I love that you don't have to live close to buy patterns on Etsy! I love the Star Wars
patterns! Check it all out here
Showing posts with label amigurumi. Show all posts
Showing posts with label amigurumi. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Lucy Ravenscar
I love that you don't have to live close to buy patterns on Etsy! I love the Star Wars
patterns! Check it all out here
Wednesday, July 07, 2010
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Knitting Mochimochi!
Today is a special day. It's the day sweet sweet Anna's, sweet sweet book, Knitting Mochimochi: 20 Super-Cute Strange Designs for Knitted Amigurumi
hit's the shelves of booksellers around the county. I was able to look over this book while in NYC for Lost at Sea. Her publisher sent over a few copies so I could review it more and do a giveaway!!! Deadline is July 13th. So first let's discuss how adorable this book is.
Knitting Mochimochi: 20 Super-Cute Strange Designs for Knitted Amigurumi was made for people like us! To start with, it's adorable. It's simple to use, has patterns for the elementary knitters to a few for the more skilled. In a nut shell (ooo anna, make a nut shell) it's accessible to the masses. So you masses go out and get this book today! You won't regret it. And thank you Anna for making a book that really makes me want to pick up my knitting needles again! Leave a comment with a suggestion of what Anna should make miniature next and your contact info for your chance to win a free copy of Knitting Mochimochi: 20 Super-Cute Strange Designs for Knitted Amigurumi!
Here is a little interview I did with the author.
S- Can you tell us a bit about your new book, Knitting Mochimochi!?
MML- I am so excited about this book! It's my first book, and although I've been designing knitted toys for a few years now, I had a lot of fun creating these 20 all-new patterns and making them feel like a "collection." The theme is cute and strange and silly and not just for kids, and the techniques are pretty basic, so you don't have to be an advanced knitter to follow the patterns.
S- Creating all these projects seems very labor intensive! How long do you spend on new ideas?
MML- I'm actually working on a few new projects! One that I can tell you a bit about is a solo show that I'm putting together for this fall at gallery hanahou. It's going to be a knitted landscape installation, with a fun moving component (at least that's the plan!). I'm really excited about it, and also a little nervous about pulling it off and having it "work" as a show on its own. I'll start blogging about my progress soon over at my website.
MML- I think I've made about 68 so far! I started off with making a new one every weekday in July of last year, and I've continued making a new one every week ever since. I keep wondering when it will be time to retire my size 1 needles, but I'm still having a lot of fun with it. There's pretty much nothing that can't be made cute in tiny form, so I guess I'll see how long I can keep going with it!
hit's the shelves of booksellers around the county. I was able to look over this book while in NYC for Lost at Sea. Her publisher sent over a few copies so I could review it more and do a giveaway!!! Deadline is July 13th. So first let's discuss how adorable this book is.
Knitting Mochimochi: 20 Super-Cute Strange Designs for Knitted Amigurumi
was made for people like us! To start with, it's adorable. It's simple to use, has patterns for the elementary knitters to a few for the more skilled. In a nut shell (ooo anna, make a nut shell) it's accessible to the masses. So you masses go out and get this book today! You won't regret it. And thank you Anna for making a book that really makes me want to pick up my knitting needles again! Leave a comment with a suggestion of what Anna should make miniature next and your contact info for your chance to win a free copy of Knitting Mochimochi: 20 Super-Cute Strange Designs for Knitted Amigurumi!Here is a little interview I did with the author.
S- Can you tell us a bit about your new book, Knitting Mochimochi!?
MML- I am so excited about this book! It's my first book, and although I've been designing knitted toys for a few years now, I had a lot of fun creating these 20 all-new patterns and making them feel like a "collection." The theme is cute and strange and silly and not just for kids, and the techniques are pretty basic, so you don't have to be an advanced knitter to follow the patterns.
S- Creating all these projects seems very labor intensive! How long do you spend on new ideas?
