Fuzzy Funky Scarf!

This is a super project for beginner knitters--all you need to know is how to cast on, knit, purl, bind off, and weave in ends! It's the easiest thing in the world--you can even shorten it, add buttons, and make it a fuzzy neck warmer!

MATERIALS:

2 skeins of Lion Brand Fun Fur Prints in desired colorway (I used "confetti")

1 pair of US 9 or US 11 knitting needles

Scissors

Yarn Needle

A neck in need of a good warm scarf

1. Cast on 20 stitches and knit until your scarf is the desired length. The yarn is extra stretchy, especially with US 11 needles, so when in doubt cast off a little shorter then the length you want, because it will stretch a lot over time.

2. I casted off at about 23 inches and it worked out fine. Weave in ends.

3. Enjoy

ASK MR. LLAMA

Dear Mr. Llama,

I just learned how to knit and really love it--but every time I count my stitches I have more then I casted on. Is this supposed to happen?

Getting Wider

Dear Getting Wider,

This is a very common mistake with people who just learned how to knit (it even happens with crocheting sometimes). You're probably accidentally increasing stitches by splitting a stitch in half. This is especially easy to do with hand-spun wool, since it's so thick and hard to see stitches. If this mistake is done over many rows, you may not be able to fix it, you might have to start over. If it's done over 1-2 rows, decrease back to the amount of stitches you casted on by knitting 2 stitches together at the beginning of the row until you have the number of stitches you had before. Hope this helps!

Dear Mr. Llama,

I really want to knit toys but have no idea where to get some really cute patterns. Can you help me?

Toy-Crazy

Dear Toy-Crazy,

You can find many adorable patterns for toys at www.ravelry.com. I highly recommend this site. Also, if you check your local bookseller (with a crafty-section) they may have some toy knitting books. 2 fantastic designers I love are Alan Dart (www.alandart.co.uk) and Jean Greenhowe (www.jeangreenhowe.com). If you like knitting magazines, check out Simply Knitting and Knit Today--they have many adorable toy knitting patterns. Hope this helps!

Dear Mr. Llama,

What is gauge? I've heard so many people talk about it and I'm really confused.

Confused Knitter

Dear Confused Knitter,

Gauge (also known as tension) is the way you control your yarn--in other words, how tight or loose your stitches are. Gauge is helpful because it determines the finished size of your project. Anything as simple as changing the yarn you use can affect your gauge. So how do I make sure my gauge is correct? Make a swatch! You're pattern should tell you how many stitches to cast on and how long to knit. Do that, and then cast off. DO NOT STRETCH YOUR SWATCH--this will affect the size. Simply place it down with some pins here and there to keep it flat. Then take a ruler and measure how many stitches (not inches or cm) are in an inch. If it matches what your pattern says your gauge should be, then yay! Start your project! If it's a little bigger, use 1 size down with the needles. If it's a little smaller, go 1 size up. Hope this helps!

Dear Mr. Llama,

I love handmade fibers, but I'm terribly allergic to wool. What other choices are there?

Sneezy

Dear Sneezy,

There are a lot of options! Try satin blends like Caron Simply Soft. Or, bamboo yarns are nice--for instance, Patons Bamboo. These are all examples of yarns that do not contain any wool in them. Play around with different yarns and see which one you like best. The labels will tell you what the yarn contains. Hope this helps!

Dear Mr. Llama,

My friends all have fuzzy, funky scarves. I really want to make one, but I don't know what kind of yarn I need or what needles I should use. Can you help me?

Sir Fuzzymonster

Dear Sir Fuzzymonster (nice name, by the way!)

It's the easiest thing in the world to make a fuzzy scarf! It sounds like the yarn you are describing is Fun Fur by Lion Brand. This is the funkiest yarn ever! It comes in a variety of colors, including self striping yarn and pastel colors. You can also use Sensations Cello, which is basically the same thing. There are also faux fur yarns--ideal for making fake shawls and wraps. If you find counting rows/stitches is impossible, use the fun fur along with some worsted weight yarn to make it easier to knit.

Use size 8 (5mm) needles and 2 skeins of Lion Brand Fun Fur in desired color.

Cast on 20 stitches and knit until a) you run out of yarn or b) your scarf is as long as you'd like. Cast off and enjoy your new warm scarf!

Hope you enjoyed this week's advice column--see you next week!

Signed, Mr. Llama

Cast on 20 stitches and knit u

Hey everyone! I'M SO EXCITED! I just finished the front of the body, back of the body, 2 arms, 2 ears, and the head of my gorilla! Here's a pic of the front of the body!!! Yay!!

REALLY SIMPLE KNIT OR CROCHET AMIGURUMI

I recently decided that I wanted to teach my family how to craft. I designed these really simple Amigurumi animals so that I could teach my little cousins and young children. They're very simple to make and can be knitted or crocheted. Small bits of scrap yarn will do, and with the basic pattern you can make many animals. The way the pattern is written is very simple. Read below.

PURLE is for the knitted pattern. 

BLUE is for the crocheted pattern. 

RED is for the head (the pattern is the same for knitted and crocheted)

GREY is what to read when you've finished your amigurumi!

