Feeling Sheepish - Mini Challenge Week 6

Wahooo! I did it!! I made six knitted toys in six weeks. One disaster but mainly triumphs. With everything else on my 'to do' list, I have questioned why I set myself such a challenge. However in making these Fluff and Fuzz patterns, I have learned a huge range of new knitting techniques.

Here is the Blue Sheep!

My Loopy Sheep, which I thought was going to be the most difficult, actually turned out to be a breeze (once I figured out how to make the loops). I may even make another... one day...

Here they all are, Mini Challenge Complete

I will admit, there were times I was thinking of giving up on my Mini Challenge, but now that it's over, I am glad I did it. I am very excited about all the new techniques I now know, and my mind is racing with all the woolly possibilities.

If you are so inclined, I wholly encourage you to check out all of Amanda Berry's patterns and try and chose just one to make yourself.

This is not a holiday - Mini Challenge Week 5

Well I may have been making a Camper Van this week, but it certainly hasn't been a fun and relaxing adventure! I don't know exactly why, but this one has been a bit of a disaster. The pattern by Amanda at Fluff and Fuzz is just as well written, as clear and as clever as the rest of the patterns, I however, have stumbled.

It has personality, that's for sure!

Perhaps it was my colour choice (the original is blue). I was trying to resemble Peppa Pig's camper van (one of my children's much loved programs). I've finished it, but it certainly falls very short of my standards.

There is now only one item to complete in my Fluff and Fuzz Mini Challenge, and that is the Loopy Sheep. I have read over the pattern, and I am afraid to report, I have left the most difficult until last.

The Loopy Sheep... Guaranteed to send me Loopy!

I have also been working at getting my little handmade business up and running. This has been an emotional roller coaster (and I've only been online for a week!) This is because I am worried no-one will like, or want what I am making.

Baby Mittens - A new item I've been designing

However, I have turned my thinking around. I make what I love and love what I make. It would be a huge bonus if someone was to pay me for doing so, but if it doesn't happen, I will still make what I love and love what I make.

I hope you have been making something you love too.

Make it Snappy - Mini Challenge Week 4

What I've discovered this week is; I love knitting cables! I purchased the Fluff and Fuzz pattern Miles the Crocodile so that I could give cables a try. The verdict is, I love them! I also love my (not so little) Croc!

Smiles for Miles

I made him in a bigger ply, on larger needles, so he is a good size and super dooper cuddly. I think I may enter him into the Melbourne Show's Cuddly Toy competition, mainly because he will go to a child in the Children's Hospital who may just be in need of a cuddly croc.

Friendly Fellow

So once again, in the name of my Mini Challenge, I have spent half of my Sunday, sewing bits of wool together to try and get my toy to resemble the one in the pattern. At least I only have two more to go.
In other news, I am falling woefully behind in my much larger and looming Handmade Challenge. We are now halfway through the halfway month of the year and I am not halfway through my list. I am pulling my socks up, and will make something this week and post an update as well. Wow, big words.

This week I will also be working on Mini Challenge Item #5. A knitted Camper Van. Fingers firmly crossed that this will be a nice quick one!

Fill Her Up

 

What have you been making?

Twit Twoo, Halfway Through! - Mini Challenge Week 3

'What am I doing?' I asked my husband last night. He doesn't know, I don't know. Why did I sign myself up for a crazy challenge entirely of my own making when there is so much I need to and want to be doing?

One very surprised looking owl!

I managed to make Wise Mr Owl (just) in time, for my Fluff and Fuzz Mini Challange. So many bits to sew up and sew on... By very bad light, I was madly trying to sew the black hat together last night, not entirely ideal. Looking at the original photos, I've ended up with quite a tall and slim looking owl!

In other news, Sophie is doing amazingly. She has finally shaken this virus and to look at her, you would not believe she had open heart surgery 2 weeks ago. This is a huge relief for us. We will see her cardiologist this week, find out where she is at, and start getting on with our lives.

I have also thrown myself into overdrive with making things, and I am about to do something I swore I would never do again, open an online store. It is a very difficult thing to put yourself out there and try and sell things that you make. They are a little piece of you, and if no one buys them, it can be heart breaking. Glutton for punishment?? I'll give it a go.

Instead of announcing tomorrow, (to save time) I will let you know now that this week, as well as everything else, I am going to attempt to make Miles the Crocodile.

Never smile at a crocodile, except this one

Have you ever attempted, or do you sell your own things? Have an tips or hints?

Owl - Mini Challenge Week 3

This little Owl from Fluff and Fuzz will mark the halfway point of my Mini Challenge if I manage to finish by Sunday 7th of June (June already!!)

This should be a hoot!

I am keen to get stuck into about three projects I have in various stages of completion. Number one is Sophie's cardigan off my Handmade Challenge List, another is something for me, and the third is my own pattern for a cuddly toy I am making to enter in this year's Melbourne Show. The toys will be donated to the Royal Children's Hospital (where Sophie has now had 4 operations) which is the perfect reason for me to make and enter something.

We are still a bit paranoid about our little girl and are keeping a close eye on her. She has a virus and isn't 100%, so every little cough, cry and slightly strange breath have me examining every square inch of her. Extremely glad not to be in hospital though.

What have you been working on?

Oui Oui Henri - Mini Challenge Week 2

What a week it has been. I am still in disbelief that; a) Sophie finally had her surgery and; b) she is home already! She spent less than 24hrs in ICU and is home 5 days after surgery. We really weren't expecting this at all, first time around she was 10 days in ICU and 6 weeks in hospital all up. Crazy.

