Squirrel Picnic

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Category Archives: Crochet It


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Make It! Challenge #5: Crochet Bowser Sweater for a Turtle

Bowser Sweater for a TurtleFor Make It! Challenge #5, Lisa Egolf challenged me to crochet a sweater for her tortoise, Myrtle, so that he would be easy to spot when she lets him loose to play in the courtyard of the school where she teaches science. “I think bright yet manly colors would be best,” she said, because after all this Myrtle is male (don’t judge). So I set out to design the most masculine turtle sweater I could.

I don’t know about you, but when I think of a beefy, manly turtle, my first thought is of Bowser. If you’re familiar with the Super Mario Bros. video game franchise, you undoubtedly remember Bowser as the game’s super villain. The object of the ’80s Nintendo game is to get the main character Mario through the Mushroom Kingdom, survive Bowser′s attacks, and save Princess Toadstool. Running into Bowser, with his spiny shell, pug nose, and domineering height, is enough to make little Mario shiver.

Myrtle definitely looks like he could do some damage in his Bowser sweater. Go on, Myrtle! Go get your princess and take back your Mushroom Kingdom.

Click here to download a pdf of the pattern.


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Easy to Crochet Butterfly Pattern

Butterfly Crochet Pattern by Squirrel PicnicAs I’m writing this, it is snowing for the third straight day here in Denver. It’s not uncommon for us to get spring snowstorms, but they always come as a shock to me. Just as you’re starting to get pumped about springtime, a foot of snow gets dumped on your excitement. Lucky for me, I have my own little patch of springtime at Squirrel Picnic, where the crochet garden continues to bloom.

This week I’m making butterflies. I found a lot of complicated butterfly patterns online and in books. Though the complex butterflies were gorgeous, I didn’t have time for all those steps, so I wrote this pattern for a simple and fast and cute little butterfly.

I can think of several great uses for these butterflies: Sew them onto bags, towels, pillows, or afghans. Glue a magnet on and attach them to your fridge door. Pin them to a bulletin board. They add a little touch of spring wherever they go. What will you do with your butterflies?

Easy Butterfly Pattern

Difficulty rating 1

Finished size: 1 3/4″ x 1 3/4″

Materials:

Small amounts of worsted weight yarn in any two colors you like.

(For this pattern, I’ll call the lighter color A and the darker color B.)

Size 00/3.50 mm steel crochet hook

Tapestry needle

Instructions:

Wings

With A, ch 11

2 dc in 4th ch from hook.

Ch 3 and slst in next ch.

Butterfly Step 1 (800x600)

Ch 4, 2 tr in next ch, ch 4 and slst in next ch.

Butterfly Step 2 (800x600)

Ch 4, 2 tr in next ch, ch 4 and slst in next ch.

Butterfly Step 3 (800x663)

Ch 3, 2 dc in next ch, ch 2 and slst in next ch.

Butterfly Step 4

Fasten off, leaving a tail for sewing. Using the tail, loosely sew up the center of the wings. Work in ends.

Butterfly Step 6

Body

With B and leaving a tail at least 6″ long, ch 7. Sc in 3rd ch from hook, slst in each of next 4 ch. Fasten off, leaving another 6″ tail for sewing.

Butterfly Step 5 (800x797)

Finishing

Place the body on top of the wings so that the tail ends of the body and the smaller wings are on the bottom. Sew the body to the wings by using the left tail to sew the left side of the body and the right tail to sew the right side of the body. When you get to the head of the butterfly, tie the two strands together in a knot and trim to make the antennae.

Butterfly Step 7


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Things Are Blooming at Squirrel Picnic

You may have noticed the new spring diorama grants us a rare look through a garden of crocheted flowers onto Hodge and Podge enjoying a picnic. It will be an ongoing project throughout this spring and summer to update, revise, amend, and polish it. By the end of the summer, I’m hoping that every item in the diorama will be knit or crochet. Keep checking in each month to see how it’s changing. I’m planning on adding birds, butterflies, and a few more flowers. What else do you think I should add?

spring-summer-2013-diorama-1102x509.jpg


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Your World Needs More Cuteness: Spring Daisy Crochet Patterns

Crochet DaisyDaisies are one of my favorite flowers. They’re simple and cheerful and the ultimate symbol of cute. Just name something Daisy and its cuteness rating goes up exponentially. Take for instance Daisy the world’s cutest cat, Daisy Duke, Daisy Duck, Daisy Buchanan, Daisy Fuentes… the list goes on. But my favorite Daisy moniker is Daisy the Pterosaur, named for the nine-year-old girl who found this dinosaur’s bones in the sand while on a family visit to the beach.

