Sewing – Page 5 – Beastie HQ

A Beastie Birthday Bonanza!

Posted on June 1, 2018 by crawcraftsbeasties in Beastie Family, Commissions, Crafting, Knitted Beasties

It’s new Beastie day! So it must be… Friday? Yes, we’re breaking with tradition a little here, but after giving this very special pair a brief introduction in Tuesday’s post, I couldn’t wait a whole week to give you the guided tour! This cheerful monster couple were created as a very special birthday gift for author and long-term BeastieBlog reader Tammie Painter, and were requested by her husband as a surprise to round off their recent trip to Ireland.

So, after several top-secret design discussions, we decided to dress the Beasties in miniature versions of the outfits worn by their human counterparts on their wedding day!
That meant a sophisticated black dress with pin-tucked bodice and a floaty organza top layer for Tammie Beastie…
… With a hook-and-eye fastening closure at the back. These are my new favourite dress fastening!
Meanwhile, Mr Husband Beastie was cool and casual in a Hawaiian-style shirt and shorts.
Alas, a true Hawaiian print comes up too large for Beastie-sized clothes! So I picked out a blue fabric that came as close as possible to the colours in the reference photos I worked from…
… And then added a pair of boxy-framed glasses to complete the look!
Very stylish.

But wait a sec… What’s going on here?
Aha! Good call, Beasties!
Those hand-knitted Aran sweaters are much more suitable for exploring the Emerald Isle! Oh, and look…
… They have bags, too! A red felt backpack for Mr Husband Beastie, and a teal shoulder bag for Tammie Beastie! Now, what can they put in there?

How about a sketchbook and pen, to record the highlights of the trip?
Or maybe snacks for long bus journeys!
And if you have snacks, you’ll need something to wash them down with. Hop Monster IPA, anyone? This special Beastie brew comes in a needle-felted bottle, with hand-embroidered felt label!
Or, for the designated drivers, a nice hot cup of tea from the travel flask might be just the thing.
And last but not least… Don’t forget your reading material! This Ireland travel guide will surely come in handy, while “The Trials of Herc-Woollies” will make the plane journey home pass much more quickly!

(Oh, and human readers can pick up a copy of the non-Beastie version, “The Trials of Hercules” for FREE right now! Find out more here)
“Hmmmm… I think we’d better pack all of it, just to be on the safe side!”
And now I reckon they’re ready to go!
Bon voyage, Beasties!

Have any of you got big plans for the weekend? And if so, what will you be packing in your backpack? Tell us all about it in the comments!

Aaand we’ll be back on Tuesday as usual, with more antics from Paddy and Plunkett. See you then!

A Magical, Mythical Monster!

Posted on April 24, 2018 by crawcraftsbeasties in Crafting, Knitted Beasties

Finally! I’ve stumbled on proof that unicorns are in fact real!

Except maybe they look a little different to what popular culture and centuries of mythologising might have led us to believe… Perhaps they look a little Beastie-er!
Hey there, Unicorn Beastie!

This sweet little monster maiden kinda knows that she’s special.
I mean, look at her magical multicoloured hair, for starters…
… And unlike most Beasties, she gets to have a TAIL!

Plus, she woudn’t be a real unicorn without…
Taaa-daaaaah! There’s the evidence we needed.

And Unicorn Beasties have revealed themselves to be surprisingly similar to rhinos – which we know exist – in that their horn is made entirely from super-compacted hair (ie, carefully sculpted needle-felted wool). Even the most hardened uni-skeptic couldn’t argue with that logic.

Of course, being a Unicorn Beastie meant that this monster lady had a few very specific wardrobe requirements. But her tailor-made floral print dress was easily adapted to accommodate her long, flowing tail!
Perfectly stylish! Then I thought she’d also need a handy satchel to hold all her magical unicorn accessories…
What’s inside, you ask? Well, since Unicorn Beasties primarily eat pink heart-shaped cookies…
“I’m just going to tuck this away safely for later…”
Hmmm… We’ll see how long that lasts!

Aaaaand if you feel like you need a little monster magic in your life, you might be interested to hear that this particular Beastie is currently in need of a home! Click below to be spirited away to the virtual shelves of the Beastie HQ Store!

