Happy New Year!

http://www.villagetaways.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Chinese-new-Year-of-the-Goat-in-2015.jpg

A quick note to wish everyone a Happy and Prosperous Lunar New Year from the Turtlekeepers family to yours!

The PIG: Chinese Zodiac Animals #12

The Pig is my favourite zodiac :)  I'm a pig and some of the zodiac write ups are so creepy true that I have to quote this one page directly for you:

Kind, caring, and good natured describe those born during the Chinese Zodiac’s Year of the Pig. Those of this sign are pleasant to be around and enjoy socializing, hosting parties, and learning new things. Pigs are typically easy going to a surprising extent. They take it upon themselves to serve up self-punishment when they make mistakes, and they are highly aware of the comfort level of those around them. Pigs are intelligent, but in a specific way. They are very curious and don’t like to be left out of conversations due to a lack of understanding of the topic at hand. Pigs will investigate all of the topics they don’t know about in order to get at least a general understanding of that topic. Once this is achieved, though, Pigs tend to stop digging into one topic, preferring to know a little about many subjects rather than know much about a single subject.

Those born during the Year of the Pig believe that everyone is essentially good at heart and that those who exhibit bad behaviors are just confused souls acting out in negative ways. Since Pigs admire their own awareness of peaceful understanding and compassion, they can also be manipulated easily. They are indeed naive and could avoid heartache and material losses by trusting others less, but this would destroy a great deal of what makes them so wonderful for others. Pigs inherently understand this and choose to maintain a childlike fascination with the possibilities of the world, even if it leaves them vulnerable. 

[from http://www.primalastrology.com/pig.html]

Please visit the main pattern page first for more tips and important information.  With worsted yarn and size A hook, the dog will be approximately 7 inches in circumference.

You will need:

light pink and dark pink yarn in worsted weight
stuffing (polyfill or wool)
safety eyes
crochet hook (size A recommended but any hook up to size G will work)

tapestry needle

Key:

Ch = chain

INC = 2 sc into one stitch

#INC = do # increases in a row

DEC = invisible decrease turns the next 2 sts into one st
# or sc# = separate sc stitches (no increasing or decreasing) 

Begin Here:

R1  With light pink yarn, magic circle with 6 stitches into the loop.

R2  INC around. (12)
R3  (1, INC) around (18)
R4  1, INC, 2, INC, 3, INC, 2, INC, 3, INC, 2 (23)

R5  INC, 4, INC, 3, INC, 4, INC, 3, INC, 4 (28)

R6  3, INC, 6, INC, 6, INC, 6, INC, 3 (32)

R7  5, INC, 9, INC, 9, INC, 6 (35)

R8  3, INC, 10, INC, 11, INC, 8 (38)

R9  12, INC, 25 (39)
R10  INC, 38 (40)

R11  sc around        (INSERT EYES NOW BETWEEN R6-7, nine sts apart)
R12  38, DEC (39)
R13  25, DEC, 12 (38)
R14  8, DEC, 11, DEC, 10, DEC, 3 (35)
R15  6, DEC, 9, DEC, 9, DEC, 5 (32)
R16  3, DEC, 6, DEC, 6, DEC, 6, DEC, 3 (28)        (FILL WITH STUFFING)

R17  4, DEC, 3, DEC, 4, DEC, 3, DEC, 4, DEC (23)

R18  2, DEC, 3, DEC, 2, DEC, 3, DEC, 2, DEC, 1 (18)
R19  (DEC, 1) repeat around (12)
R20  (DEC, 1) repeat around. Fasten off. Weave loose end through each stitch in the opening. Fill completely with stuffing.  Pull tightly to close.  Sew in your end.

Nose (use dark pink):

R1  Magic Circle with 6 stitches in the loop (6)

R2  INC around (12)

R3  Sc in the backloops around.  Bind off.  Leave tail for sewing.  Sew onto your first few rounds of the head/body.

Ears (make 2 in dark pink):

R1  Magic Circle with 4 sts in the loop

R2  (1, INC) around (6)

R3  (2, INC) around (8)

R4  (3, INC) around (10)

R5  (4, INC) around (12).  Bind off leaving a tail to sew on the top of the head.  Squish flat.  Sew shut.   Make another one and attach to the head.

