Monday, November 19, 2012

Scrapbooking Class

To get out and meet new people I signed up for a scrapbooking class offered by the USO. This class was quite interesting considering I have been scrapbooking for years now and due to the move I didn't have any of my supplies with me. The one nice thing is that for $20 they provided a all the supplies needed to create three two-page layout designs.

I was a little disappointed when I saw that the layouts were not Christmas themed as I had hoped but they were still cute none the less.

Here we have the  News Years layout with a pocket to stick all your resolutions in.


Next up is the Saint Patrick's Day layout



Lastly we have an adorable Easter layout. Sorry about the quality of the last picture, for some reason it wouldn't photograph well at all.



Of the three my favorite was the St. Patrick's Day one and I can see myself doing similar layouts in the future. I plan on continuing the classes every month so look forward to next months layouts.

Sunday, November 11, 2012

Amigurumi Elephant

*Pattern moved from Zorabell's Average Life*


Elephant

Materials:
K hook, I hook
Worsted weight yarn
2 safety eyes
Stuffing
Yarn needle


BODY- using K hook
Start with the magic circle, working in a spiral pattern, mark the beginning of each row with a stitch marker
Row 1-Chain 1, sc 6 - 6 sts Leave a 6 inch yarn tail and do not weave in (will come in handy later ;) )
Row 2- 2 sc in each sc, around- 12 sts
Row 3- * Sc in next sc, 2 sc in next sc * rep from * around - 18 sts
Row 4-* Sc in next 2 sc, 2 sc in next sc * rep from * around. - 24 sts
Row 5- * Sc in next 3 sc, 2 sc in next sc * rep from * around. - 30 sts
Row 6- * Sc in next 4 sc, 2 sc in next sc * rep from * around. - 36 sts
Row 7- 19 - Sc in each sc around - 36 sts
Row 20 - * Sc in next 4 sc, dec 1 sc in next 2 sts * rep from * around. - 30 st
Row 21 -* Sc in next 3 sc, dec 1 sc in next 2 sts * rep from * around. - 24 sts
Row 22- * Sc in next 2 sts, dec 1 sc in next 2 sts * rep from * around - 18 sts
Make sure to leave a long tail for sewing,

HEAD- using K hook
working in a spiral pattern, mark the beginning of each row with a stitch marker
Chain 18 close into a ring with a sl st in first ch
Row 1- * Sc in next ch, 2 sc in next ch * rep from * around -27 sts
Row 2- * Sc in next 2 sc, 2 sc in next sc * rep from * around. - 36 sts
Row 3-5- Sc in each sc around - 36 sts
Row 6- * Sc in next 4 sc, dec 1 sc in next 2 sts * rep from * around. - 30 sts
Row 7 -* Sc in next 3 sc, dec 1 sc in next 2 sts * rep from * around. - 24 sts
Row 8- * Sc in next 2 sts, dec 1 sc in next 2 sts * rep from * around - 18 sts
Row 9- * Sc in next sc, dec 1 sc in next 2 sc * rep from * around - 12 sts
Row 10- Dec 1 sc in next 2 sts * rep from * around. ( 6 sc ).
Row 11- Dec 1 sc in next 2 sts, sl st in next st. Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing. Weave length through last rnd of sts, draw tight to close opening and secure.

LEGS (make 4)- Using I hook
Start with the magic circle, working in a spiral pattern
Row 1-Chain 1, sc 6 - 6 sts
Row 2- 2 sc in each sc, around- 12 sts
Row 3 -11 Sc in each sc around - 12 sts
sl st in next sc at end of last rnd, fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing

Ears (make 2)- Using I hook
Chain 5
Row 1- 2 sc in 2nd chain from hook, sc in next 2 sc, 2 sc in last ch, ch 1, turn- 6 sts
Row 2- 2 sc in first sc, sc in next 4 sc, 2 sc in last sc, ch 1, turn- 8 sts
Row 3- 2 sc in first sc, sc in next 2 sc, dec 1 sc in next 2 sts, sc in next 2 sc, 2 sc in last sc, ch 1, turn- 9 sts
Row 4- 2 sc in first sc, sc in next 2 sc, dec 1 sc in next 2 sts, sc in next 3 sc, 2 sc in last sc, ch 1, turn- 10 sts
Row 5- 2 sc in first sc, sc in next 3 sc, dec 1 sc in next 2 sts, sc in next 4 sc, ch 1, turn- 10 sts
Row 6- 2 sc in first sc, sc in next 3 sc, dec 1 sc in next 2 sts, sc in next 4 sc- 10 sts
bind off and leave a long tail for sewing

Trunk- Using I hook
using a magic circle
Row 1- Chain 1, sc 5 - 5 sts
Row 2- 2 sc in each sc, around- 10 sts
Row 3-7- sc in each sc around- 10 sts
Row 8-10- sc in next 4 sc, dec 1 sc in next 2 sts, sc in next 3 sc, sc in next 4 sc- 10 sts
Row 11- *sc in next 4 sc, 2 sc in next sc * rep from * around- 12 sts
Row 12- *sc in next 5 sc, 2 sc in next sc * rep from * around- 14 sts
Row 13-14- sc in each sc around- 14 sts
bind off and leave a long tail for sewing

Tail
Before stuffing the body pull the starting tail to the inside and make a good size knot at the base, then using the yarn needle thread it back through the center hole. The knot should keep it anchored nicely. Then depending on how long you wish the elephants tail to be make a knot 1/2 inch to the end.

Assembly
Stuff the body as firm as you would like. Then before stuffing the head sew the trunk to head, roughly in the center. Next place the eyes evenly above the trunk and attach them. Stuff the head to the same firmness as the body and sew the body and head together. Next attach the legs to the underside of the body evenly. Next attach the ears to both sides of area where the body and head meet up. Weave in all ends an voila! Elephant!!! Enjoy!!!