Crochet

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Crocheted Treasures

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cro laurie toys 0414

My dear friend Laurie showed me her home renovations on a recent evening.  The house she grew up in is now hers alone since her father passed away last year.  She set about to update many areas, redecorate, and focus on only the items she loved so that the home would have her imprint on it.

Laurie has two cute grandkids who live about 150 miles away.  They come to visit for weekends, so one of her renovated rooms is a bedroom she has converted to a very child-friendly playroom.  When I walked into that room, the first thing I saw were these two obviously well loved crochet toys.  The monkey, especially, grabbed my attention.  It’s about 3 feet long and is unique, like nothing I’ve ever seen before.  The cute little bear is more common.

Laurie has only one child, a son who is now about 35.  These were his toys, crocheted for him by friends of Laurie’s mother who was an artist herself.  I wanted to share them with my readers.  In addition to these animals, there were two of the son’s baby afghans crocheted for Laurie’s baby shower before her son was born.  One is a lovely ripple in yellow and white.  The other is a shell stitch in pink and white.  Obviously, someone was hoping for a girl.  The good news is that baby doesn’t care what color his/her afghans are!

Laurie has no idea of the pattern source for either of these stuffed animals.  I bet some readers do.  They are both worked mainly in single crochet and stuffed very tightly.  The monkey sits better than the photo shows, but he also stands up pretty well too.  I can just see Laurie’s son toddling around the house, carrying this monkey which was probably bigger than the boy!

If you are fortunate enough to have similar items tucked away in your home, take them out and let them be seen.  These are treasures that are both priceless and invaluable.  They wouldn’t sell for much, but no amount of money could replace them!

NOTE:  Thanks to Kirsten Ellis for taking this picture for me!

Looking for more Crochet patterns using the Ripple stitch check these out on Etsy?

Comments

  2. those are the most treasured of toy finds that usually don’t wind up being kept. a fine find to pass onto the next generation.
    thanks for sharing.

Have you read?

Crochet Christmas Dove Ornaments With a Printable Gift Poem

There is something especially lovely about a handmade gift that comes with a few thoughtful words. These crochet Christmas birds pair a folded yarn ornament with a decorative poem card, turning a little crochet project into a keepsake.

The design has a rounded head, a tiny embroidered eye and beak, and a forked tail. A broad overlapping section forms the wing, giving the bird that folded, origami-inspired appearance. It is a simple-looking shape with plenty of handmade charm.

A Crochet Bird That Doubles as a Gift Topper

What appeals to me most is the idea of using the bird twice. Tie it onto a wrapped present as a gift topper, then let the recipient hang it on their Christmas tree afterwards. The wrapping gets recycled, the ribbon goes into somebody’s “far too useful to throw away” drawer, and the bird becomes part of next year’s decorations.

Cream would be a lovely choice for a Christmas dove, while cranberry red, sage green and dusty blue offer a different seasonal look. Keeping the wing plain lets the crochet texture and folded layers stand out.

For a personalised crochet gift tag, an embroidered initial is a sweet addition. One small letter gives the ornament a purpose without needing to squeeze an entire name onto the wing.

The Printable Christmas Dove Card

The accompanying printable brings the gift together. Watercolour-style holly, evergreen branches, berries and gold accents frame the card, with space above the poem for attaching the crocheted bird.

The original Christmas poem shares wishes for peace, joy and love, then invites the recipient to hang the dove on their tree. There is also a “With love from” line, so the finished card feels like a complete little present.

I would print it on firm cardstock and attach the bird with a removable thread or ribbon loop. That way, the recipient can lift it off the card easily when it is time to decorate the tree.

It is a thoughtful Christmas gift concept, especially for crafters who enjoy making small decorations with a personal touch. The bird and poem card belong together: a little handmade ornament, a Christmas wish, and something to bring out again next December.