The Last Cuddle Bear

I was recently contacted by a friend of mine who asked if I would be able to make some teddy bears for her to use as Photography props. She volunteers her time for an organisation that gives photographic memories to families that have experienced stillbirths, premature births, or have children with serious and terminal illnesses. She told me that a lot of the bears that have been donated for her to use are beautiful but far to big compared to the babies she photographs so she was looking for something quite small (around 10cm) 

I searched Ravelry for hours looking for the perfect little bear but none of them seemed right so I decided to design my own. I wanted something simple using basic crochet stitches, fast to make and I wanted to use 8ply yarn as that is what I mostly have in my stash. That is how the Last Cuddle Bear was created.

I am sharing the pattern here in the hopes that other people might wish to make their own to donate to a similar cause. Contact your local hospital and ask them how if you can donate any bears you make to them. 

With the help of my friend, we have set up a page on facebook where we are hoping to spread our little project and get as many people as we can to donate bears to their local hospitals. You can visit the page on facebook by clicking here. We'd love to see pictures of any bears you make so please post them on that page or alternatively email pictures to sixlittlemice@gmail.com or post them on the Six Little Mice page. Happy Hooking!

sc- Single Crochet
sc2tog- Single crochet 2 stitches together. Decrease made
FO- Finish Off. 

Using 8ply yarn and a 3.5mm crochet hook this bear comes in at exactly 10cm for me. If you've got thicker or thinner yarn feel free to adjust your hook size.

**This pattern is still in "draft mode" so if you encounter any errors just let me know and i'll fix them asap. I'm going to add some step by step pictures and tidy the pattern up in the next week or so. 

Body
Round 1: 6sc in magic ring (6)
Round 2: 2sc in each sc around (12)

Round  3: *2sc in next sc, sc 1* repeat around (18)

Round  4: * 2sc in next sc, sc 2* repeat around (24)

Round  5: *2sc in next sc, sc 3* repeat around (30)
Round 6 -8: sc around
Round 9: 2sctog, sc 3
Round 10: sc around
Round 11: sc2tog, sc 2
Round 11-12: sc around
Round 13: sc2tog, sc 1
Round 14: sc around
FO. Leave a long tail so you can atatch the head. Stuff before you join the head


Head

Round 1: 6sc in magic ring (6)

Round 2: 2cs in each sc around (12)

Round  3: *2sc in next sc, sc 1* repeat around (18)
Round 4-5: sc around
Round 6: 2sc in each of the next 4, sc around (22)
Round 6: *2sc, sc* x4, sc around (26)
Round 7: *2sc, sc 2* x 4, sc around (30)
Round 8-9: sc around
Round 10: *sc2tog, sc 3* repeat around
Round 11: *sc2tog, sc 2* repeat around
Round 12: *sc2tog, sc 1* repeat  around
Round 13: sc2tog around. FO


Arms
Round 1: 6sc in magic ring
Round 2: *2sc in next stitch, sc 1* repeat around (9)
Round 3: sc around (9)
Round 4: Bubble stitch in next, sc around
Round 5: sc2tog x 2, sc around
Round 6-10: sc around. Stuff now
Round 11: sc2tog around


Legs
Round 1: 6sc in magic ring
Round 2: 2sc in each st around (12)
Round 3-4: sc around
Round 5: *sc2tog x 3*, sc around
Round 6-12: sc around. Stuff now
Round 13: sc2tog around FO

Ears
Round 1: 4sc in magic ring
Round 2: ch 1, turn and sc 2 stitches in each sc. FO (8)

Assembly
Using the long tail left over from the body of the bear sew the head to the body.
Attach each arm and the ears and then the legs.

Dragon Scarf Pattern

 I searched Ravelry high and low for a Crocheted  Dragon Scarf pattern but could not find any that I loved. There were lots of adorable knit ones and a huge and detailled crochet one but it was just too big and complicated for what I was after. I wanted something quick and simple. Something that could be completed in an evening while watching trashy tv so I made my own. 

If you come across any errors or ways in which the pattern can be improved feel free to let me know.

Feel free to sell anything you make using this pattern but please do not claim the pattern as your own.