Go to Store

Are there any mythical creatures which you think deserve the Beastification treatment? Let us know in the comments! And we’ll be back on Friday to share some more adventures from the Beastie family, so be sure to join us then!

Don't Kick It! H Crawford/CrawCrafts Beasties

Paddy, Plunkett and a Blast From the Past

Posted on April 20, 2018June 19, 2021 by crawcraftsbeasties in Crafting, Paddy and Plunkett

Hey there everybody! I’m mixing it up a bit this week, thanks to a recent round of blog updates… Which you can check out in Tuesday’s post here, if you haven’t already!

I figure since you got your behind-the-scenes news on Tuesday, it’s only fair to get you ready for your weekend with a monster mini-adventure! So let’s join Paddy and Plunkett, who have stumbled on something curious in their home…
Plunkett reckons that since it’s sitting on a pedestal, it’s probably art and he shouldn’t touch it. Paddy, however, has never been the type to let pedestals or velvet ropes stand between him and a good time, so…
“Plunkett, I think it’s some sort of hairy football! Here, I’ll bring it down…”
“Um, Paddy, I really, really…
“…Don’t think you should kick it!”
“Oooooops!”

At least they’ve managed to establish that it’s a kiwi fruit. And this knowledge came in very handy later on, when they stumbled on one of my old craft projects!
“Hey Plunkett, this is just like the kiwi from earlier!”
“Yes, it does… But look, there’s a zip hidden in the middle!
Hahaha! They’ve found one of my old school art projects – a kiwi fruit dress!
I had heaps of fun making this back in the day… So much so that I made a handbag and shoe covers to match! Unfortuntely, kiwi fruit style is yet to catch on in mainstream fashion circles – but it sure makes a good Hallowe’en costume!

Oh, and Paddy decided he just HAD to try it on himself!
“What do you think – is this my colour?”

Looking good, Paddy!

What about you? Do you have any memorabilia from your school days, or old arts and crafts projects lurking around at home? If you find them this weekend, be sure to tell us all about them in the comments!

Aaaaand we’ll be back on Tuesday with a new Beastie to share! See you then…

Friday Social #5 – Here We Go Again!

Posted on April 6, 2018 by crawcraftsbeasties in Info, Life at Beastie Towers

Hey there everybody! I hope you’ve all had a good week… It certainly seems like it’s been a busy few days in the Blogosphere! I’ll get to that in a second. First of all, I should probably explain what the title of this post is all about.

Poor Explorer Beastie is almost afraid to look!

Alas, it turns out the BeastieBlog needs another facelift. Although I really like how it’s set up at the minute, and my last overhaul was only last summer, I noticed a while ago that my Shop page wasn’t working properly…. And when I consulted the good people at WordPress, their diagnosis was that my lovely theme isn’t getting along with WooCommerce any more. Oh no!

Fortunately, they sent me a list of alternatives that should play nicely with the shop’s internal gubbins (yes, that IS the technical term), but I will be shutting the blog down for a week while I rejig all the bloggy bits and bobs (more technospeak there) to fit a new layout.

I’m planning to start work on Monday, so if you haven’t grabbed your free calendar page for this month yet, make sure you download it from here before then!

And to keep you entertained in my absence, I’ve picked out a couple of choice nuggets of online goodness!

First up, Tammie Painter’s woolly friend Finn McSpool has been up to more mischief – this time with an Easter flavour!

What kind of mayhem is Finn getting up to this Easter? Find out at today’s blog post! Link in bio. #easter #easterbasket #beastiesofinstagram #beastiefamily #finnmcspool #blogstagram #newblogpost #linkinbio #blogger #humor

A post shared by Tammie Painter (@tammiepainter) on Mar 31, 2018 at 11:53am PDT

//www.instagram.com/embed.js

I also love this picture of Daze and Weekes‘s Beastie friend Sinead, which I haven’t had a chance to share yet!

#tbt to Beastie Sinéad enjoying some wine whilst repping the album in #amsterdam 🍷🎶

A post shared by 🌙 (@weekes) on Mar 22, 2018 at 2:20pm PDT

//www.instagram.com/embed.js

I’m not sure how much album promo work she was able to do after downing that human-sized glass of wine, but at least she looks like she’s enjoying herself!

