 Here's a couple of thoughts and propositions about why crafting and making matters from hug head.... aaah... yeah... ok...that's really from me :) Read...reflect...tell me what you think...share... get your craft on this weekend ... be present, reconnect and bring home the hugs and hand crafted sweetness ! Crafting and making connects you with the present moment... Increasingly our time is spent engaging and connecting with the world, each other, our culture and values via quick grabs and catch ups. Our connections with each other are also often mediated through screens. Social media and digital technologies, puts us, our actions, emotions, our stories at each other's fingertips. We can connect in an instant, check in, comment, like/heart/hug/angry-face/cry-face with many in just a few seconds. It's fabulous, convenient and in its own way, also empowering. But a draw back of constantly reaching outwards to instantly connect with the next moment and the next, to fill every gap in our day and reach outward for happiness can lead to a kind of passivity, a kind of zone of living where our attention is always elsewhere, always reaching outwards, but rarely in the present moment or focused within. But we always have a choice to shift pace, to slow down if you like.. to shift our focus back to the here and now and reconnect with ourselves, spaces and people around us. A great way to do that is through making and hand crafting things. Taking time to use our hands and creativity to make something, can shift us from that kind of passive living zone and enable us to find a connection with the here and now and enhance our quality and experience of life. Making is a different way of viewing the world Making is not just about doing things with your hands. Making also helps us to build confidence to overcome obstacles, solve problems and discover new things - to fail and try different approaches to things, to persevere, be resilient, to learn and grow! Making and crafting helps us to spend time exploring, experimenting, tinkering, discovering and transforming. Making is not just a buzz word for education and STEAM/STEM - it's an important part of holistic and healthy living for everyone and anyone. Crafting and making is good for your health and well-being
Yeah ... so don't take my biased opinion and word for it. Neuroscientists and other people are researching this stuff and sharing their thoughts with the world... Read about it here: This is your brain on crafting. Why Crafting is great for your brain The connection between Art, healing and public health Want to get making... join me to stitch-a-hug... Check out this webpage for details HUGS xxx Lenni 
0 Comments
Stitch- a-hug month: My Craft Cubed 2018 satellite project
|
| Share on Instagram/ Facebook /Twitter and tag Craft Cubed 2018 | #stitchahugmonth and #craft2connect Check out the Craft Cubed Program |
Here's a video on how to crochet the hands in my stitch-a-hug crochet pattern. Hope it's helpful.
Adding some final details to crocheted, stitch-a-hug. .
How I crochet stitch-a-hugs....
There are some notes below on how I crochet and make these hugs. I will post a video on how to crochet the hands and how I put all the elements together to create a brooch very soon. Until then, give the pattern below a go!
I am making two sizes of crochet hugs - the smaller ones use 24sts in yellow to form the face and the larger one uses 30sts..
Hug body/face
Hug cheeks
I am making two sizes of crochet hugs - the smaller ones use 24sts in yellow to form the face and the larger one uses 30sts..
Hug body/face
- I use 8 ply yellow wool -from Bendigo Woollen Mill “Sunflower” , from their Luxury range and a “Yellow” from older stock ( this may be discontinued) Used a 3mm hook.
Hug cheeks
- I use a 2 ply sateen cotton with a 2 mm hook to crochet the cheeks
- I use a 4ply cotton ( From Bendigo Woollen Mill colour is "Snow") with 2mm hook to crochet the hands
Make the hug face/body
The hug face/ body is made by crocheting a small circle in yellow wool ( 8 ply- using 3.00mm hook)
Rnd 1: 6 sc in ring. —6 sts
Rnd 2: 2 sc into each st around —12 sts
Rnd 3: (Sc in next st, 2 sc in next st) around —18 sts
Rnd 4: (Sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st) around —24 sts
Stop here and fasten off for smaller size ...
Rnd 5: (Sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st) around —30 sts
Rnd 1: 6 sc in ring. —6 sts
Rnd 2: 2 sc into each st around —12 sts
Rnd 3: (Sc in next st, 2 sc in next st) around —18 sts
Rnd 4: (Sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st) around —24 sts
Stop here and fasten off for smaller size ...
Rnd 5: (Sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st) around —30 sts
Make the cheeks
Make 2
I use 2 ply pink , sateen cotton and a 2mm hook) to crochet two, small circles for the hug cheeks
Rnd 1: 6sc in ring. —6 sts
Rnd 2: 2 sc into each st around —12 sts
Fasten off - leave enough of a tail so that you can use this to stitch the cheeks onto your face (yellow circle).
