tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61322767520535707112024-03-13T11:45:03.863-05:00KullaCuteUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132276752053570711.post-86664188078798035082020-12-23T12:29:00.000-06:002020-12-23T12:29:01.738-06:00Lalylala - Christmas Trio Crochet Kit - Review<p>Continuing with the theme of seasonal crochet kits (and Lalylala kits), this next review is for the Lalylala Christmas Trio kit!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBAvJd1SyZd28yqMv9W2XhmeMsngJtmlqSyz46tAM1HSsDUyTx0YcoqpyRa_e5uf2reWfsSewBBQbayHgyk1bpSbvMd7S1RIp2CUXvPprZxwfWJQh0FbKNkwdiOEYbA_roEvSeHRIXe9UA/s2048/Bag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2015" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBAvJd1SyZd28yqMv9W2XhmeMsngJtmlqSyz46tAM1HSsDUyTx0YcoqpyRa_e5uf2reWfsSewBBQbayHgyk1bpSbvMd7S1RIp2CUXvPprZxwfWJQh0FbKNkwdiOEYbA_roEvSeHRIXe9UA/s320/Bag.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I love these kits/patterns, and have already reviewed a few, so I will try not to repeat myself too much. If you're interested in learning more about Lalylala/Lalylaland (the former Etsy store sells PDF patterns, the latter the physical kits/items), please check out my other reviews.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is one of two Christmas crochet kits that Lalylala offers, and I believe this is the older one as the other is called the Christmas Vol. 2 trio. I have both kits, so I will be posting a review of Vol. 2 shortly. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-uzvPjg8my851bnsvkGk7wqu-NqJDqgQYWHAR4HlTDoI7LhcO50geFAOl71hCgonb2OvL6aOZSewvhwVJE06GpHY-Uli61oWLcNeuTwesSZVZqsEbgoA2_puYcdB2Y4f06CnwbVq0mWLc/s2048/Postcard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1901" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-uzvPjg8my851bnsvkGk7wqu-NqJDqgQYWHAR4HlTDoI7LhcO50geFAOl71hCgonb2OvL6aOZSewvhwVJE06GpHY-Uli61oWLcNeuTwesSZVZqsEbgoA2_puYcdB2Y4f06CnwbVq0mWLc/s320/Postcard.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div>This is the standard version of the kit, which includes all needed materials and the pattern (including this super cute postcard!), and it cost me $33.07. I purchased this kit as part of a larger order, so I don't have shipping/tax information if you were to only order this kit, but since it ships from Germany, expect to pay international shipping/fees if you live somewhere that's not Germany.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaVX0bVoDvEtHUxAfLrP1lv9bUFpFtxoJXJNKRYCjHncJ3unT7o3yutlub_by7pYgxXb3cv8406l7yfgm1jO-f-S8diePDZb3ZAG0leJIBrPELGYudYY4KYuX1A06uuLOlVw1q_v6fPW4G/s2048/Starting+Materials.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1748" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaVX0bVoDvEtHUxAfLrP1lv9bUFpFtxoJXJNKRYCjHncJ3unT7o3yutlub_by7pYgxXb3cv8406l7yfgm1jO-f-S8diePDZb3ZAG0leJIBrPELGYudYY4KYuX1A06uuLOlVw1q_v6fPW4G/s320/Starting+Materials.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Lalylala kits included a substantial amount of high quality materials, and this kit is no exception. These kits also include stuffing but again, since this was part of a larger order, the stuffing was included separately (it comes in measured bags, but all the bags were shipped as one layer, and all the kits as another, so I'm not sure what stuffing goes with what kit). This kit includes the little beads, already attached to head pins, for the Christmas tree amigurumi, along with the standard bag of safety eyes, stitch markers, and yarn needle. Unfortunately, I managed to lose this bag at some point between taking this picture and starting this kit, so I had to use my own safety eyes. The eyes included were 5mm, but the eyes I had were 6mm, so they look slightly different.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYLieNYCn9SXFYpK-dYJ3BzcAaU-McumKEGJkpFLcvISOKqtCqf0Db6xgnjlbQKgBLVzEdzybrAelUqq3LFUYPZkkHDnGtuakMhODdbDkSgdgllzG9wWQdRz8MY_-EzlkUN50jW6RFccsd/s1766/Claus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1726" data-original-width="1766" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYLieNYCn9SXFYpK-dYJ3BzcAaU-McumKEGJkpFLcvISOKqtCqf0Db6xgnjlbQKgBLVzEdzybrAelUqq3LFUYPZkkHDnGtuakMhODdbDkSgdgllzG9wWQdRz8MY_-EzlkUN50jW6RFccsd/s320/Claus.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>First up is Claus the Candle. I struggled with the top of his head and the drips since they didn't look right while I was crocheting them, but after everything was put together, Claus turned out to be quite cute! Lalylala suggests sewing the arms on their amigurumi down to keep them closer to the body of the plushies, but I prefer how they look not sewn down.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjP7CJ50tIifxQ_sXeqCxrtQtPLBv2kKi3GR8YQGO6lamOKoJHk-5bJSVKXsLKZQkrsy1-Ioc8Dxe2EdmTMbPWwLej2bVzaMy9Th6T5zD6njihXEzTd1jsaI5yqMFqbHHqCacBuG5XPXRT/s2048/Xaver.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1542" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjP7CJ50tIifxQ_sXeqCxrtQtPLBv2kKi3GR8YQGO6lamOKoJHk-5bJSVKXsLKZQkrsy1-Ioc8Dxe2EdmTMbPWwLej2bVzaMy9Th6T5zD6njihXEzTd1jsaI5yqMFqbHHqCacBuG5XPXRT/s320/Xaver.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div>Xaver is next, and he is by far my favorite out of all the Christmas amigurumi (including the Vol. 2 kit). I did modify his design slightly by using two different brown yarns for his body/arms and legs instead of the included cream since I wanted him to look more tree-like (I used Scheepjes Catona in 162 for the feet and 157 for the body/arms). The cream color is fine and makes the trio look more unified as a whole, but I thought the browns were cuter. The beads really add to this design, and add a lot of complexity and visual interest. This amigurumi has even inspired me to find ways to include beads in my own designs!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikr4DhgT8zETE2P9-OuqVjD_pA5hDjN33tRh4A6BMIwXQovK6FE84VigAoK9efYr8jfJE3js2EtH7OxSIbDDJIU4caUinqRdsDxY1c4PEWB7oK597Seb3ESnRx43ev03sLU8wTkeXl8eyM/s1786/Anton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1786" data-original-width="1625" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikr4DhgT8zETE2P9-OuqVjD_pA5hDjN33tRh4A6BMIwXQovK6FE84VigAoK9efYr8jfJE3js2EtH7OxSIbDDJIU4caUinqRdsDxY1c4PEWB7oK597Seb3ESnRx43ev03sLU8wTkeXl8eyM/s320/Anton.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div>And finally, on the other end of things, is Anton, my least favorite amigurumi between the two Christmas kits. His design is fine, and I really liked the clever way the hair was done (it's a bunch of bobbles, but looks like curls), but I really struggled with him. He ended up looking really...long, even though I didn't make any modifications to the pattern, and his eyes are placed as instructed (though they are slightly bigger due to the difference in eye sizes). I changed the color of his halo since I didn't want his wings to be the same color, but the metallic yarn I used (along with the yellow yarn that was the same as was used for Claus' flame) caused it to bend in a weird way (you can't see if from the front, but it's obvious from the back). I do like how the halo appears to float above his head, though, due to how it's sewed on, and the rigidity cause by the metallic yarns helps with this (though I think it works just fine without it, since the sample plushie looks the same and only uses the included yarn).</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2aCvauQrkaB5-veCcperH0LDG8xcMuxz9f9uLB_ypUEGLabtYiY0fOpP9sRJ3zT11nH1Di2RpidUBchSFaofKNbrWR0k-b2zgIS0tl0oxI8UUBChSESalcqEXmbEPY8OEAqPGmJRcLmrN/s2048/Ending+Materials.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1680" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2aCvauQrkaB5-veCcperH0LDG8xcMuxz9f9uLB_ypUEGLabtYiY0fOpP9sRJ3zT11nH1Di2RpidUBchSFaofKNbrWR0k-b2zgIS0tl0oxI8UUBChSESalcqEXmbEPY8OEAqPGmJRcLmrN/s320/Ending+Materials.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>After making all three amigurumi, I still have plenty of high quality yarn left over for other projects (those please note that this isn't entirely accurate since I substituted my own yarn for Xaver's legs and body/arms). Hopefully, I'll eventually find my lost bag of eyes and can use those, too, for another project...</div><div><br />At risk of repeating myself (and by 'risk' I mean that I totally am), Lalylala/Lalylaland kits and patterns are amazing and I highly recommend them to anyone who is interested in their designs/aesthetic, and I encourage you to check out their Etsy shops (as of this post, though, Lalylaland is closed for vacation/holiday, but it should hopefully reopen soon)!</div><div><br /></div><div>Thanks for reading! <3</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132276752053570711.post-29104602278926567902020-12-20T22:03:00.002-06:002020-12-20T22:03:28.836-06:00Lalylala - Autumn Trio Crochet Kit - Review<p> As usual, in my quest to post seasonal/holiday-themed reviews in a timely manner, I am cutting it extremely close. In fact, depending on your time-zone, I'm already late posting this review of the Lalylala Autumn Trio crochet kit (it's 9:35pm on December 20th where I live right now, so I have just under two and a half hours to get this posted).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaAWWRHx4mjv5BH9OQxeuZUSmsyE8gZPEBfYqtkPEgct4bWl0n_o-QYV_2nLQth4-Co1kM4D0lWEFdBi6WnaJucKF7ec0f0lJu5vVAyvWUkg5dlf40VtAd65dMy0efdk0BJbWdxVeGkr08/s2048/Autumn+Trio+Bag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1875" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaAWWRHx4mjv5BH9OQxeuZUSmsyE8gZPEBfYqtkPEgct4bWl0n_o-QYV_2nLQth4-Co1kM4D0lWEFdBi6WnaJucKF7ec0f0lJu5vVAyvWUkg5dlf40VtAd65dMy0efdk0BJbWdxVeGkr08/s320/Autumn+Trio+Bag.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Lalylala kits are some of my favorites; they contain high quality materials, the patterns are well-thought out, and the designs are super cute! Unfortunately, Lalylaland (the Etsy shop that sells physical items like kits and supplies) is closed for the holidays, but you can still purchase the PDF pattern for the amigurumi in this kit from Lalylala (the Etsy shop that sells digital goods, like patterns; also, Lalylala is the name of the studio).<div><br /></div><div>This kit is the Autumn Trio, and it includes materials and PDF pattern to make Peter the Mushroom, Henry the Rosehip, and Erwin the Acorn.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCqmAPtmO5rKfcqG6Ag2afbI6IWXc0dYOtH6zf-9_kpV2lWqdehzjy6-xg1RYQhIJS_QtcfrgizXWy_If_CVdCSQjogUY_m4UVc3F0nIrmYBpcfjMMdoBf8Ahf8J__Hj76u798o80Fskw4/s2048/Autumn+Trio+Pattern.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1686" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCqmAPtmO5rKfcqG6Ag2afbI6IWXc0dYOtH6zf-9_kpV2lWqdehzjy6-xg1RYQhIJS_QtcfrgizXWy_If_CVdCSQjogUY_m4UVc3F0nIrmYBpcfjMMdoBf8Ahf8J__Hj76u798o80Fskw4/s320/Autumn+Trio+Pattern.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div>This kit cost me $35.77, and I purchased the 'standard' version. You can buy a 'basic' version of the kit that includes all the materials but not the pattern, or you can chose to add crochet hooks for a little extra (you can add them to basic or standard kits). I purchased this kit as part of a very large order (it's my goal to purchase every single kit that Lalylala makes and to collect all the amigurumi), so I don't have an exact shipping/taxes calculation, but these kits ship from Germany so you may have to pay more for shipping if you live in the U.S. (like me).</div><div><br /></div><div>All of the kits include stuffing, but since my order was so large, in order to save on shipping costs, it was not included this time (Lalylala checked with me first to make sure I was okay with that; they also refunded me the approximate cost of the stuffing, which was very kind of them).</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwKT9x9vSXMd708Gi4SW1Wq5-eGGNOIe_oNCzG7nvQbhMZSe7PXwjq1zShqFhyNZerpA3QjA6kLNNvXpwf0qchhgOqsWhfBhr9nZyLI6HkkO31sPgy24s1IPoO0pOtJSubH9lecwYfHh7v/s2048/Snail+Postcard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1725" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwKT9x9vSXMd708Gi4SW1Wq5-eGGNOIe_oNCzG7nvQbhMZSe7PXwjq1zShqFhyNZerpA3QjA6kLNNvXpwf0qchhgOqsWhfBhr9nZyLI6HkkO31sPgy24s1IPoO0pOtJSubH9lecwYfHh7v/s320/Snail+Postcard.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Also because my order was so large, I got a bunch of these cute postcards! I think you do get postcards that correspond with whatever kits you order, but it seems like I got some extras since I didn't order the Snail kit. It looked very autumn-y, so I thought it would be fitting to include with this kit.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz7LP1T_NvXOtMUcRNgRce7id_wD_l8dQsM9OsNGcUm24TYDk3xB0mZHp5Hb5AXYg3tEOCZXIH1DRmHXpFGWHee_s1ErXAw9qAnU8_8E3Iih88tKCkxo5zWjS3H4pPgymOwQK_9Sn6dOwn/s2048/Starting+Materials.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1890" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz7LP1T_NvXOtMUcRNgRce7id_wD_l8dQsM9OsNGcUm24TYDk3xB0mZHp5Hb5AXYg3tEOCZXIH1DRmHXpFGWHee_s1ErXAw9qAnU8_8E3Iih88tKCkxo5zWjS3H4pPgymOwQK_9Sn6dOwn/s320/Starting+Materials.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div>As with all Lalylala kits, you get a ton of yarn! I love that they use Scheepjes yarn, as it's excellent quality, very vibrant, and unfortunately not that easy to find in the U.S. I also like how they include the pink yarn for embroidering the cheeks, even though all the sample plushies have them painted on. I'm experimenting with different techniques for adding cheek color, but I love the simplicity of embroidering them.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiffzlB3DhhSV7t6UyfXuo3kWq2FJeZ60hRQ_U0pBtajalnDZiNPHdbRF3LLvv5YRM0F7bLwejd4fiQf5SoorKq-YIqDyDsA37-seuiEuOcfwkz-l9c3qWs5EnKCJHWjmgjiHSsuTncH3oJ/s1906/Peter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1906" data-original-width="1866" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiffzlB3DhhSV7t6UyfXuo3kWq2FJeZ60hRQ_U0pBtajalnDZiNPHdbRF3LLvv5YRM0F7bLwejd4fiQf5SoorKq-YIqDyDsA37-seuiEuOcfwkz-l9c3qWs5EnKCJHWjmgjiHSsuTncH3oJ/s320/Peter.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div>First up is Peter the Mushroom! My mushroom ended up being a little more puffy and round than the sample plush, even though I did add the cardboard circle as directed (I did try to use plastic canvas, but it didn't work very well). I kind of struggled to get the shape of the mushroom cap right, though I do like the changes in texture from the frill to the embroidery on the cap. He turned out much cuter than I expected, even if he is a little chubby (puffy/chubby/round things seem to be my style, no matter what. Drawing, crocheting, embroidering...everything also turns out so...round).<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgthuLWLeNCgG4vFuAE3-h1OL-jzqTzQmrg1o0hWyZ871sAXMqiLaTkO3kkABqmt-z3JUbdKiXFgJ6ZswbfkhGoheFln8z0lhXd33xZLZUd3bB7_KbW3uz0BY8nRDHdP_Ma0_iNULVJbbij/s1880/Henry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1880" data-original-width="1788" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgthuLWLeNCgG4vFuAE3-h1OL-jzqTzQmrg1o0hWyZ871sAXMqiLaTkO3kkABqmt-z3JUbdKiXFgJ6ZswbfkhGoheFln8z0lhXd33xZLZUd3bB7_KbW3uz0BY8nRDHdP_Ma0_iNULVJbbij/s320/Henry.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div>Next is Henry the Rosehip! I think he looks like a ketchup bottle. I knew what a rosehip was (sort of; I knew that it was part of a rose bush that you can make tea out of) but I had no idea what one looked like. Henry's pretty close, though it looks like rosehips come in a bunch of different shapes/sizes.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4-9JCKsqdwM9NYD_oud_5PaUWBPII0771PW8pzWeZiP3QdCiO9-lFXOYuCVgR3V9VgjX9dl_eYdJH7iKVxod_U-NjK4Vhe3N2Oiq0nm3MXPjftXOOhSKVTsUlFjYZSDuy98lxwOhtD0e5/s1893/Erwin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1893" data-original-width="1755" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4-9JCKsqdwM9NYD_oud_5PaUWBPII0771PW8pzWeZiP3QdCiO9-lFXOYuCVgR3V9VgjX9dl_eYdJH7iKVxod_U-NjK4Vhe3N2Oiq0nm3MXPjftXOOhSKVTsUlFjYZSDuy98lxwOhtD0e5/s320/Erwin.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div>Finally, we have Erwin the Acorn! Erwin is by far my favorite of this trio, not only because acorns are cute in general but...</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoOPBXZRpzPYiTT3woZaCgt_Pmfk8vIQKA11Eq97Ng_U0xImbLYZQoSTo0HM1AkJlRwdSaYflKc0nHpCkSRIbcPpwYz0AmhsxbqMk6Wo4HY6f_m4tkt55tPBTzpUFmnmVoSGTgrEI3HMZm/s1837/Erwin+Capless.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1700" data-original-width="1837" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoOPBXZRpzPYiTT3woZaCgt_Pmfk8vIQKA11Eq97Ng_U0xImbLYZQoSTo0HM1AkJlRwdSaYflKc0nHpCkSRIbcPpwYz0AmhsxbqMk6Wo4HY6f_m4tkt55tPBTzpUFmnmVoSGTgrEI3HMZm/s320/Erwin+Capless.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>His cap comes off! I thought his design was so detailed and thoughtful, while still being simple and...round.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPsaEaQy-oygryM2BopJBenFlaio8RPC2a0SvyifWRAXTvu5h7jZbdyXRJ9pwRNKaluzJcsh7miNeXc9qttOsweesl1bltL4ffxO4Tw_P-oNNLzMKpBbj9c2qDHu6n6mnAHbPHb0UvQ7J3/s2048/Ending+Materials.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1650" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPsaEaQy-oygryM2BopJBenFlaio8RPC2a0SvyifWRAXTvu5h7jZbdyXRJ9pwRNKaluzJcsh7miNeXc9qttOsweesl1bltL4ffxO4Tw_P-oNNLzMKpBbj9c2qDHu6n6mnAHbPHb0UvQ7J3/s320/Ending+Materials.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>I have so much yarn left over that it looks like I didn't even use some of the skeins/balls! And I am always happy to have leftover Scheepjes yarn to use for other projects.</div><div><br /></div><div>As always, Lalylala amigurumi crochet kits are amazing and totally worth the cost, even with international shipping/taxes. If you don't want to purchase a kit (either due to cost or because you don't want to wait for shipping), you can get all (or almost all, I haven't actually checked) their patterns digitally. If these designs appeal to you, I highly, <i>highly</i> recommend checking out both the Lalylaland and Lalylala shops on Etsy!</div><div><br /></div><div>Thanks for reading! <3</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132276752053570711.post-29218118306021658752020-12-20T21:19:00.002-06:002020-12-20T21:19:09.039-06:00Red Heart Amigurumi Yarn - Flamingo and Bird - Yarn and Pattern Review<p> Continuing on with the Red Heart Amigurumi series, the next two yarn cakes/patterns I'll review are the Flamingo and Bird 'sets', 'sets' in quotation marks as the yarn and pattern are designed to go together, but you only really get the yarn and downloadable pattern and you have to supply everything else to make the plushies.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDEUaapwzswYRs7M-KWHsqFRJkkcnOBjRd9dx-KBT8DJ1t9OPrFEseFAfP0-TqTgqGEH-T-oOlaG5f4NKlF3Fq4wIevnPY4y0Oy40rrbIZmzPwvzmjiyYPgo1B7IfKVTGIH5gBI2rm5xdU/s2048/Yarn+Cake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1916" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDEUaapwzswYRs7M-KWHsqFRJkkcnOBjRd9dx-KBT8DJ1t9OPrFEseFAfP0-TqTgqGEH-T-oOlaG5f4NKlF3Fq4wIevnPY4y0Oy40rrbIZmzPwvzmjiyYPgo1B7IfKVTGIH5gBI2rm5xdU/s320/Yarn+Cake.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Some of these photos are quite old, such as this one of the Flamingo yarn cake, so please excuse the lower quality pictures.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisLgZxwE9almDKDDCNiq-QHmTbGxCLlSJz48Lg3fJrFvtvRXSKGroiDcVYK651F16HbgdhAN2LqVi3GbFGXoPoo79Ti20eQTh58zL2HEASpNLijQqsZo9XEmCr9YW9IaOigsBf0TjH5_v6/s2048/Yarn+Cake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1985" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisLgZxwE9almDKDDCNiq-QHmTbGxCLlSJz48Lg3fJrFvtvRXSKGroiDcVYK651F16HbgdhAN2LqVi3GbFGXoPoo79Ti20eQTh58zL2HEASpNLijQqsZo9XEmCr9YW9IaOigsBf0TjH5_v6/s320/Yarn+Cake.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div>While I actually like almost all of these yarn cake/pattern 'sets', the Bird cake/pattern is my least favorite. As you can see, they were very heavily inspired by 'Angry Birds'; I'm not sure if this pattern/cake was created in collaboration with Angry Birds and the collab expired so now Red Heart has to sell it as a generic 'bird' set without referencing Angry Birds...or if someone at Red Heart just thought that people really love Angry Birds and that a design inspired by it would sell really well. I ended up making some pretty significant modifications to the design/pattern to make my birds more unique.<br /><p>Since I've reviewed these cakes before, I'll give a quick recap of the Red Heart Amigurumi line; if you want more detailed information, please check out my previous reviews. These yarn cakes include four colors of Super Fine/1 weight (though in my opinion, the yarn is more like a 2 weight), 100% acrylic yarn, themed after a specific knitting or crochet amigurumi pattern that is available for free from Red Heart's website. You get enough yarn to make the two plushies shown on the labels, and all the patterns have both knitting and crochet versions, even though the labels show only one or the other. These cakes retail between $3-$8, depending on where you purchase them and/or if they are on sale.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggTD5sXuwSLswsLR4CN8Cu51Gvsq-pEEy0PMCg3AlbnLRzaiYpaZxXgENqJC_pZ0f14ibE0mYQkk1pvmr0tU7IzXf36tC2uBHj2WNCw1NDDt5NOvvI5JYpRgOyWA99RzUkiGLHFYfdy6Jo/s2048/Starting+Yarn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1618" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggTD5sXuwSLswsLR4CN8Cu51Gvsq-pEEy0PMCg3AlbnLRzaiYpaZxXgENqJC_pZ0f14ibE0mYQkk1pvmr0tU7IzXf36tC2uBHj2WNCw1NDDt5NOvvI5JYpRgOyWA99RzUkiGLHFYfdy6Jo/s320/Starting+Yarn.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>The Flamingo cake includes black, grey, dark pink, and light pink yarns. I think all four colors in each cake come in equal amounts, but I haven't measured them to make sure (and the labels don't specify the length of each color).<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZcIscdlqE7HUR6WyDgEaHjftb267fWXXed-r6GFHvnvQNDKorgFhqN45FdNp4QTpyvadciXY8yIjImNoav5oF4_Ri4jBke_U9hFnxdBiLOU5X7jaIZulVWedw0uC0-ZQZoP0aJpM9dAUl/s2018/Pink+Front+Finished.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1857" data-original-width="2018" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZcIscdlqE7HUR6WyDgEaHjftb267fWXXed-r6GFHvnvQNDKorgFhqN45FdNp4QTpyvadciXY8yIjImNoav5oF4_Ri4jBke_U9hFnxdBiLOU5X7jaIZulVWedw0uC0-ZQZoP0aJpM9dAUl/s320/Pink+Front+Finished.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>I'm <i>really</i> happy with how the flamingos came out. The pattern was great; the shaping of the body/head and the legs/feet was easy to follow and both look very...flamingo-esque.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEDirsNqAp4KYsNkvfBNQfXBIkuxhIN2uoDgbGrWqAY-WjLbwGm5SLslo2IfUEn7-_F8PXkH4vySl1wLXCnZd9NU7H1zdScK5s8GPxY_cMKrn4xV1yAbo40qml3xi2PuyZW-L3shCvI83f/s2048/Alt+Finished+Front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1756" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEDirsNqAp4KYsNkvfBNQfXBIkuxhIN2uoDgbGrWqAY-WjLbwGm5SLslo2IfUEn7-_F8PXkH4vySl1wLXCnZd9NU7H1zdScK5s8GPxY_cMKrn4xV1yAbo40qml3xi2PuyZW-L3shCvI83f/s320/Alt+Finished+Front.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Since these are on the smaller side, I had enough yarn left over to make some alternate colorways! The grey flamingo is similar to a what they look like as chicks, and the black flamingo is like an...anti-flamingo (fun fact: flamingos are actually white and turn pink because of what they eat).</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfAlSKGWVz8edL8ey6zriDDaU_mb5ChcuQsY9qVPqqNZMBcOt0CxBo0IlC08wwnyZFaXD-omTkQL8vERy0yavZVuNzKxc1pwp9f-zEHccl5YzDjKdQ0GwIEHouddTXzSJnLNO8_-GpU8N8/s2048/All+Four+Finished.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1185" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfAlSKGWVz8edL8ey6zriDDaU_mb5ChcuQsY9qVPqqNZMBcOt0CxBo0IlC08wwnyZFaXD-omTkQL8vERy0yavZVuNzKxc1pwp9f-zEHccl5YzDjKdQ0GwIEHouddTXzSJnLNO8_-GpU8N8/s320/All+Four+Finished.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>They all look so cute together! They're a little too big to be keychains, and a little too small to be toys, but I think they would make a great desk decoration for someone who likes flamingos. Incidentally, have you ever looked at a closeup of a real flamingo's face? They're kind of creepy, with their tiny eyes and huge, weirdly shaped beaks.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgROy29wGiNRoPX5sl_aOjUfpiMy1YOl9tMfcUng0KTA5xLP5YEQsSbCGfopfA8uYQKdO_Q8k03zfoqfZkLZY8QQjA26mimsB5_kXyi-omLFA-4qg3eK-IAO8T-I2ShKOaaS0lkELJr1iD/s2048/Starting+Yarn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1562" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgROy29wGiNRoPX5sl_aOjUfpiMy1YOl9tMfcUng0KTA5xLP5YEQsSbCGfopfA8uYQKdO_Q8k03zfoqfZkLZY8QQjA26mimsB5_kXyi-omLFA-4qg3eK-IAO8T-I2ShKOaaS0lkELJr1iD/s320/Starting+Yarn.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>The Bird cake includes red, yellow, white, and black yarns. I do like the stark intensity of this color scheme, and wish that Red Heart had done something else instead of the weird Angry Bird birds they went with.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt3Z4xboN2bN6U-QPMkC4kLrl2hNF3Ylpb61L6J-oKVUOHSvuQ4GogeqQxQ8A3s5j9dsPCmA6rB07tIOdcB_SpBgAvWy1AGTyvzmFWAPQxS-P7NOPI4A6fAbCB6RL99aFK1GHsr679GlWk/s1960/Red+Finished+Front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1827" data-original-width="1960" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt3Z4xboN2bN6U-QPMkC4kLrl2hNF3Ylpb61L6J-oKVUOHSvuQ4GogeqQxQ8A3s5j9dsPCmA6rB07tIOdcB_SpBgAvWy1AGTyvzmFWAPQxS-P7NOPI4A6fAbCB6RL99aFK1GHsr679GlWk/s320/Red+Finished+Front.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Initially, I was only going to remove the unibrow since that was the worst part of the design (in my opinion; it was the most Angry Bird-part), but I didn't like how the wings and feet were white, so I changed those, too. When I first showed this bird to my husband, he thought the black stomach was a mouth and the beak was a nose, so it looked like a really weird interpretation of a screaming Elmo head. So now I can't unsee that.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj81wIDifCXYODCK4p24WoInAluODdv92zLVMjyYMxN3H70c6UifzGdwjESAOIemFG8iqOZBGlhg72FS04uZfzzC00gS6tV0ifNVBvuUxJQgbfSdwH057yUgRN9DA06PioiUl8-CnbMryKi/s1960/Yellow+Finished+Front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1960" data-original-width="1959" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj81wIDifCXYODCK4p24WoInAluODdv92zLVMjyYMxN3H70c6UifzGdwjESAOIemFG8iqOZBGlhg72FS04uZfzzC00gS6tV0ifNVBvuUxJQgbfSdwH057yUgRN9DA06PioiUl8-CnbMryKi/s320/Yellow+Finished+Front.jpg" /></a></div><br /> I changed the colors of the yellow bird's wings and feet as well, and I made its stomach white. I think the yellow bird is much cuter than the red, but I think that has to do with the screaming Elmo head-phenomenon.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgUqhT07eZyHuYX2uFC0qpLqfDLsUcH8vWRQiNF8ikMbHipcm2oyAaKk8PboHAahWdYN1kWh9Jyf-USriAZgu0tH2hrielB96HHplIeb2kGkCYIH3H94Qv23kCGDbvB0PAn3F9HIf5Uw_F/s2048/Both+Finished+Front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1461" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgUqhT07eZyHuYX2uFC0qpLqfDLsUcH8vWRQiNF8ikMbHipcm2oyAaKk8PboHAahWdYN1kWh9Jyf-USriAZgu0tH2hrielB96HHplIeb2kGkCYIH3H94Qv23kCGDbvB0PAn3F9HIf5Uw_F/s320/Both+Finished+Front.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>I still don't like them that much, and they're still my least favorite out of all the Red Heart Amigurumi 'sets' I've done, but they're much better than their original Angry Bird knock-off interation.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRb6lCX1VOzXxw8SLacTfDRkzTZyYkuC8zci9KwBynRWIhiAZMoef9Pgf2x_vPkDrtCxbv5d0fH7TVocntp-UzzEPfOLV6eTKFUID26XokdwK-c0zAyxc8pBEoqgq4x8pgRAQa2QAaLZN1/s2048/Both+Finished+Back.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1482" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRb6lCX1VOzXxw8SLacTfDRkzTZyYkuC8zci9KwBynRWIhiAZMoef9Pgf2x_vPkDrtCxbv5d0fH7TVocntp-UzzEPfOLV6eTKFUID26XokdwK-c0zAyxc8pBEoqgq4x8pgRAQa2QAaLZN1/s320/Both+Finished+Back.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Also they have little tails.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtj2a8IRSszmGZST2ETs6xlKtqs1qh4FIjqYpZNHIO3CPI18fL4roWcdWJmaExRzzFPSB27cORw682u_XEA_k4OKVfm3x1O0qVJRZOxrf1yz8ezs8E_l1VUFSvsROQUQjKsxbiNahNWmkT/s2048/Ending+Yarn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1811" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtj2a8IRSszmGZST2ETs6xlKtqs1qh4FIjqYpZNHIO3CPI18fL4roWcdWJmaExRzzFPSB27cORw682u_XEA_k4OKVfm3x1O0qVJRZOxrf1yz8ezs8E_l1VUFSvsROQUQjKsxbiNahNWmkT/s320/Ending+Yarn.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>This design relied really heavily on the yellow and red colors of yarn, leaving me with a ton of white and black. I could probably make another bird or two, but I would much rather use the yarn for a different amigurumi (the black is really useful for embroidering details on bigger plushies).</div><div><br /></div><div>As with the other Red Heart Amigurumi Yarn 'sets', these are surprisingly good. The yarn is fine to work with, not too rough and not too slick, and the patterns are easy enough to follow and most of the designs are quite cute, like the flamingos. The only issue I have with the Bird 'set' is the design, and even then I was able to modify it using the yarn I was given to something I liked at least a little bit better. If you like these designs, and are able to get a good deal, I do recommend these yarn and pattern sets.</div><div><p>Thank you for reading! <3</p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132276752053570711.post-15057307432688088302020-12-19T21:49:00.003-06:002020-12-19T21:49:28.201-06:00Lalylala - Venus Flytrap Purse and Fruit Fly Crochet Kit - Review<p> This is not my first Lalylala crochet kit review (and it is <i>definitely</i> not the last), but this was probably the first kit/pattern of theirs that caught my attention and why I visited their Etsy store in the first place (it was either this kit or the Flying Saucer musical toy, but I'm pretty sure it was this one). There was something so unique about a crocheted Venus Flytrap-themed purse/clutch and the amigurumi fruit fly (not only an insect, but an insect that is generally considered annoying) that it was paired with. At that time in my crochet-journey, I hadn't seen many projects that weren't cute and/or functional, and I was still unsure about buying patterns online.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFkSPsRGp08HedWXOgKZnwh85-WbRJhC5PIRFrHVULgactc52ylRz5MOpwzvtzan-yrZ6OtWGPVkHsw0xcNM53z7i5UpwhtNoF_QwLoIhTXFWfikj2zm9Cf23JrvgaaiD4Dbs1mJt9vIsl/s2048/Bag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2003" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFkSPsRGp08HedWXOgKZnwh85-WbRJhC5PIRFrHVULgactc52ylRz5MOpwzvtzan-yrZ6OtWGPVkHsw0xcNM53z7i5UpwhtNoF_QwLoIhTXFWfikj2zm9Cf23JrvgaaiD4Dbs1mJt9vIsl/s320/Bag.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>The biggest reason why this wasn't my first kit purchased from Lalylala is its cost. Because it comes with everything you need, including the hardware for the clutch, this is one of the most expensive kits they sell. When I purchased it back in May, I paid $53.59 for the standard + hooks kit. You can get the kit for slightly cheaper if you don't get the crochet hooks and/or the pattern.</p><p>This kit not currently available via the Lalylaland Etsy shop as it's closed for Christmas, but you can purchase the patterns from the Lalylala Etsy shop (both are run by the same people, but the former is only for physical items like the kits and the latter is for the PDF patterns).</p><p>All Lalylaland kits come in a cute canvas project bag, and some of them are even specially themed for the kit. I think this is the same bag that comes with the physical pattern/story book they sell, but I'm not 100% sure. It is a different bag from the one that comes with the Honeybee kit, though. I love these bags, and I somewhat collect them (in that, I collect the kits themselves, and the bags are nice collectable bonuses).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKIyh6krbo_cZjD7tD6KWvmUf_wu3m5PTF4LxIHy1UhOSdj20dND0J3HzOxWd1ztVn7Dd9up3USOI_RYryq_NgpNNQhzGtoyMNgOREv6b3oa5-6adgLfrVZgy66TTsfOM5HNnM6LT4y3em/s2048/Pattern.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1944" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKIyh6krbo_cZjD7tD6KWvmUf_wu3m5PTF4LxIHy1UhOSdj20dND0J3HzOxWd1ztVn7Dd9up3USOI_RYryq_NgpNNQhzGtoyMNgOREv6b3oa5-6adgLfrVZgy66TTsfOM5HNnM6LT4y3em/s320/Pattern.jpg" /></a></div><p>All Lalylaland patterns are provided as printable PDFs; once your kit ships, you receive an email with a special link to download your pattern. These patterns are not provided through Etsy, it is a separate website, so you do not have unlimited access: you get three downloads. The Lalylala patterns are excellent, and there are many detailed, full color photos to help with the more tricky parts. Lalylala/Lalyland is based in Germany, so the English patterns are translations of the German ones; there are some translation errors every now and then, but they are generally in the flavor text and not in the pattern itself.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc5vUoHXfW1qOyLiLq3GVAwUJ9Wkg5rce8UBSLLb6ANdie2PmwlHYKWS6sXXbFK1Ty9UaGi_4y_qO60rdYPITM08L1A4xuWkfEvowBapZuYBk0dUSy1Q_VxZm0tn4mD5V7AZCmCoirULtn/s2048/Starting+Materials.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1830" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc5vUoHXfW1qOyLiLq3GVAwUJ9Wkg5rce8UBSLLb6ANdie2PmwlHYKWS6sXXbFK1Ty9UaGi_4y_qO60rdYPITM08L1A4xuWkfEvowBapZuYBk0dUSy1Q_VxZm0tn4mD5V7AZCmCoirULtn/s320/Starting+Materials.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>As I said before, the reason why this kit is so pricey is that you get all the materials you need to make the clutch and the fruit fly, and there are a lot of materials! I'm pretty sure the clutch/purse frame itself is about $10. Lalylaland kits always include quality materials, such as Scheepjes yarn, Clover crochet hooks (the more recent kits, though, had a different brand that I am not familiar with, but I'm assuming they're similar in quality), and Ricorumi metallic thread.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge1CuEPCFWMTfFlHvmtBFImTX7KuPzouteH6vQ8suGiJxUEHvp3Q_LMvushyphenhyphenY5PS869vKx7ORnFrDTN4iYjHYAIaVegFwb9naUa8DSIRTeZ1FGdppyftRCQk8zum88iIGZtizdnbZ3XQux/s2048/Open+Back.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2006" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge1CuEPCFWMTfFlHvmtBFImTX7KuPzouteH6vQ8suGiJxUEHvp3Q_LMvushyphenhyphenY5PS869vKx7ORnFrDTN4iYjHYAIaVegFwb9naUa8DSIRTeZ1FGdppyftRCQk8zum88iIGZtizdnbZ3XQux/s320/Open+Back.jpg" /></a></div><p>The clutch was much more simple that I expected, but I think it's very effective and looks like a Venus Flytrap! The green and white parts are crocheted using metallic thread, and the whole clutch is made with a heavier-weight of Scheepjes yarn (Stone-Washed XL). </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIlVVMpQC1q3fKF56Sw3qhvyoNjriQgaSY6woSfP-4yd9QPo3WcZIrqszUpSsAU-2sC4iPHtGnMeJMMz3Nv3OCMBwwf3ELrk4VALV6UeiFpjKcYP5yj6vIU6BQqCOO7bCzySEOxai_5NOB/s2048/Open.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1955" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIlVVMpQC1q3fKF56Sw3qhvyoNjriQgaSY6woSfP-4yd9QPo3WcZIrqszUpSsAU-2sC4iPHtGnMeJMMz3Nv3OCMBwwf3ELrk4VALV6UeiFpjKcYP5yj6vIU6BQqCOO7bCzySEOxai_5NOB/s320/Open.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div>It's sewn to the frame with an invisible nylon thread; this thread does come with the kit, but I couldn't find it for some reason (I want to say it was because it's invisible, but it's really because I just...wasn't paying attention), so I used some invisible thread I already had. Which was terrible. So I actually undid it all and resewed it using the thread that was included, which is much better quality.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPxGiv_uQfnj_bzOudf6439FLGE_o37eThOSUOvTMkCVrl7OWIhON966-mNy-tvKxA9WWjSQJeT-Gj6BVFySeMv_OBvp5WS541iTrw29n3TWh4XtyZtTLY4tLXlt0wOu8GwB6ARgjhxnpe/s2048/Closed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2030" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPxGiv_uQfnj_bzOudf6439FLGE_o37eThOSUOvTMkCVrl7OWIhON966-mNy-tvKxA9WWjSQJeT-Gj6BVFySeMv_OBvp5WS541iTrw29n3TWh4XtyZtTLY4tLXlt0wOu8GwB6ARgjhxnpe/s320/Closed.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div>The clutch/purse is able the size of a standard long/zipper wallet, and there are loops on the purse frame where you can attach a cord or chain to wear it. I plan on using it to hold my crochet supplies that I use for every project (needle, stitch counter, snipper, etc) to make it easier to travel. The teeth of the Flytrap can be made to lay flat with blocking, but I was lazy and, since this project is for myself, I didn't bother.