Of Poetry

There was no internet when I was six years old. No video games and no cartoons on TV. We had like 2 episodes of cartoons every Sunday, if I remember correctly. So as soon as I learned how to read, I read everything I found. Everything. I started with a very sappy French novel I have found through my parents’ old things, which was quite inappropriate for a six year old, but it was OK because I didn’t understand what was going on anyway. XD My parents also owned some Romanian poetry books, which I also devoured. I read them so many times that I learned them by heart. Shakespeare? Yes, of course, but Romanian poetry is amazing and delightful and sometimes even funny. Unfortunately English translations doesn’t do them justice. Yet this guy, who died too young in an earthquake, the ’77 earthquake that destroyed Bucharest, managed to translate Mihai Eminescu’s poems in the most beautiful way. Here’s an excerpt of High O’er the Main, one of Eminescu’s most emo poems. Its original title is actually The Stars in the Sky.

{free pattern} Kawaii Potato

Happy New Year, y’all! I’m back with this very simple pattern that you can finish in just a couple of hours, IF your kid (or cat) doesn’t constantly bother you with attention demands. ・ ̫・ Because that’s why it takes me forever to make even the smallest thing – I always leave it aside to give the kid (or cat) the attention they need. Having 2 older children, I’ve learnt that time does indeed fly, and the needy kid with sticky fingers will eventually turn into an independent teenager, so I try to soak up these early years as much as I can. – A –

Back to the pattern, it’s best to crochet this potato with a firm yarn, preferably one that’s suitable for amigurumi, so it holds its shape better. And speaking of shape, this is a potato after all, so a nice shaping should be quite easy to achieve. Also, no pressure on where you want to embroider the face. Whatever place you decide, just make sure it’s adorable. I gave this potato to my daughter to offer it as a birthday gift to a friend and apparently it was a hit. Nothing cuter than an object with a face lol.

Kawaii Potato Free Pattern

chain 7
1. inc 2x, sc3, inc, turn, inc 2x, sc3, inc (18)
2. inc 2x, sc6, inc 3x, sc 3, inc (24)
3. inc 2x, sc9, inc 3x, sc9, inc (30)
4. – 12. (9 rows) sc ar (30)
13. inc, sc 4 (36)
14. – 21. sc ar (36)
22. dec, sc4 (30)
23. sc3, dec (24)
24. dec, sc2 (18)
25. sc, dec (12)
26. dec ar (6) FO.

If you decide to make one too, please link my blog or my Instagram (links in About page). Thank you and happy crocheting!

{free pattern} June Kitten

All cats are born in June, at least where I live. My cats were born in June. My mom’s cat aka her new daughter was born in June. All my cats from the past were born in June. So yeah.

This pattern is not very complicated, if you don’t count the joining of the legs, wich might be a little tricky even for more experimented crocheters. So I don’t recommend taking this project just yet if you’re not familiar enough with this technique, altough I will do my best to explain it well. Feel free to ask me anything here or on my Instagram (link in contact page).

I used Madame Cotton yarn from Madame Tricot Paris and a 2.25mm hook – thinner than what’s recommended for this yarn, but it helped me work tighter. I used 5mm safety eyes and pink sewing thread to embroider the nose.

TERMINOLOGY & ABBREVIATIONS

US terminology
– sc = single crochet
– inc = increase (2 sc in the same stitch)
– dec = decrease (2 stitches together. Try invisible decrease, where you take only the front loops together for better result)
– MR = magic ring
– ch = chain
– ar = around (Example: sc ar means you should work 1 sc in each stitch until the end of the round. *inc, sc2* ar means you have to work what’s inside the stars – in this case increase then 1 sc in each of the next 2 stitches, on repeat, until the end of the round)
– 2x, 3x = twice / 2 times, 3 times respectively (Example: inc 2x means increase twice)
FO – fasten off (usually by making a slip stitch in the next stitch, cutting yarn and either hiding it or leaving it be, to be used later for joining parts together)