MML- I try to take time to work on new ideas on a regular basis, and it can be a nice break in between making samples and writing/editing patterns. Sometimes it's tough to find the time to just sit down and brainstorm new characters, but I've found that devoting time to concentrate on it is way more productive for me than just waiting to be inspired while I'm busy doing other things. And brainstorming is one of the few things that I do without music or a computer in front of me, or any other media going on at the same time, and that can be really refreshing.
S- You are also working on a new project! Are you able to reveal that to our fans?
MML- I'm actually working on a few new projects! One that I can tell you a bit about is a solo show that I'm putting together for this fall at gallery hanahou. It's going to be a knitted landscape installation, with a fun moving component (at least that's the plan!). I'm really excited about it, and also a little nervous about pulling it off and having it "work" as a show on its own. I'll start blogging about my progress soon over at my website.
S- I am in love with your mini pieces! Sooo cute! How many do you think you will have made by 2011?
MML- I think I've made about 68 so far! I started off with making a new one every weekday in July of last year, and I've continued making a new one every week ever since. I keep wondering when it will be time to retire my size 1 needles, but I'm still having a lot of fun with it. There's pretty much nothing that can't be made cute in tiny form, so I guess I'll see how long I can keep going with it!
S- When your book hits booksellers, do you have any release parties planned or places people might find you to get a copy signed?
MML- I do have a release party planned at Brooklyn General on July 11th, from 2-6 pm. I really hope people will come! All the new toys from the book will be there, and I'm planning to bring some mochi too. I will also be at the Lion Brand store in NYC on July 27th, and I'm talking to a few other local stores about future events.
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Nottheally's
I guess I am into amigurumi today since all these posts are being made in one day and all are on amigurumi. I am really into these too! Can you say CUTE???
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Friday, June 18, 2010
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Moon's Creations Interview
Cute mutant, glow-in-the-dark bunnies are invading my store soon. To hear more about the maker, Moon Creations, read below! I am excited for you to meet these guys. They will be in the store and online starting May 19th!
S- What inspired you for this exclusive?
MC- I was definitely inspired by the yarn choice. The particular yarn I used is a discontinued item and I had to search high and low to obtain any skeins. In the end, the colors did not mesh with my original design plan. In a rush to get together a new design, I was swimming in glowing ideas, to the point that I just couldn't pick one. In exasperation, I turned to my friend Kelly said, quite plainly, "Why don't you make mutants." It was like a light bulb burst and I knew I just had to create glowing mutant bunnies, each with their own unique mutation.
MC- My absolute favorite brand of yarn is Elann's Peruvian Highland Wool. The texture is so delicious and the color variety can't be beat. However, when it comes to making amigurumi, I want my pieces to have a firmness to them that helps keep their shape. I've found the best yarn for this is acrylic yarns. I use Red Heart Worsted yarn. There it is, my secret is out. It has a texture that can't be beat. I'd never make a baby blanket or, heaven forbid, a sweater, but for sculptures, it's tops.
S- What drew you to bunnies as your favorite plush muse?
MC- The bunny idea came about from poverty. When I made my first Moon Bun, I was homeless and jobless during Christmas. I'm crazy for holidays, so I couldn't stand that I didn't have any presents for my friends. I had some yarn left over from a knitting project and crocheted a little bunny for a friend who collected them. After that, I just couldn't stop. They have such innocent personalities and they're so fun to dress-up.
S- Why do you think amigurumi is so appealing?
MC- Amigurumi is fantastic. It's relatively easy (only basic stitches are required) and the results are often adorable. (Although I'll never admit to my first attempts. They're horrifying.) These facts make it very accessible to anyone and I like that; a craft for the masses. My ultimate favorite feature of amigurumi is frogging. I'm not very good at sewing dolls, because I end up wasting more fabric than sewing. While if I mess up crocheting, I can pull it all to pieces without wasting snippets of expensive fabric.
MC- Thank you so much. To be honest, I always feel like I'm not working hard enough or selling enough. Let's see, my first piece of advice to anyone starting out with Etsy or having a hard time with sales would be persistence. If you believe in your product, others will believe in it too. My second piece of advice is patience. You won't sell out the first day or maybe the first month, but you must keep working at it. My first sale didn't come until 3 months of being open. And finally a third piece of advice would be customer service. If you treat all of your customers as you would want to be treated it resonates with people and they will return.
