Piney The Sprout - Free Amigurumi Pattern

Hello all!

I am so excited to share with you all the first amigurumi pattern for 2024. It's been quite the adventure into toy making, and one I am having an absolute blast with. 

These patterns will be free to access on the blog, but if you would like a PDF option, that will be available for a small fee over on my Ko-Fi account. It's a great way to help support me if you have a few extra dollars, or if you want a more portable pattern option that can be printed. 

Purchase the PDF here

Piney is a fun and adorable little sprout dude, with fancy pants. He stands 20cm tall and about 15cm wide when made using similar weight yarn. I used 4 Seasons Marvel 8ply from Spotlight for my Piney but if your hook size is adjusted, you can use any acrylic or cotton yarn you like.

Piney The Sprout

For this pattern you will need:

3.5mm hook

8ply/DK/Light worsted weight yarn in a light green, dark green and brown. 

2 x 14mm safety eyes

Needle for sewing

Small amount of stuffing

Bphdc - Back post half double crochet. There is a good video here if you are unfamiliar with this stitch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBHBRdxlfn8

Inc - 2sc in the same stitch

Pieces are made in continuous rounds. Place a marker at the end of each round to keep your place.

Arms - Make 2 with main green

Rnd 1: 4sc in a magic ring - 4

Rnd 2: inc in each st - 8

Rnds 3-10: sc in each st - 8

Lightly stuff the hand section of the arm. Fold the opening of the arm flat and make 4 sc across the top of the arm, catching stitches from both the front and back sides to close the opening.

*Alternative finish* If you do not want to close the arm using sc press the opening flat and stitch closed with the yarn tail.

Leave a long tail for sewing the arm to the body. 

Legs - Using brown, make 1 to end at round 5. 

First leg: 

Rnd 1: 6sc in magic ring - 6

Rnd 2: inc in each st - 12

Rnd 3: sc in each st - 12

Rnd 4: *sc, inc*, repeat around - 18

Rnd 5: sc in each st - 18

End off for the first leg. 

Second leg:

Repeat rounds 1 through 5, do not end off.

Rnd 6: ch2, join to the first leg with a sc, continue around with 17 more sc, sc in each of the 2 chains, sc 18 around the second leg, sc in each of the chain stitches. Place your marker here as the new round start. - 40

Rnd 7: *sc9, inc* x 4 - 44

Rnd 8: sc in each st - 44

Rnd 9: *sc10, inc* x 4 - 48

Rnd 10-13: sc in each st - 48

Rnd 14: *sc10, dec* x 4 - 44

Rnd 15: sc in each st - 44

Rnd 16: sc in each st, front loop only - 44 

NOTE: Place a marker in the first unworked back loop of this round. You’ll need this to join the body colour.

Slst to the next stitch and ch1

Rnd17: Bphdc around, join to the first hdc and end the brown. - 44 Start stuffing legs here.

Continue for body

Rnd18: Join the main green to the marked stitch from round 16 with a sc, sc in all back loops around - 44

Rnd 19: sc in each st - 44

Rnd 20: *sc9, dec* x 4 - 40

Rnd 21: *sc3, dec* x 8 - 32

Rnd 22: *sc2, dec* x 8 - 24

Rnd 23-24: sc in each st - 24

Rnd 25: *sc, dec* x 8 - 16 Add more stuffing here.

Rnd 26: In the front loops only, inc in every st - 32

Rnd 27: *sc3, inc* x 8 - 40

Rnd 28: *sc4, inc* x 8 - 48

Rnd 29: *sc5, inc* x 8 - 56

Rnd 30: sc in each st - 56

Rnd 31: *sc6, inc* x 8 - 64

Rnd 32-38: sc in each st - 64

Place eyes between rounds 33 and 34, with 13 to 14 visible sc between the eyes. Stuff the body.

Rnd 39: *sc6, dec* x 8 - 56

Rnd 40: *sc5, dec* x 8 - 48

Rnd 41: *sc4, dec* x 8 - 40

Rnd 42: *sc3, dec* x 8 - 32

Rnd 43: *sc2, dec* x 8 - 24

Stuff the head.

Rnd 44: *sc, dec* x 8 - 16

Rnd 45: dec x 8 - 8

End off and use the tail to gather the opening closed. Add more stuffing before closing if you feel like it needs more.

Leaves - Make 3 in dark green.