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6SEdRLiCT4bRpcTDgoHwEO-TTR6Zfkkqup5JE2iPFPMupYMdy5DX4bUpIFCv_pLcVRmoE-PNaR05NuBtePIpD5w-E-AlcveqNE_9AziFypygQvvOOX_B7V5CIWduHezM33EVyPkdeLlDH/s1952/Fruit+Fly+Front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1952" data-original-width="1519" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6SEdRLiCT4bRpcTDgoHwEO-TTR6Zfkkqup5JE2iPFPMupYMdy5DX4bUpIFCv_pLcVRmoE-PNaR05NuBtePIpD5w-E-AlcveqNE_9AziFypygQvvOOX_B7V5CIWduHezM33EVyPkdeLlDH/s320/Fruit+Fly+Front.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div>This little fruit fly amigurumi is so. Small! I know fruit flys are small in real life, but I didn't expect it to be so tiny. I didn't take a size comparison picture, but he's about 2 inches tall.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn7F19WGi3r8z1sTmMq1Wzzrqapp25ue8nRJJ0GICtNE5A3oYWgSBToyF22h3dMHulqcEK8AgtRzCrndXtYYV_64HxIcKmXWt7G-Nf-zWZWJo1C8-sq7aYV5J30DUsYFpwJpP86WJRh8Er/s1997/Fruit+Fly+Back.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1997" data-original-width="1760" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn7F19WGi3r8z1sTmMq1Wzzrqapp25ue8nRJJ0GICtNE5A3oYWgSBToyF22h3dMHulqcEK8AgtRzCrndXtYYV_64HxIcKmXWt7G-Nf-zWZWJo1C8-sq7aYV5J30DUsYFpwJpP86WJRh8Er/s320/Fruit+Fly+Back.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div>Like other Lalylala insects, you can take his 'cap' off if you want. This is used to better effect in the other kits/patterns with butterflies and beetles, since the interchangeable parts allow you show the whole life cycle of an insect on a single main plushie. Since my little fruit fly will always just be a fruit fly, I sewed his cap on.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguMMedscAJe8yDI8vNujxaJqoKJXYjvuwPQrT1HdOR8jHVEDGRmXStCJupB7jQ5RGhO-DuopITX2Ojb64q3Qlgh2iW5eRHem6D-DzuJwhpnhpZjeOhRvncYOLHu99UXoP6ekUrctXBWTow/s2048/Ending+Materials.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1981" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguMMedscAJe8yDI8vNujxaJqoKJXYjvuwPQrT1HdOR8jHVEDGRmXStCJupB7jQ5RGhO-DuopITX2Ojb64q3Qlgh2iW5eRHem6D-DzuJwhpnhpZjeOhRvncYOLHu99UXoP6ekUrctXBWTow/s320/Ending+Materials.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div>I have a good amount of supplies left over, and I'm especially happy to have extra metallic thread since I love adding shine/texture to my projects. I didn't take a picture of it for some reason, but I also had a bunch of stuffing left over; the little fruit fly barely needed any!</div><div><br /></div><div>It's redundant, but I LOVE Lalylala kits and patterns, and I highly, highly recommend them to anyone who likes their aesthetic. The materials in the kits are always of high quality, the patterns are excellent and have a ton of large, detailed, full color photos, and the designs are so cute! I have yet to meet a kit of theirs that I didn't like, so these 'reviews' aren't really all that useful as they're almost always guaranteed to end with a 'highly recommended', but I love sharing them with you, so I hope you don't mind!</div><div><br /></div><div>Thanks for reading! <3</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132276752053570711.post-38618672896572800432020-12-16T21:31:00.002-06:002020-12-16T21:31:18.385-06:00Beardie and Blondie - Sea Animals Crochet Kit - Review<p> I've said this before in previous reviews, but sometimes, the simplest designs are the cutest. I love detail and complexity and, well, chaos, but it can be very soothing to create something small, round, and adorably simple. And what better creatures to crochet as small, round blobs than sea critters?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiENdDSBd4OVDK-el0gU-OIIiuohqKWSOw68l7vCrJ49FRJTq4BV12ri9OX3lNZkARlC-PvFtrPn-kfbhf0hhWGVbfUOplO6zwaVWA24mfjCyV8xPPQ__t5w3UQU0ot13XSKcgN5Kx8rjaZ/s2048/Box.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1591" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiENdDSBd4OVDK-el0gU-OIIiuohqKWSOw68l7vCrJ49FRJTq4BV12ri9OX3lNZkARlC-PvFtrPn-kfbhf0hhWGVbfUOplO6zwaVWA24mfjCyV8xPPQ__t5w3UQU0ot13XSKcgN5Kx8rjaZ/s320/Box.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">Actually, sea creatures can be some of the most complex and delicate animals, and you can really turn anything into a precious, small, blob, but sea creatures seem to be very popular, especially cephalopods. I don't what it is about octopi and squids, but people seem to really like them (or, at least, the idea of them).</span></div><p>This kit includes instructions and materials to make three little sea creatures: a whale, an octopus, and a dumbo octopus. Octopi and whale crochet patterns and kits are quite common, but it was the dumbo octopus that really drew me to this kit.</p><p>I purchased this kit from the Beardie and Blondie store on Etsy for $31.95 total ($25.87 for the kit, $3.88 for shipping, and $2.20 for sales tax). Beardie and Blondie is based in the UK, so the shipping cost was extremely reasonable (I live in the US). The kit is not currently available from Etsy, but you can purchase all three patterns in a bundle for a little less than $6. I do think the kit was a little expensive for what it was, but considering that you get <i>a lot </i>of materials and it shipped internationally, it's not an unreasonable price.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUGZx4SFcKsqTJ95ibuu1HrtTQw26uo8RhEYY3ZJbTQXnlOpQDKdNUZBHXop6HrBB4hdhvnmD9fwLZixQwFYu8X_8uP6hPnXAS7TTxbZwnfyqHji9MEqtl5mIl0rtToVHHmBenta2rn091/s2048/Starting+Materials.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2045" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUGZx4SFcKsqTJ95ibuu1HrtTQw26uo8RhEYY3ZJbTQXnlOpQDKdNUZBHXop6HrBB4hdhvnmD9fwLZixQwFYu8X_8uP6hPnXAS7TTxbZwnfyqHji9MEqtl5mIl0rtToVHHmBenta2rn091/s320/Starting+Materials.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>The kit contained four 25g balls of Ricorumi DK cotton yarn in white, orange, pink, and blue (you could pick between more muted colors or bright colors; I went with bright), a bag of stuffing (that's what the pink bag is), 3 pairs of 6mm eyes, quick reference cards for all three patterns (with a passcode to download the full PDF patterns from their website), and a thank you card. I've worked with Ricorumi cotton yarn before and really like it, so I'm happy to see it included with this kit, especially as it seems more rare (a lot of kits that use DK cotton yarn include Scheepjes, which is also an amazing yarn and I'm always happy to get more, but variety is nice, too).</p><p>I also like the inclusion of the pattern cards; it's a nice way to bridge the gap between including a printed PDF pattern and offering the pattern as a digital download only. The cards include all the instructions for the pattern, but the PDFs include much more detailed information and full color photos. I'm not a big fan of the included safety eyes as I find the ones with the darker colored washers tend to be of lower quality and are much easier to pull apart after snapping together. I did end up using my own 6mm safety eyes for all the critters I made from this kit. Unfortunately, I may not be able to get the brand of safety eyes I prefer anymore (Darice) as Michael's (the craft store) has shut down their factory (they purchased the brand/company a while ago, and it's been downhill since then). I won't get into any more detail in this post, but let's just say I am not happy.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Hv7azzr0dc7hOVBROw735h0X2zr2hcUVax5pvjeDG7VNNzKNE_Q9Ul920yPaUHCHxZ-GzsEGVFvLhVxMwgqLr97ZcFFO1uEn3dsO8c1h9fc0lwBAWSRtcEB_9CHWmixzvrN-lo0d_mBV/s2048/Original+Trio.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1028" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Hv7azzr0dc7hOVBROw735h0X2zr2hcUVax5pvjeDG7VNNzKNE_Q9Ul920yPaUHCHxZ-GzsEGVFvLhVxMwgqLr97ZcFFO1uEn3dsO8c1h9fc0lwBAWSRtcEB_9CHWmixzvrN-lo0d_mBV/s320/Original+Trio.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>All three patterns worked up well and created cute and recognizable creatures, and I am overall happy with them. I will say, though, that the whale and octopus aren't super unique, and that these versions/patterns aren't my favorite. The octopus only has 6 legs (which is nitpicky, and it's not noticeable unless you count. However, I was able to make octopi with seven and eight legs by modifying the pattern slightly) and I prefer how the whale's fins look when using a different pattern. The dumbo octopus pattern, though, is the super star of this set, and I love how cute it looks!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyGYUt1_bpq93PxhQGtr7MiDi-oJh_LvWKCmM0gTa29z8ARzLS-x8lGW5D1RJpf6w9nzqlLSHPjuhpN5OMrPQ2SbWSzWACuj2QfF8ioaNdX6ItvT9UQMPBoRyNdcIms4Yuq1EssN0tcgsO/s2048/Dumbo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1042" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyGYUt1_bpq93PxhQGtr7MiDi-oJh_LvWKCmM0gTa29z8ARzLS-x8lGW5D1RJpf6w9nzqlLSHPjuhpN5OMrPQ2SbWSzWACuj2QfF8ioaNdX6ItvT9UQMPBoRyNdcIms4Yuq1EssN0tcgsO/s320/Dumbo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As stated above, these little guys are very small and $26 for a kit to make just three of them is a little expensive, but this kit included enough material to make each pattern in all three colors, for a total of nine amigurumi plushies!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSIl1B8NZ40sSOtGAFS4DQR3t7vvxzMIuzlEnw3_9VQ6dZlddQ0ttar1K2pTivj2gQo1B-4WyQtYi45E808To7Z0X3rg4Yn6yivee9TDxl1e02VYPLTQkZ1Zi-ex_p0RfG9TZm-qchHWik/s2048/Octopi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1122" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSIl1B8NZ40sSOtGAFS4DQR3t7vvxzMIuzlEnw3_9VQ6dZlddQ0ttar1K2pTivj2gQo1B-4WyQtYi45E808To7Z0X3rg4Yn6yivee9TDxl1e02VYPLTQkZ1Zi-ex_p0RfG9TZm-qchHWik/s320/Octopi.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I did have to supply my own safety eyes for six of the plushies, but all the yarn and stuffing came from the kit, so nine plushies for $26 is not a bad deal. (The pink octopus has six legs (as the pattern is written), the orange octopus has seven, and the blue octopus has eight).</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9uAcTZBmzNwWYGHVPQonExjlMmqSN9onVrhVBq1hZNE5AtrpaWoZLA87NKmGWKfGBfWOIEb0k6v-NJGBC7MOT8oH7DpTWmax8XM1Yr_hmC9vHt7csSL9TwRtlo-HUczSsZYOcbzYJORjj/s2048/Whales.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1065" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9uAcTZBmzNwWYGHVPQonExjlMmqSN9onVrhVBq1hZNE5AtrpaWoZLA87NKmGWKfGBfWOIEb0k6v-NJGBC7MOT8oH7DpTWmax8XM1Yr_hmC9vHt7csSL9TwRtlo-HUczSsZYOcbzYJORjj/s320/Whales.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>I do think the whale pattern is the weakest in this kit but not because it's a bad pattern (the plushies I made with it are cute and look like whales), it's just really common and there are very, very similar patterns that I like better.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfeb3TRMib1Adx7qRFE36gQNbQ43iejYroDNrPHZ45376EGp0fxjmI6oiTH7whlWMj_03VJzfwr6_Om13lOZxOYU3ZIyzWycsgxP6_Ga4GREwKQdzYRyI2xGnnpu3_iWEXVlQF4MeD6Y5a/s2048/Ending+Materials.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1453" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfeb3TRMib1Adx7qRFE36gQNbQ43iejYroDNrPHZ45376EGp0fxjmI6oiTH7whlWMj_03VJzfwr6_Om13lOZxOYU3ZIyzWycsgxP6_Ga4GREwKQdzYRyI2xGnnpu3_iWEXVlQF4MeD6Y5a/s320/Ending+Materials.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Even after making 6 additional plushies, I still have plenty of yarn left over. I don't have enough stuffing to make any more, but that could be because I like to stuff my amigurumi very firmly (and also because the kit only needed to include materials for three plushies, so everything else is a bonus).<div><br /></div><div>Overall, this was a good kit for those looking to make something simple and cute, or for a beginner just getting into amigurumi. I'm not sure if this kit will be available for purchase again (it's not in their Etsy shop right now, nor on their website), but the patterns are! If you're interested, I highly recommend checking out the dumbo octopus pattern since it's cute, easy to make, and not super common.</div><div><br /></div><div>Thank you for reading! <3</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132276752053570711.post-61985701307309530552020-11-20T23:40:00.004-06:002020-11-20T23:40:36.576-06:00Creative Kawaii Crafts - Summer 2020 Creative Kawaii Box - Review<p>I'm a big fan of subscription boxes, and, over the last few years, have tried quite a few. There's a subscription box for almost every interest these days, and it's fun to receive a box of curated items in the mail! I used to mostly subscribe to make-up and lifestyle boxes, but now my subscriptions are almost exclusively art and crafts related. While I do like receiving different supplies (based on a theme and/or technique) without much direction on what to create, sometimes it's nice to receive supplies and instructions to complete a specific project, especially if it's an art style or type of craft that you're not familiar with. </p><p>Which brings us to the Summer 2020 Creative Kawaii Box by Creative Kawaii Crafts! I really love these boxes and have already reviewed the Autumn 2020 box...even though the Summer 2020 box was actually the first one I purchased and, because I did love it so much, was the reason why I purchased the Autumn 2020 box. Regardless, both the Summer 2020 and Autumn 2020 boxes are still available from the Creative Kawaii Crafts Etsy store, so I'm still reviewing it in a timely manner. ...at least that what I'm telling myself.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqbP4YeTU_BVSMRyhuCO-rtcRWsr752CowJ4MxAGwA7oRX0E6avkjT_QKFoH74LMw6Zs8GpVzA2VbmmT6WbrMyOS2AXj8q2L0Mlef3RRM2k6o7QQ4PLMdSHzlWlV9bIORKGreJ5gRZ7eJ0/s2048/Box.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1252" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqbP4YeTU_BVSMRyhuCO-rtcRWsr752CowJ4MxAGwA7oRX0E6avkjT_QKFoH74LMw6Zs8GpVzA2VbmmT6WbrMyOS2AXj8q2L0Mlef3RRM2k6o7QQ4PLMdSHzlWlV9bIORKGreJ5gRZ7eJ0/s320/Box.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>The Creative Kawaii Box (CKB) is a quarterly arts and crafts box by Creative Kawaii Crafts on Etsy. Each box contains instructions and supplies to complete three different crafts; the types of crafts vary, but each box will include at least one sewing project. Creative Kawaii Crafts is based in the UK, but the box can be shipped to the US (be sure to check out their shop for more info on domestic/international shipping, though). I purchased my Summer 2020 for $33.05 ($24.36, plus $6.41 for shipping and $2.28 in tax); when the boxes are first listed, the projects are a mystery. After the box is released, the contents/projects are shown in the listing, but the price goes up slightly (this box now has a base price of $27.70).</p><p>The CKB wasn't technically a subscription box when I purchased the Summer 2020 and Autumn 2020 boxes, but now, starting with the Winter 2020, you can purchase a year-long subscription (which I have!). You do have to pay for the entire year in advance, but I believe you will still be able to purchase the boxes individually as they are released (at the very least you can buy the Winter 2020 box by itself). </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2aI4Fzcd4mz2cWjJJVTewBBRvFbPiFLJcbaAcIGUkuLr9ZgwkHj0khiDDNzj5OlUvm84l9RXMc5I_KnwJN3v-OKXLg0emJaj_MhnphglD7hL7VNsTlWmh5bPl8DLrU3SPawkgtsEl7Q3Y/s2048/Box+Open.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1756" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2aI4Fzcd4mz2cWjJJVTewBBRvFbPiFLJcbaAcIGUkuLr9ZgwkHj0khiDDNzj5OlUvm84l9RXMc5I_KnwJN3v-OKXLg0emJaj_MhnphglD7hL7VNsTlWmh5bPl8DLrU3SPawkgtsEl7Q3Y/s320/Box+Open.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>As with the Autumn 2020 box, the Summer 2020 box came adorably packed and was full with the supplies and materials needed to complete its three projects. I love the overall color scheme of this box and the attention to theme and detail by Creative Kawaii Crafts. These are expertly curated boxes, and I am extremely impressed with the skill and breadth of talent of the owner of Creative Kawaii Crafts, Nikki!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilkBNfby8RrVbpUgCHHkkJEdudsVUIEWXPOFRYzCh9twU6YUqNL2-RH1eXY7_m2YoVC8sWWRusCvnFlH-F_o4Fqle6pKkGy332hSPXzR3iHLfdxUP0eV7KwL_Avh96LDUKOyw4VaLUFd3e/s2048/Thank+You+Card.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1657" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilkBNfby8RrVbpUgCHHkkJEdudsVUIEWXPOFRYzCh9twU6YUqNL2-RH1eXY7_m2YoVC8sWWRusCvnFlH-F_o4Fqle6pKkGy332hSPXzR3iHLfdxUP0eV7KwL_Avh96LDUKOyw4VaLUFd3e/s320/Thank+You+Card.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>The Thank You/Info card gives a brief overview of the three projects included in the box; for Summer 2020, there was a Bathing Frog needle felting project, a Sunflower Brooch sewing project, and a Stenciled Bag fabric painting/stenciling project (with a little sewing thrown in).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj73iygtuFOPsE8N5gAllHvJoUgTvfwVk99iLDTOM3lgdCUie_Rt9fdPjvTyIi_iy1NUzeYcjRrcEh3XLouL4xmBkppwb6E8IbCrodGJyNz-PYGJRyjYgLkcYwEWjZ3c8-3ak4BwP-_Egho/s2048/Sewing+Guide+Front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1624" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj73iygtuFOPsE8N5gAllHvJoUgTvfwVk99iLDTOM3lgdCUie_Rt9fdPjvTyIi_iy1NUzeYcjRrcEh3XLouL4xmBkppwb6E8IbCrodGJyNz-PYGJRyjYgLkcYwEWjZ3c8-3ak4BwP-_Egho/s320/Sewing+Guide+Front.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBLAuPkg-czHXLa1yek-EmviogwtNnxTzHyem1ebDF4b-q6DCkLY-wECEyrn-z0MXy_SD63RGf-cYbzdMF5OT8qRPIF0DHkffNJfHI9LNA8_mUVP8f6oZ3eoy6VMgAwvDE-RXrEsmqYYMt/s2048/Sewing+Guide+Back.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1606" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBLAuPkg-czHXLa1yek-EmviogwtNnxTzHyem1ebDF4b-q6DCkLY-wECEyrn-z0MXy_SD63RGf-cYbzdMF5OT8qRPIF0DHkffNJfHI9LNA8_mUVP8f6oZ3eoy6VMgAwvDE-RXrEsmqYYMt/s320/Sewing+Guide+Back.jpg" /></a></div></div><br />Since each box includes at least one sewing project, a very helpful Sewing Guide is included. This guide is great for beginners and works well as a refresher for those more experienced. Each stitch has multiple color photos showing you exactly what to do.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijPJ6WK0OYF5coKH4lpu2k6D2t9mICPP5Z5AyEet0O0wPAHvyqhzPu5iyjV5l3sMQf8hkc5MgHW-t1dMyw429O8anF3bVqoukeBojKTggcE78FW9jq3GynasCCdmRBwgvzgb_vhvSJWsMS/s2048/Starting+Materials.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1424" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijPJ6WK0OYF5coKH4lpu2k6D2t9mICPP5Z5AyEet0O0wPAHvyqhzPu5iyjV5l3sMQf8hkc5MgHW-t1dMyw429O8anF3bVqoukeBojKTggcE78FW9jq3GynasCCdmRBwgvzgb_vhvSJWsMS/s320/Starting+Materials.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>There were a lot of materials included in this box and everything arrived safe and sound, with one small exception. You can kind of see it in the photo above, but the bottle of fabric paint for the Stenciled Bag had leaked during transit. The bottle was safely sealed in its own plastic bag, so nothing else in the box was stained or damaged. The leak looks like a lot, but there was still plenty of paint in the bottle for the project.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhryE38xnSw_wqmK23miYwuM6OsDBnzLzZxIUZRHTkZJREovL8Hl70kVanRVe5EMIkk8Ux3g0CyezFK_nAvO-hmOA6wNi-mwpzciGrHy9-kd9SXeSNp4QZoM3JnBR9czbm5PuK-sk3N_Zc6/s2048/Starting+Materials+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1832" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhryE38xnSw_wqmK23miYwuM6OsDBnzLzZxIUZRHTkZJREovL8Hl70kVanRVe5EMIkk8Ux3g0CyezFK_nAvO-hmOA6wNi-mwpzciGrHy9-kd9SXeSNp4QZoM3JnBR9czbm5PuK-sk3N_Zc6/s320/Starting+Materials+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>The amount of materials included are pretty spot-on; you have enough to complete the project without feeling restricted, but you don't have an excessive amount left over. There are also items that are not single-use, such as the felting mat and needles, that can be used for other projects.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB10sYVCVjSTLQHI7xwzIdeQZ19MonJd4ShpKjcCVHwOuzmuSg7TSEfFGcOyCFOj_Ph9X9xdYWIonObVTYhwXIi1ufjAN2A4CBqGJP_cydrVs6LVOcBcPaKFSy8YLgaBQu3NEB8C8MVKwY/s2048/Starting+Materials+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1295" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB10sYVCVjSTLQHI7xwzIdeQZ19MonJd4ShpKjcCVHwOuzmuSg7TSEfFGcOyCFOj_Ph9X9xdYWIonObVTYhwXIi1ufjAN2A4CBqGJP_cydrVs6LVOcBcPaKFSy8YLgaBQu3NEB8C8MVKwY/s320/Starting+Materials+4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>I'm interested in what kind of equipment Nikki uses in their studio; they must have something like a Glowforge or Cricut as there are a lot of custom cut and printed materials<br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLG5EzYR4BrVjANryQt7hV0V-LVI5tYLPJNCE0DRKCVo7JOACYvk2h_j_NMKNswSozMt7KLl-AoZVURCLz2bKMJy_NjBc7MXAF_54W5JMWkBQdey0J4mZJVaIjxnZI9A7R4tnA06V0JZJB/s2048/Starting+Materials+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1273" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLG5EzYR4BrVjANryQt7hV0V-LVI5tYLPJNCE0DRKCVo7JOACYvk2h_j_NMKNswSozMt7KLl-AoZVURCLz2bKMJy_NjBc7MXAF_54W5JMWkBQdey0J4mZJVaIjxnZI9A7R4tnA06V0JZJB/s320/Starting+Materials+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Along with the required materials, there were also some freebies in the Summer 2020 box: a cute pen and sticker sheet!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXUs9RZQW2ln54PiDhgyeAZLT6dFSWRWaShZzHLl5HvtFnKw19G0Z4UlO3niTdtc2l_OnTj0q94QLO1PDerooGHcjAAc0n5uv3ia4PR4nwvneqENBDyJSIvUiMyV7ALUCz4Mdce1YJJhA1/s2048/Starting+Felt+Materials.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1829" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXUs9RZQW2ln54PiDhgyeAZLT6dFSWRWaShZzHLl5HvtFnKw19G0Z4UlO3niTdtc2l_OnTj0q94QLO1PDerooGHcjAAc0n5uv3ia4PR4nwvneqENBDyJSIvUiMyV7ALUCz4Mdce1YJJhA1/s320/Starting+Felt+Materials.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>When I took the photos for this review, I wasn't sure how I was going to organize it, so I apologize for the multiple starting material photos that aren't separated by project. By far, the bulkiest material in this box was the wool roving for the needle felting project.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVLNpneHI37TGS2R4lvdhMHPzuIrYgK9yqWjbk5FjRkncS98fsbQ1qYIzi4tw-M5aOOzL7FXV1QUs5wgLDhJ_C8jODayGRiNOimGW9EwljHpKZeXSjVKKT2ypMW_h7ztOy9FLFRUp2kywl/s2048/Starting+Materials+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1798" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVLNpneHI37TGS2R4lvdhMHPzuIrYgK9yqWjbk5FjRkncS98fsbQ1qYIzi4tw-M5aOOzL7FXV1QUs5wgLDhJ_C8jODayGRiNOimGW9EwljHpKZeXSjVKKT2ypMW_h7ztOy9FLFRUp2kywl/s320/Starting+Materials+5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Included are multiple sheets of iron-on paper and some grease proof paper (which I think is parchment paper). Each piece is labelled, which is extremely helpful. As I've mentioned before, there is a lot of attention to detail in these boxes and projects.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxRQTYnJcxyNwKfdK9n7sA9Z97vk5_Qa4tGDXcBRQmGRr7xKDlOEAl141X9hG4JhjehLdB1URiOEjPFLuGIU0GfQDlyv3qAYYiEIQA3jatqNrjc1XFTflTlSPPIOJGrD1Tdl7HuptjrjA7/s2048/Starting+Materials+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1986" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxRQTYnJcxyNwKfdK9n7sA9Z97vk5_Qa4tGDXcBRQmGRr7xKDlOEAl141X9hG4JhjehLdB1URiOEjPFLuGIU0GfQDlyv3qAYYiEIQA3jatqNrjc1XFTflTlSPPIOJGrD1Tdl7HuptjrjA7/s320/Starting+Materials+6.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div>There is a paper template for each project to help with sizing and placement, and an extra coloring page! I'm not sure if the coloring page was drawn/designed by Nikki, but it is very cute beach-themed mandala. I like to make copies of these templates so I don't have to cut up the originals; since this box is from the UK, the paper size is A4, so it's just a little longer than my regular printer paper (but the templates are well-designed, and nothing important gets cut-off).</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4QbVNt4Vn1cgHRwelKvHagWBVzHKbhJ1Jky5qqf3lVt8I9RURwDsHIPz6VSuUw8OZ6a1R648B5fw-SE5H5QyYgyh4Hb3iGUkWF4h-L9qdNsGU8mP2pxEa9Dewi54OYhNGvFf5pp-ANXMZ/s2048/Bathing+Frog+Pattern.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1550" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4QbVNt4Vn1cgHRwelKvHagWBVzHKbhJ1Jky5qqf3lVt8I9RURwDsHIPz6VSuUw8OZ6a1R648B5fw-SE5H5QyYgyh4Hb3iGUkWF4h-L9qdNsGU8mP2pxEa9Dewi54OYhNGvFf5pp-ANXMZ/s320/Bathing+Frog+Pattern.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div>The first project in the Summer 2020 box (you can do them in any order, but I'm going to go through them in the order they are listed on the thank you/info card) is the Bathing Frog needle felting project! This was actually the first project I started and the last one I finished, and it is the reason why I wasn't able to post my review of this box earlier. I really like needle felting (...it's relaxing to stab the wool over and over again until it turns into something) but, as is the nature of the craft, it takes a very long time.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicf5ICVpp-eygCZT2M9E6rlvClJeNc_0DTCY7eTgnhMVjnGk74qAwe9xoRrduvvHcYNgb-CS_5iJ4kS3ummPR-8jVpRFyNBqmgmSJ2p6cIGvb5aQb0Ged6_7h_Z2DpWfPMQMdcXGBks3x0/s1903/Bathing+Frog+Finished.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1903" data-original-width="1583" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicf5ICVpp-eygCZT2M9E6rlvClJeNc_0DTCY7eTgnhMVjnGk74qAwe9xoRrduvvHcYNgb-CS_5iJ4kS3ummPR-8jVpRFyNBqmgmSJ2p6cIGvb5aQb0Ged6_7h_Z2DpWfPMQMdcXGBks3x0/s320/Bathing+Frog+Finished.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div>This was such a unique project, and I love how it incorporated more elements besides just the wool! This was also my first time sewing/embroidering details on a needle felted item, and I really like how it looks (mine is a little wonky, but I think the technique works well overall). I love the details, especially the little brush; they really elevate this project and make it look quite advanced.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik4SCh_2IA79NWrEAkUyfj_tJixA3zR-JXyIi_ek3KFvQ2GX1UOWksnPlGWupI8AWBKW1FTZD5HpNn54_wZrEJT8xQabE-GqD062b28IpOBU6n6OdEAu5iJzT71F1nzvgmmkexISnIzDbP/s2048/Sunflower+Brooch+Pattern.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1642" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik4SCh_2IA79NWrEAkUyfj_tJixA3zR-JXyIi_ek3KFvQ2GX1UOWksnPlGWupI8AWBKW1FTZD5HpNn54_wZrEJT8xQabE-GqD062b28IpOBU6n6OdEAu5iJzT71F1nzvgmmkexISnIzDbP/s320/Sunflower+Brooch+Pattern.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div>The next project is the Sunflower Brooch. This was my favorite project in this box, both because I enjoy sewing felt objects and because I think it turned out the best out of the three.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdFc6JIqh5tTgXGy_rSoggSTByp9Q7WyVQlyY3FiBMk7Qy6vbvrhQgUohBkWkPZpm1xb4AmxH06FOC6ZHV7eK8GatEYxB6bHLb_3dOaeYqhWEnLi_zdrMotcRrxIelcnt9C-0P1UFqp9Mx/s1790/Sunflower+Brooch+Finished.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1790" data-original-width="1758" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdFc6JIqh5tTgXGy_rSoggSTByp9Q7WyVQlyY3FiBMk7Qy6vbvrhQgUohBkWkPZpm1xb4AmxH06FOC6ZHV7eK8GatEYxB6bHLb_3dOaeYqhWEnLi_zdrMotcRrxIelcnt9C-0P1UFqp9Mx/s320/Sunflower+Brooch+Finished.jpg" /></a></div><br />Also, my sunflower looks like it's having an existential crisis. I love it.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjroNmKoeE2X7LeQuFlz1R6kn0zjkQ2Bk5buIK-hTgBmSD_8H7-nyqTm6b37l-O1tQZ6eP6hxvMNvvADL-9ve6Q5KBvnBrl9HjoGeNo0c18ELO7H7PkKatXXsnW1CNKc750j4eENKejxn9V/s1979/Sunflower+Brooch+Back.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1814" data-original-width="1979" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjroNmKoeE2X7LeQuFlz1R6kn0zjkQ2Bk5buIK-hTgBmSD_8H7-nyqTm6b37l-O1tQZ6eP6hxvMNvvADL-9ve6Q5KBvnBrl9HjoGeNo0c18ELO7H7PkKatXXsnW1CNKc750j4eENKejxn9V/s320/Sunflower+Brooch+Back.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>The instructions and materials produce a very polished finished project. I did modify it slightly by sewing the two layers of the flower together around the edge to keep them together as I didn't want the front petals to move and possibly show the backside of the embroidery, but this was done a precaution and not as a 'fix'. I actually like how the sewn border looks, though, as it gives it a more 'handmade' vibe. Either way, though, this brooch is super cute!<br /><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNTcBKtw123hvWFMULYeZIiQCC6jPi1Uy6fb-ftBcG9idsAqtvSH_I0nDXcxnNlAJm2M1uhVFmlWxUau3307-PMLYShitrgk3-66WsCayMdRSfk4OUb7HHJFEQQpIQ__0DCZGLJozZzz0m/s2048/Stenciled+Bag+Patterm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1597" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNTcBKtw123hvWFMULYeZIiQCC6jPi1Uy6fb-ftBcG9idsAqtvSH_I0nDXcxnNlAJm2M1uhVFmlWxUau3307-PMLYShitrgk3-66WsCayMdRSfk4OUb7HHJFEQQpIQ__0DCZGLJozZzz0m/s320/Stenciled+Bag+Patterm.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div>The last project is the Stenciled Bag. This was the one I was the most unsure about as I don't have a lot of experience with stenciling/fabric painting.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlcPaDFX9E6JkScsYFOpR2y_wIIPxvagCQcUASwspIOPPp3q8cHJP_AjmDdEHprNRt4P7ez5oOTqsh2x7R20N4QJp5B7fLqJjP4Ey19FC4RpGLu9Ci9RD0IYDRwS-aaizILvBNHuifxtoy/s2048/Stenciled+Bag+Finished.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1714" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlcPaDFX9E6JkScsYFOpR2y_wIIPxvagCQcUASwspIOPPp3q8cHJP_AjmDdEHprNRt4P7ez5oOTqsh2x7R20N4QJp5B7fLqJjP4Ey19FC4RpGLu9Ci9RD0IYDRwS-aaizILvBNHuifxtoy/s320/Stenciled+Bag+Finished.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>You could chose between the onigir/rice ball or the panda design (both shown on the cover of the instruction booklet). I went with the onigiri because I though it was cuter and more my style. It turned out a lot better than I thought it would, but it definitely looks like it was done by a beginner. The tote bag itself seems to be of good quality (it's made of canvas and is stitched together well), but it's a little too small to really be practical (I'm assuming it's meant to be decorative/to be used to hold art/craft supplies). I don't expect a craft box of this size to include a full-size tote bag, though; it's just something to be aware of if you're interested in purchasing this box.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUMaqgW66raIdvjPEoYAhxkccWVlzix6C6idOuqUgrPJ6HEszw5n4gk7un5FDmVku5UVdnJ7HRhENwAug3-9FwEploz8wLVeUbXD_iWRMeXOeRmPIPyUx_a_Uyzqc0XWNjD3ajxMgSBQLm/s1679/Riceball+Charm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1344" data-original-width="1679" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUMaqgW66raIdvjPEoYAhxkccWVlzix6C6idOuqUgrPJ6HEszw5n4gk7un5FDmVku5UVdnJ7HRhENwAug3-9FwEploz8wLVeUbXD_iWRMeXOeRmPIPyUx_a_Uyzqc0XWNjD3ajxMgSBQLm/s320/Riceball+Charm.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Along with the bag, you get materials and instructions to complete a bonus matching bag charm! I'm not 100% happy with the expression of my onigiri charm, but it's quite cute regardless.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRZTS1XncEaQm-uDxzmvS1oN7C9_3XVJ6yFS_yXVV5N2JvIZmu0ZQukaVkg9XJfKTLO8tnw4_8_h72bO6-Wg_kvbkSwAhEuIyfJ1owaAaVHiTP0a_PqseBU4euwbsKhHjDJaR083reoASV/s2048/Coloring+Sheet+Finished.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1711" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRZTS1XncEaQm-uDxzmvS1oN7C9_3XVJ6yFS_yXVV5N2JvIZmu0ZQukaVkg9XJfKTLO8tnw4_8_h72bO6-Wg_kvbkSwAhEuIyfJ1owaAaVHiTP0a_PqseBU4euwbsKhHjDJaR083reoASV/s320/Coloring+Sheet+Finished.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div>I did end up coloring the bonus coloring sheet, as well! This was very relaxing; I actually don't usually like coloring mandalas since I have a hard time just...coloring and not being critical of or overthinking my skills and color choices, but I think the theme and simplicity of this one really helped.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicA0-TJ8fzIlUo4ofxPbJV9ORQczTF9n4MSenkGqaUm6lMFfurabHv-nWMhmYVI138i0f2ZakhXODqGuknZ3Za9rc0eUS8ANJZaExQQmPAZgC7s9IB4s1nq9UF5PP4K67Gl4rqTHFEtq85/s2048/Ending+Felt+Materials.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1890" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicA0-TJ8fzIlUo4ofxPbJV9ORQczTF9n4MSenkGqaUm6lMFfurabHv-nWMhmYVI138i0f2ZakhXODqGuknZ3Za9rc0eUS8ANJZaExQQmPAZgC7s9IB4s1nq9UF5PP4K67Gl4rqTHFEtq85/s320/Ending+Felt+Materials.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Since this box is so well-curated and put together, there's not a lot of extra materials, though I am happy at how much wool roving I have left since I can make something small with it (like a little succulent). I didn't take an after picture, but I also can still use the foam felting mat and felting needles, too (which are of great quality).</div><div><br /></div><div>I know I keep raving about these boxes and Creative Kawaii Crafts, but seriously, this box is one of my favorite discoveries this year! The projects are fun and varied, the included materials are well-curated and of generally high quality, and Nikki is clearly an incredibly talented and creative person. If you are at all interested in this box (or the Autumn 2020 box, or are intrigued by the upcoming Winter 2020 box) I highly, <i>highly</i> recommend checking out Creative Kawaii Crafts on Etsy.</div><div><br /></div><div><3 Thank you for reading!<br /><div><div><div><br /></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132276752053570711.post-1684738082364223462020-10-31T22:59:00.007-05:002020-10-31T22:59:34.680-05:00Creative Kawaii Crafts - Autumn 2020 Creative Kawaii Box - Review<p> For the final Halloween marathon post, I will be reviewing the Autumn 2020 Creative Kawaii Box by Creative Kawaii Crafts on Etsy. This isn't <i>technically</i> a Halloween-themed box, but it's spooky/thematically-appropriate enough to be included. This is also the first non-crochet related kit I am reviewing on this blog. Yay!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTVaFL2Mc0K6HWJuL357ZFvEPF-o5A-idvcuAsuoBcKKcOA_4Hl0gK7_8B8PN8A4IuXNhbZrTiQUhz_bMVCtqTcAzcvbypIaGVnvHpVWHT5K0gdc4gyriLAH2p7rItD9ab481qnRo-foIH/s2048/Box.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1295" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTVaFL2Mc0K6HWJuL357ZFvEPF-o5A-idvcuAsuoBcKKcOA_4Hl0gK7_8B8PN8A4IuXNhbZrTiQUhz_bMVCtqTcAzcvbypIaGVnvHpVWHT5K0gdc4gyriLAH2p7rItD9ab481qnRo-foIH/s320/Box.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So, confession time. This is not my first Creative Kawaii Crafts box; I actually purchased and have completed the Summer 2020 box, but I...haven't posted it (I will soon, though!). HOWEVER. I loved that first kit so much that, not only did I purchase the next box (it's quarterly, so there's one per season, with three seasonally-themed crafts per box), but I have purchased a year's worth of boxes, starting with the December 2020 box. These boxes/kits are amazing! The included projects are super cute, the materials are high quality, and everything is so professionally packaged and put together; it's really an amazing box for a crafter/artist!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Along with these boxes, Creative Kawaii Crafts has individual craft kits available in their Etsy store. I purchased my Autumn 2020 Creative Kawaii Box (I'm going to call it the CKB from now on for brevity's sake) as a pre-order, so I didn't know what crafts would be included, but I got to buy it at a discount. The box itself cost $25.66, and shipping and taxes were $9.15, for a total cost of $34.81, or about $12 per craft. This box ships from the U.K., which is why the shipping was a bit higher for me (I live in the U.S.).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqambyzEbxsUCIkbDtl7We8m8RbZOj6PFUe34ElQAVGk3bTwMe29dnW0dR3JzeJFFZx36rTiNHkbQ9JzpIH0dh5JoyQwyAsD7_4maH5l760su_WsrCIikgDGPlVEQCEk13DT5GDEbU79mf/s2048/Extra+Materials.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1771" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqambyzEbxsUCIkbDtl7We8m8RbZOj6PFUe34ElQAVGk3bTwMe29dnW0dR3JzeJFFZx36rTiNHkbQ9JzpIH0dh5JoyQwyAsD7_4maH5l760su_WsrCIikgDGPlVEQCEk13DT5GDEbU79mf/s320/Extra+Materials.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Along with materials for each of the three kits, the Autumn 2020 CKB included stuffing for two of the projects, taped between cardboard squares to save space, some pins to use for the same two projects, a small rectangle of sandpaper for the remaining craft, and a bookmark and stickers. I love cute extras!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirvh52O9e66fVZWsR3DnCK2tFs8PbFr6hKSsMaQ3ZG3Lfd6rLEE8ln33bmhg3Dm19GEvVosV2zXk6m25dnVxPd84MXdyelA-UYomUqB6hiAActIK-n_02ZNi6yy-7DZF9W_pTsG3CMCvu6/s2048/Pumpkin+Plush+Instructions.