Super Bulky Baby Bear

My beautiful niece is pregnant after a tubal 5 years ago...not just pregnant...identical twin girls! I had to get crocheting for these new little sweeties!
I started with a great baby socks pattern from Mamma That Makes.  These are fabulous little booties/socks with sizes down to 26-28wk.  I whipped up 10 pairs in 32 week size, twins tend to be a bit smaller ;)

Mamma That Makes: fabulous pattern!

My bff found some yarn on clearance and picked some out for me, among the yarns were a couple Bernat Baby Blanket...so soft!  I love these soft yarns for babies :)  So I started immediately on a teddy pattern to use Bernat Baby Blanket super bulky yarn. Each Super Bulky Baby Bear took less than 1 skein to complete project.

Close up of Bear face

Twin Teddies for two little sweet twins!

Materials:

*Super Bulky yarn (size 6)  I used Bernat Baby blanket in "Little Girl Dove" & " Little Lilac Dove"
*L hook
*tapestry needle
*scissors
*small amt of ww yarn or embroidery floss for face details
* fiberfill

Abbreviations:

* ch: chain
* sl st: slip stitch
* sc: single crochet
* sc2tog: single crochet 2 stitches together (decrease)
* dc: double crochet
* f.o. : finish off

Notes:

All terms American.   If pattern reads "sc, sc2tog, 2sc" it would be read as, " single crochet, single crochet 2 stitches together, 2 single crochet in the next stitch", directions are to be repeated to end of row/round unless otherwise noted.  As with any pattern, be sure to read through once before beginning, and don't forget to mark your rounds! (I use a bit of contrasting yarn) This is an original design by me, Anna Wilson 2016.  

You may do whatever you like with your completed Super Bulky Baby Bear, you can sell them, cuddle them or even give it as a gift!  I only ask that you please not claim this pattern as your own, I worked hard to design Super Bulky Baby Bear :)  

Directions:   Starting at top of head

1: ch2, 6sc in 2nd ch from hook (6)

2: 2sc (12) be sure to mark your rounds!

3: sc, 2sc (18)

4-6: sc (18)

7: sc, sc2tog (12)

8: sc2tog (6)

9: 2sc (12) stuff to desired firmness and continue to stuff as you progress

10: sc, 2sc (18)

11: sc8, 2sc (20)

12-14: sc (20)

15: sc8, sc2tog (18)

16: sc, sc2tog (12)

17: sc2tog (6)  f.o. close opening and weave in ends


Arms: x2 stuff only hands

1: ch2, 6sc in 2nd ch from hook (6)

2-3: sc (6)

4: sc, sc2tog (4)

5-6: sc (4) f.o. leave a long tail to attach to body


Legs: x2 stuff only feet

1: ch2, 6sc in 2nd ch from hook (6)

2: sc2, 2sc (8)

3-4: sc (8)

5: sc2, sc2tog (6)

6-8: sc (6) f.o. leave a long tail to attach to body


Ears: x2

1: ch3, (mark 2nd ch) 4dc in 3rd ch from hook, sl st to 2nd ch, f.o. leave a long tail for attaching to head.

Ears

Tail:

1: ch2, 4sc in 2nd ch from hook, sl st to 1st sc.  f.o. leave a tail to attach to body

All my Bear parts before attaching

Finishing:

Attach the body parts in ways look good to you.  I sew the ends of arms and legs closed flat before attaching, but you can do however you prefer.

After attaching all the body parts it's time to get creative!  How do you want your bear to look, just a nose and eyes?  Or do you want to add more features?  I added 2 eyelashes to each eye for my bears.

I would love to see your finished Super Bulky Baby Bears!  Visit Mommy Made Crochet on facebook and use #MommyMadeCrochet on other social media sites!

My Nana

May 2, 2016 would be my Nana's 101st birthday!

My Nana came to America in 1927 on a boat, leaving Germany behind. Our family made it all the way to California and set down roots. (My mom and I were both born in California.)
 In the 1970's our family moved to the Pacific Northwest. (where most of my young childhood memories come from!)
I used to spend school breaks with my Nana at her home in Bonney Lake, Washington where she would teach me crochet and knitting while she watched her soap operas.  She had yarn going through her fingers in almost every memory I have of her.
I'm grateful for the wonderful gift she gave me, my mom, & my sister ♡

My Nana is my great-grandma, I was named after my Oma (great-great-grandma) Anna, so I decided to give my first daughter her great-great-grandma's  name...Nana's name was Erna...I called and told her I was pregnant and I wondered what she thought of my daughter having her name..or hopefully middle name. Nana told me I "better not name her Erna, that's an old name!" So I asked her middle name and how she spelled it, "Emilie".

I just wanted to share my Nana with you since all my crochet is in thanks to her ♡

Marking rounds the easy way

I always stress the importance of marking your rounds as you crochet...or disaster can see!  (Sounds like a good enough reason to me lol)
I have used a bit of contrasting yarn for many years now, I can carry it back and forth and it removes at the end with a pull of the yarn!
I hope this can help someone out there!

