Whimsical Stitches: A Modern Makers Book of Amigurumi Crochet Patterns

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Stay away from clichés: Steer clear of overused or generic terms that can make your business blend in rather than stand out. As you can see, the layered diamond I shared last week was the jumping-off point for this week’s stitches. After some trial and error, I added some space between the layered stitches at the tip of each diamond so I could have more fun with the stitch inside the diamond. It was so much fun to play with stitches in either of the open spaces created by the layered diamonds (yellow lines) that I ended up with two stitches for today. In all honesty, I love the layered diamonds all by themselves without any accent stitches. Those same open spaces between the bands were the inspiration to make the small snowflakes (or stars) stand out more. The snowflakes were painted as simple 2X2 white squares. I added a crystal O bead (from artbeads.com) and attached it with a 2mm faux pearl from S&J Designs. Consider longevity: Choose a name that will grow with your business and not feel limiting as you expand your offerings or target new markets.

It had been a long time since I had tried to crochet anything, but the clear directions and the charming photographs inspired me to try. I made the Tomato creature, using red sport yarn and a size C hook. It came out so cute, smaller than the pattern (only 2 ½ inches), because of the change in yarn and hook size. It was easy, I learned some new skills, and ended up with a darling finished product. This book will spark your creativity to craft your own unique creations. Remember, your business name is an opportunity to make a memorable first impression. Be creative, think long-term, and choose a name that sparks interest, reflects your passion, and resonates with your target audience. Review: Bought for my sister as a gift and I’d almost like to take up crochet to make the things in this beautiful book If you like what you see on this blog, there's more. Mary’s Whimsical Stitches is a series of three books offering contemporary how-to collections of more than 250 stitches (in each volume) for all stitchers, regardless of skill level. All books include updated and sequenced diagrams from this blog plus a collection of all-new stitches from private lessons and other class projects. Visit here to find a needlepoint retailer that carries my books.Considering I stitched this with whatever threads happened to be next to me, my accent choices were limited. In a perfect world, this would be stitched with a larger bead or pearl added over two rows in the center of the open diamond. I would love to see this as a young girl’s dress with pink Silk Lame and a beautiful white pearl. It would also make a great Halloween pumpkin with orange ThreadWorx metallic, and a sequin/bead combo in the open diamond. Yum. BOOK WHIMSICAL STITCHES: A MODERN MAKERS BOOK OF AMIGURUMI CROCHET PATTERNS by LAUREN ESPY OVERVIEW ]

This tall symmetry of this stitch also lends itself for elegant architectural applications, such as the columns of a fireplace mantle, or a door.It would make a fantastic roof, especially on the horizontal axis.

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I've used this stitch for clothing (with the thread combo from above). It would be a fantastic architectural stitch, such as a roof, pathway, or wall. However, I recommend distinctly different threads for those ideas. The Flair used in the sample adds a certain softness to the stitch, as is appropriate. For architectural stitches, I recommend a more defined metallic (such as a Kreinik or Treasure Braid) for the accent stitch. If metallic isn't appropriate for the accent thread, use a lightweight perle thread, such as Soie Perlee, Gloriana Princess Perle, Rainbow Gallery's Elegance, DMC Perle Cotton, or Dinky Dyes Silk Perle. Amigurumi is a Japanese art of crocheting, or sometimes knitting, small stuffed yarn creatures. In Whimsical Stitches, author Lauren Espy shares patterns for a number of super cute, easy to make creations. She organizes her book into sections such as In the Garden, At the Aquarium, Down on the Farm, At the Bakery, and At the Market. Beginning with the basics of specific materials needed, basic stitches, and adding features to finished projects, Espy combines photographs and clear explanations to guide the novice or the expert. Her unique way of starting a “Magic Ring” to begin a project is so easy and works beautifully, creating a smooth flat surface. She even shares her technique for changing yarn colors to create a single color stitch while crocheting in continuous rounds. Each project begins with a comprehensive list of materials, finished size measurements, stitches used and pattern notes. Saguaro Cactus, Octopus, Bunny with Carrot, Mug and Donut, and Cupcakes are just some of the amigurumi creatures included in this wonderful book. Be unique: Aim for a name that sets you apart from competitors and captures the essence of your crochet business. Choosing a name for your crochet business is an exciting step in creating your brand identity. Here are some key do's and don'ts to consider when selecting the perfect name: Do's:

