Wednesday 26 April 2017

A MINNIE MOUSE INSPIRED COCOON

free crochet Minnie Mouse cocoon pattern
A MINNIE MOUSE INSPIRED COCOON

I have seen Mickey Mouse inspired cocoons on the internet, but have not come across a Minnie Mouse version.  I’m not sure if there is one, but here’s what I’ve done in my creation.

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Materials used : Today I’ve used a combination of yarns – some Indian Vardhaman Millenium, some Oswal Cashmilon, Caron Simply Soft and some Baby Soft acrylic yarn , using a 4 mm crochet hook ; embroidery needle ; sewing needle ; fabric glue.

This yarn is not specific for this project.
You can use any yarn with a suitable hook to make this project to any size.

For Indians : You could use Anchor , Red ros ; Red rose metallic or  unbranded  knitting cotton as well as Oswal ; Vardhaman acrylic yarns

International yarns :  Among the international yarns I have used, I’d suggest Aunt Lydia Cotton 10, Aunt Lydia Bamboo-Viscose 10, DMC Petra, Sullivans knitting cotton (Australia), Milford Soft, Hilaza Rustica Eclat , Alize cotton yarn and Alize bamboo yarn.

Skill level : Intermediate.  

Stitches used :
Starting slip knot : Here’s how you start with a slip knot.   https://youtu.be/lJcqsVcs8cw 

Starting slip knot 1 or the Sloppy Slip knot : This is a neat new way to start your work without a slip knot.  https://youtu.be/YfC7KmGpifs 

What is a slip stitch : Here is a neat video tutorial at https://youtu.be/weB3QNbA8Iw

What is a chain stitch ? Here is an easy video tutorial https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXx5ukBjKkY

Double Crochet : dc : yo, insert hk into st ; yo (3 lps on hk); 
[yo, draw through 2 lps] twice.  One dc made.  
Check out the video at https://youtu.be/xdnjB27zpYo 

Chainless start for Double Crochet : I dislike the ch-2 / ch – 3 start, and this is what I do to start my row of dc. 
Check out the video at https://youtu.be/wskv3iTjRx0 

Foundation Single Crochet : fsc : To refresh your skill on the fsc, please view this video https://youtu.be/mcT85fwh4mA  

Single crochet 2-together : sc 2-tog :  
Insert hk into st, yo and pull up a lp (2 lps on hk) ; insert hk into next sc, yo and pull up a lp (3 lps on hk); yo and draw through all 3 lps.  One sc 2-tog complete.  Visit this video tutorial at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whlsMemDHLc

Half double crochet 2-tog : hdc 2-tog : [yo, insert hk in st or ch-sp, yo and pull up a lp] (3 lps on hk) ; insert hk in st or ch-sp, yo and pull up a lp (4 lps on hk) ; yo, draw through all 4 lps on hk.  One hdc 2-tog made.
Check the video tutorial at https://youtu.be/jdaXTr7Lcig

Double crochet 2-tog : dc 2-tog :  [yo, insert hk in st or ch-sp, yo and pull up a lp ; yo and draw through 2 lps] 2 times (3 lps on hk) ; 
{yo, draw through 2 lps on hk} 2 times.  One dc 2-tog made. 
This video tutorial at https://youtu.be/1_oPlUfN5eg shows you how to use the dc 2-tog to decrease.  
Sometimes we work the dc 2-tog in the same stitch, to use as a decorative stitch. Visit this video tutorial at https://youtu.be/lLUXOJ1sY9w 

How to make thin yarn bulky :  A pretty neat video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7mug_y4BZM&feature=youtu.be


Abbreviations used :  Using U.S Terminology
dc : Double crochet        sp(s) : Space(s)
st(s) : Stitch(es)              hk : Hook
lp : Loop(s)                     yo : Yarn Over
sk : Skip                         sc : Single crochet
ch : Chain

Instructions using U.S terminology
Please note that I start all my rows with a ch 1, turning chain for ease.
Please check the top of this blog for easy video tutorials on all stitches used in today's pattern.  For your convenience there video tutorials through the blog too
 
Part 1 : The cocoon

free crochet cocoon pattern

For our cocoon, we’ll start with pink yarn (which is M.Mouse’s skirt) and then change to black yarn (for her socks) and finally end with pink yarn (for a bow).  On top of the skirt, you can add on some circular motifs (for the polka dots).

You can make this pattern for any size from a baby to a full grown young lady.  All you’ll need to do is increase the number of rounds you work for each colour and you’ll have it done.

We are starting at the top of our cocoon and working our way up to the bottom.
So if you are working this for a  taller /older girl, you will just need to decide when to change colours (and obviously much after I’ve said we should) – thus adjusting the length.
For the width (if making for a taller / older child), you will, obviously, continue working increase rounds for a lot longer, till you get the width required.