Win a small DweeBall!

Periwinkle,  red, jade, & Heather grey DweeBalls

Now is your chance to win a small DweeBall  (or DweeBall pattern)!!

Visit Mommy Made Crochet on Facebook and see pinned post for your chance to win!

Good luck!

My newest pattern... DweeBalls

What is a DweeBall?  Do you ever see something out of the corner of your eye but when you turn to look you see nothing?  You aren't crazy, you just glimpsed the shy Dweeball!  

This pattern will teach you the dsc (dendrite single crochet) and yield you one super cute little critter!

Pattern is available now in my etsy shop! #DweeBalls 

Small Dweeball investigating the Blue Sky Vine flower

Medium Dweeball eyeing a passion flower

This Large Dweeball feels a kinship with the passion flower...

Ninja Turtle inspired Ice Pop Cozy

Ninja Turtle inspired Ice Pop Cozy

A friend was looking for some cool ice pop cozies for some kiddos...I saw some great patterns on Ravelry but I wanted to create a Ninja Turtle inspired one.  I found great patterns for everything but no ninjas...or turtles.

Here is my meager attempt at creating some cool little reptiles wearing masks ;)

Materials:

E hook (if you find this too tight/loose go up or down in hook size)

ww cotton in green

ww cotton in mask color - purple, orange, red, blue 

ww cotton in black for eyes (you can use and yarn for this or even embroidery thread)

scissors

Tapestry needle

Abbreviations:

mr: magic ring
ch: chain
rnd: round
sl st: slip stitch
sc: single crochet
hdc: half double crochet
blo: back loop only, instead of both loops you will use only back loop
f.o. : finish off

Notes:

All terms American.   If pattern reads "sc, sc2tog, 2sc" it would be read as, " single crochet, single crochet 2 stitches together, 2 single crochet in the next stitch", directions are to be repeated to end of row/round unless otherwise noted.  As with any pattern, be sure to read through once before beginning, and don't forget to mark your rounds! (I use a bit of contrasting yarn) This is an original design by me, Anna Wilson 2016.  

You may do whatever you like with your completed Ninja Turtle inspired Ice Pop Cozies, you can embrace your inner child and use these yourself, sell them to others ready to keep the evil Foot Clan at bay or even give them as a gift!  I only ask that you please not claim this pattern as your own.  You can share a link to this pattern if you like.


Directions: worked in joined rnds. Ch1 at end of each rnd does NOT count as a st in this pattern

1: mr 8sc (8) join with a sl st, ch1 at end of each rnd

2: 2sc (16) be sure to secure mr end before continuing

3: blo: sc (16)

4-9: hdc (16) change to mask color at end of rnd 9

10:  ch11, sl st in 2nd ch from hook and each remaining ch, hdc to end, ch11, sl st in 2nd ch from hook and each remaining ch, join to first hdc with a sl st (16)

11: hdc (16) change to green

12-13:  hdc (16) f.o. weave in ends.

Finishing:

With black, create eyes.  I do one eye at a time and secure the ends with knots on the inside of the cozy and cut short.  (they won't show)  I also give the mask a little single tie.

That's it, pretty simple right? Now your kiddos can stay cool and feel super cool at the same time!

What is "1 rnd uncounted sl st" ?

In many of my patterns I like to use rounds of uncounted slip stitches.

Why?  Because it creates a nice clean edge in crochet.

Why is it called "uncounted slip stitches"?  Because a round of the slip stitches will not count in your final round count.

This technique creates a raised area as well, so it gives the appearance that the clothing of a doll is separate from the doll.

The wrist cuff of this doll has a round of uncounted slip stitches to create a clean transition back to the peach color.

Materials:

Any 2 colors of yarn you want to practice with, I used Red Heart Super Saver in Blue and light blue (I think?)

crochet hook, I used an F hook for the example

scissors - if you want

Abbreviations:

mr: magic ring

sl st: slip stitch

sc: single crochet

rnd: round

Note:

Unless noted otherwise: ch 1 at end of each row does not count as stitch.  If pattern reads "sc, sc2tog, 2sc" it would be read as, " single crochet, single crochet 2 stitches together, 2 single crochet in the next stitch", directions are to be repeated to end of row/round unless otherwise noted.  

Instuctions:

With 1st yarn color

1: mr 6sc (6)

2: 2sc (12)

3: sc, 2sc (18)

4: sc (18) pull through new yarn color as you finish last st

Color change on last st of rnd 4

 work 1 rnd uncounted sl st

uncounted sl st finished, now to begin rnd 5, be sure to work in sts from rnd 4 and NOT the uncounted sl st 

5-7; sc (18) change to 1st color with last st

Change back to 1st color, no sl st 

The black yarn is my rnd marker. I begin with rnd 2,
 if you count the rnds this way you can count by 2's .
 This is the end of rnd 5.

8: sc (18)  

Do you see the difference?

End of rnd 8.  Can you see the clean transition created by the uncounted sl st?

I hope you enjoy incorporating this technique into your crochet!