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1764" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirvh52O9e66fVZWsR3DnCK2tFs8PbFr6hKSsMaQ3ZG3Lfd6rLEE8ln33bmhg3Dm19GEvVosV2zXk6m25dnVxPd84MXdyelA-UYomUqB6hiAActIK-n_02ZNi6yy-7DZF9W_pTsG3CMCvu6/s320/Pumpkin+Plush+Instructions.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The first project in the box (or at least the first one I completed) is the Pumpkin Plush. Each craft comes with these high quality, full color, detailed instruction books. These books are <i>amazing</i>, and include a ton of photos; they must take so much work...I'm really in awe of the quality and variety of projects that Creative Kawaii Crafts is able to put together!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVTprdFv8cqU9M_1xxU_QrFv79eIO2B3fk0bqJyLkMpAMsARM64vL9JATnSp9ajwy5sbnq4himhqKFGf-1SB_tD87-kbiA0im2BAi-VdibnmQBz1CJbib_AE95dWBVwFHvuEwPAEPXFAKe/s2048/Pumpkin+Plush+Materials.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1585" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVTprdFv8cqU9M_1xxU_QrFv79eIO2B3fk0bqJyLkMpAMsARM64vL9JATnSp9ajwy5sbnq4himhqKFGf-1SB_tD87-kbiA0im2BAi-VdibnmQBz1CJbib_AE95dWBVwFHvuEwPAEPXFAKe/s320/Pumpkin+Plush+Materials.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Along with the pins and stuffing from before, the CKB included minky plush fabric in orange and purple, a sewing needle and thread, plastic safety eyes, a piece of black ribbon, and a little yellow cardstock cutout of a buckle. All included materials are excellent quality!<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTkwBxDxIHkYsRBErUTR1qHLrFsXPJNX0WnTE5T8nsEv_AiKa5m19G8GVi0IEt2KAKHJk3FAyugqQIn2E1etOv5dQiZswjtBr1LIIk_1dko5LpY3fWxspD9w6svKQ45qFu6dAbeZtEFlDf/s2048/Pumpkin+Plush+Template.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1812" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTkwBxDxIHkYsRBErUTR1qHLrFsXPJNX0WnTE5T8nsEv_AiKa5m19G8GVi0IEt2KAKHJk3FAyugqQIn2E1etOv5dQiZswjtBr1LIIk_1dko5LpY3fWxspD9w6svKQ45qFu6dAbeZtEFlDf/s320/Pumpkin+Plush+Template.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div>You also get a template for the pieces for the plush, which even include information on how they should be placed on the fabric in regards to the pile of the plush and stretch. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK3mCPWij1fsGg7sRA5NYJSulq5UEEBdYtPY0eZnp9iWAMmrFwVZfypN2spegjgr8Y7BbmkGetJOziJALX66MbmeslmaAAThTQPe1o9Uxo6SZUDnRfOtZEHECFsCfTUG4Q1ceSjB9F2olC/s2048/Pumpkin+Plush+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1882" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK3mCPWij1fsGg7sRA5NYJSulq5UEEBdYtPY0eZnp9iWAMmrFwVZfypN2spegjgr8Y7BbmkGetJOziJALX66MbmeslmaAAThTQPe1o9Uxo6SZUDnRfOtZEHECFsCfTUG4Q1ceSjB9F2olC/s320/Pumpkin+Plush+%25282%2529.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div>And here's my pumpkin! It's not perfect (wonky eyes, not as cute and squished as the sample, wonky hat), but I love it! It's been such a great decoration, and I'm quite proud of it! The instructions and template made it very easy to put together.<div><br /></div><div>The box included plenty of materials to make the pumpkin, though I did run out of the included sewing thread and had to supplement my own. I also ended up using my own stuffing as one of the included bags wasn't enough, and I wasn't sure how much the other plush-like project in the box would need. After finishing the other project, though, I'm confident that there would have been enough stuffing for both as it took very little. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTexRnqmQt3Pb_KDDlTrY5uRrNExl9-l0jFnycT-QoJ1fmRF8_0WNOLmEsgYOyqdZAgQzsmYwn2Ww_dS0IVnanDS2jBHjWqnHle-gG_S8EvL5rhIArPcLlvGldIOJPdEkXyyXneQ2jLZEN/s2048/Too-Wit+Too-Woo+Instructions.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1771" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTexRnqmQt3Pb_KDDlTrY5uRrNExl9-l0jFnycT-QoJ1fmRF8_0WNOLmEsgYOyqdZAgQzsmYwn2Ww_dS0IVnanDS2jBHjWqnHle-gG_S8EvL5rhIArPcLlvGldIOJPdEkXyyXneQ2jLZEN/s320/Too-Wit+Too-Woo+Instructions.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div>The next craft in the box (and the second one I completed) is the Too-Wit Too-Woo, or a cute owl on a branch! I haven't heard the phrase 'Too-Wit Too-Woo' before, so I'm not sure if it's something more common in the U.K. All the included instruction booklets are of the same high quality, with lots of detailed instructions and photos.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFXW2Zdugb9Q2zAxpaSxEghXVoma4NWrNaCGI9bhp3gr5NXozo2DvCDsIp8LiXtdUBFZiKikCslvuyc4NJG3qFo1SagaQ4TVFHS2WqWeA_McWuOHt_e6Mc62hD3g-XAoxBz3biAxXvQIlE/s2048/Too-Wit+Too-Woo+Materials.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1917" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFXW2Zdugb9Q2zAxpaSxEghXVoma4NWrNaCGI9bhp3gr5NXozo2DvCDsIp8LiXtdUBFZiKikCslvuyc4NJG3qFo1SagaQ4TVFHS2WqWeA_McWuOHt_e6Mc62hD3g-XAoxBz3biAxXvQIlE/s320/Too-Wit+Too-Woo+Materials.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Similar to the Pumpkin Plush, along with the stuffing and pins from above, the box included a branch, twine, embroidery thread, a sewing needle (this is the same needle and thread from the plush), and pre-cut felt pieces for the owl. Since the crafts in the box do use shared items, the instruction books actually note what items will be used in other projects, so you know to be more careful with them/not throw them away when you're done with one, which is incredibly helpful!</div><div><br /></div><div>In the Summer 2020 kit, there was another felt project (each CKB includes at least one sewing project, and most of the projects and patterns in the Creative Kawaii Crafts Etsy are sewing-related) where we needed to cut the pieces out ourselves. As you can see in picture with the thank you card, Creative Kawaii Crafts asked for feedback on whether we preferred cutting the pieces out ourselves, or if the pre-cut pieces were better. I'm pretty neutral as both options have their benefits, but it was nice to be able to get right to sewing with the pre-cut out shapes, and I did struggle a bit cutting out the pieces for the Summer 2020 project, since there were some very precise cuts.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNkznZXU3TWLv1hmenfu9kzixOLTsaeBPJ1tBhdC5XMymW89hhYGCDBomJbgKjc1-vGBDdm5BYY29KjXv5KPvNPpzlPbtmggFPPNqXuqDQSMo6x3G_tqmjAzHvlhAk6UyqErGis-8-qOiQ/s2048/Too-Wit+Too-Woo+Template.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1727" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNkznZXU3TWLv1hmenfu9kzixOLTsaeBPJ1tBhdC5XMymW89hhYGCDBomJbgKjc1-vGBDdm5BYY29KjXv5KPvNPpzlPbtmggFPPNqXuqDQSMo6x3G_tqmjAzHvlhAk6UyqErGis-8-qOiQ/s320/Too-Wit+Too-Woo+Template.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div>Even though the pieces are already cut out, you still get a template for all the parts, so you can make the project again using your own materials. Very handy!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTQLcBy2fcVEvfXduQLjedFzU2S9t_HtpCsjx2R_pQcr5q91qD4WYdGuf4bMDSwHt1B-CPsCo37ujwVTlXZk4-0N2IJrSwxTn3ruSYU7_umgiJcpzhBo5-XPEBfhd9SItMGoq4GiBrxDBa/s2048/Too-Wit+Too-Woo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1194" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTQLcBy2fcVEvfXduQLjedFzU2S9t_HtpCsjx2R_pQcr5q91qD4WYdGuf4bMDSwHt1B-CPsCo37ujwVTlXZk4-0N2IJrSwxTn3ruSYU7_umgiJcpzhBo5-XPEBfhd9SItMGoq4GiBrxDBa/s320/Too-Wit+Too-Woo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>I also love how this project turned out! I can't pick which is my favorite, the Pumpkin Plush or the Too-Wit Too-Woo hanger, since they're both so cute and turned out so well! I love the real (I think it's real, otherwise it's a very good replica!) branch and the mixture of textures. Each craft in these boxes are so well-thought out; I know I keep saying it, but I'm so impressed that the owner of Creative Kawaii Crafts is so good at so many different types of crafts/art!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Ab9nYYBbtIYWdxuYxzfC0yy8rjH-e6H0GKMWaOweRcOpJKg-lkbHdZYMu8auI9yDvb9PZRDJgmQhL1crX4QBlqpEEJQzVydzKAttx3ewqPAIi1_SZiUYDqG6TmzjpNvHL1iU3jCUjivv/s2048/Acorn+Dish+Instructions.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1744" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Ab9nYYBbtIYWdxuYxzfC0yy8rjH-e6H0GKMWaOweRcOpJKg-lkbHdZYMu8auI9yDvb9PZRDJgmQhL1crX4QBlqpEEJQzVydzKAttx3ewqPAIi1_SZiUYDqG6TmzjpNvHL1iU3jCUjivv/s320/Acorn+Dish+Instructions.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div>The last project in this box, and the last I completed as I kept putting it off, is the acorn dish. This is another super cute craft and well-put together kit, but...pottery/sculpture/ceramics is just not my thing. It's probably one of the craft/art types that I am the worst at.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOFx3XVCILIAgLZQNMWXdk6wVSlGP44B0aDjqbG0RdO-oNRrBRVjBTgxpXvgikXQHn4J4v6N7vrMLPtqqeq95VNhOQiRH8cda2vgH_xYKP67UgYxcqDMPhic5lW58CcSMceCyaqgPaRXXk/s2048/Acorn+Dish+Materials.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1839" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOFx3XVCILIAgLZQNMWXdk6wVSlGP44B0aDjqbG0RdO-oNRrBRVjBTgxpXvgikXQHn4J4v6N7vrMLPtqqeq95VNhOQiRH8cda2vgH_xYKP67UgYxcqDMPhic5lW58CcSMceCyaqgPaRXXk/s320/Acorn+Dish+Materials.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Included in the kit are two paintbrushes (a flat brush and a detail brush), a plastic piece of tubing to use as a rolling pin, paint and varnish, a piece of grease-proof paper (I'm pretty sure this is parchment paper), and a brick of air dry clay. The clay is much better quality than Crayola Model Magic, so I think it's an artist/professional grade clay. It was easy to work with, and my final piece did not crack or break while drying. The sandpaper from before goes with this project as you can use it to smooth out any rough edges after the drying process.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy77Ngj91f3_6xnLB90FVms6ynPr6L_fU2pYNUO2jetCFpsYpTd9SeyDWNjil6KXLkfZYfAQ0-GBBMozIEBHiiQ0i8kdW_iSkCzhyJ_3ILRFXl4V2h4PawNNfvwyj8O0BPDx5zYw3-lgJt/s2048/Acorn+DIsh+Template.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1780" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy77Ngj91f3_6xnLB90FVms6ynPr6L_fU2pYNUO2jetCFpsYpTd9SeyDWNjil6KXLkfZYfAQ0-GBBMozIEBHiiQ0i8kdW_iSkCzhyJ_3ILRFXl4V2h4PawNNfvwyj8O0BPDx5zYw3-lgJt/s320/Acorn+DIsh+Template.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><div>You also get a template of the acorn which you use to cut the shape out of the clay after rolling it flat. To get the acorn to curve slightly so it can be used as a dish, you let it dry in a bowl. The instructions suggest a cereal bowl, so I'm assuming the included clay is non-toxic, but I wanted to play it safe and used plastic wrap to protect the bowl I used as there isn't any information included about the clay or what it's made out of.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyysF8Ik-RitCO8Q_vB-ZuH-rbB5F_x4Eb3coBg8jK-U6thL0QBmKCoSm6_tjzcsClOnKPKJiiDNZ4bxReTGOz3INykL4NxlwxjoIXQu3sy_9BaEzxa3Prdq2GpDu_h-jxFaSpuJzIHkdq/s2048/Acorn+Dish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2030" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyysF8Ik-RitCO8Q_vB-ZuH-rbB5F_x4Eb3coBg8jK-U6thL0QBmKCoSm6_tjzcsClOnKPKJiiDNZ4bxReTGOz3INykL4NxlwxjoIXQu3sy_9BaEzxa3Prdq2GpDu_h-jxFaSpuJzIHkdq/s320/Acorn+Dish.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div>So. Here it is. I am actually happy with how it turned out, considering how bad I am at ceramics, but it's nowhere near as good as the sample. I also wasn't too precise with my paint and varnish application as this project is the most time consuming just due to drying time (the clay itself takes a few days, then you need to do at least two layers of paint and two layers of varnish, allowing each layer to dry in-between); I wanted to get this project done in time to post it before/for Halloween, so my brush strokes are very visible.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIxGt5XqDr1vec-lsCsTe6vjmlsE8zgmrK8Lzw2zvMtdnzLNfC8pEiy6WJL2ZKNLbHiuLC2aFfAxi_zXqB9oE8q_o7LQSonXEKlAbgt13zjR_rUY-tsYyDCCEvXygNsDAS93MpXzbgb1cd/s2048/Acorn+Dish+Back.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2046" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIxGt5XqDr1vec-lsCsTe6vjmlsE8zgmrK8Lzw2zvMtdnzLNfC8pEiy6WJL2ZKNLbHiuLC2aFfAxi_zXqB9oE8q_o7LQSonXEKlAbgt13zjR_rUY-tsYyDCCEvXygNsDAS93MpXzbgb1cd/s320/Acorn+Dish+Back.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>I tried to smooth the plastic wrap I used to line my bowl as much as possible, but I still ended up with some wrinkles. These are easily avoided by not using plastic wrap (which, again, was a choice I made and not part of the instructions). I did have enough clay left over to make some additional small items, but I didn't like how any of them turned out so...I threw them away. Again, these are all personal failings and have nothing to do with this kit.</div><div><br /></div><div>And that's the Autumn 2020 Creative Kawaii Box by Creative Kawaii Crafts! I've said it a lot in this review, but these boxes, and any of the kits available, are 100% worth it. At approximately $12 per craft, you get high quality materials, a highly detailed, full color instruction book of each project, and a strong sense that a lot of love and care went into these kits/boxes. It feels like the opposite of 'cutting corners', that Creative Kawaii Crafts went out of their way to make sure that your projects will turn out as perfect as possible.</div><div><br /></div><div>You can still purchase this box, along with the Summer 2020 box, the pre-order of the Winter 2020 box, or a year's worth of boxes starting with the Winter 2020 box by checking out the Creative Kawaii Crafts store on Etsy. If you are at all interested in these projects, or if you are looking for a great gift for an artist/crafter, I highly, HIGHLY recommend taking a look at this box, or any of the other boxes/kits available from Creative Kawaii Crafts.</div><div><br /></div><div><3 Thank you for reading!</div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132276752053570711.post-4806402385553557462020-10-31T21:13:00.000-05:002020-10-31T21:13:07.045-05:00Herrschners - Spiderella's Poncho Crochet Kit - Review<p> Continuing the Halloween posting marathon, next up is the Spiderella's Poncho kit by Herrschners!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHvIanLZn0F570QULa-zo9Kr-AC-aqdQpjxgdhjwP5p3YTxi4QSn4JzEW_lqGigmgIg3mTdAwnGqt_0A-W4oIgU8xf6YfMQVHLuOHRweXyNkNMRwoF5drW9mywyQwygU5PsTifauPG-ZlJ/s2048/Bag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1747" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHvIanLZn0F570QULa-zo9Kr-AC-aqdQpjxgdhjwP5p3YTxi4QSn4JzEW_lqGigmgIg3mTdAwnGqt_0A-W4oIgU8xf6YfMQVHLuOHRweXyNkNMRwoF5drW9mywyQwygU5PsTifauPG-ZlJ/s320/Bag.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>I purchased this kit at the same time as a few others directly from Herrschners, but I first saw it on eBay while browsing crochet kits. Herrschners sells their kits both directly from their website and eBay for the same price, so it doesn't really matter which way you buy them, unless you plan on purchasing more than one as you can combine shipping from the website. I paid $22.99 for this kit and about $7 in shipping and taxes, for a total of approximately $30.</p><p>I originally bought this kit for the pattern (...I really wanted to make Lydia's poncho from the Beetlejuice cartoon and thought this was a good starting point) and figured I could make it using the included yarn as practice.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBnRZY1N5SZPtI1832-i5bjxWj8ZVqsmtljCBQw2bV_BdqGF6_0Kf9Yw2eKfGJMiImuEaSyIhsqiJSXsH5rkxb1Exjt-nDuc4ENZEY7UqmAoaIMWmewOtLGcyOf_FOFzVsRlHTsY7rcrT0/s2048/Pattern.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1796" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBnRZY1N5SZPtI1832-i5bjxWj8ZVqsmtljCBQw2bV_BdqGF6_0Kf9Yw2eKfGJMiImuEaSyIhsqiJSXsH5rkxb1Exjt-nDuc4ENZEY7UqmAoaIMWmewOtLGcyOf_FOFzVsRlHTsY7rcrT0/s320/Pattern.jpg" /></a></div><p>One complaint I have about Herrschners kits is, while the plastic zippers bags they come in are really helpful for storage and traveling, they don't provide much protection during shipping and the patterns arrive crinkled and sometimes damaged. It doesn't stop them from being useful/readable, but it feels kind of cheap. I've also noticed that some kits come with these nice tags you can sew on to your finished projects, and this one even includes a metal yarn needle.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkSauG0YXUjY7ZpAeHDk0z25GySYSNrQeg7u9dpW0NStuef_6WDodTBcJ16cUcyuti_yFmAkX9ByrygtM8lyRINJQFTS7c7Q7QWPZQflSfRbfNcB1ZCJkfYbDvY9dqbUUYtf0pc9vjtLcP/s2048/Starting+Material.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1552" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkSauG0YXUjY7ZpAeHDk0z25GySYSNrQeg7u9dpW0NStuef_6WDodTBcJ16cUcyuti_yFmAkX9ByrygtM8lyRINJQFTS7c7Q7QWPZQflSfRbfNcB1ZCJkfYbDvY9dqbUUYtf0pc9vjtLcP/s320/Starting+Material.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>The Spiderella's Poncho kit includes three skeins of Herrschners Worsted 8 yarn in special Halloween Shimmer colors (Ghost and Batty). There are additional colors of this Halloween Shimmer yarn (orange, green, purple, yellow, a black and orange blend, and a multicolor blend), but it's not the best quality and I think is best used as a craft yarn (it's not scratchy, but it's stiff and not the most comfortable to wear).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0YwbjAVoPWhhuNE9oV2-B3iLGTf6_2qjMDOQm1NUMnHShFOXa-4tuP91vHcHvimn_T0KOgRcTBXBiEg_8c8Jur6_988xJs-_d3HyjHWjszKlLKo0g2K-ZZBUlQSBgOM8pWztJp5D73_ok/s2048/Poncho+Flat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1762" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0YwbjAVoPWhhuNE9oV2-B3iLGTf6_2qjMDOQm1NUMnHShFOXa-4tuP91vHcHvimn_T0KOgRcTBXBiEg_8c8Jur6_988xJs-_d3HyjHWjszKlLKo0g2K-ZZBUlQSBgOM8pWztJp5D73_ok/s320/Poncho+Flat.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>I'm sorry for the low-quality of this photo; it was a little difficult to get a photo of the full shawl as it didn't fit in my lightbox. I did make some modifications to the pattern (I used a J-hook instead of the recommended I-hook and I used single crochets instead of slip stitches since I can't seem to make slip stitches look good/work for me) but overall, this pattern ended up being much easier than I expected, especially the surface crochet work!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaODoErltbTWGzzV-YNyu1-NhZsCF1cQAMzpH6S3xr09mmEkH55Ws-Gj14NsLJSmiNrENkcRlEpsxUaQUe5yNkUQDARbXrnI-1IPDb3Q6Ese7akv23MfA9a-SPFp_KPdsfaS-2K9ADkf-I/s2048/Poncho+Lightbox.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1946" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaODoErltbTWGzzV-YNyu1-NhZsCF1cQAMzpH6S3xr09mmEkH55Ws-Gj14NsLJSmiNrENkcRlEpsxUaQUe5yNkUQDARbXrnI-1IPDb3Q6Ese7akv23MfA9a-SPFp_KPdsfaS-2K9ADkf-I/s320/Poncho+Lightbox.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Here's a photo in my lightbox to give a better idea of the texture and shimmer of the yarn. The pattern was pretty much the same stitches repeated for each row, with increases every other row. What was really nice, and something I didn't realize before I made this shawl, is that the chevron pattern created by creating chain-2 spaces and skipping stitches is what you follow when you surface crochet the web, so you don't have to make the changes in direction yourself. You're basically just surface crocheting in a straight line and the pattern does all the work for you!</p><p>The pattern says to use slip stitches for the webbing, but I really didn't like how thin and flat it looked, so I used single crochets instead. I really like how this change turned out, as the webbing feels more textural and 3D.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVE3pvUXZ6r5aMzk8WtQbFG2YaNRBbhGMAA2Ht4BToATmq0EAaFhbgXMUY5G-OClJFjVQfBTTl7drUub8hfbbTgfKIwb_Q61SH_VqCc3rquJbFGwWUxGj9sMwlxn9dWFEg1Djq_s8d9xDD/s2048/Ending+Materials.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1927" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVE3pvUXZ6r5aMzk8WtQbFG2YaNRBbhGMAA2Ht4BToATmq0EAaFhbgXMUY5G-OClJFjVQfBTTl7drUub8hfbbTgfKIwb_Q61SH_VqCc3rquJbFGwWUxGj9sMwlxn9dWFEg1Djq_s8d9xDD/s320/Ending+Materials.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Even with my modifications, the kit included plenty of yarn. I might even make a little ghost amigurumi or something similarly spooky with the left overs!<div><br /></div><div>Overall, this is a pretty good kit. At $22, it's not a bad value (the include yarn retails for $6 a skein), and it's currently on sale for $17.99 (the yarn is on sale, too, at $3.99 a skein). Oddly enough, I haven't been able to find this kit in the crochet kit section of the Herrschners website and always have to search for it by name. The pattern is the best part, and I'm very happy to have it as part of my collection, as I do intend to one day make my Lydia from the Beetlejuice cartooned inspired poncho!</div><div><br /></div><div><3 Thank you for reading!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132276752053570711.post-64641460541765054202020-10-31T19:13:00.000-05:002020-10-31T19:13:03.431-05:00Lalylala - Halloween Trio Crochet Kit - Review<p><br />Continuing my Halloween/spooky-themed posting marathon, our next kit is the Halloween Trio amigurumi crochet kit by Lalylala on Etsy!</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-HRGIOsQF_w6fJwCqRsYApIZqZmTYgLmvJmGx7Tw_hdWYagtcCzhs_U11Gcf80DZy3Fp_YbNADTy6RHr5Z1DqLjvlpDbM1q8XIeCvurx29Jp9mLg0JzaM4r_bmHC20TabrAlNl1511DhE/s2048/Bag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2045" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-HRGIOsQF_w6fJwCqRsYApIZqZmTYgLmvJmGx7Tw_hdWYagtcCzhs_U11Gcf80DZy3Fp_YbNADTy6RHr5Z1DqLjvlpDbM1q8XIeCvurx29Jp9mLg0JzaM4r_bmHC20TabrAlNl1511DhE/s320/Bag.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>I'm kind of surprised this is my first Lalylala kit on this blog as they are one of my favorite amigurumi/crochet artists. I have their book, "Beetles, Bugs and Butterflies" ( I bought mine on Amazon, but you can buy a signed copy from their supplies Etsy, Lalylaland, which is also technically the shop were I bought this kit from. I am sorely tempted to buy a signed copy as well, possibly in German as Lalylala is a German-based artist) and I have an absurd number of their kits.</p><p>Many of Lalylala's kits/pattern sets are based on the seasons/holidays, and they are all devastatingly adorable. Each kit comes in a few varieties with different price points; you can purchase kits that are just the materials without the patterns (you can purchase PDF patterns individually at their Lalylala Etsy store), kits that include the materials and PDF patterns, and kits that include the materials, the PDF patterns, and all necessary crochet hooks. This is the standard version kit (so it includes the patterns and materials, but not the crochet hooks) and cost me $33.07. I purchased this kit along with a bunch of items, so shipping and tax works about to be about an additional $5 max, for a total cost of $38.07.</p><p>Since Lalylala is based in Germany, shipping does take some time and can be expensive, so it's nice to have the option to be able to buy the PDF patterns if you want to start crocheting immediately. I am more than willing to wait, though, as the kits come packaged in these adorable canvas project bags and they include yarn that is not easy to get in the U.S. (Scheepjes Catona, in this case).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpAGisg15uIaAwsGwCT69okQx1vTanuDcnL9AO5CxTdaC3J5I_U7PAVa540cXv1okvzAoVRmjAgOAHS1C6BME6L4GgT-dbCKwBc3aico-CSKbMbykaTMZsilTr4EuIUYrN10pqn8sqPXcN/s2048/Starting+Materials.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1743" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpAGisg15uIaAwsGwCT69okQx1vTanuDcnL9AO5CxTdaC3J5I_U7PAVa540cXv1okvzAoVRmjAgOAHS1C6BME6L4GgT-dbCKwBc3aico-CSKbMbykaTMZsilTr4EuIUYrN10pqn8sqPXcN/s320/Starting+Materials.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Also because I purchased a lot of kits at once, the stuffing for the kits was packaged separately, so I'm not 100% sure what stuffing packs go with each kit. I'm guessing you get one tube of stuffing per amigurumi in each kit (so 3 in this case), though I didn't need nearly that much (I used 2 tubes total for all three plushies).<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIdgW60HXdGtoJjbHE4O76dx4M9CSLUB4g8GMrS0UXMNjyjm42R67KZcWAbh_coFg0k0QTPA1D_5Rh_GMOVtdTcgrYA4z5aY70LX1umOqnDsB1rCaFNbxJ1x_U-knwdoJdEEgeJlxBoVox/s2048/Pattern.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2002" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIdgW60HXdGtoJjbHE4O76dx4M9CSLUB4g8GMrS0UXMNjyjm42R67KZcWAbh_coFg0k0QTPA1D_5Rh_GMOVtdTcgrYA4z5aY70LX1umOqnDsB1rCaFNbxJ1x_U-knwdoJdEEgeJlxBoVox/s320/Pattern.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div>The Lalylala Halloween Trio includes Frankenstein's Monster named Frank, a Skull named Diego, and a Zombie named Brian.<br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil24bb1dkAuVrIUGyeE8rJRc4pScJ4mMno_9dnKHSTaM-AdoFqdM3Tk36u58l9CWNROI6Fgf1t1NZFyXuCflvESCnY-caVMkDZT0GKkTFX8RyB-9nDnP4HY9ZTZcCQN-ddHqut_WtDFeh6/s1797/Diego.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1459" data-original-width="1797" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil24bb1dkAuVrIUGyeE8rJRc4pScJ4mMno_9dnKHSTaM-AdoFqdM3Tk36u58l9CWNROI6Fgf1t1NZFyXuCflvESCnY-caVMkDZT0GKkTFX8RyB-9nDnP4HY9ZTZcCQN-ddHqut_WtDFeh6/s320/Diego.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>There's a standard body shape for all plushies in the seasons/holidays trios, with each character having their own unique additions. Diego has a removable hat and a skull face/mask (it doesn't come off, so I think he's supposed to BE the skull). I did modify the pattern for the skull and hat slightly since I just...don't like how things look when I use slip stitches, even if the samples using them look great. The pattern suggests adding embroidered details to the skull, so I added a creepy nose using a Lazy Daisy stitch.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDN5Zm72_-s9ooZDiUAN8GyaXWPGffrfqhwDLagVLBvWzMTBhZFml955dFaq6voqFaN18VGn-Cc_QhWxFLhJ5TEshVV0p07mL3AeBLzrCaP4oEs9gkmpS6uom-uwjh9I69j_il0EQRBVxC/s2048/Diego+No+Hat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDN5Zm72_-s9ooZDiUAN8GyaXWPGffrfqhwDLagVLBvWzMTBhZFml955dFaq6voqFaN18VGn-Cc_QhWxFLhJ5TEshVV0p07mL3AeBLzrCaP4oEs9gkmpS6uom-uwjh9I69j_il0EQRBVxC/s320/Diego+No+Hat.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div>He looks a little funny without his hat since he has such a big forehead!<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwkUlg15sDST6F2nnJm6erzO9SCh2ScukKOJwTBvNTLCb8vh5rg1YC0K-3_tfDxyIDJCOx7ISJsmIgwsKG9EM-fxeatVJYFYqloRb27NJKXa4p0mt7V_IdNVL79tsBxhlK7gXTK48oTo4u/s1774/Frank.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1774" data-original-width="1723" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwkUlg15sDST6F2nnJm6erzO9SCh2ScukKOJwTBvNTLCb8vh5rg1YC0K-3_tfDxyIDJCOx7ISJsmIgwsKG9EM-fxeatVJYFYqloRb27NJKXa4p0mt7V_IdNVL79tsBxhlK7gXTK48oTo4u/s320/Frank.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div>Frank also has a big forehead, but this time it's part of his design! Frank is patterned after the traditional green Frankenstein's monster design with a big, rectangular head and neck bolts. The kit includes grey yarn for the bolts, but I substituted some silver yarn I had to make them shiny. I think it's interesting that this is 'standard' look for Frankenstein's monster and what they went with in the original film, as it's not really how he's described in the book. Regardless! Frank is a big-headed cutie!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmwLy9hioQMR5j4JU4MceBKjFvQJorpxHnbYBiBGvQRrbqFTpFBVj5nNQmQpcTDS7ZgDpkCdyFKg-Z1vGDE7GrlU8fTIcxnURKBepAtkkCnRVxsxMxE-VXQtox9oG7unU8B8DP95R5WZ_y/s1773/Brian.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1773" data-original-width="1662" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmwLy9hioQMR5j4JU4MceBKjFvQJorpxHnbYBiBGvQRrbqFTpFBVj5nNQmQpcTDS7ZgDpkCdyFKg-Z1vGDE7GrlU8fTIcxnURKBepAtkkCnRVxsxMxE-VXQtox9oG7unU8B8DP95R5WZ_y/s320/Brian.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Last, but not least, is Brian the Zombie. Brian is my favorite of the three, because of the detail of his exposed brain and his little bone-arm. I was worried the brain would be complicated, but it's actually much easier than it looks (it's a lot of single crochets and increases in back loops). I did have to do some tweaking as Brian is actually two different layers, the outside which ends with the white row, and the inside with the brain, and my inside layer wasn't filling out the outside layer. I ended up using a hook for the inside layer that was one size bigger than the hook used for the outside layer, then switching back to the original sized hook once I was past the last row of the outside layer.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPvul_UK8wwBOVik-9NMwY8p_nJj17_GzlGh4oFDgOoYpjbj4uS6gO9OLGlt1hRJjT5gaPCngKBFzkKdtVsT17-vZFXXbLYxjdnsKN8cw0pIb-Kr0dENSqD7MWF0Cun22cHenFyJoh1WA3/s2048/Ending+Materials.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1357" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPvul_UK8wwBOVik-9NMwY8p_nJj17_GzlGh4oFDgOoYpjbj4uS6gO9OLGlt1hRJjT5gaPCngKBFzkKdtVsT17-vZFXXbLYxjdnsKN8cw0pIb-Kr0dENSqD7MWF0Cun22cHenFyJoh1WA3/s320/Ending+Materials.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>After making all three plushies, I had more than enough materials left over, even with my changes, including a completely untouched 10g ball of Brian's body color. I didn't include the left over stuffing I had as, again, I'm not 100% sure how much stuffing would be included if you purchased an individual kit and not a bunch at once like I did. I'm confidant, though, that plenty would be included.</div><div><br /></div><div>And that's the Halloween Trio amigurumi crochet kit by Lalylala! Again, Lalylala is one of my favorite crochet designers/artists, and I highly, HIGHLY recommend checking out their book, pattern Etsy shop (Lalylala), and their supplies/kit Etsy shop (Lalylaland) if you are interested in their designs/patterns. I honestly have almost all of their patterns, and have purchased almost all of their kits (I don't have their newest, Thanksgiving Day kit and the kits that are for patterns included in their book) because I love their patterns and designs so much.</div><div><br /></div><div><3 Thank you for reading!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132276752053570711.post-10570279563635880262020-10-31T18:16:00.003-05:002020-10-31T18:16:27.345-05:00OddsSprogs/Jaiye P. Cordory - Ghost Dog/Zero Crochet Kit - Review<p> Happy Halloween!</p><p>I have some spooky/thematically appropriate crochet kits that I wanted to complete and review for this month but...time got away from me and now here we are, Halloween itself, with no spooky posts! </p><p>I'm hoping to rectify that, though, and make multiple posts tonight as I have, in fact, completed some Halloween appropriate kit, the first of which is the Ghost Dog/Zero from The Nightmare Before Christmas crochet amigurumi kit by Jaiye P. Cordory, or OddsSprogs on Etsy.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8nopETQr1bUNCdga11Of0xqs_b3Yb6qCnfp5_FGaE3kSRfOmOF_v4P3Q9U3BuO7ytZoZSflnDPuCSMi6DeJBNG3y0FgKMvdwABzvnHkttrfKirqBLlvZ9TndTG0xIE7kWAw9e10IL2Ud5/s2048/Bag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1664" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8nopETQr1bUNCdga11Of0xqs_b3Yb6qCnfp5_FGaE3kSRfOmOF_v4P3Q9U3BuO7ytZoZSflnDPuCSMi6DeJBNG3y0FgKMvdwABzvnHkttrfKirqBLlvZ9TndTG0xIE7kWAw9e10IL2Ud5/s320/Bag.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div>The Nightmare Before Christmas is a quintessential Halloween movie/property, though, oddly enough, I don't think Halloween itself factors all that much into the story. There's only one song specifically about Halloween, and the rest of the plot centers around Jack's plot to usurp Christmas. It's always spooky, yes, but not really about Halloween.<div><br /></div><div>Regardless! One of my favorite characters from the movie is Zero, Jack's faithful ghost dog who also has a glowing pumpkin nose and who serves as a creepy-version of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAOQ20iYqkVjNYCwvYvPddNUJrZE3DrRyTzrWvGvQGdUg7-gkuQcCFfn_P3RBPM9WTFdNMClDfGsBCN5JTL0Q_wAB46Unhv_28ZiD0CLleTn9PA4pO2vTRxjMAV4eTKE481AWINJfBRFlZ/s2048/Pattern.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1712" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAOQ20iYqkVjNYCwvYvPddNUJrZE3DrRyTzrWvGvQGdUg7-gkuQcCFfn_P3RBPM9WTFdNMClDfGsBCN5JTL0Q_wAB46Unhv_28ZiD0CLleTn9PA4pO2vTRxjMAV4eTKE481AWINJfBRFlZ/s320/Pattern.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div>Zero seems pretty easy to make since he's basically a sheet with a cartoon dog head, but he's actually a little more complex since his body and nose have a very specific shape. I was very impressed with this kit/pattern as OddsSprogs really nailed Zero's silhouette, and in a very easy to understand pattern. This kit was a little expensive for me at a total of $36.73, but that's because it was shipped to U.S.A. from the U.K. The kit itself was $20.53, shipping was $13.68, and I paid $2.53 in tax. For how good the pattern is, and the final amigurumi, I think it was 100% worth it.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbbP5E-FCNfuJRQSQm7m6L-92HDvP4rUjweEWpomxQT1u7wr5q3VB_8378-M2iwRnIFCxuGUL3g_57jL5BqBPddHucUDsRFfSfLs4Y37B5Vj4YLEiDfkUP4Ui7NUWfvlZ6NH5wVu2MAa6A/s2048/Starting+Materials.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1766" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbbP5E-FCNfuJRQSQm7m6L-92HDvP4rUjweEWpomxQT1u7wr5q3VB_8378-M2iwRnIFCxuGUL3g_57jL5BqBPddHucUDsRFfSfLs4Y37B5Vj4YLEiDfkUP4Ui7NUWfvlZ6NH5wVu2MAa6A/s320/Starting+Materials.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Along with the pattern booklet, this kit includes 100g of Stylecraft Special DK acrylic yarn in white, enough of red, yellow, orange, and black yarn for the details, a metal 4.00mm crochet hook, a stitch marker, and a bag of stuffing. All included materials in this kit are of great quality, though I did substitute the hook with one of my own (I prefer hooks with wider bases, though the included hook is quite serviceable). </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTl6aWwJeq4HfygeaqR7jPFuwVPRSyED_qMcUz1EOT9_KOHJM77k_8e7qxtCFbYVtzJhBfaIRtssSGkobfcLuxWu3IwVh26LxoCznyeqZUcDpB11AHMX2S3MheJki_vACFfYdwK8E0RbyC/s2048/Ending+Materials.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1936" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTl6aWwJeq4HfygeaqR7jPFuwVPRSyED_qMcUz1EOT9_KOHJM77k_8e7qxtCFbYVtzJhBfaIRtssSGkobfcLuxWu3IwVh26LxoCznyeqZUcDpB11AHMX2S3MheJki_vACFfYdwK8E0RbyC/s320/Ending+Materials.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>I had more than enough materials to complete the project; I was worried that there wouldn't be enough white yarn to complete Zero, but I ended up with some left over, so it wasn't a concern. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCLQPnEB5fHwQVD9yOZXDsMqeW_wMrtOSSNdoNa9laFxM419-j1GBi7hP3Am9uwK59RrGQBKIBkrFcn_1dBbMyFjov1ymQGv1FrjcgdF13n85_zkZYvhv4WmyKu7JPNumlYez0Dxit_XWc/s2048/Zero+Left+Side.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1883" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCLQPnEB5fHwQVD9yOZXDsMqeW_wMrtOSSNdoNa9laFxM419-j1GBi7hP3Am9uwK59RrGQBKIBkrFcn_1dBbMyFjov1ymQGv1FrjcgdF13n85_zkZYvhv4WmyKu7JPNumlYez0Dxit_XWc/s320/Zero+Left+Side.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Look. At his. Cute face! I know I've already mentioned it, but the pattern for Zero's face is very well-written and well-thought out. Even the little wrinkles in his nose are part of the pattern; I did not have to manipulate Zero's nose to make it bend and wrinkle like that.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3aiX00mgzRzk-3asXZMlcgdw68tYNdkLwKH_RRadtzuNiWhwJgijs3CcmAkIEY_o6c6R3FNl76b3rAVlIJgWuMQAUTcoqUUOBfng24d3XNHHsUCc4YrT0GgMNY2XCF9i3Ze1hNgrJKs5g/s2048/Zero+Right+Side.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1715" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3aiX00mgzRzk-3asXZMlcgdw68tYNdkLwKH_RRadtzuNiWhwJgijs3CcmAkIEY_o6c6R3FNl76b3rAVlIJgWuMQAUTcoqUUOBfng24d3XNHHsUCc4YrT0GgMNY2XCF9i3Ze1hNgrJKs5g/s320/Zero+Right+Side.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div>The most difficult part of this project was making sure his mouth looked right and that his eyes were in the correct position, as a large deviation would make his look off-model. I 'traced' out his mouth with pins first, and then backstitched it using the included black yarn. I also tested placement of the eyes by pinning them in place first.