Squirrel Picnic

Handmade with Love and Stuff

Tag Archives: dolls


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Your Squirrel Friend Loves to Play Dress Up!

Squirrel and Accessories by Sandra Hauser

Not only did Sandra Hauser crochet a squirrel friend, she made all these accessories for her too. Now that’s one lucky squirrel. Great work, Sandra!

Many of the patterns for the items you see here can be found for free at the picnic. Because they are small, they whip up in a jiff and require very little yarn. These accessories are a great way to use up leftover yarn.

Dress up your squirrels. They love to accessorize! Be sure to share photos of your dolled-up squirrels at squirrelpicnic{at}gmail{dot}com. We love to give you and your squirrels the spotlight.

Get the free accessory patterns for your squirrel friend (from left of squirrel, going counterclockwise around her):

  1. Princess hat
  2. Workout towel (multiple patterns for Podge’s Fitness Gear at the end of the post)
  3. T-shirt, jersey, or sweater
  4. Picnic basket
  5. Purse or satchel

These patterns can be found in Squirrel Picnic’s very own book, The Big Acorn Race:

  1. Aprons
  2. Baseball cap
  3. Award medal
  4. Award medal for you
  5. And, of course, the squirrel
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How to Add Faces to Your Amigurumi: Simple Eyes with Felt and French Knots

Ultra Easy Amigurumi Eyes Tutorial by Squirrel PicnicI’m back with another tutorial on how to add faces to your amigurumi. This time I wanted to show you what I do when I just need a simple pair of child friendly eyes and I need them fast. As I’ve mentioned in previous episodes in this series, whenever I’m making a toy for a kiddo, I try to use embroidery instead of safety eyes or buttons.

These eyes use a common embroidery technique: French knots. I used to be really intimidated by this stitch, but just like anything in life, the more you practice, the easier it will get. Making amigurumi eyes is a great way to get in your practice.

If you’re like me and find that it’s hard to achieve consistency with your French knots, you will love this technique. With these eyes, you’re doing one eye at a time (breaking your thread between each eye), so you can pull the knot as tight as you like without having to worry about the slack at the back of your work. We’ll be tying the tails at the back, so the knot will stay in place as well.

So let’s get started… Then, next week, I’ll share with you a pattern that incorporates this technique and double bonus… it’s the next Make It! Challenge.
Continue reading →


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The Squirrel Tail Mystery Is Solved!

Squirrel Crochet Pattern by Squirrel Picnic

The choice is yours! Would you like your squirrel with a crochet tail or a faux fur one? Now the pattern includes instructions for both.

The biggest dilemma in Squirrel Picnic’s history has finally been solved! With my new and improved crochet squirrel pattern, we can dress our squirrel friends up in fancy costumes and clothing without their pesky tails getting in the way. Now we can all sleep at night. Continue reading →


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Make It! Challenge #9: Mr. Potato Head VIP (Very Important Potato) Edition Crochet Pattern

For Make It! Challenge #9, Daniel requested I crochet him a Mr. Potato Head doll. He was kind enough to let me decide on the accessories. I had a ton of fun thinking up new parts and facial features to make!

It is interesting to see all the different parts that Hasbro has come up with for Mr. Potato Head since he was invented in 1952. The first Mr. Potato Head kits came with ears, eyes (two pairs), facial hair (eight pieces of felt), feet, hands, hats (three), mouths (two), noses (four), and a pipe. Today, any Mr. Potato Head fanatic could show you an elaborate collection of accessories. Some of my favorites include party hats, pierced ears, handcuffs, bare feet, a pirate’s peg leg and eye patch, and a hockey player’s gap-toothed grin.

But with all the characters Hasbro has made into potatoes, I think there are a few opportunities they missed. What they need is a VIP (Very Important Potato) line of celebrity potatoes. Just picture it: Tiger Spuds, Morgan Fryman, Spuddy Holly, Elisabeth Shue-string Fry, Oprah French Fry, Vladimir Poutine, Mashton Kutcher, James Hashbrowns, to name a few (thanks to Becky for many of these ideas!). In the end, for this challenge, I decided on making Channing Potatum, Tater Swift, and Barack Au Gratin for my real-life celebrity potatoes. And then I threw in Harry Potater, because, well, Harry Potter’s name just screams make me into a potato.

Unfortunately due to licensing concerns, the pattern to make Mr. Potato Head: VIP Edition is no longer available. My apologies for any inconvenience this causes.


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Crochet Picnic Basket Pattern

A picnic basket is the perfect summer accessory for your crocheted squirrel friends. 

Crochet Picnic Basket

Picnic Basket

Difficulty rating 1

Finished size is 2″ tall.

Materials:

Size 0 (3.25 mm) steel crochet hook
Small amount of Vanna’s Choice Worsted Weight in Honey
Pipe cleaner cut to about 2″

Instructions:

Ch 2

Round 1: 6 sc in 2nd ch from hook

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

Round 3: *1 sc, 2 sc in next sc, repeat from * 5 more times. (18) Join with slst.

Rounds 4-7: Sc in the BL of each sc around. Join with slst.  Do Not FO.

Bend the pipe cleaner into the shape of a handle and arrange in the basket. Sc around the pipe cleaner (about 15 sts) and slst in the sc of the top row on the opposite side of the basket. FO and weave in ends. Trim ends of pipe cleaner.

Fill the basket with yummy things and take your squirrel on a picnic!