 boom
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Jul. 22nd, 2005 @ 05:45 pm 
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Photobucket go temporarily boom.
I've put the background for my journal into my lj gallery so it's back up, but the other pics will just have to wait for photobucket to resurrect its wonky machines.
Still, I've got a puffskein which wanted to be displayed:
1 strand mohair, 1 strand #5 perlized cotton; held together for the body, just the cotton for the tongue.
US#4 dpns. Requires a tapestry needle and a #11 crochet hook. 2 beads for eyes are optional. I haven't figured out where to put them yet.
Note: If you use white or off-white mohair, the pygmy puff will appear to be a lighter version of whatever pearl cotton color you have used, although dark colors will appear more speckled. This is convenient when you want to make them in several different colors and don't want to get lots of mohair. Mohair-like yarn made of acrylic, etc. can also be used, but will not fluff to as high a halo.
Worked in the round in stockinette. ETA: Crochet instructions at end.
Figure 8 cast on 4, work 1 row.
Increase 4 (total 8), work 1 row.
Increase 8 (total 16), work 6 rows.
Decrease 8 (total 8), work 1 row.
Stuff with cotton or fill.
Run end through remaining 8 stitches and secure.
Secure end of pearl cotton at one end (I went for the bind-off end) and crochet chain until it's about 2x as long as the puffskein body. Cut thread, and pull the end through the loop to secure. Tie a very tiny, very firm knot, and trim off excess. Sew on eyes if desired.
[revision]
Turn inside out (leave the tail from casting on inside the puff, this saves having to weave in the ends later) and stuff firmly with cotton or fill. Run end through remaining 8 stitches and secure. Leave about 8" or so of pearl cotton and cut the mohair shorter. Secure the mohair by weaving it through the body in spots.
Thread the pearl cotton onto a tapestry needle and decide where you want to put the eyes. Bring the needle up through the spot where you will place the first eye and secure the thread by looping it back under and through again. Thread the bead onto the pearl cotton, using a piece of sewing thread as a needle threader. Cut a piece of sewing thread several inches long and bring the ends together to form a loop. Thread the ends through the bead, leaving the loop on one side. Place the end of the pearl cotton through the loop and use the sewing thread to pull the pearl cotton through the bead. Sew on the bead, and then repeat the steps for the second eye.
To make the tongue, secure the pearl cotton as with the eyes and then tightly single crochet until it's about twice as long as the body. Tie a very tiny, very firm overhand knot over the last stitch and trim off the excess. The tongue will curl naturally, but it can be make more or less curly by twirling it with or against the curl.
[/revision]
Fluff with a brush. A slicker brush with fine wire teeth is ideal. It would be fuzzier right off the bat if worked in reverse stockinette (the easiest way to do it RS is to work it normally, and turn it inside out before stuffing).
Photobucket's back!
The first one: Stockinette, loosely stuffed, no eyes.
  
Svelt and compact. Then, fluffed. The last is a "glamour shot."
The second one: Made the same way, but turned inside out before stuffing and closing up. left a long tail of pearl cotton to sew on the eyes and make the tongue, much more secure this way.
 
Mynah provides scale....
 
The difference between these two cracks me up. It's like an explosion....
 
A top view, and then two puffskeins together, being chummy. Even though one doesn't have eyes. Perhaps they're different breeds....
All in all, my verdict is turn 'em inside out for a reverse stockinette surface, and fluff aggressively.
Crochet Instructions:
Using about an F hook (3.75mm), chain 4
Join in the round and single crochet 4.
Next round, increase to 8 sc.
Single crochet 8 around 2 more times.
Next round, decrease to 4 sc.
It should be inside out, if it isn't, turn it inside out. Stuff the tail into the middle and then firmly stuff with cotton or fill. Once stuffed, half stitch around once to pull it tight (I don't know what it's called, but it's when you pull the loop that you just pulled through the stitch up through the pre-existing stitch). Pull the tail through the loop. Proceed as above to sew on eyes and make tongue, and fluff.
Note, if crocheted loosely, the fill will show through the stitching. Thus, if using white fill (cotton, polyfill, etc.) use white mohair to mask it.
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I love the comparison. What a difference turning it before stuffing!
*giggle* Maybe the first one is just sleeping. That's why you can't see the eyes.
![[User Picture Icon]](http://l-userpic.livejournal.com/32599952/1759244) |
| From: | ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) djinnj |
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| Date: |
July 23rd, 2005 02:24 am (UTC) |
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Yep, turning makes for much neater ends. I fluffed the second one a bit more aggressively, but I also think some of the density of the fluff comes from the way the stitches lie. I definitly prefer it the second way.
Indeed, the first puff shall be like Scabbers, who slept most of the time. It's just an old pygmy puff that's living out its golden months under the sofa.
| From: | (Anonymous) |
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| Date: |
April 14th, 2008 05:39 pm (UTC) |
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puffskein
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so funny that looks like my cat! LOL
I love this pattern....
bobbiejo from ravelry
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