Yes, I hear you.. how do you figure out how long or how wide?  
Well, that totally depends on you and the child.  
If you have the child handy, have her lie down on a newspaper, and cut a largish half oval around her, starting at her chest, going all the way around her from under her feet to the other side of her chest.  
Ensure that you keep “squiggle space”.  
Keep this handy map when you’re working and check against it every once in a while.  It will also be smart to approximately draw a marked line for where you want your socks / shoes, to save you time when you are actually working on the project, but you figured that out yourself as well, I’m sure!

For this project, you can choose your stitch of choice.. Use either sc / hdc or dc depending on how thick a yarn you’re using and how dense a finished project you desire.
Remember that using dc means that you are increasing the ‘gaps’ and ‘holes’ between stitches.

Finally, I have used a Baby Soft 3-ply baby yarn for the first part and it is way thinner than the slightly darker pink Caron Simply Soft yarn, so I used the video link I’d recently seen online on how to make thin yarn bulky instantly (Link given at the top of this blog) and I am *thrilled* to say that it not only works beautifully, but is so darn easy – one thing new learned in this project, so yaay!

I am opting to use hdc, and will write my pattern instructions that way.
Let’s hook away…


Foundation double crochet (fdc) :
 This is a unique way of starting a project directly with a row of double crochet stitches.  Here is an easy video tutorial https://youtu.be/hjNUYVvyU9k 

Start Row 1 (Using pink yarn) : with a fdc sufficient to go easily around the chest of the child you are making this for. Turn.

So what I am going to do is work in rows for the first few rows, keeping one side open, and then I will join up and work in rounds.  This is to ease a baby in.
However, you can opt to work in rounds from this round itself, and if you do so, please join with a sl-st to the 1st st, and then work in rounds all through, joining at the end of each round.

As you are starting with a fdc chain, it’s important to keep it flat when you join. 
Check out this video on how to keep your chain flat without twisting when working with a longer chain length

Half Double Crochet : Hdc :  yo, insert hk into st ; yo (3 lps on hk) ; 
yo, draw through all 3 lps.  One hdc made.  
Check out the video at https://youtu.be/sDiELJdB2Dg

Chainless start for Half Double Crochet : I dislike the ch-2 start, and this is what I do to start my row of hdc. Check out the video at https://youtu.be/lWXpl1KdbZ8 

Round 2 : (Increase round ) : 
2 hdc in the 1st hdc and in each hdc all around.
Join with a sl-st to the 1st st.

Round 3 : (Increase round ) : 
2 hdc in the 1st hdc ;
*hdc in the next hdc ; 2 hdc in the next hdc* ;
rep *to* all around.
Join with a sl-st to the 1st st.

Round 4 : (Increase round ) : 
2 hdc in the 1st hdc ;
*hdc in the next 2 hdc ; 2 hdc in the next hdc* ;
rep *to* all around.
Join with a sl-st to the 1st st.

Rounds 5 - 7 : (Increase round ) : 
Rep Round 4, increasing 12 sts every round.

We’ve completed the little shoes, and we’ll now change to white (or off white) yarn for the socks.  Fasten off black yarn.

Rounds 8 : (Increase round ) : 
Rep Round 4, increasing 12 sts every round.

Round 9 :  hdc in the 1st hdc and in each hdc around.  
Join with a sl-st to the 1st hdc.

Rounds 10 - 11 : Rep Rounds 8 & 9.

We will now continue without any further increase. Rep Round 9 without any further increase, but before you go ahead, please read the notes below.

And here’s where we get a chance to show off our creativity.

Once I’d reached the end of the skirt length, I’ve decided to work in a small frill all around the base of the skirt as well as along the side of the opening.  The side opening will hold the buttons, so the frill will neatly hide that bit up along with looking cute, methinks.

For the bottom bit of the skirt frill, we will work in front loops only.  We will then use the free back loops to attach the black yarn (for socks) and work the lower part of our cocoon.  For the sides of the skirt (side opening I mean), you can use either just the front loops or both loops. 
Finally, when working along the vertical bars, remember that each dc vertical bar is equal to 2 sc/sts.  There is no stitch count for our frill pattern here, so as long as you get the first round of ch-sps evenly worked out, it doesn’t matter.

Single Crochet : Sc : yo, insert hk into st ; yo (2 lps on hk); yo, draw through both lps.  One sc made.  Check out the video at https://youtu.be/ghACqBpA-3k

First stitch for Single Crochet : This is how I like to start my row of sc. Check out the video at https://youtu.be/6pVYRfsf4_M 

Frill Round 1 : sc in the 1st st ; 
*ch 2, sk next st, sc in the next st* ; 
rep *to* all the way till the corner st ; 
(ch 2, sc in the same st) in the corner st ; 
rep *to* all the way till the end.

