The Roxycraft Blog

Tutorial :: Making Brushed Amigurumi

For amigurumi, I usually don't use natural fibers, acrylic has so many benefits for making dolls like durability, washability, and shape resiliance that using natural fibers seemed like a waste of time and effort. But I recently came into a stash of Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride Bulky. It's an awesome yarn with a wool/mohair blend and I couldn't let it just sit on the shelf.

I had seen around the web some dolls that were brushed and thought I might give it a shot. Since I hadn't seen a tutorial for amigurumi specifically, my first attempt ended in me killing some doll eyes by scratching them silly...so I thought I might run you through the process so you can avoid some of the pitfalls.

Materials:
Any spun Natural fiber yarn (except cotton)
A dog slicker brush (mine has a soft brush on the flip side which I found came in handy at the end)

Close-up of what the bristles of the slicker brush look like: (click any picture for a larger version)

In this tutorial, my doll has a head and that's what I'm brushing up for you today. Make your piece until you only have a few round left to go. In my case, I stopped before I got to the decrease rounds.

Take out your stitch marker and avoid brushing your working yarn. (ignore that I have forgotten to do this in the next photo...lol)

When you use a dog slicker, one direction with smooth and the other direction will have resistance as it is grabbing fibers. Brush in the direction with resistance (you should feel tugging) in short even strokes. Go in the same direction for several strokes and you will begin to see fur forming.

Now turn your work and with the same grabbing side, brush sideways over spot you have just brushed.

 

Doing this back and forth method will produce the fur much faster than if you worked in the same direction. Continue working back and forth until your get the desired results.

Once you have a result you are happy with, add your doll eyes. Finish crocheting your piece and stuff it. Then take your dog slicker and finish brushing the bottom of your piece being very careful to avoid the eyes.

If your dog slicker has a soft brush side (you can also use a soft bristle brush of your own) brush the fur in the direction you like until smoothed out.

Use this technique on all the parts of your doll individually and before assembly!

Here is what became of that head!

New Pattern :: i <3 mushrooms 2.0

 

3 mix and match styles of cute! Grab the 2.0 version today!!!

New Pattern :: Tough Love

 

Now available for purchase! Link

If you hurry...

I totally mind farted and forgot that I have a pattern out in Crochet Today right now! This bunny and carrot pattern called "Garden Pals" is mine! :)

So go pick up your copy today (if it's still out, it was the March/April Issue)

  

 

New Pattern :: Big Butie

The B-B-B-Big version of The Buties. Coming in at 11" tall, he's huggable and squeeze friendly for those of your who like a lot more junk in your trunk.

 

Get it here.

Pattern Release :: Buties!

According to Mr. Roxycraft, they look like little butts...haha. So I named them Buties. This adorable trio of whatsits would be fun easy gifts and a great project for beginners!

 

Finished Size: APPROX 2" - 6.5"

Difficulty Level: Beginner

 

Learn to Crochet Left-Handed :: Double Crochet

Lesson Four: Double Crochet

from Dummies.com: The double crochet (abbreviated dc) is one of the most common crochet stitches and is about twice as tall as a single crochet. A fabric made of all double crochet stitches is fairly solid but not stiff and is great for sweaters, shawls, Afghans, placemats, or any number of other home decor items. You can also combine the double crochet stitch with other stitches to produce many interesting patterns and textures.

We're also going to be learning granny squares next and you need to know how to "dc" for those!

 

Step One: Make a chain of 22 stitches.

 

Step Two: Yarn Over your hook and insert your hook in the 3rd chain from your hook. Show here with an arrow.

 

Step Three: Yarn Over your hook again and pull up a loop. You should now have 3 loops on your hook.

 

Step Four: Yarn Over your hook now and pull through the first TWO loops on your hook...not all three. You will be left with two loops on your hook.

 

Step Five: Yarn Over hook for the last time and pull through the two remaining loops on your hook.

 

Now you have successfully completed a double crochet stitch. Continue making double crochet stitches across the rest of your chain row and you should end up with 20 stitches. Huzzah!

 

To start a new row, make sure to chain TWO at the end of each row and turn your work around.

 

This is what will begin emerging from your work. For good practice: continue in this until you have 20 rows by 20 stitches across. Finish off and begin again. Make squares until your are happy with the tension and even-ness of your stitches.

