Continuing my poinsettia theme from last winter, I thought I’d try crocheting one amigurumi-style (i.e. worked in single crochet in the round). I crocheted each leaf and petal individually and then assembled all 19 pieces at the end:

Click for full-sized picture

The finished piece is about 6.5″ in diameter. I also designed a simpler version with only one row of petals and smaller leaves. I can write up and post the patterns for both, if anyone is interested?

I’m entering my poinsettia flower in the Holiday Softie Awards – wish me luck!

UPDATED: Come and get the pattern here!

Okay, Kari is finally back from vacation, so I can reveal my latest project: a new addition to the AmiDogs series: meet my Boston Terrier (click images to see full-sized versions):

Thanks Kari for the idea – I hope you’re pleased with the result!

As always, you can sign up for my mailing list if you’d like to be notified when the pattern is available.

UPDATE: Looking for the pattern? You can find the AmiDogs Boston Terrier crochet pattern in my shop.

With the first chill in the air, I thought it would be fun to make a scarf for autumn. I based this on the One Skein Scarf, with a few modifications so mine is just 60″ long by 2.25″ wide (and only took about half a skein of Red Heart Soft Touch). It was so quick to make – I completed the whole scarf in the time it took to watch a movie!

Maui decided to assist with the photo shoot:

Now I’m going out to test out my handiwork…

No, I haven’t posted for a while. I have been crafting, but everything I’m working on is a commission or a submission and so I can’t show you anything for a while yet. Here’s a teaser of my latest finished work:

More on that in a couple of weeks…

Working with the black yarn proved difficult: I used to keep a large spotlight on a side table next to the sofa that I would keep trained on my work whenever I crocheted. In the new house, the layout is different and I don’t have a side table for the spotlight. I thought I would try a Crochet Lite hook – I’ve been wondering about it for months, but they are expensive and I wasn’t convinced how well they would work.

I bought the size E. The handle is an icky orange colour, but I found it very comfortable in my hand. The hook was smooth and easy to use (although I prefer metal hooks in general), although it did squeak a bit against my acrylic yarn! Now onto the important part: the light. It really works! The bright blue-white LED light shines directly out of the tip of the hook, so I could easily see where to insert my hook, even with black yarn.

My hook was $11.99 (Canadian dollars) from Michaels, but I used a 50% coupon to bring it down to a more reasonable price. I only wish they sold the hooks with interchangeable tops, so you would only need to buy one handle/battery unit for all the different hook sizes. I would definitely consider buying more Crochet Lite hooks, but I’ll have to think carefully which sizes I really need – I can’t justify buying a full set! I think H and maybe G would be most useful for me.

And in other news, my trade with Jen is complete! I received my gorgeous new handmade purse and tote bag this week. The bags are beautifully made, with full lining and interior pockets. I love the colours and patterns of the exterior fabrics too, and the generous sizes are going to be really useful for me – I can’t wait to start using them!

If you’re in the market for a new bag, I encourage you to check out Handbags By Jen!