Custom Cat Eye Tutorial

Most craft store cat eyes come in two colors: gold and green

Well, these "gold" eyes are more of an artificially flavored mac'n'cheese orange.

Solution: recolor them. Note: This only works on eyes with painted backs, not colored resin.

Step 1:
Gather materials:

• Cat safety eyes
• Assorted colors of permanent markers
• Metallic permanent marker
• Yarn needle
• File or sandpaper
• Paper towel

Step 2:
To remove the original paint, either file away the back of the eye or scrape the paint off with a needle with strokes radiating from the center. The eye on the left has had most of the paint scratched off with a needle. The eye on the right has been filed down. After filing, the eye can be scraped with a needle to add texture.

Step 3: 
Color the back of the eye with a permanent marker. I usually start with a light color. Let dry.


 

Step 4:
Lightly apply a second coat of a different color. Push the post of the eye through the paper towel and spin the eye against the surface of the towel. This rubs some of the wet ink off the ridges. Let dry.

Step 5:
If the background is a light color, stopping at step 4 is okay. However, the translucent marker ink is hard to see against dark colors. Apply one last coat of ink with a metallic permanent marker. Let dry

Done!

Now Available: Tabby Kitten

This crochet pattern is now for sale for $4.00 USD through Ravelry. Kitten is approximately 6" tall when standing.

Materials
90 yards worsted weight yarn
1 pair 6mm cat eyes
embroidery floss (nose/mouth)
needle for embroidery
stuffing
size E crochet hook
wire slicker brush (optional)
fabric marker (optional)

Fur texture is created by brushing finished pieces with a slicker brush (found in pet stores). Most soft, glossy-finish acrylic yarns will fluff up nicely without stretching out the stitches. If you choose to use a fabric marker to draw stripes, pick one that does not need heat to set the ink.

Coming Soon: Tabby Kitten

This pattern will soon be available on Ravelry.

Cabbage Rose / Peony Crochet Pattern Photo Tutorial

The patterns for all three sizes of flower can be found here. Although these photos are for the medium flower, the same general technique is used for all sizes.

Opening Up (Medium)

 

ch4, hdc in 1^st st

 [ch2, hdc in same st as above] 2x

[ch2, hdc in 1^st lp] 2x

[ [ ch2, hdc] 2x in nxt lp ] 6x = 12 hdc worked

turn, [3dc,slst] in each ch2 sp

Work inner petals between hds worked in ch2 sp

slst in 1^st st

Cabbage Rose / Peony Crochet Pattern

Unlike most crochet roses, these have NO SEWING! Instead, a base mesh is worked in a spiral from the center out, then petals are worked into the mesh from the outside in. 
Photo tutorial 
Pattern on Ravelry

Abbreviations (US Terminology)

ch = chain

dc = double crochet

hdc = half double crochet
lp = loop

nxt = next

slst = slip stitch
sp = space

st = stitch

[] #x = repeat stitches within brackets # times

Full Bloom (Large)

 ch4, hdc in 1^st st

[ch2, hdc in same st as above] 2x

[ch2, hdc in 1^st lp] 2x

[ [ch2, hdc ] 2x in next ch2 sp] 10x = 20 hdc worked

turn

[4dc, slst] in each ch2 sp between hdcs worked in sp

4dc, slst in 1^st st

Opening Up (Medium)

ch4, hdc in 1^st st

[ch2, hdc in same st as above] 2x

[ch2, hdc in 1^st lp] 2x

[ [ ch2, hdc] 2x in nxt ch2 sp ] 6x = 12 hdc worked

turn

[3dc,slst] in each ch2 sp between hdcs worked in sp

slst in 1^st st

Bud (small)

ch4, hdc in 1^st st

[ch2, hdc in same st as above]2x

[ch2, hdc in 1^st lp]2x

[ [ ch2, hdc] 2x in nxt ch2 sp] 3x = 6 hdc worked

turn

[3dc, slst] in nxt 7 ch2 sps
between hdcs worked in sp

[2hdc, slst] in nxt 4 ch2 sp between hdcs worked in sp

Outer petals should gently fold in around shorter inner petals.