All About Ami

Back in October, I was perusing Facebook when I noticed a picture that my fashionable friend Erika posted of herself wearing a crocheted earwarmer/headband.  She is studying overseas in the UK, and she told me that she purchased this headband from Topshop for 10 British pounds, or about $15.  I thought her headband was so cute and chic, and I immediately wanted to try making one, especially since hers was crocheted and looked so simple to make! 

I had seen some other knitted and crocheted headbands on-line through Craftgawker and on Etsy, and they were definitely very popular as stores such as Aldo and Urban Outfitters were also selling them.  Below is my friend Erika wearing her Topshop earwarmer, and below her is a similar headband I found from ASOS.  This earwarmer/headband is also commonly referred to as a turband (knotted look of turban + headband), and knitted/crocheted turbands as well as silk/fabric turbands have been spotted on many celebrities as part of the boho chic trend.

What I loved about these headbands in particular were the horizontal rows vs. the vertical rows.  Working with horizontal rows can be more challenging off the get-go as you need to start with the appropriate length (you don’t want your headband to be too big or too small!).  When working with vertical rows, you keep crocheting row upon row until you get your desired length.  Both have different looks, but I decided to go with the horizontal rows to make my Topshop and ASOS-inspired knotted headband!

I started off by crocheting a series of 70 chain stitches.  To tell you the truth, I actually started off crocheting too many chain stitches and my headband turned out too long!  I had to undo my work as I wanted my headband to stretch a bit, and not be too oversized!

I used double crochets for more height, and it appeared that the Topshop headband also consisted of double crochets.

Once I finished six rows of double crochets, I was done the headband portion!  This is a very quick project :)

Next I folded the crocheted piece in half and sewed the ends together…

I wanted my headband to be very ruched (pinched edges) around the knot just like the Topshop earwarmer, so I pinched the middle rows of my headband together (approximately Rows 2-5) and then sewed them together.  I pinched the middle rows where the edges of the headband were sewn together as I wanted this seam to be concealed later on.

This is what my crocheted headband looked like from the front with the ruching.

Next up, I created the narrow strip that serves as the knot!  Once again, I worked with horizontal rows to make it consistent with the rest of the headband.

Once I was finished making the strip, I wrapped it around the ruched part where the ends came together.

I sewed the edges of the knot together and hid the loose ends within the knot.  You can’t see any more seams with this clean finish!

Here is my finished knotted headband!  I actually used the same taupe yarn that I used to make my brother’s slouchy beanie for my headband…

I also made my sister a knotted headband using the same mustard colour yarn I used for my own slouchy beanie.  It’s nice being able to use up that yarn that’s been lying around!

Here is the very simple pattern I made up for this Knotted Headband, perfect for beginners:

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Materials:

• 5 mm crochet hook
• Yarn, medium weight (I used Lion Brand Yarn’s Vanna’s Choice in taupe and mustard)

Headband:

Chain 70, or until 20”/50 cm long [keep in mind that head sizes vary, so please check your piece along the way to make sure it will fit your own head]

R1: Dc in 4th ch from hook and in each chain across (68 dc) [my piece now measured 18”/46 cm across]

R2-6: Chain 2.  Turn.  Dc in 4th chain from hook and in each chain across (68 dc)

My piece was 3.4”/8.6 cm wide after six rows.  Fold the crocheted piece in half and sew the edges together.  To emphasize the ruching, pinch the middle rows of the headband  (approximately Rows 2-5) and sew them together (about 3”/7.6 cm across).  Be sure to pinch the middle rows where the ends of the headband were sewn together to conceal the seam.

Knot:

Chain 10

R1: Dc in 4th ch from hook and in each chain across (8 dc)

R2-8: Chain 2.  Turn.  Dc in 4th chain from hook and in each chain across (8 dc)

My piece was 4.6”/11.7 cm long after eight rows.  Wrap this crocheted strip around the pinched portion of the headband.  Sew the ends together and hide any loose ends in the knot.

