I know, you expected me back in August, and here I am in February asking for forgiveness.  Want the quick and dirty of what’s up, down, and all around?

• School:  A lot better.  I actually like my classes, I’m planning for the future, and instead of wishing to be out of college and done, I’m dreading the end.  It’s a good place to be!
• Extracurrics:  Well, first there’s the volunteering at an elementary school, then the martial arts and belly dancing classes, and a peer education organization on campus I’m getting into.  So yeah, the calendar’s as full as it can get.
• Job:  Job, what job?  I’m still looking…  Or rather, I work a lot of odd things here and there (babysitting every other weekend, and I was almost an art model, but then I wasn’t free on Tuesdays).  So, if you hear about anything fun in the UNC area, give me a call, won’t you?
• Friends:  Old boyfriend out, with a new possibility incoming.  Such is the cycle of the serial monogamist.

And that, in 5 Bullets or Less, is the life of a college student.

As for the life of a crafter, I’ll probably start back up with the semi-regular posts soon.  Like sometime-before-June soon.

What does all this boil down to?  Yes, I’m alive and I’ve missed you all.

- Cristy

- Cristy

A few notes:  I suggest making the head last, so you can add ears, eyes, etc as you go.  I places the eyes into the 12th and 16th stitches of the 7th row.  I also weighed the bottom of the body with plastic pellets to keep them standing up, but you may want something heavier (like a pebble or magnet).

Materials:

Red Heart Soft Yarn in Pink and Chocolate (I thought the pinks available for Red Heart Soft were too light, so I used Vanna’s Choice Baby in Pink Poodle.  Honestly, I can’t even tell the difference!)

3.0mm crochet hook

Scissors, Yarn Needle, Safety Eyes

Pattern:

The Basic Body and Head patterns are available here.

Pig Ears:

In Pink:

Ch 3.  1 sc in the second ch from hook, 1 hdc in the first ch.  Ch 1, cut yarn, pull through.  Use yarn ends to tie to head.

Pig Nose:

Beginning with a Magic Loop, ch 2. (The loop counts as the first ch.)

Round 1 – 6sc into the first ch. (6)

End with a slst in the next stitch for a more even appearance.  Cut the yarn and pull the tail through.  A length of scrap Chocolate yarn makes a cute embroidered nose.  Use the tail from the nose to seam it to the head.

- Cristy

A few notes:  I suggest making the head last, so you can add ears, eyes, etc as you go.  I places the eyes into the 12th and 16th stitches of the 7th row.  I also weighed the bottom of the body with plastic pellets to keep them standing up, but you may want something heavier (like a pebble or magnet).

Materials:

Red Heart Soft Yarn in Off White and Chocolate

3.0mm crochet hook

Scissors, Yarn Needle, Safety Eyes

Pattern:

The Basic Body and Head patterns are available here.

Dog Ears:

In Chocolate:

Ch 5.  1 sc in the second ch from hook, 1 hdc x 3 in the next chains.  Ch 1, cut yarn, pull through.  Use yarn ends to tie to head.

Dog Face Spot:

Beginning with a Magic Loop, ch 2. (The loop counts as the first ch.)

Round 1 – 8 sc into the first ch. (8)

End with a slst in the next stitch for a more even appearance.  Cut the yarn and pull the tail through.  Use tail to seam to head.

Dog Tail:

In Chocolate:

Beginning with a Magic Loop, ch 2. (The loop counts as the first ch.)

Round 1 – 6 sc into the first ch. (6)

Round 2 – *1 sc* x 6 (6)

Change to Chocolate:

Round 3-4 – *1 sc* x 6 (6)

End with a slst in the next stitch for a more even appearance.  Cut the yarn and pull the tail through.  Use tail to seam to head.

Dog Back Spot: (yes, it’s a heart, and cute doesn’t need a reason)

In Chocolate:

Beginning with a Magic Loop, ch 3. (The loop counts as the first ch.)

Round 1 – 4 dc, ch 1, 4 dc, 1 hdc into the first ch.  End with a slst in the magic loop.  Cut the yarn and pull the tail through.  Use tail to seam to head.

- Cristy

A few notes:  I suggest making the head last, so you can add ears, eyes, etc as you go.  I places the eyes into the 12th and 16th stitches of the 7th row.  I also weighed the bottom of the body with plastic pellets to keep them standing up, but you may want something heavier (like a pebble or magnet).

Materials:

Red Heart Soft Yarn in Chocolate, Wine, and Gold (The Red Heart Soft line doesn’t have a good yellow, so I used Red Heart Classic in Gold.  There is a textural difference, but the change is not visually apparent.)

3.0mm crochet hook

Scissors, Yarn Needle, Safety Eyes

Pattern:

The Basic Body and Head patterns are available here.

Rooster Comb:

In Wine:

Ch 11.  Beginning in th second chain from the hook, 1 hdc, (1 dc 1tr, 1 dc 1 hdc, 1sc 1 hdc) x 2, 1 dc 1 tr, 1 dc 1 hdc, 1sc.  (the commas indicate advancing to the next stitch.)  Ch 1, cut yarn, pull through.  Use yarn ends to tie to head.

Rooster Beak:

In Gold:

Beginning with a Magic Loop, ch 2. (The loop counts as the first ch.)

Round 1 – 4 sc into the first ch. (4)

Round 2 – *1 sc, 1 inc* x 2 (6)

End with a slst in the next stitch for a more even appearance.  Cut the yarn and pull the tail through.  Use tail to seam to head.