Rnd1: 4sc in a magic ring - 4

Rnd 2: *sc, inc* x2 - 6

Rnd 3: sc in each st - 6

Rnd 4: *sc2, inc* x 2 - 8

Rnd 5: *sc3, inc* x 2 - 10

Rnd 6: *sc4, inc* x 2 - 12

Rnd 7: *sc2, inc* x 4 - 16

Rnd 8: *sc3, inc* x 4 - 20

Rnd 9: *sc4, inc* x 4 - 24

Rnd 10-13: sc in each st - 24

Rnd 14: *sc2, dec* x 6 - 18

Rnd 15: *sc, dec* x 6 - 12

Rnd 16: dec x 6 - 6

End off. Very lightly stuff the wider section of the leaf leaving the tip unstuffed, and push the leaf flat. 

Assembly. 

Pin pieces to the body to ensure they do not move while sewing them on. Arms should be attached at the sides of the body at rounds 23/24

Sew the central leaf on the head first, it should sit directly on top of the gathered close for the head. Sew the 2 remaining leaves on, one on each side of the central leaf, so that they are close enough to be touching.

Weave in all tails and Piney is complete! 

This pattern cannot be sold or redistributed in any form. You can sell the finished toy made from this pattern.
Feel free to tag MammaThatMakes on Instagram or Facebook to share your makes, or add projects to Ravelry.

Happy crocheting! 

How to crochet lavender - A simple tutorial.

 

Hi peeps! 

Hot dang, it's been a moment hasn't it. 2 years since my last pattern.

But that's ok. Sometimes you need a break to find your crojo, and my gosh, mine has come flying on back lately!

I've decided I need to take a break from designing preemie items for a bit. Honestly, my heart and my head were just so overwhelmed, and it burnt me out pretty badly. The positive side to that is, I've spent some time exploring other types of crochet and boy do I have some fun stuff to share with you all!

Today, I want to show you how to crochet lavender! I've been making flower bouquets lately and I really wanted to include some. I tried a couple of patterns but I couldn't find something that worked the way I wanted it to, so in typical me style, I tossed the lot and came up with my own pattern. I wasn't going to bother much with sharing this one but there was quite a lot of interest in a fantastic crochet group I'm in so here it is for everyone that wants to have a crack at making it themselves. 

Not that it's much of a pattern, it's only 3 rows, if you count the chains! I'll include some pictures of construction but honestly these are super simple. They take no time at all to whip up. Let's go make some!

Supplies

• Wooden Skewers
• Florist Tape in green
• Scissors
• Glue - I use clear dry quick set fabric glue but a hot glue gun would work fine too.
• 3.5mm hook
• Purple yarn in either worsted/10ply or dk/8ply weight

To make your stem: Wrap the florist tape around a wooden skewer. 

To make the lavender:

1. Chain 60
2. sc in the second ch from hook and each ch across
3. ch3, turn, dc in the next stitch *ch3, slst in the 3rd ch from hook, dc in the next stitch* repeat across until you reach the end. End off. This will be the row that faces outwards as the stitches look nicer once wrapped.
   

You can choose to weave in your ends or you can glue them down when you attach the flower to the stem. I glue them, I like the way it looks at the base of the flower piece. 

So now you need to take your skewer and glue. Make sure you have the first row at the bottom and that the 3rd row is facing so that it will be the outside when you wrap, and run a bead of glue along the edge of the dc on the end of the piece. 

Place your skewer on the glue, fold the yarn piece slightly and hold in place until the glue is dry enough to keep it there. Run a few cm of glue down your stem and start wrapping the flower piece around and down the skewer. Keep adding small runs of glue and wrapping your flower around the stem. When you get to the end you can either wrap the tail of the yarn around the base of the flower a few times with some glue or you can wait for your flower to dry and then weave the end back through the flower. 

And that is it lovelies, I told you it was simple! Different thicknesses of yarn will give you different looking lavender. The dark purple I used was worsted weight (Red Heart SS), the 2 thin lighter coloured lavender was made with DK (Moda Vera/ 4 Seasons, Marvel) and the middle purple was a mystery yarn from my stash that I'd rate as an 8ply/DK but it was thicker than Marvel. 

You can also change the overall length of your lavender simply by chaining more or less, and if you wanted to get really fancy, you could absolutely make it 2 toned by doing either the 3rd row with an alternate colour, OR you could do part of the 3rd row with an alternate colour so just the tip is different. Have fun with it!  

Puff Heart

 

Hello lovelies!

