Tag: National Zoo & Aquarium Month

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Benjamin Turtle CAL Part 3

TGIF! I hope everyone is enjoying the Benjamin Turtle pattern. Today’s post is the final one for this crochet-along. You will be making the bottom flap and assembling the nap buddy.

Directions:

Bottom:

Row 1: With Dark Olive yarn, ch 30, hdc in 2nd ch and in each ch across (29 hdc).

Rows 2-4: Ch 1, turn, 2 hdc in first st, hdc across (32 hdc at end of Row 4).

Row 5: Ch 1, turn, 1 hdc, ch 1, sk next st, 30 hdc.

Row 6: Ch 1, turn, hdc in each hdc and ch-1 sp.

Rows 7-14: Ch 1, turn, hdc in each st.

Rows 15-24: Repeat Rows 5-14.

Rows 25-26: Repeat Rows 5-6.

Rows 27-29: Ch 1, turn, dec over first 2 sts, hdc across (29 hdc at end of Row 29). Do not fasten off.

Edging:

Ch 1, turn, hdc in each st across top, down side, across unused loops on bottom, and up the other side with 2 hdc in each corner. Join with sl st. Fasten off leaving 12” length for sewing.

Finished flap measures approximately 10” x 11”.

Assembly:

turtle blanket centers

Mark centers of blanket and turtle. Measure from center, 5” to left and 5” to right and pin blanket to turtle at these spots. Sew center 10” of blanket to turtle using Dark Olive yarn and back stitch. For extra security, sew edges of blanket to turtle with whip st.

Fold blanket into thirds and roll it, then fit it inside the turtle. Pin bottom flap centered over the blanket/turtle seam and sew in place.

turtle bottom flap

Sew buttons to bottom of shell corresponding to buttonholes in bottom flap.

turtle buddy bottom 

Head:

Rnd 1: Ch 2 (or magic circle), 6 sc in 2nd ch. Do not join. Work in continuous rnds throughout head.

Rnd 2: 2 sc in each st (12 sc).

Rnd 3: *Sc in next st, 2 sc in next st,* repeat around (18 sc).

Rnd 4: *Sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st,* repeat around (24 sc).

Rnd 5: *Sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st,* repeat around (30 sc).

Rnds 6-9: Sc in each st.

Rnd 10: *Dec, sc in next 3 sts,* repeat around (24 sc).

Rnd 11: Sc in each st.

Insert eyes at Rnd 4, approximately 1” apart.

Rnd 12: *Dec, sc in next 2 sts,* repeat around (18 sc).

Rnds 13-16: Sc in each st. Join with sl st. Fasten off leaving 12” length.

Stuff head and sew to front of turtle at the top edge of the center hexagon. Weave in all ends.

turtle buddy both small

Part 1 of the CAL can be found at Benjamin Turtle Nap Buddy CAL.

Part 2 of the CAL can be found at Benjamin Turtle Nap Buddy CAL Part 2.

Free Turtle Jewelry Pattern

Please post your turtle photos to Facebook or Instagram.

Summer Solstice Giveaway

I am thrilled to be a part of this amazing crochet pattern giveaway! There are 25 designers, each offering a different summer pattern. Use coupon code SUMMER2020 on Ravelry through 6/24/2020. These amazing patterns should keep you busy for quite a while this summer!

Summer Solstice Giveaway

My contribution to the roundup is also available at First Day of Summer – easy butterfly flip flop pattern. If you prefer video tutorials, please see YouTube.

National Zoo & Aquarium Month

June 50% off patterns continue with today’s animal being the Polar Bear. We still have over a week to go in June with lots more half price patterns. Thursday’s sale is also still available – Fish Dish Towel. Makes a great Father’s Day gift!

June2020calendar

For the bargain shoppers among you, this week’s Etsy specials are 20% off yarn and 30% off select finished products.

King Snake crocheted in Bernat blanket yarn

king snake coiled

I spent this week working on a giant snake plushie. Bernat blanket yarn is so soft and squishy, I just love using it to make stuffed animals! The pattern is complete, but I need a couple of people to test it. If you would like to test, please join my Facebook group for the King snake and other testing opportunities. The snake in the photo measures 100″ long, and instructions are also given for a 66″ snake.

