Katamari! (FO)

(I will recommend that you open this video in a separate tab. It's the introduction video to We love Katamari, and it features my favourite Katamari song, "Katamari on the swing". I figured it was an appropiate soundtrack)

Here is my fully-funtional Katamari!

What is that?	It's getting near!
It's taken one of us!	Nooooooooo

Nothing can beat a Katamari!


Technical details
Ravelry project page
Pattern: Magnetic Katamari, by Amy Shimel (Amy's Babies) (Ravelry pattern page)
Yarn: Debbie Bliss Cotton DK, in blue, yellow and orange (yellow and orange are leftovers from the Jayne Hats)
Hooks: 3.0 mm (for the main body) and 3.5 mm (for the nubs) - although I did try 4.0, 4.5 and 5.0 when I was being special at crochet; don't use those.
Notes: if you know how to crochet, and do single crochets instead of slip stitches, it is a very easy crochet. Once I got my stitches right, it flew off the hook. I couldn't get the recommended magnets (I couldn't get them online from a UK store), so I ordered some random ones from Craft Bits. The service was good and quick. I placed the order on Saturday morning, and I got a confirmation that the items had shipped on Tuesday. Wednesday evening, when I got home from work, the magnets were in my mailbox (stuck to it, as well!).

The Katamari now lives on the living room carpet, where I kick it every time I walk past, and it rolls wonderfully! It is awesome!! I'm so happy!

How NOT to crochet

I've been having some trouble crocheting the katamari. On Sunday, I tried to have one more go at it, and this time I checked stuff online. I found a helpful video on crocheting on the round, although it wasn't the on-the-round technique I found most helpful.
I discovered that I had been crocheting wrong all along.

Let me say it again.
I had been crocheting wrong all along.

A simple crochet is made out of 2 steps. First you draw a loop throught the next stitch. Then you draw the thread around the hook and bring it throught both loops on the hook. It was this last drawing that I did't do. I would draw a loop through the sticht and pull that through the chain stitch, without the "yarn over".

And, suddenly, I can crochet!

And I have some pictures, to show my stupidity to the world. I do deserve to be mocked. Can you tell which is which? (link for those not familiar with how a katamari looks).

Back for a bit

I am back temporarily home after some days away, although I will be off tomorrow again (to Eastercon).

The party was nice, as I managed to secure a small group of people to talk to, rather than being lost in the 90-odd people in the party, although 3 am is waaaaaay too late for a party to finish. I spent the next couple of days tired and headachey, and I am a bit sad today, but I handled the lots of people rather well.
Charlotte liked her scarf lots, and there will be pictures soon.

I think I finally learnt how to crochet. The bad news, however, is that I had made 2 halfs and 2 starts of a half of the katamari wrong. I have a new half that I think is ok, and one nob. I might take it to Eastercon. I do really want to work on my cardigan, but it might be a bit too bulky.

Back again in a couple of days!

Crocheting is difficult

Crocheting is difficult. Also, I really like how "crocheting" is pronounced, with the silent t and a slight french accent, it sounds really pretty... oh, a bunny!


*ejem*
Crocheting is difficult. I did make a little swatch the other day to learn all the different type of stitches, and that was difficult enough, there was much frogging and cursing at the swatch.
But now I'm trying to do the Katamari. I went through 3 different explanations and about 5 trials of the magic ring before I learned how to do it, and then 3 more goes until I made one that didn't look like poo.
Then I started the crochet in the round. It took a bit to get the hang of if, mainly because of the crocheting bit, rather than the round bit, and some frogging as I was getting used to the type of stitches. Then I started it again with a bigger hook.
Yesterday I managed to do most of the first half of the main body, but I don't like it. It's so tight! The pattern says to crochet tight, but it always comes out tight, even when I try to do it loose. The fabric is really hard, and the worse is that the magic circle is a lot loser, so it "pokes out".

But I'm not going to give up, because I want a Katamari.

I might just knit something else (iPod cosy and Tudora) before, and then try again.