And for those crafty folks among you, I’ve been finding a whole heap of inspiration in the blogging community lately!
Fellow knitter Shirley has been branching out into felt softie making, and I love this thoughtful post about her creative process.

And Tierney from Tierneycreates shows how one crafter’s leftovers can be another’s creative goldmine!

Last but not least… Since I’ve started teaching weekly knitting classes in my local yarn store, I’ve realised that I’ve been a bit of a lazy knitter these last few years! It’s a while since I tackled a project that wasn’t a) A Beastie or b) Something for a Beastie. So, I’ve cast on a sweater FOR MYSELF! And to help me do it properly, I’m going to be following Melissa (of Knitting the Stash)’s Better Sweater podcast series. If you’re thinking of taking on a sweater-sized project yourself, here’s the first episode to get you started!

Oh, and one more thing… Just because it made me laugh. I can’t believe I hadn’t seen this before!

See you all in two weeks, with a (hopefully) snappy new-look BeastieBlog!

Ballerina Scientist Beastie, Personalised Handmade Gifts by CrawCrafts Beasties

Arts? Science? Why Choose?

Posted on March 20, 2018 by crawcraftsbeasties in Beastie Family, Commissions, Crafting, Knitted Beasties

Hey there Beastie friends! I hope you all had a super weekend… Especially any of you who were celebrating St Patrick’s Day on Saturday!

Today on the BeastieBlog, we’re weighing in on an issue that has been troubling humans for centuries – the ongoing battle between the arts and the sciences. And is it really true that if you have an interest in one, you’ll have no aptitude for the other?

For Beasties, the answer is a big HECK NO! Why would you ever limit yourself to just one? Meet this little monster lady, who just headed off to her new home last week.

With her long, flowing blonde locks and winning smile, she’ll look every inch the ballerina when she’s in her dance studio… This Beastie loves her ballet! So I made her a pair of pumps with ribbon laces…

… And a very feminine pink net tutu as well.

As you can see, the tutu actually fastens with snaps, to make sure it doesn’t fall off mid-pirouette!
But she’s not going to dance away the whole day! Time for a quick costume change…

… And it’s off to the lab! Because like her new human friend, this Ballerina Beastie is also a scientist!

Hey, don’t forget your bag!

Because Ballerina Scientist Beastie’s human counterpart is especially interested in DNA and associated fields of research, I thought a little personalised embellishment on her bag might be in order. And what’s that inside?

It’s a Beastie-sized laptop! This little felt computer has an embroidered keyboard, appliqué felt details and magnets inside to make sure it closes with a nice neat “click”.

So, with that safely packed away again…

…It’s time to head off in search of adventure!

Thanks to my lovely customer Arlyng for requesting this special Beastie as a gift for her friend! I enjoyed the challenge of capturing all her interests in one Beastie project.

As for you, where do you stand? Do you think of yourself as more of a scientist or an artist? Or, like this Beastie, do you make time for both? Let us know in the comments!

We’ll be back on Friday, with a look at the community crafting project we took part in recently… See you then!

Pict in PA Beastie, a very special monster commission by CrawCrafts Beasties

A Picture-Perfect Beastie!

Posted on February 27, 2018June 19, 2021 by crawcraftsbeasties in Beastie Family, Commissions, Crafting, Knitted Beasties

Well hello there! And despite the best efforts of the mean ol’ flu bug that temporarily disrupted my blogging last week, I’m now back in the land of the living. Hurrah! So, shall we celebrate by meeting a new Beastie? I think so!

Those of you who keep up with Laura at A Pict in PA might see some eerily familiar features in this Beastie face…

I’ve been reading and enjoying Laura’s blog for a good while now… I love hearing about what she and her family have been up to (their summertime road trip posts are a particular favourite), and having a nosey through the latest additions to her art journals! I also try to keep up with her sister blog, Pict Ink, which is dedicated completely to her art and illustration projects.

