The Linux Mascot in Crochet - A Dedication

I must confess that lately I am getting a bit too crochet-a-holic. But, before you guys start marking me with such a ‘label’ I would like to dedicate this post to a very special person. So, dear special person, if you ever get to read this post let me tell you that you are a great human being and you occupy a very important role in my life. Thanks for always supporting my craziness.

Now let’s get back to work! I have crocheted this cute penguin. I am pretty sure that many of you must be familiar with him. His name is Tux and he is the official mascot of the Linux kernel. This little creature was sort of a challenge for me. Not only because of the little time I have left for crochet but also because I wanted to surprise someone with it. And like this passage suggests: Do not wait; the time will never be "just right'. Start where you stand, and work with whatever tools you may have at your command, and better tools will be found as you go along (by Napoleon Hill).

Hence, let’s get started!

Get a crochet hook and knitting yarn. For the penguin you need 3 colors: black, white and yellow.
	Head/Body I would suggest you start by making the penguin’s head and body. Please bear in mind that the head and body are a single piece of crochet. Choose the black color and make 3 chains and join them into a ring. For the first round fill the ring with single crochet (the number of how many single crochet you have to do depends on the thickness of the yarn). Continue increasing the number of single crochet on each round. Once you have achieved the desired size of the head you start by decreasing the number of single crochet in each round. (This is the same basic idea I followed while doing the doll’s head - see previous post). Once you were able to get a sort of ball shape for the head. You start on doing the body. For this you start by increasing the number of single crochet in each round. When you have achieved the desired sized of the penguin (in this case would be the belly button) you decrease the number of crochet. Keep in mind it always follows the same basic idea over and over… Isn’t it boring??? Joke!
Feet The feet are crocheted in rows. For the 1strow make five chains and five single crochet stitches. For the 2nd and 3rd row you make seven stitches. For the 4th and 5th row you make nine stitches. Keep on increasing the number always by adding two single crochet stitches. Till you reach fifteen stitches. Once you have fifteen stitches in the next row you only crochet five stitches, on top of those five stitches of single crochet you do four, further on top of those four stitches you crochet three more and at last you crochet one stitch on top of the three more… This is for making the webbed feet shape… the same process will follow with the ten other left stitches. I know it sound complicated (and I might not have been so capable of explaining it) but have a look at the picture to get a better understanding of the same.
	Bill The penguin bill is also crochet with rows. You started with three chains and increase it by two stitches each time (and making two rows of it). It follows exactly the same process as with the feet.
Flipper-shaped Wings Do four chains and stitch rows with half-double crochet. Continue on stitching always for rows till the desired size of the wing is achieved. Have a look to the picture for checking out the pattern. Remark: this is the only part of the body done with half-double crochet stitch.
	Belly/Eyes For the belly you need a piece of white cloth. You cut the oval shape out of that white piece and stitch it to the belly; you perform the same process for the eyes.
Proceed by filling the penguin body, stitch wings, bill, eyes and feet together. I really hope I could give you some insights on how to do the Linux mascot. If you have any query please do not hesitate to leave a comment. Happy crocheting!

Lupita the Crochet Doll

“A girl is Innocence playing in the mud, Beauty standing on its head, and Motherhood dragging a doll by the foot.” (Allan Beck).

A lazy Sunday afternoon, with a rainy weather outside and a long forgone week filled with projects. So why not crocheting a bit and why not involving mom? That’s what I thought yesterday afternoon. Some days back I saw some crocheted dolls posted in another’s blog which did inspire me to make my own one.

In this post, I would like to give you some short advices on how to create your own doll. It takes around 3 hours (it all depends how fast you are at crocheting) and you will have a bunch of fun while making it.

Last but not least: Thanks Mom for your patience and for sharing your knowledge with me. 

So let’s get started….

Get a crochet hook and knitting yarn. Choose a main color for the doll’s skin and hair. Contrasting colors are preferred for the dress and accessories.
	Head Start by making the doll’s head. Make 4 chains and join them into a ring. For the first round fill the ring with single crochet (the number of how many single crochet you have to do depends on the thickness of the yarn). Continue increasing the number of single crochet on each round. Once you have achieved the desired size of the head you work one round without increasing the number of single crochet. Further, start by decreasing the number of single crochet. Keep in mind that you have to be able to get a ball shape.
Dress/body Start at the waist of the doll. Make chains into a ring. (Hint: The ring size should be as big as the middle of the head). (For crocheting the skirt of the dress follow the pattern shown in the picture). Follow the aforementioned pattern and do three rounds. Go back to the waist of the dress (where you started from) and start crocheting rounds (they should look like rows). For the sleeves and neck you follow the same pattern you used for the skirt. Remark: the dress is done with half-double crochet stitch.
	Crochet Pattern for the Skirt of the Doll. (half-double crochet stitch)
Legs You have to begin at the foot. Make four chains into a ring. For the first round fill the ring with single crochet (remember that the number of how many single crochet you have to do depends on the thickness of the yarn). Continue by increasing the number of single crochet till the third round. Work as many rounds as you think necessary in order to have a proper leg’s length. You have to repeat the same steps for doing the second leg.
	Arms Make four chains into a ring. For the first round fill the ring with single crochet. Increase the number of single crochet in the second and third round. Work on more rounds (starting from the fourth round) without increasing. Again work as many rounds as you think necessary for the desired arm’s length. Repeat the same steps for doing the second arm.
Once you have finished off all parts (i.e. arms, legs, head, and dress/body). Stitch hair, eyes and mouth to the head and then proceed with the filling either foam or cotton. Do the same for legs, arms, and dress/body. Stitch all top openings together.   You can also decorate the doll with shoes, flowers, or some hair accessories. I leave it up to your imagination.

Mr and Mrs Turtle Crochet

After having such a long day of exams and assignments I decided to do some crochet. I learnt first crocheting when I was 6 years old. I was taught by my mother. My mother, who has been passionate about crochet, knitting, etc., gave me the idea to crochet Mr. and Mrs. Turtle. I want to thank her for her time and dedication and more over for explaining me at such late hours in the night (I got the mood of doing something creative at around 11 pm)... So this is one of the reasons I want to share my knowledge with you.

In this blog I will try to give you some instructions on how to do a turtle. 

	The first thing you will need to is to get a crochet hook and some yarn. Get preferably lots of different colors of yarn. Please take note that it is important to choose the right size hook and thickness of yarn. (If your hook is too small and the yarn is too thick; your work will be stiff and tight - and vice versa).
	Second you have to do eight circles in crochet. Basically, for the body of the turtle bigger rounds than the rest of the turtle's body. The whole turtle is made with single crochet.  Here you can see all parts of the turtle including: head, body, and legs.
	You have to stitch all the rounds together. Remember to fill them with some foam or cotton.
You can make some extra accessories for the turtle like hat, eyes, nose, etc…	Et voilà!!!!................