Tail (light pink):

Chain 10 leaving a tail at the beginning.  INC in every ch back across your tail.  Finish off leaving a 6” tail.  Tie this tail and the beginning tail to the piggy’s bum (where you finished off your sphere) and sew in the ends.

Well there you have it!  All 12 Chinese zodiac animals!  Just in time for you to display for Chinese New Year coming up on the 19th.  Wishing you all the best in the Year of the Goat 2015.  Kung Hei Fat Choi!  Look forward to more patterns to come!

The DOG: Chinese Zodiac Animals #11

Happy Valentine's Day!

Those born under the zodiac sign of Dog are respectful, helpful and sincere.  You can count on a Dog- they will never let you down.  They are good at keeping secrets!  Dogs tend to be humanitarians; they care more about people than money, power or success.  Unfortunately, they tend to get stressed out easily and are often anxious, restless, and worried. 

Please visit the main pattern page first for more tips and important information.  With worsted yarn and size A hook, the dog will be approximately 7 inches in circumference.

You will need:

light brown and dark brown yarn in worsted weight
stuffing (polyfill or wool)
safety eyes
optional: a large safety eye to use as a nose or you can purchase a safety nose
crochet hook (size A recommended but any hook up to size G will work)

tapestry needle

Key:

Ch = chain

INC = 2 sc into one stitch

#INC = do # increases in a row

DEC = invisible decrease turns the next 2 sts into one st

# or sc# = separate sc stitches (no increasing or decreasing) 

Begin here: 

R1  With medium brown, magic circle with 6 stitches into the loop.

R2  INC around. (12)
R3  (1, INC) around (18)
R4  1, INC, 2, INC, 3, INC, 2, INC, 3, INC, 2 (23)

R5  INC, 4, INC, 3, INC, 4, INC, 3, INC, 4 (28)

R6  3, INC, 6, INC, 6, INC, 6, INC, 3 (32)

R7  5, INC, 9, INC, 9, INC, 6 (35)

R8  3, INC, 10, INC, 11, INC, 8 (38)

R9  12, INC, 25 (39)
R10  INC, 38 (40)

R11  sc around        (INSERT EYES NOW BETWEEN R6/7, nine sts apart)
R12  38, DEC (39)
R13  25, DEC, 12 (38)
R14  8, DEC, 11, DEC, 10, DEC, 3 (35)
R15  6, DEC, 9, DEC, 9, DEC, 5 (32)
R16  3, DEC, 6, DEC, 6, DEC, 6, DEC, 3 (28)        (FILL WITH STUFFING)

R17  4, DEC, 3, DEC, 4, DEC, 3, DEC, 4, DEC (23)

R18  2, DEC, 3, DEC, 2, DEC, 3, DEC, 2, DEC, 1 (18)
R19  (DEC, 1) repeat around (12)
R20  (DEC, 1) repeat around. Fasten off. Weave loose end through each stitch in the opening. Fill completely with stuffing.  Pull tightly to close.  Sew in your end.

Muzzle (same brown as head):

R1  Magic Circle with 6 sts in the loop.

R2  (2, 3 sc in next sc) twice around (10).

R3  (2, 3INC) twice around (16).

R4  sc around (16).

R5 
3, 4INC, 4, 4INC, sc in last st (24).

R6  3, DEC, 4, DEC, 4, DEC, 4, DEC, sc (20). Bind off leaving tail to sew on.




I have used a 16mm eye for a nose.  You can also use a Safety Nose.  Insert your nose (or embroider it on with black yarn using a satin stitch which is just rows of parallel stitches tight together).  Pin the muzzle onto the head.  Sew the muzzle on almost completely, stuffing thru the last part and finish sewing.

Ears (make 2 using dark brown yarn):

R1  Magic Circle with 6 sts into the loop.

R2  (2, INC) twice around (8).

R3  (1, INC) 4 times around (12).

R4  (2, INC) 4 times around (16).

R5-7  sc around (16).

R8  (6, DEC) twice around (14).

R9  (5, DEC) twice around (12).

R10-13  sc around.  Finish off and leave tail for attaching.  Make a second one.  In the example, the dog’s ears are attached between Rounds 10-14.

Are you all still crocheting?  I'd love to see your creations!  Post them on Instagram with hashtag #turtlekeeperdesigns or drop by my Facebook page and post your pics!  As always, if you have any questions, you can email, IG me, FB me etc. and I will always answer you!

