Amigurumi Toy Box: Review

I have been working hard on finishing my little animals to give away. Now I am so close I feel it is time to give the book I'm using, Amigurumi Toy Box a look-see.

Amigurumi Toy Box is by Ana Paula Rimoli. Like her book Amigurumi World she takes you through her journey in creating each animal.

 Along with each picture and pattern there is a short paragraph explaining why she chose to make that particular animal.

Before I purchased this book, I was already excited about creating the new animals. I had only read what she had written about them!

The patterns are written in word form and are easy to follow. She also gives instructions as to what color of yarn to use, if you are making the animal as she has.

Also, for the beginner crocheter, there are instructions on how to do each of the stitches used in the book.

The beauty of amigurumi is that anyone can learn how to do it because of the simple stitches and the easy circular motion of each of the patterns.

If you are a fan of Ana Paula Rimoli, do not fail to get this book! The pictures are fun to look at and the anecdotes are fun to read.

Plus, if you are a part of Facebook you can show Rimoli your creations! Which almost gives the book a more personal touch because you can contact the author.

But nonetheless if you are a beginner, do not fear because Rimoli makes it easy for you to follow her patterns.

It is an enjoyable book that any crocheter would love to have in their library.

Muffin Craving

Lately  my husband and I have been talking about muffins! I don't think I have baked anything for a long time, so I thought I would find a good recipe and try to recreate it!

I found a lemon poppy seed muffin recipe in one of my newer cookbooks. Actually the cookbook is from my church which I received a couple of months ago.

I decided on lemon poppy seed because my husband stated he liked those the best. 

 This recipe only needed a few things like lemon cake mix, poppy seeds and vanilla pudding. The liquids were orange juice, oil and eggs.

First I put in the vanilla pudding and lemon cake mix. Next I put in the poppy seeds.

Lastly I put in the oil, eggs and orange juice.

Mix it all up!

Put it in some muffin pans. Bake! Out come beautiful golden brown muffins.

After they came out of the oven we tasted the delightfully fluffy and lemony muffins. Whoever created the recipe sure knew what goes well together! Plus it was a nice way to spend an afternoon. 

Thanks for stopping by. Hope you all are well!

Lots O'Squares

I have been working on my master bedroom blanket for quite sometime. I am finally making headway on it though!

Each square has an amount I'm aiming for. For instance my silver blue square's number is 32 and I reached that today!

 The linen color squares have to most to make, as they have two "rows" in my design. But I am nearing the end in creating those as well.

Dusty Blue

Lately I have been very determined to finish my projects already in progress. I am also almost done with all the stuffed toys I planned to make. After the bird I'm working on I think I only have three more to complete!

Linen

Silver Blue

Then I most definitely will move on to my next project. A baby blanket I have been dying to do since I got the book its in. I already have the yarn for it. It's just a matter of putting it together!

First things first though. Finish the stuffed toys! Er, finish the queen sized blanket!

My Design

Well I hope you all are doing well...I am even with all the snow! (We got LOTS of snow again, snow day for all!)

Happy Little Tugboat

I have made it a goal to have all the amigurumi toys done by the end of this month. This week has been no exception.

I started and finished a cute little Tugboat in three days.

Isn't it sweet? Hopefully one of the newborn boys will get it. There have been a lot of girls lately in the Sunday school class, but I think they will have a lot to chose from.

The next on my list of toys to do is a horse. I have started it and have already finished the ears and head. I hope I can finish it in a small amount of time.

Part of a hoof and leg.

I like the colors I chose for it. I had a variegated yarn left over from when I made the teddy bear. I used that for the muzzle and as the pattern dictates, will also use it for the hooves.

Then I  used a dark brown that I have had for many of the animals I have produced. Amigurumi is a good leftover yarn user!At least when you have the semi-appropriate colors in your stash. Which has been the case for some of the animals.

After the horse I hope to do a bird and maybe another lion. We will see. Until I see you again, later!

Striped Scarf

Here in Iowa, winter has not forgotten us! It snowed a couple of weeks ago and it is nearly melted.

It does not help that after it snows, we have a warm day fooling flowers into coming out, when it isn't quite ready to be spring yet. 

I am sure there are still cold days ahead, so there is plenty of time to make a new scarf for someone you love. If you don't like Iowa weather one day, it is sure to change the next!

This pattern was inspired by a knit scarf my husband and I ran across in a yarn store. I of course adjusted colors and used common crochet stitches to create my own!

This pattern is simple, using simple stitches and a 5mm hook. The yarn I used was Patons Classic Wool, my husband wanted a scratchy scarf.

You will need three colors (A, B, C)

Crochet terms:
DC: Double Crochet
SC: Single Crochet
HDC: Half Double crochet

Note: Scarf is created repeating the same row multiple times. Row 2 is repeated 8 times each time, Row 3 is repeated 10 times each time and Row 4 is repeated 3 times.

Note: Color pattern is as follows; A, B, A, B, C.

Starting with A, Chain 30.

Row 1: 1 DC in 3rd chain from hook, continue in each chain across.

Row 2: Chain 3, DC in each chain across. Repeat Row 6 more times, changing color at the end of the row.

Row 3: With B chain 1, SC in each DC Across. Repeat Row 9 more times. Changing back to A at end of the row.

Repeat Row 2 with A eight times, changing to B at the end of the row.

Repeat Row 3 with B ten times, changing to C at end of the Row.

Row 4: With C, chain 2, HDC in each SC across. Repeat row 2 more times.

Repeat rows 2-4 until scarf measures 84 inches.

I hope you find the scarf making relaxing and enjoyable! I know I did. Happy crocheting!

A Week Of Snow

Last week we had a sudden bout of snow after a small ice storm. Lovely Iowa weather for you. 

So, because work was so slow I didn't need to go in at all. I tried to stay busy, so what does a crocheter do? Crochet of course!

I completed two more animals for my small collection. A lovely, if not slightly fun frog princess and two koala's!

They turned out pretty good I think. I hope both of them find good homes when all is said and done.

I hope all my waiting animals find homes!! That's my one hope.

 

Thankfully I am down to six more!! Just six more of the twenty-eight I need to complete! I can see the end of the tunnel, after starting this more than seven months ago. You can see that first post here. 

Looking back at that post (above), I can see that I nearly accomplished all that I had set out to do.

That is satisfying, knowing what I set out to do, I completed. So there is hope that I will finish all that I hope to do in the future.

Hope this finds you well! Thanks for stopping by!