HEAD

chain 11. This is the top of the head.
1. start working from 2nd chain from hook as follows: inc, sc8, inc, then turn to the other side and start working from right to left: inc, sc8, inc (24)
2. inc 2x, sc9, inc 3x, sc9, inc (30)
3. inc 2x,sc12, inc 3x, sc12, inc (36)
4. – 13. (10 rows) sc ar (36) Attach safety eyes between rows 10 and 11, at a distance of aprox 7-8 stitches. Embroider the nose, using embroidery floss or simple thread (you can also embroider it after the head is finished).
14. dec, sc 4 (30)
15. dec, sc 3 (24)
16. dec, sc 2 (18)
17. dec, sc1 (12)
18. dec ar (6) FO.

EARS

1. 5 sc in a MR
2. inc ar (10)
3. *inc, sc, inc, sc2* ar (14)
4. sc ar (14) FO.

LEGS & BODY

Start with the legs:
1. 6 sc in a MR
2. inc, sc2 (8)
3. sc ar (8)
4. dec, sc2 (6)
5. – 7. sc ar (6) FO only first leg. Do NOT FO 2ND LEG! Instead:
8. ch 3, join the other leg with a sc, then sc ar it all (18)

9. – 10. sc ar (18)
11. inc, sc2 (24)
12. – 15. sc ar (24)
16. dec, sc2 (18)
17. – 18. sc ar (18)
19. dec, sc1 (12)
20. sc ar (12) FO.

HANDS

1. 6 sc in a MR
2. inc, sc2 (8)
3. sc ar (8)
4. dec, sc2 (6)
5. – 8. sc ar (6) Join both sides with 2 sc, cut yarn and weave it in

TAIL

1. 6 sc in a MR
2. – 9. sc ar (6)
10. dec in first stitch only, then sc ar (5) FO.

⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚✦˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆

Just look at this sweet kitten! So tiny, so new, so pretty in its simplicity. Barely opened her eyes and started walking around. She must be protected at all costs! Nyaa! /ᐠ.ꞈ.ᐟ\

If you decide to make one too, please link my blog or my Instagram (links in About page). Thank you and happy crocheting!

Hello, November

Last year fall photos, because so far, this November sucks. :c

I’ve got a lemon tree and it has flowers! Finger crossed!! ^_^

My son loves bugs, even stinky bugs. He rode these two in his toy cars.

Felix’s opinion of your opinion. Kidding, Felix’s not a jerk. Usually.

I’m participating in Friendly Fill-Ins blog hop by Ellen of 15andmeowing and Lorianne of Four-Legged Furballs.

1. I like being home alone, but it never happens. Never.
2. I don’t want to do chores, but I have to. (Instead, I wanna crochet all day long)
3. I’m counting down the days until school break, although…
4. …although school break is a lot like normal school days for me. *rolls eyes*

Uncertainty

I don’t usually write about very serious things, but that’s the way it is now. These are hard times, you guys. I never imagined I could ever live through something like this. It’s hard, so hard. It’s frustrating and frightful to feel so powerless.

Some days are pretty good, other days are tolerable, and other days are depressing and I can barely drag my feet around the house to accomplish something, such as lunch or cleaning the cats’ litter. In those days I would like not to lift the blinds and just lie in bed all day. Preferably with a bag of chips next to me. But, of course, I can’t do that, because there are little people who need me. For them, I have to move on. And no matter how hard it is, I’m grateful. I don’t get truly depressed because of THEM.

However, I can’t help but think that there are weaker people out there who can’t control their negative feelings and hurt their loved ones. My heart aches when I think about how many people, especially women and children, are suffering right now. My opinion is that there is too little talk about it and much more awareness is needed. As for the epidemic, humanity has gone through the plague and the Spanish flu and many others, I hope we get through this ordeal as well.

You would think that in this situation there is time for everything, but honestly, most of my days are unproductive. After I finish everything I have to do around the house, I don’t feel like hobbying anymore. I am too tired. And I’ve heard others complain about it as well. However, sometimes I take photos, then I sit at my desk, open Photoshop and play with them, while my husband plays with the little one.

