Widget the Chihuahua Mini Snuggle

Hello beautiful people!

Its been a little since Ive posted a new pattern. I've been super busy behind the scenes working on some fabby new items!

Today I want to introduce you all to Widget, who will be the first of many mini snuggles. Why mini? Well thats a good story! You see, this year I'm going to be involved in some shoebox filling for the local community. I thought about full sized snuggles but they take up a LOT of room in a shoebox. I wanted something smaller, that would still be snuggly and cute but would leave more space in the shoebox for other items. Enter the Mini Snuggle!

Widget here is a Chihuahua, and was named after a dog my partner had in his childhood. Widget is not only super quick and super small, he is also super easy! Aside from a little sewing he is all basic stitches.

I have quite a large list of animals, characters and people to work through thanks to 1am brainstorming so you can expect a lot more of these little guys in the very near future.

The Pattern
US terms

DK weight yarn in main colour, muzzle colour and a pink for the inner ears
3mm hook
5.5mm hook
9-10mm safety eyes
Sewing needle
Stitch Marker
Small amount of stuffing

Head

R1: ch2, sc 6 times in the first ch, place marker – 6 stitches
R2: 2sc in each stitch  (12)
R3: 1sc in the first stitch, then 2sc in the next stitch, repeat (18)
R4: 1sc in the next 2 stitches, then 2sc in the next stitch, repeat(24)
R5-7: 1sc in each stitch around
R6: sc in the first 2 stitches, sc2tg in the next, repeat (18)
R7: sc in the first stitch, sc2tg, repeat (12)

Insert eyes, I put mine in between R5 and R6 and approx 5-6 stitches apart.
Add some stuffing

R8: sc2tg around, back loops only.

End off leaving long tail. Stuff head firmly. Thread the end in and out of the last 6 stitches and pull tight to gather, sew in ends.

Ears (Make 2, made in the round)

R1: ch2, 4sc in the first ch, place marker (4)
R2: sc in each stitch (4)
R3: *sc in the first stitch, 2sc in the next*, repeat (6)
R4: sc in each st around (6)
R5: *sc in the first stitch, 2sc in the next*, repeat (9)
R6-8 sc in each st around
sl st and end off leaving a long tail for sewing

Inner ear (make 2, made in rows)
R1: ch5, sc in the 2nd chain from hook and each across (4)
R2: ch1, turn, sc2tg twice (2)
R3-4: ch1, turn, sc 2 (2)
R5: ch1, turn, sc2tg (1)
End off leaving long tail

Sew the inner ear to the main ear part.
Attach ears to top of head.

Muzzle
R1: ch2, 6sc in the first chain, place marker
R2: 2sc in each stitch around
R3-4: sc in each stitch around
sl st to the next and end off, leaving a long tail for sewing onto head.

Embroider on nose and mouth and sew onto head

Adding the blanket

For anyone unfamiliar with the granny square: Each 3dc cluster from R3 on is completed in the ch1 space from the previous round, and corners are in the ch2 spaces from the previous round.


R1: With main colour, turn head upside down and join with a sl st to one of the unworked stitches from head R8. ch1 and sc in the same stitch and the remaining 11 unworked loops, join.

Change to a 5.5mm hook

R2: ch3, dc twice in the same stitch, ch2, dc 3 more times in the same stitch, *ch1, skip 2 stitches, (3dc, ch2, 3dc) in the next stitch* Repeat twice more to complete the remaining 2 corners.

R3: sl st across to the next corner (the ch2 space) and ch3, (2dc, ch2, 3dc) in the same corner, *ch1, in the next ch1 space do 3dc, ch1, in the corner do (3dc, ch2, 3dc)* Repeat for the last 2 corners, join.

R4: sl st across to the next corner (the ch2 space) and ch3, (2dc, ch2, 3dc) in the same corner, *ch1, in the next TWO ch1 spaces **3dc, ch1**, in the corner do (3dc, ch2, 3dc)* Repeat for the last 2 corners, join. End this colour.

Join contrasting (muzzle) colour

R5: sl st across to the next corner (the ch2 space) and ch3, (2dc, ch2, 3dc) in the same corner, *ch1, in the next THREE ch1 spaces **3dc, ch1**, in the corner do (3dc, ch2, 3dc)* Repeat for the last 2 corners, join.

R5: sl st across to the next corner (the ch2 space) and ch3, (2dc, ch2, 3dc) in the same corner, *ch1, in the next FOUR ch1 spaces **3dc, ch1**, in the corner do (3dc, ch2, 3dc)* Repeat for the last 2 corners, join.

Finish of and weave in all ends.

Dorian Booties

Hello again beautiful peeps!

Another pair of booties today. I did say id be on a roll with them this week :) Once again, the name comes from a random name generator. I'm just really bad with naming things.

This little pair would be well suited for a boy, but I am sure it would work for a girl too in more feminine colours. They would also look good with the strap in a contrasting colour, or edged in a sl st in contrasting colour, or even with a contrasting sole. Lots of possibilities! Don't forget to add your finished images to Ravelry






Mine come out at around 6cm, and will suit a baby born at 30-32 weeks gestation.

