Crochet Bassett Hound, Boris. Arrives on the Scene

As I surf Pintrest I often see an adorable pattern that I just can't resist.  Boris was one of those.  This crochet bassett hound is so cute!

How could anyone resist those mournful eyes and adorable long ears!?  This is not my own design but you can find this crochet bassett hound pattern here.  I have no problem paying someone else for an excellent and adorable pattern, which this one certainly is!

After designing my own simple patterns, I realize the work that goes into a pattern like Boris (my own name for him).  I love the details of the eyebrows and foot pads.  You can't see it in the picture, but he has a red collar on with the dog tag suspended from it.  I did improvise a bit on the tag, making it a double thickness with a circle of plastic canvas inside to give it a little more rigidity.  And I embroidered a B.  for his initial.

If you are intimidated by patterns with such details, let me encourage you to give it a try.  Just follow the instructions, step by step, and you should be able to recreate almost any project.  If the pattern involves complex stitches, then go find a nice tutorial on the internet and let it teach you what you need to know.  But most of all, have patience, and don't be discouraged if you have to unravel and redo until you get it right.  It is so worth it!

So if you love dogs, or know a dog lover that would appreciate their own Boris, this crochet bassett hound may be just what you're looking for.  If you would like to buy Boris already stitched up, you can find him here.

Happy Stitching!

Blessings~
Reny

Miniature Crochet Bear....Adorable!

This is my miniature bear next to a teacup.

I have been captivated by miniature crochet for some time, but finally tried it myself.  I was afraid that it would be too much a strain on my eyes to do such tiny stitches and I couldn't imagine the patience it must take to crochet something so small.  However, with the help of my magnifier lamp I had very little trouble at all!  And I didn't even use the magnification.  But the direct light was a life saver for this project.

Miniature crochet doesn't take nearly as long to complete the project since there are fewer stitches due to the small size.  And it goes without saying that it doesn't take as many supplies to create a miniature.

The pattern I used can be found here.  The pattern is well written and easy to follow.   She also gives some very helpful tips on how to adjust the size of your project either larger or smaller.   I highly recommend it if you want to start doing miniature crochet.

Working with cotton thread was not new to me as I have used crochet cotton for doilies for years, but crocheting cotton thread into tiny shapes was a bit of a challenge.  And then stuffing those tiny shapes with fiber-fil proved to be even more of a challenge.  The instructions suggested using a pair of tweezers to push the fluff into the shapes, but of course, I couldn't find my tweezers right off hand.  (They have appeared now though, thank goodness.)  So the stuffing part was a little frustrating.



Here is my little bear sitting on my wall shelf. Doesn't he look adorable!?

I believe that the next miniature crochet I attempt will be much easier and work up faster.  I do have several ideas in mind to attempt.  So I encourage you to give this a try if you have ever thought you might like to do some miniatures.

Blessings~
Reny