Itty Bitty Crocheted Critters. Amigurumi with Attitude

77 Pages·2013·115.05 MB·English

by  Erin Clark

Itty Bitty
crocheted
cri ter
t s
Am i gurumi with Attitude!
erin clark
TUTTLE Publishing
Tokyo Rutland, Vermont Singapore
IIiittttyy CCrroocchheetteedd CCrriitttteerrss__IINNTT..iinndddd 11 66//66//1133 44::3399 PPMM
The Tuttle Story:
“Books to Span
the East and West”
Published by Tuttle Publishing, an imprint of Periplus Editions (HK) Ltd. Many people are surprised to learn that
the world’s largest publisher of books
www.tuttlepublishing.com
on Asia had its humble beginnings in the
Copyright © 2013 Erin Clark tiny American state of Vermont. The
company’s founder, Charles E. Tuttle,
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or
utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including belonged to a New England family
photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval steeped in publishing.
system, without prior written permission from the publisher.
Immediately after WW II, Tuttle served in
Tokyo under General Douglas MacArthur
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data in Process
and was tasked with reviving the Japa-
nese publishing industry. He later founded
the Charles E. Tuttle Publishing Company,
Distributed by
which thrives today as one of the world’s
North America, Latin America & Europe leading independent publishers.
Tuttle Publishing
Though a westerner, Tuttle was hugely
364 Innovation Drive, North Clarendon, VT 05759-9436 U.S.A.
Tel: [phone]; Fax: [phone] instrumental in bringing a knowledge of
[email protected]; www.tuttlepublishing.com Japan and Asia to a world hungry for
information about the East. By the time
Asia Pacifi c
of his death in 1993, Tuttle had published
Berkeley Books Pte Ltd
61 Tai Seng Avenue #02-12, Singapore 534167. over 6,000 books on Asian culture, history
Tel: [phone]; Fax: [phone] and art—a legacy honored by the Japan-
[email protected]; www.periplus.com
ese emperor with the “Order of the
Japan Sacred Treasure,” the highest tribute
Tuttle Publishing Japan can bestow upon a non-Japanese.
Yaekari Building, 3rd Floor, 5-4-12 Osaki, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 141 0032.
With a backlist of 1,500 titles, Tuttle
Tel: [phone]; Fax: [phone]
[email protected]; www.tuttle.co.jp Publishing is more active today than at
any time in its past—inspired by Charles
First edition
Tuttle’s core mission to publish fi ne books
17 16 15 14 13 5 4 3 2 1 1307EP
to span the East and West and provide a
Printed in Hong Kong
greater understanding of each.
TUTTLE PUBLISHING® is a registered trademark of Tuttle Publishing,
a division of Periplus Editions (HK) Ltd.
IIiittttyy CCrroocchheetteedd CCrriitttteerrss__IINNTT..iinndddd 22 77//11//1133 44::1155 PPMM
Contents
4 Introduction 42 Ollie Otter
4 Basics Stitches 47 Narwhal
16 Making a Terrarium 50 Snortimer
20 Al E. Gator 54 Paisley Peacock
26 Buzzing Bees and a Hive 59 Ruby
30 Humpfrey 64 Sheldon
34 Camellia 67 Tara N. Tula
Pinkerton
38 70 Drake
IIiittttyy CCrroocchheetteedd CCrriitttteerrss__IINNTT..iinndddd 33 66//66//1133 44::3399 PPMM
Introduction
Hello and welcome! I’m back to bring you more cute critters, made exponentially cuter by crocheting
them in miniature. You can make most any pattern in miniature simply by shrinking your supplies.
Likewise all of the patterns in this book can be made full sized by swapping out the fl oss for worsted
weight yarn and moving up to an H hook.
What use could you have for tiny crochet you ask? You can use them in a sculpture piece, for doll
houses or for display on their own. I mean really, they are pretty darn cute. You can also use them to
make decorative fi ber terrariums, directions and ideas for which you will also fi nd later in the book.
So grab some magnifi ers and good bright lamp and let’s get started on some minigurmi.
—Voodoo Maggie
BASIC STITCHES
These instructions assume a knowledge of how begin a chain and offers
