Haggis Update and other decisions...

Well after the heartbreak of having to rip back over 100 hair tendrils earlier this week Haggis is coming along again nicely. I took a break from his hair... just couldn't face re-doing all those rows so soon and moved on to his legs instead. After a bit of playing with decreases I'm happy again... and the pattern for his legs is finished.

I've re-positioned the slip stitch markers on his body closer together and I'm now feeling brave enough to start those rows again... phew!

I made a decision this week on the Omnia/Tocco quandry and the Omnia won & to replace the funds for my new purchase (bought the Omnia on Sat!)...I am going to sell one of my beloved sewing machines... my Bernina 1260QPE.

It may seem a bit drastic but I really don't need 2 Bernina sewing machines & since we moved F into the big room (that was our dining room) we now don't have the space in the flat to store both Bernina's anyway.

So another decision had to be made... which one had to go? My Artista 200 with embroidery unit gives me far more options & capabilities... so unfortunately it had to be my trusty 1260QPE. I'm going to get it serviced and get all the extra accessories together for it so it will be ready to list on Ebay in the next few weeks.

I'll be extremely sad to see it go but it's in a great cause & the Omnia was worth it. I took the photos above with the Omnia and I'm a very happy bunny... here it is below (photo taken with old samsung 830) & I'll let you all know how I'm getting along with it in my next post...

My Omnia now has a picture of F when he was just hours old ahhhhhh as my backdrop :)

The latest on Haggis...

I thought It was about time I did another crochet related post... So I thought you'd all like to see how Haggis is coming along.

I have to admit I am a bit behind schedule with where I wanted to be at this stage... but Finn ran a temperature of 102.5 and had a touch of vomiting for a few days earlier this week. Not that you'd know to look at him as he was still so full of beans it was a job to just get him to occasionally stay still to take the Calpol between all his running around. Whatever Finn had has gone & he fought it off without any anti-biotics this time. Unfortunately for Haggis it meant he got a bit neglected... so after finishing this post I'm going to make it up to him and continue with his shaggy coat.

I'm happy with his body shape and I've sorted out where his arms and legs are going to go. He's looking a bit naked up top and a bit like a squid down below so more hair is needed and fast! The Jojoland melody is a true joy to use and I can't wait to see how the colours change on his shaggy coat when they're felted.

So that's all for now as I'm itching to give Haggis some more hair :)

Haggis' horns have been giving me a headache

I've been back to working out the pattern for Haggis the highland cow this week. I started with the hooves and hoof decorations. They came together very easily... I only needed to make one change to the hoof base and the heart came out just right first time... Phew!


The horns though have been a real challenge. I have ripped them down so many times this week. The 2 tall ones are just 2 of the ones I kept to help work out where I was going wrong. The 3rd smaller one is my current work in progress. The shape looks more promising this time. Not too many kinks and twists and gently getting wider as I go round. This one looks good and fingers crossed It might just be the one :) If you look closely you'll spot I've been shopping on etsy again. I just can't keep away from Yarnimals cute amigurumi round markers ( I've got the sheep & have my eye on a few more too).

The body, head and legs are should be quite straight forward as I've already done the swatch for his shaggy hair. It's a slightly wavy version of Marlion's mane...

I'm working out Haggis's pattern in some lovely Jojoland melody 4ply/fingering weight pure wool. I'd never tried this yarn before and bought it from a lovely lady in Canada via Ravelry. I've not tried felting it yet so I'm really excited to see how this prototype turns out. Don't worry you'll be the first to see the pictures as knowing me I'll be so excited to show how he turned out!

I have been buying more yarn too! I loved the Kauni so much I went a bit mad and ordered a lot from Astrids dutch obsessions I'm going to use the Kauni EJ (cream/camel/pink) to try out the finished Haggis pattern and I think he's going to be scrummy.

The Lion is nameless no more....

Thank you to everyone for all your name suggestions and you'll be glad to hear our little dog douglas is a lot perkier... the anti-biotics seem to have kicked in... we just have to keep an eye on him to make sure he doesn't cough them back up half an hour later!

It was extremely difficult to choose the best boy & girl names but after much thought & getting help from my husband Paul the decision was eventually made...

Congratulations to our 2 winners..... Share for 'Marlion' & Brenda for 'Leona'. Your pdf pattern prize is on its way via email :) Putting both names on the pattern was a bit of a mouthful... so we decided to make the Lion a 'he' to keep it simple.

