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Locking Loops by Theresa Pulido

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With a compilation of 30 unique locker hook projects & new techniques, Locking Loops provides alluring projects suitable for every skill level, from beginner to veteran. This books offers colorful projects to give and wear; from rugs, pillows, tableware, baskets, bags and wearables like a belt, brooch, bracelet and more.

Buy Locking Loops: Unique Locker Hooking Handcrafts to Wear and Give at Amazon.
OR
WIN a free copy and the DIY kit from Theresa, worth $120. WOW!!! Act now before it is gone [closing on 23 September 2011]. Remember to tell Theresa that you know locker hooking from Craft Passion in the giveaway comment, and don’t forget to “like” Color Crazy Facebook page with a comment there too.

 
And, if you would love to get Theresa’s first locker hook book, Hook, Loop ‘n’ Lock: Create Fun and Easy Locker Hooked Projects, you can buy from Amazon too. This is the book that inspired me into locker hooking crafts.

You can also view the video of Theresa, introducing the “Locking Loops” Locker Hooking Book, produced by the book publisher F+W Media.

If this is your first time trying locker hook craft, you can buy the kit from Color Crazy online shop. Basically you can get all you need for locker hooking there, from tools to materials.

This is my autographed copy and I am in love with it.
I am going to try out the projects with the sample Theresa gave. Will show you later once it is done.

With Theresa’s easy to follow step by step photos and descriptions, one can easily learned how to locker hook in no time.
I am a good example, remember I told you about how I was deeply inspired by Theresa after I bought her first book Hook, Loop ‘n” Lock when I wrote my first tutorial on this craft.

This is my favorite…. Hope to try it soon!!! However, this is for advance level as it involves more complicated steps.

A lovely garden preserved basket perfect as a “gift basket” for the homemade fruit preserved to friends and families.

I think I am going to try this project first, a floral name card holder.

There are 2 project on Christmas ornaments, a Christmas tree and a snowman. If you buy the book now and start learning it, you can make them in time for this coming Christmas.

Colored chart for you to follow the pattern easily.

About the book author: Theresa Pulido
After a twenty-year career in high-tech, Theresa decided to pursue a more creative track that taps her passion for color, design and anything that is handcrafted. Theresa has always sought out unique objects that feature compelling designs, whether found in nature or crafted by hand. She applies this passion to her own surroundings and handmade creations. Theresa is the author of “Hook, Loop & Lock,” her first book on locker hooking, and “Locking Loops,” her latest book that features unique locker hooking hand crafts to give and wear. To learn more about Theresa’s designs and patterns, visit colorcrazy.com and be sure to check out the gallery.

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Amigurumi French Bulldog [Pattern from Ami Ami Dogs]

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I heard friends and readers asking me how to do amigurumi, including patterns, materials, tools & tips etc…. you will find all the answers in this post: How-To Amigurumi!!!

Frankly speaking, just like all other crafts, to make a decent looking amigurumi is not easy but it is not hard as you thought too. You need skill, skill comes from knowledge and practice…. and to success in crafting, you need patience and the “never-give-up” attitude – do it again and again until you are satisfied with the result.

Amigurumi (編みぐるみ?, lit. crocheted or knitted stuffed toy) is the Japanese art of knitting or crocheting small stuffed animals and anthropomorphic creatures. The word is derived from a combination of the Japanese words ami, meaning crocheted or knitted, and nuigurumi, meaning stuffed doll. Amigurumi are typically animals, but can include artistic renderings or inanimate objects endowed with anthropomorphic features.
(source: Wikipedia)

Get the complete guide on how-to Amigurumi after this jump.

I spent months to master the skill of these cutie doggie amigurumies, no joke! My friend showed me this French Bulldog and asked if I can make a couple for her and her another friend. I totally in love with it at first sight so I went straight to the book store and get the Japanese version of Ami Ami Dogs. Can’t help myself and bought another one of the same series from the author. The first few I made didn’t come out exactly like the one shown in the book, rather, they are looking at different view and the head is tilted down. The yarn I bought didn’t look right too for the color, the white is not white enough to bring out the contrast of this doggies. So, I crochet them again after getting the right color that I want. Since then, I couldn’t stop by just crochet 1 pattern. I made another few breeds when I can find the right yarn color off hand. Click the Next button to view them all.