You'll need:
I used 200m of 8ply for the main colour. You might want more if you want your scarf longer.
Scraps of a second contrasting colour for the spine and facial spikes
Safety eyes or black yarn or felt.
3.75mm hook
4.5mm hook
Handfull of stuffing

Abbreviations:
sc- Single Crochet
dc- Double Crocher
tc- Triple Crochet
sc2inc - sc 2 stitches in the same stitch. Increase made
sc2tog - Sc 2 stitches together. Decrease made
dc2tog - dc 2 stitched together. Decrease made

We're going to start with the dragons head. It's worked in the round. Use the smaller crochet hook.

Round 1: 6sc in a magic ring (6)
Round 2: sc2inc around (12)
Round 3: sc 1, sc2inc, around (18)
Round 4: sc 2, sc2inc, around (24
Round 5, sc 3, sc2inc, around (30)
Round 6: sc around (30)
Round 7: sc around (30)
Round 8: sc 3, sc2tog (24)
Round 9: sc around (24)
Round 10: sc 2, sc2tog (18)
Round  11- 15: sc around
Round 16: sc 2, sc2inc (24)
Round 17: sc around (24)
Round 18: sc 3, sc2inc (30)
Round 19: sc around (30)
Round 20: sc 4, sc2inc (36)
Round 21 - 24: sc around
Round 25: sc 4, sc2tog (30)
Round  26: sc around (30)
Round  27: sc 3, sc2tog (24)
Round 28: sc 2, sc2tog (18)

Stuff and add eyes

Round 29: Now fold the head closed and crochet through 2 stitched at a time. Crochet the head closed using 7 sc stitches.
Round 30: sc around very loosely

Now we're going to start on the scarf. To get the scaley look we're using a mixture of dc and sc. From round 32 make sure that you're doing a dc in the sc of the previous round and a sc in the dc of the previous round. Switch to larger hook and chain 1.

Round 31: Turn, sc in same stitch,dc, sc, dc, sc,dc, sc
Round 32: Chain 2  and turn. dc in same st, sc, dc, sc, dc,sc,dc
Round 33: Chain 1 and turn. sc,dc,sc,dc,sc,dc,sc
Round 34: Chain 2 and turn *dc,sc* in same stitch, sc,dc,sc,dc,sc, *sc,dc* in same stitch
Round  35: Chain 1 and turn, sc, dc, sc, dc, sc, dc, sc, dc, sc
Round  36: Chain 2 and turn, *dc, sc* in same stitch, sc, dc, sc, dc, sc, dc, sc *sc, dc* in same stitch
Round  37: Chain 1 and turn, *sc, dc* in same stitch, dc, sc, dc, sc, dc, sc, dc, sc, dc *dc, sc* in same stitch
Round 38: Chain 2 and turn,*dc,sc* in same stitch, sc, dc, sc, dc, sc, dc, sc, dc, sc, dc, sc *sc, dc* in same stitch

If you want the scarf to be wider add another increasing row or two here

Round 39: Chain 1 and turn, sc, dc, sc, dc, sc, dc, sc, dc, sc, dc, sc, dc, sc, dc, sc
Round 40 Chain 2 and turn, dc, sc, dc, sc, dc, sc, dc, sc, dc, sc, dc, sc, dc, sc, dc

Repeat Rounds 39 and 40 until you reach your desired length. I did 70 rows but you may want yours longer.

Round 100: Chain 1 and turn. sc2tog, dc, sc, dc, sc, dc, sc, dc, sc, dc sc, dc, sc2tog
Round 101: Chain 2 and turn, dc2tog, sc, dc, sc, dc, sc, dc, sc, dc, sc, dc2tog
Round 102: Chain 1 and turn. sc2tog, dc, sc, dc, sc, dc, sc, dc, sc2tog
Round 103: Chain 1 and turn. sc2tog, sc, dc, sc, dc, sc, sc2tog
Round 104 Chain 1 and turn. sc2tog, sc, dc, sc, sc2tog
Round  105: Chain 1 and turn. sc, dc, sc, dc, sc
Round 106: Chain 2 and turn, dc, sc, dc, sc, dc
Round 107: Chain 1 and turn. sc, dc, sc, dc, sc
Round 108: Chain 2 and turn, dc, sc, dc, sc, dc
Round 109: Chain 1 and turn. sc, dc, sc, dc, sc
Round 110: Chain 1 and turn. sc2tog,sc,dc,sc2tog
Round 111: Chain 1 and turn. sc, dc, sc, dc
Round 112: Chain 2 and turn, dc, sc, dc, sc

