Amigurumi Elephants

Posted on April 7, 2011 by Jenni Elyse

When I finished the aminekos for my friends’ kids, my friend Leisa asked me if I’d be willing to make her a couple of elephants. At the time, I had never made any amigurumi animals other than the aminekos and the brain slugs I made for Corey and me for Halloween. She offered to pay for them, but I didn’t want to charge her.

I was going to use another pattern, one that I had for an accessory for a Noah’s Ark baby afghan. But, my sister LeAnn made one of these elephants and I immediately fell in love. I love how stubby the legs are and that the head and body are just one piece. She directed me to the free pattern on Lion Brand Yarn’s website and this last weekend during Conference, I started to make them.

I think they turned out well. Although, I always have a hard time accepting my little amigurumi animals. I’m always worried they don’t look very good. I kind of think my elephants look a little bit deformed. At telling Corey that, he asked me how I’d feel if I heard my creator say he wasn’t happy with how I looked because I have hobbit feet. (The hobbit feet thing is an inside joke between Corey and me; he knows I’m worried that my feet are a bit hobbit-ish so he teases me about my feet. :roll: ) Anyway, his question made me think. I’d be very sad if I heard that so I guess I need to keep working on loving my creations no matter how they look. Darn my perfectionistic nature!

Amelia’s Blessing

Posted on March 6, 2011 by Jenni Elyse

Today was Amelia’s blessing, our dear friends’ Ali and Tyler’s daughter. The blessing was very nice. There were a lot of nice things said and I could feel the Spirit during her blessing.

Amelia looked so pretty in her blessing dress. One of Ali and Tyler’s neighbors made it. It’s beautiful. Not only are there cute little flowers on the bodice, but the skirt also has these embroidered flowers and holes because it’s made from a specific type of fabric. And, of course, I can’t remember the name of the fabric right now. The bracelet Amelia is wearing was from Ali’s mom, who just passed away a little over a month ago. I think it’s beautiful and so fitting right now.

Amelia was also blessed with the afghan I crocheted for her. I’m really happy with how her afghan turned out. I love the ribbon woven through the eyelet round and I love the lace-like edging. (I even managed to tie the bow nicely.) I think it’s perfect for such a beautiful baby!

Today was a great day! Not only did we get to celebrate Amelia’s birth and listen to her beautiful blessing, we also got to eat good food and talk among friends, who are more like family than friends. Corey and I always feel so welcomed and a part of the Vigue’s family not only by Tyler and Ali, but by their families as well.

Caps for Good

Posted on February 24, 2011 by Jenni Elyse

Life has a way of getting away from me sometimes. I meant to post something about this a lot sooner than today, but I’ve been so busy. I guess it’s just good that I got around to it.

Anyway, my cousin Ashley posted about the Newborn and Child Survival campaign hosted by the Save the Children foundation on her blog. This campaign focuses on teaching and providing simple child survival methods in third-world countries, such as vaccinations, antibiotics, and basic child care (breastfeeding help, keeping babies warm and clean, etc.). According to their flier, “Nearly 4 million babies die each year in their first month of life–half within their first 24 hours–mostly from preventable or treatable causes.”

The Caps for Good campaign is a way for people to help in keeping babies warm. Save the Children asked for those who crochet and/or knit to make a cap for at least one baby and then spread the word about it to increase awareness of this serious problem. These caps will be sent to mothers in need in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

As I read Ashley’s post, I thought about all the things I’ve crocheted. I know the people I’ve given my crocheted items to have really appreciated these hand-made gifts, and I thought this would be a good way to help someone in need, so I decided to contribute my talents to this worthy cause.

The foundation provided simple patterns for caps made for low-birthweight babies–one knitted and one crocheted. I decided to make two caps and I chose to follow the crocheted pattern they provided, with one small change–I made an eyelet row in round 9 to allow for a ribbon. (Obviously, tying bows isn’t one of my talents.)

This campaign ends on February 28, 2011. (I’m not sure if this means that they won’t take any more caps after February 28 or if the caps just have to be mailed by then.) I know this doesn’t give you much time to join this cause if you want to, but one of the things the foundation suggested is to do something similar to this and donate them to local charities or hospitals.

More Aminekos

Posted on January 1, 2011 by Jenni Elyse

While I was crocheting the aminekos for my nieces last year, Corey and I went over to our friends’ to watch their kids. Jack, their oldest, was so interested in what I was doing. He thought it was so cool that I could “knit” a cat and he kept telling me that he’d like a green one. Unfortunately, I didn’t have the time to make him, his little sister, and his little brother one until now. (I finished them yesterday after working on them for a little over a week.)

Sheridan’s is the pink one, Jack’s is of course the green one, and Henry’s is the blue one. Jack’s is my favorite of the bunch. I just like the color and how he turned out.

I can’t wait to give the kids their cat. I hope they’ll like them and be able to enjoy them for many years to come. I also can’t wait to hear what each of the kids will name their cat. :)

Just like with the ones I made last year, I can see every flaw, but I’m trying to look at them as God would His children. I’m trying to realize the flaws give each one their own personality and character even though it’s against my perfectionist nature to like something I’ve made that’s not perfect. I guess it’s a good thing that I have a hobby like this because it helps challenge my way of thinking that everything needs to be perfect. ;)

Christmas Aminekos

Posted on December 26, 2009 by Jenni Elyse

Corey and I didn’t have a lot of money for Christmas this year and because we were spending Christmas with his family, I wanted to make sure his nieces got a present from us. I decided to crochet them aminekos. I did an amineko for me last year so I knew they’d turn out well. Also, all three girls love cats and because I could make them in their favorite color, I was sure they’d be a hit.

I gave the girls their cat yesterday afternoon. They seemed to love them. Brooklyn even named her kitty (far left) Nita. Addi’s kitty is in the middle and Sierra’s kitty is the purple one.

Sierra’s cat is my favorite. Apart from the obvious of it being purple, I feel like it’s also my best out of the three as I improved my technique with each one. I like it so much I’ve decided to make a purple one for me to go along with Smokie. ;)

I can see every flaw, but I’m trying to look at them as God would His children. I’m trying to realize the flaws give each one their own personality and character even though it’s against my perfectionist nature to like something I’ve made that’s not perfect.

Anyway, I’m glad each of the girls like their kitties and I hope they can enjoy them for many years to come.