I’m always so excited to publish a new pattern! These adorable little hula dancer dolls are a quick crochet project for any doll lover. My patterns always include lots of full color pictures and detailed instructions. The Hula Dolls pattern is available on Ravelry as well as in my Etsy shop, Amber Perry Patterns. I hope you enjoy these little gals as much as my girls and I do! They make the late summer heat tolerable and I’m sure that in winter they’ll warm my heart.

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It just sounds so great doesn’t it?! I’ve put my crochet amigurumi pattern for a fantastic tarantula and his pet, er, food, cricket. Just $4 over the long weekend. Special pricing ends 06/02/2010.

Get this fun pattern on Ravelry or at Amber Perry Patterns on Etsy.

Enjoy!

I’ve started a group on Ravelry that is focused on Amber Perry Patterns – all of them! Butt Knits longies & soakers, knit & crochet amigurumi, and everything else. A place to discuss, ask questions, and get information on any sales, surprises, upcoming events, and pattern testers I may need.
I don’t know how busy the group will be (I hope there will be some chatter!), but I hope you’ll check it every now and then to see if you there is a test knit or crochet that you may want to be a part of. I am always working on multiple projects and even I don’t know when one will be suddenly be ready for pattern testing. It’s a challenge being a designer with 5 kids & homeschool. I thank you for your patience! Which really makes me think we should also discuss being a mom, homeschool, cloth diapers, being a WAHM (work at home mom) and/or a SAHM (stay at home mom), etc.

Visit the Amber Perry Patterns group now!

This is an easy to memorize crochet stitch pattern that gives a pretty dishcloth/washcloth.

Measurements: 8 1.2″ x 6 3/4″

Yarn: worsted weight cotton

Hook: H

Gauge: Not really important, my gauge was 2 st repeats per inch

Instructions

Loosely chain 32 (I like to use an I hook  for the foundation chain to ensure the cloth lays flat)

Row 1: (hdc, ch1, hdc) in 4th ch from hook *skip next ch, (hdc, ch1, hdc) in next ch*, repeat to last 2  ch, skip 1 ch, hdc into last ch, turn.

Row 2: ch2, *skip 2sts, (hdc, ch1, hdc) in next ch sp*, repeat to last hdc, skip 1 st, hdc into tch, turn.

Repeat row 2 until cloth measures  6 3/4″ or desired height.

Abbreviations
ch – chain
ch sp – chain space
hdc – half double crochet
st/sts – stitch/stitches
tch – turning chain

I used to be a little bit intimidated by the magic loop. I looked at several pictorial tutorials and tried it out but I often just felt frustrated. As a result I developed my own little tricks for getting it to work for me. Here’s how I do it.

After working 1-2 rounds you can go ahead and tighten the initial “loop” up by pulling on the tail while holding your work firmly. This gives you a nice tight beginning which is especially nice for amigurumi projects.

You can find my amigurumi patterns at Amber Perry Patterns on Etsy or just over there to your right —>.

*This post taken from my old blog. Original writing date of Nov.11, 2009

Kollage square crochet hooks. Hands down these are absolutely my favorite crochet hooks. I have others. I have aluminum and I have bamboo. I even have one with a light that is supposed to allow you crochet in the dark (which I did not like because a) the light is so bright I can’t actually see the stitches it’s near and b) the hook is plastic and makes this squeaking noise when you work with it).

Aluminum is alright, but when you get down below say an H hook, they begin to get a little small for my carpel tunnel suffering hands. And they’re cold. Which I didn’t really appreciate until I used bamboo.

Bamboo hooks are fine for me for looser work. As long as there is gentle tension, they work out great. I tried to use an E hook for amigurumi and it broke in the first stitch. Which makes sense. Ami is generally worked fairly tightly and a lot of strain is thus put onto the neck of the hook.

And then I met Kollage. I ordered my hooks (and received great customer service with fast shipping) on eBay from Yarn Bazaar. I ordered US sizes C, and E. Just to see how they felt. I soon ordered US D as well. The hook is nice and deep so it really holds onto the yarn well – so slipping out. The hook handle is so nicely designed that it works well for both “knife” and “pencil” style crocheters. I happen to be a “knife” hold person myself. I find that when I’m working amigurumi I usually hold the hold near the top. Where it is rounded. This makes it very comfy for my hands and wrists. When working with looser gauge projects I tend to hold it lower on the handle. Either way it’s great.

I find that I can work for much longer time periods without my hands beginning to buzz or hurt. This is especially wonderful since my current favorite effort is amigurumi crochet patterns and the gauge is tighter than an “average” project. The tighter gauge can cause a tighter grip on the hook – but only if the hook is not as well designed as the Kollage square hooks!

Do you have a favorite hook? Is there something even better out there?

You can shop my amigurumi patterns at Amber Perry Patterns on Etsy.