{free pattern} Ili Pika

Do you know what an ili pika is? I didn’t know either until a couple of weeks ago. The ili pika (what an adorable name too, we love to say it often lol) is a tiny bunny type animal that lives in China. Apparently it was discovered in 1983 (wow, right?) and it was not documented again until 2014 (double wow!). Unfortunately it’s an endangered species but I hope they save the little guy.

Naturally, I had to crochet one, it’s so so cute! And I decided to make the pattern available for free. I hope you make one too and please show me your work, also tag me if you post it on Instagram. For this amigurumi I used Katia Tencel-Merino yarn in brown and pink and a 2.25 hook. The eyes were made from black felt, the catch lights were embroidered with white sewing thread and the nose was embroidered with brown embroidery thread in 3 strands. I also decorated it with a few pink buttons.

Ili Pika Amigurumi Pattern

Stitches and abbreviations

– sc = single crochet
– inc = increase
– dec = decrease
– 2x, 3x = 2 times, 3 times
– ch = chain
– FO = fasten off

HEAD

Start with the base of the head. With brown, chain 7, then
1. start working from 2nd ch from hook: inc 2x, sc 3, inc, turn to the other side of the chain, inc 2x, sc 3, inc (18)
2. inc 2x, sc 6, inc 3x, sc 6, inc (24)
3. inc 2x, sc 9, inc 3x, sc 9, inc (30)
4. *inc, sc 4* around (36)
5. *inc, sc 5* around (42)
6. sc around (42)
7. *inc, sc 6* around (48)
8. – 14. sc around (48)
15. *dec, sc 6* around (42)
16. – 19. sc around (42)
20. *dec, sc 5* around (36)
21. sc around (36)
22. *dec, sc 4* around (30)
23. *dec, sc 3* around (24)
24. *dec, sc 2* around (18)
25. *dec, sc* around (12)
26. dec around (6) FO

MUZZLE

1. with pink, work 6 sc in a magic ring
2. inc around (12)
3. 2 sc in first ch, 1 sc in next ch, 2 hdc in next ch, 2 dc in each of next 2 chs, 2 hdc in each of the next 2 chs, 2 dc in each of next 2 chs, 2 hdc in next ch, 1 sc in next ch, 2 sc in last ch FO

EARS

1. with brown, work 6 sc in a magic ring
2. inc around (12)
3. *inc, sc 5* around (14)
4. – 6. sc around (14)
7. *inc, sc 6* around (16)
8. *inc, sc 7* around (18)
9. sc around (18) FO

BODY

1. with brown, work 6 sc in a magic ring
2. inc around (12)
3. *inc, sc* around (18)
4. *inc, sc 2* around (24)
5. sc around (24)
6. *inc, sc 3* around (30)
7. – 11. sc around (30)
12. *dec, sc 3* around (24)
13. – 14. sc around (24)
15. *dec, sc 2* around (18)
16. – 17. sc around (18) FO

HANDS

1. with pink, work 6 sc in a magic ring
2. inc around (12)
3. – 4. sc around (12)
5. join brown yarn and sc around (12)
6. sc around (12) stuff lightly
7. *dec, sc 4* around (10)
8. – 10. sc around (10)
11. *dec, sc 3* around (8)
12. – 13. sc around (8) FO

LEGS

1. with pink, work 6 sc in a magic ring
2. inc around (12)
3. – 4. sc around (12)
5. join brown yarn and sc around (12)
6. sc around (12) stuff lightly
7. *dec, sc 4* around (10)
8. – 10. sc around (10)
11. *dec, sc 3* around (8) FO

That was it! If you decide to make an ili pika, please let me know. Tag me – @sophibelle.me – on Instagram or simply use hashtag #sophibelleme

{free pattern} Chunky Bunny

Easter is approaching fast and because we’re all stuck at home due to the Coronavirus I thought it would be nice to share one of my patterns, so you too can enjoy this mega cute and chunky amigurumi bunny. It looks like a decorated Easter egg! It’s very easy to make, you can finish it in a few hours. I used Rosarios4 Candy yarn and a 2.25 hook. Its eyes are a simple French knot, for wich I used embroidery thread in 3 strands. The nose was embroidered with simple sewing thread and I also added a felt bowtie, per my daughter’s request. Enjoy!