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Here are some ideas of how you can make your own variations of this Knotted Headband:

• use thicker, chunkier yarn
• make the knot bigger
• add more rows to give more height
• do back post double crochets or work in the front or back loops only to make the headband appear ribbed
• instead of double crochets, try using different stitches such as half double crochets, puff stitches, triple crochets, etc.
• use different colours for different rows or for the knot
• try making vertical rows (start off with width of headband and continue crocheting the length; see what this looks by checking out the ribbed band of my Urban Jungle Slouchy Beanie here)
• make a longer, thinner knot and wrap it around the band twice (as in the ASOS headband)
• add a flower

I was so excited to wear my new crocheted Topshop and ASOS-inspired Knotted Headband!

I think this Knotted Headband looks great worn with your hair both up and down, so I took my sister Ashley with me so we could model our headbands!

These headbands make great statements in your winter outfits!

When worn with your hair up, I personally think it looks great with some extra poof or volume at the crown!

It was a brisk day when we shot these photos, but we had some good laughs and fun posing in the snow!  Our purses below were both great finds from our recent travels.  We picked up this bag for Ashley from a cute little boutique in Montmartre, Paris called “Anoki”.  I found this gorgeous Deux Lux bag from a fun store called “Alice in Hulaland” in the hippie surfer town of Paia in Maui.  I love these souvenirs since they remind us of our recent adventures!

[On Ashley, Scarf: Next, Jacket: Zara, Jeans: Citizens of Humanity, Boots: Sterling, Purse: Anoki.  On me, Parka: Aritzia, Cowl Sweater: Costa Blanca; Jeans: Rock and Republic; Boots: Aldo, Purse: Deux Lux]

If you’re interested in this knotted headband/turban look, Kaley of “Let’s Make It Up” has a great video tutorial on “How to Tie and Style a Turban” using bandanas and scarves here, and she also shows you how to style your hair around it.  She has some really great hair tutorials on her channel!

Be sure to check out my earlier posts about the Urban Jungle Slouchy Beanies and the Puff Stitch Scarf if you want to try and crochet more items that you can wear!

I wanted to post these crocheted Knotted Headbands earlier, but things got so busy with the Teddy Ornaments, the Dragon for Chinese New Year, and the Sweetheart Bunny for Valentine’s Day, along with all our recent travels.  It’s probably warmed up in many places by now and clothings companies have definitely started rolling out their Spring collections, but here’s a fashionable way to stay warm and look chic during this last month of winter before Spring officially comes!  I’m sure I’ll be revisiting this pattern in the fall and whipping up a few more of these in different colours since they’re so easy to make!  Is it still pretty cold where you live?  Will you be trying out this knotted headband?  It’s a great project for beginners or for people who have been wanting to learn how to crochet!  I’d love to see your pics on my facebook page or twitter!  Happy crocheting :)

[UPDATE: Farah of “The Frilly Pages” has made a knitted version of my Knotted Headband!  To see her step-by-step blog post and free pattern, click HERE!]

Hey everyone!  It’s been a long time since my last Crochet Corner post, but I thought it’d be another great opportunity to highlight YOUR work based on my patterns since Valentine’s Day was this week!  Valentine Teddy still remains very popular, and I absolutely love seeing photos of your teddies since everybody has a different take on him (see my first Crochet Corner post on Valentine Teddy here).  Here is my fuzzy cutie in case you haven’t seen him before:

I love how Ziale of Florence, Italy gave her teddy red pants to match his red bow!  Her Valentine Teddy looks very suave and ready to go out on the town, doesn’t he? What a great idea!  A matching girl teddy wearing a red dress and a red bow on her ear would be perfect!

Emilee of California gave this sweetie to her Mom for Valentine’s Day, and she tells me that her Mom absolutely loved it!  Who wouldn’t? Emilee even used the same yarn that I did, which is why they look so similar!   She didn’t have a dog slicker brush, so she fluffed up her little guy with a brush they use for their cats!  This is only Emilee’s second amigurumi project and fourth crochet project ever.  She did such a great job!  Beginners can do absolutely beautiful work :)  I would’ve guessed Emilee had years of experience by looking at her Valentine Teddy!

Shannen of Sweet N’ Cute Creations is another amigurumi artist who I’ve become friends with since since starting my blog (we’re both on tumblr!).  She is a sweet girl who is only 16 years old- she is definitely inspiring the younger generation!  Shannen provides many cute free patterns on her blog here, and is very prolific as she’s done many many amigurumi projects!  Here’s a big-eyed teddy that she made using my pattern :)   Keep up all your great work, Shannen!