Guidance on overall stitch planning with detailed insight on selecting the right small stitches for your project. The popular chapter and alphabetical indexes are included in Volume 4. Full-coverage stitches are called out in the indexes, making them easier to find. If you like what you see on this blog, there's more. Mary’s Whimsical Stitches is a series of four books offering contemporary how-to collections of more than 200 stitches (in each volume) for all stitchers, regardless of skill level. All books include updated and sequenced diagrams from this blog, plus a collection of all-new stitches from private lessons and other class projects. Visit here to find a needlepoint retailer that carries my books.As you are auditioning stitches (from any stitch source), count the number of canvas threads on the diagram that match your mesh size. And there you have what an inch of the stitch will look like. Evaluate that against the area where you plan to use the stitch and make your final decision. If you start integrating this step into your stitch selection process, you may be surprised at how many stitches you think are large are much smaller than you realize. The book itself is lovely – it has a nice smooth hardcover and the layout is clear and neat. Lauren did all of the photography for the book herself (wow!) and it is bright and beautiful. I don’t know about you, but book design is very important to me! It makes working on a pattern even more enjoyable. Tom’s book contains over 30 knitting and crochet patterns including stylish wardrobe essentials and chic homewares and that’s why we love crochet books. They are choc-full of creative inspiration and crochet projects to keep you happy, especially during the winter months when getting cosy at home with a hook and a ball of yarn is a the perfect way to spend an evening. Frankly, the first thing I thought of as I stitched it was how this stitch would make a fantastic cathedral window, or any large window that demands attention. I’m thinking the picture windows from Sandra Gilmore’s room canvases. I would use two metallics with the Upright Crosses in a slightly darker hue. It will make an interesting fence with two matte threads, such as Impressions or Elegance.

This is working: VIEW Whimsical Stitches: A Modern Makers Book of Amigurumi Crochet Patterns by Lauren Espy [EPUB KINDLE PDF EBOOK] The book has an assortment of ideas that range from simplistic to a bit more detail. I need to make the cactus bowl for my desk! Like STAT! Maybe, even sunflower to chase away my troubles. Review: I got this book for my 11 year old. It has a list of yarn size, hook size, & recommended colors & amounts of yarn for each design. My kid is having a blast changing the color combinations. This would make a gorgeous water stitch, as the gentle direction is made for water. My favorite threads for water are lightweight Kreinik Metallics or Petite Silk Lame. This will work very well with greenscapes, such as grass or fields, with silk floss or a silk perle.Avoid being too narrow: While it's important to convey your crochet specialty, try not to limit yourself to a specific technique or product in case you decide to diversify your offerings later. The stitched sample is from FOWS (friend of whimsicalstitch.com) Ruth Schmuff. It uses two plies of Gloriana Floss on 18-mesh (for the gold area) and brown Petite Silk Lame for the brown areas above and below the gold. You could alternate colors or finishes by column or within a column. Stitching every other pair of stitches within a column will accentuate the original directional flow I mentioned at the beginning of this blog. I think it would make an adorable sweater with two colors. Alternate matte overdyed floss with a solid floss for a floor or roof. Last week I talked about matching stitches and this is a perfect example. (Matching stitches are the same thing as Balanced Stitches in my books.) There is a lovely symmetry here, The addition of an extra stitch (the Upright Tied Crosses) sets it off even more. I embroidered the eyes onto my cake because that’s just me, but she would have looked just as cute with safety eyes. I also used DK weight ( Paintbox Yarns Cotton DK) and a 2.75mm C crochet hook to make my cake smaller. One thing I love about Lauren’s patterns is how fast they work up! I crocheted all the pieces in one sitting and embroidered and attached everything in a second sitting. So simple!