

Sumo Piggies by Darlene Michaud from Craftster

Peninnah Pig from A Beautiful Ramble

Little Lucky Pig from Lucy Ravenscar

Little Piggy by Michele Wilcox from Coats and Clark

Devil Pig from Rabbiz Design

Link Pig from Nerdigurumi

Flying Pig by MyLoveAsDeep from Craftster

Thank you so much, designers, for the awesome porcine patterns!

Happy crocheting!

Poppets for Moppets

One thing that a lot of kids seem to enjoy is a good puppet.  I never played with them myself, nor did I give them to my kids, but I'm seeing the potential now.  Puppet theaters, for one.  So, maybe I've been missing out.  Maybe I bundled puppets together with ventriloquist dummies (shudder).  Maybe I was being unfair.  Time for a little redemption!

I went searching and there are some really cute patterns for crochet puppets out there.  Clearly, I'm going to have to make up for lost time!

Here are some patterns that you might be interested in:

Farmyard Finger Puppets from by Yvonne Boucher on Crochet Pattern Central

Dragon from Silvercharmster

Frog from Is Five

Cow, Kitty, and Pig from Coats and Clark

Yarn Puppet Scarf from Yarn Juleps on the Veranda

Shepherds Finger Puppets from 6ichthusfish

Puppet Dolly by Granny Judith from Crochet Patterns Only

Thank you, designers, for the great patterns!

Have fun puppeteering!  Happy Crocheting!

Superstar!

After my recent trip to the beach, the ocean is still on my mind.  Here's a happy star applique from me to you.  In my mind, they're seastars, but really, they make great cosmic stars, too!

Star

rd	directions	total
1	mc 5	5
2	(inc)	10
3	([ss, ch 7, sc in the 3rd ch from the hook, skip 1 ch, hdc, skip 1 ch, dc], skip 1 sc, ss) X 5 5 arms made fo, weave in loose ends

You can whip stitch two together for a puffier (and more finished) 3D creation.  This results in a piece perfect for gift tags, fridgies, and little toys.

Here is the pattern for the back piece:

rd	directions	total
1	mc 5	5
2	(inc)	10
3	[ss, turn, ch 7, sc in the 3rd ch from the hook, skip 1 ch, hdc, skip 1 ch, dc], skip 1 sc, ss 1 arm made
4	([ss, ch 7, sc in the 3rd ch from the hook, skip 1 ch, hdc, skip 1 ch, dc], skip 1 sc, ss) X 4 4 additional arms made fo, weave in loose ends
5	whip stitch this piece to the first piece, with the backsides facing, fo, weave in the loose end

Please do not sell this pattern or reproduce it in any way.  If you would like to share it, please do not copy & paste, but instead link to this page.  Thank you!

  

Make a herd.  Make a galaxy.  Have fun and Happy Crocheting!

Just Beachy

Ahhhh....  Just back from a nice little vacation on the coast.  I just love it there - the cool sea air, the fun on the beach, the little shoppes, the walks on the promenade (and, of course, the taffy).  What a great way to spend some leisure time!

“Our memories of the ocean will linger on, long after our footprints in the sand are gone.”  ~Anonymous

“The Sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever.”  ~Jacques Cousteau

Here's a link to a sandtastic site with castle building tips for your next beach visit: www.guardian.co.uk

One of the things that I love about the beach is the calling of the seagulls.  Here are some seagull fun facts:

• Seagulls live 5-15 years
• Seagulls nest on the ground, laying 2-3 eggs at a time, with an incubation period of 26 days
• Seagulls perform a very valuable service, scavenging litter that could pose a health threat to humans
• Seagulls can be found around the oceans worldwide with the exception of some central Pacific islands, and some areas in Southeast Asia
• Seagulls can drink both fresh and salt water
• Seagulls mate for life

And, some lovely free beachy patterns for your enjoyment:

Orca from Free Patterns By H

Jellyfish from Ana Paula

Clam from Knotty's Amigurumi


Thank you, artists, for these awesome patterns!
Happy crocheting, everyone, and may your next trip to the beach be soon!