Today's pattern is an adaptation of the flay lay heart from earlier in the month. By making 2 hearts, and adding a new edge, we can put 2 flat lays together with some stuffing to make a more puffy 3D heart! How cute!

Like all heart patterns, you are free to pick your own yarn weight and hook size for these, but being stuffed, I suggest a smaller hook so stuffing doesn't peak through. 

Puff Heart

1: Ch2, sc in the 1st ch

2: Ch1, turn, 2sc in the st - 2

3: Ch1, turn, 2sc in each st - 4

4: Ch1, turn, 2sc in the first st, sc in the next 2 sts, 2sc in the last st - 6

5: Ch1, turn, 2sc in the first st, sc in the next 4 sts, 2sc in the last st - 8

6: Ch1, turn, sc in each st across - 8

7: Ch1, turn, 2sc in the first st, sc in the next 6 sts, 2sc in the last st - 10

8: Ch1, turn, sc in each st across - 10

9: Ch1, turn, sk the first 2 sts, 6dc in the next st, sk 1 st, slst in the next st, sk 1 st, 6dc in the next st, sk the next 2 sts, slst in the last st. End off.

Make a total of 4 hearts to sew together.

Place 2 hearts together, wrong sides facing. All stitches in this round will be made through both hearts.

10: Using a contrasting colour, join the yarn at the bottom point of the heart with a slst, (sc, ch3, sc) in the same st to make the bottom point of the heart, sc evenly up the side of the heart for 8 sc, when you reach the dc section of the heart, sc in the first st, 2sc in the next 2 sts, sc in the next 2 sts, slst in the next 4 sts, sc in the next 2 sts, 2sc in the next 2 sts, * stop here and lightly stuff your heart*, sc in the next 8 st, join to the first sc.

Flat Lay Heart

Hello!

Today's pattern is for a basic flat lay heart. This is one of my favourites this year, as it's so easy to memories and take in the car :) You can use any yarn and corresponding hook size to really customise the size of your heart. 

Flat Lay Heart

1: Ch2, sc in the 1st ch

2: Ch1, turn, 2sc in the st - 2

3: Ch1, turn, 2sc in each st - 4

4: Ch1, turn, 2sc in the first st, sc in the next 2 sts, 2sc in the last st - 6

5: Ch1, turn, 2sc in the first st, sc in the next 4 sts, 2sc in the last st - 8

6: Ch1, turn, sc in each st across - 8

7: Ch1, turn, 2sc in the first st, sc in the next 6 sts, 2sc in the last st - 10

8: Ch1, turn, sc in each st across - 10

9: Ch1, turn, sk the first 2 sts, 6dc in the next st, sk 1 st, slst in the next st, sk 1 st, 6dc in the next st, sk the next 2 sts, slst in the last st.

10: Ch1, do not turn, sc evenly down the side of the heart for 7 sc, in the initial starting ch from round 1 (the bottom point of the heart) do (sc, ch3, sc) sc evenly up the next side of the heart for 8 sc, when you reach the dc section of the heart, sc in the first st, 2sc in the next 2 sts, sc in the next 2 sts, slst in the next 4 sts, sc in the next 2 sts, 2sc in the next 2 sts, sc in the next st, slst to join.

Size Notes:
3.5mm hook + DK Weight/8ply yarn = 7.5cm
2.0mm hook + Fingering/4ply yarn = 5.5cm
2.5mm hook + Fingering/4ply yarn = 6cm

Tiny 2 Round Heart

 

Good morning all! 

Today's heart pattern is so easy that t only has 2 rounds, and uses less that 2 meters of yarn! 

These tiny hearts are prefect for the smallest bereavement packs from CCP, but they also make fantastic appliques for other projects.

 

Tiny 2 Round Heart

1: ch2, hdc 6 times into the 1st ch from hook, join to the first hdc.

2: ch3, dc three times in the same st at the starting ch, 2hdc in the next st, (2sc, ch2, 2sc) in the next st, 2hdc in the next st, 3dc in the next st, ch3 and slst into the same st as the 3dc, sk the next st and slst to the base of the starting ch3, end off.

Weave in tails to finish.

Size Notes:
2.0mm hook + size 10 thread = 2.5cm across heart
2.0mm hook + fingering weight/4ply = 3cm across heart
3.5mm hook + DK weight/8ply = 4cm across heart
4.0mm hook + DK weight/8ply = 5cm across heart

Bethany Heart

 

Good morning all!