So, as you can probably imagine, I was super-excited when Laura got in touch with me to request a Beastie friend of her very own… Well, excited with just a sprinkling of terror. Because doing a preliminary sketch for anyone is always a shot in the dark, but drawing for someone who I know has mad monster-drawing skills? Eeeeek! Fortunately, Laura’s blog was a veritable goldmine of ideas, and I was able to pick out some Beastie accessories that I thought might appeal to her wide-ranging interests!
First, we had to pay woolly tribute to her go-to hairstyle of choice – the messy bun!

Then, one of the things I really wanted to include in this Beastie’s kit was a camera. Like me, Laura still has a soft spot for “real” cameras, and I’d say she doesn’t go far without her trusty DSLR! Thanks to the wonders of the internet, I was able to find photos of the make and model she uses, and then Beastify it for her little monster friend.

I couldn’t resist taking a few extra shots to show you the camera’s key features – viewfinder, screen, prestigious “Kniton” branding…

…But my favourite bit is taking it apart! The lens and strap are both removable.

Linking in neatly with Human Laura’s enthusiasm for photography is her love of film and musicals – and having read about the Dorothy-style red spangly slippers she picked up to wear on Oscars night, I thought a Beastie-sized pair might be a fun way to reflect her movie-buff side!

Like the originals, they’re cosy and sparkly… and these ones close with snaps so they’re easy to take off! They’ll also help Laura Beastie to stand up on her own two feet.

Then there’s another clue to her fondness for the silver screen tucked away safely in here…

You can always be sure that when a Beastie gets a bag, there’s going to be stuff in there! In this case…

… It’s a hand-embroidered cinema ticket and book! There’s a little bit of Dublin history in here as well – the Screen was a small cinema in the city centre which closed in 2016. Now its name lives on in felt and teeny sewing! As for the book, Poe is one of Human Laura’s favourite authors… And how could I resist a name that lends itself so well to a yarn-based pun?

Wow – this is an epic one, isn’t it? But the final element of this Beastie’s outfit was – taaaa daaaah – a pair of felt-framed glasses. And they’re removable, too!

Now she’s all ready for her first adventure!

All she has to do is to click her heels together three times and…

… She’s away!

Thanks so much to Laura for commissioning this fun and challenging project! Hopefully we’ll see this Beastie popping up again the next time the Picts hit the road!

And speaking of hitting the road… I’d better get going myself! I’ve just realised I owe you all a March calendar page, so look out for that landing on the BeastieBlog shop in the next day or so.

Enjoy the rest of the week… And we’ll see you again on Tuesday with another new Beastie friend!

A Bewitching Beastie!

Posted on February 6, 2018 by crawcraftsbeasties in Beastie Family, Commissions, Crafting, Knitted Beasties

Hello there everybody! Today seems like a fitting day to share the last of my pre-Christmas commissions with you, since I’m looking out my window and watching the ground being slowly covered with a dusting of snow and hail! It seems we might have a bit of a way to go yet until Spring starts springing… But perhaps a little pinch of witchy magic might help?
I love a project that gives me the opportunity to create a Beastie who’ll share the unique style and interests of their new human friend, and there was plenty of that going on here!

For starters, this sweet little Witchy Beastie never leaves home without a big cup of freshly-squeezed green juice – what a great way to get the day off on the right foot (or paw)!

I even dunked a stick of celery in there as a garnish! Witchy Beastie’s human counterpart is apparently a big fan of morning juice raves, so this should help lay the foundations of a good strong friendship!

This lady also has a favourite hooded cape in rich bright purple… so of course, Beastie does too.

The original plan for this cape was to make it out of felt, but it was waaaaaaay too bulky on a small Beastie frame! So I switched to a lighter, woven fabric from my stash, and cut the pattern pieces on the bias for a little bit of extra swishiness. On the front, I fitted a gold chain and clasp so that the cape could sit open without slipping off her little woolly shoulders.
Then her outfit was completed with a little A-line dress, in a cotton print sprinkled with magical stars!

Oooh, we should probably talk about her hairstyle next! We went for a swept-over look in light blonde (erk, is it obvious to anybody that I don’t speak hairdressing?) with a cool baby-blue streak in the front…

… And a tightly-cropped section on her left hand side. You would not believe how lovely and soft that short Beastie hair is!