MC- I was definitely inspired by the yarn choice. The particular yarn I used is a discontinued item and I had to search high and low to obtain any skeins. In the end, the colors did not mesh with my original design plan. In a rush to get together a new design, I was swimming in glowing ideas, to the point that I just couldn't pick one. In exasperation, I turned to my friend Kelly said, quite plainly, "Why don't you make mutants." It was like a light bulb burst and I knew I just had to create glowing mutant bunnies, each with their own unique mutation.
S- What is your favorite brand of yarn and why?
MC- My absolute favorite brand of yarn is Elann's Peruvian Highland Wool. The texture is so delicious and the color variety can't be beat. However, when it comes to making amigurumi, I want my pieces to have a firmness to them that helps keep their shape. I've found the best yarn for this is acrylic yarns. I use Red Heart Worsted yarn. There it is, my secret is out. It has a texture that can't be beat. I'd never make a baby blanket or, heaven forbid, a sweater, but for sculptures, it's tops.
S- What drew you to bunnies as your favorite plush muse?
MC- The bunny idea came about from poverty. When I made my first Moon Bun, I was homeless and jobless during Christmas. I'm crazy for holidays, so I couldn't stand that I didn't have any presents for my friends. I had some yarn left over from a knitting project and crocheted a little bunny for a friend who collected them. After that, I just couldn't stop. They have such innocent personalities and they're so fun to dress-up.
S- Why do you think amigurumi is so appealing?
MC- Amigurumi is fantastic. It's relatively easy (only basic stitches are required) and the results are often adorable. (Although I'll never admit to my first attempts. They're horrifying.) These facts make it very accessible to anyone and I like that; a craft for the masses. My ultimate favorite feature of amigurumi is frogging. I'm not very good at sewing dolls, because I end up wasting more fabric than sewing. While if I mess up crocheting, I can pull it all to pieces without wasting snippets of expensive fabric.
S-You have sold A LOT on Etsy. What is some advice for those having a hard time with Etsy or intimidated by it?
MC- Thank you so much. To be honest, I always feel like I'm not working hard enough or selling enough. Let's see, my first piece of advice to anyone starting out with Etsy or having a hard time with sales would be persistence. If you believe in your product, others will believe in it too. My second piece of advice is patience. You won't sell out the first day or maybe the first month, but you must keep working at it. My first sale didn't come until 3 months of being open. And finally a third piece of advice would be customer service. If you treat all of your customers as you would want to be treated it resonates with people and they will return.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Sunday, August 02, 2009
Sadaf Momeny Interview
Next artists participating in Plush You this year is Sadaf Momeny. To be honest, I couldn't find much on the internet about her so think of this as your possible first sneak peak into the wonderful world of Sadaf Momeny. Enjoy!
S- You mentioned you are a grad student in Wellington. How does school help you foster your craft these days or doesn't it?
SM- I think in some ways it really helps being a student, mostly because I can steer my urge to procrastinate in a productive way! I should be devoting all fruitful hours to my philosophy masters thesis, but when I can't bear to sit in front of the computer for another moment I can always work on my crochet creations (I hope my supervisor doesn't see this..). I also did some tutoring for the introduction to philosophy of art classes and they helped reconnect me with some of the fundamental questions regarding art, what it is, what value it holds, what the difference might be between art and craft; these sorts of questions help inform my work to some extent.
S- Your crochet creatures have so much personality. How long does it take to make each piece? What do you like most about crochet?
SM- Oh thanks! Time varies with each piece and I tend to lose all track of it when I am working on them anyway - mainly because I always crochet while watching movies or listening to the radio, and I enjoy the process so much I don't notice how long it all takes. Though some trickier shapes do take longer for me to suss out than others, I made a Marlin for a friend and that took ages! I started out working with fabric or felt wool but once I started to play around with crochet I couldn't go back, I like the way the creation sort of unfolds as you are working. There aren't too many rules to the craft, I enjoy the freedom in that.
