Squirrel Picnic

Handmade with Love and Stuff

Tag Archives: 2014


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2014: It’s a Good Plan

A sneak peak at the next Make It! Challenge. What is it? I'm not telling.

A sneak peak at the next Make It! Challenge. What is it?

Last year was an amazing first year for Squirrel Picnic, and I have you all to thank. I hope that I can continue to provide fun and interesting patterns for you and that the gang will have plenty of adventures to go on. To be honest, though, 2013 was draining on both my bank account and my personal life. I fell in love hard with Squirrel Picnic, much to my husband’s chagrin. Every moment that I wasn’t at my full-time job, I was working on the blog. I’ve learned that there’s nothing wrong with being passionate about the activities you love, but time spent with friends and family is very important too. So my big goal for 2014 is to create more balance in my life. That being said, you know me. I’ve already got big plans in the works for Squirrel Picnic… I just might have to work on them under the cover of night (don’t tell my husband). So in addition to that big one I already mentioned, here are my goals for 2014.  

  1. Tackle five Make It! Challenges. Congratulations to this year’s recipients: Shelby, Daniel, Becky, Brooke, and Diana!
  2. Publish more Squirrel Picnic comics: oh, the adventures we have in store!
  3. Publish free crochet patterns for each of the fatimals: starting with Mayor Snack Frog in the next month or so.
  4. Join the Counterfeit Crochet project: this looks like so much fun!
  5. Learn more knitting techniques with the intent of eventually offering more free knitting patterns here.
  6. Publish stories featuring your handiwork! If you’ve crocheted a Squirrel Picnic character using one of my patterns, I’d love to feature it on the blog. For more information, see the submissions section of my About page.
  7. Recuperate some of the costs of maintaining this blog. I spent way too much money on yarn last year… you don’t even know. So I’ve been pondering the financial aspect of blogging lately. I’ve decided not to sell ad space just yet, not until I can have complete control over what companies and products are advertized. (I know you don’t want to see that stupid belly fat ad here, and I won’t let that happen.) But I still need to make enough to support my blogging habit, so the plan is to stock my Etsy shop with squirrelly stuff and try to get some of my patterns published in magazines. I’m not expecting much, but it’s worth a try. Do you have any ideas? If you’re a blogger, what do you do to support your blog?
  8. Show you more of what happens behind the scenes: how I put together the comics, how I create my patterns, and reviews of the fiber arts books and fellow bloggers that have taught and inspired me.



Wow! That seems like a lot. I better get started! What are your goals for 2014?

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Monsieur and Madame Champagne Crochet Pattern

Make amigurumi champagne flutes for your New Year’s gala! Monsieur and Madame Champagne famously bring the party with them wherever they go. Displayed on the T.V., bar, or buffet table, they are sure to liven up your New Year’s festivities.

We’d love to see photos of them at your event. Post your champagne amis on Instagram with the tag #squirrelpicnic and we’ll share them with everyone on January 1.

Monsieur and Madame Champagne Crochet Pattern by Squirrel Picnic

Monsieur and Madame Champagne Crochet Pattern

Difficulty rating 2

Finished size: 8″ tall

Materials:

22 yards of worsted-weight yarn in cream (Caron Simply Soft in Off White: 6 oz., 315 yds)
28 yards of worsted-weight yarn in gold (Caron Simply Soft in Autumn Maize: 6 oz., 315 yds)
G-6 (4.00 mm) crochet hook
Cardboard
Pencil
Scissors
Tapestry needle
Polyester Fiberfill
Black embroidery floss
Black safety eyes
Beads and thread for necklace (optional)
Felt for bow tie (optional)

Gauge:

6 sc = 1″
5 rnds = 1″

Instructions:

Top of Champagne

With gold, ch 2

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

Rnd 2: 2 sc in ea sc around. Slst in 1st sc to join. (12)

Rnd 3: Ch 1, * sc, inc, rep from * 5 more times. Slst in 1st sc to join. (18)

Rnd 4: Ch 1, * 2 sc, inc, rep from * 5 more times. Slst in 1st sc to join. (24)

FO, leaving long tail for sewing.

