Hello Kitty Sewing Machine

I did a review of the Hello Kitty Sewing Machine for Craft Critique. This was a long- planned gift for my daughter who turned 8 this summer. She loves it and has made several little beginning projects. Check out my review HERE.

Merry Christmas!

That's my favorite Christmas ornament. I picked it out when I was about 3 years old and it's lasted all these years.

I'm still wrapping gifts and stitching up some last minute things that I doubt I'll be able to photograph. I made 2 of THESE today to hold the Jolly Rancher candies my children always long for and I never buy. I made a cool simple item for my mom and her travels, but it's a secret!

We stay home for Christmas and we want our family to know that we love and miss them and look forward to seeing them at less stressful times during the year!

Enjoy the holidays!

Hello Kitty wishes you a Merry Christmas!

Happy Birthday to Me!

Today, it's my turn to turn 40! The other day I got my YesAsia gift to myself. That was a good gift! Above is the Hello Kitty banner stitched for my by CupcakeGuru in our Tea Towel Tour swap on Craftster. I left the theme of my towel open, but I did suggest the fact that I had a big birthday coming up, so my partners went with that theme.
Detail of Hello Kitty:

SlyBetty stitched this squirrel dreaming of a party:



Here's a big celebration cake by fenifer. It has one candle for each decade of my life:



BlueSparkie did this parade of sweets. Mint chocolate chip is one of my favorite flavors! How did she know?



I stitched up this chocolate layer cake with raspberries. My husband and daughter baked a real one for us last night.


And here is the whole towel:


Isn't it awesome? It is a very special thing to have things like this stitched for me personally. Many warm thanks to my swap partners!

Hello Kitty Crochet

HK crochet Squares, originally uploaded by IamSusie.

Last year I found a thread on Craftster about the Hello Kitty Granny Square. It is an elusive pattern, printed in a Japanese Crochet book. Because of copyright rules... if you want the pattern yourself, you very well might find an uploaded copy of it if you google "hello kitty granny square pattern". Be prepared... it's an international crochet chart, not a written pattern.

The cutest thing to make with the pattern is a tote bag. I made one for my niece last summer. It does have that handmade look... I was pleased with myself for achieving a lining for this tote too. Otherwise I just do the little square and pouches. I've seen adorable scarves made with it too, but that is still on my to do list.


I'm not sure why, but it is a fiddley little square and it doesn't go as quickly to make it as I think it should. Never mind, though.. when you get to the face and the bow. It is so satisfying, you forget how long you've been working at it....



That one is in thread crochet. I've made 2 like this one, both for swaps. It is a perfect size for a doll like the popular Blythe dolls. People always want her in pink, but I like all the other color combinations too.

Of course, I would love to sell my little Hello Kitty creations, but those darned copyright laws.... I have a friend who is an expert in trademark law.. maybe she can find me a loophole...

EDITED TO ADD: I get queries all the time for me to send this pattern out. I don't really understand this because all you have to do is google it and the pattern comes up right under the link to this blog post. It's the link at Craftster. Page 4... scroll down.... And if you want me to explain how to stitch it, I would please ask you to read through that Craftster link first.. We have discussed at length the pitfalls of this more challenging little crochet square.

You start in the center with 6 chains. SC in the 2nd chain from the hook and go around from there. Do the first ear, then you'll need to start a new yarn to do the second ear. Go around the face with a contrasting yarn using single crochet all around. I have to add a few stitches that arent in the pattern up at the top near the ears. Try to keep it symmetric.

In case you were wondering, I am not going to write out English instructions for this square. Apart from the copyright violation, I prefer the chart. This is the pattern where I learned international crochet chart patterns and you can too!