#CrochetGO Giveaway!

Hi!

For the past few months I've been making little crochet Pokemon figures to give away as part of the #CrochetGo movement.  It's been so much fun!  I've been hiding them around my home town centre and in video game stores for Pokemon Go players to find.  And when people find them they post on Twitter or Instagram with the hashtag #CrochetGo to let me know they've been found.

People from all over the world have been taking part.  Check out #CrochetGo on Twitter and Instagram to see the characters people have created and the happy faces of the Pokemon fans who found them.

Now I'm giving my blog readers a chance at winning this little group of Pokemon in Mrs Flowerpot's #CrochetGo Givea

There is Charmander, Squirtle, Psyduck, Horsea, Pikachu, Staryu and a Pokeball up for grabs.

The competition is now closed.  Thank you for entering.
The winner will be announced shortly.

Closing date is 15th October 2016 midnight GMT.
A winner will be drawn at random from all entries received before the closing date.
The winner will be contacted by email.
I promise not to spam you or sell your details.
Mrs Flowerpot's decision is final.

Good luck everyone!

Oh yeah, before anyone asks I'm really sorry but I do not sell Pokemon figures.  Pokemon characters are protected by copyright and I would be in breach of that copyright law if I made them to sell without having permission or a licence from the copyright holder.

I do however sell some pretty awesome crochet lace shawls on my Etsy store so if you're looking for something special then please visit Mrs Flowerpot's Emporium

Meet Horsea - the little water Pokemon

Meet Horsea!  Isn't he cute?

I've been busy making lots of Pokemon for #CrochetGo using Nichole's Nerdy Knots patterns and I thought I'd have a go at writing my own.  I love water Pokemon so I chose Horsea because he didn't look too complicated.

It turns out that pattern writing isn't that easy but after a few false starts and revisions I got there in the end.  And here he is!

Anyway, if you'd like to make your own Horsea here's the pattern.  It's written in British crochet terms using DK yarn but you want to make it in worsted I'd recommend going up to a 4mm hook.

There's a PDF version of the pattern if you want to print it out.

Happy crocheting!


Horsea Pokemon

You will need:
oddments of DK yarn in the following colours:
            pale blue
            pale yellow/cream
            white
            red
            black

3.5mm crochet hook
tapestry needle
toy stuffing

Please note: this pattern uses British crochet terms.

Abbreviations:
ch        chain
dc        double chain
bldc     back loop double chain
slst       slip stitch
htr       half treble
inc       increase by working 2dc into the same stitch

dec      decrease by working 2dc together over next two stitches
join      join to first dc of round with a slip stitch

Before you start:

Exact gauge is not important but you need to make a firm fabric with small holes so the toy stuffing doesn't show through.  Go down a hook size if you need to.

Gently stuff the head and body after the first decrease round and keep topping up the stuffing as you near the last row.  Don't over stuff, it just needs to be firm enough to hold its shape. 

To make the head:

Using black make a magic ring.
Round 1: 6dc in the ring, pull ring tight, join and change to pale blue yarn.
Round  2:  1ch, dc into each stitch, join. (6)
Round  3:  1ch, bldc into each stitch, join.  (6)
Round 4 - 7: 1ch, dc into each stitch, join.  (6)
Round 8: 1ch, inc into each stitch, join.  (12)
Round 9: 1ch, *(1dc, inc) repeat from * to end, join.  (18)
Round 10: 1ch, *(2dc, inc) repeat from * to end, join.  (24)
Round 11 - 13: 1ch, dc in each stitch, join.  (24)
Round 14: 1ch, *(2dc, dec) repeat from * to end, join.  (18)
Round 15: 1ch, *(1ch, dec) repeat from * to end, join.  (12)

Round 16: 1ch, dec to end, join.  Fasten off.  Use tail to draw through stitches and close up hole.

To make head spikes:

Using pale blue *make 6ch, htr in second chain from hook, 1 htr in each stitch to end.  Do not fasten off.  Repeat from * twice more.  You should have three spikes all joined together.  Fasten off leaving a long tail to sew onto the head.
Make a second set of spikes in the same way.

To make tail and body:

Using pale blue make a magic ring.
Round 1: 6dc into magic ring, join.  (6)
Round 2:  1ch, dc into each stitch to end, join.  (6)
Round 3: 1ch, *(1dc, inc), repeat from * to end, join.  (9)
Rounds 4 - 10: 1ch, dc into each stitch, join.  (9)
Round 11: 1ch, *(2dc, inc), repeat from * to end, join.  (12)
Round 12: (1ch, *(1dc, inc), repeat from * to end, join.  (18)
Round 13: 1ch, *(2dc, inc), repeat from * to end, join.  (24)
Round 14: 1ch, *(3dc, inc), repeat from * to end, join.  (30)
Round 15 - 16: 1ch, dc in each stitch, join.  (30)
Round 17: 1ch, *(3dc, dec), repeat from * to end, join.  (24)
Round 18: 1ch, dc in each stitch, join.  (24)
Round 19: 1ch, *(2dc, dec), repeat from * to end, join.  (18)
Round 20: 1ch, dc in each stitch, join.  (18)
Round 21: 1ch, *(1dc, dec), repeat from * to end, join.  (12)
Round 22: 1ch, dc in each stitch, join.  (12)
Round 23: 1ch, dec to end, join.  (6)
Fasten off leaving a long tail to stitch head onto body. 