Remember that when working along the vertical bar of the dc, you will work ch 2, and then sc in the space between 2 dc.

Frill Round 2 : sl-st into the 1st ch-sp ; 
(ch 3, 2 dc, ch 3, sl-st in the same ch-sp ; sl in the next ch-sp) all in the 1st ch sp and in each ch-sps all around. 
Fasten off and weave in ends.

Triple Crochet : trc : wrap yarn twice around hook, insert hk into st ; yo (4 lps on hk); [yo, draw through 2 lps] three times.  One trc made.  
Check out the video at https://youtu.be/A0y4BbgDTbs

Now here’s a quick tweak.  
I’m using a pretty thick yarn and this border works for me, but if you are using a thinner one and want a frillier frill, then work 3 dc in that sp OR (ch 3, 1 dc, 1 trc, 1 dc, ch 3, sc) all in the same ch-sp and see how your frill goes nice a frillier.  Have fun creating.

Right then.. we’ve completed the skirt portion, and we’re now going to work in rounds for the lower part of our cocoon.
So first put your two skirt portions together and we will join them up when we are working the first round with the black yarn.

Attach your black yarn at one end of the skirt and work in rounds from here on.

So there are two ways in which we can start this portion.  I tried both, and they both work.  It’s just that each way shows the black yarn (at the end of the pink) in a different way – so check which works for you.

Socks Round 1 : 
Turn your work around such that you have the wrong side facing you.  
Sc in the 1st st and in each st all around.  
Join with a sl-st to the 1st st.  
You will be working in the free loops of this last round of the skirt , having used the other loop for the frill.

I have done a second way to attach as well.


Socks Round 1 Alternate : 

Front post single crochet : fpsc :
  Post stitches are stitches worked around the post of a stitch on the row below.  Here is an easy video tutorial for the fpsc at https://youtu.be/OQa8YLpkdXs

Turn your work around such that you have the wrong side facing you.  
Front Post Single Crochet in the 1st st and in each st all around.  
Join with a sl-st to the 1st st.

For the next round on , you will work one st in each st all around using the black yarn till you have the length needed for the cocoon.

Here is a second tweak idea.  
If you want the bottom portion a little rounded and tighter, then you could work your decrease stitches in the form of a sc 2-tog / hdc 2-tog or a dc 2-tog (depending on which stitch you have used to work thus far).  This will just give the bottom portion a small curve, and if you decide to do this, I’d suggest that you work in a gradual decrease every alternate round.

When you reach the length needed for your cocoon, fasten off and leave a tail.

Finishing : 
To close the bottom of your cocoon, work a running stitch (which is just passing your yarn with the embroidery needle in and out of your work in regular distance loosely) all around the last round.  
Pull lightly to close.  
Work a few more rounds of stitches through this last pulled round to get it tighter and neatly closed.  
I usually like to work a round of sc stitches, for a neat finish.

Part 2 : The pink bow

free crochet pattern

Start : (using pink yarn) : with 25 fsc.  Turn.
Note : The start number of fsc does not matter.  Just ensure that the length you start with goes from one side to the other of the base of your cocoon OR as long as you want your bow to be (side to side / lengthwise)

Row 1 : hdc in the 1st fsc and in each fsc till end.  Turn.

Once again, this is just a rough estimate for you and you can decide how wide you want your bow, and work accordingly.
Rows 2 - 9 : hdc in the 1st hdc and in each hdc till end.  Turn.

When you are happy with the width of your bow, fasten off and leave a long tail.

Finishing : Sl-st in the 1st 12 sts (or work with an embroidery needle and work a running stitch all the way to the centre of the bow).  Now holding the right side facing you, wrap the yarn several times around the centre of the bow, cinching it neatly.  Fasten off and weave in ends.

Attach this bow to the centre bottom of your cocoon and you’re almost done with this superb creation.


Part 3 : The polka dots

The final embellishment I’ve added to my cocoon are white polka dots.  Now you can well finish off without this too, but having worked so far, heck, let’s get this done too.

Start : with a magic circle and 12 dc in that circle.  
Fasten off and leave a long tail to attach.

Finishing : Using an embroidery needle, attach the polka dots all over the pink “dress” portion of your cocoon. 

The final thing that you will need to do is attach buttons on either side of your openings and ta da, we’re done with this awesome creation!



Part 4 : The cute lil cap

free crochet cap pattern


For the cute lil cap , do visit me at https://shyamanivas.blogspot.in/2017/03/more-mouse-madness-pair-of-minne-mouse.html

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Here are some of my older blanket / granny square and motif creations.