To round out week 1 for this years IBGDH I have another new crochet heart pattern! This heart is worked in the round, and is so fast to make you can whip up a pair in under 30 minutes! It's a very simple pattern to memorise too, making it a great handbag project for waiting rooms and car trips. 

Bethany Heart

NOTE: trc = triple crochet. If you need instructions on how to do this stitch check the top of this pattern HERE

1: Ch5, join to the first ch to make a ring

2: Into the ring, ch3, dc, ch4, 2dc, ch4, 2dc, ch4, 2dc, ch4, join to the top of the starting ch3

3: Ch1, sc in the same st, sc in the next st, in the ch4 space (2sc, ch2, 2sc), *sc in the next 2 sts, in the next ch4 space (2sc, ch2, 2sc)*, repeat *to* twice more, join to the first sc.

4: Slst in the first 4 sts, slst in the ch2 space, sk the next 3 sts and in between the 3rd and 4th st make 10 trc, slst in the next ch2 space, sk 3 sts, between the 3rd and 4th sts make 10 trc, slst into the next ch2 end off.

Size Notes:
2.0mm hook + Size 10 thread = 4.5cm heart
3.5mm hook + DK weight/8ply yarn = 8cm heart

IBGHD 2020 and the Square Bottom Heart

Welcome to the 2020 Itty Bitty GIANT Heart drive!

If you didn’t catch the announcement a few weeks ago, here’s a quick overview on this year's drive.

We’ve done such a smashing job over the last 7 years that Chance’s Clothes Project (CCP here-on) no longer needs such a huge influx of hats! So instead of making hats this year, we’re making HEARTS!

Pairs of hearts are an integral item in every single baby bereavement pack that leaves the CCP headquarters. They are included as a keepsake item, one heart stays with the baby, the other heart with the family. It’s provided significant comfort for many families. As you can imagine, this means a huge amount of hearts are needed! So this year, and probably the next few, hearts will be our focus for the IBGHD.

I have been hard at work working on a handful of patterns to release for the drive, but I will also be sharing links to already existing patterns during the month, because there are already some stunning ones out there! To see all the links be sure to follow on Facebook or Instagram 

If your sharing online, please add #IBGHD2020 to your post to help spread the word! The more the merrier!

Not only do we have CCP on board this year, but we once again welcome some fantastic international groups who are also in need of heart keepsakes. I’ll add all of the organisations and their postal addresses to the bottom of this announcement.

HEART GUIDELINES

1. Hearts must come in a MATCHING pair, meaning 2 identical hearts. This is super important.

2. Hearts must not be bigger than the size of your palm. They can be as small as you like however. This ensures there are hearts to fit all gestational packs, but also makes sure they are not too big to bulk up packaging too much.

3. Hearts can be flat or stuffed, but if you are making 3D/stuffed hearts please do not over stuff them, again this is to help with packaging.

4. Hearts can be made from fabric or felt, knitted, crocheted or sewn. They must be soft (so no origami or beaded hearts) You can use embroidery, a small amount of beading or buttons or attach bows to decorate your hearts but please keep the thickness in mind.

5. When getting your hearts ready for postage, please ensure the pairs are tied together with a piece of thread, yarn, ribbon or even safety pinned. This is so none get misplaced or lost, and to help the volunteers easily sort through the parcels once they arrive. This is super important to keeping everything running smoothly.

6. You are welcome to use whatever pattern you feel like using. You are certainly not obligated to use mine, or the ones I’ll be sharing. In fact the more variety the better!

7. Colour Requirements. This will depend entirely on who you are sending your completed hearts to.

Chance’s Clothes Project: Any colour is fine, but solid colours paired with whites are the best if using 2 colours.

Sleeping Beauties Angel Gowns Kent: White, pastel pink, pastel blue, lilac, lemon yellow and mint green.

Anencephaly Hope: Any colours are fine, however light pink, light purple, Light blue, Navy blue, greys, white, light and bright yellows are used the most.

TALLYS AND PHOTOGRAPHS

This year I have created a form for everyone to fill out once they have COMPLETED and POSTED their hearts, to help keep a running tally. I have also included a question about where you are from and where you donated to. The location question is country only, and is included so I can see if there are groups of people in countries we don’t currently have a recipient charity in, that I can try and find before next year.

You can access the form HERE: https://forms.gle/umzZ6v4zbPhawqhg9

I’ll also be putting a video roundup together again this year, and there are instructions on sending photos in the form <3 

POSTAL ADDRESSES

Like all previous years we post our parcels off on October 15th, which is the International Day of Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance.

