Bowser Pillow in Tunisian Crochet Tutorial

By Janet Carrillo "damn it Janet, let's crochet!"

SIZE/MEASUREMENTS
approx. size: 14" length x 10" width but can vary based on yarn and hook size

MATERIALS
*Tunisian Crochet hook size: 3.0mm
*Worsted weight yarn: Blue, Black, White, Beige, Light Green, Dark Green, Yellow, Red, Gray, Charcoal, Aran, Gold
*Tapestry Needle
*Measuring Tape
*Fiberfill
*Pen to mark your squares as you go!
*Bowser 8-bit graph that you'll find below. If you want to use a different character, there are plenty to be found on the web by searching for 8-bit Mario characters or anything along those lines.

Click on image to enlarge.

A site and videos on how to Tunisian Crochet
-Tunisian Crochet Basics by Purl soho; it has various images to show you how to while your reading.
-If you're more of a visual person rather than reading then this video by thecrochetside might be great for you.
-To bind off your work watch this video by Bethintx1.
-For color changes watch this video by GegeCrochet.

Tips
-On the basics tutorial video, it says for the last stitch of the forward pass for you to put the hook through the last two end stitches. Cause if you don't and when it's time to sew up the sides is going to look holey.
-On the color changes, don’t pull the yarns too tight. Since this graph has a lot of color changes start a new yarn thread cause if you keep pulling them too tightly the pillow its gonna get smaller as you continue making it. (This happen to me with my first Tunisian project I ever made.)
-Measure! Measure! Measure! You don't want your pillow to look uneven.
-Remember to mark off each square/row as you go. Double check your work to make sure you haven't missed a square.

Now lets make the back side
-Instead of binding off your work when you reach the last row of the graph, continue making the back side to save on sewing time (which I dislike).
-Make another black row, make 68 rows blue with the first & last stitch in black and the last row all black.
-Remember on the last all black row to bind off.

Last Steps
-All that's left to do is to weave in all the ends (that's the part I hate the most but its gotta be done)......
-......and sew the sides. Leave one side un-sew and stuff it moderately firm. As you continue sewing the last side, stuff as needed.

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Have a nice crochet time!
- Janet

Bowser and Mario Bros. are copyright by Nintendo.
 This pattern is an original pattern by Janet Carrillo "damn it Janet, let's crochet!" (November 2016). Please do not claim this pattern as your own. If you wish to share this pattern, you may link to this pattern but please do not reprint/repost it on your site. You may print and keep a copy for your own personal use. Please do not resell or distribute it.

Monkey Graphgan in Tunisian Crochet Tutorial

By Janet Carrillo "damn it Janet, let's crochet!"

I can't wait to welcome the newest member of the family with this adorable blanket.

SIZE/MEASUREMENTS
approx. size: 27.5" x 36" but can vary based on yarn and hook size

MATERIALS
*Tunisian Crochet hook size: 6.0mm
*Worsted weight yarn: Ivory, Light Green, Green, Brown, Light Brown, Beige and Black
*Tapestry Needle
*Measuring Tape
*Warm Snuggie Fleece Fabric depending on your blanket size
*Pen to mark your squares as you go!
*Monkey In Tree Graph by chellacrochet and its available for purchase HERE on Etsy for only $4.00. When I saw it on Pinterest, I knew I had to make it for our newest member. (Can't wait to have you in my arms.) The instant download PDF file comes with the pixel graph you will need, cover sheet which includes yarn amounts, approximate finished size and a file containing basic tips.

CLICK HERE to purchase the Monkey in Tree Graph

  This is my 3rd tunisian crochet project and this time around it worked up pretty quickly. Thinking of making our baby another blanket, but just don't know of what.
  When working from these graphs you gotta keep in mind that one square equals one stitch, the amount of stitches you need on your hook needs to be one more than the amount of squares you need.
Ex: If the graph has 32 stitches you'll need to chain 33 stitches.