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOeZun_jKobfJ2e5Jyn1_xYCX-EJiRmzcqhuoiMBMs2DBrsIB6ZROGgmoLxUHp2NHgkIF0KMaN_4HpvF70pJ_JVKV9GZzRJmQ-_2DCVYjEhnd1Lxz0hC84KAdoqFkcGrNFW-hGZeRxw_Si/s2048/Nose+Closeup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1503" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOeZun_jKobfJ2e5Jyn1_xYCX-EJiRmzcqhuoiMBMs2DBrsIB6ZROGgmoLxUHp2NHgkIF0KMaN_4HpvF70pJ_JVKV9GZzRJmQ-_2DCVYjEhnd1Lxz0hC84KAdoqFkcGrNFW-hGZeRxw_Si/s320/Nose+Closeup.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div>I made some slight changes to Zero's nose, but this was more due to personal preference than any issues with 'accuracy' since his nose differs a lot between the movie and artwork.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAbXKDV-PT0r4ENJ9A4tyfhvFE6N6jB3Q4MQ7VjXIiDbHo2i8k6HUWeeBLE4SsZk-eiFvF6up0Mw60Hys7SDyNY8qS65J7EAbQxD2h_p6cpH_SQHUGMGvEKE6ZTcKoBKzr1cL2cIitRuKS/s2048/Zero+Top.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1819" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAbXKDV-PT0r4ENJ9A4tyfhvFE6N6jB3Q4MQ7VjXIiDbHo2i8k6HUWeeBLE4SsZk-eiFvF6up0Mw60Hys7SDyNY8qS65J7EAbQxD2h_p6cpH_SQHUGMGvEKE6ZTcKoBKzr1cL2cIitRuKS/s320/Zero+Top.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div>I'm also really impressed with the shaping/pattern for Zero's body. It would have been really easy to just make it as a square or a rectangle, but the shape is very on-model and really adds to the overall silhouette and design of this amigurumi. At first I was unsure of open spaces since Zero is a solid-color sheet, but I think they were necessary for both the shape and so the body was more malleable (more solid crochet pieces are stiff).</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div>I really can't say enough nice things about this kit and pattern! My Zero/Ghost Dog turned out so cute and cuddly, and I am just so impressed with shaping of the face and body (I'm sorry for being redundant!). The kit is a little pricey due to the international shipping, but I believe that OddsSprogs sells the pattern on its own, so if you're interested, I recommend checking their Etsy store out!</div><div><br /></div><div><3 Thank you for reading!</div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132276752053570711.post-77231315496738887452020-10-11T22:47:00.003-05:002020-10-11T22:47:31.472-05:00Little Magic House - Caterpillar, Whale, Blue Owl, and Purple Owl Crochet Kits - Review<p> Growing up, I always tried to complete the most challenging product I could for my skill level. It just didn't seem...impressive to do something quick or easy. While it's good to continue to challenge yourself through out your artistic/crafting journey, as it is these challenges, both those that succeed that those that fail, that help you grow and improve, sometimes...you just need a little break and to treat yourself with something a little easier.</p><p>While I still love complex, high skill-level projects, I've come to appreciate simpler, shorter projects as a way to take a mental break. I find it difficult to do 'nothing', and feel best when my hands/mind are at least a little active, so I was delighted to find a selection of cute, brightly-colored amigurumi crochet kits from Little Magic House on Etsy!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE4OF6OtHRumlcwkuQ-tNJIxkalC9TBm5_POCuX7cu9iwZCDMIU-_Th-lvpaQ0E9GS8GxwRsjUV0KgP75FCra_dcvgQDMTjpLegat1MTJfEK9Ezhy2TmzF-1ZzJxKqjGQSyRFsFmv_1bcb/s2048/Packaging.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1931" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE4OF6OtHRumlcwkuQ-tNJIxkalC9TBm5_POCuX7cu9iwZCDMIU-_Th-lvpaQ0E9GS8GxwRsjUV0KgP75FCra_dcvgQDMTjpLegat1MTJfEK9Ezhy2TmzF-1ZzJxKqjGQSyRFsFmv_1bcb/s320/Packaging.jpg" /></a></div><p>For my first order, I purchased four crochet kits, Caterpillar, Whale, Owl (Purple), and Owl (Blue). I say 'for my first order' as I enjoyed these four kits so much that I already purchased more, and will review those as well at a later date.</p><p>The kits come in two varieties: basic, which is less expensive, and which comes with all the yarn needed, safety eyes, stuffing, and a printed pattern; and standard, which is slightly more expensive and which comes with everything in the basic kit, plus a crochet hook (2.5mm aluminum hook), a yarn needle (also metal), a stitch marker (plastic), and four pins.</p><p>All the kits I purchased were standard kits, as I like the idea of having (almost) all the items I need to make a project all together. The only thing not included is a scissors, but that would add to the cost significantly (and pretty much no other kit out there includes a scissors). These kits cost between $10-$12.50 USD, and I purchased four as you got free shipping with a $35+ purchase... These kits come from the Ukraine, so they did take a while to get to me in the U.S., but I think it was worth the wait!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8TEiKT67dJ84fxfbDgJbvZUhZXl-OYrMKHFJMgT_LlNuXva29PuIN2r2yk4-VOKewX7v2FNOuZpH_NduF0v2lMS6UumqJtD3FK7sesq2a0-rQ_989GGpIqY4Kbtks6c-WlY2RiB6kNrFE/s2048/Caterpiller+Package.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1136" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8TEiKT67dJ84fxfbDgJbvZUhZXl-OYrMKHFJMgT_LlNuXva29PuIN2r2yk4-VOKewX7v2FNOuZpH_NduF0v2lMS6UumqJtD3FK7sesq2a0-rQ_989GGpIqY4Kbtks6c-WlY2RiB6kNrFE/s320/Caterpiller+Package.jpg" /></a></div><p>Each kit was packaged in two plastic bags that were stapled together, with the pattern in one bag and the materials in the other.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFbqDa4qEj7XbykIeMUTM300ZBy72-CHCPIlM7l5qF_hDURJiIglkThWatPtYjy57LX8PbFlaECuMdC0JF_tD4mVVD8tF9sVn_YOEYJyTlUlkVaONB0tCI6cB__yqz6JqLkrdw_0FF52lr/s2048/Caterpiller+Pattern.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1750" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFbqDa4qEj7XbykIeMUTM300ZBy72-CHCPIlM7l5qF_hDURJiIglkThWatPtYjy57LX8PbFlaECuMdC0JF_tD4mVVD8tF9sVn_YOEYJyTlUlkVaONB0tCI6cB__yqz6JqLkrdw_0FF52lr/s320/Caterpiller+Pattern.jpg" /></a></div><p>Each pattern is printed in full color and includes several large, clear images, which is much appreciated. Each kit is also labelled with the suggested skill level; the caterpillar and the purple owl are 'easy' and the whale and blue owl are 'intermediate'. I definitely agree that the caterpillar is easy, but I don't really have an opinion on the other three. All I can say is that, as an intermediate to advanced crocheter, all four kits were easy.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsBoUu3t249q9hFcJvhVBH2Lkv7Sk0RmcCpWJNpg4dsGzRfyQcnOYPPjOWMw_uwyMp6lC_Nbaxp22HUzEUy4HCVeg7AWt0q-JnSeTBKveFYFdjqNLHxhqppY_Zx-ax_JG7jWTVahys-GUb/s2048/Caterpiller+Starting+Materials.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1979" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsBoUu3t249q9hFcJvhVBH2Lkv7Sk0RmcCpWJNpg4dsGzRfyQcnOYPPjOWMw_uwyMp6lC_Nbaxp22HUzEUy4HCVeg7AWt0q-JnSeTBKveFYFdjqNLHxhqppY_Zx-ax_JG7jWTVahys-GUb/s320/Caterpiller+Starting+Materials.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>As stated above, each kit comes with everything needed to complete the project, except a scissors. They are very compact and easy to travel with, so they're all great projects to bring with you if you know you'll have some downtime to fill.<div><br /></div><div>I really like how the yarn is wrapped around these paper bobbins that are labelled with what the color(s) are to be used for. You also get a bobbin filled with extra yarn (except in this kit, but you get plenty of yarn anyways); I did not ever have to use to the extra yarn, but I'm glad it's there since it's such a pain when you run out of yarn before finishing a project, especially if the yarn is not easy to get. </div><div><br /></div><div>According to the listing for these kits, the included yarn is YarnArtJeans. I'm not sure yet if I like this yarn or not; it's soft and fluffy, and it's not difficult to work with, but it stretches out really easily and can look dirty as it attracts dust. It's similar in weight to Scheepjes Catona, so I would say it's around a 2 weight. The stuffing has that interesting pebbly-texture that I've noticed in other European kits; it works well, and the pebbly-texture doesn't cause any lumpiness or weird texture in the final project.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTuqzFiuVZv1GuD-sG2wQOKT6MGzT4HdOSQhaOx6q8UwSdb3Mdwlxy4o8z2FF9e-veNrUCgUTfMThkmYpQCaCTr8cFy3G6mBndfWFZTcLONKlg4KsQKNIUP0G2W4hX56AxCH3CtQGIOhfh/s1725/Caterpiller+Front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1698" data-original-width="1725" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTuqzFiuVZv1GuD-sG2wQOKT6MGzT4HdOSQhaOx6q8UwSdb3Mdwlxy4o8z2FF9e-veNrUCgUTfMThkmYpQCaCTr8cFy3G6mBndfWFZTcLONKlg4KsQKNIUP0G2W4hX56AxCH3CtQGIOhfh/s320/Caterpiller+Front.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>My little caterpillar turned out so cute, and he was a nice break from my other projects.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikVp-S5jPUuoTf4FtmdJMHZaY3ARyhFXd4uw1YH0iNlpoFACzsEwxi1DsgGT7QNPk-4yFlGe1NJGcyGrKZaCY7CAMw_nadNDNxtwLyGOhEAtAT97biDEv4Fb6L8NNHpglNpiJQnQHo_Sra/s2048/Caterpiller+Bottom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1452" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikVp-S5jPUuoTf4FtmdJMHZaY3ARyhFXd4uw1YH0iNlpoFACzsEwxi1DsgGT7QNPk-4yFlGe1NJGcyGrKZaCY7CAMw_nadNDNxtwLyGOhEAtAT97biDEv4Fb6L8NNHpglNpiJQnQHo_Sra/s320/Caterpiller+Bottom.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div>One thing I really appreciate with these projects is the focus on embroidery for detail, like the caterpillar's feet, instead of having to crochet everything. It can be very tedious and overwhelming to crochet every small detail and appendage, and it's nice to know that there is another way, that looks just as good!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigha9_hH4UmajljdIsQMTjZBZImcIjK6c4lwOoJKc9atYXCbAgZu4mAC8CzGhi-AuWuY3eREIli8mn-NC1CcVrmNf1CnqpawR6XSoiXl_BWtpp3LckBxYpgwZxI9crEIt_jjrNqRmDNxlc/s2048/Caterpiller+Ending+Materials.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1981" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigha9_hH4UmajljdIsQMTjZBZImcIjK6c4lwOoJKc9atYXCbAgZu4mAC8CzGhi-AuWuY3eREIli8mn-NC1CcVrmNf1CnqpawR6XSoiXl_BWtpp3LckBxYpgwZxI9crEIt_jjrNqRmDNxlc/s320/Caterpiller+Ending+Materials.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div>After finishing my caterpillar, I had plenty of yarn left over (again, this was the only kit that didn't come with a bobbin of extra yarn, but I think that's because there already was so much yarn included due to all the colors, plus a little stuffing!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh25NKbz3Dk0xAeMTTU2FVAgwUiIliUJO2IVhERq7k8SWJt8zMkGuK4irj_OYXPPZO7GdwoCVsiIuUEhtmu3_VypyBpMPvi0pqLSebImAardF0WjHyvzGacy6PaEAMAlia8eSbTc8hI7BlJ/s2048/Blue+Owl+Package.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1369" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh25NKbz3Dk0xAeMTTU2FVAgwUiIliUJO2IVhERq7k8SWJt8zMkGuK4irj_OYXPPZO7GdwoCVsiIuUEhtmu3_VypyBpMPvi0pqLSebImAardF0WjHyvzGacy6PaEAMAlia8eSbTc8hI7BlJ/s320/Blue+Owl+Package.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div>This kit, the Blue Owl, was a bit of a wild card for me. I wasn't originally going to purchase it since I liked the design of the Purple Owl more, but I wanted free shipping, so here we are!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8YE3IqL32R4IsmIhAwVkOPAp8dpccSudj6_fB9whh36xioV6qgmiEpeztRGkztx3HOlp7pmj_WjxtRJkWDogx33TI7DyBeeyYV57-zgeR8F1PFouNjk-P4JDtnaEWcR0wNhMl3CbT-IM8/s2048/Blue+Owl+Pattern.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1908" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8YE3IqL32R4IsmIhAwVkOPAp8dpccSudj6_fB9whh36xioV6qgmiEpeztRGkztx3HOlp7pmj_WjxtRJkWDogx33TI7DyBeeyYV57-zgeR8F1PFouNjk-P4JDtnaEWcR0wNhMl3CbT-IM8/s320/Blue+Owl+Pattern.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div>Even though this kit wasn't my first choice, I am glad I got it because it is quite cute, and it's one of the rare times were I've beads for eyes instead of safety eyes, felting, or embroidery.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzgSipXgfv_YArn7YvbIMyC9zEoyA-ntNS9C0CiMi063aKov15RlU7QHisl_C5MUlDIp-n-Ly7owogWg49N6xquvk0dTvdH4eV9U6L0S9sKNSZz2PYR6d-Xkezr7T8eQrT8ZAlNCBxxMdX/s2048/Blue+Owl+Starting+Materials.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1878" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzgSipXgfv_YArn7YvbIMyC9zEoyA-ntNS9C0CiMi063aKov15RlU7QHisl_C5MUlDIp-n-Ly7owogWg49N6xquvk0dTvdH4eV9U6L0S9sKNSZz2PYR6d-Xkezr7T8eQrT8ZAlNCBxxMdX/s320/Blue+Owl+Starting+Materials.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Same as the other kits, all the yarn and supplies are well organized and labelled, including the extra yarn bobbin. My poor stuffing bag exploded, though!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxK-EhwUNAGYUEJT4oUJ5n2QFidcmHMgJRUJQt4wKFMx14_oWT_iMcyxJbmGeq3b8d4qiV6KBKc5ogYSwZZpVXTIW1v3aqgv9saZ-WYpMQ3KF3Z3BXYo5E2Cleb5KpogHLigRUDgH9d3k1/s1196/Blue+Owl+Front+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1129" data-original-width="1196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxK-EhwUNAGYUEJT4oUJ5n2QFidcmHMgJRUJQt4wKFMx14_oWT_iMcyxJbmGeq3b8d4qiV6KBKc5ogYSwZZpVXTIW1v3aqgv9saZ-WYpMQ3KF3Z3BXYo5E2Cleb5KpogHLigRUDgH9d3k1/s320/Blue+Owl+Front+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Look. At. This. Owl. It's so cute! And the beads look really good, much better than I expected! I thought it would be really fiddly to use beads for eyes, but it was quite easy. The beads themselves feel heavy, and I think they might be glass and not plastic. </div><div><br /></div><div>Quick PSA: While I don't recommend giving any amigurumi with plastic/glass eyes to a child under the age of 3, including those with safety eyes, these kind of bead/glass eyes are especially dangerous as they can shatter/break or be removed from the toy and swallowed. This does not reflect anything negative on this project or its materials, just something to be aware of!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghgpDKPyC9wniIlff10o8e8qAD98N1W5FbfDNuzquyG4RAyadbcCT3Ow7Q1VWZfo5HdmVsL_R49yC4mo5bKunh5I-hxpnnMqduXRxguY99re8pTzNMIMv7pBrkGcZs7jkaa4qzpB0aGOSl/s2048/Blue+Owl+Ending+Materials.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2046" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghgpDKPyC9wniIlff10o8e8qAD98N1W5FbfDNuzquyG4RAyadbcCT3Ow7Q1VWZfo5HdmVsL_R49yC4mo5bKunh5I-hxpnnMqduXRxguY99re8pTzNMIMv7pBrkGcZs7jkaa4qzpB0aGOSl/s320/Blue+Owl+Ending+Materials.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Like the caterpillar, there's plenty of yarn and stuffing left over.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2P18NCHjVppSOqpYNOi9vW8bK_8ypX3aOxxmhccxk1pkrmRT5GaeeEyFRC9pC8ZNfKyVvP9C3_-PiQ1-XkoGCSfkjCcslsAm_F1vKzhNmUVsunvgDlf9JFucmLm_cb1cte3qPMArTtmPg/s2048/Purple+Owl+Package.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1217" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2P18NCHjVppSOqpYNOi9vW8bK_8ypX3aOxxmhccxk1pkrmRT5GaeeEyFRC9pC8ZNfKyVvP9C3_-PiQ1-XkoGCSfkjCcslsAm_F1vKzhNmUVsunvgDlf9JFucmLm_cb1cte3qPMArTtmPg/s320/Purple+Owl+Package.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Next is the Purple Owl!<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZJ4Iw-olFsyEFi2a1H3BhOT2hm6NqLWqzBHEvJm8wCL2DqeWGKcXBeNzOlZdE3vy-_sj_X2OuclIJ2aw3H2ple-293ee_oEeeBKWhF7bbIEMrYlsJ1tAmIbGWKOLIaR3DwsiQWOUIfYu5/s2048/Purple+Owl+Pattern.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1864" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZJ4Iw-olFsyEFi2a1H3BhOT2hm6NqLWqzBHEvJm8wCL2DqeWGKcXBeNzOlZdE3vy-_sj_X2OuclIJ2aw3H2ple-293ee_oEeeBKWhF7bbIEMrYlsJ1tAmIbGWKOLIaR3DwsiQWOUIfYu5/s320/Purple+Owl+Pattern.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div>This was the kit I was originally interested in, and what led me to the Little Magic House Etsy shop! I love owls, and I really liked the patchwork/plushie look of this owl's design.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj4j3OZ9KFdwNf_CfUp2vUBBuFiQxAWmAQO577LGoaWGl7OdHjEMAJ_m2cDS_207ntaZQBG5KkevA1u5pHaAmflBqPMhPH3fkPtSQmDFsI-BiPHQ6Oafr9M15UadeTC-_KquRoa2dHomvr/s2048/Purple+Owl+Starting+Materials.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1961" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj4j3OZ9KFdwNf_CfUp2vUBBuFiQxAWmAQO577LGoaWGl7OdHjEMAJ_m2cDS_207ntaZQBG5KkevA1u5pHaAmflBqPMhPH3fkPtSQmDFsI-BiPHQ6Oafr9M15UadeTC-_KquRoa2dHomvr/s320/Purple+Owl+Starting+Materials.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>I also really like the color combination of purple and green, and the gradient looked cute.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP8UTZOMrtGLa1HHGP6z3WcfTGrY2HAoz5urYC3j8HlEAS0BpDEpWdOq5m3o6JFMk4vRd_hJOP9OAdYHSF0kplIKg5kl0WJHKM8pLXt_gN_biw9YJZVQFStBhk1Pes0VYumXc7C7ww-EtJ/s1375/Purple+Owl+Front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1276" data-original-width="1375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP8UTZOMrtGLa1HHGP6z3WcfTGrY2HAoz5urYC3j8HlEAS0BpDEpWdOq5m3o6JFMk4vRd_hJOP9OAdYHSF0kplIKg5kl0WJHKM8pLXt_gN_biw9YJZVQFStBhk1Pes0VYumXc7C7ww-EtJ/s320/Purple+Owl+Front.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Ahh, it's so cute! I know I've said that for each one of this kits, but really, I love how small and adorable they all are! Again, a lot of visual interest is achieved by embroidery and the ear tufts, which are much easier to do than if I were to crochet and sew on a beak and crochet and attach ears/ear tufts.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVpH_pqhabzqxDhZIVN31ZwA1GgqlkO7PZvRrxqxjepGU5bPrJuDwjaR0bjr6GuSTDBhjiUw7cprwzdlFpJjVxkn9wb_6oCSO2PTwjK8PH3VQfFojB0_OF_LCIWctaCWub94tFUo-hrpm4/s2048/Purple+Owl+Ending+Materials.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2006" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVpH_pqhabzqxDhZIVN31ZwA1GgqlkO7PZvRrxqxjepGU5bPrJuDwjaR0bjr6GuSTDBhjiUw7cprwzdlFpJjVxkn9wb_6oCSO2PTwjK8PH3VQfFojB0_OF_LCIWctaCWub94tFUo-hrpm4/s320/Purple+Owl+Ending+Materials.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div>I love the pale/mint green and how it contrasts with the purple, but this was one of the yarn colors that I had the hardest time keeping clean as it seemed to attract all the dust in my house. I'm not sure why this yarn was the most difficult, even more so than the white, and I actually struggled to remove some specks on the back (I have a pair of needle tweezers that I keep in my crochet kit to remove errant dust particles, stuffing/yarn fuzz, and the rare cat hair, and even that had a hard time getting them out).</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-xOfP1oReD4WiF6GMoW2uzEcEscOk9Wd-HXLZGmux0fzCDMqWGces-VMbRCcxwOQrrr_NqJmOmZHu9m78O-6qQ1se9jTAuJQPYohSFc2iQ4HN4lGyfPf3S6CTyASbkRiJb2RUJPiTM2IA/s2048/Whale+Package.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1229" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-xOfP1oReD4WiF6GMoW2uzEcEscOk9Wd-HXLZGmux0fzCDMqWGces-VMbRCcxwOQrrr_NqJmOmZHu9m78O-6qQ1se9jTAuJQPYohSFc2iQ4HN4lGyfPf3S6CTyASbkRiJb2RUJPiTM2IA/s320/Whale+Package.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div>Finally, I got the Whale kit.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjonQVt3tLAoCyzNLuEKiTt7m1Zef_aRCIeRyhD0yxfnTk__oCCfe0rVGimoIZuhclO1H2rz0Idu59h39d3HG3BQnorGipu4iprwert8CRNhKPuZw0eRYI1hGN-78GvHtcN_Og308wS26nr/s2048/Whale+Pattern.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1684" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjonQVt3tLAoCyzNLuEKiTt7m1Zef_aRCIeRyhD0yxfnTk__oCCfe0rVGimoIZuhclO1H2rz0Idu59h39d3HG3BQnorGipu4iprwert8CRNhKPuZw0eRYI1hGN-78GvHtcN_Og308wS26nr/s320/Whale+Pattern.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div>This style of whale is quite common in amigurumi, but there are a lot of different ways to make them, so it's interesting to see how a specific designer tackles the pattern.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrF8WSTYnTBuUJaYMwfc0K3NoFt7GV9bq7tlGXba1fSCoIaYrVUPLmMwYR5XcFQOffZpHSa2udbjKwVcRQ6NQGjqBLm6X9VR4ImEWc8v48BwOAqiV0IQoID2R-hB1cVQsA255-Y5u_x9Xw/s2048/Whale+Starting+Materials.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1824" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrF8WSTYnTBuUJaYMwfc0K3NoFt7GV9bq7tlGXba1fSCoIaYrVUPLmMwYR5XcFQOffZpHSa2udbjKwVcRQ6NQGjqBLm6X9VR4ImEWc8v48BwOAqiV0IQoID2R-hB1cVQsA255-Y5u_x9Xw/s320/Whale+Starting+Materials.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>This is also the least colorful of the four kits I purchased, with just blue and white, but again, you get plenty of yarn. I like how, even if things are the same color, the yarn is split up for the different parts (even though the whole whale is blue, you get different bobbins for the body and fins/tail).</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_uMK4uSP5vaHo3BMzC-km2RnKc07lPaUlpIxlNOcS8E2hDqtT3-MeiBiaUkVDLkoAcq8Db8d1i80bRw8LeubE4Q9svRFWneEWBK1AaF5hUKO1rjWBZLAjy3YJ8nD-5ovHl9-C5GxYktsI/s1701/Whale+Side.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1553" data-original-width="1701" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_uMK4uSP5vaHo3BMzC-km2RnKc07lPaUlpIxlNOcS8E2hDqtT3-MeiBiaUkVDLkoAcq8Db8d1i80bRw8LeubE4Q9svRFWneEWBK1AaF5hUKO1rjWBZLAjy3YJ8nD-5ovHl9-C5GxYktsI/s320/Whale+Side.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>I've tried a few of these stylized whale amigurumi patterns, and this is one of my favorites. I think it really captures the simplified shape of a whale, and I like the design of the fins and tail.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEWTAskZUvTUDb5Q3Y7VSnEapNjpYh3jmL-SiDSfsjGPWJGxKeuUnqyXOmCCTObHhXX7ASDGvXxFaBBSXXXRSo9axkaG80KcbxIwfFwIwFxqkf3JKZ-88v8LFr8bFKqDPwJm3IOuKpz7lq/s2017/Whale+Top.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2017" data-original-width="1794" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEWTAskZUvTUDb5Q3Y7VSnEapNjpYh3jmL-SiDSfsjGPWJGxKeuUnqyXOmCCTObHhXX7ASDGvXxFaBBSXXXRSo9axkaG80KcbxIwfFwIwFxqkf3JKZ-88v8LFr8bFKqDPwJm3IOuKpz7lq/s320/Whale+Top.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div>Most patterns I've seen have you crochet the fins and tail as part of the body, which I usually prefer since it saves the step of sewing them on later, but they're just so much cuter and rounder when made and attached separately. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWMu2Pv4w01H45F5qQCntjVs1qkE_H78stO-kYBlVp6Wl2-TQE7q804aejCWYaQzbpybwWOJOz7QuDPJ8h7uvVwNFLdU0LAATZ_Q3tFAdZqZFEnZpz_EulAkDZCg-lmMypFgaFVS6L3dzz/s2048/Whale+Ending+Materials.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1872" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWMu2Pv4w01H45F5qQCntjVs1qkE_H78stO-kYBlVp6Wl2-TQE7q804aejCWYaQzbpybwWOJOz7QuDPJ8h7uvVwNFLdU0LAATZ_Q3tFAdZqZFEnZpz_EulAkDZCg-lmMypFgaFVS6L3dzz/s320/Whale+Ending+Materials.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>No surprise, plenty of materials left over. This kit did come the closest to using all the mats, and, therefore, has the least left over, but I wasn't concerned about running out at any point while making my whale.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div>And those are my (first) four amigurumi crochet kits from Little Magic House! This post got a little long since I wanted to include all four in one post, so I greatly appreciate it if you've read this far! It's probably obvious by now, but I highly recommend checking out Little Magic House's crochet kits; there are a bunch of different styles available (even more than when I purchased mine!), so everyone should be able to find something they're interested in. </div><div><br /></div><div>There's a lot of care and experience put into these kits and patterns, and it really shows. It feels like things have been pared down to the essentials, but without making you feel like something is missing; they feel delightfully simple and complete; each kit provided a nice break from bigger, more stressful projects, and the 'easy' kits would be a great first project for a crochet beginner or someone looking to try amigurumi.</div><div><br /></div><div><3 Thank you for reading!</div><div><br /></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132276752053570711.post-50129973268602173962020-10-06T22:21:00.003-05:002020-10-06T22:21:33.000-05:00WeCrochet - $50 Yay Crochet Kit - Review<p> Surprisingly, I did not know about the WeCrochet website or magazine until fairly recently, during my search for crochet kits to review. You'd think that, with a website that is literally crochet.com, WeCrochet would be a company I was familiar with...</p><p>In order to learn more and explore what they have to offer, I purchased their $50 Yay Crochet kit (along with two additional kits that will be reviewed separately...once I finish them).</p><p>The $50 Yay Crochet kit is, as the name suggests, a $50 kit that includes 7 different WeCrochet branded items (if you count each ball of yarn as an item, then you get 9 items). The retail value of the kit is $108.91, but that is if you purchase all the items at full price. I believe WeCrochet runs a lot of sales/deals, so you're more likely to pay a bit less than that if you bought everything separately. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF8cZyKammNvlxiNB2RJcWS_25g_tk3lvUUVU6yZSlA0ZHDLAqD32eJcRKoQ1bPAaEqAXgoxDtIiiiPkzvtj_7biz5-EGxv9EQCi4bZjXtodyxw9kTvba7gxfu18DO8EwqB-lKI1G073Rj/s2048/WeCrochet+Magazines.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1986" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF8cZyKammNvlxiNB2RJcWS_25g_tk3lvUUVU6yZSlA0ZHDLAqD32eJcRKoQ1bPAaEqAXgoxDtIiiiPkzvtj_7biz5-EGxv9EQCi4bZjXtodyxw9kTvba7gxfu18DO8EwqB-lKI1G073Rj/s320/WeCrochet+Magazines.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>I was mostly interested in this kit for the magazines and the hook set, and those items make up most of the value. Included in this kit are Issues 1 and 2 and, at the time I purchased my kit, they were the only two magazines available. </p><p>WeCrochet currently has two more magazines, Issue 3 (Summer 2020; this one might actually have been available when I made my purchase, but I don't remember seeing it) and Issue 4 (Fall 2020); these can also be purchased separately or as part of their own WeCrochet kits. I would actually recommend those kits, the Summer 2020 Yay Crochet and Fall 2020 Yay Crochet (though that one is sold out right now) over this kit just due to the more interesting and, I feel, useful items.</p><p>The WeCrochet magazines retail for $14.99 individually (currently on sale for $11.24), which I think is reasonable for specialty magazine of this quality. They feel more similar to paperback books than traditional newsstand magazines (thick covers and thick paper), and have limited-to-no advertising (and only of their own brand/products from what I can see).</p><p>The patterns included in these magazines are also similar to most other crochet magazines I've collected in the past; accessories and clothing items that lean more 'traditional' in style. I'm more interested in amigurumi and more quirky accessories and clothing, but the patterns can be helpful starting points. I find it interesting that the magazines seem so 'traditional', while WeCrochet actually has a lot of much more niche, 'quirky' designs, including cute plushies and clothing (like a big stuffed unicorn and cactus-themed beret). I suppose they want to magazines to appeal to the broadest audience.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2uiKVz8KKpE-z5s9Aoc7jTz86_Ya8-NiYyAnKRJ0wtQPIhRk6U36Lf5YObmb4FlrTmPw9M7lABhNryR64P_q-7f0iLLct1qvcT7hc7U5zWlKhBVBbdw945Y-c147zeWjZwvEZhNJt6Q_n/s2048/Mosaic+Hook+Set+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1801" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2uiKVz8KKpE-z5s9Aoc7jTz86_Ya8-NiYyAnKRJ0wtQPIhRk6U36Lf5YObmb4FlrTmPw9M7lABhNryR64P_q-7f0iLLct1qvcT7hc7U5zWlKhBVBbdw945Y-c147zeWjZwvEZhNJt6Q_n/s320/Mosaic+Hook+Set+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Sorry for the potato picture; the WeCrochet Mosaic Regular Crochet Hook Set was tricky to photograph since I didn't want to remove them from their plastic holder. This photo is with the additional outside package, but it ended up having less glare and being easier to see than the photo of the hooks just in the holder...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMu_msqH01mb9atfNdr3kBCoXpxuIM9Lb8-7We4UKjnLsCsxXsEunRn3CvH0gvTuuceeaP-YTLETANnOc8xCglG0jYp1EMbdQeBijfFGXUOhGhPI_Yl-GMst9joX3txKD4RLg17CG0BtNm/s2048/Mosaic+Hook+Set+Back.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1821" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMu_msqH01mb9atfNdr3kBCoXpxuIM9Lb8-7We4UKjnLsCsxXsEunRn3CvH0gvTuuceeaP-YTLETANnOc8xCglG0jYp1EMbdQeBijfFGXUOhGhPI_Yl-GMst9joX3txKD4RLg17CG0BtNm/s320/Mosaic+Hook+Set+Back.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>This is a wooden hook set with US sizes E-4, F-5, G-6, 7, H-8, I-9, J-10, and K-10.5. The hooks are made out of laminated birch and come in three alternating colors, purple/blue, green/blue, and orange/red/purple.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiilaheW2FrikYOffgrCTr812xNDU4YizRxmoYz2ct52_P0rjrxNFx67Zv2MR5PLaWWgXPyitcHJVR9drtfUL9rruxSFgayDyHVqQ6dM9lYFi8eV5RH4pfiDoRoLFwMtpzQ1aWyerPv8wEd/s2048/Mosaic+Hook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1099" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiilaheW2FrikYOffgrCTr812xNDU4YizRxmoYz2ct52_P0rjrxNFx67Zv2MR5PLaWWgXPyitcHJVR9drtfUL9rruxSFgayDyHVqQ6dM9lYFi8eV5RH4pfiDoRoLFwMtpzQ1aWyerPv8wEd/s320/Mosaic+Hook.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>This set retails for $41.99, and is currently full price. $42 isn't an unreasonable amount for an 8 hook set, but I'm not really into these hooks, unfortunately, and would recommend trying a different set or, at the very least, getting these on sale/as part of a kit like this if you do want to try them out.</p><p>My biggest issue is that hooks aren't labelled what size they are; the plastic packaging is labelled, and the hooks do alternate in color, but you would have to memorize the color order. It wouldn't be so bad if the packaging was a nice case, but it's a flat, plastic holder with a piece of cardboard for the size info. Plus, the plastic makes the hooks smell kind of weird.</p><p>I also don't really like this style of hook anymore; I've been using hooks with cushioned/thicker handles for such a long time now that these hooks just aren't comfortable anymore. Also also, I much prefer metal hooks for their durability and slip (not too much, not too little); the bigger hooks in this set feel quite solid and sturdy, and all the hooks are smooth with well-defined cuts, but the smaller hooks feel a little flimsy/bendable.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKv0SU8IsSvWBGKhpxueVieYaZCLF3q1nBvYOVogjI4cT33Io7DHG3kVzsHtQNQ2Qy82V3ZKSl2ObmZ_W0JgovCuNUuOzHC9_PZqcHQe-_Svq8caX2kGpMY6z8WUpf6hsbEab51zI-9j2p/s2048/Palatte+Yarn+-+Black.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1548" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKv0SU8IsSvWBGKhpxueVieYaZCLF3q1nBvYOVogjI4cT33Io7DHG3kVzsHtQNQ2Qy82V3ZKSl2ObmZ_W0JgovCuNUuOzHC9_PZqcHQe-_Svq8caX2kGpMY6z8WUpf6hsbEab51zI-9j2p/s320/Palatte+Yarn+-+Black.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>The yarn included in this kit are three 50g balls of the WeCrochet/KnitPicks Palette fingering weight yarn in Black. This is a 100% Peruvian Highland Wool yarn and, for being a wool that is not Merino, it's fairly soft, though it does have a bit of stiffness. This yarn retails for $3.99 per 50g ball.</p><p>Fingering weight yarn is good for things like shawls, and I can see this yarn being useful as such since a shawl made with it would be warm, but still lightweight. I understand why they chose to include black as it's a pretty universal color and can be used in a lot of designs, but black yarn can be difficult to crochet with in low light as it's a lot more difficult to see your stitches. I actually try to avoid crocheting anything black/dark after the sun sets since my house doesn't have the best lighting.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9EF-6sllUsmCo9ZTIU_uwXGvzVGgFkp0ZGdoNkcdFAHZt3sMN8nPSMgrgLAk1EBzt1lMnU42Y2Ukx-gmUL-qiTq3Nh6Mm2jNoHkC7S4AD-4EQ8RnTEybom7rE2Ney4YtPgd24FO9PO4hv/s2048/Colorblock+Pouch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1597" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9EF-6sllUsmCo9ZTIU_uwXGvzVGgFkp0ZGdoNkcdFAHZt3sMN8nPSMgrgLAk1EBzt1lMnU42Y2Ukx-gmUL-qiTq3Nh6Mm2jNoHkC7S4AD-4EQ8RnTEybom7rE2Ney4YtPgd24FO9PO4hv/s320/Colorblock+Pouch.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>The next item in this kit is a WeCrochet branded Colorblock Pouch (the website calls it a 'Zippered Pouch - Aqua & Sparkle Silver'). This item retails for $8.99 which...yeah, I suppose. I wouldn't buy this item individually for that price, but it is a nice bag (it's a bit shorter, but a lot taller, than a regular pencil pouch) for keeping crochet supplies in while traveling. </p><p>It feels well-constructed, though the pleathery upper kind of worries me since pleather wears/gets damaged so easily. The inside feels like it would be easy to clean, and overall the pouch feels like it would keep the items inside safe from almost anything they would encounter in a purse, backpack, tote, or luggage. I've seen pouches like this for sale during Back-to-School supplies shopping for about the same price, and the crochet hook pattern on the inside is cute, so I'm happy to have it.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQOIDrcvtkhj8_6AVGIZZVIyf18TXuWnvksCpnjN1ht00cgKUlJp6Ic2A-4qrY_2VPi73zioagVV9JgQlXAeGBO_oSrpx3bSDRLXxUdf3_lUhLAOSIHQteuQoTjqbdjsGlvFINxFtKoDSI/s2048/Project+Bag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1925" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQOIDrcvtkhj8_6AVGIZZVIyf18TXuWnvksCpnjN1ht00cgKUlJp6Ic2A-4qrY_2VPi73zioagVV9JgQlXAeGBO_oSrpx3bSDRLXxUdf3_lUhLAOSIHQteuQoTjqbdjsGlvFINxFtKoDSI/s320/Project+Bag.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div>The next to last item in this kit is a linen drawstring project bag with a cute, punny design. These bags are great for carrying around projects, or for storing and hiding away UFOs (unfinished objects)... The fabric is much more eco-conscious and reusable than plastic, and they feel more sanitary to me since they let your yarn/project 'breathe'. They won't protect against anything major, though, especially water-related incidents, so you do still have to be careful.<div><br /></div><div>This bag retails for $7.99, and is another item that I wouldn't pay retail price for. It's very thin (it is linen), and I'm more accustom to project bags that are made out of canvas, which are sturdier and will protect your project better. The linen, though, is lighter-weight, so it won't add much bulk if space economy is an issue.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihmbp5pb4siREuTUiInm9s5hl73l1WHmUUb1Nyp-LxyAYulJj-Tu2hIO81WWbsborBxsCA1Z3X5-ipYk-JNMgCW9Xqw1aXsxzoG2SNO5rx6awPf_OuGim6WS3Suq1nqzPv05ZnadsNFjQE/s2037/Yay+Crochet+Pin+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1744" data-original-width="2037" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihmbp5pb4siREuTUiInm9s5hl73l1WHmUUb1Nyp-LxyAYulJj-Tu2hIO81WWbsborBxsCA1Z3X5-ipYk-JNMgCW9Xqw1aXsxzoG2SNO5rx6awPf_OuGim6WS3Suq1nqzPv05ZnadsNFjQE/s320/Yay+Crochet+Pin+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Finally, we have the Yay Crochet enamel pin! This pin is exclusive to the Yay Crochet kits (though it doesn't matter which one as I think it's included in all of them) and cannot be purchased separately. Similar enamel pins retail for around $7.99, so I'll assume that's what this one is worth, as well.</div><div><br /></div><div>This pin is a sparkly green ball of yarn with a cute little smiley face and a crochet hook...piercing it's head/body. Hmm. Jokes aside, I do think this is a cute pin, and it's nice to know that purchasing a Yay Crochet kit is the only way to get it.</div><div><br /></div><div>And that's the WeCrochet $50 Yay Crochet kit! I don't think this is a bad kit, but compared to their two newest Yay Crochet kits, the Summer 2020 and Fall 2020 ones, it's not the best on offer in my opinion, even if the total 'retail value' and 'savings' are higher. If you are interested in this kit, please look at those other two kits first to see if they interest you more, especially since they include some of the same items.</div><div><br /></div><div>I think WeCrochet has a lot of interesting products and bundles to offer; I am especially interested in the Brava yarn line after working with it as part of another WeCrochet kit I bought, so I will likely be purchasing again from them in the future!</div><div><br /></div><div><3 Thank you for reading!