Looney Luna

Like many many others, we went to the midnite (well, 12:09, to be precise) showing of Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. In years past when there was a midnite movie or book release party, we'd put some time and effort into costuming. Not as much time and effort as SOME folks put into it, but, you know, some.

Some years ago, my mom made cloaks for the girls. They were fully lined and lovely. These cloaks were worn for Halloween once or twice as well as for every movie and book release. Plus a little bit of general dress up. They were well worn and well loved.

Last night we're pretty sure Liv got the last use out of hers. It was a little tight and a little short, but it still worked, we thought.

Liv decided she wanted to be Luna Lovegood. A lovely choice. Everything other than the cloak was her own doing. First of all, she figured the best way to conjure Luna (AND give her something to do during the long wait before the movie) was to make herself a copy of The Quibbler. Which she proceeded to read upside down.

She found a template online and copied it, then glued it to construction paper. Initially she tried gluing that to an actual magazine, but she ran into some logistical problems she hadn't expected. Ever resourceful, she used the three hole punch to piece her covers together with a few pages from another magazine. (Once at the theater, she definitely wished she'd thought to add more content)

Quibbler good to go, robe on, hair curled (not in these pictures - Mom wasn't too quick with the camera), wand at the ready, a couple hours till showtime.

What to do? What to do?

What anyone would do, of course. She crocheted a holster for her wand in Ravenclaw colors. She had some problems with the tip of the wand poking through the loosely crocheted fabric, so she lined it. I was so proud of her ingenuity I could hardly see straight.

Yep, there's no way I can deny this one. I'm pretty sure she's mine.

BMC Wrist bag

This pattern was adapted from one originally found in Stitch 'N Bitch Nation by Debbie Stoller. I'd made a few of the bags following her directions, then made some alterations. Most notably, I added the applique and I made the bag slightly larger. This one can comfortably accommodate my camera, cell phone, notepad, credit card, license, a few bucks and a key chain. Not MY key chain, but a key chain.

BMC Wrist Bag

Materials
black worsted yarn - I used Lion Brand Cotton-Ease. 1 skein will make several bags. I think it would work well with nylon, too, and intend to try that soon.

lime green worsted yarn - I used Sugar and Cream because the color was great. You'll just need a small amount of this.

knitting needles size 6

crochet hook size F

beading needle

yarn needle

sequins (green)

seed beads (peridot and amber)

silver beads with an opening wide enough to be strung onto yarn

alphabet beads and/or other charms (optional - mine says BMC, of course!)

4" black zipper

black thread

Bag
- with black yarn, cast on 28 stitches
- work 6 rows garter stitch (k each row)
- begin stockinette stitch (k on front, p on back)
- work even until piece measures 4 1/2 " from beginning (end on k row)
- k next row (on wrong side) this will form a nice fold
- k next row (on right side) - return to stockinette stitch
- when folded work hits garter stitch section, switch to garter stitch and work 6 rows.
- cast off

Lime Applique
- with green yarn and crochet hook, ch 3.
row 1: 5 hdc in 3rd ch from hook
row 2: ch 1, turn, 2 sc in each hdc
row 3: ch 2, turn. Hdc in 1st sc,* fpdc over hdc in row 1, skip next sc, hdc in next hdc* repeat from * to * across
row 4: ch 1, turn. *Sc in first st, 2 sc in next st* repeat from * to * across
row 5: ch 2, turn. Hdc in first 2 st, *fpdc over fpdc from row 3, hdc in next 2 st* repeat from * to * across.
Do NOT turn
work sc evenly across straight edge of applique, easing to fit. Work hdc in back loop only of round 5 as follows: *hdc in next 2 st, 2 hdc in next st* repeat from * to * across. End w/ slip stitch to first stitch.
cut yarn and pull through loop to secure


Assembling
Place applique on bag in desired position. Tack down neatly with green yarn and yarn needle.

Secure sequins around outer edge with peridot seed beads.

Randomly secure amber seed beads to areas between "spokes" on lime.

Using black yarn, sew or crochet side seams.

Carefully hand sew zipper into place using black thread.

Cut 3 30" lengths of black yarn - secure a knot 6" from one end. Braid tightly until braid measures 14". Draw through opening in zipper pull. Knot one end tightly to the other, forming a wrist loop. Bead silver beads and/or alphabet beads/charms onto each of the 6 loose strands. Varying the length of each a little bit adds charm. Perfection is overrated. Tie a knot securely after each bead has been strund and trim the yarn to your preferred length.

As always, this pattern is mine, so please - feel free to use it to your little hearts content, but don't make a profit from it.

Please contact me with any confusing directions or errata and I will address it (to the best of my ability) promptly.

We Heart Art!

Three Bay B Chicks, Domestically Challenged and I'm Living Proof that God has a Sense of Humor have been sponsoring "We Heart Art" week all week. For more details on this event, scoot on over here.

Personally, I have never had much luck with paper arts. Or clay arts. Or performing arts. But I took to yarn and needles like a duck to water. I was crocheting clothing items for myself when I was in fifth grade. (Of course I was in fifth grade in the era of crochet's hey day - potholder vests, crocheted suits and dresses, floppy hats. Yeah, I'm old. Whatever.)

I put crochet hooks and knitting needles in my kids' hands as soon as they had the fine motor skills to handle them. Both of them tried several times (with long lapses in between) before it really clicked for them. When crocheting clicked for Liv, it was like an artist's dream come true. You see, Miss Liv refuses to consult a pattern. She knows what she wants things to look like and she knows what she can do and she does her best to reconcile those two notions.