Julie of One Little Red Fox made a grey Valentine Teddy with a snazzy gingham bow. What a great idea to use a different colour!  Julie says that she loves to crochet since she finds it easy and because it helps her with her insomnia.  Crochet certainly helps pass the time away…

Lastly, Malarie from California was looking for a gift for her boyfriend, so she decided to give my pattern a try even though she was new to amigurumi.  Malarie loves to crochet, but her carpal tunnel hinders her from crocheting all the time.  And so, she spread out her crocheting over time and was very happy with the results.   Her boyfriend absolutely loved him!  You did a wonderful job, Malarie, and I love the little buttons you added.  Thank you for sharing your story with us!  Keep on crocheting with all your love and patience!

If you’re interested in making your own Valentine Teddy, check out my free pattern here!  It’s neat to think that these Valentine Teddies are being made and loved all over the world :)   Thank you so much to everyone who’s taken the time to send me photos!  I still have more photos to share, so if you didn’t see your work yet, it’ll probably be featured in the coming weeks!   Happy crocheting :)

Make this adorable Sweetheart Bunny for your friends and family to show them your love this Valentine’s Day!  Or make one for yourself ^__^  This little sweetie with her dainty heart and pretty bow will warm your heart! 

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My sister Ashley came to me almost half a year ago, asking if I could design and make a special amigurumi for a silent auction that she was helping to organize.  The proceeds of this special evening were going to a local children’s hospital, and the theme was the “Queen of Hearts” of Alice in Wonderland.  Of course, I happily obliged and started thinking what crocheted creature I could make to tie in with the theme.  I thought about the White Rabbit from Alice in Wonderland and thought it was the perfect opportunity to make this cutie on my pencil case: 

I found this pencil case at a store along CityWalk at Universal Studios Hollywood and had been itching to make this sweet bunny ever since.  Thus, we began planning how to turn this two-dimensional cute picture into a three-dimensional amigurumi!

I crocheted a wide, round head and Ryan added the sweet pink cheeks and petite nose/mouth.

I crocheted these long, relatively narrow ears and attached them to the head.  Then we added pink felt for the lining!

This body was crocheted differently than my other amigurumi as I wanted to create a flat circular base that would serve as the bottom of her dress.  I expanded outwards into a circle, crocheted in the back loops only to give it a distinct edge, and then decreased my stitches.

Once I reached my desired height for the dress, I fastened off my yarn.  Then I reattached the pink yarn into any stitch, crocheted about 3/4 of the way around, turned, and then crocheted around the raised edge I had just created.  The gap in the dress serves as the neckline for the bunny!

Next, I crocheted a small white panel as the bunny’s neck.  We then glued this panel into the gap, making sure to leave a long end of white yarn to attach this part to the bunny’s head later.  We also inserted a circular piece of cardboard into the base of her dress to give it more structure (see my Crocheted Desserts post to see this cardboard tip).

I then crocheted a dainty red heart using this pattern from Little Birdie Secrets and then some skinny arms and legs…

Ready for assembly!

First I attached the legs onto the base of her dress.  Next, I used the white yarn to attach the white neck to the head, and then the pink yarn to attach the rest of the dress to her head.

I attached her arms around the same level as her neck so it looks like she’s wearing a cute dress or jumper!

We decided to use fabric to make her bow.  Does anyone recognize this fabric?  Once again, it’s the same fabric I used for the Spring Bunnies and as the lining of my cell phone cozy.  That material sure has been well-used!  You could also crochet a bow using your desired yarn colour by following the videos here or here.

And now the finished Sweetheart Bunny with her bow :)

Thus, I actually made this bunny back in September/October, around the same time I made the Minion from Despicable Me and the Scarecrow.  I was so sad to see this little bunny go, as I really felt like she exemplified all that my blog is about: cuteness, sweetness, hearts, bows, pinkness and bunnies!  And so, I decided to quickly whip another one up so I could keep the original and still give Ashley an item for the silent auction!

She’s pretty cute without a face too, hey?

Double the cuteness and sweetness!!!