</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132276752053570711.post-56370073498258536132020-09-27T21:53:00.002-05:002020-09-27T21:53:24.410-05:00Amigurumi Barmy/Liz Ward - Spider-Man Avengers Crochet Kit - Review<p>Spider-Man wasn't always one of my favorite superheroes; I always thought he was a little too goofy and awkward, and I wasn't really interested in his stories. Then I became an adult and realized that his is the <i>most</i> relatable Avenger, nay, superhero, and both Tom Holland's Spider-Man and the Spider-People from Into the Spider-Verse have cemented Spider-Man (and Spider-People) as one of my favorites.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixbt5bUU6m5H65p9Wmpqih01pg7EYb9IoGk2YeLbSVE65-rroBEYiWcpiqoWOmuXmU5oc29LFeWebo4vcnIpiMDsht4vM2H_XzsCpDrJswCgmCWMvU6_HzB97lulrU7pJb6kwulGuaerZ8/s2048/Bag+Back.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1773" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixbt5bUU6m5H65p9Wmpqih01pg7EYb9IoGk2YeLbSVE65-rroBEYiWcpiqoWOmuXmU5oc29LFeWebo4vcnIpiMDsht4vM2H_XzsCpDrJswCgmCWMvU6_HzB97lulrU7pJb6kwulGuaerZ8/s320/Bag+Back.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div>There are a lot of patterns for Marvel superheroes, including Spider-Man, but what drew me to the Spider-Man Avengers crochet kit from Amigurumi Barmy/Liz Ward on Etsy was its simplicity and cute, chubby design. I normally avoid using felt for details, but I do think it looks with Spider-Man's design as his suit's eyes are smooth compared to the rest of his suit, which have a web pattern.<div><br /></div><div>This kit cost me $18.60 (originally $21.88 but I had a 15% off coupon and I got free shipping since I bought another kit at the same time) and was shipped from the UK. I appreciate that you have the option to select UK or US terminology for the pattern, though I don't mind patterns in UK terms as it's easy enough to 'translate' them.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-1NYR-dzOqjBS71KMwUeQG5zD0ZdJ57CpYkeedZ15sZUqY9Qu9ZKzXa0_exR04cBK2Uf7KyB0QJo7Dfv-NRoTSmKwc9e4_gPoPKGyV2s3RA4w3v3buwat_fut_cKBjo_MipF3mg_a9d9q/s2048/Pattern.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1511" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-1NYR-dzOqjBS71KMwUeQG5zD0ZdJ57CpYkeedZ15sZUqY9Qu9ZKzXa0_exR04cBK2Uf7KyB0QJo7Dfv-NRoTSmKwc9e4_gPoPKGyV2s3RA4w3v3buwat_fut_cKBjo_MipF3mg_a9d9q/s320/Pattern.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div>This kit includes a physical copy of the pattern, printed in landscape orientation and folded like a pamphlet. The pattern was easy to follow, and actually ended up being easier than I thought it would be! The blue patches on the sides are separate pieces sewed onto the red upper half of the body after it is finished, and the head and body are all one piece.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiehxbQJFwbEhGA5tUfkYMfIGgazweHS5bdeEOuyqoyH13tlz-wpojuBaK1g9FMq3g5TprjcrJQGI-PtPSUJvsRGkvYAhlr38WiuXUEnDwQeZymiDGjl2AXvaI8y0httEgkIUViUrZX1MZC/s2048/Starting+Materials.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1986" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiehxbQJFwbEhGA5tUfkYMfIGgazweHS5bdeEOuyqoyH13tlz-wpojuBaK1g9FMq3g5TprjcrJQGI-PtPSUJvsRGkvYAhlr38WiuXUEnDwQeZymiDGjl2AXvaI8y0httEgkIUViUrZX1MZC/s320/Starting+Materials.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div>Along with a physical copy of the pattern, this kit includes red and blue cotton yarn, a small amount of black yarn, white and black felt, and a metal 3mm crochet hook. It does not include stuffing, but that's not a big deal since stuffing is readily available (in a pinch, you can even use fabric/yarn scraps for stuffing, shredded paper, cotton balls...there are a lot of options!).</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoOAkQPWukwD7gtnhMceMcDWc9MRzOLYCszKEoRlieD9OzCxrDmHGTryy59E07cXMC96sHwYTE0dhlrlwIGHlHUtqv0YfCD69vqNWEudFzTvW8fXI5u3YKkB7TylWxRBMPP-QKKP6TcNMb/s2048/Kit+Front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1517" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoOAkQPWukwD7gtnhMceMcDWc9MRzOLYCszKEoRlieD9OzCxrDmHGTryy59E07cXMC96sHwYTE0dhlrlwIGHlHUtqv0YfCD69vqNWEudFzTvW8fXI5u3YKkB7TylWxRBMPP-QKKP6TcNMb/s320/Kit+Front.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div>I was admittedly not happy with how my Spider-Man turned out using the included yarn. It felt too loose and easily deformed, even though I actually used a hook a bit smaller than the included and recommended 3.00mm (I used a C/2.75mm hook since I prefer to use my Clover Soft Touch hooks and don't have a 3.00mm as it's not a standard US size). The pattern is quick to make, though, so it was easy to make a second Spider-Man using my own yarn.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP_tRDMnTiYiiPN81GI7JAW3HP1viMVb0c-Ya4r31nEuQ72Ob8JfwMClRVLKTyatLNvP-H6A_Pnc0szwS8wA6JkRzksIZl5ejwIDDl_5gPYE9DZFi9JQuQLAAHkcXP2HdKLT8yeQ5n0mOT/s2048/Stash+Front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1588" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP_tRDMnTiYiiPN81GI7JAW3HP1viMVb0c-Ya4r31nEuQ72Ob8JfwMClRVLKTyatLNvP-H6A_Pnc0szwS8wA6JkRzksIZl5ejwIDDl_5gPYE9DZFi9JQuQLAAHkcXP2HdKLT8yeQ5n0mOT/s320/Stash+Front.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div>And I'm much happier with it! I don't think this is an issue with the kit, or even the yarn itself since I'm pretty sure it's the same yarn that was used to make the sample plushie used for the pattern photos; I think it's just an issue with how I crochet and/or stuff my plushies.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV7y0sqZmwFf1BYFKcp3ygfLzOrVLsg17GVimAMzjgl9phxwkbWCUGPr__6SRLScjKbzjYrdmBMA1BpElwDyOTZtxbU5JW3QGp301HP3ypyjWqYcx6Bv6O5an33YmoxCYrcLkiA3328VDq/s2048/Both+Front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1779" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV7y0sqZmwFf1BYFKcp3ygfLzOrVLsg17GVimAMzjgl9phxwkbWCUGPr__6SRLScjKbzjYrdmBMA1BpElwDyOTZtxbU5JW3QGp301HP3ypyjWqYcx6Bv6O5an33YmoxCYrcLkiA3328VDq/s320/Both+Front.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">While I prefer the Spider-Man made using my own yarn, I do like the colors and chest spider embroidery on the one using the materials from the kit. Paradoxically, simple patterns like this require greater attention to detail as even slight imperfections (such as the color change on the legs and the chest spider) are much more noticeable than in more complicated designs (this holds true for almost anything). I would be interested in revisiting this pattern at some point to try to make a plushie that combines what I like from these versions.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7G40HXKImD_bEIvrDU1sHMXD_RgA4i6SmCYR2whTuxOyGz_QWjbpO5jHOPfHUfObzclfwE8l0xC0NzuGZ6syrs_x9drsLXCiX517qP-Ih9mVxa4mHWy_XpWUCYVOgiHlkEHnld5mJFyDn/s2048/Ending+Materials.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1717" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7G40HXKImD_bEIvrDU1sHMXD_RgA4i6SmCYR2whTuxOyGz_QWjbpO5jHOPfHUfObzclfwE8l0xC0NzuGZ6syrs_x9drsLXCiX517qP-Ih9mVxa4mHWy_XpWUCYVOgiHlkEHnld5mJFyDn/s320/Ending+Materials.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The kit includes plenty of yarn and felt to complete the plushie, even if you make a few mistakes. I don't think there's enough to make another Spider-Man (the kit is meant to only make one), but I would be interested in trying while using a smaller hook (like a B/2.25mm or 2.00mm), as this might also help with the stretching/deforming issue.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Overall, this is a good kit; the pattern is easy to follow and the finished plushie is cute, though any mistakes will likely be obvious as it is such a simple, clean pattern. I'm on the fence about the included yarn since I like the color and feel, but the plushie I made using the recommended size hook has issues with loose stitches and deformation (again, though, this is probably more an issue with me than the yarn). </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Amigurumi Barmy/Liz Ward has a lot of superhero (and not superhero!) patterns and kits available in their Etsy shop, so I recommend checking it out if you're interested!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><3 Thank you for reading!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132276752053570711.post-31232824848903406182020-09-27T20:48:00.006-05:002020-09-27T20:48:59.447-05:00Thunder Bay Press - Disney Princess Crochet Kit - Review<p> This is a redemption of sorts. Except not really since this kit actually has pretty good reviews on Amazon (4.5 stars out of 5 out of 199 reviews). But I watched a negative review of this kit on Youtube and disagreed with it so strongly that I needed to review it myself. I already own this kit, but since it had been so long since I had purchased it, and that I had given away all the included materials, I bought it again solely for this review.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5AgILikDubAVFVVIfiMT_dXeCniKY2HzrwmkDl7jWLnd9ZhMy-am7Sz9ckX9FbckvUtrv_aRwOvFlLb2td3XAPR4tMouWcBAl-NskjCBFOQzQvU2EVH-VYxJgd96anOWNfYNQ1HFzH9QN/s2048/Box+Front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1774" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5AgILikDubAVFVVIfiMT_dXeCniKY2HzrwmkDl7jWLnd9ZhMy-am7Sz9ckX9FbckvUtrv_aRwOvFlLb2td3XAPR4tMouWcBAl-NskjCBFOQzQvU2EVH-VYxJgd96anOWNfYNQ1HFzH9QN/s320/Box+Front.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>This is the Disney Princess Crochet kit by Thunder Bay Press. You may not be familiar with Thunder Bay Press by name, but if you've ever seen one of these crochet kits in Barnes & Noble (and there are quite a few different themed kits, included licensed characters like this one and more generic cute animals/plants), it's likely from Thunder Bay Press. In fact, before I started actively researching and purchasing kits for review, it was the only company I was familiar with that made mass-produced crochet kits.</p><p>Thunder Bay Press kits are fairly affordable and cost between $15-$25, though I wouldn't pay more than $20 as the included materials, as we shall see, aren't the highest quality. This kit is currently (as of writing this post) $18.24 from Amazon.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghKwr9g6VarIJeYIxfYnnZjaAATd-dEVhM8J1tQVh0LScbhPU4JdALqnnyPz7pVCO1RBauVQ9UA2CZL3TRCZL4SLocJzEg348KFrUkyWiZi1Ny1UWcBtsTgwVHRxbyYmJdemBMZryghErl/s2048/Box+Back.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1968" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghKwr9g6VarIJeYIxfYnnZjaAATd-dEVhM8J1tQVh0LScbhPU4JdALqnnyPz7pVCO1RBauVQ9UA2CZL3TRCZL4SLocJzEg348KFrUkyWiZi1Ny1UWcBtsTgwVHRxbyYmJdemBMZryghErl/s320/Box+Back.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>These kits include a pattern book with amigurumi patterns based on the theme of the kit and enough materials to make two specific plushies. The pattern book in this kit includes 12 Disney Princess(ish) patterns:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuuQwjFYJQ7SpyxalMT15Y3qLFHWhuNrOQw-3GWu3GweMCTNhH9EfhDk0eqgNcTeVzL8kb5OGVkCK3TSSnvwp3nJfREBPR8qK4TeMvhdb_eqO3z7MvPlylEUksank3-Jw4lorv6YWu6b9X/s3417/Box+Top.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="803" data-original-width="3417" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuuQwjFYJQ7SpyxalMT15Y3qLFHWhuNrOQw-3GWu3GweMCTNhH9EfhDk0eqgNcTeVzL8kb5OGVkCK3TSSnvwp3nJfREBPR8qK4TeMvhdb_eqO3z7MvPlylEUksank3-Jw4lorv6YWu6b9X/s320/Box+Top.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Cinderella, Snow White, Merida, Mulan, Belle, Ariel...<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfk8QO-uHQZ5daVDiGouC-k_mssvzHVREx40qiSAFAfZ6k3N3_BKvC6QX4qNkjYh__ZHGMpF4jizK7-faMCMegTF5oaBVwYZyZvEkKkMAhLRv3Fi2h3iN0dVALv5pXToMLxVOIN-5VFM3c/s3541/Box+Bottom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="888" data-original-width="3541" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfk8QO-uHQZ5daVDiGouC-k_mssvzHVREx40qiSAFAfZ6k3N3_BKvC6QX4qNkjYh__ZHGMpF4jizK7-faMCMegTF5oaBVwYZyZvEkKkMAhLRv3Fi2h3iN0dVALv5pXToMLxVOIN-5VFM3c/s320/Box+Bottom.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>...the Fairy Godmother (why?), Pocahontas, Rapunzel, Jasmine, Aurora, and Tiana. As all the pattern were created by the same person, Jana Whitley, all 12 plushies have a similar chibi/cute style. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAz9rWJcnFuDgvVMzdF3Aj1c2d2Jokw18UYy1urcyhs4m7GzdjlUot1kEpuJDKgQTQkF6HX4mKVSV6CG76uB5hjK-nZUKSnBB6NcVvTUeq2pJVQVK7KBA2xlTBUI2YjkSoFH6BTIx2cPba/s2048/Pattern+Book.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1674" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAz9rWJcnFuDgvVMzdF3Aj1c2d2Jokw18UYy1urcyhs4m7GzdjlUot1kEpuJDKgQTQkF6HX4mKVSV6CG76uB5hjK-nZUKSnBB6NcVvTUeq2pJVQVK7KBA2xlTBUI2YjkSoFH6BTIx2cPba/s320/Pattern+Book.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div>The pattern books in these kits are on the smaller side (about a third to a fourth the size of a full-size book), but have large, colorful photos and quite a lot of content, included information on basic crochet stitches and techniques. The pattern book is the most valuable part of these kits and, since full-size pattern books retail anywhere from $12-25, I'm pretty sure that it's where most of the cost of these kits come from (...it sure isn't coming from the yarn...). This pattern book seems to be holding up okay, but some of my older books from Thunder Bay Press kits (including the Disney Princess book from my previous kit) have broken, crackly binding.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRQ91bGgilPUBaUqrHWxCz-ATE6Z1jpCFBjuCeW1iaOfkYHML2iru6-dnXa-aDCsjni2R7aCULyIyxWzMj1vV49jU49TwqLj0g46HSS84p7GYxRo9Ltg-cF10ahyd2kdtQLmm-MlL1xj9H/s2048/Starting+Materials.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1825" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRQ91bGgilPUBaUqrHWxCz-ATE6Z1jpCFBjuCeW1iaOfkYHML2iru6-dnXa-aDCsjni2R7aCULyIyxWzMj1vV49jU49TwqLj0g46HSS84p7GYxRo9Ltg-cF10ahyd2kdtQLmm-MlL1xj9H/s320/Starting+Materials.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>To be blunt, the yarn in this kit is garbage. It's thin and rough, and not pleasant to crochet with. The colors are weird (it looks okay in this photo, but the 'skin tone' color is an off-white/eggshell color), and it gets tangled up with itself while crocheting. It is tightly twisted, though, so it's not prone to fraying at least. It's okay to practice with, but you wouldn't want to make a plushie to sell, gift, or display with it. </div><div><br /></div><div>The included stuffing is alright; it's soft and you get a bunch of it, and it's a big improvement from the stuffing in the previous (it was extremely scratchy and dense). The safety eyes are way too big for the weight of the included yarn (it's a DK/3) and hook (a 4/E 3.55mm) and look a little bug-eyed/goofy on the plushies. The aforementioned hook, however, is metal, as is the included yarn needle, which is good, but they're not really high quality and are easy to bend (still better than plastic, though).</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbScJDylSwRRJr4qcCOybBm8PhLEas-7Hup5WUGOpCllRtVAc-OPSJZl4MFo2VJU_XNy2P6EVDGLbIi3ew5wkoFTTQXvYag1fJuBMFUfA4st2EfLya2DRxNDPFvhimVSca9cqRA-Le120r/s2048/CindAriKit+Front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1939" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbScJDylSwRRJr4qcCOybBm8PhLEas-7Hup5WUGOpCllRtVAc-OPSJZl4MFo2VJU_XNy2P6EVDGLbIi3ew5wkoFTTQXvYag1fJuBMFUfA4st2EfLya2DRxNDPFvhimVSca9cqRA-Le120r/s320/CindAriKit+Front.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>This kit includes enough materials to make Ariel and Cinderella. I'm kind of surprised they chose Cinderella as one of the plushies to make as her pattern is a little complicated, especially her hair. It's very obvious that the materials used to create the plushie samples on the box and in the pattern book are not the same as those included with the kit; they are clearly much higher quality. This is my biggest issue with the kit, and why I would not pay more for it than you are willing to pay for the pattern book as, again, that's the most valuable part.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_FPfV5sJRIWBQ6hVU6uP3NnbWCGzOF4O4oY9fuBo6DTsWXDq9YtrIuwDHaxcN98q94ozsLoejP8Kz9uvs1r266C6PPBz792NEuU8ev6On91crbpG6mc8WOrtT5Ss6mWrH8g0PdZ6ouzEN/s2048/CindAriKit+Back.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1852" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_FPfV5sJRIWBQ6hVU6uP3NnbWCGzOF4O4oY9fuBo6DTsWXDq9YtrIuwDHaxcN98q94ozsLoejP8Kz9uvs1r266C6PPBz792NEuU8ev6On91crbpG6mc8WOrtT5Ss6mWrH8g0PdZ6ouzEN/s320/CindAriKit+Back.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Rant start:</div><div><br /></div><div>Which brings me to my biggest issue with the negative Youtube review; this kit is not for beginners. No where on the box does it say this kit is intended for beginners or those who are learning to crochet. It does say the patterns are 'easy to follow', which I agree with overall, though there are some tricky bits, but I don't think this implies that it's for beginners.</div><div><br /></div><div>The person who gave this kit a very strong negative review had never crocheted before trying this kit, and a large part of their review was that this kit did not include extensive instructions and photos for very basic crochet stitches and techniques, including how to cast on and how to read patterns. Which, again, is not the intention of this kit and, in fact, would be an entire kit in-and-of itself. The reviewer then proceeded to deride the creators of this kit and the people who created the book and patterns over this.</div><div><br /></div><div>Crochet patterns are not easy to make, and they take a lot of time, patience, and trial and error. The patterns in this book are complex and create complex and interesting shapes, and likely took Jana Whitley a long time to perfect. I think it's extremely unfair to say that Jana did a poor job with their patterns because a person new to crochet was unable to understand them. They are written in standard crochet pattern terminology, using standard abbreviations, which are included in a glossary at the beginning of the book. They are not 'lazy', 'poorly done', or 'made to sound like you know what you're doing'.</div><div><br /></div><div>I understand that a large part of Youtube content is hyperbole--I myself use hyperbole for humor--and I have nothing wrong with giving this kit a negative review, but it feels irresponsible, egregious even, to call this kit 'misleading' without having any previous experience with crochet (the reviewer has stated themselves that they hate sewing and textile crafts).</div><div><br /></div><div>No, this kit is not good to learn how to crochet with, but that's not what it promises to do; it's not any different from most other kits, or even most crochet pattern books. If you want to use a kit to learn how to crochet, it's important to purchase a kit that is specifically made to do so. You can totally learn from kits such as this and books (I started with Twinkie-Chan's first crochet pattern book), it's just more difficult. I strongly recommend using Youtube videos to learn if possible as learning how to crochet is generally much easier if you are able to watch someone and copy them instead of looking at a series of photos.</div><div><br /></div><div>Okay, rant over.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfEEdAy5xw0o90QxfY0olxoD976owXYJdUfbLN2a2TQ2G-CKOTYWv8-hyYLMTrUplOCFf2HMSbS0DTC4qsF2tGdKWtXKRd1pNky5pDV0xFCDyNT4af3xB5NGQ20xAEVBbpnC7GiOlbMh6P/s2048/AriComp+Front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1538" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfEEdAy5xw0o90QxfY0olxoD976owXYJdUfbLN2a2TQ2G-CKOTYWv8-hyYLMTrUplOCFf2HMSbS0DTC4qsF2tGdKWtXKRd1pNky5pDV0xFCDyNT4af3xB5NGQ20xAEVBbpnC7GiOlbMh6P/s320/AriComp+Front.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Since I wasn't happy with how the plushies turned out using the included yarn and safety eyes, I wanted to make one using my own yarn and more appropriately-sized eyes.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFJ0emK8QF16vJjpMW0es1q9qp_VO0YKszQfOkuQChyH7AK7ZYKDLJtPnceimYDJMy6XEFZu4lFG0Xy7F1jlcrmAPPgHw6ORrRsXBbOV9u29GwVe5t_I7Yd_J1r5G6ZhuBwYvTk_QjQ45f/s2048/Ariel+Front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1639" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFJ0emK8QF16vJjpMW0es1q9qp_VO0YKszQfOkuQChyH7AK7ZYKDLJtPnceimYDJMy6XEFZu4lFG0Xy7F1jlcrmAPPgHw6ORrRsXBbOV9u29GwVe5t_I7Yd_J1r5G6ZhuBwYvTk_QjQ45f/s320/Ariel+Front.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div>I think this Ariel turned out much better than the one made using the included yarn; better colors, better proportion, and much more enjoyable to crochet. It also shows just how good the included patterns are; these plushies are extremely cute, while still being detailed and recognizable.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihIq7i2TmLcC5p3AHlWAF5fWAlpuGoDfojlpVY8bWIvDfFgnLuSLVUF24HrutaJ7OFGF8Gznf2IiCbNkhihS1Ofrfugj5cusseeVBVs-YlpVLBQS1vtls-pDtJ-81a-lGv-JtSo92Sdyb0/s2048/Ariel+Back.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1674" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihIq7i2TmLcC5p3AHlWAF5fWAlpuGoDfojlpVY8bWIvDfFgnLuSLVUF24HrutaJ7OFGF8Gznf2IiCbNkhihS1Ofrfugj5cusseeVBVs-YlpVLBQS1vtls-pDtJ-81a-lGv-JtSo92Sdyb0/s320/Ariel+Back.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div>I only made Ariel using my own yarn and not Cinderella due to time constraints, but I would like to revisit these patterns and make all the included Princesses (...and Fairy Godmother. Again, why?) at some point.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2LyuhSZ4nNR_T2lkJ0puQZK4qpT3j9Zqd2Z8LxBtxSPILGK5mRd3kMjuzk9zjxvlj5wp6xdcwkGx7gpcWO1BsEAlKUfH83cpSPbJQQXZgSUEeP2CJSsLJjnWw93IMBpoQZ9vxoX6WZm9v/s2048/Ending+Materials.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2047" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2LyuhSZ4nNR_T2lkJ0puQZK4qpT3j9Zqd2Z8LxBtxSPILGK5mRd3kMjuzk9zjxvlj5wp6xdcwkGx7gpcWO1BsEAlKUfH83cpSPbJQQXZgSUEeP2CJSsLJjnWw93IMBpoQZ9vxoX6WZm9v/s320/Ending+Materials.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>You do get more than enough yarn to make both plushies, but I won't be keeping it for future projects as I normally do with the leftover yarn from kits, so, eh. At least you don't have to worry about running out if you do want to use it to make Ariel and Cinderella. I have a ton of stuffing left, even after stuffing my two plushies firmly (I didn't use it to stuff my second Ariel), but this I will definitely be keeping as it's soft and of reasonable quality.</div><div><br /></div><div>Overall, the patterns included with this kit are great, though I would recommend them for advanced beginner/intermediate crochets or for beginners looking to challenge themselves. The patterns are very unique and use some interesting techniques that can be applied to other projects, especially in regards to hair (this is actually why I originally bought the kit; I wanted to explore different techniques to create different hairstyles). The yarn and other items included are not the best quality, though, so I don't recommend paying more for this kit than what the patterns are worth (again, no more than $20). </div><div><br /></div><div><3 Thank you for reading!</div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132276752053570711.post-7000236910875223192020-09-27T18:55:00.003-05:002020-09-27T18:55:19.497-05:00Unique Yarns Co. - Glow-in-the-Dark Dragon Crochet Kit - Review<p> After accumulating a...horde, for lack of a better word, of basic supplies for any given craft or hobby, I love exploring more unique, niche, 'special effect' materials. With yarn, this usually means either a different texture, material, or the addition of an iridescent or metallic aspect. I didn't expect, though, to find glow-in-the-dark yarn! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuxZdhOEDMPOnafHfRZk7yUPgUc8viNiULc0Tp9gt60uCi95AMHAmXBRqn8Tmq7TASLOp-lYGoFenySTXvWUFXfJo03m8pYKWkIIXjDsM_0oHGEo1b64fnprekf_hubJnuJK-_SLOuOHJN/s2048/Dragon+Box.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1685" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuxZdhOEDMPOnafHfRZk7yUPgUc8viNiULc0Tp9gt60uCi95AMHAmXBRqn8Tmq7TASLOp-lYGoFenySTXvWUFXfJo03m8pYKWkIIXjDsM_0oHGEo1b64fnprekf_hubJnuJK-_SLOuOHJN/s320/Dragon+Box.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>I was super excited to discover Unique Yarns Co. on Etsy, as, not only do they offer unique yarns (...as one would expect based on their name), but crochet kits! I ended up buying two different kits, but for this review, we will be looking at the Glow-in-the-Dark Dragon kit in blue and orange.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijd2One0kVYqFpZibu15C7NlUxGE78FxXiq2Z-Fs1KtRRs06Td_gBRAIc5u6zJdNOfBDsnll-2Ks3V5VT-1iTFYUYi94Vfs5v98cGwIRty055OwW4-457M6hF-rm-AFiiBv4uY4AK2y38u/s2048/Included+Quote.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijd2One0kVYqFpZibu15C7NlUxGE78FxXiq2Z-Fs1KtRRs06Td_gBRAIc5u6zJdNOfBDsnll-2Ks3V5VT-1iTFYUYi94Vfs5v98cGwIRty055OwW4-457M6hF-rm-AFiiBv4uY4AK2y38u/s320/Included+Quote.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Included in my package was a quote, which is quite relatable.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Ni1BH9SAorEhG3W8bKnjKZlJn2uePuO_p4bqVgw_Kx6VXI3pSne-c5iO8gr1FZ8fS10DhtkQsO2P-3YXEnfa8OhJgFxxfmfspXexEbJ5yr7dYjjx45VwguL-QD5vxBc2oWd0FSh0E5GR/s2048/Starting+Materials.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1560" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Ni1BH9SAorEhG3W8bKnjKZlJn2uePuO_p4bqVgw_Kx6VXI3pSne-c5iO8gr1FZ8fS10DhtkQsO2P-3YXEnfa8OhJgFxxfmfspXexEbJ5yr7dYjjx45VwguL-QD5vxBc2oWd0FSh0E5GR/s320/Starting+Materials.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>This kit cost me $32.44, and I received free shipping since I purchased an additional skein of yarn, bringing my total purchase to over $35. Included in this kit, besides the pattern, are two full skeins of blue phosphorescent yarn, plus a little mini skein, a smaller skein of orange phosphorescent yarn, a big bag of stuffing, and some plastic safety eyes. The eyes are a quality I'm not a fan of (for some reason, any type of safety eyes that have brown/dark plastic washers feel low-quality to me. I tried to use them, but they were so easy to pull apart after snapping them together that I just substituted for some from my own stash).</div><div><br /></div><div>The phosphorescent yarn is a rayon ribbon yarn, which I had never used before. I was worried it would feel rough or be difficult to crochet with, but it honestly wasn't any different. The only issue I ran into with it was that it was much more likely to rip/tear if I pulled on it too hard (...I pull on my yarn tails really tightly to make sure things are secure). Unique Yarns Co. offers individual skeins of ribbon rayon phosphorescent yarn in a handful of different colors, and it looks like they now offer phosphorescent wool yarn! This kit is also available in a pink and green version....which is admittedly the color palette that I thought I had bought, but the two colors are two different listings, and the colors weren't in the titles. The blue and orange still looks great, though, so I don't mind!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibK-wLrZJV5ZSh5NUCH3Z7liEehfTnjR0Tn_EC4X0QDa1GWJIiHtI_yX_e5wDzv6DW6eJcGiQk7pjCVgEJNAD1pzZpZ-scaNvz2u8nmhcXndETAnarAkIJms4m2dCJZ0_DNhCIrlaAAWHJ/s2048/Glow+Yarn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1955" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibK-wLrZJV5ZSh5NUCH3Z7liEehfTnjR0Tn_EC4X0QDa1GWJIiHtI_yX_e5wDzv6DW6eJcGiQk7pjCVgEJNAD1pzZpZ-scaNvz2u8nmhcXndETAnarAkIJms4m2dCJZ0_DNhCIrlaAAWHJ/s320/Glow+Yarn.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div>Along with worries about the ease of crocheting and texture of the yarn, I was skeptical about how much it would glow. But! This yarn has a powerful glow, even after a short period of charge time! This yarn works the same way as other phosphorescent glow-in-the-dark items (such as those plastic stars you can stick to your ceiling and walls); the yarn needs to 'charge' by being held next to a light, and will slowly fade after a while. The glow seen here is after charging in my lightbox for a couple minutes.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkKn44M8MUfUxsen8xcorbSvdeb5iSX6GLnTGwwYgds0fvdauLv7OPYplMeabpcIuq0eyTkkvKNfJzeLgzRLYFJIn_j9BKOwi0Md_uukVqd6U01kAO5beowp4XThv46ku4kBwwiuF_EwV4/s2048/Pattern+Book.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1665" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkKn44M8MUfUxsen8xcorbSvdeb5iSX6GLnTGwwYgds0fvdauLv7OPYplMeabpcIuq0eyTkkvKNfJzeLgzRLYFJIn_j9BKOwi0Md_uukVqd6U01kAO5beowp4XThv46ku4kBwwiuF_EwV4/s320/Pattern+Book.jpg" /></a></div><br /> A physical pattern is included in the kit, protected by a light green cover page.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf9QbtuzgA1RTltgHls6lVABxMAIRIPLgY00usBRUGHw3Fdu-Pmn3FZpWhwLgzuifhph3iSPDfXF-ptLd0kGW4n3CFl6cq5P5kWcyqF5YWuwCZD5otXzq5BUOwjrv1wMkTYHFMy1DL00av/s2048/Pattern+Book+Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1872" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf9QbtuzgA1RTltgHls6lVABxMAIRIPLgY00usBRUGHw3Fdu-Pmn3FZpWhwLgzuifhph3iSPDfXF-ptLd0kGW4n3CFl6cq5P5kWcyqF5YWuwCZD5otXzq5BUOwjrv1wMkTYHFMy1DL00av/s320/Pattern+Book+Cover.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div>I like the booklet style of the pattern, though I do wish there were a few more large pictures, specifically of where to attach things when assembling. Overall, this is a good pattern; it's simple and creates a very round, gentle-looking dragon. It does not have wings, however, which I felt made it look more like a dinosaur than a dragon (though dragons don't always need to have wings). I ended up adding my own wings to my plush, but I had more than enough yarn left over in order to do so.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBx7aJZSpbdtXVJ8dupBq2WtlYmfkNLVHzIpNs-tkmW7V9cI_4gN6leLDLmMK5Q90vkYo3o8kJMcLdgCwIwwfgX2UVlK76hUwztxD0BeaaBRrFusbWMKn3YrDC_QG9uT7Nqpc8wjZ_NVds/s2048/Dragon+Front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1426" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBx7aJZSpbdtXVJ8dupBq2WtlYmfkNLVHzIpNs-tkmW7V9cI_4gN6leLDLmMK5Q90vkYo3o8kJMcLdgCwIwwfgX2UVlK76hUwztxD0BeaaBRrFusbWMKn3YrDC_QG9uT7Nqpc8wjZ_NVds/s320/Dragon+Front.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div>And I think he turned out super cute! I sewed his muzzle on a little more squished than the pattern shows, so he does have a subtle 'pig-style' nose, but thanks to the wings, I think he still looks quite dragon-y.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsK232ZhzIoBo48xJ1_lQGQpgVazZY4TgPmH3bfLnu3zUe2i-4l_iIt7NJ6iG25NAobkipoxghWNSl7me70mg8CVTSnvDu_mdkO9E5IoT5Hwe1SA-COwCK5v3I20h0rNe-Rcd8fGuXg0H9/s2048/Dragon+Side.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1549" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsK232ZhzIoBo48xJ1_lQGQpgVazZY4TgPmH3bfLnu3zUe2i-4l_iIt7NJ6iG25NAobkipoxghWNSl7me70mg8CVTSnvDu_mdkO9E5IoT5Hwe1SA-COwCK5v3I20h0rNe-Rcd8fGuXg0H9/s320/Dragon+Side.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div>I did run out of stuffing and had to supplement from my own stash, but this is pretty standard for me, so I don't really hold it against any kit that it happens to. I think it's important to always have a stash of stuffing material available if you plan on making plushies as you are almost guaranteed to run out at the worst time (I think on this little guy I ran out just before sewing on the tail, which was the final stuffed piece I needed to add).</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8tVSlE_Rap54Yo6NLuydnh4N9PJE8btZu3fpdfEtQZ8soGEASFu_eq_ii3QUqH-nN86o3PaXPudo1yMylB6DPafuIIvqpAuoZKS8Razw8MGjrNZV67HGnxwuf_8gvq7CZGlqyHLvpym0F/s2048/Glow+Dragon+Front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1674" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8tVSlE_Rap54Yo6NLuydnh4N9PJE8btZu3fpdfEtQZ8soGEASFu_eq_ii3QUqH-nN86o3PaXPudo1yMylB6DPafuIIvqpAuoZKS8Razw8MGjrNZV67HGnxwuf_8gvq7CZGlqyHLvpym0F/s320/Glow+Dragon+Front.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div>The most impressive, and my favorite, part of this kit, though is the yarn! It really was easy to work with, it feels soft in the hand and as the finished plushie, and the glow is incredible! I would love to purchase more phosphorescent yarn from Unique Yarn Co. in different colors, and to try out the new glow-in-the-dark wool. As with the skeins before, this glow was achieved by letting the plush 'charge' in my lightbox for a couple minutes (if that).</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbRBEdVGRIbVtnZQYGuYwO0OepuSpfEG_aY3qjz0dt4AZKhbQVBjoI8a9sfghlDKhQTgH0Pm9zHe4wnYOWqWKgTUye_SAFGg1OK2Rls4lJGERzu7b-__qbJEGtVTTlZ77Mun97WwxyRIen/s2048/Ending+Materials.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1704" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbRBEdVGRIbVtnZQYGuYwO0OepuSpfEG_aY3qjz0dt4AZKhbQVBjoI8a9sfghlDKhQTgH0Pm9zHe4wnYOWqWKgTUye_SAFGg1OK2Rls4lJGERzu7b-__qbJEGtVTTlZ77Mun97WwxyRIen/s320/Ending+Materials.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Even after the addition of the wings, I still have almost a full skein of blue yarn left, and plenty of orange; enough to make a star or chbi'thulhu keychain perhaps?</div><div><br /></div><div>Overall, I think this kit is a great way to experience Unique Yarns Co.'s phosphorescent rayon ribbon yarn! They also offer a ghost kit and a space-themed mobile kit if the dragon isn't your style. If you're interested in trying their other yarn, they offer non-glow-in-the-dark/special effect kits, too.</div><div><br /></div><div>Along with the two kits, I purchased some of their other unique/special effect yarn. All the yarn I've tried of theirs so far has been of great quality and has really added an extra touch to the projects I've made using it. If you're interested in some unique yarn, definitely check out Unique Yarns Co!</div><div><br /></div><div><3 Thank you for reading!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132276752053570711.post-4265508273971250512020-09-16T18:49:00.002-05:002020-09-16T18:49:45.009-05:00Red Heart Amigurumi Yarn - Sugar Skull and Bumble Bee - Yarn and Pattern Review<p> Continuing on my journey to crochet and review all of the Red Heart Amigurumi yarn cakes, I present to you my review of the the Sugar Skull and Bumble Bee cakes and patterns. ...I still wouldn't call myself a fan of Red Heart yarn, but I'm having a lot of fun with this series!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFWUA1b6i1KSGbKZFpe_CMBRjzqyWCeDE3Ixez4MHjiTjnEepcGa7gx9Qq46J6a9wrhay5LjJ6Ux1OmHZeFhC-A1KpAYmM-7t5uQwlI733UugAFCWSjjSv9qZsF-FunCahlcyOoDFQPJYN/s2048/Sugar+Skull+Cake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1922" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFWUA1b6i1KSGbKZFpe_CMBRjzqyWCeDE3Ixez4MHjiTjnEepcGa7gx9Qq46J6a9wrhay5LjJ6Ux1OmHZeFhC-A1KpAYmM-7t5uQwlI733UugAFCWSjjSv9qZsF-FunCahlcyOoDFQPJYN/s320/Sugar+Skull+Cake.jpg" /></a></div><p>There is a surprising amount of diversity in style and complexity among all the different crochet patterns in the Red Heart Amigurumi series (I'm assuming the knit patterns are similar, but I haven't looked into them much), which is even more intriguing as I'm pretty sure that all the cakes have the same amount of yarn, and that each color section is equal between cakes; I'm still not 100% sure if each cake is divided equally among all four colors. I have yet to run out of yarn on a project, and, more times than not, will have more than enough to get creative.</p><p>I wonder if these patterns were designed within these constraints (which sounds tricky), or if Red Heart commissioned some patterns and then just sized the cakes/colors to be enough for the largest ones. This series is just so interesting, I'm sad that it seems like Red Heart won't be releasing more cakes/patterns.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSlKUZ4n8lxERaeL3IoC2-7lK9vb_vOcoLC7veSIngKXknHp5uKIju_YGeOZ97uf1wpNhZ9YWNRQqpZbTcyET5wIz7NgEu0Sy2vk6966IQOml3IHcNfkMtCWHaKjWT59lR37_iSpgkyBai/s2048/Starting+Materials.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1538" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSlKUZ4n8lxERaeL3IoC2-7lK9vb_vOcoLC7veSIngKXknHp5uKIju_YGeOZ97uf1wpNhZ9YWNRQqpZbTcyET5wIz7NgEu0Sy2vk6966IQOml3IHcNfkMtCWHaKjWT59lR37_iSpgkyBai/s320/Starting+Materials.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>The Sugar Skull cake has such an intense, eye-catching color palette! I tried to adjust the photos so they showed the colors accurately, but I'm not sure how successful I was (the purple is very rich and deep, and the green is quite bright; I think it's almost neon, but my husband disagrees).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXJh8yVaxIWr0OFw_3k1dq6GPxxL4V26vgF6nC8CzRHTUR01vl3ZAVARaytKDsiPf0LnoxCuOFhPfksR8gCXkEbIJ7_2MyNI8krM93OCssLsVwVBJcJxL_PV0egTp0O_B8j_Gy_N3faPj8/s2048/Original+Front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1554" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXJh8yVaxIWr0OFw_3k1dq6GPxxL4V26vgF6nC8CzRHTUR01vl3ZAVARaytKDsiPf0LnoxCuOFhPfksR8gCXkEbIJ7_2MyNI8krM93OCssLsVwVBJcJxL_PV0egTp0O_B8j_Gy_N3faPj8/s320/Original+Front.