- Cristy

A few notes:  I suggest making the head last, so you can add ears, eyes, etc as you go.  I places the eyes into the 12th and 16th stitches of the 7th row.  I also weighed the bottom of the body with plastic pellets to keep them standing up, but you may want something heavier (like a pebble or magnet).  For a tail, a curly crocheted chain works, or a chain, with a row of sc, if you prefer something thicker.

Materials:

Red Heart Soft Yarn in Off White and Chocolate

3.0mm crochet hook

Scissors, Yarn Needle, Safety Eyes

Pattern:

The Basic Body and Head patterns are available here.

Monkey Ears:

In Chocolate:

Beginning with a Magic Loop, ch 2. (The loop counts as the first ch.)

Round 1 – *1 sc* x 4 into the first ch. (4)

Round 2 – *1 inc* x 4 (8)

Ch 1, cut yarn, pull through.  Use yarn ends to tie to head.

Monkey Face:

Beginning with a Magic Loop, ch 2. (The loop counts as the first ch.)

Round 1 – 6sc into the first ch. (6)

Round 2 – *1 inc* x 6 (12)

Round 3 – *1 sc, 1 inc* x 6 (18)

Round 4 – *1 sc* x 18 (18)

End with a slst in the next stitch for a more even appearance.  Cut the yarn and pull the tail through.  Use tail to seam to head.

- Cristy

A few notes:  I suggest making the head last, so you can add ears, eyes, etc as you go.  I places the eyes into the 12th and 16th stitches of the 7th row.  I also weighed the bottom of the body with plastic pellets to keep them standing up, but you may want something heavier (like a pebble or magnet).

Materials:

Red Heart Soft Yarn in Off White and Light Grey Heather

3.0mm crochet hook

Scissors, Yarn Needle, Safety Eyes

Pattern:

The Basic Body and Head patterns are available here.

Sheep Ears:

In Light Grey Heather:

Ch 5.  1 sc in the second ch from hook, 1 hdc x 3 in the next chains.  Ch 1, cut yarn, pull through.  Use yarn ends to tie to head.

Sheep Face:

Beginning with a Magic Loop, ch 2. (The loop counts as the first ch.)

Round 1 – 6sc into the first ch. (6)

Round 2 – *1 inc* x 6 (12)

Round 3 – *1 sc, 1 inc* x 6 (18)

Round 4 – *1 sc* x 18 (18)

End with a slst in the next stitch for a more even appearance.  Cut the yarn and pull the tail through.  Use tail to seam to head.

- Cristy

A few notes:  I suggest making the head last, so you can add ears, eyes, etc as you go.  I places the eyes into the 12th and 16th stitches of the 7th row.  I also weighed the bottom of the body with plastic pellets to keep them standing up, but you may want something heavier (like a pebble or magnet).

Materials:

Red Heart Soft Yarn in Chocolate and Black

3.0mm crochet hook

Scissors, Yarn Needle, Safety Eyes

Pattern:

The Basic Body and Head patterns are available here.

Horse Ears:

In Chocolate:

Ch 3.  1 sc in the second ch, 1 hdc in the first ch.  Ch 1, cut yarn, pull through.  Use yarn ends to tie to head.

Horse Nose:

In Chocolate:

Beginning with a Magic Loop, ch 2. (The loop counts as the first ch.)

Round 1 – 6sc into the first ch. (6)

Round 2 – *1 sc, 1 inc* x 3 (9)

Round 3 – *1 sc* x 9 (9)

End with a slst in the next stitch for a more even appearance.  Cut the yarn and pull the tail through.  Use tail to seam to head.

As for the mane, I suggest Needle Noodles’ tutorial for attaching hair.  I made the tail by wrapping yarn around a board about 10 times, tying a knot around one side, and cutting all the wraps on the other side.

- Cristy

A few notes:  I suggest making the head last, so you can add ears, eyes, etc as you go.  I places the eyes into the 12th and 16th stitches of the 7th row.  I also weighed the bottom of the body with plastic pellets to keep them standing up, but you may want something heavier (like a pebble or magnet).

Materials:

Red Heart Soft Yarn in Leaf, Pink, and Gold (I thought the pinks available for Red Heart Soft were too light, so I used Vanna’s Choice Baby in Pink Poodle.  Honestly, I can’t even tell the difference!  The Gold, on the other hand, is Red Heart Classic.  There is a textural difference, butthe change is not visually apparent.)

3.0mm crochet hook

Scissors, Yarn Needle, Safety Eyes

Pattern:

The Basic Body and Head patterns are available here.

Snake Tongue:

In Leaf:

Ch 6, 2 slst, ch 3, 5 slst. (The first two go into the second chain, the last three, into the first chain.) Ch 1, cut tail, etc.

Snake Tail:

Beginning with a Magic Loop, ch 2. (The loop counts as the first ch.)

Round 1 – 4 sc into the first ch. (4)

Round 2 – *1 sc, 1 inc* x 2 (6)

Round 3 – *1 sc* x 6 (6)

Round 4 – *1 sc, 1 inc* x 3 (9)

Round 5 – *1 sc* x 9 (9)

End with a slst in the next stitch for a more even appearance.  Cut the yarn and pull the tail through.  Use tail to seam to head.

- Cristy

I’ve returned from my trip and moved everything to a pdf available through Ravelry. Thanks for stopping by though!

- Cristy

I’ve returned from my trip and moved everything to a pdf available through Ravelry. Thanks for stopping by though!