Henri - Made at the Royal Children's
Hospital Melbourne

It didn't take me long to make Henri for my Mini Challenge this week. Great pattern, easy to follow (especially when you get interrupted). It was good to have something else to focus on when Sophie was sleeping.

Sophie in ICU post op

On top of having open heart surgery, poor little Sophie has a virus, and so is a bit miserable. She may need another surgery in the future, we don't know at this stage, but it won't be anything like what she has already gone through and not for a while if she does.

Once she has fully recovered, we can get on with our lives! A holiday would be amazing... for now though, it's little steps while she mends, and on with the next thing to make!

Bonjour Henri - Mini Challenge Week 2

This week for my Mini Challenge, I am aiming to complete Henri by next Sunday, the 31st of May. I am writing this post on eve of Monday the 25th, as we once again are unsure if our daughter will be going in for surgery or not. So we keep our fingers crossed and I have my needles packed.

Henri, my little French distraction

We have Lift Off! - Mini Challenge Week 1

I did it! I can't quite believe it, in one week, here is my rocket and astronaut by Amanda Berry at Fluff and Fuzz, my 1st toy in my 6 week Mini Challenge.

Blast Off!!

I would highly recommend this pattern, I wouldn't recommend trying to do it in a week, especially when you can only knit at night!

It's a good size, a small pillow for a child's bed. The finished rocket is about 40cm tall (including the fins) and the astronaut about 15cm tall. I did consider trying to do the pattern in the round, however I decided to knit as it was written, which I did regret when it came to sewing it up! It took a while, however I am pretty pleased with how it turned out.

I tied french knots instead of
buttons for buttons on the space suit

I love the pocket

I've not decided which pattern I will attempt next. However reading over all the patterns, it would appear I didn't chose the most difficult one first...

Stay tuned tomorrow when I'll let you know which pattern is next in my Mini Challenge.

A Fluffy, Fuzzy Adventure

Too much for 1 week?!

I'm kicking off my Fluff and Fuzz Mini Challenge with Amanda Berry's Space Rocket and Astronaut. I hope I've started with the most challenging one first, although I've never cabled anything before which is why I bought Miles... Hmm, I guess we'll see how it goes! I couldn't very well take on this fluffy fuzzy challenge without asking Amanda about her Handmade Adventure;

How and when did Fluff and Fuzz come about?

I have been knitting since I was a little girl, and always loved making toys. I started designing my own toy patterns about six years ago, and at the time, there were very few patterns for toys that were written for a beginner knitter. I wanted to start writing patterns that were easier for knitters of all abilities to follow, and that is what I set out to do with fluff and fuzz. I started selling my designs in 2010, I started with 5 designs, and have grown with some amazing fans and customers ever since. Oh, and fluff and fuzz were the names of my pet hamsters, sadly no longer with us, but as my own name Amanda Berry was already taken on sites like Etsy and so on, I decided to adopt fluffandfuzz as my user name!

Red Riding Hood

Are you self taught at knitting and writing patterns?
 
Yes, I have been teaching myself to knit for years, although my Mum taught me the real basics when I started. There is always something new to learn, and thankfully YouTube makes everything easier to understand these days!

I knew I should've gotten Eric!

What is your favourite pattern?

Erik the Viking! He is a design I had wanted to make for ages, and I finally found the time to make him last year. He has been so popular, and I have had so many requests for other designs of dolls, that I am slowly working through all the requests to expand my doll range.

What do you love most about what you do?

Senor Hector... argh too cute!

I love working for myself, and being able to respond and react to my customers is great and something I have never been able to do in other jobs. It isn’t always heaven to be your own boss, I have had a lot of long days knitting through the night ... I am a tough boss, I don’t get a lot of time off! But when I get lovely feedback about my designs, that makes everything worthwhile!


Do you have any new patterns in the pipeline?

Well I am working on expanding my doll range (so many customer requests!) and have a Robin Hood, Princess, Frankenstein and Dracula in the pipeline. I also have a half-finished cockatoo in my work-box, and some pretty rough sketches for a camel and piranha fish which I hope to get to work on before the summer.

Where are you planning on going next on your handmade adventure?

Well I would like to write a book of toys (hopefully one day!), but at the moment I am just enjoying the ride!

Moss the Sheep - Told you it was hard to chose!

That's Amanda's story. I'll let you know on Sunday if I've managed to turn a ball of wool into a rocket and an astronaut...

Fluff and Fuzz Mini Challenge!!

Ok, I am really starting to lose my focus. Little Sophie was once again turned away from surgery last week. We were at the hospital before the sun came up, all the other kids had gone in for their surgeries from pre-op, and there we were, waiting, and waiting. No bed in ICU again, so we went out for breakfast...

My Handmade Challenge list is being ignored, well not completely, I am occasionally picking up Sophie's cardigan to work on. I am blaming the fact that the spare room, where my sewing machine and all other crafty goods belong, is currently in a state of much disarray. I don't even have a table at which to set up my sewing machine (it is living on the floor since I sold our bookcases).

So I have come up with a solution, MINI CHALLENGE! Now I hear you say; "that doesn't sound like a solution" and to be perfectly honest, it's not. It's just another distraction, but also a chance to finally make myself some Fluff and Fuzz by Amanda Berry that I have been drooling over.

6 Awesome Toys in 6 Weeks!

I have just purchased 6 Fluff and Fuzz patterns (it was extremely difficult to limit myself to just 6). The challenge is for me to make one a week for the next 6 weeks starting this Monday (18th May)... eeeep! I will reveal if I have succeeded (or failed) each Sunday.

Also, keep your eyes peeled for a feature on Amanda and her Handmade Adventure in the coming days.

Right, now to decide which awesome pattern should kick off this challenge!