Okay, daisies are cute: you get the point. Now you know why I included daisies in my spring diorama for Squirrel Picnic and why I have to restrain myself from embellishing everything within arms’ reach with these little flowers. If you too would like to add a little cheer to a headband, spring sweater, or Easter table setting, whip up a few of these easy crochet daisies.

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They Say You Gotta Make Your Own Luck: Crochet a Pot o’ Gold

Your days of sloshing through puddles in search of rainbows and pots of gold are over. Whip up your own pot o’ gold and every day can be your lucky day.

Sometimes you gotta make your own luck... so crochet a pot o' gold!

Pot o’ Gold

Difficulty rating 1

Finished Size: 3″ tall

Materials

Small amount of worsted-weight yarn in black
Small amount of lace-weight yarn in gold
Small amount of worsted-weight yarn in green
Polyester Fiberfill
Size G-6 (4.00 mm) crochet hook
Size C-2 (2.75 mm) crochet hook
Tapestry needle

Instructions

Crochet the Black Pot

With size G-6 hook and black yarn, ch 2

Rnd 1: 6 sc in 2nd ch from hook.

Rnd 2: 2 sc in each sc around. (12)

Rnd 3: * Sc, inc, rep from * 5 more times. (18)

Rnd 4: * 2 sc, inc, rep from * 5 more times. (24)

Rnd 5: * 3 sc, inc, rep from * 5 more times. (30)

Rnds 6-10: Sc in ea sc around.

Rnd 11: * Sc, dec, rep from * 9 more times. (20)

Rnd 12: Sc  in the FL of each sc around. Join with slst to the 1st st of the rnd.

Rnd 13: Crocheting in the FL again, * sc, inc, rep from * 9 more times. Join with slst to the 1st st of the rnd. (30)

FO and weave in ends.

Crochet the Gold

With size G-6 hook and gold yarn, ch 2

Round 1: 6 sc in 2nd ch from hook.

Round 2: 2 sc in each sc around. (12)

Round 3: * Sc, inc, rep from * 5 more times. (18)

Round 4: * 2 sc, inc, rep from * 5 more times. (24)

Round 5: * 3 sc, inc, rep from * 5 more times. (30)

Round 6: Sc in each sc around.

FO, leaving a long tail for sewing.

Crochet the Shamrock

With a size C-2 hook and green yarn, ch 3. Join with slst to 1st ch to form a ring.

For the petals: * Ch 2, 2 dc, ch 2, slst in ring. Repeat from * 2 more times. Do not FO yet.

For the stem: Ch 4, sc in 2nd chain from hook, and slst in remaining 2 chains. FO, leaving a long tail for sewing.

Assemble

Sew the shamrock to the side of your pot of gold.

Stuff the pot with Fiberfill.

Using the long tail of gold yarn and your tapestry needle, sew the “gold” to Rnd 11 of the pot.

Fiercely guard your gold from leprechauns.


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Make It! Challenge #4: Crochet Batman Mask

this-pattern-is-no-longer-in-service

Hi there! I’m sorry but I’ve chosen to remove this pattern. Also many apologies, but I’m not able to send you a copy. The truth is that this was not a good pattern. I wish I could invest time and energy to improve it and re-release it, but in the years since this pattern was originally posted several other people have designed Batman masks that are even better! I suggest that you search “Batman mask” on Ravelry or try this tutorial on YouTube: https://youtu.be/DScvgRQnbo8
Sorry again that I wasn’t able to help you make a Batman mask, but I wish you the best of luck. ~ Jennifer, 21 March 2019