Panda Bear Eyeglass Holder

panda

For the Addi knitter, this cute panda pattern is quick and easy.

Panda Eyeglass Holder Addi Pattern

Have a safe and happy summer. Happy crocheting!

 

 

 

 

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Benjamin Turtle Nap Buddy CAL

Businesses across the country are beginning to open again, and people are returning to work. Do you have a little one who is returning to day care? Benjamin Turtle would be the perfect companion. He’s a cute plush toy that unfolds to reveal a toddler blanket for naptime.

Benjamin Turtle video

This crochet-along will be published in three parts over the month of June:

  1. Toddler blanket
  2. Turtle shell – Benjamin Turtle Nap Buddy CAL Part 2
  3. Assembly – Benjamin Turtle CAL Part 3

Free Turtle Jewelry Pattern

I hope you enjoy making him as much as I enjoyed designing him. Thanks to also to tester Sharon Reid who provided me the beautiful photos.

Materials

I Love This Yarn worsted weight

21 oz. Dark Olive

6 oz. Mild Green

5 oz. Toasted Almond

2 oz. Sungold

Size H (5.0 mm) crochet hook

Fiberfil

Yarn needle

Two 8-mm black safety eyes

Three 3/4” buttons

Blanket Directions:

Row 1: With Dark Olive yarn, ch 101, hdc in 2nd ch from hook and in remaining chs (100 hdc).

Rows 2-10: Ch 1, turn, hdc in each st.

Rows 11-12: Ch 1, turn, switch to Mild Green yarn and hdc in each st.

Repeat stripe pattern of 10 rows Dark Olive and 2 rows Mild Green 9 times. Then work another 10 rows of Dark Olive hdc.

Edging:

With Dark Olive yarn, ch 1, turn, hdc in each st across top with 3 hdc in corner. Turn to work down side, work hdc with approximately 3 sts for every 2 rows. Lay work on a table occasionally to make sure it is laying flat; adjust sts as necessary. Turn to work across bottom with 3 hdc in corner, hdc in each unused loop of starting ch, 3 hdc in corner. Turn to work up next side using the same number of sts as the other side. Join with sl st in 1st hdc.

20200430_111936

Okay, the easy part is done. Stay tuned for part 2 to make the turtle shell which will hold the blanket. Pattern PDF is available for download at My Fingers Fly. Please feel free to share photos on Instagram or Facebook.

Turtle lovers can also get a free turtle motif pattern to make coasters, Christmas ornaments, jewelry, and much more from last year’s blog at June is National Zoo and Aquarium Month – Free Turtle Pattern – Cutest Baby Crochet Contest.

National Zoo & Aquarium Month

Check out my Ravelry shop for 50% off a different animal crochet pattern each day.

June2020calendar

Stay safe. Be kind. Happy crocheting.

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Sugar Skull Jewelry

With the country just beginning to open back up, travel is still on hold for us. In the meantime, I’ve been working on my next book – Halloween crochet. This week I’m offering a simple pattern for sugar skull jewelry. If you have some cotton thread to use up, this is a great project. I normally prefer working with worsted yarn, but lately I have come to love using thread to make earrings.

Materials:

Aunt Lydia’s Cotton–

15 yards ivory

Few yards of a few bright colors for skull decorations

Size 1.5 mm steel crochet hook

Needle

Directions:

Row 1: With ivory thread, ch 7, sc in 2nd ch from hook and each of next 5 ch (6 sc).

Rows 2-4: Ch 1, turn, inc, sc across to last st, inc in last st (12 sc at end of Row 4).

Row 5: Ch 1, turn. Sc in 1st 3 sts. Leave remaining sts unworked.

Row 6: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st. Leave loop hanging. Using separate piece of yarn, go back to Row 4. Skip 6 sts, sc in each of last 3 sts.

Row 7: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st. Ch 6, join with sl st in first section of Row 6. Fasten off. Pick up loop on Row 6, sc across 3 sts.

Row 8: Ch 1, turn, sc across all sts & chs (12 sc).

Rows 9-10: Repeat Row 2 (16 sc).

Row 11: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st.

Row 12: Repeat Row 2 (18 sc).

Rows 13-14: Repeat Row 11.

Row 15: Ch 1, turn, sc in 4 sts.

Row 16: Ch 1, turn, dec, sc in next 2 sts (3 sc).

