MissNeriss

Irresistible Owly Cat Toy – Tutorial

Posted on April 5, 2013 | 10 comments

Ive been dreaming about this really cool project for a few weeks. As you already know, I’m a huge fan of A Morning Cup of Jo Creations and I’ve been making dozens of her mini owls (want one? Leave a comment or message me via my Facebook and I’ll be in touch ASAP). But aside from looking cute, what can these owls be used for?

A bouncy cat toy, of course!

Let me explain how I made it. That’s right, it’s my first ever how-to!

First things first. Go to Craftsy and download Josephine’s Baby Owl Ornaments pattern. It’s free!

You can see from her pattern that the owls are indeed very mini, but it’s very easy to upsize the owls by using a heavier yarn. For my toy I used Katia Nevada #27 (purple) and a 6mm hook (US 9-10).

Once you’ve finished your owl, added eyes (I used 8mm safety eyes) stuffed him and sewn him up, don’t tie off. Instead, chain 8, single crochet into the other end of the top seam. Then slip stitch through 4 stitches of the chain that you just made so that you are now in the middle of the chain.

Now chain 35, or as long as you’d like to make your bouncy chord.

To make the handle you will need to use a foundation single crochet. If you don’t know how to do this stitch, Tamara from Moogly Blog has a great simple video tutorial to show you how. FSC the right length to be able to wrap around your handle. I created 35 stitches, then joined with a slip stitch at the top of my chain.

Continue back down your chain, with 4 single crochet per chain, creating a bouncy spiral. Once you reach the beginning of the chain, slip stitch down the last 4 stitches to the body of the owl. Finish off and hide the loose ends in the body of the owl.

To make the Owly Bouncy Cat Toy extra irresistible, add a bag if catnip and a small bell and you’re ready to play!

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask. And if you spot mistakes, please let me know!

Apologies that the photos aren’t the best. I plan to make this again very soon, so will add better photos.

10 Comments

Posted in Tutorials

Tagged Cat, catnip, crochet, Featured, free pattern, handmade, how to, kitty, toy, tutorial

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An itty bitty basket

On Easter Saturday I had much of the day to myself. Well, as much to myself as I can with a 13 month old child… We were invited to my in-laws for Easter dinner on Sunday (which was delicious, as always. Thanks Geerke!) and I decided that instead of the usual bottle of wine I would whip up a couple of Easter baskets and fill them with chocolate eggs and handmade salted caramels, courtesy of my gorgeous friend Lori of Southern Charm Cupcakes.

These caramels are to die for. The family was lucky that any made it to the baskets; I was sneaking the odd one here and there, absolutely irresistible!

I used recycled t-shirt yarn for this project and the basket is about 10 cm high – perfect for itty bitty girls itty bitty fingers.

What do you think of the basket? Should I turn it into a pattern?

1 Comment

Posted on April 3, 2013 in Projects

Tagged celebration, chocolate eggs, crochet, Easter, Easter basket, handmade, salted caramels, southern charm cupcakes, t-shirt yarn, zpagetti

Pinspiration #2

Posted on April 2, 2013 | 11 comments

Recently I’ve been spending a lot of time looking at crochet jewellery. I had the idea together with my friend Stephanie, who is a jewellery making expert to combine our talents and make items to sell and split the profits.

So far our big success has been with making Owly Charms and keychains:

Pinterest has been a fabulous source of inspiration, so I want to share my top five pins that we hope to be able to use for inspiration to design something in very much our own style.

This one has already inspired us, here’s an example of what we have done:

I just love this necklace. The colours are gorgeous and it makes me feel sunny.

I love the embellishments and this is just lovely. I would definitely love a key chain like this.

The combination of different materials used here just works.

We have also started on something similar to this, a really simple yet effective accessory.

The biggest challenge we are faced with in getting these projects off the ground is time. We are both very busy with work and study and children and husbands that finding five minutes to sit together and work has been just about impossible. We must work harder on finding the time, we have so many ideas and are chomping at the bit to get on with it!

What do you think of crochet jewellery? Would you wear it? Do you have any inspiration of your own you’d like to share with me?