I use 2 ply pink , sateen cotton and a 2mm hook) to crochet two, small circles for the hug cheeks
Rnd 1: 6sc in ring. —6 sts
Rnd 2: 2 sc into each st around —12 sts
Fasten off - leave enough of a tail so that you can use this to stitch the cheeks onto your face (yellow circle).
Make the hands
Hands ( make 2) using white cotton
I use 4 ply cotton with 2 mm hook.
Round 1,2&3 - make the hand
Rnd 1-Magic circle - start with 6sc ring- slip stitch ( sl st) into first stitch in circle—6 sts
Rnd 2 - sl st into first st, ch 1, 1sc in same stitch then 2sc into each st around —12 sts
Rnd 3- sl st into first stitch , ch1. 1sc in next 6 stitches and turn work.
Round 4 - make the fingers on the hand
1st finger/ thumb- ch 2. Skip ch closest to hook, half double crochet ( hdc) into next chain, sl st into next single st on hand.
2nd finger- ch 3 skip ch closest to hook, hdc into next 2 ch , sl st into next single stitch on hand.
3rd finger - ch4 , skip ch closest to hook, hdc into next 3 ch , sl st into next single stitch on hand.
4th finger- ch2., skip ch closest to hook, hdc into next 2 ch , sl st into next stitch on hand.
5th finger- ch3 , skip ch closest to hook, hdc into next 2 ch , sl st into next single stitch on hand
Fasten off but leave a tail of cotton long enough that you can use to stitch the hands to the face ( yellow circle) .
I use 4 ply cotton with 2 mm hook.
Round 1,2&3 - make the hand
Rnd 1-Magic circle - start with 6sc ring- slip stitch ( sl st) into first stitch in circle—6 sts
Rnd 2 - sl st into first st, ch 1, 1sc in same stitch then 2sc into each st around —12 sts
Rnd 3- sl st into first stitch , ch1. 1sc in next 6 stitches and turn work.
Round 4 - make the fingers on the hand
1st finger/ thumb- ch 2. Skip ch closest to hook, half double crochet ( hdc) into next chain, sl st into next single st on hand.
2nd finger- ch 3 skip ch closest to hook, hdc into next 2 ch , sl st into next single stitch on hand.
3rd finger - ch4 , skip ch closest to hook, hdc into next 3 ch , sl st into next single stitch on hand.
4th finger- ch2., skip ch closest to hook, hdc into next 2 ch , sl st into next stitch on hand.
5th finger- ch3 , skip ch closest to hook, hdc into next 2 ch , sl st into next single stitch on hand
Fasten off but leave a tail of cotton long enough that you can use to stitch the hands to the face ( yellow circle) .
Stitch it all together ...
Stitch cheeks onto face ( yellow circle). Then stitch hands to sides/ edge of face ( yellow circle)
Eyes and smile
Use cotton or embroidery floss ( 6 strands) to stitch on a smile and eyes
Making a brooch
Back your hug with a piece of black, wool felt and attach a brooch pin or safety pin.
Give it to a friend/stranger... share with us on social media using #craft2connect and #stitchahugmonth and/or #craftcubed2018
Eyes and smile
Use cotton or embroidery floss ( 6 strands) to stitch on a smile and eyes
Making a brooch
Back your hug with a piece of black, wool felt and attach a brooch pin or safety pin.
Give it to a friend/stranger... share with us on social media using #craft2connect and #stitchahugmonth and/or #craftcubed2018
PLEASE NOTE: All content ( images and text) in this blog is Copyright 2018 Lenni Morkel-Kingsbury. All rights reserved.
 |  |
 Hug bits... look at all those little , crocheted , hug hands!! | These guys are ready to be random surprises- maybe popping up in shopping bags, strategically sitting on desks, waiting on cafe seats catching regional rail, lurking in libraries, bouncing out of books, chatting at coffee carts! If one catches you... keep it, pass it on, wear it and share it online with #stitchahugmonth #craft2connect #craftcubed2018  |
Why am I handcrafting hugs and sharing them with friends and strangers?
Watch this video...
| The Craft Cubed , festival of the handmade program is LIVE! Check it out , explore, see, and get crafting ! |  |
Mission = to slow down and stitch to reconnect...
and handcraft as many Stitch-a-hugs as I can,
for friends and strangers, over July-August!
Want to join me? Find out a bit more about why I am by watching the video below.
Stitch-a-hug month
This is where you will find information for Lenni's Craft Cubed 2018 Satellite Program Project: all we have are our emojis and the Make-a-hug-month inspiration boards/ how tos/resources.
