Girl on the Rocks

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

 

Creepy October 30, 2007

Filed under: Crafty, Sewing — karrie @ 10:38 am

I haven’t put any time or thought into my own Halloween costume. I focused all of my energies on making one for my Blythe Doll. Through the This is Blythe forums, I found out that there would be a Halloween Blythe meet in San Francisco. Since I had several months advance notice, I was able to plan to go, and make a kick-ass costume (if I do say so myself). I don’t know how I thought of it, but I decided that my doll should be inside-out. Hours of sewing and knitting later, I think it turned out pretty well.

I made a long sleeve red dress to use as the base of the costume. I used felt and embroidery to create her organs.

I knit a long I-cord for intestines, and created a pocket behind her stomach for gut storage. thanks for the yarn, b!)

Her tiny heart attaches to her chest with a rare earth magnet, and can also be attached to a magnet on her hand.

Her brainy hat is made from pieces of curled up pink t-shirt material sewn to a skull cap that I made.

The overall effect is super-creepy. Let’s face it, Blythe dolls are inherently a little creepy, so for Halloween, you just have to go for it.

Check out my Flickr set to see photos from the SF Blythe Halloween meet.

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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.

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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!

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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.

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More autumn in the shop October 20, 2006

Filed under: Karrie's Current Projects — karrie @ 12:58 pm

I added some more halloween and autumn sock yarns to the shop. From left to right: Unnamed red skein that refuses to be photographed accurately (leave a blog comment if you might want this one), Autumn leaves (this one is a beaut), two skeins of Jack-o-lantern, and 2 skeins of candy corn. I made these a long time ago, but spent many days waiting on the sun to shine when I was at home to be able to take a picture of them.
Remember, dear blog readers, that I will give you free shipping if you say “I read your blog” in the comments of your etsy purchase (then wait for an invoice from me).

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