Next lesson: Granny Squares

 

 

 

Learn to Crochet Left-Handed :: Single Crochet

Lesson Three: Single Crochet

This is your work horse stitch! I use it 99% of the time for amigurumi. It produces a dense fabric with more stability than knitted fabric.

Now that we know how to Make a Chain, let's make a chain of 21 stitches

 

Step One: Hook through 2nd Chain from Hook

Insert the tip of your hook through the 2nd chain, shown with arrow and after in picture above

 

Step Two: Yarn Over Hook

 

Step Three: Pull up a loop

Pull your hook to the left through your chain and you'll be left with two loops of yarn on your hook like in the above picture

 

Step Four: Yarn Over Hook again

Step Five: Pull loop through

Pull your hook to the left through BOTH loops on your hook.

 

Step Six: Start next Stitch

Insert your hook in the next chain stitch, shown with arrow in the picture above.

 

Repeat until you have completed a single crochet in each chain. You should have 20 now!

 

When you get to the end of your "row" you MUST make an extra chain stitch (see above) or your will lose a stitch on your next row.

Next, you will want to "turn" your work around and start your next row.

 

Insert your hook through the top two loops of your first stitch (see above photo) and start signle crochet across.

Repeat the process until you have 20 rows. Practice this swatch over and over again until you have the hang of single crocheting in rows.

From here you can make scarves, purses, hot pads...any thing square that doesn't require increasing or decreasing.

Next lesson: Double Crochet

 

Learn to Crochet Left-Handed :: Making a Chain

Lesson Two :: Making a chain

Start with your Slip Knot tightened down on your hook now you are ready to make your first chain.

 

Step One: Yarn Over

Def: "yarn over", abbrev: YO, Take the working end (the end attached to your skein or ball of yarn) and pull it up and over the hook (toward you).

 

Step Two: Pull through hoop

Pull your hook to the left. It should catch your yarn over and pull it clean through the slip knot hoop.

 

Step Three: Do it Again

Look at the picture and you will see you have made your first chain! Exciting! Now you will yarn over again.

 

Step Four: Repeat Step Two

Pull your hook to the left again repeating step two.

 

Once it's through, you will have made two chain stitches. Repeat steps one and two 8 more times. You should end up with 10 chain stitches.

 

At this point, I suggest practicing your chains until you can make releaxed, even stitches. If you make your chain too tight, you will find it extremely difficult to continue on to making single crochet.

If you want to Finish Off your work (abbrev: "FO"), simply cut the working end of your yarn and pull it through the hoop with your hook...then tighten it down.

When I was learning I spent a hour or so just making long chains to perfect my tension and stitching. I found it very helpful to do.

Next Lesson: Single Crochet

Learn to Crochet Left-Handed :: Slip Knot

I am starting a new series of blog posts here at the Roxycraft blog. I am teaching you lefties out there how to crochet!

If you are like me, it was a little more difficult to find resources online on how to crochet left-handed. If you're a right-handed knitter, I suggest trying to learn to crochet leftie. You are using your right hand to work the yarn, just like in your knitting, so I knit right-handed and crochet left-handed because it made more sense to my brain. So if you're a rightie, give this a try!

First lesson is the Slip Knot. This is the stitch that anchors your yarn to your hook. For amigurumi a lot of folks use something called the "magic ring". I don't because this is what I am comfortable with. Also, in these lessons, I am trying to teach you the fundamentals for all crochet projects and the slip knot is a must!

I took step by step photos, and unlike my book "Tiny Yarn Animals" these are my own unmanicured, chubby hands. *pardon the moment of self-deprication*

Step 1: Wrap the yarn around the first and middle fingers of your right hand like the picture illustrates. The cut end of the yarn should be near the tips of your fingers.

Step 2: Take your cut end and slide it under your first loop.

Step 3: With your index finger on you right hand, slip it through the back loops. Go in front of the loop closest to your fingertips and grab the second loop that closest to you palm

Step 4: Pull the loop out while securing the rest in your left hand

Step 5: Put our hook through your loop and tighten it by pulling the end of your yarn that still attached to your skein, not your cut end.

That's it! Simple right?

Next lesson: Making a chain