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>I really like how these turned out, and I think the colors chosen for the original designs are perfect. They're quite simple, too; the skulls have some very basic shaping and the flowers are all made using the same pattern. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaxXv27_kOQl3QDOO-z7FdEotzkI6ImOz4MX9eKQBu5e9t8OjUpmmenub_VLCflhX4eXuvQe-QEh7JEpsDFmJomk5GG2rkLkRuP2Y_KsYTBF9X_1PAWCSqVBDwEvoIkbIy0ZtM1QuXmSs6/s2048/Original+Side.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1474" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaxXv27_kOQl3QDOO-z7FdEotzkI6ImOz4MX9eKQBu5e9t8OjUpmmenub_VLCflhX4eXuvQe-QEh7JEpsDFmJomk5GG2rkLkRuP2Y_KsYTBF9X_1PAWCSqVBDwEvoIkbIy0ZtM1QuXmSs6/s320/Original+Side.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>The colors and embroidered details, though, make them look more complex. I especially like how the flower centers are done in two different ways (the flowers for the eyes color change from the center color to the petal color, and the flowers on the top of the head have rustically embroidered centers).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKH-1b9A3e4YDWT-9oyhCZRgd5iLLtKYOxWEkLD2bBKXmOL1zi_ADduHmmOUlCc5VRY8N-WHxw5Whb01UdGPKoqw7d6UWfRxP1nHnMW22uqU9-dqjIO4KYwy7k2CWUhYGs1Y7nycFPvDsc/s2048/Alt+Front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1495" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKH-1b9A3e4YDWT-9oyhCZRgd5iLLtKYOxWEkLD2bBKXmOL1zi_ADduHmmOUlCc5VRY8N-WHxw5Whb01UdGPKoqw7d6UWfRxP1nHnMW22uqU9-dqjIO4KYwy7k2CWUhYGs1Y7nycFPvDsc/s320/Alt+Front.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>I even had enough yarn to make two more skulls! These are palette-swaps of each other, similar to the original pair. I don't like the flower eyes on these as much as the first two; originally, I used the petal color to sew on the eye flowers, but on the second pair, I used the center color since there was a lot more contrast between the purple and white as compared to the orange and green. The latter way makes the eyes seem a lot larger and more cartoonish.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKjYd1Guzwh_vsAyjSmSdgcFX6m7w9DtGLZP6oZdhal4ctpbwun0NvWfoVh9kk8UAy8_u5QOEvSYYpn6xht9Z96bDVTqO2aHoe1j-63UowrMJJuHEq8bv5R5HDKKgL_KtoL9AxvozJwH2D/s2048/All+Front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1268" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKjYd1Guzwh_vsAyjSmSdgcFX6m7w9DtGLZP6oZdhal4ctpbwun0NvWfoVh9kk8UAy8_u5QOEvSYYpn6xht9Z96bDVTqO2aHoe1j-63UowrMJJuHEq8bv5R5HDKKgL_KtoL9AxvozJwH2D/s320/All+Front.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>You can get a better idea of what I mean with the eyes when you see them all a group; the purple and white skulls just look more realistic, and more polished, than the orange and green. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNW9IlCcVmS1k17vixpZdEvgk9XVAZmwxvfzu0CoGEqU7a-AFncBSrBv6yBN_3vJ7DLEdRpV8hA-Sn75QNd4l5UtNL1U00FAVq9cljyIxuBLDzT0mE5KmqB_v8lLZ78Jvl-pzsXuKTnMRW/s2048/Ending+Materials.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1772" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNW9IlCcVmS1k17vixpZdEvgk9XVAZmwxvfzu0CoGEqU7a-AFncBSrBv6yBN_3vJ7DLEdRpV8hA-Sn75QNd4l5UtNL1U00FAVq9cljyIxuBLDzT0mE5KmqB_v8lLZ78Jvl-pzsXuKTnMRW/s320/Ending+Materials.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>I had a handful of each color left over, but not enough to make a fifth skull. I do like to hang onto these yarn scraps, though, as they're very helpful if you just need a little bit of color or for embroidering details.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6q4CM75RJ9ltMJ5P137vQoUg_s4G5hNOEGC8r2Iq15KC_QQu6MKPdOR2fMnDQbwt1F9BdSvNCYb7iKxzJo8hW3N4ZiMLBOM-TCwfN32HIZFgN9S0Wna0tPvwGE9AkBHFYT_4oAyADNGyA/s2048/Bee+Cake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1856" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6q4CM75RJ9ltMJ5P137vQoUg_s4G5hNOEGC8r2Iq15KC_QQu6MKPdOR2fMnDQbwt1F9BdSvNCYb7iKxzJo8hW3N4ZiMLBOM-TCwfN32HIZFgN9S0Wna0tPvwGE9AkBHFYT_4oAyADNGyA/s320/Bee+Cake.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div>If I hadn't decided to purchase and make all of the cakes and patterns in the Red Heart Amigurumi series, I probably would not have bought the Bumble Bee cake. I do think the sample Bees are cute (they're knitted on the cake label, but all the patterns come in both crochet and knit), but they're pretty simple.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfJfgqzW9gf-np4Uw-57igLZW3-8hfWCqQyfuKRuRUSaNxN2JHlIaEqmqCSFHKXanRhKH8Oe-2EOJeB2giacmhBLUp-hY9rSuzFIAXYfW-bHglFTApIzatHSPKrBXVCV7KRnfkYcMUr7zF/s2048/Starting+Materials.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1309" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfJfgqzW9gf-np4Uw-57igLZW3-8hfWCqQyfuKRuRUSaNxN2JHlIaEqmqCSFHKXanRhKH8Oe-2EOJeB2giacmhBLUp-hY9rSuzFIAXYfW-bHglFTApIzatHSPKrBXVCV7KRnfkYcMUr7zF/s320/Starting+Materials.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>I mentioned it in my other review, but in the pattern directions for these cakes, it's mentioned that your cake might have two color sections of the same color and that you can combine them when organizing your yarn. All of the cakes currently in the series have four colors, though some, like this one, probably would have benefited from having only three. The grey in this cake is kind of weird; I could see wanting to use it for the bees' wings since grey is a little more realistic than white, but it feels like it was included just to make the palette swap more interesting.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic_Fn_MTfPT3zlgNTxDZjBZhMzyVKI57o-l2dtzuRdMz6vdOEU76Hpb9WAaoEPzLD5mdNFXGYkGwUwSQhw5zeOm-i38dUu73FIqzgiF43Xmqck4Jt9m-4o_ndCI9BrfyRibCTTZN14vDS8/s2048/Bees+Facing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1322" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic_Fn_MTfPT3zlgNTxDZjBZhMzyVKI57o-l2dtzuRdMz6vdOEU76Hpb9WAaoEPzLD5mdNFXGYkGwUwSQhw5zeOm-i38dUu73FIqzgiF43Xmqck4Jt9m-4o_ndCI9BrfyRibCTTZN14vDS8/s320/Bees+Facing.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Even those these bees were simple to make, I think they turned out adorable! I did make some changes to the pattern; I gave the bees more stripes (the original pattern was similar to the sample bees on the label), to give the bee with a black head yellow safety eyes instead of using black eyes and a little bit of yellow yarn, and I gave both bees white wings since I wanted them to look more cartoonish.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7nOz6VhzLhV0EeaLkpt_5-iDALHhsRvxsm6j7jzsldoeOJkLGI3iC_LV0WSvwhevbO2nh77HF8lGr6nj38jPUAx8T51dxP_TjXAydK8JuDPgeqOL9g14QwC6rSqED0iVx7r3NqOZBKVRw/s2048/Bees+Side.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1304" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7nOz6VhzLhV0EeaLkpt_5-iDALHhsRvxsm6j7jzsldoeOJkLGI3iC_LV0WSvwhevbO2nh77HF8lGr6nj38jPUAx8T51dxP_TjXAydK8JuDPgeqOL9g14QwC6rSqED0iVx7r3NqOZBKVRw/s320/Bees+Side.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>I also added antennas (they're made using the pattern for the legs, but with 3sc in the 2nd ch from the hook), I changed the stingers so they weren't super long (the original pattern had an extra ch of scs sticking out, but I thought it looked weird), and I doubled the wings so they're each two circles sewn together instead of one; I think it looks cleaner that way and it gives them more structure.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzF4H-jtExN43CMYTqtBVXnwFyTUdvOVaVyMBJVoC72p8d_sUmdIsxNpmUPKCob69-WBHI1pUBhuaHluGabwgo6NwUirCgt42NCH0IH9mXocZrW_IHkpOXJTfv4pQbaHU_0AjdPkgkBGzm/s2048/Ending+Materials.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1520" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzF4H-jtExN43CMYTqtBVXnwFyTUdvOVaVyMBJVoC72p8d_sUmdIsxNpmUPKCob69-WBHI1pUBhuaHluGabwgo6NwUirCgt42NCH0IH9mXocZrW_IHkpOXJTfv4pQbaHU_0AjdPkgkBGzm/s320/Ending+Materials.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>I have a bunch of white and grey yarn left over (I didn't use the grey at all), but I'm not sure if I have enough yellow or black to make another bumble bee. I think a bee with a grey/white/black color palette would be cute, like a black and white cartoon, so I might actually make another (I just thought of this idea right now, and kind of regret not making one for this review...hmm).<br /><div><br /></div><div>Overall, I think these two yarn cakes/pattern sets are great! The yarn is the same quality as before; not perfect, but definitely some of the best I've used from Red Heart, and I will happily continue to crochet my way through this series! I do prefer the Sugar Skull cake and pattern to the Bumble Bees based on color palette and design, but both are the same in terms of quality.</div><div><br /></div><div>I do recommend picking up these cakes if you are interested in any of the them; I purchased mine from Amazon for $7.20, but they are available from a bunch of different retailers for different prices. I wouldn't pay more than $7.20-$7.50 per cake, but I've seen them as cheap as under $3 (on sale at Michaels, though they're all out of stock online). The patterns are all free and available from Red Heart's website (both in knit and crochet), so no purchase needed to get them!</div><div><br /></div><div>Thank you for reading! <3</div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132276752053570711.post-12482586728306329772020-09-12T22:02:00.000-05:002020-09-12T22:02:17.237-05:00Herrschners - Graceful Blossoms Shawl - Crochet Kit Review<p>I don't crochet clothing or accessories much anymore (mostly because I hate having to worry about gauge and fit), but it's getting to be that time of year again where the outside temperature is unpredictable and my office building tends to be on the chilly side since they don't want to turn on the heating system just yet, so I thought it would be nice to make myself a work shawl!</p><p>While looking for crochet kits on eBay, I found the Graceful Blossom Shawl kit from Herrschner's, a company I hadn't tried before, which piqued my interest. The price was good ($15.99 + $5.00 shipping), and the shawl looked cute, so I went for it!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQS471oE8BvofnpstB58-AE2566YHDTNvBFItqFve50pGUABaVeanckuBE7UGt-C47WIrG2CtofQSgsQpc3gcgCzcUmDCOwf-Kq9gV-gqAFvRcIkEEgKmldNUMCezjGxZ8wbEDiqlHnhDP/s2048/Bag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1872" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQS471oE8BvofnpstB58-AE2566YHDTNvBFItqFve50pGUABaVeanckuBE7UGt-C47WIrG2CtofQSgsQpc3gcgCzcUmDCOwf-Kq9gV-gqAFvRcIkEEgKmldNUMCezjGxZ8wbEDiqlHnhDP/s320/Bag.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After purchasing the kit from eBay, I ended up exploring Herrschner's website and...buying more kits. All of the kits I purchased, including this one, came in a light-weight plastic bag and include the yarn and pattern. The pattern feels like a little bit of an afterthought as it's just a piece (or two) of heavy-weight glossy paper in a plastic bag. The pattern for the kit I bought on eBay arrived fairly creased and pocked, but the patterns for the kits I bought directly from the website looked much better.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijkcfcErGjdPZde0zAdaDf-WO0_3S0mpOJt8Rd6i8BZVoeh6dOuS3NQ5TlFFjuJ2nDPIBDFyMGlGrZyAeEs5Xft8ji1LLiuIjD9x_ohkBK8jr6x6zHCXxO1wNmPYspfdRzHdyK1Pi0L5Rf/s2048/Pattern.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1933" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijkcfcErGjdPZde0zAdaDf-WO0_3S0mpOJt8Rd6i8BZVoeh6dOuS3NQ5TlFFjuJ2nDPIBDFyMGlGrZyAeEs5Xft8ji1LLiuIjD9x_ohkBK8jr6x6zHCXxO1wNmPYspfdRzHdyK1Pi0L5Rf/s320/Pattern.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">While looking at the website, I also read reviews for the kits, and I discovered that this kit had some potential issues with not including enough yarn finish. A few reviews expressed concerns that the stitch count in the pattern was incorrect and, because of this, they ran out of yarn when they got to the yellow-colored section. As I am very impatient and don't like running out materials and waiting to get more, I purchased a second shawl kit to make sure. Unfortunately, the price of the kit went up to $24.99 (it had been on sale for $15.99 on both eBay and the website; the price for the kit on eBay had also gone up).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm not sure if the pattern had been updated since those reviews as I did not have any issues with incorrect stitch counts or coming anywhere close to running out of yarn, but they were fairly recent (April 2020), so if so, it was updated only a short time ago. I will say, though, that the statements about the discrepancy in the finished projects listed measurements, 90" × 42" (229 x 107cm) on the website vs. 77" × 32" (196 x 81cm) on the pattern, are still correct. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My shawl is quite a bit smaller than the sample one in the picture on both the website and the pattern (even after using a bigger hook since I know I tend to crochet tighter and need a larger hook for the correct gauge), and I believe those who have run out of yarn/had incorrect stitch counts were following the pattern for the larger version. I may try to make another shawl by tweaking the pattern slightly as I have an extra kit and have plenty of yarn left over from this one.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8VATm1plTJl1XuRI4i9sT6FCgvVEQDcQVQ7FRf7GlnKXJLf11-Kd6_wN8fyFZvs0dYI0HloLyOPcLV56ckFpfXUQFPndI791pnl-kWz_PVNJw6i_rRj5Tl6NulCev46ICLdmEWiO_oYR0/s2048/Starting+Colors.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2038" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8VATm1plTJl1XuRI4i9sT6FCgvVEQDcQVQ7FRf7GlnKXJLf11-Kd6_wN8fyFZvs0dYI0HloLyOPcLV56ckFpfXUQFPndI791pnl-kWz_PVNJw6i_rRj5Tl6NulCev46ICLdmEWiO_oYR0/s320/Starting+Colors.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">All the yarn in this kit is from the Herrschner Garden Party collection; an acrylic, 2/fine weight, very slightly fuzzed yarn. The colors are very vibrant, and I do enjoy the feel of this yarn, soft and lightweight.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCPQnjSFc7mRAwpY387Psxfy3lE7qpm917Rt1d9lITarzmITXnaDPj-AgUBvLRyN9qgvY24cD8ZR8J2z3F5a1pS-BdzwF5Q7T1ay2BrXmI5XiqklqJqjG3-HV_fbA4a-i7O1KPlyTzHIN9/s2048/Starting+Grey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1950" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCPQnjSFc7mRAwpY387Psxfy3lE7qpm917Rt1d9lITarzmITXnaDPj-AgUBvLRyN9qgvY24cD8ZR8J2z3F5a1pS-BdzwF5Q7T1ay2BrXmI5XiqklqJqjG3-HV_fbA4a-i7O1KPlyTzHIN9/s320/Starting+Grey.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm not entirely sure, though, how I feel about pairing the rainbow colors with this light stone grey. I think a black or charcoal grey would have been much more interesting, though higher contrast. This grey does tone down the colors somewhat, making a more gentle color story. It's still cute, but not necessarily something I would done on my own.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN_X2_d2usLQibudRAcTgqsaiZkB5dlFqLkuGrMUEtXgIDAexWigoKq0yK-wUDka2xcme9aVUNpFr-6bwZGEFNUBt0qcSm9pX-bykOGYhZoZvpvDTqB_prR7aCy8iGpFrDHRoInKTZCZXK/s2048/Finished+Side.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1676" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN_X2_d2usLQibudRAcTgqsaiZkB5dlFqLkuGrMUEtXgIDAexWigoKq0yK-wUDka2xcme9aVUNpFr-6bwZGEFNUBt0qcSm9pX-bykOGYhZoZvpvDTqB_prR7aCy8iGpFrDHRoInKTZCZXK/s320/Finished+Side.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Size issues aside, I am happy with how my shawl came out! I did switch two of the colors (for some reason it started with pink and ended with red, so I switched them since that made more sense to me) and I added a border along the top edge with the grey since I thought it looked unfinished otherwise.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOdbyx3ewh_Ai1K0IQgIWGISHtQelO7yNYSxDq6-UaXi58ccl7vleI85lRvTF2sFYSsXEZm96VjbuGKW9Jh4HVyqPuD48djZQpO6z7B6WbuTqWwt0wrj5AQZv6Y_f8DstNK8AaYDT3ff5G/s2048/Finished+Front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1447" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOdbyx3ewh_Ai1K0IQgIWGISHtQelO7yNYSxDq6-UaXi58ccl7vleI85lRvTF2sFYSsXEZm96VjbuGKW9Jh4HVyqPuD48djZQpO6z7B6WbuTqWwt0wrj5AQZv6Y_f8DstNK8AaYDT3ff5G/s320/Finished+Front.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I apologize for the lame pictures; my lightbox is on the smaller side so I had to squish it and crop off some parts so the edges of the box weren't showing. I could have avoided these issues if I took a picture of it on either myself or my dressform, but I'm quite shy and my dressform is covered in random things (including an apron my brother-in-law bought me as a souvenir from a musical, a World Series baseball cap, and my cat's feather wand toy). Even though the pictures aren't great, I think the main points of the shawl (the colors and stitch texture/design) still come across alright.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF2aRWik7aUN57oG00004eoY5x6fs9pisX8wg0pLfU1xdVCbgSLVKfkxgTRLoDN2JIrIdmfrs46TsmIG066_mDW-x03piuM-HXGaaPlLKl-z57GmeFeosWKUe-xeMEvDvhZjV6iU01nHD6/s2048/Ending+Materials.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1572" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF2aRWik7aUN57oG00004eoY5x6fs9pisX8wg0pLfU1xdVCbgSLVKfkxgTRLoDN2JIrIdmfrs46TsmIG066_mDW-x03piuM-HXGaaPlLKl-z57GmeFeosWKUe-xeMEvDvhZjV6iU01nHD6/s320/Ending+Materials.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div>And seriously, I had a bunch of yarn left over. The only color that came even slightly close to running out was the grey as it took more than one skein (I didn't want to have to join a new skein in the middle of making the bottom part, so I used one skein for the top, and one for the bottom and edging; the little ball is what's left over from the latter).<div><br /></div><div>Overall, this is a fairly solid kit, with the yarn being the highlight (...to be fair, though, the kit really only has two components, the yarn and the pattern). I really liked working with the Garden Party yarn (I'm very happy I have so much left over to experiment with!) and my finished shawl is cozy, but not heavy (I could probably wear it for 8+ hours while at work without overheating or feeling stifled).</div><div><br /></div><div>There is the issue with the sample image and website description being quite misleading about the size of the finished project and there is the potential that you will run out of yarn if you attempt to make the larger version (you won't run out, though, if you follow the pattern as it's written). $15.99 + $5.00 shipping is a good deal, but I'm more reluctant to fully recommend this kit at the full price of $24.99 + shipping (it changes depending on how much you order on the website, and seems to be a static cost on eBay. The website has an annoying shipping calculator where the price goes up based on how much you spend, instead of weight. The percentage of shipping cost probably decreases with the more you buy-I haven't calculated it-so you are likely spending less on shipping per item the more you buy, but it is disheartening to see your shipping cost increase with the more you spend instead of less).</div><div><br /></div><div>If you think the shawl is cute and matches your style, and you're aware of and accept the flaws of the kit, I'd say go for it. Otherwise, this kit is a gentle pass.</div><div><br /></div><div>Thank you for reading! <3<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132276752053570711.post-1737802647390807932020-09-12T18:49:00.006-05:002020-09-12T18:49:56.641-05:00Pitacrochet - Violetchi and Panda Crochet Kit - Review<p> When I first starting crocheting, I was not a fan of crocheting with anything smaller than an H/5.00mm hook, and any yarn smaller than a 4/worsted weight, even for making amigurumi. As time has gone on, I've slowly become more and more comfortable using smaller sized hooks and yarn, to the point where I now make a lot of my plushies using B/2.25mm and C/2.75mm size hooks and lighter weight yarns.</p><p>I'm still a bit wary of tiny crochet projects, but I love the amount of intricate detail you can achieve, so I wanted to push myself outside of my crochet comfort-zone, and try some teeny tiny crochet!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLS190dww3hg7tR8WhkV7iUA6TzMhVOG1skHf00TXzZtVLQD6FBTdpcqEsX-LdDaTfmqobHUHCFQNxFJUrbAXBRXXzWfno-DO4MzW39uzGNqrnxcX_VWO4oYcCZvE0zLwJKm9qiXz_ROTG/s2048/Bubble+Mailer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1932" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLS190dww3hg7tR8WhkV7iUA6TzMhVOG1skHf00TXzZtVLQD6FBTdpcqEsX-LdDaTfmqobHUHCFQNxFJUrbAXBRXXzWfno-DO4MzW39uzGNqrnxcX_VWO4oYcCZvE0zLwJKm9qiXz_ROTG/s320/Bubble+Mailer.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>This cute metallic pink/rose gold mailer is from Pitacrochet, a crochet artist on Etsy, and includes two kits: a round little panda and Violetchi, a Tamagatchi character. I actually found Pitacrochet's Instagram and Etsy separately; I loved looking at her Animal Crossing projects on Instagram, and would bemoan to my husband about how her creations were so much more detailed and cuter than mine (...this is how I express my admiration). I stumbled across her Etsy while searching for crochet kits to purchase for review (...and because I just like making kits) and loved her patterns and kits. I didn't put two and two together until after I had placed me order!</p><p>Each kit, with the addition of an optional crochet hook, cost $17.75; after $2.62 sales tax and free shipping, my total was $38.12. I also received a cute business card and a pad of flower bouquet sticky notes as an extra freebie.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEighxPA3NlwwoLC0OJu66fHf1WtRFD0sl6ZF6ojWnPmxsPISlYfmt62IMfG3lBccmElQoEi-3nlrutCR9fLvc-BL73p_mi2qieJ0xQVDfyygdzXPF1XqQ0YzIfInq7OdmZj5EiK2XJy_6Lv/s2048/Panda+Crochet+Pattern.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1833" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEighxPA3NlwwoLC0OJu66fHf1WtRFD0sl6ZF6ojWnPmxsPISlYfmt62IMfG3lBccmElQoEi-3nlrutCR9fLvc-BL73p_mi2qieJ0xQVDfyygdzXPF1XqQ0YzIfInq7OdmZj5EiK2XJy_6Lv/s320/Panda+Crochet+Pattern.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>I apologize for the quality of some these photos; I was using a different set up originally for my photos and it was not...good. The patterns for the kits were supplied via PDF; the patterns are very well-designed and the pictures are clear. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLbI8rBI2skt7kuPsfZu6hIWhXvmiJeZEBDOkaYuNvgJTwSoCi4KOafhE4Kgeqc8ZdB0a0Q_4NI4qMUmh1-RKMeFJ72k-EUAqzUvNXii9JE75C5QMmxeM3uXcb-KEtNvL_9n3KiMmaLLKW/s2048/Violetchi+Crochet+Pattern.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1746" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLbI8rBI2skt7kuPsfZu6hIWhXvmiJeZEBDOkaYuNvgJTwSoCi4KOafhE4Kgeqc8ZdB0a0Q_4NI4qMUmh1-RKMeFJ72k-EUAqzUvNXii9JE75C5QMmxeM3uXcb-KEtNvL_9n3KiMmaLLKW/s320/Violetchi+Crochet+Pattern.jpg" /></a></div><p>They have a very focused, uncluttered aesthetic that's soothing to look at (which, I know, is a weird way to describe a crochet pattern, but just check out Pitacrochet's Insta and you'll see what I mean).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV7z8gghwBI7IN1VbvbZGiwMBB_9cgEmzLFPl05ER-MM3K-7DOjocQ-pC8CYUFrnAD83etRpWDw0VAnW0RlQbSesxYnmNV-83B2ECRvsweKNXkUHPpck4MuA3i_2Q93ytE9_ynxAqMFhFN/s2048/Panda+Starting+Materials.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1693" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV7z8gghwBI7IN1VbvbZGiwMBB_9cgEmzLFPl05ER-MM3K-7DOjocQ-pC8CYUFrnAD83etRpWDw0VAnW0RlQbSesxYnmNV-83B2ECRvsweKNXkUHPpck4MuA3i_2Q93ytE9_ynxAqMFhFN/s320/Panda+Starting+Materials.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Each kit includes all the embroidery floss and stuffing required to make its corresponding plushie, plus a metal yarn needle (which is adorably taped to a paper cherry blossom for safety. I also added-on the crochet hook, and I'm very happy I did as, next to the patterns, they are my favorite parts of the kits.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ObEPNSgJ1DjmG9v6FYSc6l-CIKskpqqsrmptL8iunfWTehSbdsWZ1MLV185cqn1_ewTsqhh-8Z0uPLUofYjLGcmxLJJ_GPS7AmIsxzY7ZzSSw1akNgr6_fNiB4X_pA5wR5WBIga19GNS/s2048/Violetchi+Starting+Materials.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1756" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ObEPNSgJ1DjmG9v6FYSc6l-CIKskpqqsrmptL8iunfWTehSbdsWZ1MLV185cqn1_ewTsqhh-8Z0uPLUofYjLGcmxLJJ_GPS7AmIsxzY7ZzSSw1akNgr6_fNiB4X_pA5wR5WBIga19GNS/s320/Violetchi+Starting+Materials.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>The included hooks are fully metal, Tulip-brand size 2/1.5mm hooks. They have a good, balanced weight, especially for a hook so small, and they are so smooth that they glide effortlessly through your stitches. They are also now the smallest hooks I own! I have some experience with crocheting with embroidery floss (see my Ondori-kun review), but I haven't had the right-sized hook to actually make a plushie out of it until now.</div><div><br /></div><div>Also, the skeins of floss are wrapped in adorable (custom?) labels with cartoon corgis printed all over.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSzjBUz4hyphenhyphenY6KkXSdxmHEEoTXn87zY7aEoXDJcQ5ghgDz9MMIFXfIYMNGH8UCOQgKoBZjKiZOpnV4zBWBxj_D_kZQq9YFWH8qjJOXHNiD4fQKzbjEGEMMoS9S4hdi6ipxrgE42BfdJv21q/s1795/Panda+Front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1795" data-original-width="1631" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSzjBUz4hyphenhyphenY6KkXSdxmHEEoTXn87zY7aEoXDJcQ5ghgDz9MMIFXfIYMNGH8UCOQgKoBZjKiZOpnV4zBWBxj_D_kZQq9YFWH8qjJOXHNiD4fQKzbjEGEMMoS9S4hdi6ipxrgE42BfdJv21q/s320/Panda+Front.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div>When purchasing the panda kit, you had a choice between blue, green, or black thread. All three were cute, but the blue was my favorite. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYgJr5IYW0jczNFCs7leMGY2j0LhT6DeheWw5-5bsCc9Tcdosntx9j-CGmes20Uu7SrYW86eK3PAErelJY_Tw0aTHER1-J7oibh3hdVowZo7lt_l1EhofARdrhM3nWxMlFOo8b3uhVAlDr/s1563/Panda+Back.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1563" data-original-width="1447" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYgJr5IYW0jczNFCs7leMGY2j0LhT6DeheWw5-5bsCc9Tcdosntx9j-CGmes20Uu7SrYW86eK3PAErelJY_Tw0aTHER1-J7oibh3hdVowZo7lt_l1EhofARdrhM3nWxMlFOo8b3uhVAlDr/s320/Panda+Back.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div>The pattern for this little guy was simple, and he was quick to make, but this is another example of how simplicity can be very appealing if designed well. He's a cute round boy (he's a little under 2" tall including his ears), and would make a great keychain.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0YDhFVacuUgb-GCqcWT0SjrBi2g_Ug74R0b00E12WYUjL9sfX6BXuqlw_qWhvbMjf3-yXVZ8mhxLG94oI2ZNr81vSpPD2QefAwdV_Q-hGbMr2XWJ5yD1RpUJYaXhB0vJFYCK6SR8-sRkv/s2048/Panda+Ending+Materials.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1775" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0YDhFVacuUgb-GCqcWT0SjrBi2g_Ug74R0b00E12WYUjL9sfX6BXuqlw_qWhvbMjf3-yXVZ8mhxLG94oI2ZNr81vSpPD2QefAwdV_Q-hGbMr2XWJ5yD1RpUJYaXhB0vJFYCK6SR8-sRkv/s320/Panda+Ending+Materials.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>I had a little thread left over, but I only used about half of the stuffing. I was worried that I wouldn't have enough stuffing for both plushies (each kit came with the same amount) so I used as little as possible for the panda, but I wish I had stuffed it a little firmer.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil_CcpRW_i3bCkCI_WFTv7pTrjqKb1NL41zR8HRulS9EjOWpYsSZ7SNHs0tJweRzaajcv4KiU0cAGwNNYmxqD4_rOPPyYDkRm5Tz-V-CG77lRPDs6uxgkSDmSLPqMY7V2CQiRU-4Z3FULc/s1824/Violetchi+Front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1824" data-original-width="1641" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil_CcpRW_i3bCkCI_WFTv7pTrjqKb1NL41zR8HRulS9EjOWpYsSZ7SNHs0tJweRzaajcv4KiU0cAGwNNYmxqD4_rOPPyYDkRm5Tz-V-CG77lRPDs6uxgkSDmSLPqMY7V2CQiRU-4Z3FULc/s320/Violetchi+Front.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>I was pretty intimidated by the Violetchi kit at first; it was one of the smallest plushies I have ever made, and it looked so delicate and cute! Happily, though, I think she turned out very well, and I credit the pattern for that! I was very easy to follow and understand and, like the panda, it was very simple and well-designed.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggGiLylXpuqcsSScuCzfaeGH8X7htbxk17MInOmML6SXNeRw9Vs4uDDNREp1dOrHTSvuXa5trZZMsRQIKrfV7nXnEoNYNR18cZMa6BF6VqsYpomsctAinRKHnNt8y7YXfdSBWokK7MR376/s1829/Violetchi+Side.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1829" data-original-width="1602" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggGiLylXpuqcsSScuCzfaeGH8X7htbxk17MInOmML6SXNeRw9Vs4uDDNREp1dOrHTSvuXa5trZZMsRQIKrfV7nXnEoNYNR18cZMa6BF6VqsYpomsctAinRKHnNt8y7YXfdSBWokK7MR376/s320/Violetchi+Side.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div>Completing this plushie has given me the confidence to try other smaller, delicate, detailed projects! I am very proud of her, and will likely keep her as a display piece.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZHcA_UPQ5GzJA55D1rmIKTLG3PObAM44OMlTYo_YDlsRec9rMLSFRjSFVV62yA0ioM9UkzwckxCGcBbcgSLd4kNZbO3bkiA78cjmPuxJ1qcXj2WAAaFKENzKHkMyC-PhSZdvU7_U8w5D-/s2048/Violetchi+Ending+Materials.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2030" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZHcA_UPQ5GzJA55D1rmIKTLG3PObAM44OMlTYo_YDlsRec9rMLSFRjSFVV62yA0ioM9UkzwckxCGcBbcgSLd4kNZbO3bkiA78cjmPuxJ1qcXj2WAAaFKENzKHkMyC-PhSZdvU7_U8w5D-/s320/Violetchi+Ending+Materials.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div>I had a bit more floss left over than I did with the panda, though you do get a lot more floss to being with, too. I used the entire bag of stuffing, and it was just the right amount to get the level of firmness I like for my plushies.<div><br /></div><div>Unfortunately, these exact kits aren't available right now, but the PDF patterns for both are! I highly recommend these patterns, and checking out the rest of Pitacrochet's Etsy shop and Instagram, especially if you love small, detailed projects! </div><div><br /></div><div>Thank you for reading! <3</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132276752053570711.post-72800824654144004302020-08-24T21:42:00.003-05:002020-08-24T21:42:38.343-05:00AmigurumiPatternsPDF - Crochet Alien Kit - Review<p>There is something to be said about simplicity; while I appreciate details, clutter, and intricacies in my art and in my living spaces, I also enjoy the clarity and minimalism of a more restrained design. </p><p>Sometimes, the cutest amigurumi designs can also be the simplest!</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWAkADBkPOwQu70l06Q2YOFMLKPO05BnhT-RJNZ-nyPle0ICPhYRHjF9kinzJsec_b-Q1qjpdbev5-bpoQqqU7k2clodKYynHTcw65H25uSwxLXROiCtfN6OTDCV21R67V6nztbAMPDFh7/s2048/Alien+Bag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2017" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWAkADBkPOwQu70l06Q2YOFMLKPO05BnhT-RJNZ-nyPle0ICPhYRHjF9kinzJsec_b-Q1qjpdbev5-bpoQqqU7k2clodKYynHTcw65H25uSwxLXROiCtfN6OTDCV21R67V6nztbAMPDFh7/s640/Alien+Bag.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is the Crochet Alien Toy kit from AmigurumiPatternsPDF/Natalia Kononenko on Etsy. I paid $25.38 for this kit ($20.80 for the kit, - $4.16 due to a 20% discount, plus $7.00 for shipping and $1.74 sales tax) and it included everything needed to crochet a little one-eyed alien. I was also able to pick the main color of yarn, so I selected a bright seafoam green. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I really liked the cloth bag that everything came in, and the twine bow is a cute touch. This type of packaging is super helpful since you can use it to store your materials and unfinished (or finished) projects to keep them safe from dust (...and pets).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Unfortunately, it looks like this kit is currently not available via the Etsy shop, but the PDF pattern is, and there are some sets where you can get multiple alien pattern designs at a discount.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyRP86AX60sV8vZ3ThI1gSFB9wg4cfoBNSYeDbmzpjB7fhBdGzgUyMbhdccHTA-rE0vSkFhuWda58NdzcfECrtkz1O7DJlUcij6rouCot9bBzjoXlhlYnQ6Z4oT3HKGLVDbKYrg7xLOqe5/s2048/Alien+Starting+Materials.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1850" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyRP86AX60sV8vZ3ThI1gSFB9wg4cfoBNSYeDbmzpjB7fhBdGzgUyMbhdccHTA-rE0vSkFhuWda58NdzcfECrtkz1O7DJlUcij6rouCot9bBzjoXlhlYnQ6Z4oT3HKGLVDbKYrg7xLOqe5/s640/Alien+Starting+Materials.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There were different variations of the kit available, but I selected the version that included the printed pattern and crochet hook (a Tulip No. 1/190mm hook). The kit also included yarn in the color I chose for the body, khaki/beige, white, and black yarn for the eye, stuffing, pins, a metal yarn needle, and a stitch marker.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I was very impressed with the materials in this kit; the yarn is very soft and strong (I wish I knew what brand/type is was as I would love to purchase more), the stuffing is also soft and has an interesting almost pebbly texture (it feels like it might have some natural fiber in it), and the needle and pins will be used in future projects. My favorite item, though, was the Tulip crochet hook!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Tulip is a Japanese textile notions brand, similar to Clover (...their website is atrocious, though). I've been interested in trying some of their crochet hooks, but since I love my Clovers so much, I wasn't inclined to buy more. I'm very happy I got the chance to try one, though, as I love it! Even though it's not coated like the Clover Amour hooks, or flat and broad like the Soft Touches, the hook was still very comfortable to hold. The metal head/hook of the, uh, hook is very smooth and it glides through the yarn easily (in a good way). I could see it being a little too slippery if you were using a super smooth yarn, but that would be an exception.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5BAGwqtUS9yrhSP4CtTdPC9uBFofSamt7ZfssDr9wtJB5Brh6B_u19UjjEbh1ZYBIUhpEN316aq9RUAHof1u-4lE3oef0dgZHIJ6xPewVjN2zYBjLmhTGgEK1Zy91jhIVr1A7L-Zen8OP/s2048/Alien+Pattern.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1769" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5BAGwqtUS9yrhSP4CtTdPC9uBFofSamt7ZfssDr9wtJB5Brh6B_u19UjjEbh1ZYBIUhpEN316aq9RUAHof1u-4lE3oef0dgZHIJ6xPewVjN2zYBjLmhTGgEK1Zy91jhIVr1A7L-Zen8OP/s640/Alien+Pattern.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">All versions of the kit came with a digital pattern (including mine), but I opted to add a printed pattern since I like to see how the patterns are packaged (I always print my patterns out anyways since it's easier for me to make notes and move around my house while I crochet. ...also ink is expensive). The printed pattern for this kit came in it's own protective sleeve, with holes to add it to a binder; another bonus since that's how I store my printed patterns!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg19hR4noA0uV1LVVZi-d71OWJGOkgfPpn2TZ8xkhV9oomIlHsp4d_tZfsQ29slAgm2PGAbY92a7hJsinJbJQ705lN2Qu_qq16piyxl8PjQ6KhEcelVzr4VPmb2h3p13d8Rh-7gacG0Gtjh/s2048/Alien+Front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1361" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg19hR4noA0uV1LVVZi-d71OWJGOkgfPpn2TZ8xkhV9oomIlHsp4d_tZfsQ29slAgm2PGAbY92a7hJsinJbJQ705lN2Qu_qq16piyxl8PjQ6KhEcelVzr4VPmb2h3p13d8Rh-7gacG0Gtjh/s640/Alien+Front.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I love how my little alien turned out, and I really like the color I picked! The pattern for the body turned out perfectly, but I ran into some difficulties with the head. Even though I used (what I am assuming) is the same yarn and hook as was used for the sample pictures in the pattern, if I had followed the pattern for the head exactly, it would have turned out huge! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZtDF1PotUYox2oR6NU8GR4vkFnTNJptzf420_0NZ3hQY-UBlwrZGrmlABQX2aihYoLzGOodAtAACNb5xwKj0hIu_hqN1eHujhPJcu5RCDqa0M6S5JRHJLYnxe6gz9rVAPyWQrfr-ptoa3/s2048/Alien+Back.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1282" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZtDF1PotUYox2oR6NU8GR4vkFnTNJptzf420_0NZ3hQY-UBlwrZGrmlABQX2aihYoLzGOodAtAACNb5xwKj0hIu_hqN1eHujhPJcu5RCDqa0M6S5JRHJLYnxe6gz9rVAPyWQrfr-ptoa3/s640/Alien+Back.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I ended up only increasing the head to 36 sts around, instead of the recommended 42 sts, and even then it feels large, especially compared with the eye, which I followed exactly. I don't think this is an error in the pattern, I feel like this is probably more of an issue with tension/gauge, but it's important to note.