The charities this year to send your hearts to are 

Australia

Chance's Clothes Project

c/- Cowra Neighbourhood Centre

15 Vaux St

Cowra NSW 2794

Europe

Sleeping Beauties 

29 chilton avenue 

Sittingbourne 

Kent

ME10 4TB

United States

Anencephaly Hope

304 N E Street

Louisiana, Missouri

63353

USA

So, without further ado.. Here is the very first pattern for this year's very first heart drive! Enjoy!

Square Bottom Heart

Using any hook that matches your yarn thickness

1: Ch4, join to the 1st ch to form aloop.

2: Into the ring, ch2, 2hdc, ch2, (3hdc, ch2), 3 times, join to the top of the starting chain.

3: Stst into the next st, in the next st do (dc, 3tr, dc), slst into the next ch2 space, slst in the next st, in the next st do (dc, 3tr, dc), slst into the next ch2 space.

4: Ch1, sc in the next 3 sts, 2sc in the ch2 space, sc in the next 3 sts, sc in the ch2 space, sc in the next 3 sts, sc in the ch2 space, sk the joining st and sc in the next 2 sts, 2sc in each of the next 2 sts, sc in the next 2 sts, slst in the next slst, sc in the next 2 sts, 2sc in each of the next 2 sts, sc in the last 2 sts, join to the first sc.


Size Notes:
3.5mm hook + 8ply/DK Weight = 6cm heart
2.5mm hook + 4ply/Fingering Weight = 5cm heart

IBGHD 2019 Day 30 Myshelle's Heart Keepsake

Good morning all.

Day 30 is finally here. It's been one amazing month that's for sure. It's been so great to see all of your hats, to see all of the colour combinations and designs and just so much love.

It's always such a funny day, day 30. It's the end of another event, and the lead up to posting day can be quite emotional.

Everyone has done such an amazing job. From our designers and testers right through to every single person that made a hat, shared the posts and spread the news. Thankyou!

To our guest designers this year, Lisa, Nikki, Sue, Mim and Caroline, Thankyou. For your time, efforts and dedication to the hat drive, not just this year as designers, but for the support in previous years too.

To the entire CCP team, and all the testers, thankyou. What an incredibly special bunch of ladies I have supporting me, the hat drive, and the CCP group as a whole. You all rock so much more than you know.

To all of you, who have joined in tirelessly year after year, even the years that have been difficult for me, your support has always been incredible. So many of you have been touched by loss and it just blows my mind how supportive we all are of each other.

Remember to check this page for all the postal addresses if you are sending to one of our official groups this year.

Thankyou for joining me on this journey, and joining in this hat drive. Keep an eye out at MammaThatMakes for future updates on the tally from our groups, and to see photos from everyone's efforts this year. Feel free to email me your photos at myshellecole@gmail.com (put ibghd pics in the subject) and I'll share them on the MTM page too.

Our very last pattern this year is actually not a hat, but a keepsake. In memory of all of my angels, Frankie, Alice, Robin, Sacha, Jesse and Nora. A piece of my heart forever.

Myshelle's Heart Keepsake

US Terms

Key:

St - Stitch

Ch - Chain

Slst - Slip Stitch

Sc - Single Crochet

Dc - Double Crochet

Hdc - Half Double Crochet

Instructions in ( ) should be done in the same stitch

Starting chain counts as first stitch, and in the end round stitch count. 

Make 2. Keepsakes must come in matching pairs.

Finished Measurements: 5.5cm x 5.5cm at widest points.

Amount Of Yarn Used: 9 Meters/10 Yards/3g of 4Seasons Marvel 8ply.

Hook Size: Any (I used 3.25mm)

Yarn: Any (I used DK/8Ply)

1: ch3, 2dc in the 1st ch - 3dc

2: ch3, turn, dc in the same st, dc in the next st, 2dc in the last st. -5dc

3: ch3, turn, dc in the same st, dc in the next 3 sts, 2dc in the last st. -7dc

4: ch1, turn, (hdc, dc, hdc) in the next stitch, slst 3, (hdc, dc, hdc) in the next st, sc in the last st, ch1, sc evenly around the entire heart, slst to the ch1 to join. 

End off and weave in all tails. 

IBGHD 2019 Day 29 The Alex Beanie

Hello all and welcome to day 29.

Today is our second last pattern for this month, and it is a stunner indeed! Designed by Caroline Britton, this lovely beanie would look great in a vast array of colours.

This beanie is in remembrance of Alex.