11 Comments

Posted in Pinterest, Projects

Tagged bobby pin, crochet, etsy, hair pin, handmade, jewellery, jewelry, key chain, key ring, necklace, pinspiration, pinterest

Wow! MissNeriss Featured on Hookin On Hump Day

Posted on March 27, 2013 | Leave a comment

Imagine my surprise and delight upon waking this morning to discover that my Beautifully Stashed post from last Wednesday has been featured on Hookin On Hump Day by Moogly and My Merry Messy Life.

featured on hookin on hump day

Be sure to check out the other links:

#1 – Sarafan Dress by Quartered Heart Crochet
#2 – Crochet Easter Trio with Basket by Jamie of Huckleberry Love
#4 – Paintbrush Pillow Cover and Afghan Pattern by Susan of Felted Button
#5 – Stitch Me Up – The Ooh La La Edition by Amy of Sew Incredibly Crazy

Thanks so much for sharing the love ladies!

Now to think about what I should submit today….

Going Mobile

Posted on March 26, 2013 | Leave a comment

I’ve been wanting to make myself a new phone cover for some time, so this last weekend I sat down and made the time.

I bought some scrap quilting fabric and first sewed a sleeve.

Then I found the colour yarn I wanted to use and crocheted a section about the same width as my phone but long enough to wrap around the bottom.

I chained a long enough loop to be able to wrap around a button then put it all together.

I’m quite happy with the end result. With some refinement, it think this could become a really classy and sturdy mobile cover.

Only the Best for babies

Posted on March 25, 2013 | 2 comments

Yesterday was a baby shower for a woman in my expat group. She’s due to have a baby girl in a couple of weeks, so she could go into labour at any time now…

Because I have been hideously ill for the last few days with a chest infection, I’ve had a bit of extra time on my hands so I made this Saturday as my gift:

I just love butterflies, they fill me with joy.

Like this and want to get your hands on one? Leave a comment below or send me a message via my Facebook page and I’ll be in touch!

2 Comments

Posted in Projects

Tagged baby, beanie, crochet, gift, handmade, newborn

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Summer beanie

When my daughter Raina grew out of the first hat I made her it was the middle of summer. Because I was (am?) obsessed with crochet, I had to make her a replacement straight away. But because it was so warm – well, warm by Dutch summer standards – I had to come up with a cool alternative.

So, using cotton yarn, I whipped this together using a pattern I made up as I went along (must start writing these down) and a butterfly I found on Pinterest. Raina is about six months old in this photo, and it fits her perfectly.

So far it has also been one of the most requested items I make, so I’m busy making more! Want one for the warmer weather? Just send me a message or comment below.

Oink Oink

Posted on March 22, 2013 | 1 comment

Look at this little guy:

I’ve made this for a friend who requested a hot pink pig. Lets hope she likes it!

The pattern I used is a (paid) Ravelry download, by a crafter whose blog is hilariously named Fugly Crochet.

Don’t you just love the tail?

1 Comment

Posted in Projects

Tagged amigurumi, crochet, handmade, pig, yarn

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May the force be with you

This was a special request from a woman in my mothers’ group. Her husband is mad about Star Wars, so as a fun surprise, she asked me to make this hat as a tribute to everyone’s favourite green man, Yoda.

The design is a half double crochet hat with single crochet ear flaps and braids. The Yoda ears are two flaps I made by experimenting with shapes.

It all came together very well, I’m extremely happy with the result. I have the pattern ready to be turned into something legible, so watch this space!

Want one? Just send me a message or leave a comment for more info.

3 Comments

Posted on March 22, 2013 in Projects

Tagged Art, crochet, DIY, Geek, handcrafted, handmade, Nerd, Sci-fi, Star Wars, Yoda

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Squishies Rule

One of my absolute favourite crochet designers is Jo from A Morning Cup of Jo Creations and recently she released this pattern for free!

Along with the adorable squishy bunny, you can get your hands on a duck, a chick and a sheep (I’m dying to get started on the sheep).

The absolute best thing about these patterns is that the possibilities are endless! I don’t have to restrict myself to making squishies from her patterns, now I want to create my own! When I can find a spare moment, I’m going to whip my daughter up a little piggy squishy, because we love snorting together (too much Peppa Pig, perhaps?).

I thoroughly recommend you check out Jo’s Facebook page and look her up on Craftsy (click the picture, it will take you straight there).

But while I have you, who’s your favourite pattern designer? It’s ok to say yourself, by the way. A bit of horn tooting never hurt anyone!