Once Upon a Time . . . in Crochet: 30 Amigurumi Characters from Your Favorite Fairytales

97 Pages·2015·15.35 MB·English

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30 amigurumi characters
from your favorite fairytales
Lunne Rowe
SEARCH PRESS
Aelqnowledgsrne nts
Thanks to my family and friends for your encouragement,
inspiration and support - l'm forever in your debt. A huge thanks
to Search Press for giving me this amazing opportunity to turn my
dreams into reality - with a special thanks to Becky Shackleton
(my editor) for her patience and assistance.
l'm hugely grateful to Cara Ackerman at
DMC Creative World Ltd, for supplying the gorgeous yarns for
my projects; lcouldn't have done it without your generous support.
Thanks also to the talented photographer Paul Bricknell and
Art Director Juan Haywood who've made my designs look
absolutely amazing and super cute.
Most of all l'd like to thank my husband Alex for his never-ending pattence
and support, despite the house being slowly taken over by yarnll
l'm pretty sure he'd be an expert crocheter as he now knows the
theory inside out. Thanks Alex for letting me pursue
my dreams - you're a star.
First published in 2015
Wellwood, North Farm Road,
Ph:oiogr:aphs by Paul Bricknel[ at Search Press Studios
:::
photographS anO OeSien eopylight O Search Press ltO iOt s
nll rights resorved, No part bf this book, text, photographs
or illustrations may be reproduced or transmitted in any
form or by anV means by print, photoBrint, nnicrofilm,
microfiche, photocopier, internet or in any way known or as
yet unknown, or stored in a retrieval System, Without written
permission obiained beforehand from Search Press.
lnlroduclron 5
Materrals
E
lr-npcrlanl ncles 10
Techniques
11
The FairytaleS...
1B
The Prrncess and the Pea 20
The Uqly Ducklrng 2E
Three Eilly Gcais Gruff 32
Goldilocks and lhe Three Eears 3E
Puss lr-r Eools 4E
Sncw While and lhe Sever-r Dwarves 54
Lrllle Red Ridrnq ood 52
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The Tfi ree Lrlile Prqs 7O
The troq Prrnce 7E
I.i ansel and Grelel EZ
Rapunzel 90
Abbrevialrons anC
crcchet conversicns 95
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I,ve crocheted for as long as I can remember, although I can't recail
specifically when I first picked up a crochet hook. As a chiid, I wouid
spena hours watching my Grandmother knit and crochet, fascinated by
hlr speed and skills u. rn" crafted beautiful things from a ball of yarn
or two. No pattern was evident, but within just a few hours a stylish
sweater or cardigan would be produced, to be worn with pride by its new
owner. Since then the process of making has always amazed me'
Now I also love to knit and crochet. It fills my days - it's my full-time
job and I love it. I also teach crochet to others and love to- see people
thrilled with their new-found skills. I feel proud to be able to pass my
skills onto others who hopefully in turn will pass their skills onto friends
and family, keeping these great crafting traditions u1'1"' . . '
amiguiumi is one of my favorite types_of crochet. Designing cute
toys for littie ones to play with is extremely rewarding as they can
Uecome firm favorites and trife-long friendS. lv1y 12-year-old still has l
his favorite penguin toy, who always joins us on holiday and still
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.,ii i. ir* book is to nro1a9 cute characters fo11ou to. ,
create and pass on to someone special, for them to-love and play with
for many years to come. I hope you have as much fun creating your
'own'arnigurumiasIdiddeslgning.them.
Happy crafting, Lynne x
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The amount of crochet paraphernalia on Stitch ma rkers
offer can be quite daunting, so the best These are essential for marking the start of your rounds,
way to start is to decide exactly what you and for holding your working loop while you fill your piece
want to crochet then buy the materials and with toy filling. You can buy locking stitch markers that
equipment needed for that project. If you're close like a safety pin and will not fall out of yout- work,
or you can use open stitch markers that can be removed
a beginner, the characters in this book are a or added at any time. Stitch markers are usually made of
good way to start developing and perfecting plastic or metal.
your crochet skilIs as they are quick, fun and
Sharp scissors
satisfyit g. Whilst each pattern provides a list
A small pair is necessary for snipping yarn ends, and a large
of the yarns needed, along with needle sizes
pair for cutting out felt or fabric shapes. Don't be tempted
and other items such as buttons, you will also to snap yarn with your hands as thts can distort your work
need some basic tools such as scissors, a wool and will also hurt your hands.
needle and toy filling. Here's a list of some
Tape measure
crochet essentials to help you get started:
Usef ul for measuring the length and width of work.
Ya rn
The majority of the patterns are made f rom just two
types of yarn: DK (B-ply) and 4-ply (tingering) yarn, and
the weight and yardage is given in each pattern. You can
subsitute any yarn of a similar weight, but bear in mind that
this may change the size of your characte[ and don't forget
to check the yardage before you start, to ensure that you
have enough yarn to finish your project.
Hooks
Crochet hooks come in many types - steel, aluminium,
plastic, bamboo or a mix of wood and metal. Some
crochet hooks have chunky handles and are ergonomically
designed to alleviate pain that may occur whilst crocheting.
It is important to choose a hook that feels comfortable
when working.
Wool needle
This is essential for sewing up your work. Buy a wool needle
with a large eye so that thicker yarn can be easily threaded,
and make sure it has a blunt end - a pointy needle will split
your yarn and spoil your work.
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Rust-proof pins Toy f illing
Essential for keeping things in place Safety toy filling is recommended for chrldren's toys. The bag will
when sewing up projects, and for blocking clearly state whether the filling is safe, hygienic and washable. Polyester
your work. is now the most popular synthetic choice as it is cheap, but you can also
buy organic or eco-friendly options, which are biodegradable and less
Project bag harmful to the environment.
A great place to keep all of your- work in
progress safe and clean. Felt and fabric pieces
Useful for adding embellishments and finishing touches to a project.
Notebook and pen The greater the wool content of your felt, the better the quality and
Useful for making notes as you firmness, making it easier to stitch and less likely to shred.
crochet and for jotting down any
changes or adaptations you decide
to make to a pattern.
Sewing needle and thread
Necessary for sewing very small items
together and for stitching felt pteces
to your work.
Safety eyes and noses
Used to make characters more life-like
and to create cute faces. They are
available in sizes ranging from llqin
(6mm) up to 2/:in (15mm). There are
two parts to safety eyes and noses:
the eye or nose shape, which is usually
plastic with a shank, and the plastic
washer that fits over the shank. Always
make sure you fit your safety eyes and
noses according to the manufacturer-'s
instructions and always conduct a
safety check after fixing your eyes
and noses: try to pullthem out to
confirm that they are properly and
securely fixed. Most manufacturers do
.ot
recommend using safety eyes and
ioses for children under three years old.
Spray starch
-:rls is an ironing aid but when sprayed
:rto a piece of crochet and left to
r-'y, it acts as a stiffener. lt is ideal
=:i strengthening items such as the
:-incess'crown (see page 25). lt is
^:xpensive and is available in the
=-indry section of most stores.
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