S- Do you have any plans for the summer?
SM- Well, summer seems a long way off for those of us suffering through a particularly chilly New Zealand winter (I can vaguely remember those warm carefree days). But I am making the effort to take winter road trips, in fact I just got back from a long weekend in the Coromandel (in the north of the North Island, NZ) and it was wonderful, fireplaces are a must!
S- What is your process for creating new creatures?
SM- I get a lot of my inspiration from seeing the amazing work other people create, sometimes crochet but mostly from other medium. I keep a scrap book with pictures of all the cool bits and pieces I see and when I need a kick in the pants I flick through it to get me going. I also have a lot of creative people around me and they always have suggestions (some good, others crazy). Once I have an idea it's just a matter of drawing it out, finding the colours, sitting down on the couch under a blanket and crocheting like mad.
S- You mentioned you are a grad student in Wellington. How does school help you foster your craft these days or doesn't it?
SM- I think in some ways it really helps being a student, mostly because I can steer my urge to procrastinate in a productive way! I should be devoting all fruitful hours to my philosophy masters thesis, but when I can't bear to sit in front of the computer for another moment I can always work on my crochet creations (I hope my supervisor doesn't see this..). I also did some tutoring for the introduction to philosophy of art classes and they helped reconnect me with some of the fundamental questions regarding art, what it is, what value it holds, what the difference might be between art and craft; these sorts of questions help inform my work to some extent.
S- Your crochet creatures have so much personality. How long does it take to make each piece? What do you like most about crochet?
SM- Oh thanks! Time varies with each piece and I tend to lose all track of it when I am working on them anyway - mainly because I always crochet while watching movies or listening to the radio, and I enjoy the process so much I don't notice how long it all takes. Though some trickier shapes do take longer for me to suss out than others, I made a Marlin for a friend and that took ages! I started out working with fabric or felt wool but once I started to play around with crochet I couldn't go back, I like the way the creation sort of unfolds as you are working. There aren't too many rules to the craft, I enjoy the freedom in that.
S- Do you have any plans for the summer?
SM- Well, summer seems a long way off for those of us suffering through a particularly chilly New Zealand winter (I can vaguely remember those warm carefree days). But I am making the effort to take winter road trips, in fact I just got back from a long weekend in the Coromandel (in the north of the North Island, NZ) and it was wonderful, fireplaces are a must!
S- What is your process for creating new creatures?
SM- I get a lot of my inspiration from seeing the amazing work other people create, sometimes crochet but mostly from other medium. I keep a scrap book with pictures of all the cool bits and pieces I see and when I need a kick in the pants I flick through it to get me going. I also have a lot of creative people around me and they always have suggestions (some good, others crazy). Once I have an idea it's just a matter of drawing it out, finding the colours, sitting down on the couch under a blanket and crocheting like mad.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Roman Sock
Another artist in Creature Crochet (coming to a bookstore near you) is Brigitte Read. I love Brigitte's work and you will too! Check out her site, she has tons of patterns, some of which are FREE!
Friday, July 17, 2009
Amy Gaines
Because my book, Creature Crochet will be out in a few weeks at Barnes and Noble, I figured I would start highlighting some of the great artists in the book.
I really love Amy Gaines. Before I started working on this project I had purchased a few patterns from Amy. She writes the patterns really well so it's easy to pick up a hook and start working. And her patterns are all adorable. Amy has a few patterns in this new book so keep your eyes out for it!
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Tuesday, April 07, 2009
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Beth Doherty
Craft just checked in with the talented Beth Doherty
here. We are glad to see her up and running. We love her work a lot.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Yummy Pancake
Yummy Pancake is always thinking up clever little crochet dudes. I love the drunk Mr. Toastee and his plush bottle of Jagermeister.
Mr. Nannerpuss is pretty awesome too!
Not plush but still awesome is her tutorial on How to make hamburger cupcakes
Mr. Nannerpuss is pretty awesome too!
Not plush but still awesome is her tutorial on How to make hamburger cupcakes
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