Here's a little showcase of a few of the things she's designed recently:

The drum kit was from a - well - a kit, but she did put it together. The doll is all her, baby. She crocheted the doll and then set to work creating a wardrobe. The above picture depicts her in her goth fairy ensemble. Dig the red wings!

This is the same ensemble, but with an added cape. (and an added proud artist)

This doll has several other outfits - fancy dresses, more capes, she's got a bangin' wardrobe!

Often Liv will become inspired by something I'm working on. That happened with my mushrooms. I found these awesome little felted mushroom patterns online and I knit one in every design. Super cute, right? Well, Liv thought that the little red and white toadstool looked like a good home for a fairy. I told her to knock herself out. Soon we had this little fairy taking up residence.


Isn't it awesome when you can make your own magic?


Not wanting her fairy to be lonesome, she quickly concocted a gloomy little friend for her to hang out with. There was a green-skinned Elphaba at one point, too, but a friend loved her so much that Liv gifted her with it.

Knitting and crocheting and other needlecrafts have brought me so much peace and joy; I am so thrilled to have passed that down to my girls.

And I am REALLY psyched to see where Liv's talents with the needle might take her.

Nannerpuss Amigurumi

A friend was enchanted by Denny's new spokesman and asked if I could knit her a Nannerpuss. I said I probably could, but I'd rather crochet one.

I added a thin gauge wire around each of the "peels" to make the Nannerpuss poseable. If you are making this toy for a young child, you would need to adapt this pattern by eliminating the wire and the googly eyes.

You can probably find yarn in your stash to make this project. You don't need to use "the good stuff" to make this project cute. Certainly a plus when you're making something on trend and just for giggles.

If you'd like to make one of your own, here's how I did it:

Nannerpuss Amigurumi
Materials needed:
About 1/2 skein Vanna's Choice baby in Duckie (or any worsted weight yarn in a banana-like color)

Small amount dark drown - also in worsted weight

Crochet hook size H

26 gauge wire

2 googly eyes

Small amount black felt

Small amount fiberfill stuffing

Craft glue

Directions:
With dark brown yarn, ch 2
Row 1: 6 sc in second ch from hook (work in the round - do not join work)
Row 2: 2 sc in each sc around. Break off dark brown.
Row 3: Attach yellow. 1 sc in back loop only of each sc
Row 4: (sc in next sc; 2 sc in next sc) repeat around (18 sc)
Row 5: (sc in next 2 sc; 2 sc in next sc) repeat around (24 sc)
Row 6: sc in each sc around. Work even until piece measures approximately 5" from the beginning (or to desired length)

When desired length is reached, slip stitch in next stitch.

First "peel"
Row 1: ch 1, sc in front loop only of next 3 sc; ch 1; turn
Row 2: sc in each sc across; ch 1; turn (3 sc)
Rows 3-18: repeat row 2
Row 19: draw up a loop in each sc; yo, draw through all 4 loops on hook. Fasten off

Second through eighth "peel"
Attach yarn to main piece in next sc. Repeat directions for first "peel"

Base
with yellow, ch 2
Row 1: 6 sc in second ch from hook (work in the round - do not join work)
Row 2: 2 sc in each sc around
Row 3: (sc in next sc; 2 sc in next sc) repeat around (18 sc)
Row 4: (sc in next 2 sc; 2 sc in next sc) repeat around (24 sc) Do not fasten off.

Stuff "nanner" section lightly with fiberfill. Position base right side up over opening. Slip st base to nanner, tucking in loose yarn ends as you go. Fasten off.

Hold wire along one "peel". Attach yellow yarn at base of same peel. Sc along edges, over the wire. Work up and down along each "peel". When you have gone around all eight peels, join yarn w/ slip st. Fasten off. Cut wire and twist it on itself (attach the beginning to the end). Weave wire through stitches along the base to conceal it. Weave in yarn ends.

Attach googly eyes (1 or 2 - your choice - Nannerpuss has been pictured both ways) with craft glue.

Cut a small moustache from black felt and attach with craft glue.

Pancakes
Materials Needed:
Lion Brand Cotton Ease - 1 skein each maize and almond

Crochet hook size H

Directions:
Holding one strand of each yarn together, ch 2

Row 1: 6 sc in second ch from hook (work in the round, do not join)
Row 2: 2 sc in each sc around (12 sc)
Row 3: (sc in next sc; 2 sc in next sc) repeat around (18 sc)
Row 4: (sc in next 2 sc; 2 sc in next sc) repeat around (24 sc)
Row 5: (sc in next 3 sc; 2 sc in next sc) repeat around (30 sc)
Row 6: (sc in next 4 sc; 2 sc in next sc) repeat around (36 sc)
Row 7: (sc in next 5 sc; 2 sc in next sc) repeat around (42 sc)
Row 8: (sc in next 6 sc; 2 sc in next sc) repeat around (48 sc)
Row 9: (sc in next 7 sc; 2 sc in next sc) repeat around (54 sc)
Row 10: (sc in next 8 sc; 2 sc in next sc) repeat around (60 sc)
Row 11: (sc in next 9 sc; 2 sc in next sc) repeat around (66 sc)
Row 12: (sc in next 10 sc; 2 sc in next sc) repeat around (72 sc)

sl st in next st, fasten off

Make a second disc in the same manner. Hold the two discs together, wrong sides facing. Using one strand of ecru, join then through the inner loops only using reverse sc (crab stitch). Fasten off. Weave in any visible ends.

Make as many pancakes as you desire for Nannerpuss to perch upon. One skein of each of the yarns listed makes about 3.


I am relatively new to actually writing out a pattern, so please be gentle with me. Kindly point out any errata or areas of confusion in the comments and I will address them immediately. As always, this is my work. Please: personal use only. Thanks.