Tutorial: Tooth Amigurumi Pattern

It's been quite a while since I last wrote a pattern, but I know some people are in love with this tooth amigurumi (here and here). Some have been asking me if I have a pattern for it, others want to buy a finished tooth. I would love to sell finished teeth amigurumi, however, the price people are willing to pay cannot justify the amount of time I spend making it. Therefore, I have written up a pattern. If you have a friend who crochets, maybe you could hint heavily of getting one made as a birthday present.

Mr. Toof

Material
White yarn with appropriate size hook. Use a hook that is smaller so you have tight neat stitches.
Fibrefill
Stitchmarker - I use a different colour yarn.
Yarn needle
Scissors
Black yarn for eyes

Difficulty
EASY!!

Abbreviations
Stitch - st
Double Crochet - dc  (This is the equivalent of an American single crochet.)

Round 1: Use magic loop to make 8 dc. Leave long tail. (8)
R2: *1 dc in first st, 3 dc in following st* x4 (16)
R3: 1 dc in next 2 st, 3 dc in following st. *1 dc in next 3 st, 3 dc in following st* x3. 1 dc in next st. (24)
R4: 1 dc in next 3 st, 3 dc in following st. *1 dc in next 5 st, 3 dc in following st* x3. 1 dc in next 2 st. (32)
R5: 1 dc in next 4 st, 3 dc in following st. * 1 dc in next 7 st, 3 dc in following st* x3. 1 dc in next 3 st. (40)

R6-R20: 1 dc in every st. Leave long tail for closing up. (40)

Embroider eyes. (This is kind of a fine art as the way eyes are embroidered can give very different expressions. But with practice and you will perfect the kind of expression that is truly your style.)

Add fibrefill.

The next bit is actually rather easy, but requires some visual aids to make it clear.

Add stuffing, make sure tail from making the magic loop is out.

Now we are trying to create the roots of the tooth by sewing close our amigurumi in a different way.  Let the end tail of the work meet the other side. Then sew the midpoints together as shown in the next picture.

Then squeeze the other two sides together so all their midpoints touch. Sew all four seams together.

As you can see, it is almost done! The tail end from the magic loop is sticking out of the work. Press the top of the tooth to simulate indentations for molar teeth. Pull the tail as tautly as you can and secure that tail at the middle of the roots. Then hide the tail in the body.

There you go!

Please feel free to share this pattern around, and it would be nice if you give credit where it is due by linking my blog to this pattern. Thanks! If you have questions, please leave them in the comment box below.

Bristol Tidbits: Grafitti City

One of the most famous street art in Bristol is the one by Banksy, who is purportedly a Bristolian.

Photo Credit: Wikipedia

(That's right, I didn't take a photo of it since it's everywhere on the internet...)

Here are a few more street art in my neighbourhood:

*************

A few days ago, a new piece appeared on the wall of a Park Row building that had strains of Banksy. The media was awashed with speculation of whether this is truly Banksy, although people are thinking it probably isn't. How do they tell? Banksy's works often have a message and at the moment, no one is sure what the message of this is. Still, it is quite a pretty piece of art.

Contemporary Figurative Art by Mark Demsteader

I am quite enamoured with Mark Demsteader's work, especially his figurative portraits on canvas. The dresses the model wear almost look like somebody had vandalised the painting. It is fine art, but I would like to imagine it as urban art on the walls of building. Whether the texture from the oil paints can be replicated on paint on wall would be something to think about.

This is art, if I have money to spare, I would buy.

Erin in Blue

Ascending

Into the River

Shadowlands 1

Shallow Water

DIY Idea: Potato Stamped Swaddle cloth or Tea towel

Found this great idea on Pinterest for a potato stamped baby towel. And the most fun idea just came to me about doing this on tea towels too. This could be a great activity to do with children and they get to print a tea towel for their mum or granny.

By Veronique

I love love love this idea and can't wait to try it with some of my girlfriends and bless other ladies with this.

Bristol Tidbits: Alright?

For a while, I thought perhaps I had a make up malfunction, or that I was suffering from a bad hair day. People were always asking if I were alright.

"Yeah, good!" is always the reply followed by feelings of puzzlement.

Said friend in previous episode about trousers vs pant came to me and told me one day that instead of saying "hello", people greet with "alright?" And the usual response is "alright."

How odd!

Something here for reading pleasure.

Crochet Pebbles in Makers Gallery

Do you remember my crocheted pebbles?

They are now living in a maker's gallery in Bristol! If you are in the area, it's called Makers which is not too far from the top of Christmas Steps.

One of these days I will do a proper write up on Makers and everything in it.

Bristol Tidbits: Trousers vs. Pants

When I found out we would be moving to the UK, I was relieved. There is a certain effort needed in getting accustomed to a country which speaks a language different from you. However, there is still much to learn even when you think you grew up learning "British English".

One of my Aussie friends is very good at making linguistic observations. It comes with her job as supply teacher to ensure that there is no miscommunication. So one day, she made the observation to me that in England, "pants" refers to our underwear. (I just wiki-ed "pants" and got redirected to "trousers"!)

Proven!

I was quite amused and since we were around our British friends, we proceeded to relay our observations who thought we were rather funny.

So anyway, from now on, we are trying to remember to use the word "trousers" otherwise other people could get the wrong idea.

Bristol Tidbits: Furniture Thrift Shopping in Bristol

One of the things I really looked forward to moving to Bristol was the variety of shopping we can do. Munich may be a larger (and cleaner) city and a very wonderfully, comfortably efficient transportation network, but it does not have the exuberant and varied life that can be experienced in Bristol. There is always something happening here. The variety of products here is outstanding.

 

I suppose everyone gets quite excited about Primark, Topshop, TK Maxx and so on. And I do too, but something I really miss is what Australians called op shopping, or thrift shopping to my American friends. This is the land where one man's trash becomes another man's treasure. The consummate architect/ interior designer that I am got very excited at the opportunity to shop for second-hand furniture. I have been ogling at mid-century furniture on Pinterest and the features that I admire about this style of furniture are not etched on my mind. So when I chanced upon this extendable mid-century dining table at the charity furniture shop, I was so stoked. It was going for a mere 60 pounds, with 10 pounds delivery charge.

It has signs of use, a few minor scratches here and there, but I think it only adds to the character of the table. I just love its pointy legs which makes it look light on its feet. It almost feels like my furniture are on tippy toes. The satisfaction of securing this beautiful dining  table is increased by the realisation of how much it is going in some markets. I found a very similar table on this Australia store going for A$1,650. Wow. Simply chuffed.

Photo credit: Twenty21

 Every morning when I see this dining table luxuriating in the sunlight (whenever possible) I smile. And my friends cannot hear enough about how much I love this table.

Free Printable Mother's Day Card

I'm so envying everyone who lives just a stone throw, or even a few hour's drive from their mother right now. That's because for me to be able to give my mother a hug, I would have to spend loads of money, board a plane and fly twelve hours to get to her. I miss her. And it doesn't help that we don't get internet in our home until May. I can't skype her. Just yet.

So for all of you who have your mother near you, please hug her. And here's a free printable card you can print out and say lovely things to her. :-)

Love,
Kat