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEZ93A8ff-gVgYixcDOx7SsnkaWi6D8fwcV8RwlR70l1HdPMZkYv9AXhBpmdz0gk6dBSp4F51NFuegw4v3T3TQnlNXezuUnN1PU44VyjgiEgQ2M4OQLfnVNxzlnU8RJcS9OGsix-NmJ-nt/s2048/Chibithulhu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1706" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEZ93A8ff-gVgYixcDOx7SsnkaWi6D8fwcV8RwlR70l1HdPMZkYv9AXhBpmdz0gk6dBSp4F51NFuegw4v3T3TQnlNXezuUnN1PU44VyjgiEgQ2M4OQLfnVNxzlnU8RJcS9OGsix-NmJ-nt/s640/Chibithulhu.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">You get more than enough materials in this kit to make your little alien; in fact, you probably have enough to make two, maybe two and a half! Instead of another alien (...or a star, which I was considering), I made another favorite of mine, a Chibi'thulhu! I used my own stuffing as my 'Thulhu is a little bigger than the alien and would have used up the rest of the stuffing, plus some, and I used a yarn that was not in the kit for it's wings since I wanted a color contrast (it's the mauve Ricorumi DK yarn from the Mermaid kit).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji5gBZ6LL1ToWDRlA1fwk9a_m_6-zzCX6jG_uJp9sU8E1QAArtFzyeeoCRapPlUa63ft-4b_wtrjOF8ZkGdhfwsXoHM7NreWmg1i0x3Bj0f2rp_EeoJnYj9YP95z_M4lM2mGvc0SRIgZi_/s2048/Alien+Ending+Materials.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2025" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji5gBZ6LL1ToWDRlA1fwk9a_m_6-zzCX6jG_uJp9sU8E1QAArtFzyeeoCRapPlUa63ft-4b_wtrjOF8ZkGdhfwsXoHM7NreWmg1i0x3Bj0f2rp_EeoJnYj9YP95z_M4lM2mGvc0SRIgZi_/s640/Alien+Ending+Materials.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Even after making a 'Thulhu, I had plenty of materials left over! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Overall, I really liked this kit, and I hope that AmigurumiPatternsPDF/Natalia Kononenko is able to offer them for sale in the future. There are a lot of patterns in their shop, though, in a similar style and size (and cuteness!), so if you like this little alien, I recommend checking out their Etsy!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Thank you for reading! <3</div><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132276752053570711.post-47772219931753746332020-08-23T00:05:00.003-05:002020-08-23T00:05:38.920-05:00Red Heart Amigurumi Yarn - Dinosaur and Hamburger - Yarn and Pattern Review<p>I've mentioned this before in previous reviews, but I don't like Red Heart yarn. Don't get me wrong, Red Heart yarn is affordable, widely and readily available, and comes in a lot of colors, so I understand why so many people use it, but the quality is just...not the best. Red Heart Super Saver is understandable; you get a lot of yarn for not much money, and the color range is great (...this is what frustrates me the most, and the reason why I even buy Red Heart yarn; it comes in so many colors that I just can't find in other brands of worsted weight yarn), but their more expensive/'premium' yarns are not worth it in my opinion (again, unless you're looking for a specific color that you can't find otherwise).</p><p>So it may seem odd that I even purchased the Red Heart Amigurumi yarn cakes in the first place. I was skeptical at first, and only bought four originally out of curiosity, but after completing the dinosaurs, I was so impressed, that I ended up buying the entire series of twelve!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUip5H3TxG3hNlwSt3wKqSeT2H9a8tgNGC4FIqxyqr3eIHVUPi29IfLO6EyZZBidkqmV7oTfQPecBLh4LIgS8QCWz4FEdGoxRseoYX0xWWf9WD1VL5dlnB8tAHEiajKla8F1LwAIOuQNtj/s2048/Dino+Yarn+Cake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2003" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUip5H3TxG3hNlwSt3wKqSeT2H9a8tgNGC4FIqxyqr3eIHVUPi29IfLO6EyZZBidkqmV7oTfQPecBLh4LIgS8QCWz4FEdGoxRseoYX0xWWf9WD1VL5dlnB8tAHEiajKla8F1LwAIOuQNtj/s640/Dino+Yarn+Cake.jpg" /></a></div><p>My very first Red Heart Amigurumi cake (and the main reason why I was interested in these at all originally) was the Dinosaur one. The sample plushie just looked so cute! Plus, I thought this was an intriguing concept; these aren't kits since you're only getting the yarn and pattern and you have to supply everything else, but each cake is basically a complete project concept.</p><p>There are twelve different color schemes in this series (at least from what I could find), and each cake has enough yarn to make both plushies pictured on the label. I purchased all of my cakes from Amazon at $7.20 each, but you may be able to find them for cheaper from other retailers (Blick art supplies had them for under $7, and they were on clearance, though all sold out, at Michaels for less than $3 each). </p><p>The patterns for all the plushies are available for free from the Red Heart website, and they're all available in both crochet or knit (the sample plushies on the labels are either one or the other, but you can crochet or knit all of them).</p><p>Each cake has four colors (the patterns mention that if there is a color that is used twice in the cakes that you can combine them into one ball of yarn during the preparation stage but...none of them do, so maybe there were some that were planned but then cut/changed). Before starting your project, you're supposed to separate each color; the easiest way to do so is to start in the middle and pop each color out.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8nSw9SSUXSNkQmiDu4jbx4cIF139wSpoiSbk_26Rc7Hh2Ir5e6dzsGDZqoNxVvFoDW4ZhC22i-O3jzlfYmlfKbtn2Y2jRaAEGEKJPPNOst1AsppZjZ1GOBtVq_IMpcDzMvHcEMGvXPm7C/s2048/Yarn+Splices.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1521" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8nSw9SSUXSNkQmiDu4jbx4cIF139wSpoiSbk_26Rc7Hh2Ir5e6dzsGDZqoNxVvFoDW4ZhC22i-O3jzlfYmlfKbtn2Y2jRaAEGEKJPPNOst1AsppZjZ1GOBtVq_IMpcDzMvHcEMGvXPm7C/s640/Yarn+Splices.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>Each color is blended into the next, creating these weird little connections that you need to cut. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3CkuT2P1fVEDSOU1uz-TUvM-l0p8gl25OKcHqta9-CxAM9rlzsPXZXacTpuM2NaKRHDryo2AZklnXIOj34f1XHQmHa_51FSTYYVcR0I427aK0rrL5FDVw-jqzRGhm5FZMh0-EVgSUc8Sw/s2048/Dino+Starting+Yarn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1709" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3CkuT2P1fVEDSOU1uz-TUvM-l0p8gl25OKcHqta9-CxAM9rlzsPXZXacTpuM2NaKRHDryo2AZklnXIOj34f1XHQmHa_51FSTYYVcR0I427aK0rrL5FDVw-jqzRGhm5FZMh0-EVgSUc8Sw/s640/Dino+Starting+Yarn.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>The instructions also suggested to rewind all the colors into balls...but I don't have a yarn winder and am lazy, so I left the yarn hanks as is. I didn't run into any issues with the yarn tangling or anything until I got near the end of a color, so I think it's fine to skip this step.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOOWmUPBsMLlVgL9SoVLy6LA7YdrsdxZ2hchbSg0XdcH21X27-GXhOGAMPZT9sfNxkY5IKAitnBGaHGYJc1nlJl-nxsstlU7ed4amt086sA1HNBmxC9holvPQyFPIvm8bCT-xdb-65iQW-/s2048/Dino+Finished+Front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1554" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOOWmUPBsMLlVgL9SoVLy6LA7YdrsdxZ2hchbSg0XdcH21X27-GXhOGAMPZT9sfNxkY5IKAitnBGaHGYJc1nlJl-nxsstlU7ed4amt086sA1HNBmxC9holvPQyFPIvm8bCT-xdb-65iQW-/s640/Dino+Finished+Front.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>Here are the cuties I made! I was so surprised at how great these turned out! I was also surprised at how different my plushies looked compared to the samples; I didn't add a mouth because I thought they looked better without one, but otherwise I used the same hook size (B/2.25mm), eye size (9mm), and yarn (obviously, lol) as the pattern recommended. I do tend to crochet tighter than average (one of the reasons why I don't like to make clothing is that I hate figuring out my gauge for each project, and I can't just use the recommend hook size since it won't fit if I do).</p><p>The yarn, again to my surprise, was actually really nice! It feels good to work with (smooth and easy to crochet, but still strong enough to not easily fray or tear) and the colors are vibrant. It's 100% acrylic and is a fine weight yarn (as per the pattern; it's pretty thin, but I think it's more like a sport weight).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHjHIhrzSPXy8-VZ6Nu1iWsb8cva5kXD6Ade710nX9clt-EiLxZrhWXfW8iTHe9dVnIo2C6lzgaYooCX6iXwZvBYzDK_CE4CfNsRc-BcpLuTbp3BJDAlVg2z5t4uxnfd-NfJog_HfqtobX/s2048/Dino+Finished+Back.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1810" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHjHIhrzSPXy8-VZ6Nu1iWsb8cva5kXD6Ade710nX9clt-EiLxZrhWXfW8iTHe9dVnIo2C6lzgaYooCX6iXwZvBYzDK_CE4CfNsRc-BcpLuTbp3BJDAlVg2z5t4uxnfd-NfJog_HfqtobX/s640/Dino+Finished+Back.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>Each cake of yarn states that it includes enough yarn to make two plushies, but I had enough left over to make a Plesiosaurus!</p><p>The pattern for these little guys was very easy to follow, and I like the subtle shaping on the heads. The only changes I made were to the eye placement (I moved them one more row back from the nose as I thought it looked better) and the back spikes (the pattern says to slip stitch the first row, but I sc'd instead since I find it annoying to have to crochet into slips stitches).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwxR5sdYMOZyG7ufwlNSS3z_S5eEU-GTtqQqWjWt6xy8VSB6ujhLJA3gi0FIGQq5zIOuguB5EWQM0c75_xX5eka2bK0CXfRFVDMGHas1B9dQUN2LEf1x8kxeoci_u37DidS3mAu5wMOjm1/s2048/Dino+Ending+Yarn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1426" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwxR5sdYMOZyG7ufwlNSS3z_S5eEU-GTtqQqWjWt6xy8VSB6ujhLJA3gi0FIGQq5zIOuguB5EWQM0c75_xX5eka2bK0CXfRFVDMGHas1B9dQUN2LEf1x8kxeoci_u37DidS3mAu5wMOjm1/s640/Dino+Ending+Yarn.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>Even after making my extra dinosaur, I still had enough yarn left over to probably make a fourth.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Pgs4TMnQLPxKJYvExsktCPXHR2pwmdVvd2e0-DXh-ZYCIKD21yMede4Ua9ALhLBnxKdWMyv6xVewdi_mg22LuLwJvu3VTwocG11jP62twhXz4OnEY3-I7zgGeulphRKU5r5IIK-0Q_H2/s2048/Burger+Kit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1885" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Pgs4TMnQLPxKJYvExsktCPXHR2pwmdVvd2e0-DXh-ZYCIKD21yMede4Ua9ALhLBnxKdWMyv6xVewdi_mg22LuLwJvu3VTwocG11jP62twhXz4OnEY3-I7zgGeulphRKU5r5IIK-0Q_H2/s640/Burger+Kit.jpg" /></a></div><p>Since there are twelve of these, and I have a lot of other kits I want to make posts about, I'm going to try to review these cakes two at time. This is burger cake, one of the simpler, and weirder, projects. I'm not super into crocheted food anymore (I've made a lot of it in the past, though), so I wouldn't have bought this cake if I didn't decide to try the whole series, but I do like how the plushies turned out. As stated above, even though the sample project on the label is knitted, all these patterns come in both crochet and knit.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO1U9e_BQo8LzTkJN1QL-urq29oZi3XxeW11-B3T-ZcT29nwxP2WuTSp_mkY-UGjBmGxPvY8mrtSKhkkqSQ-INIopLeHlSsJW_NLwSYOOar2axmNmHUJCocs0T556nKArNBkrhcLAqR18u/s2048/Burger+Starting+Yarn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1426" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO1U9e_BQo8LzTkJN1QL-urq29oZi3XxeW11-B3T-ZcT29nwxP2WuTSp_mkY-UGjBmGxPvY8mrtSKhkkqSQ-INIopLeHlSsJW_NLwSYOOar2axmNmHUJCocs0T556nKArNBkrhcLAqR18u/s640/Burger+Starting+Yarn.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>I like the color scheme of this cake; it's simple since they could only include four different colors, but the contrast between the neutrals and the bright colors is really eye catching.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgTueMD0Ltd-u8_kY_IBLsRvoyTMti6zcW-Cg5hmLP21MWDkbDzEtUciU4Yr2MSlheEhxsPJFevQ3QtIb5191ahjwSpYK-vbNlAwd4WCMnY8RkbhY3HvxP6s_310btF9_R5VXjStIWiDox/s2048/Burger+Both+Finished.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1487" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgTueMD0Ltd-u8_kY_IBLsRvoyTMti6zcW-Cg5hmLP21MWDkbDzEtUciU4Yr2MSlheEhxsPJFevQ3QtIb5191ahjwSpYK-vbNlAwd4WCMnY8RkbhY3HvxP6s_310btF9_R5VXjStIWiDox/s640/Burger+Both+Finished.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>This pattern was really interesting; it's simple, and it looks really weird at first, but there's additional shaping of the patty (done by sewing the top and bottom of the patty together after it's stuffed to make it stick out) that makes it look more complicated than it actually is. The lettuce part also extends outside the rest of the plushie.</p><p>I did make a change to the pattern as I didn't want to make the lettuce as a separate piece and then attach it (...I am lazy). I just attached the green yarn to the tomato layer (make sure you do this with the wrong side facing you, as you want to make sure the right side of the lettuce is facing out when you're done), sc'd around once, completed rd 2 of the lettuce in the back loops only (BLO), then did rds 3 and 4 as written.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPQM15B-oCR8UZ5G9QFM51b0UstQrrEFVddUQrq2zy9ZcouLXClc7JEKhABsVKFWU5ivj03cRZmPlVsGjrkIBXETI2jqPsw5TC7qVoBv8cmrzES-DQYMHwodq5tmyiEbQPb1_wra8VQ333/s2048/Burger+One+Finished.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2037" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPQM15B-oCR8UZ5G9QFM51b0UstQrrEFVddUQrq2zy9ZcouLXClc7JEKhABsVKFWU5ivj03cRZmPlVsGjrkIBXETI2jqPsw5TC7qVoBv8cmrzES-DQYMHwodq5tmyiEbQPb1_wra8VQ333/s640/Burger+One+Finished.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>The pattern and color scheme for each burger is exactly the same, so while the cake does technically make two plushies...it's two of the same plushie. To be fair, though, almost all of these cakes make the same plushies, just palette swapped, and there's not a lot of color options for burgers that have to use the same four colors between them. You can barely see it here, but I added some sesame seeds with off-white scrap yarn.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7wLpTUctafrEE4XPH6ZjlkJn-1UgqXcdOpwrLilNu21SR8dPtg_qzk3RkVykVP5AVlJAybUYsH3kBVKxDwz5Ei_1hOxQGjuSjGsISD6MBZP2cpqoznkXj05I8T1DmULzHAU7MEVtK65v-/s1866/Burger+Two+Finished.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1666" data-original-width="1866" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7wLpTUctafrEE4XPH6ZjlkJn-1UgqXcdOpwrLilNu21SR8dPtg_qzk3RkVykVP5AVlJAybUYsH3kBVKxDwz5Ei_1hOxQGjuSjGsISD6MBZP2cpqoznkXj05I8T1DmULzHAU7MEVtK65v-/s640/Burger+Two+Finished.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>The pattern has the bottom of the bun in the same dark brown as the patty, but I didn't like how it looked, so I made my second burger without it. Surprisingly, especially after how much yarn I had left over from the dinosaur cake, you only get enough beige yarn to do with with one burger.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEaY8v6bLvKkLxKnFBm26UY8TKtpCKwDcifywb6iJHXcnbo1B_LAUTpBHYwHwUgQra0BmdYOS8i90y7QnUpbh5K1mw3VyBsnofBvgX5TZFz1WmJ9NL-7j_JEnDvph6TBCi8g_RPOh6FYBD/s2048/Burger+Ending+Yarn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1811" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEaY8v6bLvKkLxKnFBm26UY8TKtpCKwDcifywb6iJHXcnbo1B_LAUTpBHYwHwUgQra0BmdYOS8i90y7QnUpbh5K1mw3VyBsnofBvgX5TZFz1WmJ9NL-7j_JEnDvph6TBCi8g_RPOh6FYBD/s640/Burger+Ending+Yarn.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>Seriously, look at how little beige yarn I had left. Again, this really surprised me since I had so much yarn left over in all the colors after the dinosaurs, but at least I do have a lot of that gorgeous red left!</p><p>Overall, these yarn cakes and patterns were unexpectedly good! I enjoyed making the plushies, the designs and color schemes are cute, well-thought out and vibrant, and the yarn is of decent quality. </p><p>You do have to supply all the materials for the plushies except the yarn and patterns (which, to be fair, make up the bulk of most kits), so I wouldn't recommend these cakes for 100% absolute beginners (as you will need to already have a collection of stuffing, eyes, and tools and notions, or be willing to buy them), but otherwise, these cakes are great for all skill levels.</p><p>Thank you for reading! <3</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132276752053570711.post-39135174630376395032020-08-12T20:58:00.003-05:002020-08-12T20:58:33.984-05:00Make a Pusheen - Crochet Kit Review<p> I'm not really 'into' internet famous cats; that is to say, I'm not really into internet famous cats that have huge followings, lots of different content, and lots of merchandise (I love cat memes, though, and the cats that get famous from them, such as Longcat). Except for Pusheen.</p><p>I'm not a super fan or anything (I don't get the sub box, for example), but I really love Pusheen's simple, Sanrio-esque design and pastel/soft colors. So I was excited to find that there are Pusheen craft kits, including a crochet kit!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_zGQIRBbVFmU0LT1hwx2hrAwRZ9YQuNgUx04nk__pdnpbM4pmMYj5bxmgcEV6rGhT-iQjS26fCxHJAqJ6wDPrnFDAZUSWfCTk6mo8u1ugNS_ysF2NV4XbH6zRN65VdCv425dQtEbStGNM/s2048/Box+Unopened+Front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1969" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_zGQIRBbVFmU0LT1hwx2hrAwRZ9YQuNgUx04nk__pdnpbM4pmMYj5bxmgcEV6rGhT-iQjS26fCxHJAqJ6wDPrnFDAZUSWfCTk6mo8u1ugNS_ysF2NV4XbH6zRN65VdCv425dQtEbStGNM/s640/Box+Unopened+Front.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This kit was surprisingly easy to find; I got mine for about $25 on Amazon. There are two other craft kits, a cross stitch kit (not to be confused with the mini $10 kit) and a plush kit, that are <i>much</i> harder to find. I could only find the cross stitch kit available via European sellers on Amazon and ArtBox, and I don't think the plush kit currently exists. I wasn't able to find it available anywhere, nor any photos or information on it. Even the publisher's site, Stone Fox/Koch Media, had no mention of it...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5PZ6PkEX6qN5ooGZ0V_zpsIeop2JLhegwL2pLsiB-IGSqiD17KNX4o8J4cIkGA7zNRsOjHqKIh4jFv5TdWo4-kreDB34AJk6wElaN8oObbzvdUWze2ecQASxaJU4bhsVb8BODdz1ullV0/s2048/Box+Unopened+Back.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1861" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5PZ6PkEX6qN5ooGZ0V_zpsIeop2JLhegwL2pLsiB-IGSqiD17KNX4o8J4cIkGA7zNRsOjHqKIh4jFv5TdWo4-kreDB34AJk6wElaN8oObbzvdUWze2ecQASxaJU4bhsVb8BODdz1ullV0/s640/Box+Unopened+Back.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This kit comes in a reusable metal Pusheen lunchbox, and is one of the most all-inclusive kits I've seen.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4XncfN6Sts0Qycg8XzO6QO3Fl31KyL0w7PFKisJB9arF57sLta-7rerzbYqgzefelo-aVaCwTP3QM_pdb9UIcr1DcD2h77wSyJ0KBDeyNjbQaA9XnECNFAI6kGjSB7XAUcAm7R9e2Z2kf/s2048/Box.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1818" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4XncfN6Sts0Qycg8XzO6QO3Fl31KyL0w7PFKisJB9arF57sLta-7rerzbYqgzefelo-aVaCwTP3QM_pdb9UIcr1DcD2h77wSyJ0KBDeyNjbQaA9XnECNFAI6kGjSB7XAUcAm7R9e2Z2kf/s640/Box.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It comes with an instruction manual that has the pattern for two Pusheen-themed plushies (a Pusheenicorn and Pusheen holding a donut). Even though I'm pretty sure this is a UK-based kit, the instructions are in US crochet terms...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib34aT-V5yZTFvMg_uZLoUR6FF97GjcyyZTyYi__FTBkEJmhoMdyMcehTCpWkfzEUXxxGQeOwuMO53ersyEJzpsjXWLJUR1hG49sDp0iu-nFC36JvzWkJEQ2Dl6bd559-LqaqVwmDB4Qjd/s2048/Instruction+Book.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1827" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib34aT-V5yZTFvMg_uZLoUR6FF97GjcyyZTyYi__FTBkEJmhoMdyMcehTCpWkfzEUXxxGQeOwuMO53ersyEJzpsjXWLJUR1hG49sDp0iu-nFC36JvzWkJEQ2Dl6bd559-LqaqVwmDB4Qjd/s640/Instruction+Book.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">...four colors of yarn (the box says wool, but I think they're using it in a more generic way as I'm pretty sure the included yarn is not wool. It is very soft, though, and seems to be good quality)...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS6irntN3QpAHeVmsTcFWBWA5qhdyRHBhTZVMlGHHmOL1ULiAQjzUwOI9LzSIDI8LVkZ5CTT2fDRdGdyOxbBXpKPHjtTl3mnJrq-Fi6RvQ5dYZfxLGtawNU2dceVi5r6Vcav3Y_XkHpFV_/s2048/Starting+Yarn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1707" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS6irntN3QpAHeVmsTcFWBWA5qhdyRHBhTZVMlGHHmOL1ULiAQjzUwOI9LzSIDI8LVkZ5CTT2fDRdGdyOxbBXpKPHjtTl3mnJrq-Fi6RvQ5dYZfxLGtawNU2dceVi5r6Vcav3Y_XkHpFV_/s640/Starting+Yarn.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">...some stuffing (spoiler: there was no where near enough stuffing included in this kit to even make one of the designs, much less both)...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp6SvnYcCbc8Yy8_mUG0D0le-smGT2On_qdPxWZjotnvzW6Ve11a833mjUf8qBR1PPqQhPgZyh-syb5NcHd0CsmpUU3uglg1w5Q1XNaTe0fvaKcow0rGuMlo7amGsJjbhOueraXVJ3AYEd/s2048/Stuffing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1821" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp6SvnYcCbc8Yy8_mUG0D0le-smGT2On_qdPxWZjotnvzW6Ve11a833mjUf8qBR1PPqQhPgZyh-syb5NcHd0CsmpUU3uglg1w5Q1XNaTe0fvaKcow0rGuMlo7amGsJjbhOueraXVJ3AYEd/s640/Stuffing.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">...four colors of felt (it's very stiff which makes it easy to cut, but also soft and opaque, except for the white), two colors of sewing thread (brown and dark grey), stitch markers, a sewing needle and yarn needle (both metal), a G/4.00mm size crochet hook (metal!), and a pair of scissors.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJyAxPlThL9MM8esrMjchiylGMLqflWuCGsRA-JH2WMinYt_BG1qjjScKfu9-FdtqvaFRbYlwKEFlYiCnAhtaddDXWyKzxnYXL6lW9-T8B2yWxcgrl1OdTAqEAXyTu1Qeujc4-khcufFBW/s2048/Starting+Other+Mats.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1747" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJyAxPlThL9MM8esrMjchiylGMLqflWuCGsRA-JH2WMinYt_BG1qjjScKfu9-FdtqvaFRbYlwKEFlYiCnAhtaddDXWyKzxnYXL6lW9-T8B2yWxcgrl1OdTAqEAXyTu1Qeujc4-khcufFBW/s640/Starting+Other+Mats.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I was very surprised by the scissors as even the most comprehensive crochet kits I've completed up till now haven't included scissors. Unfortunately, the scissors are the worst quality item in this set, and are not able to cut the intricate shapes the patterns need from the felt, much less cut yarn.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">One thing I find interesting is that there are no pictures of the finished plushies on the outside of the packaging, only in the instruction manual. I knew what to expect since I looked up other photos of the kit during my quest to find the cross stitch and plush kits, but it would have been nice to have at least one photo on the packaging.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm not a big fan of using felt to add accents/details to crocheted projects; if it can be crocheted, I would much rather do that than sew it on with felt. Plus, the included thread colors are much darker than the felt colors, so the stitches would be very obvious. The sample photos in the instruction manual appear to be either be made using different colors of yarn, felt, and thread, or to be color corrected, as they don't match the included materials. I understand why they chose to add details in felt (they would have had to include more colors of yarn and it would be difficult to embroider Pusheen's face), but I didn't like the finished look and substituted my own yarn when possible.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgibfSjBgjWx2Eh1IXqH905fDhSw3xvFJrHDg3muSYahLst6VxLaf0bRtC_2wF2g9E2_K5FGpzGzwS2vTLtSOapFHghZodKlOxsEoIYqeVct9PmHR4ufBdEyeGVxsqd-Y77UQafAB1KJYwa/s2048/Pusheenicorn+Front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1705" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgibfSjBgjWx2Eh1IXqH905fDhSw3xvFJrHDg3muSYahLst6VxLaf0bRtC_2wF2g9E2_K5FGpzGzwS2vTLtSOapFHghZodKlOxsEoIYqeVct9PmHR4ufBdEyeGVxsqd-Y77UQafAB1KJYwa/s640/Pusheenicorn+Front.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The first pattern in the manual and the first Pusheen I finished was the Phuseenicorn. I decided to crochet the horn instead of using felt (the white felt was not opaque and I wanted it to be more sturdy), and I made the mane and tail using chains of slip stitches instead of looping in yarn bunches per the instructions.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcVz8D2Suk5szA6Fn8zNaGMOpCow_y_pWRrhEt7tnhwtLlrYVITefLdCEc7cBqGPFSxrTdLWrnjVMlJnuKvp-e0G-ANv1wjisewiHrdmrJzO923NKq81XRFhFs0qcosBhIHpwOcKr4T0ks/s2048/Pusheenicorn+Back.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1773" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcVz8D2Suk5szA6Fn8zNaGMOpCow_y_pWRrhEt7tnhwtLlrYVITefLdCEc7cBqGPFSxrTdLWrnjVMlJnuKvp-e0G-ANv1wjisewiHrdmrJzO923NKq81XRFhFs0qcosBhIHpwOcKr4T0ks/s640/Pusheenicorn+Back.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Even though I don't like to use felt, I do like how it looks for Pusheen's face and stripes, as they would be hard to embroider perfectly. I did not, however, sew the felt details on and instead used fabric glue, as the stitches were very obvious and did not look good. I don't think it works well to sew such fine details on such a chunky piece. The pattern itself was very simple, as Pusheen is basically a cylinder with four small bumps for feet and two flattened triangles for ears. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I ran out of stuffing while filling the Pusheenicorn's body, so the body and feet of this plush, and the entirety of the second plush, were stuffed using my own stash. Honestly, it might have been better to not include any stuffing and throw in another color or two of yarn.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0PwH1HHBWCR8d3mfLJDaK2Rol-2weOQeSC95ddVQOm4YX_bkkpHDS9wnwE2ZYNRC8Ker1Qu1cmEZnc7xcdrEvPjqXYhhNqlFovVmvx4ClWChqhRpjuFqiAA8cbiCs3h8AgQc4n3My_ufF/s2048/Pusheen+Donut+Front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1644" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0PwH1HHBWCR8d3mfLJDaK2Rol-2weOQeSC95ddVQOm4YX_bkkpHDS9wnwE2ZYNRC8Ker1Qu1cmEZnc7xcdrEvPjqXYhhNqlFovVmvx4ClWChqhRpjuFqiAA8cbiCs3h8AgQc4n3My_ufF/s640/Pusheen+Donut+Front.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The other, slightly more difficult pattern is Pusheen with a donut. This pattern was interesting; you crocheted her body, leaving two holes at the top, where you sewed the ears on. I've seen this type of pattern before, but you usually crochet one ear, finish off, reattach your yarn to the other hole, then finish the second ear. This makes the ears look seamless, whereas this technique, of sewing separately made ears to the holes, leaves a very noticeable seam.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJegUxFWwaAWW40oQZOazWJtb991Xasu5BuhvSVZXZXdF6cubRz5onjvlVhzXLR1YtLxJRBfjhchr9pAC1_1J5MevLnOI-k23uKzyQ8vFyiRPnKuHiZPeOBQ3ycwHZmwUwy9Y8ckDCQNYh/s2048/Pusheen+Donut+Side.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1873" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJegUxFWwaAWW40oQZOazWJtb991Xasu5BuhvSVZXZXdF6cubRz5onjvlVhzXLR1YtLxJRBfjhchr9pAC1_1J5MevLnOI-k23uKzyQ8vFyiRPnKuHiZPeOBQ3ycwHZmwUwy9Y8ckDCQNYh/s640/Pusheen+Donut+Side.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Along with the face and stripes, the instructions say to sew felt stripes to the tail and to make the yellow part of the donut out of felt (even though the pink frosting is crocheted). It was much easier for me to use some of my own yarn to make the tail stripes (I got as close to a color match as I could) and to use the included yellow yarn to make the donut. I'm really not sure why they had you make it out of felt, since I basically used the same pattern for the frosting and sewed two sides together to make it a little more substantial, and the kit already included the yellow yarn.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ98PQtFNsDjqn2c_4dzOCT3idn8av7xkp7hala-jbvo6nTcf_xbbbQA8pNBGqSnwlk0o9J6Bj9R4BU9f4m850QTCf_NNh6id5Ck3xFAZsM1DBhofEapD7kAjLV7K6kG_gDmBT4Gjh7uzs/s2048/Pusheen+Donut+Back.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1297" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ98PQtFNsDjqn2c_4dzOCT3idn8av7xkp7hala-jbvo6nTcf_xbbbQA8pNBGqSnwlk0o9J6Bj9R4BU9f4m850QTCf_NNh6id5Ck3xFAZsM1DBhofEapD7kAjLV7K6kG_gDmBT4Gjh7uzs/s640/Pusheen+Donut+Back.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Besides the ears, this was also a very simple pattern since, again, Pusheen is just a (cute) tube with feet.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Finally, I had enough yarn left over to make a Pusheen Donut!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpSlYeOVQmJfi16bejcfCTAqPyj7CuRi_OealoQFCbi_1MgSiVpEBKnLcvYQgJaOYOyM1f-t48MGTjUvrs41d5iUKW667mDqR-UvxJdFNl03JYvQo7PbdzFtgqwaw5Bn34ONhXGo1aNrPw/s2048/Donut+Top.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2028" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpSlYeOVQmJfi16bejcfCTAqPyj7CuRi_OealoQFCbi_1MgSiVpEBKnLcvYQgJaOYOyM1f-t48MGTjUvrs41d5iUKW667mDqR-UvxJdFNl03JYvQo7PbdzFtgqwaw5Bn34ONhXGo1aNrPw/s640/Donut+Top.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Except for the stripes on the tail and head (I embroidered them this time), I only used yarn from the kit. The donut turned out much bigger than I expected (it's a little bigger than my hand, including the tail and ears), but it's very soft and squishy.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUoBszokfsgu-22P3GC1DAlhJPVzv0B-f0fXNcPR2Ux_E9hhLjB1za4SVGUzLaTqd3RwaPgMHwqxYIcxzDv3JbO_3LdWpApijJfxOd7NYU9J8ZOXpxl9P3uWCf7fNK0oCyH4vG0Q3gEnxo/s2048/Ending+Materials.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1817" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUoBszokfsgu-22P3GC1DAlhJPVzv0B-f0fXNcPR2Ux_E9hhLjB1za4SVGUzLaTqd3RwaPgMHwqxYIcxzDv3JbO_3LdWpApijJfxOd7NYU9J8ZOXpxl9P3uWCf7fNK0oCyH4vG0Q3gEnxo/s640/Ending+Materials.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After making both plushies and the donut, I still have a bunch of yarn left over. Again, I really like the feel of this yarn, it's like a chenille, so I'm happy to have to extra. Plus, I get to keep the cute metal lunchbox everything came in!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Overall, I think this is a good kit, and the $25 cost is reasonable for everything you're getting (I think Pusheen metal lunchboxes themselves are $10-$15). I wouldn't recommend this kit for absolute beginners as, even though the patterns are simple, I can see the ears of the Pusheen with a Donut being confusing, and the felt features are fiddly. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">If you are going to purchase this kit, I recommend having your own stuffing stash, a good quality scissors (I used a curved embroidery scissors to cut things out, and it took a lot of careful trimming to get the face right), and fabric glue (or different colors of thread if you'd prefer to sew the details on).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Thank you for reading! <3</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132276752053570711.post-76432984274673130022020-08-08T20:27:00.003-05:002020-08-08T20:27:39.338-05:00Brooke's Yarn Barn - My Pet Kitty Crochet Kit - Review<p> What's more fun than buying a curated crochet amigurumi kit from an independent artist? Buying a curated crochet amigurumi kit from a <b>local</b> independent artist!</p><p>I'm excited to review the My Pet Kitty crochet amigurumi kit from Brooke's Yarn Barn, an Etsy store run by an artisan from Minnesota! </p><p>Admittedly, I am using 'local' a little loosely here since I'm counting anything in the state of Minnesota as local, but I've actually been surprised at the dearth of not only more locally-based fiber artist Etsy shops that sell crochet kits, but U.S. Etsy shops that do in general. It feels like most of the hand curated kits I've purchased have been from Europe.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgivRNRvpG17VOkDv055U65zFNn2oh27Qe6tY_CsigQcB-sherOWwbGkQBXAhxuBnpDQhH0rBMzsz-qUW1RPqkwlhnAZmwRWTokRDakFddRIK36hS8F3Pn0vhnz-37J8hRwscKNC6FRMvxL/s2048/Pattern.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1889" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgivRNRvpG17VOkDv055U65zFNn2oh27Qe6tY_CsigQcB-sherOWwbGkQBXAhxuBnpDQhH0rBMzsz-qUW1RPqkwlhnAZmwRWTokRDakFddRIK36hS8F3Pn0vhnz-37J8hRwscKNC6FRMvxL/s640/Pattern.jpg" /></a></div><p>The My Pet Kitty crochet kit from Brooke's Yarn Barn was $35.00, plus $7.64 shipping and $3.16 tax, for a total of $45.80, making it one of the more expensive kits I've purchased. However, this kit is so well put together and with such an eye for detail, that I think it's 100% worth it!</p><p>You get enough materials to create one kitty plush, and you can pick between the brown, grey, or orange cat. I went with grey since I like the softer look, but all three colors are cute. I was a bit hesitant to purchase this kit at first since the more folksy-look of the plush isn't my usual aesthetic, but I really wanted to support a Minnesotan artist and try a bunch of different kinds of kits. I am very happy I did purchase it, though, since the final product is super cute and very huggable!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheenp7nujtW83YOzFN2bAGD8IMgEk9ujRjUCMpqinnbhy4l6qeWqb9j3p9bYfklx5fDbUwyUdBcyFr9mH77LWMNcjHRrKVfBY3DO1Trn64bYx-oLPZbKmn-xX0axtjf7VHmEUDbW7YgZMW/s2048/Wrapped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1951" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheenp7nujtW83YOzFN2bAGD8IMgEk9ujRjUCMpqinnbhy4l6qeWqb9j3p9bYfklx5fDbUwyUdBcyFr9mH77LWMNcjHRrKVfBY3DO1Trn64bYx-oLPZbKmn-xX0axtjf7VHmEUDbW7YgZMW/s640/Wrapped.jpg" /></a></div><p>My kit arrived in a cardboard box and was wrapped inside a plastic bag for protection. It was then wrapped in glittery tissue paper (this kind of tissue paper is really nostalgic for me; I remember getting gifts from my grandparents that were wrapped in it), and everything was safely stored in a super cure canvas drawstring bag.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbljUqbUmrbwGFT9snZn809xBE0-Duy5I5FaQgk_sJ4J38uXj3-KRkDSdys0lP4MQj_mvNzuIgXvCV10kIgqIrpebSVw6p-_x6E2cOTBunCpXmsVrCc9vC3zQBFto3GLKrbmiKdid0rGb0/s2048/Bag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="display: inline !important; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1926" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbljUqbUmrbwGFT9snZn809xBE0-Duy5I5FaQgk_sJ4J38uXj3-KRkDSdys0lP4MQj_mvNzuIgXvCV10kIgqIrpebSVw6p-_x6E2cOTBunCpXmsVrCc9vC3zQBFto3GLKrbmiKdid0rGb0/s640/Bag.jpg" /></a></p><p>At this point, I already knew this kit was more than worth the purchase price just due to the care and attention that was put into packaging it. I also got a really nice personalized thank you note!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge_yYAD266cOSYk7nd3lcOvC5S2hijgPlWVLq2lrsHmqjKyAEWreVXtXjwfU-P0ybVfwFhsFRXkj9fbHYWb9Nckief46BELeJSjrbtfd_wK8N0iFH7OHS9VvMifuPTjf2wezFBE5Me03lC/s2048/Thank+You+Note.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1343" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge_yYAD266cOSYk7nd3lcOvC5S2hijgPlWVLq2lrsHmqjKyAEWreVXtXjwfU-P0ybVfwFhsFRXkj9fbHYWb9Nckief46BELeJSjrbtfd_wK8N0iFH7OHS9VvMifuPTjf2wezFBE5Me03lC/s640/Thank+You+Note.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>This kit includes everything you need to create your pet kitty, except for scissors. It even includes a pattern printed on thick cardstock and tied together with a cute twine bow (as seen in the first photo).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUhTT-EdFMCMP9HyWAjcGzuNhEhmyjPI_tDQg7HDzHz8wfrdnyujk6CLzXuwCP1tc3Z56-RvW7_GM5bowhVfVFTlGiAshAh01nFYqt9z3lu5lpV9QDjvmJXeovJVX5ZCnraZFVyL7-vJ7l/s2048/Starting+Materials.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1701" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUhTT-EdFMCMP9HyWAjcGzuNhEhmyjPI_tDQg7HDzHz8wfrdnyujk6CLzXuwCP1tc3Z56-RvW7_GM5bowhVfVFTlGiAshAh01nFYqt9z3lu5lpV9QDjvmJXeovJVX5ZCnraZFVyL7-vJ7l/s640/Starting+Materials.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>All the yarn included is wound and wrapped in thematically appropriate (and cute!) paper wrappers. One plastic baggie includes scrap yarn in pink and thread in black wrapped around labelled plastic floss bobbins and two black 12mm plastic safety eyes, and another includes a metal yarn needle (yay!), some stitch markers, and a metal collar charm (the grey kitty comes with a paw print with a jewel). My favorite part, though, is that you get a brand new Clover Soft Touch crochet hook in size G/4.00mm!