You Melt My Heart, Valentine ;)

Remember these?  The kids wanted to do the Valentine's Crayon Hearts again but this year we had way too much going on.  Maybe some of you can squeeze some of these in before Friday?  They are really amazing as Valentine's gifts for the class.  

They are super easy and super fun and the kids love to help out!  We have used dollar store crayons here so the box of 48 only cost $1.  Go make some hearts and show me the pictures!

Here is the link to the tutorial again.....  Valentine's Crayon Hearts.  Have fun!

The ROOSTER: Chinese Zodiac Animals #10

Roosters are known to be arrogant and self-assured- hence the term "cocky".    As much as they are boastful, they also tend to be quite honest people.  Besides being social, roosters are very confident and charming.

This is another one of my favourites from this series.  I loved making up all the little parts of the rooster...especially his feet!  Please visit the main pattern page first for more tips and important information.  With worsted yarn and size A hook, the rooster will be approximately 7 inches in circumference.

You will need:

white, yellow and red yarn in worsted weight
stuffing (polyfill or wool)
safety eyes
crochet hook (size A recommended but any hook up to size G will work)

tapestry needle


Key:

Ch = chain

INC = 2 sc into one stitch

#INC = do # increases in a row

DEC = invisible decrease turns the next 2 sts into one st

# or sc# = separate sc stitches (no increasing or decreasing)

Begin here:

R1  With white yarn, magic circle with 6 stitches into the loop.

R2  INC around. (12)
R3  (1, INC) around (18)
R4  1, INC, 2, INC, 3, INC, 2, INC, 3, INC, 2 (23)

R5  INC, 4, INC, 3, INC, 4, INC, 3, INC, 4 (28)

R6  3, INC, 6, INC, 6, INC, 6, INC, 3 (32)

R7  5, INC, 9, INC, 9, INC, 6 (35)

R8  3, INC, 10, INC, 11, INC, 8 (38)

R9  12, INC, 25 (39)
R10  INC, 38 (40)

R11  sc around              (INSERT EYES BETWEEN R7/8, eleven sts apart)
R12  38, DEC (39)
R13  25, DEC, 12 (38)
R14  8, DEC, 11, DEC, 10, DEC, 3 (35)
R15  6, DEC, 9, DEC, 9, DEC, 5 (32)
R16  3, DEC, 6, DEC, 6, DEC, 6, DEC, 3 (28)        (FILL WITH STUFFING)

R17  4, DEC, 3, DEC, 4, DEC, 3, DEC, 4, DEC (23)

R18  2, DEC, 3, DEC, 2, DEC, 3, DEC, 2, DEC, 1 (18)
R19  (DEC, 1) repeat around (12)
R20  (DEC, 1) repeat around. Fasten off. Weave loose end through each stitch in the opening. Fill completely with stuffing.  Pull tightly to close.  Sew in your end.

Beak (make one in yellow):

R1  Magic Circle with 4 sts in the loop.

R2  (1, INC) twice around (6)

R3  (2, INC) twice around (8)

R4  (3, INC) twice around (10).

R5  sc around.

R6  (4, INC) twice around (12).

R7  sc around.  Bind off leaving a tail to sew on the centre of the sphere.  You can put some stuffing in there :)

Wattle (make one in red):  

ch 6, slst in 3^rd chain, ch 2, slst in nx st, ch 2, sl st in nx st, sc, ch1, turn and sc back across.  Finish off leaving a tail for attaching under the beak.

Comb (make one in red):  

use a F or G hook, ch 9, sl st in 3^rd chain, ch 3, sl st in nx st, ch3, sl st in nx st, ch3, sl st in nx st, sc, ch1, turn and sc back across.  Finish off leaving a tail for attaching to the top of the head.

Feet (make 2 in yellow): 

ch 7 with yellow yarn.  Starting in 2^nd chain from hook, sl st in next 3 ch. (ch 4, starting in 2^nd ch from hook, sl st in nx 3 ch) 2 times, then continue to sl st along original chain back to start.  Make 2.

Sew on your wattle, comb and both feet.

Nine more days until the new year!  The Dog and Pig are still yet to come!  I can't wait to see some of your creations.  Feel free to post on Facebook or IG (#turtlekeeperdesigns).  If you have any questions for me, please don't hesitate to comment or post on any of my usual haunts :)