You will need:

3mm hook

DK weight yarn

2 buttons


1. ch11

2hdc in the 2nd ch from hook, hdc in the next 6 chains, dc in the next ch, dc 3 times in the end stitch, on the opposite side: dc in the first stitch, hdc in the next 6 stitches, hdc in the last (same as 1st) stitch, join

2. ch2, hdc in the same stitch, 2hdc in the next stitch, hdc in the next 6 stitches, dc in the next stitch, 2dc in each of the next 3 stitches, dc in the next stitch, hdc in the next 6 stitches, 2hdc in the nex st, 1hdc in the last st, join

3. ch2, hdc blo around (26 stitches total) join.

4. ch2, hdc in the first 10 stitches, dc2tg 3 times, hdc in the last 10 stitches, join

5. ch1, sc in the first 9 stitches, hdc2tg, hdc, hdc2tg, sc in the last 9 stitches, join. End off.

Strap
1. Leaving a long tail for sewing: ch13, dc in the 2nd chain from hook and each ch across

2. ch2, turn, dc in each stitch across

3. ch3, sl st to the bottom of the dc below to make a loop for the button (see images below)





To add strap to bootie, position strap on desired location (mine are centered over the front edge so they partly cover the opening, partly cover the toe) and sew the inside edge to the bootie. On the outside add a button and loop the button hole over it.

Mini Mary Janes

Hello again everyone.

Today's pattern was a request from Nikki of Chance's clothes project and I have to say, Im so thrilled with how it came out.
Sometimes when I want to design something it takes a lot of making, ripping, re-doing. These booties, just went together exactly how I wanted them with minimum adjustments. Super pleased when that happens!

So here we have a cute little pair of Mary Jane's with built in socks and a fake strap. Ohh so cute and adorable and perfect for donating to baby loss groups everywhere.

Lovely Ladies from Yarn Stash-Busters have done some testing for me, and for the most part they had to go up a hook size. I guess check your sole before starting the bootie. Mine measures in at 5.5cm at the sole, and will fit a bub born at around 24-26 weeks gestation by the time its done.

You will need
DK weight yarn in main colour for bootie and contrasting for sock
3mm hook
2 small buttons

Joins are to the top of the 1st stitch, not the ch. 1st stitch is always in the same spot as the ch.

1. ch9

2. hdc 2 times in the 2nd chain from hook, hdc in the next 5 chains, dc in the next chain, 3dc in the end chain, working on the opposite side of the chain, 1dc in the first stitch, hdc in the next 5 stitches and hdc in the last stitch (same as first st) join to first st.

3. ch1, sc in the same st, 2sc in the next st, sc in the next 5 stitches, hdc in the next st, 2hdc in each of the next 3 stitches, hdc in the next stitch, sc in the next 5 stitches, 2sc in the next st, sc in the last (join from prev) stitch, join. (24 stitches total)

4. ch1, sc in each stitch around, back loop only, join

5. ch1, sc in the first 8 stitches, dc2tg 4 times, sc in the last 8 stitches, join. End off main colour.

6. Join sock colour to the same place you ended off with a sl st and ch1. sc in the same stitch, back loop only, (all stitches on this row BLO) sc in the next 7 stitches, dc2tg twice, sc last 8 stitches, join.

7. ch2, dc in each stitch around, join

8. ch2, hdc in each stitch around, join

9. Repeat above round.

10. ch2, hdc in each stitch around, front loops only

11. ch3, dc in the same stitch, *skip one stitch, sl st, skip one stitch, 3dc in the next stitch* 3 times, skip the last 2 stitches and dc in the same space as starting chain, join. end off yarn.

In main colour chain 16, in the 2nd chain from hook and each remaining chain, sl st. Sew the strap onto the bootie and attach a button to the outer side.

New FB page!

Hello lovlies! Its been a busy few weeks in the mamma household!

First, today I got my drivers licence! Finally, after being a "learner" for 14 years I actually took the test and passed. Look out yarn stores!

Secondly, I have started a new Facebook page. I like to keep things neat and it just didn't feel right to have all the preemie gear mixed with my props so I created More From Mamma That Makes which is where you will get info on upcoming patterns, scrap kits, new releases, testing opportunities and pics!

Speaking of new patterns, I have been working on some new bootie and shoe ideas for prems, inspired by some conversations with Nikki from Chance's clothes project. You can expect to see them hitting the blog in the coming weeks.

I have also had some requests for some more boys hats, and you know me, I can't pass up a request! So you can also expect to see some new prem hats designed for the little men!

I have also once again received a few emails about donations. Yes. I am HAPPY to accept donations of items (yarn, embellishments, crochet hooks, pattern books, anything that can be turned into something for a charity pattern) you will have to email me to get the postal address. myshellecole@gmail.com Or you could inbox my new FB page!

Yes, if you are a company and want to do a trade off (say a brand of yarn, in exchange for me making a pattern with it and linking back to you) I am totally happy to do that by all means!

I think that about covers what I wanted to update with. Hope to see you all over at the new FB page, and keep your eyes out here for the next lot of prem patterns!

Cheers n Out!