</p><p>I appreciated that the pattern lists what actual yarns you get, including brand and color, so if you wanted to make the other two colors on your own, it would be super easy. The yarn you get isn't super premium or anything (Red Heart and I Love This Yarn), but they work just fine.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFaaf3yR51XYj4Lg6yF2OjbfeWfdQo_976J-Sn6bldtqcjfQEBTlvUEmP9H4K7n2yugTNpvTLMfLcyUgCkKa-M7GMjomUvTYCJa7Jkw9vqBYY5IYe80pX4HbS4uZbQtkm5bDlmeKiTedis/s2048/Stuffing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2013" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFaaf3yR51XYj4Lg6yF2OjbfeWfdQo_976J-Sn6bldtqcjfQEBTlvUEmP9H4K7n2yugTNpvTLMfLcyUgCkKa-M7GMjomUvTYCJa7Jkw9vqBYY5IYe80pX4HbS4uZbQtkm5bDlmeKiTedis/s640/Stuffing.jpg" /></a></div><p>You also get <i>just </i>enough stuffing to finish your kitty; I ended up using a little of my own stuffing stash to finish my plush, but I prefer a more firm plush and changed the pattern slightly, which likely affected how much I needed.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmFHpOIr_amW81kGRJtELy1_VPyfxM0Lgiy1pC3Yfx7Q5_1I3m-XtvdplXrP8q8HDuZ7bIb2pK7YHeLzC29tN88aFlIJWnPKnLJNEdxVuXcsN3K2MFyceabuzExvcQQx8pwx90c3JldgEU/s2048/Front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1740" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmFHpOIr_amW81kGRJtELy1_VPyfxM0Lgiy1pC3Yfx7Q5_1I3m-XtvdplXrP8q8HDuZ7bIb2pK7YHeLzC29tN88aFlIJWnPKnLJNEdxVuXcsN3K2MFyceabuzExvcQQx8pwx90c3JldgEU/s640/Front.jpg" /></a></div><p>Here's my beautiful jellybean kitty! I made some minor changes (I changed the face slightly to make it sad and added whiskers, I embroidered the inside of the ears and added pads on the feet, and gave it a flatter bottom so it would sit better on its own), but overall I am very impressed with the pattern! It was extremely easy to follow, and the final product looks way more complicated than it actually is to make due to clever way the toes/fingers are done. The collar charm is the perfect finishing touch!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQVbFdlyEIWXalz-lY3hA2PvImBBT0ueqSA2jOIGLpzvjig8ZTca5TCmu_x8nYgmGVSuETUdU9PqOgibWfh0FtiYFgDAcaNvsJ0AQtXd2ak5lVMQgLjj9n9ZaRNftpTK7QtBA0UcbQcC9F/s2048/Back.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1545" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQVbFdlyEIWXalz-lY3hA2PvImBBT0ueqSA2jOIGLpzvjig8ZTca5TCmu_x8nYgmGVSuETUdU9PqOgibWfh0FtiYFgDAcaNvsJ0AQtXd2ak5lVMQgLjj9n9ZaRNftpTK7QtBA0UcbQcC9F/s640/Back.jpg" /></a></div><p>A unique aspect to this pattern that I especially liked is how the limbs are added; you attach them as you are crocheting the body instead of sewing them on at the end. This gives the plushie a seamless look and it is much more secure than sewing. It also makes it easier to attach the limbs to right place (I stress a lot about sewing my plushies together correctly because I'm a perfectionist...)!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo2l2VeM-Y8Jmyrp4LJaX7A882Sa9CVV_b4_YIeXqXwQLvqq0oYeIORxQcn7b0sG0rgxW6Bq3c8OMvkLRnxnzmHSU4mSNuLUW53bXzfTgug1vwqjuHizV7kszKErQ1MKBO9TxZvQYEtYIJ/s2048/Ending+Materials.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1277" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo2l2VeM-Y8Jmyrp4LJaX7A882Sa9CVV_b4_YIeXqXwQLvqq0oYeIORxQcn7b0sG0rgxW6Bq3c8OMvkLRnxnzmHSU4mSNuLUW53bXzfTgug1vwqjuHizV7kszKErQ1MKBO9TxZvQYEtYIJ/s640/Ending+Materials.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>Even with the changes I made, I had plenty of yarn left over (though I will say that I probably wouldn't have had enough light pink yarn for the nose, ears, and foot pads; I substituted my own yarn since I wanted all three to be the same, but you definitely have enough for the nose and could probably do the ear embroidery, too). The only material I would be cautious about is the stuffing as, like I said, I had just enough to finish my plushie, though it would have been a bit softer if I hadn't added my own.</p><p>Overall, this is such a great kit! Even though it is a little more expensive, it includes some great tools (A Clover crochet hook! A metal yarn needle!) and is extremely well-curated. It's very clear that a lot of thought and love went into this kit, and the plushie you can make is adorable! </p><p>I highly recommend checking out Brooke's Yarn Barn on Etsy for this kit (there's also a cow kit!) and other handmade crocheted goodies!</p><p>Thank you for reading! <3</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132276752053570711.post-23741904138635216562020-08-02T22:44:00.001-05:002020-08-02T22:44:16.552-05:00Ricorumi - Mermaid Crochet Kit - ReviewI have a bad habit of falling in love with products and brands that are hard, if not impossible, to find the in the U.S. Or, if they are available in the U.S., the selection is extremely limited and the price is much higher (this is understandable as you need to take into account shipping and import fees).<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">This habit unfortunately even affects my crocheting. On a whim, I purchased some crochet kits from the brand Rico Designs - more specifically their amigurumi line, Ricorumi - because I hadn't heard of it before, and fell in love with the yarn and the designs. So of course I needed more. And of course they're hard to find in the U.S. (I've found only one U.S. retailer with a good selection, Universal Yarn, which is where I purchased this kit and one other from; the rest I've purchased from Etsy).</div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Let's take a look at my first Ricorumi kit, the Mermaid!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSeoGjepfKeTNQ6qQRnD1RgQn3PXiTdo1MZrk6rQ337giI4D5JVPpJ-LRIWI3VNVie3SsvTfc1TM4gZCOFxj-f7S9-f6Ig_sZMT0Vy7QEY5p6ABRihoSwYX6ut8L8tTVirXBaR4do3HQ4L/s2048/Mermaid+Box+Front.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1984" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSeoGjepfKeTNQ6qQRnD1RgQn3PXiTdo1MZrk6rQ337giI4D5JVPpJ-LRIWI3VNVie3SsvTfc1TM4gZCOFxj-f7S9-f6Ig_sZMT0Vy7QEY5p6ABRihoSwYX6ut8L8tTVirXBaR4do3HQ4L/s640/Mermaid+Box+Front.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Ricorumi/Rico Designs is a European brand (I believe they are based in Germany) that specializes in DIY/craft products, including yarn, crochet patterns, and crochet kits (of which there's a pretty good selection of designs, including animals and people). These kits retail for about £12.00 ($15.70 based on conversion rates as of today) in Europe, but they're about $30 in the U.S. I paid $30 for this kit, plus $4.50 shipping (it was $8.95 for two).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho9tbViavNomjvm0FlbCgAJ438IQBPC-0sSPE-ag7iMeJgA60pcJJ3QZBMhxHeY8t8UMrtimsxock77Src-dVVyPac3BGIhGbInsCQ_DFG5hxkVA9R9ZcpG7fdQnxfEL7zvG5XEBh9b2SM/s2048/Mermaid+Box+Back.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1945" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho9tbViavNomjvm0FlbCgAJ438IQBPC-0sSPE-ag7iMeJgA60pcJJ3QZBMhxHeY8t8UMrtimsxock77Src-dVVyPac3BGIhGbInsCQ_DFG5hxkVA9R9ZcpG7fdQnxfEL7zvG5XEBh9b2SM/s640/Mermaid+Box+Back.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div>This kit includes: </div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>4 balls (25g) of Ricorumi cotton DK yarn in shades 007 Pastel Pink, 021 Salmon, 019 Mauve, and 038 Patina</li><li>A small amount of black (shade 060) and Ricorumi lamé in gold (shade 002; it says 'small amount', but you actually get quite a bit)</li><li>A 3mm crochet hook</li><li>An embroidery needle</li><li>Instructions/pattern in 4 different languages, including English</li></ul><div>Note that you have to supply your own stuffing, and that the face in embroidered, so you don't get any eyes or anything. I don't mind not getting any stuffing in kits since it adds a lot of bulk to the materials and it can be tricky for companies to meter out the correct amount. I'd rather get no stuffing, than to be promised stuffing and then not given enough to finish the project.</div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn_UQYIm2TgzvhzTrc36t0kvMjLmiiiwY6c4qp-aWRUxMZFR3ZD_aV04j-zAQp3-PjejsbWrz9w7dApSDfE9lt33GIVlx3jujy7Q7WY7UBfD-hW3x67qJJCvbXpbrhKKlB_s1rwyrzCBwk/s2048/Starting+Materials.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1511" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn_UQYIm2TgzvhzTrc36t0kvMjLmiiiwY6c4qp-aWRUxMZFR3ZD_aV04j-zAQp3-PjejsbWrz9w7dApSDfE9lt33GIVlx3jujy7Q7WY7UBfD-hW3x67qJJCvbXpbrhKKlB_s1rwyrzCBwk/s640/Starting+Materials.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I was excited because I liked how the crochet hook looked and though it was metal, but unfortunately, I think it's just silver-painted plastic. The embroidery needle is also plastic; it's a lot sturdier than other plastic needles I've gotten in kits, but I decided to use my own hook and needle. I don't have a 3mm hook, so I used a D/3.25mm Clover Soft-Touch.</div><div><br /></div><div>The instructions are written in UK crochet terms, so you have to convert them to US terms (the pattern mostly uses UK dc, though, so it's easy). Each language is a different color, which makes it easy to find the right one. The instructions were easy enough to follow, even with having to convert the terminology, but it seems like the English instructions were lacking in assembly directions compared to the German ones. Nothing major, and it's easy to reference the photos, but it was interesting to note the differences in instructions between the languages.</div><div><br /></div><div>The best parts of this kit are the design and the Ricorumi yarn. The mermaid is so adorable, and she ends up looking way more complicated then she actually is to make. The yarn is very soft and pleasant to work with and the colors are vibrant and unique (...they also have holographic lettering on the bands). Even the lamé is soft, though it leaves little bits everywhere when you cut it because of how it's woven, which can be annoying to clean up,</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGR1vTLYvC0XCaw9hP2WA1tY9NSmypUNneNup-BWajCmSAoUEV7HNRc44vURiCjvf5CLEYFG5HSOUZ5TcFfYDzpfPdbS9HHk6AsO-NK9PdDdrLGOHE8-1pbYX9FyMH4sntOwJSAPFb9vuL/s1983/Mermaid+Front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1983" data-original-width="1527" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGR1vTLYvC0XCaw9hP2WA1tY9NSmypUNneNup-BWajCmSAoUEV7HNRc44vURiCjvf5CLEYFG5HSOUZ5TcFfYDzpfPdbS9HHk6AsO-NK9PdDdrLGOHE8-1pbYX9FyMH4sntOwJSAPFb9vuL/s640/Mermaid+Front.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Seriously, though, look how adorable this mermaid is! I love her color scheme, and her embroidered face is super cute.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNdDv3llvv4TXMVRvHo64crO-6PZWusuItMcUXFtBoOdfYw3TSY8CeIp8wVsCj3WCbdFL2FeajTIDfdrhuNnXv9jtXoGGbjXGZ3qgiv8aV2-4ON8S34DEkHeHuT4BES2Nhldw5cdyaLn9Z/s2048/Mermaid+Back.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1301" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNdDv3llvv4TXMVRvHo64crO-6PZWusuItMcUXFtBoOdfYw3TSY8CeIp8wVsCj3WCbdFL2FeajTIDfdrhuNnXv9jtXoGGbjXGZ3qgiv8aV2-4ON8S34DEkHeHuT4BES2Nhldw5cdyaLn9Z/s640/Mermaid+Back.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The embroidery on her tail was a little tedious, but I like the effect it gives. Also, I'm a perfectionist, so it probably took me longer to embroider than most people. I was worried about how the hair would look since it's crocheted in three separate pieces, the head piece and two pigtails, and then sewn on, but it turned out exactly how it looks in the sample pictures!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRbpikEKoclwohf6h4mFXciQdpQnwZlQqRTg0jFg-Tf51OfMjQ1OgqPiu2oiPRIYXYmZ8AAChyphenhyphenICh6KnueNsdHVOhFXf6pyI_3t-n_juZUvpMtKcDFaU43GyHcKA3nR8R_T7IMFC0_QCMn/s2048/Starfish+Front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1895" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRbpikEKoclwohf6h4mFXciQdpQnwZlQqRTg0jFg-Tf51OfMjQ1OgqPiu2oiPRIYXYmZ8AAChyphenhyphenICh6KnueNsdHVOhFXf6pyI_3t-n_juZUvpMtKcDFaU43GyHcKA3nR8R_T7IMFC0_QCMn/s640/Starfish+Front.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I had plenty of yarn left over, so I made a starfish keychain!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE734_bLJWGv4NtB8LbW7otcI6pT674gY7s3uHmGF_zuUr3BXAkxiTEgqQfN9pfgYUER5IedtkkE0Hz_-PmciQQKJ2CDF5SMNLH2JbUr9m8WF97AOKxbvAqgDkA-B-YFLxQZ1_HPO-e1ff/s2048/Starfish+Back.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1988" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE734_bLJWGv4NtB8LbW7otcI6pT674gY7s3uHmGF_zuUr3BXAkxiTEgqQfN9pfgYUER5IedtkkE0Hz_-PmciQQKJ2CDF5SMNLH2JbUr9m8WF97AOKxbvAqgDkA-B-YFLxQZ1_HPO-e1ff/s640/Starfish+Back.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>...I just really like crocheting stars. I'm hoping to post a free star pattern soon (I want to get some good instructional photos) so everyone can share in the joy of making stars!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi7f6AVUkV6ZC9TAyZYM4wfy6UyIb3x6GKVtjlrbe2CjqEUkDzhHCgkgOx_UOZY58OL0cC9CT_6k_Ehp8Lwb4LQZWg_QsCPLF-wwPwzJuBqz0AywzLjVZi8iQuWpSyvxPVcq8tbHjuvpmA/s2048/Ending+Materials.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1711" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi7f6AVUkV6ZC9TAyZYM4wfy6UyIb3x6GKVtjlrbe2CjqEUkDzhHCgkgOx_UOZY58OL0cC9CT_6k_Ehp8Lwb4LQZWg_QsCPLF-wwPwzJuBqz0AywzLjVZi8iQuWpSyvxPVcq8tbHjuvpmA/s640/Ending+Materials.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Even after making my keychain, I had a bunch of materials left over to keep experimenting with.</div><div><br /></div><div>Overall, I loved this kit! So much so, that I bought more! $30 for this kit is a lot, though, and, while I think it's worth it since it's a great design, contains quality materials, and is from a novel/hard to find brand in the U.S., its original retail price is closer to $15-$16, which in turn is closer to the actual value of the included items.</div><div><br /></div><div>However, if you're okay paying the extra $15 to import/ship it, I highly recommend this kit!</div><div><br /></div><div>Thank you for reading! <3</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132276752053570711.post-67555071117206800522020-07-21T21:42:00.000-05:002020-07-21T21:42:03.127-05:00Needle Creations Crochet Kit - Starry the Unicorn - ReviewThroughout my crochet journey, I have made many, many unicorns. Small unicorns. Big unicorns. Colorful unicorns. Monochrome unicorns. Something about unicorns is just...really appealing, and they are always popular items at my Artist Alley table and as gifts for my friends and family, regardless of the style or pattern I use. So I am more than happy to try out a unicorn-themed crochet kit!<div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf8BFyHA35xvF8XUEMEcvU9QJ25iuhEtLEbmQVnH6TI3ka_r6lk220pPULL6_vEm5VUCe2jKDSIxTdRAVVCGm-BFk0U5hUToSTePOHYTOHChQDOmBlNcwFrClNWA6Toht2Mo7QL6lk0Xp2/s2048/Starry+Box+Front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1916" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf8BFyHA35xvF8XUEMEcvU9QJ25iuhEtLEbmQVnH6TI3ka_r6lk220pPULL6_vEm5VUCe2jKDSIxTdRAVVCGm-BFk0U5hUToSTePOHYTOHChQDOmBlNcwFrClNWA6Toht2Mo7QL6lk0Xp2/s320/Starry+Box+Front.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div></div><div>This is the Starry the Unicorn Crochet Kit by Needle Creations. I had a hard time finding more information about this brand and kit; it seems like Needle Creations is part of the company Fabric Editions, and their crochet kits might now be sold under the brand Stitchin Kidz? Fabric Editions products, including their crochet kits, can be found at Joann Fabrics, Michaels, and Hobby Lobby, though it looks like availability may be limited. </div><div><br /></div><div>I paid $12.83 for this kit ($11.95 + tax, with free shipping) from Etsy, but you might be able to get it for cheaper if you're able to find it from a different retailer (Hobby Lobby has the flamingo and llama kits for $8.99).</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYIo1AqBvjZMilvuJ0JXqqC-5HZ4zAKyuS5W4BRr40ma5yrHKb0kssOA3a3_f8IhZ0YXqZzwkmi_T3Q3JNK2mQlsjo617hhKEisgHTISHqjrjtCoDxR5SUx0GEF0M70osnXMij2ZXXCkdT/s2048/Starry+Box+Back.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1683" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYIo1AqBvjZMilvuJ0JXqqC-5HZ4zAKyuS5W4BRr40ma5yrHKb0kssOA3a3_f8IhZ0YXqZzwkmi_T3Q3JNK2mQlsjo617hhKEisgHTISHqjrjtCoDxR5SUx0GEF0M70osnXMij2ZXXCkdT/s320/Starry+Box+Back.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This kit includes yarn in the colors white, pink, lavender, yellow, mint, and a very small amount of black (the box states that it is 100% polyester), stuffing, a plastic size E/3.5mm crochet hook, a plastic yarn needle, and instructions.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSeps1UEk79sel8bPwuQTj5bHvx1vDrNmaCvMS1843weaWgcce7j0TEqxSY4cww8MNhwStTiJ06IPyZkajPxGEv3ThJ8cWTok4p0Mi5fLwB5CtA6XwOSpLKQ-JwTUTiNs-xwv2kGw88_vN/s2048/Starting+Materials.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2041" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSeps1UEk79sel8bPwuQTj5bHvx1vDrNmaCvMS1843weaWgcce7j0TEqxSY4cww8MNhwStTiJ06IPyZkajPxGEv3ThJ8cWTok4p0Mi5fLwB5CtA6XwOSpLKQ-JwTUTiNs-xwv2kGw88_vN/s320/Starting+Materials.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div>The yarn isn't the best quality (it's a little thin and weak, especially since it's made out of synthetic fiber, and it feels a little rough to work with), but you get a good amount of it and the colors are nice.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBnYnn6HsVHBHdUNdeBJhCQyUb-142z6d7e-QStPqh_LKfV37VistHRhyphenhyphenwX8FzmaRn5dosVbYLVjF_T3c7PEG6nuGyssxVH7SHbUFkMvJcj9fGNvhNFOc7y3oz9nWx1TBsqKECwiM0gBBM/s2048/Yarn+Knot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1707" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBnYnn6HsVHBHdUNdeBJhCQyUb-142z6d7e-QStPqh_LKfV37VistHRhyphenhyphenwX8FzmaRn5dosVbYLVjF_T3c7PEG6nuGyssxVH7SHbUFkMvJcj9fGNvhNFOc7y3oz9nWx1TBsqKECwiM0gBBM/s320/Yarn+Knot.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>One of my pet peeves is when yarn companies tie together smaller pieces of yarn to make full skeins (it happens with all brands, but Red Heart does this especially often, even with their 'premium' yarns). The knot almost always ends up being noticeable in my work and I usually just have to cut it out and either start a part over or rejoin a new piece of yarn. It was particularly annoying in this case since we're already getting a smaller amount of yarn that it feels like it could have been easily avoided.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjin5p3vZmJRlVCrdqG_cErBnFwK77BCTRzQajru5JCPdr4GWDzhOmn31wd1HHlZ9AvVZofN55RuWDHWimm5QB_6hgxzxskqfHyKHAt5q0XMDVDis3joURBDesk0dfLaJNpHpMtuiBp4YIi/s2048/Instructions+and+Tools.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1286" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjin5p3vZmJRlVCrdqG_cErBnFwK77BCTRzQajru5JCPdr4GWDzhOmn31wd1HHlZ9AvVZofN55RuWDHWimm5QB_6hgxzxskqfHyKHAt5q0XMDVDis3joURBDesk0dfLaJNpHpMtuiBp4YIi/s320/Instructions+and+Tools.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As usual, I hate plastic crochet hooks and yarn needles and substitute my own tools (in this case a size E/3.5mm Clover Soft Touch Hook and a metal yarn needle). I would recommend either using your own tools with this kit, or purchasing them at the same time if you don't already have them. I also added in my own metallic yarn for the horn and hooves as I wanted my unicorn to look a little more magical.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As the box states, this is an intermediate skill level kit, and I would agree with that. Oddly enough, the pattern was both the highlight of this box and disappointing at the same time. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The Good: The pattern for this kit employs some very interesting shaping techniques; I'm used to kits that have you crochet basic shapes and then sew them together, but the body and neck in this kit is crocheted in one piece, starting with the neck. The head is also shaped, but it's in a more conventional manner. I think this pattern provides a great introduction to shaping, and the techniques used can be applied towards other projects.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The Bad: There are some errors in the pattern, especially in regards to the horn. The other errors are relatively minor, such as incorrect stitch amounts listed for rounds and miscounting, but if you're not paying attention, you might end up crocheting the horn backwards. The pattern provides helpful graphics for each piece, including where you're starting and ending, and where to place the eyes and cheeks, and according to the image next to the horn section (and from the sample picture on the box), you're supposed to start at the tip and finish at the bottom, where it connects to the head. The pattern, on the other hand, starts at the bottom, and has you end at the tip. I realized this around Round 4, so I started over from the bottom of the pattern, but it would have been frustrating to finish the piece and then realize the mistake. You could still use the horn on the finished piece, but it would look different and be a little more difficult to attach.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1SEpBc7lZ53aq4qh2o4iscV5TJuGoADOy6vaxch2uODHbqzpQF3Q4LQq5WoHcQZLgmq1exMi_Fu6-7rIz2xPf7Qt_SlttvVv9LJyfFG1pBKEKa8EIcS6eqkGkyCWu_Zu-DsQiY5tewOtA/s2048/Ending+Materials.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1900" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1SEpBc7lZ53aq4qh2o4iscV5TJuGoADOy6vaxch2uODHbqzpQF3Q4LQq5WoHcQZLgmq1exMi_Fu6-7rIz2xPf7Qt_SlttvVv9LJyfFG1pBKEKa8EIcS6eqkGkyCWu_Zu-DsQiY5tewOtA/s320/Ending+Materials.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After finishing my unicorn, I had a lot of yarn left over. I <i>almost</i> had enough stuffing, but had to use my own stash for the hooves/legs. I like to stuff my amigurumi firmly, though, so it might be enough if you stuff a little softer.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWDUsk0Tf6EHAlbRSlWzK4KzzqPKX6bnHGBwMXu-GUGegRFrpHKo3m7XzHVBYPa_ZxVqzhaCCFFZiMSbWxFWo77Lb-bgMXIEm-NoLyUnUe3dnHwVjCSgQXBix_gf5eF1Q2SWovZ7bQ1ao5/s1959/Star+Front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1816" data-original-width="1959" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWDUsk0Tf6EHAlbRSlWzK4KzzqPKX6bnHGBwMXu-GUGegRFrpHKo3m7XzHVBYPa_ZxVqzhaCCFFZiMSbWxFWo77Lb-bgMXIEm-NoLyUnUe3dnHwVjCSgQXBix_gf5eF1Q2SWovZ7bQ1ao5/s320/Star+Front.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I even had enough yarn left over to make a little star key chain; you know, because her name is Starry! The photo of the leftover materials above is from after I made this, so you really do get a lot of yarn to work with. I ran out of stuffing while making the unicorn, so the star is stuffed using my own stash.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBVKuGxc6bcbOFdAt3xQp9eWSIq_3ssKPjCshSiV8rj-EoEcJZ4ziXhWheR21bhluvQ8be8lTNjIs3HaSGfwRz843rI9B2k6loy0YjsYpkgUSNGvVTFUNRK4Wo2p7KZ8cMo5NkMxhtTyMS/s2048/Left+Side+Front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1646" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBVKuGxc6bcbOFdAt3xQp9eWSIq_3ssKPjCshSiV8rj-EoEcJZ4ziXhWheR21bhluvQ8be8lTNjIs3HaSGfwRz843rI9B2k6loy0YjsYpkgUSNGvVTFUNRK4Wo2p7KZ8cMo5NkMxhtTyMS/s320/Left+Side+Front.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div>And here she is! I think she turned out super cute and, because of the shaping, she looks really unique!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg62Xr3he4pHJTJxAQKatmkgrwpqyZnN2jSh1YUiVCgAEYqskrumHLF9EbTcHo3X7clEYLIeDW_Pn5OWjRZSal-pLOi8Krd5Ov9k8f7hE3wgy516ceUVSmZlncLMqyXNcrnS5LSCfH0cF2/s2048/Left+Side.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1650" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg62Xr3he4pHJTJxAQKatmkgrwpqyZnN2jSh1YUiVCgAEYqskrumHLF9EbTcHo3X7clEYLIeDW_Pn5OWjRZSal-pLOi8Krd5Ov9k8f7hE3wgy516ceUVSmZlncLMqyXNcrnS5LSCfH0cF2/s320/Left+Side.jpg" /></a></div><div>As stated above, I added some metallic gold yarn to the yellow the kit included for the hooves and horn because I wanted a more sparkly unicorn.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwRNLCvJ6PPFI_CaDO1s3jR9xHPNpI9f7wKrnjVB-Lnb_PrMRxfpMz6M5KCmGUcklpfBDF_UZGLE_6qXJCfzQBz-sLDIHNYdzKAhGd6nSH2AxwWGq7GN2V62SQEskwAC-_n4eOVP6cZOCE/s2048/Right+Side+Back.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1507" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwRNLCvJ6PPFI_CaDO1s3jR9xHPNpI9f7wKrnjVB-Lnb_PrMRxfpMz6M5KCmGUcklpfBDF_UZGLE_6qXJCfzQBz-sLDIHNYdzKAhGd6nSH2AxwWGq7GN2V62SQEskwAC-_n4eOVP6cZOCE/s320/Right+Side+Back.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The colors included in this kit work really well together, and I think the design of the unicorn is great. You were also supposed to use french knots for the eyes, but I used straight lines since I wanted them to be a little more durable.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj49wgYB3qO2Xhpi3BYdkB0DnFAk0jwPd1fJZUP4qdOq23f6_DYYzG2vPb1x1yHTvZ6xhidgjE-dSoan2EoCHUDfG7mC_fzs1zQ6OqPWbCbmKYrDCApppP7JdV7oSvaWKJoCEys_WLUkFSg/s2048/Right+Side.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1665" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj49wgYB3qO2Xhpi3BYdkB0DnFAk0jwPd1fJZUP4qdOq23f6_DYYzG2vPb1x1yHTvZ6xhidgjE-dSoan2EoCHUDfG7mC_fzs1zQ6OqPWbCbmKYrDCApppP7JdV7oSvaWKJoCEys_WLUkFSg/s320/Right+Side.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I also really liked the suggested method for attaching the tail and mane; instead of sewing on each curl individually, you sew them on in bunches of three. This saves a lot of time and frustration with making sure everything is secure and the knots aren't visible, so it is a technique I will be using in the future.</div><div><br /></div><div>Overall, I think this is a great kit for intermediate crocheters! The materials are okay (not horrible, but not great) and there are some issues with the pattern that could be frustrating for those less experienced with crochet, but the design and techniques are top-notch, and the price of the kit is very reasonable, even if you do end up paying $12-$15. The end product is just so cute and unique, and I will likely be making more in different colors in the future as gifts!</div><div><br /></div><div>Thank you for reading! <3</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6132276752053570711.post-63651637637498331672020-07-20T22:45:00.001-05:002020-07-20T22:45:59.967-05:00Darn Good Yarn - DIY Cactus Amigurumi Kit - ReviewI know it's pretty cliche at this point, but I think cacti are super cute! It's convenient, then, that they're also super fun to crochet! <div><br /></div><div>Since they're made of simple shapes, they're quick and easy to make regardless of your skill level, and you can play around with textures/embellishments if you're looking for more of a challenge. Crocheting cacti is a great way to get into amigurumi if you're just starting, and a great way to take a little break from more complex projects if you're more advanced. Which leads us to today's kit under review: the Darn Good Yarn DIY Cactus Amigurumi Knit & Crochet Starter Kit<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaWSKErDpQFddAt0S-MQuf0HhMm6PErSOiPFndLCJRrMuIwl__TW4Q_zKQ9Ajm2VubNdNKn6R4ZzRLaU8_TXikMfpamZon5vZOr48hHSgPIVhFdCuxrcrXc4Zt69qWwDokE3Sx6-zYq9b6/s2048/Cactus+Box+Front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2045" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaWSKErDpQFddAt0S-MQuf0HhMm6PErSOiPFndLCJRrMuIwl__TW4Q_zKQ9Ajm2VubNdNKn6R4ZzRLaU8_TXikMfpamZon5vZOr48hHSgPIVhFdCuxrcrXc4Zt69qWwDokE3Sx6-zYq9b6/s320/Cactus+Box+Front.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>This kit is available from various online retailers, including directly from Darn Good Yarn. I purchased mine from Amazon for $15, and it was shipped to me from Darn Good Yarn. It's listed for $19.99 on their website, but I'm assuming you can use coupon codes on it, so you can probably get it for a similar price to Amazon if you're interested in purchasing from them directly.</div><div><br /></div><div>An interesting and somewhat unique aspect of this kit is that it includes the patterns and tools needed to either knit or crochet the three little cacti. I've seen stand-alone patterns that come in either knit or crochet, but I don't think I've seen a kit that also includes the tools needed for both.</div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfhqpITFlM2XXCbb98Ef8ukztIAWFiRsj7JWpoKOQRjAu4dT48Dz7qy-qPQ5lfqwr15f3OvAyZgH701qrgJTi-rCU0AbWfu71UwHnaUxNfPyppl7KYQzAwALeRBPj5JIb-q-1-1banBvqP/s2048/Cactus+Box+Back.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1859" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfhqpITFlM2XXCbb98Ef8ukztIAWFiRsj7JWpoKOQRjAu4dT48Dz7qy-qPQ5lfqwr15f3OvAyZgH701qrgJTi-rCU0AbWfu71UwHnaUxNfPyppl7KYQzAwALeRBPj5JIb-q-1-1banBvqP/s320/Cactus+Box+Back.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This kit includes everything needed to create the three cacti shown on the front, except for a scissors. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkbMU5rNrojFfMxeYqlQ4f0YXHcRrXlk5dDekUd7ms_0Kj8ijYvs-1SYWDaFZ4Pjl73iwX6UahK_OR-eqv-cuMGn6wSVh6gpMLeMO7Yh80OhwUBMmrjnMVZW0liG_NLqLry80_MFn_2LP-/s2048/Starting+Materials.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1858" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkbMU5rNrojFfMxeYqlQ4f0YXHcRrXlk5dDekUd7ms_0Kj8ijYvs-1SYWDaFZ4Pjl73iwX6UahK_OR-eqv-cuMGn6wSVh6gpMLeMO7Yh80OhwUBMmrjnMVZW0liG_NLqLry80_MFn_2LP-/s320/Starting+Materials.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">You get three colors of green (weirdly labelled as lime green, dark green, and blackish green; why not call them lime, emerald, and dark green?), brown, vermillion, pink, and yellow yarn, a really good amount of stuffing, four double pointed knitting needles, a crochet hook, a darning needle, and a double-sided pattern sheet with crochet on one side and knit on the other.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbeDvWCMEccZ9YEPXYDmn9kvQQHywy2AgJF1z68cAuUC9tm8-lXIf-AK_xqRBsRDwQrN7a216SFSk8qi2zlj15qZl_5I6ZD3KAMs0Nlr7mtfKa-p_e4KMGcJtJ3_OfJvZgsTX48GDVFcwK/s2048/Stuffing+and+Tools.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2013" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbeDvWCMEccZ9YEPXYDmn9kvQQHywy2AgJF1z68cAuUC9tm8-lXIf-AK_xqRBsRDwQrN7a216SFSk8qi2zlj15qZl_5I6ZD3KAMs0Nlr7mtfKa-p_e4KMGcJtJ3_OfJvZgsTX48GDVFcwK/s320/Stuffing+and+Tools.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I don't know much about knitting supplies, but the included double pointed needles are made of bamboo and seem to be of acceptable quality. The crochet hook and darning needle, however, are made of plastic and I'm not a fan of them. I substituted my own C-hook (Clover Soft-Touch) and metal yarn needle.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7O9jsxuoP89UUacPubLKZYjE_hhWXjpHwpke-ILMfRCDnLsmptWJkuNOcG2-ZO0sZPX-UXNkpRTAdxUrVv6_8WH-xSQ4Mu7LKrxbX_fUTtFA6pQcEuRRIw99Y0-gOZkkLMRQ1TmPExxah/s2048/Purchase+Card.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1866" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7O9jsxuoP89UUacPubLKZYjE_hhWXjpHwpke-ILMfRCDnLsmptWJkuNOcG2-ZO0sZPX-UXNkpRTAdxUrVv6_8WH-xSQ4Mu7LKrxbX_fUTtFA6pQcEuRRIw99Y0-gOZkkLMRQ1TmPExxah/s320/Purchase+Card.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My package also included a card with more info about Darn Good Yarn and their mission; I do appreciate supporting a business that provides safe, sustainable jobs for female artisans globally and helps recycle waste materials.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I like how the instructions included a color photo of what the finished cacti would like either crocheted...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizk_vDFBjcF4RSXBdLWBQf2aSswyWib10mlX0a54LnLRLDLTGpnHlXzdxPNvLL671G45VAC7xRYBkoht2eRwHQ5mNl2AOS4rWnvFAwODETnTcgXx7fpszqNUeOcame4V8VsLHPl13IylFX/s1547/Crochet+Instruction.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1547" data-original-width="866" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizk_vDFBjcF4RSXBdLWBQf2aSswyWib10mlX0a54LnLRLDLTGpnHlXzdxPNvLL671G45VAC7xRYBkoht2eRwHQ5mNl2AOS4rWnvFAwODETnTcgXx7fpszqNUeOcame4V8VsLHPl13IylFX/s320/Crochet+Instruction.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">...or knitted.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtud6iWEidwrOcxdywKdRKwGDeokIaihxEwBliyuQNnPGCY15o0AaTqaA51HBe2n5q-NivfRjGJ64Zyrq8xVlwQZ3lP2eZCbLkZMY_iHyUdny0yjYJe4SS2O3IeK7bhfq4cL0L8ktUSbDD/s1521/Knit+Instruction.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1521" data-original-width="993" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtud6iWEidwrOcxdywKdRKwGDeokIaihxEwBliyuQNnPGCY15o0AaTqaA51HBe2n5q-NivfRjGJ64Zyrq8xVlwQZ3lP2eZCbLkZMY_iHyUdny0yjYJe4SS2O3IeK7bhfq4cL0L8ktUSbDD/s320/Knit+Instruction.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Along with the patterns, the instruction sheet also included abbreviated directions and diagrams for the various stitches used. There was a lot of inconsistency among the diagrams, as if they were pulled from different sources, and I don't know how helpful they would be for someone just starting out.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I can't speak for the knitting pattern as I can't knit (it is a mystery that eludes me), but the crochet pattern could be improved on. Overall, the pattern is fine and is easy enough to follow, and I was clearly able to make what was advertised on the box, but there are some parts that are missing steps (such as going from Round 2 to Round 4, without any information on what happened to Round 3).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The pattern also doesn't use a decrease stitch. At all. Instead of decreasing, you're supposed to just skip a stitch. I'm not sure if this was done to make the pattern 'easier' or if it's because it was originally written as a knitting pattern and then 'translated' to crochet, but I've never seen another pattern do this. I used decreases for my amigurumi instead of skipping stitches, so I can't say for certain how that changes the appearance, if at all.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAuVm5ExXkGFZ7fJVYCfR74LuPEcazHxlDE8pXPPJsAseC2Dfn88vzBsukK7ei-fbA3s_RewpmfpwayxR3Gi0PoG_T6bZTzZejxcmSZOW6Yoa-UYJUlVXp1yfl6i2ClTJQMzxouBxg6T-G/s2048/Cacti.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1460" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAuVm5ExXkGFZ7fJVYCfR74LuPEcazHxlDE8pXPPJsAseC2Dfn88vzBsukK7ei-fbA3s_RewpmfpwayxR3Gi0PoG_T6bZTzZejxcmSZOW6Yoa-UYJUlVXp1yfl6i2ClTJQMzxouBxg6T-G/s320/Cacti.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And here are my beautiful cacti! I made all three included in the pattern, and then made up my own fourth plant (it's a String of Pearls) using the material I had left over. I added a small circle of cardboard to the bottom of the pot before stuffing to make the base more level, and they can all stand up on their own. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_dMwm6Wrf0KbOiTQ1X6ayAnpOJwOIwhVFMuYyGNQF3mF1Gx378Tv9TYTJ_AAnUXZoifOzL_yxj5rw-l0q6XtlV1nZjNdCt507Qi7GKWqp7NczDDLqejCOQyEsrNgPHeW84gK0pWtUzRvv/s2048/Ending+Materials.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1750" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_dMwm6Wrf0KbOiTQ1X6ayAnpOJwOIwhVFMuYyGNQF3mF1Gx378Tv9TYTJ_AAnUXZoifOzL_yxj5rw-l0q6XtlV1nZjNdCt507Qi7GKWqp7NczDDLqejCOQyEsrNgPHeW84gK0pWtUzRvv/s320/Ending+Materials.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Even after making a fourth cacti, I still had a good amount of material left over, especially stuffing!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">They're super cute, but they did turn out way smaller than I expected; they're all around 3" (7.5cm) tall. I was hoping to maybe display them on my desk at work, but they're the perfect size for a keychain, so I might add some hardware and give them to friends as gifts.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Overall, I think this kit is worth it, especially for $15, as you get plenty of materials to complete the project, with enough left over for mistakes or to just play around with. I would recommend using your own crochet hook and yarn needle, though, as the ones included aren't the best (especially the yarn needle, but I also really don't like working with thick, chunky plastic needles, so I am biased).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The crochet pattern is acceptable, but it might be difficult to figure out what to do when a step is missing if you're a beginner, and I'm not sure why they chose to not use decreases. I do really like that you get a crochet and knit pattern, though, and I actually considered trying to knit this kit instead as I do want to figure out knitting (...I just really want to learn how to knit socks).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Also, did I mention that the little cacti are adorable? Because they're adorable.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Thank you for reading! <3</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0