A site and videos on how to Tunisian Crochet
-Tunisian Crochet Basics by Purl soho; it has various images to show you how to while your reading.
-If your more of a visual person rather than reading then this video by thecrochetside might be great for you.
-To bind off your work watch this video by Bethintx1.
-For color changes watch this video by GegeCrochet.

Tips
-On the basics tutorial video, it says for the last stitch of the forward pass for you to put the hook through the last two end stitches. Cause if you don't and when it's time to make the border is going to look holey.
-On the color changes, don’t pull the yarns too tight. If you’re doing a graph with a lot of color changes start a new yarn thread cause if you keep pulling them too tightly the blanket its gonna get smaller as you continue making it. (This happen to me with my first Tunisian graph I ever made.)
-Measure! Measure! Measure! You don't want your blanket to look uneven.
-Remember to mark off each square/row as you go. Double check your work to make sure you haven't missed a square.

Now lets make the border
-When it's time to bind off your work, change to beige so you can start making the border and just continue single crocheting around the blanket 'til you reach the 1st single crochet.
-I made a simple border using 3 rows of single crochets (first beige, then light brown, then brown) and finishing with a picot edging in ivory. In each corner when making the single crochet rounds they need to have 2 single crochets.
-The picot edging consist of *3sc, ch3, sl st to first chain, 3sc* repeating from * to * all the way around. Try your best to land a picot stitch in each corner.

Last Steps
-All that's left to do is to weave in all the ends (that's the part I hate the most but its gotta be done)......
-......and sew a nice warm, snuggie fabric on the back. Now, its ready to keep your little one nice and warm.

Don't forget to like this blog facebook fan page. :)

Have a nice crochet time!
- Janet

Tunisian Make-Up Baggy

By Janet Carrillo "damn it Janet, let's crochet!"

You can either use it as a clutch or a make-up baggy. :)

SIZE
Approx.width 6.75" by length 4.5" but can vary depending on hook size and yarn weight.

MATERIALS
*Crochet hook size: 3.5mm (Does not need to be a tunisian crochet hook a simple hook will do just tie a rubber band at the end. See image below.)
*Fingering weight yarn
*Fabric - 9" by 9"
*7" zipper
*Charm to dangle off your clutch
*Tapestry needle
*Sewing needle
*Matching thread
*Measuring tape

GAUGE
width 6sts = 1" and length 6 sts = 1"

If you don't own a Tunisian crochet hook, then simply tie a rubber band several times at the end of your hook and Voila. :)

A site and videos on how to Tunisian Crochet
-An Introduction to Tunisian Crochet by crochetme.com; it has images to show you how to while you're reading. Great site, this is the one I use to learn.
-If your more of a visual person then this video is great for you.
-To bind off your work watch this video.

Tips
-On the basics tutorial video, it says for the last stitch of the forward pass, put the hook through the two end stitches. Cause if you don't and when its time to sew them together the edges are gonna look holey. Just in case this happens to you. Simply use the same color thread and sew it so it wont look so obvious.
-Right side always faces you. Theirs no need to ever turn your work unless stated to do so.
-Each row consist of two parts: a forward part and return part.
-Measure! Measure! Measure! You don't want your piece to look uneven.

LET'S BEGIN CROCHETING
ch 43
Do 42 rows and then bind off your work using the instructions from the link of the video I posted above.
F/O and weave in ends.
Keeping the right side facing you, attach yarn where we did the bind off and sc in each sc, ch1, turn. Do 1 more row of sc. This row should end with the wrong side facing you. ch1, turn, *hdc in next 5sts, 5hdc in the next st* repeat all the way across.
F/O and weave in ends.
Keeping the right side facing you, attach yarn on the foundation row and sc in each sc, ch1, turn. Do 1 more row of sc. This row should end with the wrong side facing you. ch1, turn, *hdc in next 5sts, 5hdc in the next st* repeat all the way across.
F/O and weave in ends.


