Perry the Platypus

I'm back!
I know I said you could expect me to be back September 1st, but I just couldn't keep away! To many fun things going on in blogland, and I'm just sitting relaxing on the sidelines. I am using Bloglovin' and it has helped me so much with keeping up with blogs! And I've started following even more blogs, oh it's a vicious circle.
But to start off with, I'd like to share a project that I got done over 6 months ago! And I know you all have seen this cute little guy pop up in my instagram feed (hint, hint!)
It's Perry the Platypus!
(because I know you were all in suspense after completely ignoring the title, right?)

Here is the link to the free pdf pattern for those of you who are just dying to make your own: Plushie Pet Platypus Free Pattern

And now the story behind the Platypus.

I am super picky about the TV shows I let Mackay watch. My rule of thumb is, "if I don't mind sitting down to watch it with him for a half an hour, than he can watch it." It doesn't have anything to do with the educational value of the program, just the annoyance factor. Thus, Mack watches shows like Arthur, Babar, Curious George and Phineas and Ferb. Some shows come and go. When mommy gets tired of watching Thomas and Friends it magically disappears from the DVR. Mack really started getting into Phineas and Ferb when he was pretty little. He loves the music. He actually really loves theme songs from a lot of shows (Psych and The Big Bang Theory are two of his favorites).

So I was on Ravelry, which is one of my favorite places to be (right after pinterest), and I started looking through all the adorable (and totally free!) amigurumi patterns there are. I immediately fell in love with that platypus pattern, and decided I would not allow myself to be daunted by the idea of amigurumi. And I'm soooooo glad I just went for it! Because seriously guys, it's easy! It's every bit as easy as making a beanie, as long as you have a good head on your shoulders for reading crochet patterns. Sometimes things seemed a little confusing, but I worked my way through it.

Just starting out. At this point I was still kind of skeptical that I would be able to make him.

Finished body! After this point I felt super confidant, and basically stopped taking pictures of the progress. 

Perry wasn't quite finished for Christmas, but I had him sewn up and gave him to Mack shortly after. All except for that one little foot. Perry hung around with only one foot for quite a while actually.

But I finally got around to finishing him!

*insert that weird Perry noise he makes*

Mack sure loves him.

Linking up to:

Shorts for my Shorty

 For Spring Kids Clothes Week back in April, I cut into some absolutely darling black and white gingham. I wanted to make Mack some shorts using this pattern.
Well, now it's July, but they're done! And super cute! A big thank you to Caila Made for the free pattern!
I did make a slight modification, and put the elastic in the back only. So they have a flat front with a button, rather than elastic all the way around. This probably emphasized my sizing problem, but I like the flat front look.

 

Mack has a little duck tail. They are still a bit big, even after I decided to cut out the 18 month size.

My silly boy would not put down his sandwich for the photo shoot.

Seriously cute, and park tested!

infant peasant dress with a simplified sleeve

http://maeandk.com/infant-peasant-dress-with-a-simplified-sleeve/

Project Run and Play Week 4

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http://maeandk.com/project-run-and-play-week-4/

Same dress six ways

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http://maeandk.com/project-run-and-play-week-4/

Project Run and Play Week 2

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http://maeandk.com/spring-into-chevron-fall-into-plaid/

Project Run and Play week 1

For more pictures: http://maeandk.com/art-inspired-van-gogh-dress/

“What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?” 

― Vincent van Gogh

Fizzie's Blackbird Tunic

http://maeandk.com/fizzies-blackbird-tunic/

Signature Look

Project Run and Play Week 6: Signature Look

http://maeandk.com/signature-look/

Baby Beanie Tutorial

Miss Fizzie at the hospital in the little beanie I made her.

This hat is why I love having the ability to look at a pattern and see the potential. I found a pattern for a child's hat on Ravelry that looked like it could really be a cute hat, but I didn't love the pictures.

Kids Granny Hat Pattern

I am in love with the pattern. It's easy and it looks great. However, I did make some changes.

Rather than do the girls' brim as it is in the instructions (which I personally found too frilly), I did this instead:

ch 1 (this counts as a sl st) *sc in next st, hdc in next st, dc in next st, tc in next st, dc in next st, hdc in next st, sc in next st, sl st in next st* repeat all the way around. 

sl st- slip stitch

sc- single crochet

hdc- half-double crochet

dc- double crochet

tc- treble crochet

Doctor Love

Project Run and Play Week 4: Valentine Inspired Outfit

http://maeandk.com/doctor-love/

FOOOOTBALLL!

http://maeandk.com/fooootballl/

Scrappy Skirt

http://maeandk.com/scrappy-skirt/

Simply Sweet Skirt and Shirt

http://maeandk.com/simply-sweet-skirt-and-shirt/

Schweet Party Dress

Project Run and Play week 1

http://maeandk.com/schweet-party-dress/

A Bag for Mack

http://maeandk.com/messenger-bag/

Blessing Dress

http://maeandk.com/gooses-blessing-dress/

Leggings! And from awesome socks no less!

Ok, I know Mack's not a girl, but these were so easy!

I bought these socks at the dollar store

You can also find these instructions a million other places.

Ok so here's how to make them. Cut your socks, hopefully that's pretty self-explanitory.

You don't need the toe and the heel peices for your leggings. Take your smaller foot piece and fold it in half.

That should leve you with a folded small piece, and then the long leg piece.

Here's a view of the small one folded. We'll call it a cuff I guess.

You'll want to put the cuff onto the raw (cut off) edge of your long leg piece.

And pin it in place.

Then all you've got to do is sew where you pinned.

If you want, or your socks are especially loose, you can put a band of elastic into the cuff before you sew it on. I didn't, and just ended up folding the cuff inside the legging anyway because Mack's legs were kind of short.

Voila! Leggings!

Make a ton!

(I made some using toe socks. Basically just cut off the toes and hem them.)

Project Run and Play Week 1

I did get it finished! 

The "theme" for week one was essentially fabric cut on the bias. I couldn't think of a single thing to make for Mack. So I decided to make a shirt for Alaina. She was really excited about her shirt, and kept asking me if it was done every time she saw me.

Alaina comes up with the best poses!

Mack the Knife

http://maeandk.com/mack-the-knife/