Girl on the Rocks

formerly known as Knit This… Knitting, spinning, crafting - it’s all here.

 

Monster finger chapstick cozy September 30, 2007

Filed under: Crafty, patterns — karrie @ 5:00 pm

Halloween is one of the most inspirational crafty-times of the year for me. I am still waiting the rare trip to Target to see which Halloween cuties they have out this year, but the gears are already turning. I am surrounded by ‘Lip balm for zombies’ from my friend Amanda. Then I saw an adorable severed zombie finger on etsy (I can call it adorable, right?). Then I realized the chapstick is the size of a finger, and viola! The monster finger chapstick holder is born!

If you have made any other amigurumi, you should be able to make this. I assume that you know how to increase, decrease, and start using a magic ring.
To make your own monster finger filled with chapstick you will need:

  • Crochet hook - Size F
  • Worsted weight yarn in three colors. I used Cascade 220 wool for the brown and green, and Caron Acrylic for the red.
  • button (optional)
  • key ring (optional)

This pattern has 3 parts. The fingernail, the finger, and the bloody severed top portion. I’ll give you the pattern for the fingernail first. If you are clever, you can make it first, and have it ready to sew on as soon as the finger is long enough. I always forget to do this.

Fingernail
The fingernail is worked in brown yarn, and is worked flat.

R1: Chain 5
R2 and R3: Sc into second from the end, Sc 3 more.
R4: Decrease twice. Pull end through.

Finger
Work 5 sc using the magic loop method.
R1: *sc 1, inc1 * repeat once. sc1 (7 sts)
R2: *sc2, inc1* repeat 3 times. sc 1 (10 sts)
R3-14: sc all the way around.

This is a big enough circumference for my standard sized chapsticks. After you are done with the increases, you might want to check to see if yours will fit. If not, sneak in another increase on the next row. Continue in the green color until you are just below the top of the chapstick. For me this was row 14. Change to the red yarn.

Severed top
There will be four loops that make up the severed finger top: one large one to wrap around the button, and three decorative - one of which can be used to attach a keyring.
R15: Sc in red
R16: chain 8, sc into base of chain to create loop (you just made the button loop). *Sc1, chain 3, skip1, sc * repeat 3 times (you just made the 3 decorative loops).

If you haven’t already done so, sew on the fingernail. Make sure to place the fingernail towards the “front” of the finger, which is the side opposite the large loop. I just whip-stitched along the edge with the chapstick in the finger so that I didn’t accidentally sew everything closed.

Use the brown yarn to add a knuckle. You can also use green to make some warts (french knots).

Attach the button to the front of the finger, at the top opposite the largest loop. Thread a keychain loop in one of the decorative loops if you wish. (detail photo of top loops)

Now you are ready to creep people out.

I expect that there may be errors in my pattern, so check back for updates (and let me know if my pattern doesn’t make sense!).


Pattern modifications

  • Make a long grey fingernail to make it a witches’ finger!
  • The fit of the finger is very snug. you might not even want a closure at the top. I think I like it best without one
  • Some of the fingers in the pictures are constructed a little differently. Instead of a button closure, I threaded a crocheted chain through the loops to make a drawstring closure. you might prefer this if you aren’t going to attach the finger to a keychain. Plus it makes more creepy, bloody strings to dangle out of the finger.
  • I have been addicted to softlips since high school. It is a more narrow chapstick than the standard size, I found that 7 stitches around was enough.

Related posts

 
 

Socktober

Filed under: Snippets — karrie @ 3:08 pm

Socktober is upon us…..

Related posts

Tags:
 
 

It’s a Halloween miracle September 22, 2007

Filed under: Etsy Shopping — karrie @ 7:21 pm

For a limited time, my mild-mannered moustaches have been transformed into Halloween monstrosities.


The curly handlebar moustache sprouted fangs and took off looking for blood. The western ’stache is completely zombified and stumbles around in search of brains. Portions of a black and brown moustache have been cobbled together to make a Frankenstache (this one is by far my favorite).

I am so excited about these pins, I teamed up with my friend over at madeinatreehouse.etsy.com, and will be including one AWESOME tube of ‘Lip Balm for Zombies’ with your purchase (flavor will vary) for a limited time. The lip balm is delicious, by the way. I have a tube and I use it all the time.

Aren’t they cute? Hooray for Halloween!

Related posts

 
 

After just a brief break… September 20, 2007

Filed under: weaving — karrie @ 7:21 am

I again turn my focus to weaving… Actually, I just wanted to point out that there are sign ups for a weave-along over at eloomanator. Participants will work their way through the textured woven patterns. Are you in?

Related posts

 
 

Pirating September 19, 2007

Filed under: Karrie's Current Projects — karrie @ 12:57 pm

I have a couple of new products up my sleeve, and I decided that ‘Talk like a Pirate’ Day is the perfect time to release one of them…

As you might have noticed, I love little disembodied moustaches. I also love halloween. So I decided to dress up my little ’staches for a trick-or treating adventure.

Now available in me etsy shop, an’ shippin’ fer free in honor o’ `Talk like a Pirate` day.

Related posts

 
 

knitting report

Filed under: Karrie's Current Projects, Socks — karrie @ 12:21 pm

writing my thesis is taking away most of the words that I have to use in a day, so you will have to suffer throught a bulleted (and photographed) list of projects that I am working on right now.

  • Toe-up self striping socks

    I added a little twisted stitch accent on the sides. Yarn is sport weight from Lovesticks

  • Charity Miter


    My first non-garter stitch mitered square. For a charity blanket to be assembled by Moirae. Knit in Cascade 220.

  • Cotton washcloths

    I have a few of these that my Mom bought in Amish country, and they are starting to fall apart. So I went to work on using up some partial balls of cotton. Fun!

Also, the new knitty is out. My faves? Neiman, Diamond Waffle (Props to you designer Danny for including 3 sizes in the pattern), and of course the Woodins.

Related posts

 
 

Faux Bois September 12, 2007

Filed under: Snippets — karrie @ 7:18 am

Though I’m not particularly a fan of Martha, I want everything in her Faux Bois collection - Sheets and towels decorated woth faux wood grain.

Related posts

 
 

A shout out to our crafty sisters of the past September 11, 2007

Filed under: Crafty, weaving — karrie @ 7:48 am

Okay. I know that everything crafty has probably been done some time in the past, but I have uncovered something that I am pretty confident won’t be making a comeback any time soon. I recently rescued a copy of “Weave-it Weave In” from ebay.

How could I resist a cover like that?? This book is full of patterns championing the idea that your clothes can actually be squares or rectangles. most are weave-it squares that are crocheted together and lack any general shaping. I have no plans to make anything like any of these, but I can’t stop looking at the pictures.

If you need a comfortable outfit to lounge around in (barefoot) while weaving you could make one of these:


This one is called “Hostess Robe”.

Or you could make a matching hat and overalls set for yourself, and a tank top with fringe and a matching skirt for your friend.

Amazing, huh?

Related posts

 
 

Octopus Revolution September 10, 2007

Filed under: Crafty, Things I like — karrie @ 5:38 pm

I didn’t know that an octopus revolution was underway…

Visit the Octopus Revolution Flickr group for a free crochet pattern for a basic little octopus. The group will showcase many variations on the same pattern. So make a little Octo and then dress him/her up!

Found on Craftster.

Related posts

 
 

Blue moon rests

Filed under: Snippets — karrie @ 4:32 pm

Blue Moon Fiber Arts is “resting” some of their colorways (list here). Get ‘em while the getting is good! [via].

Related posts