Shannen practising his "Standing."

Our household has many new changes recently, the biggest change is that I’ve gone back to work. I only worked part-time to begin with, so it’s not too bad, and thankfully my dad is helping out by taking care of Shannen during the overlap between Brent and I.

In the world of Craft, I’ve finished a couple new projects!

Mug Cozies

Teapot Cozy

Matching teapot cozy and mug cozies for the Secret Grinch swap {yes, I know, it’s quite past Christmastime at this point!}

Baby Dragon

And this really cute Baby Dragon that I made was a huge hit! I absolutely love the pattern, and even though I had to purchase the pattern, when I showed it to Brent he was hooked, too!

Of course as a practicing AP mom, I refuse to leave him alone to cry it out, and there seems to be little other options; and I’m concerned for when I got back to work in 3 months! I guess we will have to just keep plugging at it until he gets down a bedtime routine that works with both Mom and Dad!

SO, other than the frustrating lack of sleep over the past 7.5 MONTHS, I’ve been up to my eyeballs in crafting projects and house projects. My current house projects are making a couple quilts and arm-rest hangers for the couch, as well as painting a mural on our pillar wall.

My newest addition to the website, though, is a full original pattern that I plan to make more Amigurumi dolls from. I had been planning on making a doll pattern, but nothing had inspired me until I needed to make a present for a good friend! The pattern is rightfully called “Halfling,”and depending on interestI may make it available. There are still some kinks to work out, because there are some parts of the doll that I don’t really like and would want to change.

Halfling Pattern

Materials:
Bernat Satin Solids {or any worsted soft acrylic} in Grey, Blue, White and Black.
Size 3.5mm hook
Stitch marker
White felt
Tapestry Needle

Stitches Used:
ch = chain
sl st = slip stitch
sc = single crochet
hdc = half-double crochet
dc = double crochet
tc = treble/triple crochet
inv dec = invisible decrease
inv join = invisible join
mr = make ring
french knot

Instructions for Grey Totoro:
Body -
Using grey yarn:
MR, ch 1, sc 6, close ring – do not join, work in spiral.
Rnd 1: 2sc in each sc = 12 sc
Rnd 2: increase 6 sc evenly = 18 sc
Rnd 3: increase 6 sc evenly = 24 sc
Rnd 4: increase 6 sc evenly = 30 sc
Rnd 5 – 20: sc in each sc.
Rnd 21: 6 inv dec evenly = 24 sc
Rnd 22: 6 inv dec evenly = 18 sc
Rnd 23: 6 inv dec evenly = 12 sc
Rnd 24: 6 inv dec evenly = 6 sc
Finish: Leave 6 inch tail, pull the yarn through so there is no active st. Stuff fully, and close the top by using 6 inch tail with a tapestry needle on it. Slide the front loops of the 6 stitches onto the tapestry needle, pull tight and secure.

Belly –
Using white yarn:
MR, ch 1, sc 6, close ring – do not join, work in spiral.
Rnd 1: 2sc in each sc = 12 sc
Rnd 2: increase 6 sc evenly = 18 sc
Rnd 3: increase 6 sc evenly = 24 sc
Rnd 4: increase 6 sc evenly = 30 sc
Rnd 5: increase 6 sc evenly = 36 sc
Finish: Inv join, leave 6-8inch tail, sew belly onto stuffed body. Secure and hide ends.

Ears –
Using grey yarn:
Ch 13. Working on the back row of the chain {the small bumps}:
Sl st into the first ch. Sc in ch twice, hdc in ch three times, dc in ch twice, hdc in ch, sl st in remaining 3 ch. Secure.
Attach ears into the third or forth row on the top of the body’s head. Attach between posts {where there are little holes}, pull ears into the head a little and secure.

Finishing -
With grey yarn, make 6 upside-down “V”‘s on the white belly of the Totoro. With felt, make two little circles. Push tapestry needle through the center to create hole. With black yarn, make a french knot on the white felt circles. Pull the french knot into the white felt to make more secure. Repeat, then tie and hide ends.

Instructions for Blue Totoro:
Body -
Using blue yarn:
MR, ch 1, sc 6, close ring – do not join, work in spiral.
Rnd 1: 2sc in each sc = 12 sc
Rnd 2: increase 6 sc evenly = 18 sc
Rnd 3: increase 6 sc evenly = 24 sc
Rnd 4 – 12: sc in each sc.
Rnd 13: 6 inv dec evenly = 18 sc
Rnd 14: 6 inv dec evenly = 12 sc
Rnd 15: 6 inv dec evenly = 6 sc
Finish: Leave 6 inch tail, pull the yarn through so there is no active st. Stuff fully, and close the top by using 6 inch tail with a tapestry needle on it. Slide the front loops of the 6 stitches onto the tapestry needle, pull tight and secure.

Belly -
Using white yarn:
MR, ch 1, sc 6, close ring – do not join, work in spiral.
Rnd 1: 2sc in each sc = 12 sc
Rnd 2: increase 6 sc evenly = 18 sc
Rnd 3: increase 6 sc evenly = 24 sc
Finish: Inv join, leave 6-8inch tail, sew belly onto stuffed body. Secure and hide ends.

Ears -
Using blue yarn:
Ch 9. Working on the back row of the chain {the small bumps}:
Sl st into the first ch. Sc in ch, hdc in ch two times, dc in ch once, hdc in ch, sl st in remaining 3 ch. Secure.
Attach ears into the third or forth row on the top of the body’s head. Attach between posts {where there are little holes}, pull ears into the head a little and secure.

Finishing -
With blue yarn, make 3 upside-down “V”‘s on the white belly of the Totoro. With felt, make two little circles. Push tapestry needle through the center to create hole. With black yarn, make a french knot on the white felt circles. Pull the french knot into the white felt to make more secure. Repeat, then tie and hide ends.

Instructions for White Totoro:
Body -
Using white yarn:
MR, ch 1, sc 6, close ring – do not join, work in spiral.
Rnd 1: 2sc in each sc = 12 sc
Rnd 2: increase 6 sc evenly = 18 sc
Rnd 3 – 7: sc in each sc.
Rnd 8: 6 inv dec evenly = 12 sc
Rnd 9: 6 inv dec evenly = 6 sc
Finish: Leave 6 inch tail, pull the yarn through so there is no active st. Stuff fully, and close the top by using 6 inch tail with a tapestry needle on it. Slide the front loops of the 6 stitches onto the tapestry needle, pull tight and secure.

Ears -
Using white yarn:
Ch 6. Working on the back row of the chain {the small bumps}:
Sl st into the first ch. Sc in ch twice, hdc in ch twice, sc in ch, sl st in remaining ch. Secure.
Attach ears into the second or third row on the top of the body’s head. Attach between posts {where there are little holes}, pull ears into the head a little and secure.

Finishing -
With black yarn, make a french knot on the front of the Totoro between the third and fourth rows from the top of the head. Repeat with the second french knot around 3 posts apart. Tie and hide ends.

Note: Add PVC pellets or another type of weight to the bottom of them if you’d like them to be more sturdy. They should still stand without them.