STITCHES AND ABBREVIATIONS

– sc = single crochet
– inc = increase
– dec = decrease
– FO = fasten off

BODY & HEAD

The shape of this bunny is like an egg and you start working from the bottom.
1. make 6 sc in a magic ring
2. inc around (12)
3. *inc, sc 1* around (18)
4. *inc, sc 2* around (24)
5. *inc, sc 3* around (30)
6. *inc, sc 4* around (36)
7. *inc, sc 5* around (42)
8. – 16. sc around (42)
17. *dec, sc 5* around (36)
18. – 23. sc around (36)
24. *dec, sc 4* around (30)
25. sc around (30)
26. *dec, sc 3* around (24)
27. *dec, sc 2* around (18)
28. *dec, sc 1* around (12)
29. dec around (6) FO

EARS

1. make 6 sc in a magic ring
2. inc around (12)
3. – 6. sc around (12)
7. dec once, sc rest of the row around (11)
8. sc around (11)
9. dec once, sc rest of the row around (10) FO

HANDS

1. make 6 sc in a magic ring
2. *inc, sc 2* around (8)
3. – 4. sc around (8) FO

LEGS

1. make 6 sc in a magic ring
2. *inc, sc 1* around (9)
3. sc ar (9) FO

If you decide to make one too, please link my blog or my Instagram (links in About page). Thank you and happy crocheting!

Keep Calm and Enjoy Christmas

It has been exactly one year since my last post. 😛 I don’t want it to become a tradition. I mean, I don’t want to post once a year… because I actually have so many things to say. So many patterns to share, so many recipes to write down. So many cool Photoshop actions were created! I also took photos with my big camera. I had to force myself to take it out from the closet but once I held it in my arms the magic reappeared and it was fantastic! I gave up making New Year resolutions a long time ago, but I hope I can blog more from now on.

Keep Calm and Enjoy Christmas

De parcă pot. 🙄 Măcar copiii sunt entuziasmați și fără griji.

Like I can! 🙄 At least the kids are excited and carefree.

—

I am participating in Friendly Fill-Ins hosted by Four-Legged Furballs and 15 and Meowing. 😊 Here are my fill-ins:

1 – Every Christmas, I try to get everything done but I always fail.
2 – The day after Christmas, I just chillax. lol
3 – ‘Twas the night before Christmas, and I try to be as quiet as I can while I put the presents under the Christmas tree.
4 – All I want for Christmas is good health for my family and I.

Another Day, Another Cat

We always find a new kitty in our walks around the neighbourhood. This one was too friendly for her own good. I was worried, she was too trusting. Unfortunately, my fears came true. A neighbour told me this kitty was killed by a car just a day later. I didn’t have the heart to tell the kids, they were so happy to meet her and so hopeful to meet her again… This is why I keep my cats indoors only. At least we have these photos to remember this beautiful day and the love and joy this kitty gave us so willingly. ❤

Toamna

Toamna este un anotimp al extremelor. Dimineața îți îngheață nasul și degetele când ieși din casă dar la mijlocul zilei mori de cald. La soare parcă ești într-un cuptor dar la umbră e prea răcoare. Când e soare e prea lumină, când e noros parcă e noaptea. Și pe-afară e o învălmășeală de chestii, unele pufoase, altele rugoase și scârțâitoare. Dar e fain toamna, găsești o grămadă de lucruri interesante de fotografiat. Timp să ai. Și nu care cumva să zică cineva că “timpul ți-l faci singur” că de multe ori nu-i deloc așa, na. #mămicăocupată Din fericire, din când în când reușesc să-mi fac timp să-mi hrănesc latura artistică. Bucurați-vă de poze și urmați-mi exemplul. Ieșiți afară, fotografiați frumusețea toamnei. Asta dacă nu suferiți de alergii.

