Cabled Owl Hexiflat

The current weekly challenge in the Hogwarts at Ravelry is to make something "twisted," aka something with twists like cables.  So I took this dishcloth pattern with a cabled owl in the center and figured out how to turn it into a hexiflat.  The right side is a little messed up, because it was hard to purl tightly on that side.  I'm hoping that when it is joined with other hexiflats that it will be ok.  I did go back in with some yarn and try to seem it up a bit.  The eyes are embroidered in with black yarn.  If it wasn't for the right side I would make more of them.

Hexiflat Maniah

I have made 16 hexiflats this month, and I'm not finished yet.  All of these hexiflats were made for different challenges in 2 of the ravelry challenge groups that I'm in.  If you are wondering what a hexiflat is, it is an unstuffed hexipuff.  

One of the challenges in the Hogwarts at Ravelry group was to represent the number 7 in some way (inspired by the 7 Potters in one of the last books).  It could be the number 7, 7 of something, size 7 needles, or 7 different colors of yarn.  I decided to combine some of the examples and make 7 hexiflats with the number 7 on them using 7 different colors for the 7s.  I designed the double stitched 7.  

For the Disney Adventures group one of the challenges this month is to make something inspired by the movie "Finding Nemo."  So I made 7 hexiflats with sea creatures on them.  There is a crab, 2 whales, and 4 fish (including Nemo).  Here are the links to the charts that I used: Fish 1 (two of the fish are the same but just facing in the opposite directions), fish 2, whale 1, whale 2, crab, and Nemo.

Another Disney Adventures challenge this month is to make something inspired by John Ratzenberger. Most people remember him as Cliff Clavin from Cheers.  He also has been the voice of a character in every feature length Pixar movie.  One of his more well known characters was Ham from the Toy Story series.  So I made this hexiflat pig to represent Ham.  Here is the chart link for him.

I then made this hexiflat mustache to represent his character Tom the construction worker in the Pixar movie "Up."  The yellow represents his construction hat, and he has a mustache.  Here is the chart for the mustache.

Last night I finally made a hexipuff grid in photoshop.  I have been designing a few on graph paper, but the photoshop one opens up more possibilities.  Last night I designed 4 new hexipuffs.  One is of the moonfish from "Finding Nemo" that John Ratzenberger did the voice of.  The other 3 are H, 2 (with a mermaid tail), O to represent the logo from the show H2O: Just Add Water.  That is the mini challenge in Disney Adventures right now.

Tonight I am going to try an make a cabled hexiflat to go along with a weekly challenge in Hogwarts at Ravelry.

Dishcloths and a Kool Aid Dyed Headband

I have been continuing to make dishcloths using my stash of green cotton yarn.  Here is a cute hippo dishcloth that I made last week.  Here is the free pattern for it.

Then I thought that I would switch things up and crochet a dishcloth instead of knitting one.  This one has bobbles all over it, which can help while cleaning.   Here is the free pattern for it (its the one on the left).

I'm teaching a textile themed summer camp this week.  On Monday we are kool aid dyeing yarn.  Then on Tuesday we will be making this headband using our dyed yarn.  Here is my sample that I made using the yarn that I dyed recently.  Here is the free pattern for it.  It is an incredibly easy pattern.

Perry Pattern featured on Crochet Chimp!

On July 24th my Perry the Platypus IPhone cozy pattern was featured on a blog called Crochet Chimp!:
9 FREE Disney Patterns.  Check out this post if you are a Disney lover.  Several of the patterns are in my ravelry queue.  

Thanks Prajina for adding my pattern to your post!

Pencil Bookmark / Doll Scarf

For a weekly challenge in the Hogwarts at Ravelry group I made this pencil bookmark.  The challenge was to make a muggle item.  I felt that this was a 2 in one muggle item: a pencil and a bookmark.  Neither one of them seem to have a place in the wizarding world.  Here is the free pattern for it.

Then I thought that it would make a cute back-to-school doll scarf, because I have no need of a bookmark (because I mainly read from my kindle).  Maddie looks pretty happy with it.

Maddie is the daughter of the Mad Hatter, and she is part of the new Ever After High doll series.  This series is from makers of the Monster High dolls, and currently they can be purchased at the Justice stores.

June Doll Show

My Fashionista doll was going to Donald Duck's birthday party (June 9th) on a boat.  What better to wear than a sailor top, just like Donald himself.  So I knitted tis sailor to for her.  With a nice black skirt and some jewelry she is all ready for a party on a yacht.  Here is the free pattern on ravelry.

This mermaid tail pattern was suppose to fit a Barbie, but it was to short.  I could always knit several more rounds in the center to make it longer though.  But it does fit my Monster High doll just right.  

Here is the free pattern for the tail.  For the top I used a size 2 crochet hook.
Make 2:

• chain 4
• turn and sc 3, ch 1 and turn
• sc 2tog, sc 2, ch 1 and turn
• sc 2tog, sc 1 , ch 1 and turn
• sc 2tog
• chain 15 and cut yarn

Chain 15, sc across the bottom of both triangles, ch 15, cut yarn.

Next time I will begin by chaining 15 plus the 4 at the beginning to include the back tie (but make it 5 for a bigger top).

I made another doll afghan using this free pattern.  I used some mosaic yarn that I found on clearance.  I'm actually rather sad that it is on clearance, because I would really like to make a bigger version of it.  I also get to show off my new Deuce Monster High doll in these photos (the male doll).  

"Man" Hats for Charity

Two of the groups I'm in in ravelry have charity challenges right now.  One ends on the 31st and the other ends on September 6th (although I didn't realize that until after I finished my first hat).  Both charities that I wanted to craft for were asking for hats, especially hats for men.  So I went through my stash and found some bulky yarn that would be perfect for hat making.  Next was to find a hat pattern that would work for bulky yarn and for men.  This is the hat pattern that I used to make these hat.

This hat will be going to Warmth for Warriors.  Here is an explanation of the charity on their website:

We are knitting and crocheting homemade hats to comfort our soldiers, both active duty and retired.  We distribute hats all year long to active duty soldiers overseas, to medical units where the sick and wounded are prepared to leave for hospitals in Germany and to VA hospitals back home in the United States.  A warm wool hat, made with love, provides both physical comfort and a "Hug of Thanks".   

They suggest using 100% wool yarn in dark colors, so I used Lion Brand's wool-ease thick & quick black yarn and size 8 needles to make this hat.

This hat is for a cancer hat drive in Maine.  They are excepting all sizes of hats in in many different colors for men, women, and children.  However the person who is holding the drive said that they are in need of more men's hats.  This hat would work for both a man and a woman, and it is very soft.  I used Loops & Threads' charisma yarn and size 10 needles.  I started using the size 8 needles that I used in the fist hat, but it was way to small.  I was afraid while making this hat that it was going to only fit a child, but it stretches and fits my head just fine.  Its is really comfortable to.  I also modified the pattern slightly by only knitting 6 inches instead of 7 inches before the decreases.