ASSEMBLY
     Now you want to steam your piece. This helps the edges look smooth, not roll in and evens it out. I use my iron since it has a steam option (if yours doesn't have that option then ironing the piece should also work). Place a towel underneath your crochet piece and place pins to keep it in place. Fold the towel in half. Begin steaming/ironing for about a minute or less. Let it cool completely before taking the pins out.
      Now that it has completely cool, you'll need a fabric piece thats slightly bigger. The reason its bigger than the piece we crochet it's cause you want to double fold the hem so the fabric wont come undone. You want to sew the fabric and zipper on the back part of your work. This would be the lining.

     Now that we finish sewing the fabric and zipper on, sew the sides together. I use whip stitch to sew the sides.

      All we need to do now is add something cute to dangle from your clutch. I put my charm where we did the rows of single crochet but of course you can put yours where ever you like.

I bought these for only a $1 at a local store. They had so many cute little charms and everything you need to make them. I spent about 20 minutes browsing and trying to decide what to buy. :)

Don't forget to like this blog facebook fan page. :)

Have a nice crochet time!
- Janet

This pattern is an original pattern by Janet Carrillo "damn it Janet, let's crochet!" (June 2013). Please do not claim this pattern as your own. If you wish to share this pattern, you may link to the page but please do not reprint/repost it on your site. You may print and keep a copy for your own personal use. Please do not resell or distribute the pattern.

Tunisian Crochet Mario Pillow

MATERIALS
•Tunisian Crochet hook size 4.5mm
•DK weight yarn
•Tapestry needle
•Fiberfill
•Measuring tape


* First Tunisian Crochet Project *
  Thanks to Another Kay Jones for inspiring this project. I had already made my son a Mario blanket and thought this will go great with it. Plus I let my son pick out the characters he wanted, so he's going to love it when it's done. :) I'm going to be making him another pillow but with different Mario characters so he can have two.
  I made the charts on Microsoft Excel except for Goomba, I copied that one from Another Kay Jones and the others from doing a Google search and making them into 8-bit graphs. If you want to use different characters, there are plenty to be found on the web by searching for 8-bit Mario characters or anything along those lines.
  When working from these graphs you gotta keep in mind that one square equals one stitch, the amount of stitches you need on your hook needs to be one more than the amount of squares you need.

Ex: On the small graphs theirs 32 so I need to chain 33 stitches.

  Since I don’t know how to add Microsoft Excel files on here, I have just put the images up. If you would like me to e-mail you the Excel files, feel free to contact me. (Links on how to contact me are on the upper left hand side).
  To save on sewing (which I’m not great at), I made the character squares two at a time, so I crocheted the Goomba and Boo as one piece, with the color change half way, then I did the Blooper and Bomb-Omb as one piece. Then whip stitch the two pieces together. I use whip stitch when sewing the whole pillow together.

A site and videos on how to Tunisian Crochet
-An Introduction to Tunisian Crochet; it has images to show you how to while your reading. Great site, this is the one I use to learn.
-If your more of a video person rather than reading then this video is great for you.
-To bind off your work watch this video.
-For color changes watch this video.

Tips
-On the basics tutorial video, it says for the last stitch of the forward pass, put the hook through the two end stitches. Cause if you don't and when its time to sew them together the edges are gonna look holey. Just in case this happens to you. Simply use the same color thread and sew it so it wont look so obvious.
-On the color changes, don’t pull the threads too tight. If you’re doing a square with a lot of color changes start a new yarn thread cause if you keep pulling them the square its gonna get smaller as you continue making it. (This happen to me with the first square)
-Measure! Measure! Measure! You don't want your square to look uneven.

8-bit Graphs
  Go ahead and use the graphs if you want these characters. :)

Boo 32x32

Bomb-Omb 32x32

Blooper 32x32

Super Mushroom 64x64

- Janet Carrillo