Coming Soon: FREE Reindeer Pattern

Hi again! Here’s a sneak peak of a pattern of a reindeer I wrote quite a while ago but only got around to testing and photographing recently. As you can see, he’s modeled on the beloved Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer and he likes hanging out at the beach (as there is no snow in this part of the world!).

I’ll be releasing his pattern (along with pictures of how to assemble him) later this week so that, if you’d like to add a little reindeer to your Christmas decorations this year you can!

If you would like to get your materials together in the meantime, I used the following items for this project:

– 3.75mm Hook

– 15mm Safety Eyes

– Dark Brown Yarn (Antlers and Hoofs)

– Chestnut Brown Yarn (Main Body)

– Tan Yarn (Muzzle)

– Red Yarn (Nose)

– Black Thread (Mouth)

– Fiber Fill

– Darning Needle

I’m looking forward to sharing this pattern with you all! – Rachel

FREE PATTERN: Kangaroo

Last year I created an amigurumi Kangaroo to take with me while I traveled. I received a lovely email shortly after if I’d ever release the pattern for it. I promised I would, and finally (thanks for your patience Susana!) I’ve put together the pattern (after testing it by making another kangaroo!) and some instructions which I hope you’ll find useful.

Please let me know if you do end up making your own Kangaroo – I’d love to see it!

Materials:

–          Tan Yarn (for body)

–          Purple Yarn (for shirt)

–          9mm Safety Eyes

–          Fiber Fill

–          Darning Needle

–          Black Felt (for nose)

–          Black Thread (for mouth)

–          Scissors

–          3.75mm hook

 

MUZZLE

With tan yarn

R1: 6sc in Magic Ring (6sts)

R2: 2sc in each sc around (12sts)

R3: *Sc 1, 2sc in next sc*, rep 6 times (18sts)

R4: 18sc

 

Fasten off leaving long tail for sewing

Sew mouth features onto muzzle and glue/sew on nose

 

HEAD

With tan yarn

R1: 6sc in Magic Ring (6sts)

R2: 2sc in each sc around (12sts)

R3: *Sc 1, 2sc in next sc*, rep 6 times (18sts)

R4: *Sc 2, 2sc in next sc*, rep 6 times (24sts)

R5: *Sc 3, 2sc in next sc*, rep 6 times (30sts)

R6-13: 30sc

R14: *Sc 3, dec 1*, rep 6 times (24sts)

R15: *Sc 2, dec 1*, rep 6 times (18sts)

 

Insert 9mm safety eyes about half way of the kangaroo’s face. Keep in mind you need to leave space in between his eyes for his muzzle too.) Stuff head firmly.

 

R16: *Sc 1, dec 1*, rep 6 times (12sts)

R17: *Dec 1*, rep 6 times (6sts)

 

Fasten off and weave in end.

 

EARS (Make 2)

With tan yarn

R1: 5sc in Magic Ring (5sts)

R2: 5sc

R3: *Sc 1, 2sc in next sc*, rep 2 times. 1sc (7sts)

R4: *Sc 1, 2sc in next sc*, rep 3 times. 1sc (10sts)

R5-7: 10sc

R8: *Sc 1, dec 2*, rep 3 times. 1sc (7sts)

R9: 7sts

 

Fasten off and leave tail for sewing

 

BODY

With tan yarn

R1: 6sc in Magic Ring (6sts)

R2: 2sc in each sc around (12sts)

R3: *Sc 1, 2sc in next sc*, rep 6 times (18sts)

R4: *Sc 2, 2sc in next sc*, rep 6 times (24sts)

R5: 24sc

R6: *Sc 2, dec 1*, rep 6 times (18sts)

 

Switch to purple yarn

 

R7-9: 18sc

 

Fasten off and leave long tail for sewing

 

TAIL

With tan yarn

R1: 6sc in Magic Ring (6sts)