Then her look was completed with a pair of chunky-framed cat’s eye glasses…

… And special witchy “shoes” with curly toes!

Finally, I added one last essential piece of kit – after all, every self-respecting Witchy Beastie needs her own broom!

This one has thick, bushy needle-felted bristles, and tucks neatly under the arm of Witchy Beastie’s purple robe when she’s not using it!

Well, hopefully that’s brought a little bit of magical monster sparkle to an otherwise wintry Tuesday lunchtime! And we’ll be back next week with photos from my latest road trip with Explorer Beastie, so be sure to drop in then… Have a great week!

A Beastie Backpack for Explorer Beastie - CrawCrafts Beasties

New Frontiers For Explorer Beasties!

Posted on January 30, 2018 by crawcraftsbeasties in Beastie Family, Commissions, Knitted Beasties

Happy Tuesday, everybody! And, after a brief wintry wander with Paddy and Plunkett last week, we’re going to dip back into the pile of pre-Christmas commissions, and meet another new Beastie!

So, you all know Explorer Beastie, right?

…And some of you might remember a few variations on the theme over the last couple of years, like Explorer Beastie’s little sister…

… And this rather retro gent, Victorian Explorer Beastie!

But here’s the newest addition to the Explorer Beastie clan, and he’s a little bit different!

First of all, he was made as a very special commission for fellow blogger Simon at Planet Simon. Although Simon’s blog mainly focuses on science (both fact and fiction!), his posts also drop in the odd slice of humour or snapshots of his day-to-day life, and it’s always a fun place to hang out and have a chat! But back to that Beastie… Can you tell what makes him stand out?

So far, so similar… But check out his paws!

Simon always seems to be fixing or making things, so I thought it made sense to create a useful companion for him who could lend a hand if needs be. One leap forward in Beastie-volution later, and here’s a little monster with magic magnetic grippy paws! And that, dear readers, means that he can hold onto stuff!

Mmmm, lunchtime!

Ready to fix stuff with his handy spanner!

I made him a compass as well – that’s essential kit for an Explorer Beastie, after all.

And of course, he can’t carry all these cool things in his paws ALL the time, so a Beastie backpack was called for too!

Let’s get everything packed away there, shall we?

Perfect!

I can’t wait to see what exciting exploits this pair get up to! Oh, and if you’re planning some adventures of your own, why not grab your free February calendar page from my shop?

It features the ever-intrepid original Explorer Beastie, enjoying the balmy (ahem!) Donegal coast at around this time last year. Oh, and did I mention that it’s FREE?

Have a great week, everybody… And don’t forget to join us again next Tuesday to meet another new Beastie! See you then!

Monster Family Fun!

Posted on January 16, 2018June 19, 2021 by crawcraftsbeasties in Beastie Family, Commissions, Knitted Beasties

OK folks, I promised you something big this week, and here it is! Now, I’ve made Beastie families before (you can meet some of them here and here), but when I was asked to create individual little monsters for all of a customer’s nieces and nephews, I did briefly wonder what I was letting myself in for. Sometimes families here can be on the large side – in fact, Boyfriend has so many cousins that he’s pretty sure there are some out there that he’s never even met! Fortunately, the grand total turned out to be a totally manageable seven… And although that’s still more than I’ve ever made for any one Beastie enthusiast, I reckoned I’d definitely be able to get them ready in time for Christmas!

So, let’s take a quick tour through my biggest Beastie custom order ever! These Beasties were heading to three separate households, with a brother and sister in one…

…Two sisters next…

…And a family of three to complete the picture!

We decided it would be best to keep all the Beasties quite similar, but each with their own unique twist to make them as individual as their human counterparts!
For the boys, who are both big into their Gaelic football, that meant shirts in their county colours… So, blue for Cavan and white for Kildare. And they both get to be #1 in their own teams!

Oh, and I had to send them each out with their own felt football, of course. The shape of the segments that make up the ball are based on the human-sized version – that took some figuring out!

You might also have noticed that I experimented with a new way of doing short hair for these two – I think the fur fabric captures the fineness of children’s hair better than wool can, and it’s so soft as well. What do you all reckon?

As for the girls…

… Each got her own hand-knitted sweater with an appliquéd felt initial, and I was in experimentation mode with their hairdressing too!