Repeat rows 111 and 112 7 more times each (so you'll have 14 more rows)

Round 127: Chain 1 and turn. sc, dc, sc, dc
Round 128: Chain 2 and turn, dc2tog
Round 129 - 132: Chain 1 and turn. sc, sc
Round 133: Chain 1 and turn. sc2tog
Round 134: Chain 1 and turn. sc
Fasten off

Spine Spikes

Fold your finished scarf  in half length ways to make easier to see the middle of the dragons back. Using the same colour yarn that you crocheted the dragon and starting at roughly Round 31 of the scarf sc along the centre to the tip of the tail. Fasten off.

Switch to your contrast yarn and join it at the tip on the tail. On mine I did 3 different types of scales; Small, Medium and Large. I did the small ones on the tip of his tail and then I switched to medium and then to the large and then as I got closer to the head I did the medium and finally the small again. In between each spike I slip stitched into 2 stitches. This is important otherwise the spikes will ruffle up and won't be so defined.

Small spike: *sc, hdc, sc* In same stitch

Medium spike:  *hdc, dc, hdc* In same stitch

Larch Spike: *dc, tc, dc* In same stitch. 

Wings
For the wings, I use the wing pattern from Elizabeth Mareno's Pokemon Charizard Look-Alike Pattern. The pattern is located about halfway down the page. Make 2 total.

Nose Spike
Round 1: 6sc in magic ring,
Round 2: sc around
Round 3: *sc 1, sc2inc* around
Round 4: sc around
Round 5: sc around
Round 6:sc around
Fasten off and leave a long tail for sewing

Head Spikes (make 2)
Round 1: 6sc in magic ring,
Round 2: sc around
Round 3: sc around
Round 4: *sc 1, sc2inc* around
Round 5: sc around
Round  6: *sc 2, sc2inc* around
Round  7: sc around
Fasten off and leave a long tail for sewing


Assembly:
Sew the nose spike to the front of your dragons head and head spikes towards the back of his head on each side. Sew the wings to the body. I sewed mine close so that the straight edge was flush with the spinal spikes and the triangle part was attached a little further down the back. Sew in all your loose ends.

Pattern Coming Soon..

I'm hoping to have time next week to type this pattern up. She's a real cutie!

Sewing Machine Pattern

At this stage the pattern is a rough draft so please excuse any errors. There are a couple of things I want to alter slightly so once I have time I plan to fix it up but I figured if I don't write it up now i'll forget and it'll never happen. I'm going to put some better pictures up soon and hopefully some step by step pictures to make some of the trickier bits easier to understand.

Ch - Chain

Sc - Single Crocher

2sctog - Decrease. Crochet 2 stitches together

2scinc - Increase. Crochet 2 stitches in the next stitch

Sl st - Slip Stitch

Materials

Hook & Yarn. Size isn't too important. Just use something that will give you a nice tight finished piece. I used 8ply cotton and a 3.25mm hook. 

Stuffing

Small bit of cardboard or plastic

Sewing machine needle*

Fabric Glue

2 pins*

pencil*

*Optional. I used them on mine but you could use something else if you'f prefer. 

The main part:

Round 1: Ch 30 and join to form a ring

Round 2:  Sc in each ch (30)

Round 3: 2sctog, sc 28 (29)

Round 4: 2sctog, sc 25, 2sctog (27)

Round 5: sc 25, 2sctog (26)

Round 6: 2sctog, sc 22, 2sctog (24

Round 7: 2sctog, sc 20, 2sctog (22)

Round 8: 2sctog, sc 18, 2sctog (20)

Round 9 - 14: sc around (20)

Round 15: 2scinc, sc 18, 2scinc (22)

Round 16: 2scinc, sc 20, 2scinc (24)

Round 17: 2scinc, sc 22, 2scinc (26)

Round 18: sl st in next st, ch 1, sc in same stitch as ch and then in each stitch around. Don't join!