R2-4: 6sc

R5: *Sc1, 2sc in next sc*, rep 3 times (9sts)

R6: *Sc 2, 2sc in next sc*, rep 3 times (12sts)

 

Fasten off and leave long tail for sewing

 

LEGS (Make 2 of each part)

With tan yarn

 

PART A

R1: 6sc in Magic Ring (6sts)

R2: 2sc in each sc around (12sts)

R3: 12sc

 

Fasten off and leave tail for sewing

 

PART B

R1: 6sc in Magic Ring (6sts)

R2-5: 6sc

 

Fasten off and leave tail for sewing

 

ARMS (Make 2)

With tan yarn

 

R1: 5sc in Magic Ring (5sts)

R2-4: 5sc

 

Fasten off and leave tail for sewing

 

ASSEMBLY

 

1)      Sew the body onto the head – this makes it easier to place remaing features.

2)      Sew onto the head the muzzle and ears.

3)      Sew the tail onto the back of the body

4)      Sew PART A of the leg to the body first. This makes placing PART B easier.

5)      Sew arms onto the front of the body, just beneath the join of the head.

6)      Done! You now have yourself a little kangaroo to take along with you for adventures! 🙂

 

This pattern is an original pattern by Rachel of Drawn and Hooked (March 2014). Please do not claim this pattern as your own. You may link to this pattern but please do not reprint it on your site, sell or distribute it, or sell items made from this pattern. Thank you! 

Koala Christmas Ornament

 

Christmas is almost here again! But unlike the Northern Hemisphere where places are being blanketed in snow, here in the Southern we’re in the midst of summer. It hasn’t been an especially hot summer yet, but this week we’ve had highs of 34C. The funny thing with Christmas in the Southern Hemisphere though is that a lot of our decorations are inspired and influenced by the Northern Hemisphere. “White Christmas” plays as often as any other Christmas carol in the shops, Santa still wears his full wintry suit, we still decorate our trees and windows with snowflake cut outs all the while sweltering in the heat! It’s a strange tradition – but delightful in its own way.

To bring a handmade touch to my Christmas tree this year I decided to crochet one of Stephanie’s (from All About Ami) Teddy Ornaments! Stephanie wrote the pattern so that it could be made into a bear, panda and/or koala. Being an Australian, I felt it was only right I make the Koala Ornament! 😉

Though a scarf is somewhat out of place with the current weather, it only looked right that the Koala wear one, so a red and white scarf he got!

 

I took the photos of my Koala on a gum tree (I hooked the ribbon onto a piece of protruding bark) and think he looks pretty at home there!

I definitely recommend this pattern to anyone looking for a last minute Christmas crochet project as it is easy to follow and comes together quickly with great results. A bonus for Australian crocheters is that the pattern uses a yarn that is the equivalent of our 8ply standard! So with the correct tension, your ornament will turn out the correct size!

Have you been working on any Christmas crochet projects? What would you recommend as a last minute project?

Don’t Forget to Pack a Koala!

 

Late last year my brother went to China to study architecture and gardens. To keep him company, I crocheted him a tiny friend (from Amigurumi Toy Box). A bit cheesy, but I thought it’d be cute to give my brother a “mascot” to snap here and there on his travels. Above is a picture of the koala taken at Sydney Airport.

Sadly, my brother really stuck to his studying as he didn’t take many more pictures of his new friend. Here’s a shot of the koala sitting on my brother’s laptop in his hotel room.

 

But it’s good to know he did get some fresh air at a Bonsai garden.

 

He even found his own nook in a Bonsai tree. (The koala, that is… haha)

 

 

Just recently, I made a few more Koalas and sent them with a friend who is moving to Japan. I thought they’d be sweet gifts to present to new friends she will make.

 

I myself am preparing for an overseas trip in a few months time! Do you think I should make another koala to bring along on my travels – or maybe create something else iconically Australian? A kangaroo? A wombat? An emu?