all the stitches you will need to fi nish the patterns in this book.
SINGLE CROCHET (SC)
Insert your hook into stitch or chain yarn over and pull through work. Yarn over again and pull through
both loops on hook. Continue on in this manner for as many stiches as indicated in pattern.
1 2 3 4
IIiittttyy CCrroocchheetteedd CCrriitttteerrss__IINNTT..iinndddd 44 66//88//1133 11::4433 PPMM
HALF DOUBLE CROCHET (HDC)
Yarn over and insert your hook into stitch, yarn over and pull through work. Yarn over and pull through all three loops on hook.
1 2 3
DOUBLE CROCHET (DC)
Yarn over and insert hook into stitch, yarn over and pull through work. Yarn over and pull
through two loops on hook. Yarn over and pull through remaining two loops.
1 2 3 4
5
IIiittttyy CCrroocchheetteedd CCrriitttteerrss__IINNTT..iinndddd 55 66//88//1133 11::4444 PPMM
DECREASING AND INCREASING
Standard Decreasing is best for fl at pieces that will be visible from both sides.
To decrease you insert your hook into fi rst of stitches to be decreased, yarn
over and pull through. Repeat for remainder of stitches to be decreased.
Yarn over and pull through all loops on hook.
1 2 3 4
Invisible Decreasing is best for working in the round when the back of the piece will not be visible.
To work the invisible decrease you insert your hook into the front loop of the fi rst of stitches to
be decreased, do not yarn over, insert hook into next front loop.
Yarn over and pull through all front loops. Yarn over and pull through the two loops on hook.
The photos below are examples.
1 2 3 4
6
IIiittttyy CCrroocchheetteedd CCrriitttteerrss__IINNTT..iinndddd 66 66//88//1133 11::4444 PPMM
Increasing is simple technique where you crochet multiple stitches into one stitch space
The below photos are examples.
1 2
Optional tools
FELTING NEEDLE: For stuffi ng
and shaping the small pieces.
Stuffi ng is rather springy by
nature and using the felting A SMALL BLUNT TIP OBJECT: I
needle gives a dense body like to use the non business
that will hold it’s shape with end of a bamboo skewer.
regular handling. If you don’t have one you
can use your scissors and
open them up just a bit. The
PLIERS: in case your needle gets
ends will grab the stuffi ng
stuck in a tight stitch, pulling it
and help compact it, but it
through with your hands can be
won’t be as snug as using the
diffi cult and lead to a smooshed or
felting needle. If you haven’t
dirty fi nal piece. Just remember not
got anything else the non
to pull too hard or you could snap
hook end of a crochet will do.
the needle in half.
7
IIiittttyy CCrroocchheetteedd CCrriitttteerrss__IINNTT..iinndddd 77 77//11//1133 44::1177 PPMM
Tools and materials
SMALL CROCHET HOOKS: Size 8-10
for double stranded, size 10-12 for
single strand. You can use any size
if you adjust your fi ber accordingly.
All these miniatures can be made
full sized buy using a G-H hook and
CROSS STITCH FLOSS OR
a worsted weight yarn. CROCHET THREAD: I prefer DMC
personally and will include
GOOD SHARP SCISSORS: preferably the color number for DMC
no longer than 3-4 inches. Larger skeins, and total number
scissors get cumbersome when of skeins used in all the
working with your tiny pieces. patterns in this book.
STUFFING: For stuffi ng your
creations. I prefer to use a cotton
or cotton-poly blend, it holds it
shape better than straight poly-fi ll.
EMBROIDERY NEEDLE: long and thin
ITEMS THAT CAN BE USED FOR
needles will work the best for
EYES: You can use French
weaving in yarn ends, it makes
knots, a triple strand will
pulling through the tiny tight
stand out the best. Small
stitches a good deal easier. Make
beads are great, even small
sure the eye isn’t too wide or
brads might work depending
sewing up your mini will be a very
on the size of your fi nished
tough and leave your piece looking
piece and the look you are
like Swiss cheese.
going for.
8
IIiittttyy CCrroocchheetteedd CCrriitttteerrss__IINNTT..iinndddd 88 66//88//1133 11::4444 PPMM