Over the last months I've been crocheting a lot of key rings for Christmas stockings - all for a church in the south who are doing the stockings for elderly folk. They were mainly owls, baubles, Elves and some hearts (not pictured). I also tested out a small sheep key ring and a tiny jellyfish....plus a ladybird and snowman - also not pictured. A little elephant is just being sewn up - He'll be photographed when all done.
The most difficult by far was the elf - the pattern was website based and written quite strangely, making it difficult to follow. Once I got what the designer meant, it was ok, but still very fiddly! Subsequent versions have a bell on the point of the hat.
Just google crochet key chain patterns and all of these will come up if you want a go! Although I adapted the bauble, shrinking the size by 4 stitches and doing the magic ring with single crochet instead of double (USA terminology!). The fun addition to these and the owls was some sparkly gold yarn (Rico Creative Lamé). It worked well for one round here and there, but I wouldn't want to use it for any more than that.
I did another Elderberry Bunny for a Christmas present - putting her in the striped dungarees. I'll be doing some extra clothes for her (Pinafore dress, cardigans and other dungarees) so the recipient can change her clothes around if she wants.
Also on the pins are three cardigans:
A commissioned one - Marriner 10958 in dusty pink. A lovely pattern that covers a lot of sizes. Well worth the purchase as it's one I go back to a lot!
And two different sizes of the pictured blue cardigan - DK286 Cherub 'Here's my Heart', although mine are in green (6-12 months) and pink (12 - 18 months). Again, a lovely pattern to work with and one I've made a few times. The lower body is worked as one, so less sewing! It would have been nice to have it for a 3 month old as that's the size I generally knit for new babies (for when they've out grown all the newborn gifts....as they do).
What's next? Some more key rings, a commissioned tiger, and possibly a new bear pattern to try! Oh, and an experimental highland cow to look like Steven Brown's colourful McCoo pictures (don't ask - it's a family thing!)