Challenge No 7: Crotchet a character

[smallhobbit]

One of my flist suggested I try crochet, as their friend crocheted film characters, but I can't find who it was.  If it was you, please wave!

I bought myself a set of crochet needles:



and started off by making a star for the Christmas tree.  This might not have been the easiest of things to do, bearing in mind all I've ever done before is crochet a chain, but still:



It's not bad for a first attempt.  I then ordered a book and some more wool:



And I set to work on the pattern: here are Sherlock's hat, head, and the start of his body.



And here is Sherlock's head trying on his hat (I still have to make the ear flaps):



It will be some while before Sherlock is finished.

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Meanwhile, I have finished my sewing craft.  I was very pleased with the end result and my grateful thanks to Debriswoman once again for providing the kit.

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Lastly, SM bought me a small Christmas sewing kit, so, although not technically one of this year's challenges, here's how it's going:

Comments

[mafief]

You’re doing really well if your starting point was a chain. Crocheting Amigurumi isn’t easy, so go you! I’m excited to see how Sherlock comes out. The pic from the directions is adorable.

Cool! I’m glad you posted a pic of the sewing project. It looks really nice.

Is the stocking an ornament?

[vix_spes]

This is absolutely lovely ... I can't wait to see how Sherlock turns out!

[tripleransom]

Aaah! I want that book!

I think you're very brave for giving amigurami a shot and you're making a good start with Sherlock. Add me to the list of those who want to see how he comes out.

[aome]

I'm impressed with the star, and how Sherlock is going so far! And your basket turned out really nicely.

I'm cracking up at the name of the pattern book. *g*

In England, is all yarn called "wool" even if it's not wool? Or is Sherlock, in fact, made of wool?

[alisanne]

You are so crafty and I am SO NOT! LOL.
Sherlock is so cute. Now I want to see you make Harry and Severus. <3

[smallhobbit]

I can't say I'm a great fan of crochet. And I know I'm making mistakes, but hopefully Sherlock will work out reasonably. Although probably not much like the pic.

I was really pleased with the way the sewing project turned out.

Yes, the stocking WILL be hung on the Christmas tree, along with the snowflake.

[smallhobbit]

Thank you. There will be more pics, do not fear!

[smallhobbit]

I'm not sure whether you can get it in the States, but it wasn't very expensive.

Mad is more how I would describe it. In that I really have very little clue what I'm doing - or that I was in fact doing amigurami. There will certainly be more pics of Sherlock in the making.

ETA It turns out the book is an American import!

[smallhobbit]

I'm impressed with the star, considering I left out a complete row of instructions and more or less cobbled it together from the instructions and what I thought it should look like. It didn't help that I think I had an American pattern and British and American crochet terms are different.

It's a brilliant name for a book. I wasn't looking for it, it just came up when I was doing a search for something else and I had to have it.

Yes, we still call all yarn wool - which is bought from a wool shop. The shop itself will be named properly but colloquially it will be the wool shop.

[smallhobbit]

Just don't look at the wobbly stitches! Or all the mistakes in the crochet (which I'm finding quite difficult - but this is a challenge!)

I used to knit a lot, and have concluded I prefer knitting - if I find a pattern of Harry and Severus I will make them!

[solosundance]

I can't decide whether the picture of Sherlock's head is really cute or really disturbing... The sewing is definitely beautiful though.

[margaret_r]

You've set yourself a task crocheting a little Sherlock but he is looking very cute already and the sewing looks lovely:)

[sanguinity]

Following on with the British-English questions: crochet needles? We would call them hooks, here, and reserve 'needles' for knitting and a few other things.

It looks like your Sherlock is coming along well, the shaping going well and your stitches nice and tight and regular. It makes my hands ache just to look at it. ;-)

And I like the star! Are you going to starch it, or is that its final form? I used to make up lots of crochet stars/snowflakes for gifts and bazaars when I was young: lacy things in mercerized cotton thread, which we'd starch with sugar-water. (Hm, in the style of the first six here, if you need a visual reference for the kind of thing.)

And the sewing project is very handsome! And just in time to be a container for your crochet supplies!

[smallhobbit]

The head should be less disturbing once it's attached to the body ...

I'm glad you like the sewing - I was pleased with it.

[smallhobbit]

Quite! Have you ever thought 'how hard can it be?'

[smallhobbit]

I think they probably are crochet hooks, although I think of them as needles, because I'm more used to knitting.

There will certainly be an update on Sherlock. I'm finding it quite hard work crocheting him.

I'm glad you like the star - I shall leave it as it is. I'm impressed you made lots of them - I found even making one a challenge.

I was really pleased with my sewing. At the moment the little box is holding the small kit SM bought me.

[sanguinity]

I'm impressed that these are your beginner projects! I recognize you're applying skills from knitting and sewing, but still. Those aren't still-getting-the-hang-of-the-tools kind of projects.

[smallhobbit]

Sometimes I doubt my sanity!

[sanguinity]

Well, it is the only fun way to craft. If I'm not thinking "how hard can it be??" before I begin, then what even is the point? ;-)

[smallhobbit]

Exactly :D

[tripleransom]

Well, I will definitely look for it! My thing is more knitting in recent years, but for that, i iwould crochet again.

[castiron]

Great start! And I'll have to check out that book.

My kids tried to convince me to buy one of the Star Wars character crochet kits, which I may yet do (or wait a couple more years, get it for them, and start teaching them to crochet....)

[alisanne]

Hooray!

[smallhobbit]

There are several different characters in the book, so if you're into crochet characters I think you'd like it. Although they are all literary characters, so no Star Wars ;)

[moth2fic]

Will Sherlock also hang on the tree? My mother in law did some exquisite crochet, my mother and grandmother did tatting, and I sort of messed about with embroidery but didn't do much. I do/did sew, but only for severely practical reasons and needs. As a child I found all of it really really hard, but as an adult I found it easy but boring. You are very impressive in your ability to tackle new things!

[smallhobbit]

No, Sherlock will not be hanging on the tree!

I hated needlework at school.

This year's been very interesting with the various challenges to try new things. It's certainly pulled me out of my usual range of activities and made me look wider - always a good thing.