Base (make 2)

With cream, ch 2

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

Rnd 2: 2 sc in ea sc around. Slst in 1st sc to join. (12)

Rnd 3: Ch 1, * sc, inc, rep from * 5 more times. Slst in 1st sc to join. (18)

Rnd 4: Ch 1, * 2 sc, inc, rep from * 5 more times. Slst in 1st sc to join. (24)

Rnd 5: Ch 1, * 3 sc, inc, rep from * 5 more times. Slst in 1st sc to join. (30)

Rnd 6: Ch 1, * 4 sc, inc, rep from * 5 more times. Slst in 1st sc to join. (36)

FO, leaving a long tail on one of the Base circles for sewing.

Lay one of the Base circles on top of the cardboard and trace around it. Cut out circle along traced line. You may need to trim it a little smaller.

Sandwich the cardboard circle between the two Base circles (RS facing out) and sew the two Base circles together using the long tail from one of them.

Stem

Rnd 1: Pull up a loop in Rnd 3 of the Base. Ch 1. Continue to pull up loops and sc in ea st of Rnd 3. Do not join with slst. (18)

Make sure you are going clockwise around the Base.

Note: This first step can be rather tricky. An alternative would be to ch 18 and join with a slst into a ring. Then continue with the pattern, but sew the bottom of the Stem to the Base before stuffing.

Rnd 2: Sc in ea sc around. (18)

Rnd 3: *Dec, rep from * 8 more times (9)

Rnds 4: Sc in ea st around. (9)

Rep rnd 4 until Stem measures 3″ tall from start of Stem.

Do not FO. Stuff the Stem firmly and continue with Bowl.

Bowl

Rnd 5: * Inc, rep from * 8 more times. (18)

Switch to gold.

Rnd 6: * 2 sc, inc, rep from * 5 more times. (24)

Rnd 7: * 3 sc, inc, rep from * 5 more times. (30)

Rnd 8: Sc in ea sc around.

Rep rnd 8 until gold part of Bowl measures 2″.

Rnd 9: * 4 sc, dec, rep from * 4 more times (24).

Rep rnd 8 until gold part of Bowl measures 3 1/2″.

FO.

Attach eyes and embroider mouth.

Stuff lightly and sew Top of Champagne onto top of Bowl.

Note: If you’re feeling adventurous, you could skip sewing the Top to the Bowl and sc the two together instead. I had success doing this after pinning them together.

Switch to cream.

Pull up a loop in top of Bowl along the edge (through both the last round of Top and through the top loop of Bowl), ch 1.

Rnds 7-10. Sc in each st around. (24)

FO, and weave in ends.

 

This pattern is now available in Dutch! Thanks to Mootje Krootje for getting the pattern translated.
Click here for the pattern pdf in Dutch:
Meneer en Mevrouw Champagne – Jennifer Olivarez

 

Click on the Print and PDF button to get your copy of this pattern


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You’re Invited to the Fatimals’ New Year’s Party!

You're Invited!Hi there, Friend! It’s me, Mayor Snack Frog.

You are cordially invited to join us for a fatimal New Year’s Eve party at my home on December 31. We’ll have appetizers, cocktails, and a cotton candy machine! Dinner will be served at 7:30 followed by dancing on the tables and a spirited game of Twister. And of course there will be plenty of cheering and smooching at midnight.

Champagne Pattern by Squirrel PicnicThis year we welcome some special guests, Monsieur and Madame Champagne, who famously bring the party with them wherever they go.

If you won’t be able to make it to the party this year, perhaps you’d like to make a Monsieur and Madame to liven up your own event. I’ve enclosed the crochet pattern for your convenience. They are sure to keep you smiling all night long.

We’d love to see photos of them at your event. Post any photos to our Facebook page or tweet @SquirrelPicnic. I’ll share these and photos of our party on the 1st, after I’ve properly woken, located my camera, and gotten my head on straight.

Even if we don’t see you, we wish you a happy and healthy new year!

Sincerely,

Mayor Snack Frog
for The Fatimals