Autumn is a season of the extremes. You freeze in the morning but it’s too hot in the middle of the day. It’s too hot in the sun but too cold in the shadows. When it’s sunny it’s too bright, when it’s cloudy it’s too dark. And there are a lot of messy things outside, some fluffy, some harsh and crunchy. Fall is nice, though, because there are a lot of interesting things to photograph. The only issue is time. And don’t even begin to tell me that “you make your own time” because most of the time it’s not true. #busymom Luckily, from time to time I find a way to feed my artistic side. Enjoy the pics and follow my example. Go outside, capture some fall goodness. Unless you’re allergic.

Red, Orange and Yellow

October is here. The weather is beautiful now and there are lots of nice things outside to photograph. I just wish I could stay outside more but there are not enough hours in a day.

I am participating in Friendly Fill-Ins hosted by Four-Legged Furballs and 15 and Meowing. 😊 Here are my fill-ins:

1 – My favorite font is Thinfont-Thin, among others. I like simple, airy fonts, but I also enjoy cursive ones.
2 – October is perfect for taking pictures and capturing the fall splendor. The sun has a special golden glow in October.
3 – Where I live is nice, but I can’t wait to move into our new house in a brand new neighbourhood. 😁
4 – I feel very stressed this time of year. Because I’m a mom of 3 kids. School starts in fall, wich means flu season starts too. This is why I often miss the fall goodness.

Little Boy

I am always bothered by the darn cars on the street when I photograph the girls. Not with him, though. He loves to see cars in his pictures. 🧡

He also has a collection of old phones wich he keeps in his backpack and when we go on walks we have to stop every five minutes so he can check on them. 😂

{free pattern} Pretty Snowstar

This is one of my favoured snowstars because it’s so dainty and lacy and sweet. It is very easy to make and fast too. It looks best when made with good yarn. Natural and organic yarns are pricey unfortunately, but they are also more quality. For these stars I used Concept – Cotton Cashmere and Tencel-Merino yarn by Katia.

INFO

The pattern is written in US terminology. You will need yarn, crochet hook suitable for your yarn choice, a larger needle to weave in the ends and some fancy thread or ribbon to use as hanger. Some people like to stiffen the ornaments. See Google for stiffening suggestions – this is something I haven’t done yet.

STITCHES AND ABBREVIATIONS

– MR = magic ring
– st = stitch
– sl st = slip stitch
– ch = chain
– sc = single crochet
– dc = double crochet
– hdc = half double crochet
– picot (ch 3, sl st in 3rd ch from hook – his is the simpler version. The other version is to ch 3, yo and then sl st in 3rd ch from hook through all loops.)

INSTRUCTIONS

Make a magic ring
1. ch3 (counts as first dc), dc, ch 2, then: (2 dc, ch2) 5 more times, end with sl st in top of ch3 (12 dc, 6 ch2 spaces).
2. sl st in next dc, sl st in next ch2 space, (2 dc, ch2, 2 dc) in same space, ch1, skip next 2 dc, then *(2 dc, ch2, 2 dc) in next ch2 space, ch1, skip next 2 dc, repeat from the star until end. Sl st on top of first dc made in this round.
3. ch1 (counts as a sc), hdc in next dc, (2 dc, picot, 2 dc) in next ch2 space, hdc in next dc, sc in next dc, sl st in next ch1 space, sc in next dc, hdc in next dc, *(2 dc, picot, 2 dc) in next ch2 space, hdc in next dc, sc in next dc, sl st in next ch1 space, repeat from the star 5 more times, end with a sl st in the starting ch1.

Cut yarn, weave in ends, stiffen if desired and attach a ribbon or something of your choice in between two of the star’s corners or on top of a corner. I am going to hang mine in a white tree, so I used pieces of this fuzzy yarn as a hanger.

That’s it. Happy crocheting! Oh, and if you decide to make a snowstar of your own, please let me know. Tag me – @sophibelle.me – on Instagram or simply use hashtag #sophibelleme