Row 17: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st.

Row 18: Ch 1, turn, inc, sc in next 2 sts (4 sc). Leave loop hanging. With separate piece of yarn, sk 3 sts on Row 14. Ch 1, sc in next 4 sts, ch 1, turn, dec twice. Ch 1, turn, sc in 2 sts. Ch 1, turn, inc twice. Ch 3, sl st in 1st st of Row 18. Fasten off.

Go back to Row 14. Sk 3 sts, ch 1, sc in last 4 sts. Ch 1, turn, sc in next 2 sts, dec (3 sc). Ch 1, turn, sc in each st. Ch 1, turn, sc in 2 sts, inc next st (4 sc). Ch 1, sl st in middle section of Row 18. Fasten off.

Row 19: Pick up loop on first section of Row 18. Ch 1, sc in each st and ch (18 sc).

Rows 20-22: Ch 1, turn, dec first 2 sts, sc across to last 2 sts, dec last 2 sts (12 sc).

Row 23: Dec, sc next 8 sts, dec, continue down side, sc around entire skull. Join with sl st in 1st sc of Row 23. Stop here for single-color skull.

To make multicolored skull, continue with adding colors.

With pink yarn, sc around both eye openings.

Heart:

With pink yarn, ch 3. In 3rd ch from hook, work 2 dc, 4 hdc, ch 1, 4 hdc, 2 dc, ch 2, sl st in same ch. Fasten off leaving 12” length and sew to forehead of skull.

Nose:

With purple yarn, ch 3, 2 dc in 3rd ch from hook, ch 2, sl st in 3rd ch. Fasten off leaving 6” length and sew to center of face.

Attach jump ring and necklace chain or earring hooks.

This PDF pattern is available to download on Ravelry, separately or included in the Sugar Skull Crochet Patterns ebook. If you prefer, it is also available on Amazon as a Kindle download or paperback.

Benjamin Turtle Nap Buddy, World Turtle Day

turtle buddy both small

Next month I will start the first CAL for My Fingers Fly, Benjamin Turtle Nap Buddy. The toddler blanket folds up after naptime and is stored in Benjamin’s shell, giving your child a plush toy the rest of the day. The pattern uses worsted weight yarn with a simple striped blanket and the African flower motif for the turtle. The pattern will be published in stages throughout June 2020, and I hope you will share your progress photos on Facebook and Instagram.

Benjamin Turtle on YouTube

Finished blanket measures approximately 50″ long by 28” wide (with instructions to make it longer if necessary). When rolled up, Benjamin measures approximately 18” long by 10” wide by 7” tall.
Materials you will need:
Worsted weight yarn (I used I Love This Yarn)
21 oz. dark olive
6 oz. light green
5 oz. tan
2 oz. gold
Size H (5.0 mm) crochet hook
Fiberfil
Yarn needle
Two 10-mm black safety eyes
Three 7/8”-1” buttons

June is National Zoo & Aquarium Month

To celebrate June, each day will have a different animal or fish pattern on sale on Ravelry. I will post a calendar by June 1 with more details.

Rattlesnake Wreath

rattlesnake wreath plain

This week I completed another pattern which will go into my Halloween crochet book, Rattlesnake Wreath. For this weekend only, it is introductory priced at 50% off. Already well on its way, but I still have a list of patterns to make for this book. Is there a Halloween pattern you would like to see included?

Now that restaurants are opening up, I’m off to have lunch with the hubby. Happy crocheting everyone! Stay safe.

More Halloween patterns

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June is National Zoo and Aquarium Month – Free Turtle Pattern – Cutest Baby Crochet Contest

One of my regrets of my recent trip to Atlanta was that it was not long enough. Just the downtown area alone has several attractions that I hope to return for, including the Georgia Aquarium.

Since June is National Zoo & Aquarium Month, I am hoping to make it back soon. In the meantime, I occupied myself this week with crocheting some turtles. Daughter #2 loves turtles, and I originally made the tank top in this pattern for her. The other thing that got me in a turtle mood was finding this little guy in my driveway on Memorial Day. I picked him up and put him in the grass so he wouldn’t get run over.