Sometimes Beastie hair (as I’ve made it in the past) has come out a bit thick and unmanageable, and because I had five girls to make, I wanted to ensure that each of them had their own distinct hairstyle. At first, I experimented with a technique I found in a magazine, which involved laying out a line of sticky tape, sticking strands of yarn to it, sewing through the tape, then peeling it away and stitching the hairpiece to the head, which had been prepped with a piece of felt in a similar colour.

Um, the less said about my state of mind that day, the better.

When she was bad, she was horrid! — (Image from my old Dean’s Gift Book of Nursery Rhymes)

That said, I did like the effect I was able to create by using multiple shades of yarn, so I decided to cut out the sticky tape middleman, and sew strands directly to the felt “hair cap” where they were needed. The result? More readily style-able pigtails and ponytails!

So, I suppose that means we’re all ready for the group photo…

Oh. Maybe another one, with everybody looking at the camera this time?

Much better!

Did any of you take on a monster project in the run-up to Christmas? Tell us all about it in the comments!

Aaaaaaand next week we’ll be taking a break from Christmas commissions and catching up with Paddy and Plunkett… They have some wintry photos they’d like to share with you. See you then!

This Beastie’s a Real Winner!

Posted on June 20, 2017June 19, 2021 by crawcraftsbeasties in Beastie Family, Commissions, Knitted Beasties

Happy Tuesday, everyone! And I have a very special new Beastie for you all to meet today…

I called this little woolly dude “Lucky Guy Beastie”, because he was made for the winner of the prize draw I ran on my market stall just before Christmas. The magic randomiser picked out Ismail’s name from the hat… and then I felt like I’D hit the jackpot, because not only did he already have a good idea of what he wanted, he even provided me with sketches!

After that, it was just a case of me getting on with making his Beastie double… First thing’s first, a miniature version of his favourite jacket, complete with put-up-able hood!

The jacket is also removable, of course!

Next, he needed a backpack… and I snuck a tasty cheese sandwich in here, in case this little monster gets hungry on his travels!

Finally, I completed his kit with a Beastie-sized watch…

… And he was ready to go!

That said, Ismail thought that his Beastie might get lonely all by himself… So he asked if I could make him a companion. Done and done!

While Ismail is here in Dublin studying, his girlfriend is still at home in Indonesia. Fortunately, her Beastie counterpart was ready just in time to be shared via videochat on her birthday!
(And DOUBLE fortunately, I didn’t take the video, so I don’t have to include it here! :D)

This is the first time I’ve made a Beastie in hijab, and it took a good bit of research (and a couple of failed attempts!) to get the shape and fabrics right. The trickiest part was working with a Beastie – rather than human – body shape… It turns out that having a neck and a chin is really helpful when it comes to securing the fabric discreetly! In the end, I went with a felt “under-hijab”, with a light floaty chiffon on top to get the right amount of draping.

You might also have noticed her nice little knitted cardigan, which can be taken off on hot days…

… And which is my second top-down knitted garment! (My first was the “first draft” of this, which turned out a little too big after blocking and was subsequently pinched by Explorer Beastie. I’m starting to wonder if he maybe had a hand paw in making it turn out that way…)

Incidentally, I owe a big thank you to Shirley at Handmade Habit and Melissa at Knitting the Stash, for inspiring me to try top-down knitting techniques for my Beastie sweaters. I’m now in the process of redoing my plain and Aran sweater patterns, and I’m loving the results so far!

But, back to the Beasties in hand! Here they are, all kitted out and ready to go!

Congratulations again to Ismail, and I hope you like your new monster friends!

We’ll be back with more Beastie antics next week! In the meantime, why not have a go at making a bee? I was delighted when The Snail of Happiness shared a picture of her make on Twitter over the weekend… and she was able to confirm that the pattern works, too!

	tierneycreates: a fu… on We Wish You A Merry Beast…
	crawcraftsbeasties on We Wish You A Merry Beast…
	quietwatercraft on We Wish You A Merry Beast…
	crawcraftsbeasties on We Wish You A Merry Beast…
	The Hidden Spain on (Mer)Made Just for You!