MATERIALS

Yarn Needle (if you're going to have a child craft this then you should use a plastic one). 

Stuffing

Small bits of worsted weight yarn in the colors desired (it kind of depends on what animal you want to make to determine what colors you'll need)

9 mm black pupil safety eyes

Materials for Accessories (such as small beads, fabric, bells, etc. etc.)

FOR CROCHETED: Crochet hook. If you're having a child make this then use a large size, such as an H or a I, so that their hands can hold it firmly. If you're making it, use a G or H to keep your fabric nice and firm. 

FOR KNITTED: For a child, have them use knitting needles anywhere from US 8 to US 11. These will be easy to grip. For you, use US 4, US 6, or US 8. 

KNITTING PATTERN: 

Body: Cast on 15 stitches. Knit in desired stitch until your piece is a square. Cast off. Make another piece the exact same way. 

Legs: Cast on 10 stitches. Knit until piece is as long as you want legs to be. Cast off and repeat for second leg. 

Arms: Cast on 8 stitches. Knit until piece is as long as you want arms to be. Cast off and repeat for second arm. 

Finishing: Holding two body pieces RIGHT SIDES TOGETHER, sew around 3 sides. 

Apply safety eyes to manufacturers directions. Stuff to your liking. Take legs and fold them in half right sides together. Sew around the long side and one short side. (Leaving one short side open). Repeat for second arm AND legs. 

Stuff arms and legs. Sew to body in desired spot (depending on what you want your amigurumi to be). Decorate or make accessories to your liking. 

FOR CROCHETED: 

Body:  Chain 10. Single crochet in each stitch until your piece is a square. Fasten off and make another the same way.

Legs: Chain 5. Single crochet until the legs are as long as you'd like. Fasten off. Repeat for second leg. 

Arms: Chain 4. Single crochet until the legs are as long as you'd like. Fasten off. Repeat for second arm. 

FINISHING:

  Fold body pieces right sides together and sew around 3 sides. Apply safety eyes to manufacturers directions.  Stuff firmly. Fold one arm in half and sew around the long side and one short side (leaving one short side open).  Do the same for second arm AND legs. 

Stuff arms and legs and sew them to the body in desired places.

Accessories and decorate to your liking.

THE HEAD: (The instructions are the same for both knit and crochet)

Take a piece of scrap yarn about 7 inches (21 cm) long. Find where you'd like the head

to end (where the neck should be). Take the yarn and pull it REALLY REALLY REALLY tight.

Make a double knot so it stays. If there is extra yarn, cut it.

VIOLA! You've finished your amigurumi! Wasn't too bad, was it? If you have any questions feel

free to ask me and I'll see what I can do to help you! :)

Welcome!

Welcome to AmigurumiTown! This is a site made by Fenian for all things amigurumi! For those of you who have no idea what Amigurumi is, it's Japanese knit and crocheted toys. They're very fun and easy to make. On this site are some patterns and some links. Have fun!

I'm so sorry! In the Pumpkin Kids post there was a little problem in the "Materials List" I've fixed it here:

You also need stuffing! Stuffing is so important!! Sorry!

P.S. For all of you Ravelers who followed the pattern link--it's below!!!

Pumpkin Kids!

Pumpkin kids are adorable crocheted pumpkins. They're super-easy to make and only take about half an hour each, so you'll have tons in one day! The pattern is very easy to read, even for beginner crocheters and crocheters who have never made amigurumi before. A boy or girl can be made by simply changing the features and accessories. Enjoy the pattern!

Notes: The pattern is worked in rounds--do not "sl st to close round" unless directed.

Materials:

G/4.00 mm crochet hook

Worsted Weight Yarn in "pumpkin orange" color.

Worsted Weight Yarn in "irish green" color

Scissors

Yarn Needle

4-9 mm safety eyes

Bits of pink and black embroidery floss for features

Your imagination!

*Really go crazy with this pattern--it's made out of the basic amigurumi circle, and you can turn it into any kind of pumpkin you'd like! The possibilities are endless!*

THE PATTERN:

Preperation: With pumpkin color yarn and G crochet hook, ch 4, sl st into 4th chain from hk, pull on tail to tighten ring.

Rnd 1: 2 sc in ea st.

Rnd 2: 2 sc in ea st

Rnd 3-6: 1 sc in next st, 2 sc in next st (Work in pattern of 1, 2, 1, 2, all the way around).

Rnd 7: 1 sc in ea st around

Rnd 8-16: Rep row 7

Rnd 17: 1 sc, 1 dec, 1 sc, 1 dec, all the way around

Rnd 18: Fasten off.

LEAF

With G crochet hook and irish green, ch 5. Sk 1, sc in ea st. Ch 1, turn.

Sc in ea st, ch 1, turn

Sc in ea st, ch 1, turn

Sc in first st, sk 1, sc in next st, sk sc in next st.

Rep found 3 till 1 st is left. Fasten off.

FINISHING FOR LEAF AND PUMPKIN:

FOR PUMPKIN

Apply safety eyes in desired place. Embroider features. Stuff firmly and sew the opening closed. Sew leaf at an angle to the top of the pumpkin.