Round19: Ch 1, turn, sc around

Round 20: Ch 1, turn, sc around

Round 21: Ch 1, turn, sc around

Round 22: Ch 1, turn, sc around

Round 23: Ch 1, turn, sc around

Round 24: sc 9, 2sctog(x4) sc 9

Round 25: sc 6, 2sctog(x5) sc 6

Round 26: sc 4, 2sctog(x4) sc 5

Round 27: Ch 3. Join to first stitch on other side of the gap.

Round 28: Sc around. sc 2 stitches in the ch from previous row

Now we're going to crochet along the sides of the stitches from the previous rows. I'll pop some pictures up when I have time to make another to make it easier to understand but if you look in the picture above you'll see that the stitches go vertical and then in the little section where the machine top attaches to the base the stitches are horizontal.  

Round 29 - 36: sc around (24) 

Fasten off and leave a long tail so you can sew it to the base.

Handle part at side of machine

(Can you tell I don't really know a lot about sewing just yet?)

Round 1: sc 8 stitches into a magic ring. Pull closed.

Round 2: 2scinc around (16)

Round 3: 2scinc, 1 sc around (24)

Round 4: Sc around (24)

Round 5: Sc2tog, 1 sc (16)

Round 5: sc2tog around (8)

Sew onto the little hole left on the side of the sewing machine.

The Base part

Round 1: Ch 30 and join to form a ring

Round 2 - 30: sc around.

To give the base some stability cut a little bit of cardboard or plastic big enough to fit inside the base. Pop it in and sc along the open edges of the base to close.

The Front part

Round 1: Ch 6, 3scinc in second ch from hook, 3 sc, 5scinc in last, continue to work on the other side of the chain, 3 sc, 2scinc in last

Round 2: 2scinc, sc 4, 2scinc, 1 sc, 2scinc, 1 sc, 2scinc, sc 4

Round 3: 2scinc, 1 sc, 2scinc, 5 sc, 2scinc, 2 sc, , 2scinc 2 sc, 2scinc, sc 4

Round 4: 2scinc, sc 2, 2scinc, 6 sc, 2scinc, sc 3, 2scinc, sc 3, 2scinc, 5sc

Round 5: 2scinc, sc 3, 2scinc, sc 7, 2scinc, sc 4, 2scinc, sc 6

Round 6: Back Loops only: Sc around.

Assembly

Now you should have all of you pieces. The sewing machine handle part should be stitched on to the machine and the base should be stuffed with cardboard and crocheted closed. Sew the 'front part' of the machine onto the front of the machine. Stuff the machine with stuffing and stitch it to the base part.

I'll pop some pictures up of the little details at a later stage but I used a real sewing needle for the machine needle. I just put some fabric glue onto the top and poked it through the stitches. For the little cotton reel I used a pencil and I just cut the end off. To secure it to the machine I used a sewing pin and fabric glue. I wrapped some embroidery floss around it and secured it with a bit of glue and threaded the other end through the needle. I used another pin to hold the floss to in that place to the left of the cotton and above the machine needle. I have no idea of the technical term for it that place but once I tidy the pattern up i'll find out and make sure to include it.

As I said before this is still a rough draft so there are bound to be errors but I promise i'l fix it all up soon. 

Little Crochet Sloth Hat.

I'm hoping to have time over the next week to write the pattern for this down but I couldn't resist and just had to post a picture of it first. Once the pattern is finished i'll pop it here in this post so you can all make your own little Sloth hat.

A Giveaway!

This little monkey will make a li

ttle boy or girl very happy this Christmas. If you 'like' SLM on Facebook than you get an easy entry into the competition and if you would like to increase your chances of winning you can write something on my wall for an extra entry. To enter, scroll down to see the little Rafflecopter widget. 

The competition closes midnight next Wednesday and I hope to be in contact with the winner soon after so I can get this little monkey in the post so he'll arrive in time for Christmas.

This competition is open to Australian residents only. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Six Little Monkeys

I haven't written a post in a really long time but with Facebooks recent changes I figured it was about time I dust the cobwebs off and get back into it so here I am.




Yesterday I finished these gorgeous little monkeys and I must admit i'm going to be a little sad to send them off to their new homes. They're so cute I really do wish I could keep them.

I'm particularly fond of the little fellow in the bow tie. Isn't he cute?