Author: Anna

Tiny Dolphin Class at Sifu August 8th

Posted on by Anna

On August 8th I’m returning to Sifu Design Studio in Chicago for a tiny dolphin knitting class!

bubbles

This is a project class that will be perfect for intermediate knitters who are looking to pick up some new skills in the realm of toys. We’ll cover joining two rounds into one, short rows, and picking up and knitting stitches. Everyone will go home with a tiny dolphin, or at least a good start to one that they can finish at home in an hour or so.

Because this class is happening during the Chicago Yarn Crawl, I’m going to stick around after the class to sign copies of my new book, so even if you can’t make it to the class, I hope to see you afterward!

Get all the details and sign up on the Sifu website.

Free Pattern: Sand Pennies

Posted on by Anna

This is a beginning-level BONUS pattern from Adventures in Mochimochi Land, now available from book sellers everywhere. (Signed copies are available from the Mochimochi Shop!)

sandpennies

We hold on to summer days at the beach with little treasures gathered there, but this little knit is perfect for those of us whose feet are stuck under a desk instead of in the sand this summer. In Adventures in Mochimochi Land, the Soggy Sea is scattered with these lovely little sand pennies. Use them to carry for good luck, or to embellish your knitted aquarium!

sandpennies_aquarium

Continue reading “Free Pattern: Sand Pennies” →

Sheila’s Hexiscenes

Posted on by Anna

One of my favorite mochimochi knitters is Sheila, aka QueenofSheeba on Ravelry, whose funny and creative projects have appeared on this blog from time to time. THIS time she’s been up something that I really wish I’d thought of first: combining mochis with hexipuffs to make mini dioramas she calls hexiscenes!

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Not Betty [Biscuit the Baker pattern from Adventures in Mochimochi Land]

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Do you wanna build a snowman? [Tiny Christmas Tree from Teeny-Tiny Mochimochi, Mochimochi Snowmen]

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Tim Ber [Tiny Lumberjack from Tiny People 2]

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Mawwiage [Tiny Bride & Groom from Teeny-Tiny Mochimochi]

I asked Sheila where this idea came from, and this is what she said:

The Hexiscenes actually started out on a sad note. We got the call that my beloved mother-in-law had just entered a hospice for final care. (Sob) I didn’t know the rules for flowers in the facility etc but HAD to bring her something so she knew how much I love her and was thinking about her when I wasn’t there. (Sob! Sob!) It had to be knit and something she could just hold in her hand. It ended up being this:

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We go together like peas and carrots [Tiny Baby Bunnies]

That is how the Hexiscene was created ~ with me crying my way through the first one!!! Now every one I make I smile (and cry a little!) thinking “Donna would have loved this!”

It’s touching how small knitted things can contain so much meaning. As you saw above, Sheila has continued to make many more hexiscenes—aside from being perfect little gifts, they seem to feed her dual addictions to tiny mochis and hexipuffs:

I have a thing for tinys as you know AND a thing for Hexipuffs. I have made about a bajillion puffs for chair back cushions, footstool covers, pillows, toys, and heading for five (yup-CRAZY) window quilts! I’m thinking in this drafty old farmhouse I should just start sticking them to the walls as I finish them for warmth-hehe. Not so practical for cleaning though… The point is I don’t want to stop making them OR tinys as you know!

I would love to post all of Sheila’s hexiscenes, but there are just too many at this point. OK, here’s one more—they’re getting more elaborate!

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Under the sea [Ichigo the Adventurer from Adventures in Mochimochi Land, Tiny Nosey Fish]

OK, I only have so much bandwidth, so I encourage you to check out Sheila’s project page to see more.

Project Gnome Diplomacy Update

Posted on by Anna

Update to this update: Diny at Everyday Mooonday sent me these photos of the gnomes on their diplomatic mission—some are being given away with cafe orders, and others are being mailed out to friends of the gallery!

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Time for an update on your tiny gnome diplomats!

The show at Seoul’s Everyday Mooonday gallery has now come down. I’m told that there were many visitors for the month that it was up, including plenty of cute kids.

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Now the diplomats are ready to go on their official mission! Diny, the director at Everyday Mooonday, tells me that they’ve started giving them away through the gallery’s cafe. Each one comes with a little tag like this:

gnomediplomat_tag

This one reads, “Hello I’m a gnome. Happy to meet you.”

There are several different requests on the tags, including:

“Please give me to a stranger.”

“Please give me to someone you meet today.”

“Please give me to someone who looks like they’re celebrating something!”

“Please give me to someone you really love.”

“Please give me someone who looks sad.”

“Please give me someone who says hello to you today for the first time!”

So with the help of the people who visit the gallery, your 333 little gnomes will spread smiles all over the city of Seoul—and probably beyond!

You can learn more about how this project got started here. Because of the great participation and the fun we’ve had, I’d love to do another similar project (whether with more gnome diplomats or something else) in the future!

Adventures in Ann Arbor July 11

Posted on by Anna

I’m so excited to announce that John and I will be returning to Ann Arbor the weekend of July 11th for events at the district library!

On Saturday the 11th, join me from 2-5pm at the library for a tiny crab knitting workshop.

garycrab

Bring some yarn and a set of double-pointed needles sized for the yarn, and things are going to get crabby! (I recommend size 1s for fingering-weight yarn, size 3s for sport-weight, and size 5s for worsted-weight.) The project is suitable for advanced-beginning knitters who are familiar with using double-pointed needles.

There will also be copies of my new book for sale, and I’ll sign one for you if you like!

Then at 2pm on Sunday the 12th, my husband and pop-culture genius John Teti will be giving a presentation on one of his favorite topics: The Price Is Right! Seriously, this is going to be fun.

If you live in Ann Arbor but can’t make it that weekend, you can download 20 of my patterns for free if you have a library card! Check them out on the AADL website.

Free Pattern: Tiny Nosey Fish

Posted on by Anna

This is an intermediate-level BONUS pattern from Adventures in Mochimochi Land, now available from book sellers everywhere. (Signed copies are available from the Mochimochi Shop!)

noseyfish1

There are many fish in the sea, including some really funny looking ones! In Adventures in Mochimochi Land, a certain species of long-snouted fish can be seen sniffing out the fishiest candidate in an muddy debate and following their noses when casting votes in the underwater election.

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Combine with the other sea creatures from the book (plus tiny fish and mermaids from Teeny-Tiny Mochimochi), to fill out your knitted aquarium! (You do have a knitted aquarium, right?)

Continue reading “Free Pattern: Tiny Nosey Fish” →