I was so excited to hear how my Sweetheart Bunny did at the silent auction!  Apparently there were two moms in particular who were outbidding each other, and you’ll never guess how much she went for in the end!  I was STUNNED when Ashley told me: Sweetheart Bunny went for a whopping $200!  I was ecstatic to hear that my little crocheted creation had raised so much money!  Bless their generousity- they knew their money was going to a great cause.  Ashley told me that the little girl presented the money to them and happily walked away with her new crocheted bunny in hand :) 

Even though I made her so long ago, I knew I wanted to save her as my Valentine project on my blog since Valentine Teddy was such a hit last year!  Time certainly flies by, and I can’t believe it’s February already…

I absolutely LOVE this picture!  Doesn’t she look adorable sitting on the edge of our island?  She looks like she’s waiting patiently for someone to give her a hug :)

A sweet bunny and some beautiful flowers…wouldn’t that be the perfect Valentine’s gift?

Here are some close-up’s of the Sweetheart Bunny: her floral bow and pink-lined ears!

Her cute smile and pink cheeks

Red heart and jumper

The bottom of her structured jumper and little legs :)

Her relative size!  How perfect was it that I was sporting pink nails when taking this pic?

White bunnies galore!  It certainly was a challenge getting all these cuties to balance on my arm, but Ryan thought it’d be such a great shot.  Needless to say, I tried to stay as still as possible and not move a muscle.  I was so worried I was going to sneeze or cough, but I managed to hold still long enough to get a couple shots!  From left to right we have Sweetheart Bunny, the girl Spring Bunny, the Bunny from Ana Paula Rimoli’s book, and the tiny little bunny that was held by the Chinese New Year Doll last year for the Year of the Rabbit!

As you can tell, I do love my teddies and bunnies!  We had so much fun creating this bunny based on the picture on my pencil case, and I am still beyond thrilled with how much money she raised for the children’s hospital!  It makes me so happy when I can put my love and talent of crocheting to help benefit such a great cause.  I’ve received e-mails from some of you who also use your love and talent of crocheting to raise money for charity, and I love hearing your stories.  I commend you all!  It’s amazing what we can do with our hobbies and passions!  ***The free pattern can be found HERE, just in time for Valentine’s Day!  Also be sure to check out my Valentine Teddy from last year too!

Here’s a photo journal of some of the highlights from our trip to Paris, mostly taken by Ryan (some from my point-and-shoot and iPhone too):

L’Arc de Triomphe (1) at sunrise, (2) at night [with cars traveling at the speed of light], (3) on an overcast winter day and (4) from underneath.

Getting off the Metro on our way to the Eiffel Tower.

Eiffel Tower.  So iconic.  Fun playing with the shadows :)

Place de la Concorde.  Absolutely love the fountains!

The Louvre at night.

Notre Dame at night.  So romantic walking across the bridges along the Seine.

The Catacombs of Paris.  Underground ossuary holding the remains of about 6 million people.  Very dark and eerie.

I Love You Wall in Montmartre.  Over 311 written declarations of love in 250 languages.  Thanks to the reader who gave us the tip to pay it a visit!

Longchamp store.  One of my few purchases in Paris given how expensive shopping can be.  A good buy since my LePliage tote was cheaper here than in North America! 

Shopping in St. Germain-des-Prés.  Excited to use my new tote right away!  Incredibly lightweight, easy-to-clean and folds up into a small pouch. 

Fragonard Scribe Museum.  Purchased some perfume at the request of some friends.  Had an interesting, free guided tour where we learned about the origins of perfume and how they extract the fragrances.

La Case de cousin Paul.  Beautiful lanterns in such fun colours.  Great home decor ideas.

Champs-Elysées Christmas market.  Very festive with plenty of delicious food and interesting vendors.

Street photography.  The streets of Paris are so full of character and life.  Ryan couldn’t resist snapping photos with every corner we turned.

Sacré Cœur.  Stunning view and amazing soccer performer.

Hope you’ve enjoyed some of the photos of our trip to this beautiful city so full of history, romance, and charm!  Check out my blog post here to see the macarons and other desserts we tried.  I’ll be doing a post about the wonderful restaurants we visited as well.  I miss this city, but I’m thankful for these photos and how we can reminisce about all our experiences there :)  Bonne journée!