Happy Friday! Just a quick hello to say that my #lockdownamichallenge Giraffe pattern has gone live - you can find the FREE pattern HERE.
There's also a Free Pattern for the Hippo - who came out last week but I completely forgot to blog about him, poor neglected love! You can find him HERE.
Sign up to my mailing list to get a free printer friendly PDF version of the Giraffe Pattern! 
I'm currently testing my iffy IT skills creating a separate section of the website where my lovely mailing listers will be able to exclusively access and Download PDFs of all the free patterns - bear with me while I get my head round the technical stuff!

All the #lockdownamichallenge patterns are made using 100% Cotton DK weight Yarn on a 3mm hook. They're suitable for anyone with basic ami skills and I'm always happy to help anyone who gets stuck.

Have a great weekend, stay safe and Happy Crocheting!

Pia 🧶😍🦒🦛🐸🐧🦩🦁🐵❤️🦔🐻

Since starting this website and letting the free patterns for #mycrochetchums loose on the world, I’ve been learning a lot about what people like about ami and what they find tricky - particularly when they’re new to crocheting amigurumi. 

There’s always something new to learn in crochet and if you’re just beginning it can be SO frustrating when you’ve just cracked working the first round of a piece into a Magic Ring to suddenly come up against a start that looks something like this:

With MC chain 4.
Rnd 1: Starting in 2nd chain from hook and rotating as you go, [3 dc, 2 ch] twice. 6 sts
Rnd 2: [3 dc, 3 dc in 2 ch sp] twice. 12 sts

What the flip does it mean and WHY do you need to do it like this????
Let’s answer the “Why?”first …..it’s simply that the designer wants to create an oval rather than circular shape.

If you’re new to reading patterns the “What does it mean?” can be harder to get to grips with but fear not - I‘ve come up with a nifty little photo tutorial to talk you through those first two rounds step by step - working through it like this will help you grasp the principle and you won’t be daunted when you come across this in a pattern.

If you’d like to take a look at the photo tutorial, you can find it HERE.

The pattern excerpt in pink above is from my free amigurumi pattern for the Little Bear with a Big Heart - he’s such a cutie - and his head starts with an oval - you can find his free pattern HERE.

If there’s something else about making ami that flummoxes you - send me a comment on my contact form and I’ll do my best to help! The contact form is HERE.

Lastly, if you do make one of the free amigurumi patterns in my #lockdownamichallenge I’d love to see a pic! 

Stay safe and Happy Crocheting!
Pia x 😍🧶🐻🦩🦔🐧🐸🦁🐵

By the way...if you’re having trouble with the pesky Magic Ring - there’s a photo tutorial about it HERE.

Absolutely thrilled to have had a little mention in the latest issue of Crochet Now magazine. Jenny the Editor has been super supportive of my crochet journey and took a chance on me when I was a completely unpublished newbie designer. We are working on a couple of other projects for later in the year. 

Can't believe what started on a whim last autumn to stop me feeling guilty about buying yet more yarn has turned into a whole real thing! It's got a life of it's own and is definitely giving me a sense of purpose and achievement in our latest lockdown. I don't know where it will all lead but that doesn't matter... I'm just really enjoying the ride!

This issue of Crochet Now comes with a free issue of Crochet Essentials so it's a double whammy of gorgeous inspiration!

Keep safe, keep cosy and keep on crocheting! 😍🧶xx

Two little darlings for you today. The Penguin actually came out last week but I completely forgot to write about him! He's an easy make and with his natty hat is great for using up odds and ends of yarn.
You can find the Free Amigurumi Pattern for the Penguin HERE.

Next to him, just in time for Valentine's Day is the latest design - a Bear with a Big Heart! Again, he's easy to make - whip one up in no time for someone you love! I think he's one of my favourites so far...

Find Bear's Free Amigurumi Pattern  HERE.

​If your new to making Ami and would like some help mastering the dreaded Magic Ring you can also find a very useful Photo Tutorial to help HERE.

Whatever's on your hook this weekend - have fun!