To make the chest:

Using pale yellow or cream yarn make 4 ch, leaving a long tail for sewing chest onto the body.
Row 1: Dc into second ch from hook, dc to end, 1ch, turn.  (3)
Row 2: Inc, dc, inc, 1ch, turn.  (5)
Row 3: Inc, 3dc, inc, 1ch, turn.  (7)
Row 4: Inc, 5dc, ince, 1ch, turn.  (9)
Row 5 - 6: Dc to end, 1ch, turn.  (9)
Row 7: Dec, 5 dc, dec, 1 ch, turn.  (7)
Row 8: Dec, 3dc, dec, 1ch, turn.  (5)
Row 9: Dec, 1ch, dec, 1ch, turn.  (3)
Row 10: 3dctog.  Fasten off.

To make the fins:

Using pale yellow or cream yarn make 2 ch.
Row 1: Inc in second chain from hook, 1ch, turn.  (2)
Row 2: Inc in each dc, 1ch, turn.  (4)
Row 3: Inc, 2dc, inc, 1ch, turn.  (6)
Row 4 - 6: Dc in each stitch, 1ch, turn.  (6)
Row 7: Dec, 2ch, dec, 1ch, turn.  (4)
Row 8: Dc in each stitch, 1ch, turn.  (4)
Row 9: Dec, twice.  Fasten off. 
Make a second fin in the same way.

To make up:

Sew spikes onto the sides of the head.
Sew the head onto the body.
Sew the chest onto the body.
Sew the tail in a tight curl towards the body.
Sew the fins onto the back about 2.5cm/1" below the head.
Embroider the eyes using red, white and black.

Pattern written by Clair Louise Coult.

This pattern is for personal use only.  

You can download a PDF version of this pattern here:  Horsea Pokemon

The Big Knit - Pikachu Crochet Pattern

Hi!

Every year I take part in Innocent Smoothies The Big Knit.  I make and send in miniature hats to go on top of smoothie bottles.  For each hat Innocent give Age concern a donation.  How cool is that?

It's a fun way to fund raise and each year I like to do something a little bit special.  This year the world has gone Pokemon mad so I thought I'd make some Pokemon themed hats.

The first one I made was Pikachu, my favourite Pokemon.  Isn't he cute?   I've also made a Pokeball hat and now I'm musing over what character to make next.

Anyway, I've written up the pattern if you want to make one too.  It's not too difficult and you only need oddments of yarn so go dive in your stash and make your own Pikachu for The Big Knit.

You will need:

Oddments of DK yarn in yellow, black and red
3.5mm crochet hook
2 x 8mm sequins or buttons for eyes (optional)

Please note - Instructions are written using British crochet terms.

 

Abbreviations:

ch            chain
dc            double crochet
inc           increase by working 2dc into the same stitch
join         join to first stitch of round with a slip stitch

To make the hat:

Using yellow yarn make a magic ring.
Round 1: 6 dc into the ring.  Join and pull the ring tight.
Round 2: 1ch, inc into each stitch to end.  Join. (12)
Round 3: 1 ch, *(1 dc, inc), repeat from * to end.  Join. (18)
Round 4: 1 ch, *(2 dc, inc), repeat from * to end.  Join. (24)
Rounds 5 - 10: 1 ch, dc into each stitch to end.  Join. (24)
After round 10 fasten off and weave in ends.

To make the ears:

Using black yarn make a magic ring.
Round 1: 5dc into magic ring.  Join and pull the ring tight.
Round 2: 1 ch, dc into each stitch to end.  Join and change to yellow yarn.
Rounds 3 - 6: 1 ch, dc into each stitch.  Join.
After round 6 fasten off leaving a long tail to sew the ear onto the hat.
Make the second ear in the same way.

To make the cheeks:

Using red yarn make a magic ring.
Round 1: 5dc into magic ring.  Join with a slip stitch and pull the ring tight.  Fasten off and leave a long tail for sewing the cheeks onto the hat.
Make a second cheek in the same way.

To make up the hat:

Using the long tail stitch the ears onto the hat approximately between rounds 3 and 5.

Sew on 8mm black sequins or buttons for the eyes.  Alternatively you can embroider the eyes or stitch on small circles of felt.

Using the long tail stitch the red cheeks onto the hat.  They will be almost at the bottom edge and space slightly wider than the eyes.

Send your finished hat to the address on the Innocent Smoothies The Big Knit website.

The Big Knit - Pikachu Hat Pattern (PDF) 

Happy crocheting!