Recommended Amigurumi Books (Amazon Store):
1. Ami Ami Dogs: Seriously Cute Crochet
2. The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Amigurumi
3. Amigurumi World: Seriously Cute Crochet
4. Vanna’s Choice: Easy Crochet Critters
5. A Zoo For You
6. Crobots: 20 Amigurumi Robots to Make
7. Creepy Cute Crochet
8. Amigurumi Toy Box: Cute Crocheted Friends
9. Cuddly Crochet: Adorable Toys, Hats, & More
10. Cute Little Animals
11. More Cute Little Animals to Crochet
12. Big Book of Animals

Free online amigurumi patterns:             
1. Planet June
2. Crochet Pattern Central
3. Craftster
4. Roxycraft
5. Owlishly
6. Freshstitches Amigurumi
Shop online patterns:
1. Planet June Shop
2. Roxycraft Shop
3. Owlishly Etsy Shop
4. Anapaulaoli Etsy Shop
5. Mygurumi Etsy Shop
6. Crochetbury Etsy Shop
7. TLGD doll Etsy Shop
8. Jenny and teddy Etsy Shop
9. Delicious Crochet Etsy Shop
10. AmyGaines ArtFire Shop
11. Voodoo Maggie ArtFire Shop

Pattern Reading
Read chart or written pattern carefully and make sure you understand all the instructions.
Prepare all the tools and materials needed to make the amigurumi and get started.
Crochet abbreviation – written [chart] pattern
sc [X] - single crochet
sc inc [V] – single crochet increase
sc dec (sc2tog) [Λ] - single crochet decrease (invisible crochet is a better choice to prevent hole forming, photo tutorial, video)
ch [Ο] – chain
slst [ • ] – slip stitch

Choice Of Yarn & Hook Size
Read the pattern instruction and look out for recommended yarn weight and crochet hook size. If you would like to make it in different size, you can try out with different yarn weight and hook size.
Yarn weight: These 2 dogs are made from the same pattern but different yarn weight, which turned out in different size. The smaller dog is from baby yarn and the bigger dog is from medium worsted yarn.
You can use synthetic fiber yarn which is cheaper and has better color choice.
Hook size: A size smaller from the recommended hook size works perfectly for amigurumi. For example, if the recommended hook size stated on the yarn label said size 3mm, use 2.5mm instead.

Other Tools
Besides crochet hook, you will need the followings:
1. Tapestry Needles, I used #13 for chunky yarn, #18 for medium weight yarn, #20 for baby yarn & #24 for lace thread. You might need a long needle for big amigurumi.
2. Scissors
3. Markers, or you can use bobby pin to mark the first st of the row
4. Tweezers (blunt tip) or stuffing tool (see video how to use this stuffing tool)
5. All purpose adhesive (transparent) for gluing eyes and nose, great for threading yarn through the narrow eye of the tapestry needle.

Stuffing & Weight
Stuffing: There is always a question of how much to stuff for the amigurumi, I stuffed mine until the amigurumi is firm and resemble the tubular shape of the amigurumi..
Weight: If you need to add weight so that the amigurumi stands better, you can use silica gel (in bead form), plastic beads for smaller ami. A stainless steel bolt is good for a bigger ami.
Eyes & Nose
Other names for amigurumi eyes are craft eyes, animal eyes or safety eyes. Basically, the are 2 types of attachment, stud type or sewn type. The photos shown are stud type, some came with back locking plates and for those don’t have, the eye has to be glued with all-purpose adhesive (not recommended if it is for kids under 3).
Normally, eyes come in either whole black or clear plastic with black spot at the center. Select the suitable eyes and nose for your amigurumi.
I bought some of my parts and tools via this online shop .
You can also use beads, buttons and felts to make eyes and nose for amigurumi too.
Eye Color Customization
It is not necessary to buy ready color eye for amigurumi, you can always add you own color on a clear eye.
For white, use correction pen (fluid type) and paint the back of the clear eye.
For other color, use acrylic paint and paint the back of the clear eye.
I painted mine in green, brown, blue and white. You can even add design if you have a bigger clear eye, like adding iris stripes, circles, love shape etc. to further enhance the effect of your amigurumi’s character.
Tension
Unlike normal crochet, in amigurumi your stitch tension have to be snugly tight to prevent “holes” forming, the holes will amplify after stuffing.

Change Yarn Color
In some patterns, you might need to change yarn color like those I did for the dogs, click here to get the tutorial on how to do it, or here for video.
Joining Parts
Now you have all the parts (heads, arms, legs, torsos) of the amigurumi ready, installed eyes and nose, stuffed to it’s fullest firmness. It is time to join them up by sewing.
Click here to see how to join, or here for a video.
Some patterns will show where to join, for those don’t, look closely at the photo of your pattern to find the correct place to join. Sometimes you might have to unpick the stitches and redo the joining if you find the position is a little off, especially the first attempt. Don’t give-up, you are about to cross the finish line!

Other Tips
Needle threading
If you have difficulty in getting the yarn through the eye of the tapestry needle, put a small drop of adhesive (for example, UHU or quick-dry all-purpose adhesive but not super glue, please) at the yarn end, twist and make it pointy. Let it dry before inserting through the eye of the tapestry needle.
Tidying up the messy yarn ends
After stitching, make a small knot with an adjacent stitch. Insert the needle back to the body and come out from the opposite (the further the better). Pull the yarn a little before clipping so that both the knot and yarn end can hide inside the body.

Practice, Practice & Practice!!!
Practice is the best way to achieve a perfect amigurumi. I did more than 10 in total of these cute doggies to achieve a close to perfect result. Each of them still looks a little different even though they are from the same pattern.
Want to see them? Click “next” on the photo album above to see another few cute little doggies I made from Ami Ami Dogs book.