Glanter from Ooblets

I know it's July! But this cutie needed to be made so Bristlebud wouldn't have to brave the mail carrier service alone.

Glanter is another creature from Glumberland's upcoming game, Ooblets. Isn't he cool looking??

Pikachu, take two!

Halloween has come and gone, and I didn't craft NEARLY as many things as I wanted to. I'll chat more about that at the bottom, since most of you are here for Pikachu. :)

While I love using 53 Stitches pattern for Pikachu and many other Pokemon, I found Studio Crafti's Pikachu pattern and thought it was super cute. Unfortunately, they took the written pattern down recently for revisions, so the Pikachu in these photos might be different than their new pattern indicates. They still have their tutorial up on YouTube, however:
Part 1:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6QRKaKM6co
Part 2:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orwRSmICbVI&feature=youtu.be

Punkin Pumpkin Pattern

I love Halloween, October, autumn, pumpkin-cinnamon-apple-caramel flavored things, and busting out the decorations this time of year. Here's a small one you can whip up rather quickly! I've been working on this pattern for a while, actually, but could never get a consistent result. They ended up being too squashed (puns!) looking, too round like an orange, too wide of a mouth, etc etc. Finally, I downsized it and made a pattern that works time after time. Please let me know if you find any errors or have any questions. Enjoy!

Ghost Applique Pattern

I have a new pattern! It's a simple, but fun one.

These ghost appliques whip up quick. I used one on Emmy's seed stitch headband, but I've been making more while watching spooky movies to put on gift bags, cards, treat plates, and even maybe make a whole banner of them.

Halloween approaches!

Last year, I was so late on all the holiday stuff. If I actually want to have homemade holiday decor this year, I have to start in the summer.
I'm working on an open mouth pumpkin pattern right now. It's very frustrating that I got the best result the first time and I CAN'T DUPLICATE IT.

"WHY DIDN'T I WRITE THE PATTERN DOWN THE FIRST TIME?!"
"Dude calm down, you look like a screaming orange."

Five Nights At Freddy's

I know Halloween is months away, but when you crochet you have to start holiday projects quite a bit ahead of time. Soooo, happy Halloween crafting time! In July...anyways.

One of my favorite scary games is Five Nights at Freddy's. Basically, you are a security guard at a haunted Chuck-E-Cheese and need to survive the night without leaving your chair and monitors. Other factors include a draining power supply, crappy security cameras, and the animatronics running for your door. It has loads of jump scares and makes me scream a lot. Thus, it's a fun game. :)

I wanted to make a spooky plush of the characters that could still be a bit cute.

Chica is my favorite just because she's a bird...and she was the one who killed me nearly every time while playing.

She's really good at jump scares.

I also had some stash yarn in Bonnie's colors, so he's joined the fray.

He probably creeps me out the most out of all the characters.

I'm looking forward to the fourth installment on August 8th. I admit, I'm really thrown at how the storyline will work out, but I'll give it a shot. Figuring out the details of whatever caused the place to be haunted was my favorite part of the game.

These guys might go up for sale soon--or I may make a Freddy Fazbear to complete the trio. Our car died and we need to get a new one so I'm probably going to stock up the etsy store here soon with some completed projects.

Feel free to message me on my facebook page or tumblr if you are interested! Or email me at thecraftzilla@gmail.com.

Crochet Your Costume - Roman Helmet

I regularly harass my friends with hat-wearing babies for something I can make them. Seriously, it fuels some deep need in me to frequently make and give away crocheted baby items just so I can feel fulfilled, rather than have it lay discarded in the closet by my daughter. So when one of my college besties mentioned their little boy was going to be a Roman soldier for Halloween, I had to leap at the opportunity. 

Spooky Oooky Crafts for Halloween

It's month long Halloween aka OCTOBER! Halloween is the BEST. There's nothing I love more than to run around with the little ones gathering candy, then bailing at the end of the night with a bowl of white chili and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow (Disney version!) in the VCR.

So of course, I had to make some DIY decorations!

This past month has been a doozy--family emergencies, traveling, weird work schedules, a daughter who thinks she's a hoover vacuum and must eat everything on the floor-- so I really enjoy those moments when I can craft. But it's hard to make huge projects, so I've completed a few that you can get done pretty quick.

It's a pumpkin coaster! This took about 15 minutes and turned out really cute. You could add more rounds and make it a pot holder, or apply it as is onto a headband, shirt, etc for a pumpkin applique. I had to prove it wasn't useless by using it under my hot apple cider mug.
R: Ohhhh no, I don't want to ruin this table, but I need to set down this steaming hot apple cider~. What should I doooo~
G: *Sigh* Use...your coaster.
R: Wow! Thank goodness I just so happened to make one with my CARING, LOVING, CRAFTY hands.
Pumpkin coasters:
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/crochet-pumpkin-coasters-pdf-pattern

There's something about tiny decorations--I love them. Easy to make, easy to store, and they just seem so dainty. These guys now reside by my candy bowl at work. I made a bunch of the little pumpkins for my friend who used them to adorn her wreath! (Now if she'll share a photo..or should I go to her house and take a picture of her door and leave? Not creepy at all, right?)
Baby pumpkin:
http://www.repeatcrafterme.com/2012/08/teeny-tiny-crochet-pumpkin-pattern.html
(I didn't use this pattern but it gives the same result.)
Ghost:
http://www.petalstopicots.com/2013/10/ghost-crochet-pattern/
(I gave him a ruffly bottom by increasing the stitches at the very end.)

You know how insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results? Why do I keep making my daughter hats that she WON'T WEAR?? Luckily, they make great gifts to friends who have babies small enough they can't resist obedient enough to wear them for a two second photo shoot.

The ribbing on them makes them super warm, and the yarn I bought for them (I dub it "Ewok Orange") is soooo soft. (It's Hobby Lobby's "I Love This Yarn, by the way.) I finished a couple hats on a road trip because it is worked in rows and you don't REALLY need a pattern!
Punkin Hat:
http://www.favecrafts.com/Crochet-for-Baby/Baby-Pumpkin-Crochet-Beanie

Now when my sewing machine gets here Wednesday, I can start on the biiiig Halloween crafts--the Halloween costumes! :)