I have listed my Marlion Pdf pattern in my etsy store which is now up and running and I'm working out how to add it to Ravelry for purchase too. The pattern costs $5.50 full crochet instructions include photos where needed for assembly & felting instructions.

Thanks again to you all... it was so much fun I might just do this again!

Fiona

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The lion prototype is felted!

The washing machine is fixed and I just couldn't wait to show you how the lion prototype turned out. I used up some of my stashed 4ply/fingering yarns just to work the pattern out hence the multicolour!

I'm busy typing up the pattern.. so I'm now setting a closing date for the competition to name him/her... so this is your last chance to have a go if you haven't already. All entries must be submitted by posting your suggestion on site by 11am (GMT) Tuesday 20th May. I will announce the 2 winners (1 boy name & 1 girl name) Wednesday 21st May & email them their prize of the Lion PDF pattern :)

Only one more question.... I'm wondering whether I should have done the shaggy mane all over the back of the head too? It is a proper mane as it is & making the back of the head shaggy would use more yarn... is it worth doing? I can easily amend the pattern if you think it's worth doing...

Fi

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Whoopee... today is my one month blogaversary!

It's been a great day today. The sun is belting out of the sky and while F was having his post lunch snooze I managed to get the last few bit of Angela's dress finished. I am delighted with it and can't wait for her to see the finished dress. The flowery fabric is a viscose crepe and fully lined throughout. Inside I built in a fully boned foundation so nothing but knickers will be required under it! Angela's daughter is getting married in Spain so I tried to keep it as light as possible in case it's quite hot. I'm sure both mother and daughter will look stunning & I must remember to ask her for some photos of them on the day...

This was just a quick post because as soon as F wakes up we're heading off to the beach with our bucket and spade for some sandy fun.

Fi

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p.s our washing machine is still waiting on the new pump :( No doubt the delay is due to the bank holiday yesterday and typical as I'm ready to felt the amigurumi lion...

p.p.s Thanks to Bimble for his new word 'blogaversary'... I'm adopting it!

Nearly my first month of blogging already!

F is growing up so fast it seems... as of this week he's now saying 'mummy' & 'daddy' properly. These days all I hear through the monitor when he goes for a sleep is a lot of giggling, bouncing on his mattress like a trampoline & now chanting 'mummy''mummy''mummy''mummy' when he's supposed to be sleeping. Luckily this usually doesn't last long, as tiredness wins out and all goes quiet... but it does make me smile :)

I bought my first accounting book yesterday to try and be good and keep the business paperwork up-to-date. I did discover one problem though... F wanted to read it first. After following him around the lounge for a while... asking him nicely to give mummy back her book (as taking it off him these days creates an instant meltdown) I decided to get the camera out and take a picture instead. All I managed to get was one picture and then the book suddenly wasn't so interesting!

Well I can't believe it's been a month since I started my blog already... time has just flown by. I'm getting to grips with widgets, page links, wp code & animated buttons slowly but surely and most importantly having fun.

The amigurumi lion pattern is pretty much done but I have a hold up in the testing of my crocheted pieces. The washing machine is broken... I'm told it's just a pump. Luckily not too expensive to fix & the part has been ordered so I hope to be up and running again very soon. So in the mean time I'm typing up the PDF and keeping my fingers crossed the prototype works out beautifully when I can felt it. There have been some great name suggestions for him/her. I'll let the competition run until the washing machine is fixed and i'm able to check the pattern pieces are all ok.... so a bit of time left if you still haven't posted your suggestion...

Sneak preview of Haggis....

My Lion pattern is nearing completion... I'm working out the last bits of his head & mane at the moment. The muzzle, body, arms & legs are done and look just how I pictured in my head :)

As soon as the head and mane sections are crocheted... I'll felt all the pieces & keep my fingers crossed that my original felted swatch tension was correct so I won't have to re-do any parts!

So while you're waiting for the finished lion I thought you'd like to see my outline sketch of the next amigurumi toy...

His name is Haggis the highland cow. He's going to be very shaggy all over with curly horns next to his ears and a loveable grin.

New category in name the lion...

I wasn't sure if I could get away with a girl name for a lion with a big mane.... but why not?! Can always add a bow to the mane :) So I've decided to have 2 winners.... The best girl & best boy names will each win a copy of the pattern. I've almost finished the body section of the pattern... so nearly half way through. 

Thanks for all of your names so far,

Fi

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