The pattern is simple, and it can be made in a variety of sizes. Use crochet cotton for jewelry or a small applique; use sport yarn for a slightly larger applique for shirts, jeans, or hats; use cotton worsted for coasters, or double the yarn for potholders. It’s also great for using up those small amounts in your scrap bucket.

Turtle Motif Razor-Back Tank Top

Materials:

Cotton blend razor-back tank top (I used New Boundaries Rib Tank)

Sport weight yarn – a few ounces each of MC & CC

Size G crochet hook

Needle and matching thread

Motif measures approximately 3” using sport yarn

Instructions:

BODY:

Rnd 1: With MC yarn, ch 2, 10 sc in 2nd ch from hook. Join with sl st.

Rnd 2: Ch 3 (counts as 1st dc), dc in 1st st, 2 dc in each st around (20 dc). Join with sl st.

Rnd 3: With CC yarn, *ch 1, sc in next 2 sts of Rnd 3, dc into st in Rnd 2,* repeat around. Do not skip any sts. Join with sl st.

Rnd 4: Ch 1, *sc in next 2 sts, inc,* repeat around. Join with sl st.

Rnd 5: With MC yarn, ch 3 dc in same st, dc in next 3 sts, *2 dc in next st, dc in next 3 sts,* repeat around. Join with sl st.

Rnd 6: With CC yarn, ch 1, *sc in next 4 sts of Rnd 6, sc in st of Rnd 5, sk next st on Rnd 6* repeat around. Do not fasten off.

HEAD:

Row 1: Sl st in 1st st, ch 1, sc in next 4 sts.

Row 2: Ch 1, turn, sc in next 4 sts.

Row 3: Ch 1, turn, dec twice.

Row 4: Ch 1, turn, dec. Fasten off CC.

TAIL:

Row 1: On opposite side of body from head, attach CC. Ch 1, sc in same st, sc in next 2 sts.

Row 2: Ch 1, turn, dec, sc.

Row 3: Ch 1, turn, dec, fasten off.

LEGS:

Make front legs 3 sts away from head; make back legs 3 sts away from tail.

Row 1: Attach CC yarn, ch 1, sc in same st, sc in next 2 sts.

Row 2: Ch 1, turn, sc in next 3 sts.

Row 3: Ch 1, turn, dc over 1st 2 sts, sc in last st.

Fasten off and weave in ends. Sew turtled centered onto back of tank top with matching thread.

For smaller motif to make earrings or necklace, use crochet cotton and #3 steel hook for a turtle measuring approximately 2 ½”.

For a larger motif to use as a coaster, use I Love This Cotton worsted yarn and a G hook for a turtle measuring approximately 5”.

Free PDF download is available at https://www.myfingersfly.com/products/turtle-motif-crochet-pattern-free-pattern

This week’s new release is Tiny Totes Crochet Patterns – available in Kindle or paperback format on Amazon. Crochet a Baby Gorilla Purse, a Horny Toad Coin Purse, a Butterfly Bag, a small Rodeo Handbag, or choose from three different styles of Sugar Skull Purses. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07SBV7KVL

Also available as PDF download at https://www.myfingersfly.com/products/tiny-totes-crochet-patterns-ebook-sugar-skulls-horny-toad-mia-handbag-butterfly-and-baby-gorilla

Extended for another week (through 6/7/19), purchase any owl merchandise and receive the Owl Eyeglass Holder Crochet Pattern free. Simply email me after your purchase, and I will email the pattern PDF to you. The pattern is still available on last week’s blog – https://myfingersflyblog.com/2019/05/24/friday-freebie-owl-eyeglass-holder/ I’d love to see photos of your finished owls. You can post them on Instagram @myfingersfly.

For those of you who live in or near San Antonio, I will be teaching a beginner’s crochet class at Michael’s in June. The project is an axe baby rattle in three styles – firefighter, lumberjack, or Viking axe. I am really looking forward to it!

https://www.michaels.com/classes-and-events/classroom#id=crochet-a-firefighter-viking-or-lumberjack-baby-rattle-class-s-ant-san-antonio-la-cantera-pkwy

Cutest Baby Crochet Contest

Post your cutest crocheted baby item on My Fingers Fly Facebook for a chance to win a Kindle copy of Take Baby to Work Day Sweaters – Military Edition. See link for details.

https://www.facebook.com/pg/myfingersfly/posts/?ref=page_internal